"Morning, Son."

Mark looked up from milking the cow to see his pa grab a shovel and start towards the stalls. "Sorry about last night," he apologized. "I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"No need to be sorry. I should have told you not to wait up for me; I didn't realize I would be gone so long and I forgot what time you got up yesterday."

"…How's Micah?"

"As well as can be expected."

"…What do you mean?"

Lucas stopped working as he turned to answer his son. "I guess I never did get a chance to tell you last night. Not too long before everything happened in town, Micah got word that his sister died."

"…Jenny's ma?"

Lucas nodded. "I'm taking over for Micah so he can go to the funeral. You think you can handle things around here?"

"Sure…"

"…What is it?"

"I'm just thinking back to yesterday… that look in Micah's eye… it makes sense now."

Lucas nodded and started to turn back to his chore, stopping as he remembered their conversation the night before. He waited for Mark to finish milking the cow before crossing the barn floor and sitting down on a hay bale across from him. "What was it you were wanting to talk about last night?"

Mark hesitated, taking in a deep breath and slowly letting it out. "Well… Pa, I know we've talked a lot about me working the ranch this summer. Don't get me wrong, I want to… I'm going to, but I got an offer for a job in town on Saturdays I'd like to take up, too. Cash has always been on short supply around here, and well… even if it wasn't, it never hurts to have a little more."

"Now hold on. I don't mind you getting a job if it's money you're wanting to save or spend, but I don't want you getting the idea that you have to get work somewhere else so we can make ends meet. We're doing just fine."

"I know, it's just… well, like you said, I'd like to save some, and there are a few things in Lou's catalog I've been eyeing."

"Just so we understand each other."

"Yes sir."

"What's the job?"

Lucas's brow furrowed as his son hesitated to answer the question.

"…Well… Mr. Waller just made a deal with the man who owns the general store in Willow Springs, to do all his gun repairs and deliver new stock so he doesn't have to pay to have it delivered by freight wagon. …Mr. Waller needs someone to take deliveries back and forth and-"

"No."

"But-"

"Mark, you knew what my answer was going to be. That's why you were so hesitant to ask. Forgetting the fact that you would be transporting guns, that's a long, dangerous trip for a boy your age."

"I'll be seventeen in just a few weeks!"

"That's still too young to be making that kind of a trip, especially by yourself. No one should be transporting that kind of merchandise alone; I don't know what Henry was thinking."

"I'd stay on the open road; I'd leave just after sun up and get back well before dark. Mr. Waller thought I could handle it!"

"You've taken great strides to improve yourself this last year, and I'm proud of the young man you're becoming. The responsibility itself, I know you'd handle that just fine. But you know as well as I do what lengths some men in this part of the country would go to in order to get their hands on any one of those deliveries."

"What if I didn't do it by myself?"

"Mark, I wouldn't let you take that job even if you were riding with me. A delivery route like that, same roads, same times every week… it's just asking for trouble."

Lucas watched as his son started to respond, but he unexpectedly stopped and let out a deep breath.

"…There's nothing I can say to change your mind about this, is there?"

The rancher shook his head. "I don't mind you getting another job, Son. But not one that requires deliveries outside of town."

"…Is this because of what happened when I worked for Nils? Like I said, I'd stay on the main roads."

"You learned your lesson about shortcuts then. This is because I don't want you putting yourself in danger, and that's exactly what you would be doing if you took this job."

"Pa, I… I don't mean to argue with you, but… Mr. Waller wouldn't ask me to do it if he thought it was dangerous. He was even going to have Jeff make the deliveries, but Mr. Waller needs his help in the shop."

"I don't think Henry thought through all the possible consequences of giving one of you boys that job." Seeing the look on Mark's face, he went on, "Me saying no has nothing to do with how much of a man you're becoming. I wouldn't advise anyone to take that job. I wouldn't take that job. Do you understand?"

"…To be honest, Pa, I don't think it's as much trouble as you make it out to be. …But I understand that you do think that way, and that's why you're saying no. …I'll let Mr. Waller know when we go into town today."

