Meet and Greet

Raylan had been heading to Harlan much more than he had ever envisioned. It seemed to cast its net northward and caught him every time, entangling him into its ever tightening restraint. He wasn't quite sure how he was supposed to feel about being back in his old stomping grounds, but he wasn't as revolted as he had thought he might be. His relationship with Ava had ended and that was for the best. It had caused as much trouble as Raylan had expected and why he had allowed it to begin in the first place only showed his weakness. Nate seemed to like her and asked about her when she stopped coming to Lexington. "We have decided to go our separate ways," Raylan said setting his coffee down one morning.

"How come…oh let me guess, you're still friends. Right?"

Raylan took another swallow of the bitter brew giving him time to think of an answer. He had never given much thought to the brevity of many of his relationships since Nate hadn't been in his daily life. But now he realized he would have to approach things differently. He couldn't drag his son through the women in his life and not expect it not to affect the boy.

"Well it wasn't destined to last and I apologize if I gave you the impression it was. I guess I shouldn't have brought her up here."

"No big deal, it's just that I would like a heads-up you know. Mom wouldn't introduce me to anybody unless they had been dating for several weeks and she thought he was going to stick around for a while."

"Oh," Raylan said setting his coffee down hard enough that it splashed over the top. He had never thought about Nadine having relationships.

Nate smiled reading his father like a book. "Never thought about her having fun huh?"

"No, it's not that," Raylan said trying to cover his surprise.

"Sure it is. She only had a few steady boyfriends, the rest she kept me out of the loop on. I never saw strange men running around the house."

"Well that's a good thing. I guess I should be a better example."

"Whatever, I have to catch the bus," Nate said successfully rolling his eyes to new proportions.

Full time fatherhood was definitely going to be a learning experience, with many aspects that he was going to struggle with. He had stepped into a whole new world and there were no instructions on how to deal with it. Nate needed him and Harlan was calling and he quickly needed learn how to balance the two. But seeing people he had hoped to never cross paths with again only caused mild disruption to his life and he felt somewhat empowered by his badge and gun and the term federal marshal in front of his name. He had gotten out; made something of himself and could now hold it high over those that succumbed to their natural habitat.

"Well Dickie and Coover how are you boys?" Raylan asked with a big smile as Dickie was joined by his younger brother outside their home.

"What are you doing around here? Last I heard you was in Florida shooting people that were just tryin' to eat." Dickie said as Coover examined the gun he was holding that he had just been using to shoot rats.

"Well I was, but now I'm back here cleaning up what needs cleaning. Do you boys need any of that?"

Dickie unsuccessfully tried to stifle a laugh. "Oh Raylan you always were good for a laugh." He drawled.

"Well that gun there is no laughing matter, now Coover if you don't put it away right now Deputy Marshal Brooks has permission to shoot you." Raylan answered looking back at Rachel.

"And that won't be a problem if you'll move just a step to your right or left," Rachel said taking her gun from its holster.

Raylan took one big step to his left while keeping his eyes on the Bennett's.

"Hey now boys is that anyway to welcome a person," Mags said appearing. "Well it's Raylan Givens, now it has been a very long time since I've last seen you."

"Yes it has Mrs. Bennett," Raylan said lifting his hat.

"You've been gone too long to call me Mags?" she asked.

"I didn't want to presume."

"Well come on up to the store. You two go off and find something productive to do," Mags ordered her sons.

Raylan followed her up to the store meeting Loretta on the way. "What's her story?" Raylan asked once they were inside.

"Ah that's Loretta McCready; her daddy's workin' down south so she's staying with me."

"Well that' mighty kind of you."

"Not really, I enjoy having her around. Not having any daughters myself it is nice to have a girl around. Now how old is that boy of yours?"

"Hmmm, oh he's eleven now," Raylan said.

"Nathaniel Ray am I right? He had your eyes if I recall."

"Yeah, there's no denying my fatherhood to that boy," Raylan said fishing a picture out of his wallet.

"Oh my, he is a handsome one. I remember keepin' an eye on him from time to time when Nadine needed a hand. He would run around the store and help me stock things. He was just the tiniest little thing."

This, once again was the first time Raylan had heard someone watching his son outside of the family. "I didn't know that you had watched him."

"Oh my yes, several times. You were a busy man and up in Lexington and beyond, it's hard being a single mom. I was thrilled to do it too; you could tell he was going to be so smart. There was so much depth to his eyes. Is he smart?"

Raylan smiled proudly, "yes he is very smart."

"See I just knew he would be. You should bring him down here so I can see him. I bet Loretta would like to meet him too."

"Well I just might do that," he answered.

"Now tell me again why I'm spending my Saturday in Harlan?" Nate asked as they pulled into the parking lot.

"Because I want to show you off," Raylan said spying Loretta in the middle of a crowd of kids.

"It's Five-O," one boy said as they scattered.

Nate smiled, "guess you won't be going undercover anytime soon."

Raylan returned the smile and shook his head at his son. "Hey there Loretta how are you today?"

"Well I was better before you scared all my customers away. Who's the kid?"

"This is my son Nate, Nate this Loretta."

"Hey," Nate imparted while Loretta looked him up and down.

"Little puny isn't he?" Nate looked himself up and down. "How old are you?"

"Eleven," he answered. "I'm not that small."

"Well you got a long way to go to be as tall as your daddy. What brings you back here other than to ruin my day?"

"I wanted to give you this," Raylan said handing her the cell phone he had bought earlier that day. "I programmed my number in there and I want you to call me if you find yourself in any trouble. I'll drop everything and come get you. Do you understand?"

Loretta took the phone and examined it as if it might bite. She looked at Raylan, disbelief on the edges of her face. "You think I'll be in trouble?"

"Just sayin' that if you are you can call me."

