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Epilogue
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When Sally, Jess and Jago descended the steps from the house, there was another unexpected surprise, for it seemed that Jess's business in town was not limited to visiting the doctor.
Jess shook Jago heartily by the hand and told him: "You're a good man to have around. Hope y' don't get too much hell on the way home!" Jago's expressionless face split into a delighted grin and he said: "Guess I can always find a few ants or some hornets!"
After this, Jess tipped his hat to the ladies and said: "Martha, Sally, will y'excuse me for five minutes?" To Slim, who was still the driver, he added: "Pick me up by the Livery, will y'?"
Before Slim could make any objection about the need for rest and recovery, Jess strode away down the street and disappeared round the bend.
"If he's gone to the saloon -!" The threat was clear in Slim's voice, but Jago shook his head and pointed out: "Wrong direction."
Jess's friends looked at each other, thoroughly puzzled about what he could possibly be up to now. They would have been even more baffled if they could have seen him make his way purposefully into the little wooden church which stood on the next corner.
The interior of the church was dim and warm. It felt odd without the Reverend Fitzwilliam roaring from the pulpit. A deep silence enfolded the whole place. The empty benches seemed … almost to be supporting the weight of the citizens of Laramie, not their physical weight but their fears and their hopes, their longings and their triumphs, their doubts and their certainties. There was a smell in the air, very faintly sweet and sharp – not incense, with which Jess was familiar from long ago – it was something else, something intangible yet immediate. A single ray of sunshine, twinkling with dust motes, fell from the window to pool on the floor.
Jess moved slowly and quietly until he was close to this brightness. Quite naturally, he dropped to his knees and remained motionless for some minutes. Then, as if he been waiting to be asked, he murmured: "Thank you … and sorry it turned out the way it did … didn't mean things to get so rough, such hard stuff to happen … guess you know that anyway … so … just … thank you …" Presently he rose and settled his hat back on his head and walked quietly out of the church and along to the Livery Stables.
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Somehow, having picked Jess up at the Livery, Slim found himself riding in the back of the wagon, while Martha drove and the invalid (if he could be called such) was sandwiched safely between her and Sally. After all, you couldn't ask either of the women to ride in the back unless it was really necessary and of course Jess would not benefit from another twelve miles of jolting. But Slim didn't have to like it!
They were all very quiet on the journey back. The three in the front could hardly discuss the success of their strategy and Slim was in no mood to dwell on the picnic and its outcomes either. All the same, he wondered very much about that loose buggy horse and the very convenient arrival of Sally and the wagon. A stab – could it be of jealousy? – struck him as he wondered if she had come just for an assignation with Jess? But given that his presence at the lakeside was just as much chance as the picnic and he would normally have been hard at work at the relay station, Slim had to admit it seemed unlikely. And yet … the arrival of a herd of steers and four extra people at the exact location ... and such disastrous results? It made him wonder.
By the time they arrived back at the relay station, Slim had come to some very definite conclusions about the events and about his own feelings. He got down from the tailgate and went round the front. Jess hopped off the front seat with the jaunty air of someone who had never heard of being gored by a steer and sewn up professionally. At least he didn't attempt any more kissing, but his respect for Martha might have caused such restraint.
They said their thanks for the help and the lift once again. The women refused any refreshment, being not far now from their own home. The partners stood side by side and watched the wagon roll onwards down the southbound road until it was out of sight.
"Now!" There was retribution in Slim's voice as he picked Jess up by the borrowed shirt and held him at arm's length. With his greater height, this easily rendered Jess's struggling impotent. Slim considered carefully where and how hard to place his punches, with due respect for Jess's damaged shoulder.
The first hit him square in the eye and was relatively light. "That's for the damn smug, self-righteous expression that's been on your face all week!"
The second landed on his stomach and was hard enough to cause him to double up. "That's for falling under a stampede and getting yourself hurt bad enough to scare the living daylights out of me!"
The third was full force and caught him on the chin, sending him flying backwards. "And that's for kissing Sally!"
Jess sat in the dust and grinned infuriatingly. "Didn't know you'd got exclusive rights!" He scrambled to his feet and followed Slim as he stalked towards the house. Jess seemed to be quoting reminiscently as he continued: "Although why you can't recognise a nice, decent, God-fearin' woman with all the skills to run a home and a ranch and pretty into the bargain and –"
Slim rounded on him with his most ferocious scowl yet. "Keep your nose out of it! If I hear one more word out of you -!"
Jess laughed outright, pleased he had not only got a rise out of Slim, but also confirmed his own view of certain feelings his friend was not admitting to. Not yet, at any rate.
Jonesy popped his head out of the kitchen door to see what all the hullabaloo was about. He took one look and yelled: "Andy! Emergency rations!" Then he advanced on the partners in the manner of one about to wield a stock-whip. Instead he pointed to the chairs on the porch: "Sit! The pair of y'!"
Jess followed Slim willingly and flopped into the second rocking chair. He turned his head and looked at Slim, his grin completely affectionate now the reason for his exasperation had finally disappeared in more ways than one. Slim smiled back; he said nothing, just shook his head and closed his eyes thankfully as he relished the tranquility now restored to his home – probably … at least, if Jess kept quiet for a bit …
As Jess rocked gently back and forth, he reflected that, after all the practice he'd had recently, he could keep his mouth shut for a while longer, especially when Andy thrust a glass of whiskey into each of their hands. And he sent up one last fervent and utterly genuine prayer of thankfulness.
Golden sunset, golden whiskey and the last of the sun gleaming gold on the heads of two at least of the three good friends around him. Yeah! Silence certainly is golden.
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Notes:
For those of you interested in chronology (yeah, my Laramie world is … quite organized?), this one comes after Brightly Shone the Moon and before, for instance, My Brother's Keeper and Bearing Gifts, in which Sally also features.
Acknowledgement: For all chapters: The great creative writing of the 'Laramie' series is respectfully acknowledged. My stories are purely for pleasure and are inspired by the talents of the original authors, producers and actors.