Old Problems, New Love
Chapter 3
A/N- Okay guys, slight warning: Huge amounts of FLUFF coming your way!
"Move out of my way, Bonnie!"
"No!" Bonnie cried, trying to stop her father by running backward in-front of him with her hands outstretched to his chest. "Daddy, you've got to calm down!"
"Why the hell would I want to do that?!" Drew bellowed, practically bounding across the ranch to get to our John's cabin. "He thinks he can just walk in here and take you away?! Not on my watch!"
"Daddy, it wasn't like that!" Bonnie cried once again, knowing full well how bad her father's temper was once he'd lost it. It was bad enough that he was nearly a foot taller than John, never mind his strength. "I'm not going anywhere!"
"Yeah?!" He shouted, now practically hysterical. "I really should hope not, once I'm done with the pair of you!"
"Oh, come on!" She huffed, placing her hands on her father's chest and stopping abruptly. "I'm 27, dad. It's not like I'm the youngest girl ever to fall in love!"
"With a widowed outlaw, you are!" He snarled, brushing her off and charging over to the man in question's cabin. He hammered on the door and opened it, shocked to see John stood over his was basin, his face covered in white foam and a razor in his hand.
"Ah, Mr. MacFarlane!" He greeted, smiling happily at the sight of the older man. Unfortunately, he didn't register the rage in his eyes as he dropped the razor in the basin and dried his hands. "What a pleasant surprise! I was going to come up and see you once I was done here!"
"I bet you were." Drew growled, his moustache bristling as he brought himself to his full height. Bonnie launched herself through the front door, stopping short when she saw the two men she cared about most in the world.
"Hello, John…" She muttered, turning red and hiding her hands behind her back in embarrassment.
"Hello Bonnie." He acknowledged, flashing her his damned lop-sided smile that made her heart flutter. "How are you this morning? Sleep well?"
"Better than I have in a long time." She assured, smiling back at him, her awkwardness long forgotten by his mere presence.
"As heart-warming as this is, I don't suppose your father wants to simply say 'good morning'." John laughed, putting down his towel and turning to Drew, who by this time was almost growling.
"You're damn right I ain't." He snarled, glaring at the younger man. "I heard about last night… you and Bonnie… you ain't getting' away with robbin' my daughter of her innocence out of marriage. You understand?"
"Whoa! Daddy, is that what this is all about?" Bonnie asked, letting out a chuckle of disbelief. This only angered Drew more. "We kissed, Daddy. Nothin' more. So, you can forget about givin' John the entire 'protective father' spiel."
"Nothin' more?" He asked, somehow struggling to accept the fact that his daughter hadn't lost her virginity before she was married. "Are you sure?"
"Yes sir." Bonnie replied, laughing when her father took a few moments to think things over. Eventually, he seemed to gain control of his brain once again.
"What are your intentions with her, Mr. Marston?" Drew asked, blinking furiously when Bonnie walked over to John and gripped his hand in hers.
"I…" John gulped, wishing he could have somehow put this conversation off until it was just the two of them alone. "I love your daughter, sir. Very much. And… and I intend to marry her as soon as she wishes. If she'll have me, that is."
Bonnie smiled and kissed his cheek, beaming with happiness. He took that as a yes and felt himself relax.
"Well, we'd better get that church booked as soon as possible." Drew said after processing the new information. This man had been in their lives for just three months, but he saw the way he stared at her. Such love… such devotion. He could tell that there was no-one else. For either of them. "But I won't have you taking my daughter too far away. You hear me?"
"Yes sir."
"Good." He smiled, grunting as he felt his anger leave him suddenly. "I'll… I'll just leave you two alone, then."
And with that he was gone, shutting the door behind him.
"Oh my gosh, John!" Bonnie exclaimed, leaning up and hugging him tightly. "I'm so sorry about him! He just heard from someone this morning and he wouldn't stop!"
"It's fine, Bonnie." He chuckled, hugging her back. "So, what do you say? Will you do me the honour of becoming Mrs. Marston?"
"Of course, Mr. Marston." She replied, kissing his cheek playfully. "It would be my pleasure."
Two Weeks Later
News quickly spread of the betrothal and congratulations were soon upon the young couple. Drew quickly wrote the announcement and it was published in the local newspaper.
One morning a few weeks after the engagement, John made his way to the Marshall's office in armadillo and was shocked to hear bellowing coming from inside. He opened the door and stepped inside, only to be practically pounced on by Mr. Macfarlane.
"Where is she, Marston?" He growled, making the younger man raise his hands in a show of surrender and take a step back.
"Who?"
"Who?" He asked disbelievingly, his voice rising once again. "My daughter, you fucking scum. Where's Bonnie?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen her since yesterday morning… the meeting at the church for the wedding." He said quickly, lowering his arms and looking between the two other men for some kind of explanation. "Why?"
"Why?!" Drew asked, completely out of his mind. "Because she hasn't been seen since yesterday afternoon." He turned to Leigh Johnson who was sitting on his desk. "I don't think I can cope. If I lose another child—"
John felt his world start to fall beneath him. He collapsed into the nearest chair and allowed the conversation to move on without him. This was why he vowed to himself never to fall in love again. Sure, Bonnie hadn't died of childbirth. But she was gone. The only person he had other than jack was gone.
"Now Drew, nobody's lost anything yet. I'm sure she's fine-" Marshal soothed, only to be cut off by a booming voice from outside. Even John was brought back to his senses.
"Oh, Mister Marshal... Mr. Marshal... Come out, come out, wherever you are."
"Who the hell is that?" The Marshall muttered as he walked outside. John and Drew followed him and stopped at the sight. A man with long, curly hair sat on the back of his horse, smiling evilly and glaring at the three men.
"Even better. Good day, Mr. MacFarlane… Mr. Marston." He greeted, trying to keep his horse steady.
"Get down from that horse, boy, or I'll shoot." Leigh threatened, resting his hand on his holster and making as if to square up to him.
"I wouldn't recommend that, mister. Not if Drew MacFarlane wants to see his Bonnie back in one piece." He threatened, turning his gaze to Drew. "Hey, Mr. MacFarlane, it's a nice girl you got there."
"Get down from there!" He bellowed back, bristling at the very notion of this man being anywhere near his daughter.
"Y'know." He continued, almost as if he had never heard him. "Part of me's got to thinkin' I should just marry her myself. Give her a baby and that."
John brought his gun out and aimed for the man, anger flooding through his veins.
"You lay one fucking finger on her and you're dead." He growled, ready to pounce at any second. Drew's hand stopped him from moving in for the kill, laying on his shoulder.
"What do you want?" The Marshal asked,
"That's better." He sneered. "I want Norman Deek. I want him set free. Then you get your daughter back, mister."
"We don't do deals with outlaws, boy."
"Yeah you do! Let's not waste each other's time pretending otherwise." He interrupted, trying to keep his horse in place. "government themselves ain't much more than a bunch of crooks. This is the land of opportunity, mister, and I'm giving you the opportunity to get your daughter back before fifteen friends of mine take out all their anger and their loneliness on her."
"Where the hell is she?" Drew bellowed once again. Now was Johns turn to hold him back.
"Bring Deek up to Tumbleweed in a couple of hours." He informed them, answering Drew's question. "And don't go getting no funny ideas, or I will slit that whore's throat myself! You boys have a pleasant afternoon. Ya!"
With that he was gone, leaving behind three very angry men.
"Go get Deek, Marshal." John ordered as soon as he was out of sight. The other man looked at him in confusion. "We're going to get Bonnie. If it's the last thing I do."