"Micah, I'd give her some more time if'n I were you," Lou warned.
"Time? What are you talking about? I thought you said she was sick."
"I know she's feelin' poorly, but I think she might also be a little sick at heart. …I've gotta feelin' somethin' happened between her and Jeff."
"I knew that boy wasn't any good for her," Micah mumbled. "I should have been firmer."
"Now don't ya go jumpin' ta any conclusions. Just because somethin' might've happened, that doesn't mean one of 'em had to do somethin' wrong."
"When that boy gets back into town, me and him are going to have a long-"
"Uncle Micah!"
Lou and the marshal looked up to see Jenny making her way down the stairs.
"Jenny, I thought you were up in bed?"
"Apparently," she answered. "What happened between me and Jeff is our business and while I understand your concern, I certainly don't appreciate you trying to get involved."
"…I'm trying to protect you from getting hurt."
"I don't need protecting! Please, just stay out of this."
Micah studied his niece for several moments before giving in with a hesitant nod.
"Miss Mallory, thank you for your help the last few days. I'll be up to opening the store tomorrow morning."
"Are ya sure?"
She nodded, letting out a deep breath before turning to her uncle. "…Thank you for your concern, but there's nothing you can do to help. This is something Jeffrey and I have to sort out on our own."
"…I just wish you'd consider that maybe he's not the suitor for you."
"…If it makes you feel any better, not all my time is spent with Jeff. …I know there's a certain someone you'd prefer I gave my attention to."
"You mean you and…"
"That's all I'll say for now." Jenny smiled as she reached up to kiss her uncle on the cheek. "Have a good night. You too, Miss Mallory."
Without saying anything else, Jenny left the hotel and made her way to the livery.
"Mr. Swenson?"
"Hello, Miss Jenny. Something I can do for you?"
"Could I borrow a horse for a few hours?"
"Take your pick. I'd offer to help you saddle up, but I think I know what your answer would be."
She quietly chuckled, nodding her head. "Thank you, I'll be alright."
As the young woman rode out of town, dozens of thoughts swirled in her head, threatening to take the form of tears. She berated herself for the choices she had made, fearful of where those choices would lead. Riding into the McCains' yard, the girl was greeted by Lucas as he stepped from the barn.
"Good evening, Jennifer. What brings you out this way so late?"
"Is Mark feeling up to company?"
The rancher nodded. "Go on in; he's reading in the front room."
"Thank you."
She jumped down and quickly made her way inside, Mark turning at the sound of the door opening and closing.
"…Jenny, what's the matter?"
Before she could stop them, tears burst from the young woman's eyes. Mark quickly got up and offered her a chair, taking a seat on the other side of the table.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I did… did want to see how… how you were doing before…" Jenny shook her head as more tears ran down her face.
"I'm fine. What's the matter?"
"…Jeff and I had an argument and now… Mark, I don't know what to do!"
"He left you that letter, didn't he?"
She nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "That's the problem; I… I don't know what to do… I don't know what to believe. One minute he acts like nothing matters to him, and the next… the next he's talking about getting married!"
"…You two haven't actually talked, have you?"
"I wasn't ready! Mark, right now I'm just trying to decide whether or not I can trust him! I'm not ready to decide whether or not I want to marry him!"
"You're telling me he proposed in a letter?!"
"…Not exactly, but…" Jenny reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. She briefly looked the letter over and folded it to cover some of its contents before placing it in front of Mark. "Read it for yourself."
Mark read the bottom third of the letter, shaking his head as he tried to contain his laughter.
"This isn't funny!"
"I'm sorry, I know it's not, but I know what Jeff meant and I can see how this could be taken wrong. …Jenny, Jeff loves you, a lot. And because of whatever it was he did, he's scared of losing you. I can promise you he didn't mean he wants to get married right now… he just wanted to let you know how seriously he does take your relationship and that one day, in the distant future, he does want to marry you."
"How am I supposed to trust that after…"
"After what?"
"…What he did."
