Hearing the door open, Micah looked up from the desk and leaned back in his chair. "Lucas-boy, what can I do for you?"
"Go see Mark."
The marshal's smile faded as he saw the look in the father's eye. "…I'm sure I'm the last person he wants to-"
"He wants things to be right between the two of you, Micah. And you avoiding him is only making him think you don't care about him or what you did."
"…After everything that's happened, I figured he would need more time."
"Nearly dying has a way of making you see what's important. And what's important to him is that you two don't lose your relationship over one mistake."
"…It was more than a mistake, Lucas."
"You know what I mean."
"…I'll give him a few more days and-"
"Now, Micah. It's not going to be any easier for you in a few days. You need to settle this now."
The marshal slowly nodded before standing from his desk and starting towards the door. "…Aren't you coming?"
"This is between the two of you."
"…I'll see you later, then."
Micah's shoulders were heavy as he made his way down to the doctor's office. He entered to find the front room empty, hesitating before knocking on the other door.
"Come in."
The marshal slowly pushed open the door, just barely stepping inside the room. "…Are you sure?"
Mark nodded, watching as Micah sat down beside the bed.
"…Where's Doc?"
"Making his rounds."
"How are you feeling?"
"…A little disappointed."
"Disappointed?"
"…You, me, and Pa… I kinda always thought of us like family in a way. …I thought you did, too. …Guess maybe I shouldn't have made that assumption… but Pa kinda figured it the same way. After what you had been told… I can maybe understand that you lost your temper… that you thought you were protecting Jenny. …Truth be told, had circumstances been different, Jeff and me might have had it out. …But you've been avoiding me and I don't understand why."
"…I was scared. Scared to face the fact that I had hurt a young man who means everything to me… a young man I love as my own. Scared that you wouldn't be able to forgive me… that I'd lost any chance of you trusting me again. Mark, I…" Tears glistened in the marshal's eyes as he went on, "I'm so sorry. I… I can't blame you for staying angry with me. …We're lucky that one of those blows didn't kill you, and I… I'll never forgive myself for what I did…"
"…I think it would be better if you did."
Micah slowly looked up, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"…I suppose I was a little angry at first. But I was more confused than anything else. Confused, and like you, scared that we'd lost what we had. …So if you could find it in you to forgive yourself… I'd kinda like things to go back to the way they were."
"Mark, I…"
"…Course… I guess maybe there is one thing that might take me a while to get over. …After slugging me, the least you could have done is snuck some real food in here. Doc's had me on nothing but bone broth and chicken stock for two days." The young man held a look of feigned frustration until the marshal finally let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. As he quieted, Mark hesitated, unsure of how Micah would take what he had to say next. "…I know this doesn't change what happened or make things easier… but I think you should know that Jeff really did love Jenny. He was gonna find a way to support them and he was gonna marry her. There was obviously no going back… there is no going back. But moving forward, he wanted to do everything right."
Micah nodded. "…I wish he would've had the chance."
Mark slowly made steps towards recovery over the next several weeks. While he was allowed to stay at the hotel, neither Doc nor Lucas felt comfortable moving him to the ranch, especially as Lucas spent longer days on the range preparing the cattle for market. It was late-September before the rancher finally accepted that he couldn't put off the cattle drive any longer. The night before he was to leave, Lucas found himself on the hotel balcony, the events of the preceding months weighing heavily on him.
"…Pa?"
Lucas turned around to see his son walking towards him, heavily limping as he reached out to steady himself. "Mark, what are you doing out here?!" He stepped forward, supporting Mark as he eased into a chair. "You should be in bed!"
"Doc said I should try getting up and moving around more."
"With help. You could have-"
"I'm fine, Pa. And I'm going to be fine. Lou won't let me out of her sight while you're gone. Besides, after this summer… I'm not rarin' to go and get myself busted up again, so you can believe me when I say I'll listen to Doc and I'll take it easy. And if you'll recall that telegram we got from Micah just a few hours ago, Willie, Dirk, and Jenny's Aunt aren't going to be seeing the outside of their prison cells for a long time. …You don't need to worry."
Lucas let out a deep breath, giving a sad smile as he placed a hand on his son's shoulder and sat down beside him. "…I know. Thank you."
"…Are you alright?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's two o'clock in the morning and you're starting a drive in a few hours. I don't think you're out here because you wanted to watch the moon set."
"…No, I'm not. …Mark, I'm sorry."
"Sorry? What for?"
"…As you get older, I'll naturally be leaving more and more to your own discretion. …But I shouldn't have when it came to Willie. As a father, it's my job to protect you… and I failed to do that."
"I asked you to stay out of it."
"I didn't have to. And I shouldn't have."
"Why not? …Until I told you the whole story, you thought it was a disagreement over something I did wrong. If anyone besides Willie is to blame, it's me. I assumed I knew the whole story and didn't ask anyone for advice. I was the one who chose not to involve you. …Like I said before, I didn't want you to have to relive all that."
