It was well after dark before the exhaustion Mark felt overcame the pain keeping him awake. Still seeing the strain in his son's face, Lucas let out a heavy sigh as he pulled a blanket over the young man. Finally allowing his rage to take over, the father made his way outside to saddle Razor and rode into town. He stormed into the jailhouse, charging the marshal and grabbing his shirt in a fist.
"Give me just one good reason I shouldn't-"
Lucas was interrupted as the sound of a gun being cocked echoed through the office. "…Mister, I suggest you let the marshal go."
"It's alright, Dan," Micah assured. "…He's got every right."
Lucas looked over his shoulder to see a man with a badge standing behind him. "Who are you?"
"Dan Chambers, territorial marshal. And despite what the marshal here might think, you can't go around assaulting lawmen."
"This isn't any of your concern. If you'll excuse us, your "lawman" and I have business to settle."
"Your "business" is going to have to wait. I need to finish talking to the marshal so I can track down the men that killed an eighteen-year-old boy last week."
Lucas roughly let go of Micah, tightening his grip on his rifle as he sat down on the corner of the desk.
"I'll have to ask you to leave."
The rancher shook his head as he walked towards the door, turning around and pointing a finger at the marshal. "The fact that he's here doesn't change what you have to answer for!"
"I know, Lucas… I'm sorry."
"Sorry," he spat. "I'll be waiting outside."
As the office door slammed shut behind him, Lucas walked to the hitching post, letting out an angry sigh as he leaned against it.
"Lucas?" The rancher looked up to see Lou making her way down the boardwalk. "How's Mark?"
"How's Mark," he growled. "What do you think?"
"…I only briefly saw 'im as he and Doc were leavin' town… but after what Jenny told me…"
"That girl…"
"She feels horrible, Lucas."
"And she should!"
"…Ya can't blame her fer what Micah did."
"I'm not. I'm blaming her for what she did!"
"She knows she was wrong."
"She should have known before she did it- the thought should have never crossed her mind! She either did it out of ignorance that no one her age should have, or in complete disregard of the impact it would have on my son!"
"She did it because she was scared. She wasn't thinking!"
"You can't claim both. If she did it out of fear, she was thinking- she was thinking about how she could avoid the ramifications she brought upon herself!"
"Lucas, I'm not sayin' she was right! I'm just sayin' ya might try ta be the least bit understandin' of the position she was in!"
"Tell that to Mark."
"Knowin' yer son, I think he'd be a lot more understandin' than you!"
"He understands, Lou. He understands the mess she's gotten herself into and how frightening it must be. He wants to do what he can to help. But Jenny and Micah turning on him like this is one thing he can't understand, and after everything he's done for that girl since she got here, I don't either!"
"She didn't have ill intentions. She didn't mean it ta be a betrayal!"
Lou turned around as a quiet voice unexpectedly sounded behind her.
"But it was." Jenny took another tentative step forward, her eyes pleading with Lucas to let her speak. "…Mr. McCain, I'm sorry. Regardless of how harmless I thought my statement would be, it was completely inexcusable for me to tell Uncle Micah Mark and I were involved with each other in any way. …I didn't give any consideration to what my words could result in for Mark… all I saw was what I thought would be an easier alternative for me… and I'm sorry I tried to use his friendship in that way. …It was entirely immature and selfish, and I know there's nothing I can do to rectify my actions. But please know that while my intention was never to hurt him, I know that I did. And I cannot tell you how sorry I am for the hurt I've caused."
Lucas studied the young woman before slowly nodding. "Jennifer, I appreciate what you're saying, but I'm not the one you should be saying it to."
"…You're not the only one I should be saying it to," she carefully countered. "I can see that what I've done has hurt you just as it's hurt Mark. I'm sorry, and as long as it's alright with you, I would like to make a trip out to the ranch to apologize to Mark."
"I think that would be a good start."
"Thank you. …Have a good night."
As the young woman returned to the hotel, Lou turned back towards the rancher. "See?"
"See what? She admitted she was wrong!"
"Don't ya see that she didn't mean fer none of this ta happen?!"
"That doesn't mean she's not responsible, and she knows that."
"Lucas, I know yer concern is protectin' yer son, just don't ignore the need fer a little compassion while ya do it!"
"I'm not. I'm making sure that compassion doesn't get abused. What she did says a lot about her character."
"Oh, and I'm sure ya've never made a mistake that had nothing ta do with yer own character!"
"I have, Lou. And that's why I'm wary of trusting her to not hurt Mark again. I won't stop her from trying to make things right… it'll just take me a lot longer to trust her again than it will for Mark. And before you say it, I know I can't use that as an excuse to always intervene… he's grown and I have to start letting go. But tonight I'm not just acting as his father. His best friend was murdered, another good friend of his put him in jeopardy to protect herself, and the town marshal attacked him. Tonight I'm acting as the friend of a young man who's dealing with a world of hurt and needs someone to have his back."
Several moments passed as Lou looked past the anger in Lucas's eyes to see the hurt the man felt for his son. "…I understand. …If there's anythin' I can do… please let me know."