"…I don't know what this mysterious "thing" is that Jeff did, but I know he's sorry and I know that he knows he said something that made it sound like he didn't take it seriously when he does. Jeff has good intentions… he just doesn't always say the right thing. Especially when it comes to girls."
Jenny thought for a long moment, hesitating to go on. "…How long have you known Jeff?"
"…About seven years now."
"…If I asked you something personal… do you think you could answer it honestly without compromising your friendship?"
"As long as it's not something he told me in confidence."
"Nothing like that… I… Mark, if you had a sister, and it was her in my shoes with Jeff… would you trust him with her?"
Surprised by the question, Mark considered it for quite some time before answering. "…A few months ago, I would have said I wasn't quite so sure. Not because I thought he'd do anything wrong intentionally, but because Jeff… well, both of us can be a little absent minded… especially when it comes to girls. Truth be told, I warned him to be careful when you first moved here because I didn't want either of you getting hurt. Now I know Jeff did something to mess things up, but I've been watching you two and I've been watching how Jeff treats you. And from what I can see, if it were my own sister, I don't think I'd have any concerns, because even when he does mess up, he's willing to admit it and do what he can to fix it. Friends or not, I would probably threaten a little bodily harm if he ever did hurt her, but I wouldn't try to get her to call things off." With a gleam in his eye, Mark added, "…I'd do the same for you, but I think Jeff might be more scared of you than me."
She chuckled, shaking her head. "You're never going to let me forget punching him, are you?"
"Nope." A few moments passed before he continued, "…I won't try to get involved too much in how you two resolve this, but you might consider sending him a telegram in Willow Springs tonight to let him know you're at least willing to talk. …He was worried sick you'd up and leave town without saying goodbye."
"He was?"
Mark nodded. "He wouldn't have left town if there had been any way out of it… he hated going with things like they were between you two."
"Thank you."
"…About your aunt… if you left without her knowing… I reckon she's gotta be worried sick about you by now, too." Mark watched as the young woman's entire body tensed at the mere mention of her aunt. "…Jenny?"
"…She knows everything she needs to. Please… just leave well enough alone."
"…I won't press the issue any further, but whatever is going on, you should tell your uncle. …At the very least, if you really do need to avoid her, he can help you."
"You don't understand… Uncle Micah doesn't need to know anything else; he can't know anything else! It would absolutely destroy him!"
Mark brow furrowed in confusion as his eyes filled with concern. "…If there's anything I can do to help…"
"You can help by staying out of this. Please, Mark… you'll only make things worse."
"…Alright."
Sunday morning, Lucas was surprised to see his son step out of the bedroom with a tie around his neck.
"What are you all dressed up for?"
"…It's Sunday, remember?"
"Are you sure you feel up to going to church? You didn't seem to handle the trip home from Doc's too well."
"That was almost a week ago, I'll be fine."
"…Alright, but I want your word you'll let me know if your head starts getting worse."
"I will."
Within the hour, the McCains were driving the buckboard into town. Mark was the first into the church building and quickly began looking around, his brow furrowing at the absence of two of the congregants.
"I'm guessing it wasn't the sermon you were looking forward to today?" Lucas asked as he came up behind his son.
"I would've wanted to come anyway, but I thought at least one of them would be here."
"You can track them down after the service. Let's find our seats."
Mark found himself more distracted than he would have liked to admit as the morning progressed. He was concerned that Jeff and Jenny were absent from the crowd, and quickly made his way to Lou after the sermon concluded.
"Mark, 'tis a suprise ta see ya; I woulda thought you'd be home after the week ya had."
"I'm feeling a lot better, thanks. …Have you seen Jenny or Jeff this morning?"
"When I left the hotel this mornin' they were still in the dinin' room."
"…Still?"
Lou nodded. "Must've been near ten o'clock last night afore Jeff closed up the gun shop an' asked Jenny ta talk. I don't think either one of 'em got a wink of sleep."
"…You think everything's gonna be alright between them?"