"…And like I said, that wasn't your burden to carry."
"…It was for you, Pa. It wasn't a burden."
Lucas shook his head as he put an arm around his son. "I don't know what I'm going to do with you."
"Well if you wanted to get rid of me, you should've let me marry Jenny. By your estimation, you're stuck with me for at least another three years now."
"I'll take all the time I can get."
April 14, 1888
Mark jumped as he looked up to see a figure in the doorway. As Jenny let out a long laugh, he turned back towards the shelf, shaking his head. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same question. Do you have any idea what time it is?"
"After hours, which means I can get this stock put away without being asked to fetch pickles and chicken wire. Shouldn't you be at the hotel? I thought Doc had you on bed rest."
"My back's been cramping all day from staying in that bed. I've had quite enough rest as far as I'm concerned."
"How'd you get past my pa and Micah? I thought they were having coffee over there."
"They must've gone to the café; the dining room was deserted." Jenny walked to the counter, leaning against it as she went on, "No chance you'd be willing to sneak me out of town for a few hours, is there?"
"And just what would you expect me to do if you went into labor? All I know about that is there's a whole lot of waitin' and a whole lot of…"
"Of what?"
"…Well, screamin'."
"Screaming," she mused. "It can't be all… that bad."
"…Haven't you ever been around… when… well…"
"…No, I always got sent to the neighbor's." Jenny shook her head, reaching to rub her back. "If anything, it's these back pains… that are going to do me in. I don't understand why Doc… insisted I stay in bed so… so long."
"…Are you sure you're alright?"
She nodded before turning to pace the floor. "Just need to work… these knots out. …Am I still… banned from the ranch, or… or do I get to see those new… calves sometime this week?"
"…They'll still be calves after you have the baby. …Jenny, I think maybe-" He stopped short, running towards her as she grabbed her stomach, gasping in pain. "Jenny?!"
"I'm… I'm alright…" She slowly sank to the floor, trying to push him away. "Just a little… winded."
"Winded?! You're not winded! I'm gonna get-"
"Mark, I'll be f-fine, I just-"
Unable to hold it in any longer, Jenny suddenly grabbed Mark's arm as she let out a long cry.
"I'm getting Doc!"
"No!" Jenny pulled him back, shaking her head. "It's… it's gone now… it's nothing."
"That wasn't nothing!"
"Please, Mark, just a few… more…"
She stopped, her expression turning from stubborn determination to shock.
"Jenny, what's going on?!"
"…I think my water just broke."
"What do you mean?"
"…You really don't know anything about labor, do you?"
"I told you I didn't!"
"It means the baby's coming, that's what it means!"
"Coming? Now?!"
She nodded, reaching to pull herself up.
"What are you doing?! Stay here, I'll get help!"
"I am NOT giving birth to my child in the middle of the store room!"
"Jenny-"
"I'm getting back to the hotel, with or without your help!"
Mark let out a frustrated sigh, giving no warning before picking her up. "Doc's will be more private and I'm not carrying you up those stairs."
"Put me down or so help me-"
Jenny was interrupted as she let out another cry, the pain forcing her to press into Mark's frame. He shook his head as he started out the door, mumbling that she should have stayed at the hotel.
As fast as he could, Mark carried Jenny to Doc's and laid her down in the back room before running to the hotel. He entered through the kitchen door, relieved to see Lou at the stove.
"Mark, what's the matter? Ya look like-"
"It's Jenny, she's gone into labor!"
"How would you-"
"She's next door at Doc's office, I'm running to get him!"
Without explaining any more, Mark tore out of the hotel and made his was to Burrage's home. He pounded on the door, several moments passing before it opened.
"Doc, it's Jenny! She walked over to the store and went into labor!"
"The store? I warned that girl…" The doctor shook his head as he stepped onto the porch. "Is she still there?"
"I took her to your office, told Lou, and came here."
"Good. Does Micah know?"
"Not yet, I was gonna-"
"Is your pa in town?"
"…Well yeah, but what does that-"
"Tell him I said to keep Micah at the saloon or jail. We'll let him know when the baby gets here."
Mark nodded, jumping off the porch and starting back towards the center of town. He ran into the café, looking around before seeing the two men at a corner table.
"Pa, Micah!"
Lucas looked up, confusion in his eyes. "…Son, I thought you said you wouldn't be done for another hour at least."
"Jenny's having the baby."
"What?!"
Micah stood, Mark reaching out to stop him. "…Doc said Pa should keep you company at Sweeney's or your office… he'll let you know when-"
"I don't care what Doc said!"
"But Micah-" Mark started after the marshal, his father's hand stopping him.
"It's alright. Doc will have sent Micah back to his office by the time we get there. …Why don't you run over to the Waller house and let them know Jenny's in labor?"
