A week later, Mark was working in the back room when he heard Jeff enter the store. He quietly chuckled at the change in Jenny's voice as she greeted him, shaking his head as Jeff stammered through an invitation.

"Mark and me… well, we were gonna go fishing tonight at Miller's Pond. I… I was wonderin' if maybe you'd want to join us? I mean, if you still do that sort of thing… I reckon you might not, being… well… you know… and I guess maybe you might not want to, anyway, but being new in town I… I figured you might not have much to do, so I… well, if you wanted to come, you… you'd be welcome to join us. Of course, only if you wanted to… because I understand if-"

"Thank you, Jeff. I'd be happy to. Mark already invited me to come along this morning."

"…He did?"

Mark walked out to the front room as Jenny nodded. "She even said she'd hook your worms for you."

"I said no such thing!"

"She offer to teach you how to cast, too?"

Mark and Jeff chuckled as Jenny rolled her eyes.

"I'm finished in the back," Mark stated. "You need anything before I go?"

"No, thank you though. I'll meet you two at the livery after I close up."

"See you later, then."

"Bye, Jenny." Jeff followed Mark out of the building, suddenly grabbing his arm and leading him into an alley. "What do you think you're doing?!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Look, I can't blame anyone else for being sweet on her, but you know how I've felt since she was here the last time!"

Mark laughed as he shook Jeff off of him. "I'm not sweet on her."

"Oh yeah? Then what were you doing inviting her to go fishing?"

"Jeff, I enjoy her company as a friend, so I would've invited her anyway. But since you had already asked her to supper tomorrow, I thought you might not want to overdo it and ask her to join us tonight, too. I asked her for you. I wouldn't have said anything if I knew you were going to invite her."

"…Oh." A few moments passed before he went on. "…You're being honest? You really don't have any intentions with her?"

"Like I said, I enjoy her company as a friend. That's it."

"…Thanks, Mark."

"I will say, I enjoy having both of you as friends, so don't go and mess this up."

"What would make you say a thing like that?"

"Melissa."

"…That wasn't all my fault. She was the one that-"

"Only after what you did at the barn dance. You do something like that to Jenny, you'll have her, and me, and Micah to answer to."

"I didn't do it on purpose! I wouldn't ever hurt Jenny like that!"

"I know you wouldn't try to, Jeff, but you weren't trying to last time, either. Just be careful."

"…You think she'd let me take her to the summer social?"

"I think so, but you might want to see how tonight and tomorrow go, first. And you might want to give it a few days before asking her."

"But what if someone else asks her first?!"

"…I wouldn't worry too much about that. I have a feeling she'll wait for you."

That evening, Jeff, Mark, and Jenny arrived at Miller's Pond. Mark kept the banter alive between them, which led to him being pushed into the pond an hour later. He laughed as he got to his feet, asking Jeff to give him a hand.

"Oh no," he said. "I learned my lesson last time. You can get yourself out of there."

"Oh, shoot!"

Mark looked up to Jenny as she put her pole down. "What's the matter?"

"My line snapped."

"I should have some more in my saddle bag. I'll be back in a few minutes."

After trudging out of the water, Mark made his way back to the horses. He looked through both saddle bags before finding the extra string, closing his eyes as he heard an all too familiar voice behind him.

"Well, I see you've stopped hiding from me."

Mark shook his head as he turned around. "I live on a ranch, Willie. I don't have any reason to come into town during the week, and you'll notice I never stopped going to services."

"Never strayed from your pa, either."

"Didn't have reason to. I didn't ask him to get involved; this is between you and me, and there's no reason it needs to carry on. You couldn't care less if I took that job or not, all you want to do is fight. But there's no point. You don't have to prove anything to me."

"You think I care what you think?!"

"That's not what I-"

Mark didn't see the swing coming soon enough to do anything about it. He stumbled backwards into BlueBoy, the horse shying away as his owner tried to regain his balance.

Holding a hand to his head, Mark tried to reason with Willie. "This isn't going to get us anywhere. You have to understand that I never-"

He ducked to avoid the second punch, but didn't see Willie's left fist coming around to hit him on the other side. The impact of the blow again sent Mark stumbling backwards, Willie kicking Mark's feet out from underneath him before he could regain his bearings. Mark heard his head snap back against a rock, sending excruciating pain through his skull as he tried to bring his vision into focus. He aimlessly swung at the figure hovering above him before a kick to the ribs forced his arms to protectively wrap around his torso. Mark felt several sharp pains radiate through his back as he tried to turn away, Willie finally hauling Mark to his feet and shoving him into a tree.