"Considerin' the smile I saw on Jenny's face this mornin', I certainly don't think things have gone too poorly."
Turning around as Lucas walked up behind him, Mark informed his pa that he was going down to the hotel.
"Just don't be too long; I have to check the watering holes when we get back home."
"I won't."
Mark made his way to the Mallory House and entered the restaurant to find Jenny and Jeff talking at a corner table.
"Mark, what are you doing in town?" Jenny asked in surprise.
"Well besides the fact that we had church, I wanted to make sure you two were alright."
"Church! What time is it?!"
"After noon."
"I'm sorry," Jeff apologized. "I didn't mean to…" He stopped and looked out the window, both of them realizing how long they had been talking. "…It's Sunday?"
Mark laughed as he nodded.
"Jenny, I'm sorry, I…"
"Neither of us realized the time… and I'd say that's a good thing."
"Well I'd invite you two out to the ranch for dinner," Mark began, "But you both look exhausted. Maybe next week?"
Jeff nodded. "I'll have to check with my folks, but I don't think we have anything planned."
"Mark, thank you… for everything. If it hadn't been for you…"
He shook his head. "What are friends for? I'm glad you could work everything out. …Pa's waiting for me, so I better get going. I'll see you two later."
Jeff and Jenny made several trips out to the McCain ranch over the next several weeks as Mark continued to improve. He knew better than to ride, but the three often took long walks around the property. Inevitably, Mark found himself more and more an observer of conversation as the relationship between Jenny and Jeffrey progressed.
One evening late in August, Lucas found Mark in BlueBoy's stall, brushing the horse down.
"You didn't take him riding, did you?"
Mark shook his head. "…We walked the horses with us… thought he could use the exercise."
The tone of his son's voice concerned Lucas. He stepped closer, carefully studying Mark's expression. "…Something the matter?"
The young man shrugged his shoulders as he continued his task.
"Mark." The rancher waited for his son to look up at him before going on. "…What's wrong?"
"…I don't know. …I guess I always knew that if Jeff and Jenny were ever more than friends… I mean, we could all still be friends, but it would just be a little different. …But something seemed off tonight. I couldn't exactly put my finger on it, and maybe I'm reading into things too much… there just seemed to be a different air between them… between all of us. Jenny was the least talkative I've ever seen her… and I guess it kinda has me worried."
"Did either of them say anything to make you think something was wrong?"
"No… but I don't think they had to. I think we all sensed it. …I just wish I could figure out whatever "it" was. …Or, like I said, maybe I'm just reading into things." Mark shook his head before changing the subject. "What did Doc say when you went into town today?"
"If we take the buckboard into town Saturday and see him first, he'll let you take inventory for Lou as long as everything checks out and you don't lift anything heavy. …Are you sure you're feeling up to it?"
"I'm starting to go stir crazy around here. I've got to have something to do besides sit and read."
Lucas nodded in understanding. "Just so long as you're not pushing yourself too much. …What Willie did to you…"
"I know, Pa. I'll be careful."
The next morning, Mark was milking the cow when he heard someone ride into the yard. He looked up, surprised to see Jeffrey entering the barn.
"…Jeff, is something the matter?"
The young man shook his head, letting out a deep sigh as he sat down on a hay bale. "…Yeah, I reckon you could say that…"
Mark quickly finished with the cow before crossing the barn and taking a seat behind his friend. "What happened?"
"I did something stupid, that's what happened!"
"…This about you and Jenny?"
He nodded, cradling his head in his hands. "…Mark, I need help and I don't know who else to ask."
"You know I'll do whatever I can."
"I need a job."
Mark's forehead creased as he looked at Jeff in bewilderment. "A… a job? What does that have to do with you and Jenny? What about working with your pa at the gun shop?"
"I'll still run deliveries for him on the weekend, but… but I don't get paid enough working in the shop… that's all family money and… Mark, all I need is a month or so; enough to get us up to Santa Fe. You and your pa take on help towards the end of the season, don't you?"
"Santa Fe? Why do you need money to get to Santa Fe?"