Minutes stretched into hours as the McCains, Mr. Waller, and the marshal waited at the jail. Micah and Henry would occasionally make their way to Doc's, knocking on the door and waiting for Lou or Caroline to tell them how Jenny was before returning to the jail. Lucas watched as his son fought heavy eyelids, falling asleep at the desk just after two.
"This is taking too long," Henry mumbled. "We should've sent for Mrs.-"
"Doc knows what he's doing," Lucas assured. "These things just take time."
"Well did it take this long when Mark was born?"
All night, the rancher had been trying to push those memories from his mind. It was the last thing he wanted to think about. "…That was the longest night of my life." A few moments passed before he shook his head. "But Jenny's healthy. I'm sure everything will be just fine."
"All this waitin' is liable to-"
The door suddenly swung open, interrupting Henry's statement as Lou stepped inside.
"Ya can stop frettin'; Jenny and the babe are just fine."
"The baby?" Micah asked. "The baby's here?"
She nodded with a smile. "About fifteen minutes ago. Doc says ya can go in now, but don't stay too…" Lou laughed as Micah and Henry ran out of the office, not giving her a chance to finish. Seeing Mark at the desk, she turned to Lucas. "How long did he last?"
"He tried to stay awake, but I think the exhaustion took over about twenty minutes ago. You have any empty rooms?"
"Room five. Ya can go on up whenever yer ready; Jenny certainly won't be up ta any more visitors tonight."
"I didn't think so. Was it a boy or girl?"
"A boy- and he certainly takes after his father! I ain't never seen a child come out with a head of hair like that!"
Lucas chuckled, starting towards the desk to wake his son as Lou turned to leave. "Tell her we said congratulations."
Mark quietly knocked on the door, waiting for Jenny to call, "Come in," before sticking his head inside the room.
"Not that bad, huh?"
"Didn't hurt a bit." Jenny chuckled as Mark shut the door behind him. "Thank you for your help last night."
"I'm glad everything turned out alright. …Pa said it was a boy?"
She nodded, pulling back a blanket so he could see. "Peter Joseph Waller."
"…How do the Wallers feel about… well, the last name?"
"Married or not, Mr. Waller said it was Jeff's baby and the child had a right to the name, if that was the way I wanted it. …Had Jeff survived, we both would have carried it."
"…I wish he had."
Jenny took in a deep breath, slowly letting it out as she wiped a tear from her cheek.
"…So, Peter Joseph… what was wrong with Aldous?" Mark smiled as she laughed, shaking her head. "…I know Peter was Jeff's middle name. What made you decide on Joseph?"
"Joseph was my father's name. Aldous was my second choice." A few moments passed before she asked, "Do you want to hold him?"
"…I don't think that's such a good…"
She rolled her eyes, grabbing his arm and pulling him down to sit on the bed. "You'll do fine. Just use the crook of your elbow to hold his head up."
Jenny handed him the baby, Mark's uneasy expression soon being replaced by a small grin. "…You still set on staying at the hotel, or did Mrs. Waller finally talk you into staying with them?"
"…I think to spare the hotel guests, I'll stay with the Wallers for a few weeks. …The last twelve hours have made me realize just how little I know about babies."
"After that?"
"I think I've almost convinced Miss Lou to let me clean out the quarters above the store. …I appreciate the Wallers' offer, but I want to create our own home for Peter. It won't be easy, but…"
"But since when do you care about things being easy?"
She nodded, smiling. "…Mark, thank you. If it hadn't been for you… I don't know what I would have done these last few months."
"What are friends for? Besides, if I get to be "Uncle" Mark, I better earn the title."
"…Then how do you feel about changing diaper cloths?"
"Oh no," he declared, handing the child back to its mother. "That's entirely your department!"
"I don't know, Son…" Jenny and Mark looked up to see Lucas entering the room. "It'll be good practice for when you get married and have children of your own."
"I had enough practice with Fancy!"
"…Fancy?" Jenny asked.
"It's a long story," Mark answered. "Pa and I had to watch a baby once… I had my fill of diaper changing then."
"…The baby's name was… Fancy?"
"No," Lucas chuckled. "…We didn't know her actual name, so Mark decided we'd call her Fancy."
"Mark, that's a horse name!"
"…At least I didn't suggest Aldous."
As Lucas laughed, Jenny shook her head. "I sure hope whoever you do marry has more sense than to name your child after a horse!"
"I don't know… I always liked Chance as a name…" Mark chuckled as she rolled her eyes.
Lucas stepped forward, placing a hand on Mark's shoulder. "Come on, Son. I need you in one piece to help me with that fence this afternoon. Jenny, as soon as you're up to it, we'd like to have you out to the ranch for supper."
"Thank you, Mr. McCain."
"We'll see you later."
As father and son stepped from the office, Lucas looked down to see a thoughtful look on his son's face.
"…Something on your mind?"
"You know, Pa… for a while I was real worried. …It's not perfect… there's a lot I wish was different. But she's gonna be okay. …They're both gonna be okay."