"Son, I know I can't make you see everything the way I do. This may be something you'll just have to take my word for. But I'd like you to take some time to think on that route, and just how easy it would be to ambush a driver, even if they were expecting it."

Mark slowly nodded, letting out a deep breath before changing the subject. "When do you take over for Micah?"

"He's leaving on the eleven o'clock train. I'll finish up in here if you want to get breakfast started, then we'll head to town and we can load the buckboard before Micah swears me in."

"Is it alright if I take my .22 in to Mr. Waller when I go to talk to him? It was still sticking, even after you looked at it."

Lucas nodded. "I was going to take it in myself, but I forgot. Don't let me forget to pick up those saw blades from Nils."

"I already did last night. He said that older one is gonna need to be replaced soon."

"I've been watching it."

Mark stood from the milking stool and grabbed the pail. "I'll start breakfast."

"Just don't burn it this time!"

Two hours later, Lucas brought the buckboard to a stop in front of the general store, Mark jumping down. Mrs. Kane greeted the pair as they entered, informing Lucas that his wire order had arrived. Seeing the look that crossed his son's face, the rancher let out a laugh.

"Just worry about the herd; we'll put the new fencing wire in after I get back."

"You headed somewhere, Lucas?"

"Looking after the town while the marshal is gone."

"Where's Micah headed off to?"

"…He has some business to take care of out of town. Should be back in about ten days."

"You're not leaving Mark at the ranch that whole time?"

"One of us has to get work done," Mark teased.

"What if something were to happen?"

"Mrs. Kane, Mark's more than capable of handling himself and the ranch. It's been a long time since I've had to worry about leaving Mark at the ranch."

"If his mother were…" Mrs. Kane suddenly stopped, a look of regret crossing her face. "…I'm sorry, Lucas, I…"

"We make do." The man gave a polite smile, but Mark could still see the hint of grief in his father's eyes. Lucas pulled a list from his pocket as he went on, "Would you mind getting these together for us while we load the wire?"

"Of course, right away."

"Come on, Son."

Mark followed after Lucas, picking up a spool of wire and carrying it out to the buckboard.

"…Pa?"

Lucas placed his spool in the back corner of the wagon before turning to his son.

"How come you didn't tell Mrs. Kane why Micah was leaving?"

"Micah's a private man. He'll tell folks when he's ready, if he wants them to know." Lucas started towards the store again, his son's voice stopping him.

"…Pa?"

He turned around and waited for Mark to go on.

"…You think if Ma was still here, she'd be like the rest of the women in town?"

Lucas stepped towards his son, resting a foot on one of the wheel spokes. "What do you mean?"

"I mean… well, always frettin' and saying we're doin' things wrong and…"

"No." A wistful smile crossed the rancher's face as he placed a hand on Mark's shoulder. "Your ma… she loved you very much and concerned herself a great deal with you being safe. But she wasn't afraid to let you be a boy… to let you live. That's part of why she was so determined to see to it that you had your book learnin'… so you could see that there was more to the world than our little ranch. She saw how inquisitive you were and wanted your curiosity cultivated. She wanted you to have the opportunity to do anything you set your mind to. And that's why she made me promise I'd see to it that you finished school. And if she were here, Son, she would be just as proud as I am of how hard you worked to make that happen, especially when it didn't come easy to you."

"…Thanks, Pa."

"I will say, your ma certainly had one thing in common with the women of North Fork."

"What was that?"

"She could guilt me into just about anything."

Mark laughed, shaking his head as he followed Lucas back inside the store. After they had finished loading their purchases, Lucas suggested that his son stop in to see the gunsmith.

"I'll meet you over at the feed and grain when you're through."

"Yes sir."

As Lucas urged the team down the street, Mark started towards the gun shop. He entered the building and waited for Henry to finish with a customer before greeting him.

"Afternoon, Mr. Waller."

"Mark, good to see you. I expect you're here about that job?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Something the matter?"

"I really appreciate the offer, but I can't accept."

"Is it the pay? Someone else offer you more? I might be able to raise your wage some."