Long after Lou had gone back to the hotel, Marshal Chambers stepped out of Micah's office and started towards his horse. "…Mister, I'll be around for a while. Anything happens to Marshal Torrence, I'll be the one pressing charges."
"You want to press charges, start with the man who assaulted my seventeen-year-old son."
"And just who would that be?"
"Who do you think?"
Without saying anything else, Lucas brushed past the marshal and entered the office, slamming his fists on Micah's desk as the door fell shut behind him.
"…Lucas-boy…"
"Don't Lucas-boy me, Micah! Mark has a fractured skull! You could have killed him today!"
"…I don't know what to say. I… I thought I was protecting my niece, I…"
"Protecting her?!" The father's shouts reverberated off the walls, slipping out the windows and into the street. "This whole time, all you've done is complain about Jenny seeing Jeffrey; meanwhile my son was doing everything he could to help them work through their differences. Last night he was ready to marry the girl to help save her from the embarrassment of carrying that child alone! And you have the audacity to say she needed protecting from him!"
"…All I knew was what she told me."
"And despite everything you know Mark stands for, you attacked him without giving him the chance to speak for himself! You trusted the word of a girl you hardly know over the character you've spent the last seven years helping me instill in my son!"
"…All I could see was Evelyn… the pain her mistakes caused her. …I'm not excusing what I did… I just… Lucas, it blinded me. I'll never forgive myself for what I did to Mark… I know I can't ask you to."
"I'm not here for me! What you did today absolutely crushed Mark! He trusted you, Micah- he looked up to you! Time will heal the physical injuries, but you better find a way to fix all the other damage you caused, because no amount of time will ever heal that hurt!"
"…I will, Lucas-b…" He stopped, catching himself before going on. "…I will."
The rancher left the office and made his way to Doc's residence, thankful to see light coming from the house. He knocked on the door, Burrage quickly answering it.
"Luke? Is something wrong with Mark?"
"No, I just had some questions about what happened today."
The doctor turned, gesturing for the rancher to follow him inside. "I can't tell you any more than he can. All I know is what he told me."
"The injuries, Doc. How bad is it? …Mark's been in a lot of pain… it took him a long time to fall asleep tonight."
"After the summer he's had, I wouldn't expect any less. Like I said in my note, he should be fine."
"That's what worries me. Why can't you say he will be alright?"
"Because that boy has a knack for getting himself into trouble and I don't know what would happen if he got hurt again. Truth be told, we're lucky there weren't worse consequences from this afternoon. Watch him closely, keep him at the ranch… no riding horses or driving the buckboard. I really didn't like the idea of taking him home today, but given what happened, I thought it would be best."
"Is there anything you can give him for the pain?"
The doctor hesitated before retrieving a bottle from his bag. "A teaspoon of this in the evenings if, and only if, he seems to be thinking clearly; it'll help lessen the pain so he can sleep. As tempting as it may be, don't give him any more than that."
Lucas nodded in understanding. "Thanks, Doc."
"How are you doing?"
"Me?"
"I can't imagine you're on the best terms with Micah right now."
"No, I'm not."
"You have every right to be angry. Just don't let it cloud your thinking."
"Tempting as it was, there's nothing I can do to him that will change what he did to Mark. …Thanks for the medicine."
"I'll see you in a few days."
Lucas rode back to the ranch and took care of the stock. Upon entering the house, he found his son sitting at the table, holding his head in his hands.
"Mark?"
The young man looked up, pain written all over his face. "Where did you go?"
"…Son, I'm sorry; I thought you would sleep until morning." He gestured with the bottle in his hand as he went on, "I went to see Doc. He said this might help take the edge off so you can sleep better."
"…You saw Micah too, didn't you?"
The rancher merely nodded as he crossed the room to get a spoon.
"…Pa…"
"We only talked, Son."
"…I know. …Thank you."
The following morning, Lucas was working in the barn when he heard a horse in the yard. He set the pitchfork aside and walked to the doorway to see a rider dismounting.
"…Marshal Chambers," he greeted. "What can I do for you?"
"Mr. McCain, I don't have much tolerance for men who disrespect the law and its representatives. Last night I was almost ready to take you into custody."
"Last night had nothing to do with the law. It had to do with a friend of mine attacking my son."
"And after hearing the whole story, I can be a bit more understanding." The marshal briefly paused before going on, "From what I hear, you've had quite a hand in helping keep law and order around these parts."
"We defend our own."
"Marshal Torrence tells me you're the first one he turns to when he needs an acting marshal."
"I've stepped in from time to time."
"Then you'll take no issue stepping in again."
"What?"
"I'm going to deputize you to keep the peace in town until I can get one of my own deputies down here to take Marshal Torrence's place."
"Take Micah's place? Where's he going?"
"No where, and I trust you'll see to it that it stays that way. I'm relieving the marshal of his duties until further notice."