"I have some money saved up, but it's not enough for a ticket. I reckon I can ride up there, but I'm not gonna let her do that!"
"Who? Jenny? Why would you and Jenny be going up to Santa Fe?"
"To get married."
"Married?!" Mark jumped to his feet, staring at Jeff in shock. "What are you talking about?!"
"Jenny and I are gonna get married… no one knows us in Santa Fe… no one to say we ain't old enough… plenty of jobs there so we can get settled, and…"
"Hold on just one minute! Just a few weeks ago you said you weren't ready to marry her- and you were right!"
"…Things change."
"What things?! Jeff, I'm all for you two courtin', but she's hardly been here three months! That's not enough time to decide about marriage!"
"Things just change! Please, Mark, I… I know this isn't ideal, but it's either now or a few months from now when my folks-"
"Hello, Jeffrey." Mark and Jeff looked up to see Lucas entering the barn. "What brings you by so early?"
"I have to open the shop this morning and then take that order to Willow Springs this afternoon. …I'm looking for another job during the week and came out to see if you and Mark could use some extra help until the cattle drive."
"What about working with your pa?"
"I'm needing a little more ready cash than he can offer."
Lucas nodded in understanding. "Sorry we can't be of any help, but I just hired a hand when I was in town yesterday, and after taking him on, we won't exactly have much cash on hand until the cattle sell next month."
"Thanks anyway. …I better be going… like I said, I gotta open the shop."
"Jeff-"
"I'll be seeing you, Mark."
As Jeffrey left the building, Lucas noticed the strange look his son held. "…Something wrong?"
Mark slowly nodded before looking up at his pa. "…Jeff says he and Jenny are gonna get married."
Lucas laughed, shaking his head. "Sounds like someone else I know."
"You don't understand. That's why he wanted the job. He needs the money so they can go up to Santa Fe to get married and settle."
"You were pretty set on buying that piece of land for you and Sally, too."
"…This is different, Pa. …I think he's really gonna do it."
"Well we'll just have to see what Jenny has to say about that. Dirk is going to be here first thing tomorrow so I can show him around… you think you're up to taking the team into town tomorrow morning?"
Mark slowly nodded as he turned to look out the barn doors once again.
"Don't worry, Son. I'm sure once Jenny gets wind of Jeff's notion, she'll have a thing or two to say about it."
Saturday morning, Doc gave Mark the okay to do inventory around the hotel and store. He started at the Mallory House where Lou filled him in on what he had missed before apprehensively making his way to the general store. Finding Jenny preoccupied with a customer, the young man made his way to the back room and started checking the stock. Nearly half an hour had passed before Mark heard footsteps behind him and turned around to see Jenny standing in the doorway.
"…Jeff told me he went to talk to you."
"…I know you might not believe this, but when I told you he didn't have any immediate intentions, I was only repeating what he told me. I didn't know he was gonna turn around and start talking about moving to Santa Fe and-"
"I know." Jenny stepped further into the room, reaching into a crate to begin stocking the shelf. "…He didn't know he was going to have to, either."
"…Is this really what you want?"
"…I do love him, Mark. It is what I wanted… but not this way… not now."
"Then why are you letting him go on about getting married? If you're not ready-"
"We don't have a choice. If we don't get married now… I'm scared of what Uncle Micah might do… and his family certainly doesn't need that kind of embarrassment."
"What are you talking about?"
"…Jeff didn't tell you?"
"Didn't tell me what?"
"…Mark, I…"
"SOMEONE GET DOC BURRAGE!"
Mark and Jenny followed the voice outside where they found two men unloading a bloody figure from the stage coach.
"Jeff… JEFF!"
"Mark, keep her back!"
Mark followed Micah's order, pulling the young woman back to keep her from running into the street.
"LET ME GO!"
Jenny fought against Mark as he led her into the store, finally giving in as tears burst from her eyes. She buried her head into his shoulder, Mark looking up to see Henry Waller running towards the doctor's office.