"No sir, the pay was fine. It was a fair offer." Mark hesitated before going on, "…Pa and I talked about it, and he didn't think it would be best for me to take the job."

"…This have to do with that incident with Holliver? Your pa don't want you working for me?"

"No sir, that's not it at all. If it weren't for you and the others… my pa wouldn't be alive today. …It's just that my pa feels it would be too dangerous."

"He's taught you how to use a gun."

"…I think the point is that he doesn't want me to have to use one. If it were anything else, Pa would let me take the job… he just thinks transporting those guns is too dangerous."

The man let out a heavy sigh. "If your pa's set against it, I reckon there's nothing I can do to change his mind. …Just remember, Mark, you're coming on to being a man. Day's coming when you'll have to make these decisions for yourself. When you can make these decisions for yourself. I know your pa means well, but don't let him sight you short."

"…Yes sir. …I'm sorry I couldn't take the job, but thank you again for asking me."

"For now, I'll have to find someone else to fill the position. But if you ever get Lucas to change his mind, let me know."

Mark slowly nodded as he put his rifle on the counter. "I wondered if you might have time to look at my .22? It's been sticking and Pa can't figure out what's wrong with it."

"Can't right this minute, but if you leave it here, I might have some time this afternoon."

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

Mark said goodbye and took his leave. After finishing at the feed and grain, father and son took care of a few more chores around town before making their way to the marshal's office. Mark watched as Micah swore his pa in, saying a silent prayer for protection as the marshal finished.

"Well, that does it," Micah declared, quieting as he turned to Mark. "…I'm sorry you had to see me like that yesterday."

"I'm sorry about your sister," he offered. "Please give Jenny my condolences, as well."

"Thank you, I will." Seeing the time, the marshal went on, "I better be going if I don't want to miss my train. Mark, make sure your pa keeps my town in one piece."

"I will."

"Have a good trip, Micah!"

As the door shut behind the marshal, Mark turned towards Lucas. "…Pa, what do you think will happen to Jenny?"

"What do you mean, what will happen to her?"

"Well she ain't any older than I am, and with her folks both being gone now…"

A teasing grin crossed Lucas's face as he asked, "You hoping she'll come back with her uncle?"

"No," Mark laughed, shaking his head. "Don't get me wrong, she's pretty and all, but that thought never even crossed my mind. Jeff certainly wouldn't complain if she did, though…"

"Even after she punched him?"

"After she saved his life," Mark reminded.

Lucas chuckled as he walked to the desk and sat down. "I forgot about that. …To answer your question, I don't rightly know. Micah never said if she has more family out there." The rancher began sorting through wanted posters, stopping as he looked up to see another question in his son's eye. "What is it?"

"…When do you reckon… well, I guess it might be different for girls, but… when do you think someone's old enough to start making decisions on their own?"

"I reckon age or gender doesn't really have much to do with it. It's more a matter of maturity and the ability to reason and handle responsibility."

"…I suppose, but… well, even if somebody ain't the brightest or most responsible, they've gotta start doing things on their own sooner or later, don't they?"

"…What are you getting at, Son?"

Mark dropped into a chair across from Lucas. "…When I was talking to Mr. Waller… he wasn't gonna try to get me to take the job, because he knew you had said no. …But he did say that I was getting on to being a man… that I would have to start making my own decisions, eventually. I… I don't mean any disrespect, Pa, but I…" He shook his head, letting out a heavy sigh. "I don't know…"

"I do." Lucas half smiled as he sat back in his chair. "…I was your age once, believe it or not. And just like you, I was itching to step out into the world as if I were a man. But my pa didn't stop me… and I saw things a boy my age should have never been exposed to. …Your time is coming, Son… and in your case, it's not so much a matter of maturity or lack of responsibility. It's simply a matter of life experience… experience that can only be gained through time."

"…How much time?"

"Manhood… Mark, it's not something tangible… it's not something that you can force or put restraints on. Manhood is something you grow into, something you develop. And we'll both know when you've arrived."