"Until further- now wait just a minute. Micah's the elected marshal of this town. You have no authority to-"
"Marshal Torrence has no business carrying a badge until he's been cleared of any involvement with the murder of Jeffrey Waller."
"Marshal, you don't know what you're talking about! Micah would never-"
"What I know is that the young man courting his niece was murdered just a few days before he attacked your son, under the impression that he was involved with Miss Lincoln. Just because he's the town marshal, that doesn't mean he's cleared of any suspicion."
"You're wasting your time! Micah had nothing to do with that boy's death!"
"I hope you can be proven right. Until then, I can't in good conscience leave the town under his care. I'll expect you at the jail by noon today so I can deputize you and be on my way. I have inquiries to make in Willow Springs."
Lucas shook his head in disgust as the marshal turned to mount up.
"I don't like this any more than you do, Mr. McCain, but I have a duty to apply the law equally to all men. I appreciate your cooperation."
The rancher watched as Marshal Chambers rode away, finally looking up to see Mark standing on the porch. He crossed the yard, asking his son how long he had been there.
"I heard him ride in. …You don't think he's going to try to blame Micah, do you?"
"No, because he won't find any evidence to back it up. I just hope he doesn't waste time looking for something that doesn't exist."
"…Pa, what did he mean when he said he was almost ready to take you into custody last night?"
Lucas looked his son over for several moments as he considered how to answer the question. "…When I first rode into town, I wasn't so sure talking was all Micah and I were going to do."
Mark simply nodded.
Later that morning, Lucas was headed back to the barn to get Razor when he saw a rider in the distance. He turned to open the door again, calling to his son.
"Jenny's here."
Mark joined Lucas on the porch and looked to the bridge. "…Thanks, Pa."
"I'll be in the barn if you need anything."
When Jenny rode up to the house, Mark stepped down from the porch and steadied her horse so she could dismount. There were tears on the young woman's cheeks as she turned to looked up at him, regret deeply rooted in her eyes.
"…Mark, I… I'm so sorry. I… I cannot tell you how… how sorry I am. I should have never even thought about suggesting that you could have been involved in any way, and I… I'm sorry…"
"…Is that why you wanted to tell him on your own?"
"No, I… I hadn't even thought about it until he started getting upset and I… I just panicked. …I know that's no excuse… I cannot tell you how desperately I wish I could go back and change what I did. I… I understand how you must feel and I don't expect forgiveness or for you to act like nothing happened… I just wanted you to know how sorry I am."
"…I know you are. …Do you still want me to go with you to tell the Wallers?"
Jenny's brow furrowed as she looked back at Mark in shock. "After everything I did, I couldn't ask you to…"
"You're not asking. I'm offering… as a friend."
Lucas stepped out of the barn to see Mark inviting Jennifer inside. He called to his son, leading Razor behind him to meet Mark halfway across the yard.
"Are you sure you're going to be alright by yourself?"
He nodded. "Once Jenny leaves, I think I'll enjoy the peace and quiet."
"Don't be afraid to ask her to go; she'll understand. Dirk should be stopping in town when he gets back from Pine Valley… I'll ask him to check in on you before he rides out to the range."
"Really, Pa, I'm-"
"I know, but it'll put me at ease. Have a good day, Son."
"You too."
Mark made his way inside where he spent quite a while talking to Jenny. It was getting close to noon when the young woman stood from the table, apologizing for keeping him so long.
"I was going to ride up to Granite Pass this afternoon… would you like to come along?"
"Thanks, but I probably won't be doing much riding till near the end of the year. Sure you don't want something to eat before you go?"
"I had a late breakfast, thank you, though."
"…Sure you should be riding all the way out there in your… um… condition?"
"It's perfectly alright. My mother was riding up until the day she gave birth to me. Almost rode for the midwife herself, too."
"Just be careful."
"Thank you, Mark, I will."
After saying goodbye to Jenny, Mark got something to eat before accidentally falling asleep in his pa's chair. Nearly an hour later, the young man startled awake at the sound of an urgent knock on the door. He opened it, utter shock crossing his face when he saw who was on the other side.
"Wi… Willie? What…" He subconsciously took a step backwards, memories from earlier that summer racing through his mind.
"I know I'm the last person you want to see, but I didn't know who else to go to! Anyone in town would skin me alive before I had a chance to explain!"
"…Explain what?"
"I was in Pine Valley last night, I overheard two men talking about some girl they were looking for. I didn't pay much mind until one of them mentioned your pa."
"My pa?"
Willie nodded. "Said the girl came out here a lot and that he got your pa to hire him on so he could watch for her. Mark, I think those men are out to kill Jenny!"
Mark's mind began spinning as he reached behind the door for his rifle. He thought back to when Jenny had first arrived in North Fork, regretting his promise to keep her secret.
"…My pa's in town filling in for the marshal; I want you to ride in and tell him what you just told me."
"Are you crazy?! Your pa would kill me as soon as he laid eyes on me!"
"We don't have time to argue, Willie! Tell him I sent you and that we'll meet him down at Granite Creek."
"But-"
"NOW!"