"You're trash, McCain! You hear me?! You and your pa ain't nothin' but trash! And don't you forget it!"

As Willie let go, Mark crumpled to the ground, the ringing in his ears almost drowning out the sound of a horse trotting away. He struggled to sit upright, cradling his head in his hands as he felt his stomach threatening to empty itself.

"MARK!"

The young man looked up to see the silhouettes of Jeff and Jenny running towards him. He again hung his head to rest in his hands, Jeff kneeling down beside him as he asked Jenny to get a canteen.

"Mark, what happened?! Are you alright?!"

"Willie…"

"What'd you fight him for?!"

"I didn't get a choice…"

Jenny ran up to them and offered Mark some water, but he shook his head. "…I think if I try to force anything down, it'll come right back up."

"We should get you to the doctor," she said.

"I just need a few minutes to get my bearings… I'm alright…"

Jenny reached down to lift Mark's chin as she studied his eyes. "Mark, I don't think you are. You really don't look good."

"Maybe I should go for Doc Burrage," Jeff offered. "…I don't know if he should be riding."

"Just give me a few minutes," Mark insisted. "I'll be able to ride…"

Jenny looked up at Jeff, shaking her head.

"Try to keep him from moving around. I won't be long."

As more time passed, Mark seemed to be doing a little better, but Jenny still wouldn't let him get up. Nearly a half hour later, horses and a buggy could be heard in the distance, Jeff soon appearing with Doc Burrage trailing behind him.

"Mark, I hear you got yourself into another fight," the doctor called as he stepped down from his carriage.

"…I don't think you could exactly call it a fight."

"Where's the most damage?"

"…He did a number on my ribs again, but I smacked my head on a rock and it doesn't feel all that great. My ears are still ringing."

"How's your vision?"

"…It was a little hazy for a while, but it's mostly cleared up now."

"Mostly?"

"It just takes a few seconds for my eyes to adjust when I look at something new."

Doc asked a few more questions as he began examining Mark. He took his time in looking the boy over, finally leaning back as he let out a heavy sigh.

"Well, the good news is I don't think you've done any permanent damage. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if your headache or the pain in your ribs increases by two or three fold before morning. I want you to come back to town and sit in my office for a while, then I'll take you home."

"I can-"

"No sense in you riding home by yourself. I need to go out to check on Mrs. Sever anyhow. Jeff, would you hitch Mark's horse to the back of my buggy?"

"Sure, Doc."

After riding back to town with Mark and the doctor, Jeff and Jenny said goodnight. As Doc offered the young man a seat in his office, he asked Mark for more details about what had happened.

"There's not really any more to tell," he answered. "It didn't last that long and it's all a blur."

"Why does he keep picking a fight with you?"

"It's a long story."

"And it seems to only be getting longer. There's a time when boys being boys turns to men breaking the law. You could press charges, you know."

"…I don't think that's gonna do anything."

"Mark, this is getting out of hand. You're lucky you didn't fracture your skull when you hit that rock."

"…Thanks, Doc, but I'd like to settle this without involving anyone else."

"He may not give you that chance."

An hour had passed before Doc suggested they head to the ranch. Just as they were stepping outside, a rider brought his horse to an abrupt stop in front of the office.

"Doc, it's Georgia; I think somethin's wrong with the baby!"

"Get on back home, I'll be right there."

As Mr. Kane rode away, Burrage turned to Mark. "I won't waste my breath telling you to stay here. Just take it easy on the way home."

"I will. Thanks, Doc."

Mark had made it most of the way to the ranch before he resigned to walking and dismounted. It was dark by the time he arrived home, the cabin door opening as he entered the yard.

"BlueBoy throw a shoe again, or did you forget to-" Lucas stopped mid-sentence as the light from the house illuminated his son's injuries. He hurried down the porch steps, taking the boy by his shoulders. "Mark, what happened?!"

"Willie showed up at Miller's Pond. Doc was gonna bring me home, but something's wrong with Mrs. Kane and her baby and he had to go help them. I was doing alright until about a quarter mile back… started hurting too much to ride."