She looked over at Nate and seemed to appreciate the sincerity on his face. "I can give you my number too if you want it." He offered.

"Okay," she whispered. She opened the phone and together they figured out how to store contact information and typed in Nate's number. Satisfied with the exchange they parted ways with Raylan leading Nate into the store.

"This is a real store?" he asked, used to the large grocery and box stores of the metropolitan areas.

"Yes, you don't remember working here?" Raylan joked.

"What?"

"Oh Raylan you brought him. Hi Nate, do you still go by Nate like you did when you were little?" Mags asked as soon as they entered the store.

"Yeah," he said looking around.

"I was a friend of your mama's, I felt just horrible when I heard what had happened to her. Did you know that I used to watch you sometimes?"

"Doesn't seem to be that uncommon," Nate answered thinking of Boyd and his babysitting duties.

"You sure grew up handsome and your daddy says you're smart too."

"I get by," Nate said looking around.

"Come on over here and get yourself a piece of candy."

"I can't, but thank you anyway."

"I'm sure your daddy will let you have one piece."

"It has nothing to do with me, dietary restrictions. Nate has some health issues."

"I'm sorry to hear that, how serious?"

"Depends what day it is," Nate said as Coover walked in.

"You're back," he said his voice steeped in disappointment as he looked at Raylan.

"Hey don't you take nothing you aren't going to pay for," Mags snapped at her youngest son.

"Who's that?" he asked nodding towards Nate.

"Why that's Nate, Raylan's son. Don't you remember him from when he was little?"

Coover was quiet as if he was trying to summon the distant memory to prove to his mother he wasn't a total idiot, but it became apparent nothing was forth coming.

"Coover you in there?" Dickie yelled coming into the store. "Come on man we got stuff to do." He paused seeing the marshal. "Raylan what brings you back here so soon?"

"Just visiting with your mother," Raylan said.

Dickie finally noticed Nate standing there. "What's with the kid? He ain't yours is he?"

"Yes Dickie this is my progeny, I take it you don't remember him either from the old days."

"Oh yeah, his mama would drop him off once in a while. I recall one day he threw a small can of olives at Coover and hit him in the knee cap," he chuckled. "Had a pretty good arm too."

"Hey I remember that, you told him to do that, then you both laughed," Coover said pulling the memory from deep within the recesses of his brain.

"I'm pretty sure I was a toddler," Nate reminded.

"Meaning?" Coover said.

"Meaning I think I should be absolved from an act that occurred nine years ago when I was two."

"What?"

"He said you need to get over it you big sissy," Mags said.

"Oh yeah well you want to know a story, I'll tell you the story of why Dickie walks like he does…you want to hear that story," Coover blabbed. spitting as he did.

"Coover I don't think that is an appropriate tale to tell my son," Raylan said.

But Raylan's warning had no effect as the man launched his tale. "They was playing baseball on opposite teams Dickie was the pitcher and Raylan had pissed him off by gettin' two hits off of him so when he came up the third time he threw right at your daddy's head. He dropped like rock; the two teams swarmed the field and while your daddy was still on the ground he took a bat to Dickie's knee. He hit him so hard his knee went the wrong direction…and he ain't never walked right since." Coover finished with a flourish.

"Charming," Nate said nonplussed. "So you're telling me since I'm a Givens I have a thing for knees, that there is some kind of genetic link?"

"Huh, no I was just telling you something."

"Can I talk to you two fellas outside right now? Nate you stay here," Raylan said herding the Bennett's outside.

The three men trooped outside as Nate shrugged his shoulders at Mags.

"Now Coover what the hell was that about?"

"I was just tellin' a story."

"One that he did not need to hear, that isn't the kind of thing you go around telling a child."

"Well with all due respect Raylan it was my knee and the kid didn't seem to be the least bit bothered about it – or is that you didn't want your boy to know an angry and violent man you are. Maybe that is what is genetic," Dickie stated.

"Why does everybody insist I'm so angry," Raylan said looking at the Bennett boys.

"Probably has something to do with being raised by Arlo," Dickie said.

Back in the store Mags smiled at Nate and handed him a bottle of water. "Can you have this?"

"Yes ma'am, thank you." Nate said taking the beverage. He uncapped it and took a big drink.

"Boy you look like your daddy. But I do see some of your mama in there. She was such a pretty girl, you have her lips and chin, not sure about your nose, but you sure got your daddy's eyes and hair," she said with a laugh at Nate's thick brown mop that always lightened up in the summer sun. "All in all a great mix."

"Thank you," Nate said embarrassed.

"She had such hope for you; she hated leaving you here or anywhere in Harlan."

"Then why did she?"

"Because she needed to, your daddy took a lot of trips back then and daycare isn't cheap." Mags said her eyes betraying the thoughts she kept internal.

"And what else," Nate asked picking up on it.

"You are a smart one, you read people like a champ. I can't say for sure it's just my opinion."

"Well what's your opinion," Nate asked looking back at the door hoping Raylan wasn't going to come through it anytime soon.

"Well Harlan never forgets her sons and daughters and you being a part of it even at an early age is better than not at all."

"What's that mean?" Nate asked his head whipping back in the direction of the door. "What do you mean Harlan doesn't forget? Was she setting something up, was she trying to protect me?"

Mags gave a slight smile just as Raylan walked in alone. "Some things just never change. Mags it's been great, what do I owe you for the water?" he asked noticing the bottle in Nate's hand.

"On the house, you need to bring him around more often Raylan; I would love to see him."

"Well, we'll see what I can do about that. Come on kiddo, Helen wants to see you."

Nate kept looking back at Mags as he followed his father to the door. He needed to know more about what she had meant, she had wanted him to understand something, but he just hadn't gotten enough to figure it out.