"Son, I know you want to resolve this on your own, but this has gone on long enough. Willie-"

"Please, Pa… just a little while longer. …I know Willie's taken this too far, but I'd like to try one last time to talk to him."

Lucas let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. "Why won't you tell me what this is all about?"

"It's just better this way. …Please, trust me?"

He hesitated before nodding. "…Alright, Son. But I don't want you anywhere near him until you've had enough time to heal. Go on in and change; I'll take care of BlueBoy."

Lucas returned inside after bedding down the stock to find Mark sitting on his bunk, rubbing witch hazel on his ribs. Catching sight of the developing bruises on his son's back, the rancher made his way across the room and sat down next to him.

"Let me help you."

Mark tried to hold still as Lucas tended to the injuries, but couldn't help grimacing as his wounds protested.

"…What happened to your head?"

"I fell back and hit it on a rock."

"What did Doc say about it?"

"He expects the pain to get worse, but he didn't think there's any permanent damage."

"…Son, I wish you would have stayed in town. Micah could have ridden for me."

"I just wanted to get home. You would have done the same thing- and don't try telling me it's different."

Lucas conceded with a nod. "I want you to stay home from church tomorrow. Even if we took the buckboard, I don't think the jostling would do you any good. Are you hungry?"

"No… I think I'm just going to turn in."

"Alright." Lucas stood, placing the jar on the dresser. "Call if you need anything. And that's an order."

"Yes sir."

"…And Mark?"

"Yeah?"

"I know it takes a lot of character to put up with someone like Willie just because there's a chance he might come around. I'm concerned, but I'm also proud of you. Just be careful."

"Thanks, Pa."

"Afternoon, Mr. McCain."

"Jenny, Jeffrey. What brings the two of you out here?"

"We just wanted to make sure Mark was alright," Jenny answered. "I know he wasn't doing very well last night, and we got concerned when he wasn't in church this morning."

"I didn't want him to make the trip into town. Last I checked, he was sitting up in the front room. You can go on in, just keep your voices down; his head is still hurting quite a bit."

"Thank you."

Jenny waited for Jeff to offer her a hand before dismounting and following him inside. They found Mark at the kitchen table, poking at the food on his plate.

"Either of you hungry?" he half-heartedly asked.

Jeff grabbed a fork and sat down across from Mark, helping himself.

"How can you be hungry?" Jenny asked. "We just ate!"

"That was an hour ago!"

Mark chuckled, shoving the plate closer to Jeff. "Pa keeps threatening to get Doc if I don't eat."

"Because you need to." Jenny stepped forward, sliding the plate back towards Mark and taking Jeff's fork.

"Hey!"

"You're not helping him any. …Mark, how do you feel?"

"Like I got bucked off a horse and a pile of bricks landed on my head."

"That great, huh?"

"…I'm just glad you two were there last night. Thanks for getting Doc."

"Did he say how long until you start feeling better?" Jeff asked.

"No… I reckon it'll take a good while. I was still having occasional pain from the last time Willie decided to beat me up."

"My pa was about ready to fire him when I told him what happened."

Mark's head snapped up, a hint of panic in his eyes. "He didn't, did he?"

"No, I told him that would probably just make Willie more mad and that he'd end up taking it out on you. He accepted that… for now. We'll see once things are slower and he doesn't need me around as much."

"Mark, why don't you talk to my uncle? I'm sure there's something he can do."

"All he can do is put Willie in jail for a couple of days… that wouldn't solve anything. I just need to find the right time to talk to him and settle this, once and for all."

"Settle what?"

Mark shook his head. "A misunderstanding, that's all."

"This seems like a whole lot more than a misunderstanding."

"It is and it isn't… please, just leave me to handle it."

"…Alright."

"I reckon you aren't up to riding up to the canyon with us?" Jeff invited.

"Thanks, but I think I'm going to force down what I can and go to bed for a while. My head is killing me."

"Hope you feel better soon."

"Let us know if there's anything we can do to help," Jenny said. "We'll come by again in a few days."

Mark tried to keep his amusement to himself as Jeff's expression turned from confusion to excitement.

"Thanks. Jenny, you better take a rope with you just in case you have to rescue Jeff again."

"Don't worry, I made sure to grab one before we left town."

"You two aren't ever going to let me live that one down, are you?"

Mark and Jenny laughed as Jeff sighed in embarrassment. "Not a chance. See you two later!"

"Uncle Micah, what are you doing here so early?"

The marshal greeted his niece with a hug as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "I thought I'd join you for breakfast, if you don't mind keeping company with an old man."

"I'd love to."

Micah offered his arm and escorted Jenny to the dining room before pulling out a chair for her. "Haven't seen much of you the last few weeks… seems you're always running off somewhere."

"As my mother always said, you only get to be young for so long… you better make the best of your youth while you have it."

Micah smiled at the memory of his sister. "She was always doing something. You feel like you're settling in alright?"

"I absolutely love it here. Everyone has been so welcoming."

"Good. Did you hear about the summer social coming up in a few weeks?"

She nodded, her smile growing broader. "Jeff asked to escort me."

"…You seem to be spending a lot of time with him lately."

"…Is there something wrong with that?"

"Well, I… I just kinda figured you and Mark…"

Jenny chuckled, shaking her head. "Mark's a good friend, that's all." Studying her uncle's face, the young woman's smile slowly faded. "…What's the matter?"

"Nothing… I just think maybe you should give Mark more thought."

Jenny's brow furrowed in confusion. "…Why? Has Mark said something to you? I thought…"

"No, not a word. I… I guess maybe I just have a different impression of Jeffrey."

"Different impression? What do you mean by that?"

Micah let out a heavy sigh as he thought about how to answer. "…I won't try to meddle in your affairs, but I do care about you. From what I've observed, Jeffrey Waller isn't the most considerate when it comes to how he treats young women he's seeing. I think that boy still has a lot of growing up to do."

"If that's your impression of Jeff, you don't know him at all. I don't think I've met anyone more considerate than he is!"

"…Sure you're not taking that a little far?"

"Uncle Micah…"

"Alright, alright… just please, be careful… take things slowly. I don't want you getting hurt."

"I can take care of myself just fine."

"I'm sure you can… but what kind of an uncle would I be if I didn't look after my niece?"

She smiled, placing her hand on his. "Thank you."

Micah rode out to the McCain ranch after finishing breakfast with Jenny. He found Mark in the yard, hard at work chopping wood.

"Howdy, Micah."

"Mark," he greeted as he dismounted. "You sure you should be doing that?"

"Doc said I could go back to all my chores last week. What brings you out this way? If you're looking for Pa, he's out checking the herd."

"I came to talk to you about Jeffrey Waller."

Mark put the ax down as he stepped closer to the marshal. "Something the matter?"

"He asked Jenny to the summer social."

"…And?"

"…And I'm not too sure I like the idea. …Mark, I know you two are friends… that's why I want to talk to you. I reckon you know him the best. Is he serious about Jenny?"

"More serious than I've seen him about anyone else."

"That's not exactly reassuring."

"…I think I can understand your concerns. I gave him my own warning back when Jenny first came to town… but I do think he really cares about her, a lot. …Sure, Jeff has some rough edges that need smoothing out… we all do. But I know he's not playing games."

"…I just wish they'd slow down a little… I think they've gone riding nearly every day for the last month."

"Well… like my pa says, a good marriage starts with a good friendship… no better way to build that than spending time together."

"It's how they're spending time together that worries me. I don't think they should be spending so much of it alone."

"They have been inviting me along, but I haven't exactly been up to a lot of riding. They've also taken quite a few of their rides out here."

"Still a lot of time for a young woman of her age to be spending alone with one boy..."

"…Well if it bothers you so much, why don't you talk to Jeff?"

"I don't think Jenny would appreciate my meddling."

"…Isn't that kinda what you're already doing?"

"Not as much as I'd like to. If it were up to me, they wouldn't be keeping company at all."

Mark chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, their company is about to turn into a crowd. We're supposed to ride up to Granite Pass tonight."

"…You wouldn't consider dropping a few hints to Jeffrey, would you?"

"Sorry, Micah, I'm not getting caught in the middle of that. Like you said, Jeff is my friend. They're both my friends, and I'd like it to stay that way."

"I understand. Any chance you've got some coffee left from this morning?"

"Plenty. Go on in; I'll be right behind you."