Weekend in Harlan

Nate had a rousing time with Tom and his mother touring the museum. He liked museums for the most part but he had ended up spending the better part of the day trying to get a hold of Helen. He had hung up on Arlo several times in his effort to speak with her. He had originally asked for her but Arlo unpleasantly had told him she had crawled off and died so in his subsequent calls he simply hung up when his grandfather answered. He was running out of excuses for being on his cell and patience with his grandfather for continuing to answer the phone. He finally gave up while that ate lunch at a small café near the museum. He felt his phone vibrate from his back pocket but resisted the urge to see who had texted him until they were done and heading back to the car.

"Well?" Loretta had asked. He had told her he was working on getting to the picnic/gathering/hootenanny or whatever you wanted to call it.

"Still trying" he typed back

"Everything okay?" Lynn Morton asked.

"Yes ma'am, thank you so much for including me on the trip, I really appreciate it."

"You're very welcome Nate, I'm so glad you could come. Now you are going to stay at our house until your…um…"

"Winona comes home," Nate offered.

"Yes, Winona."

"His dad's girlfriend," Tommy said shaking his head, "she is his dad's girlfriend. And I think she is very pretty."

"Yeah, whatever Tom." Nate replied, unsure of how he felt about the whole arrangement between his father and his ex-wife.

"She seems very nice," Lynn offered.

"She is I just don't know how they expect it to work out this time."

Lynn looked at him in the rearview mirror but decided it best to keep her mouth shut.

Nate was walking home after Winona had pulled in when he tried calling the house in Harlan once more. This time Helen finally answered.

"Helen, it's Nate, hey I was going to ask if you if it was possible that you could come up and get me tomorrow so I could spend a little time with this weekend."

"Oh, well that would be nice but I'm not sure if your father would be all that thrilled with the idea. I know he really doesn't want you around Arlo."

"Well you see, a friend of mine invited me to a barbeque of some sort and I need a ride down there so I was thinking I could spend the morning with you and the afternoon at the cook-out and then since my dad will be working in Harlan and should be done by Sunday night he could give me a ride back."

"Well I'll have to talk to Raylan about it and make sure it is okay," she said hesitantly.

"Okay, just let me know soon please."

Nate wasn't sure just how his father would answer Helen but he hoped he would keep his end of the bargain.

Down in Harlan Raylan was tailing Carol Johnson around as she tried to wheel and deal those who weren't all that interested in what her company had to offer. It didn't start out well as he began his babysitting detail hung-over unable to deal with Winona and the money issue along with Art's suspicions and Nate's rebellion and ever questioning ways, sober. Then in the rough state he was in, he unwisely decided to take on Coover in a battle royal, losing badly, his only saving grace being Mags who for whatever reason had a special spot in her heart for him and stopped her youngest from beating him senseless. Then Carol's speech at the local church hadn't gone all that well even with Boyd's theatrics and the firecrackers putting an exciting end to the antics.

Even with Mags giving her hometown speech rallying the troops to stick to their guns and turn aside any offer they get from Black Pike, Carol still felt it worthwhile to try and sway Arlo and Helen into signing over their land. Raylan again forced to tag along with Carol pulled into his father's house and was immediately cornered by Helen.

"What brings you here?" She demanded.

"My job," Raylan sighed. "Ms. Johnson wants to speak to you about your land."

"Arlo will never sell," she stated.

"Yeah I know that, it's not me you have to convince."

"Raylan, if I give you the money that Arlo owes the federal government, the money you all fronted him, for whatever scheme you cooked up then will you stay away from us, from Harlan?"

"Sure, that's a deal I'm willing to make," Raylan said. "Look I have to get back to Carol before Arlo completely freaks her out." He said walking towards the house.

"Raylan, Nate called me. He asked me for a ride to spend some time here tomorrow before he went to a barbeque."

"Did he tell you where the gathering was?" Raylan turned and asked.

"I already know it's at the Bennett's. Mags told me about it, we came to a truce Raylan and the only way that will truly take hold is if you stay away from here. Let Nate have his day, children have a way of righting the world, but then don't come back."

Raylan nodded, his hat bobbing in unison. "You sure don't know my child," he whispered on his way to the house.

The meeting was supposed to be short and simple but due to a complication that had begun in a Lexington courtroom earlier that month it took a sudden turn for the worse. The Kirby's, who had fallen victims to an accident that they blamed on Black Pike, never gave up on vengeance and gunfire erupted, aimed at Carol. One of them had managed to wiggle their way down to Harlan and followed Carol and Raylan to the house. Apparently the marshal hadn't given them quite as much credit as they deserved and Arlo's leg fell victim to their hatred as a bullet pierced his calf.

With his father lying on the floor complaining and Helen going for the shotgun, Raylan had Carol hide while he managed to outflank the shooter and end the whole ordeal. Arlo had been shot in the leg and was no happier with Black Pike, blaming them for his current pain and discomfort as well as harassment for wanting his land. Raylan was about ready to really take Helen up on her offer.

"So you'll stay away?" she asked as he got ready to leave.

"Now Helen, you know I can't do that."

"But you promised," she said.

"Well, not promised just implied. Drive safely tomorrow," he said waving goodbye.

"Well I don't quite know what to think of your family," Carol said as they pulled away.

"Yeah me either," Raylan sighed. "But that is nothing compared to what you will face tomorrow at the Bennett's."

"Yes I do believe you're right." She agreed.

Nate had arrived safely in Harlan and was with Helen at the house. Arlo hadn't yet been released from the hospital but was expected to be home by Monday. Raylan wasn't sure what to expect from the get-together which was going to be awkward enough even without Carol around.

"Okay cowboy, so you push away my romantic overtones but I don't see a ring on your finger, so I want the story." Carol demanded to know, not at all pleased at being snubbed.

"No story, not really. I'm just trying to figure things out myself."

"Yeah, that's what they all say," she sighed. "Well shall we go?"

"Let's," Raylan said checking his watch. He followed the winding roads up and around.

"I don't know how the hell you know where you're going in this county."

"Practice, lots of practice," he said checking his phone.

"Expecting a call?"

"No just like to make sure I didn't miss anything. Service can be spotty out here," he said thinking of Nate.

Helen dropped Nate off with mixed emotions. She liked the kid, he was bright and sweet, but had that look deep in his eyes that Raylan often had. There was much more to the boy than he showed on the surface and that worried her.

"You made it," Loretta said as soon as she saw Nate.

"Told you I would."

"Thank God, these older boys keep hanging around me giving me the creeps."

"Well I'll be twelve soon," he boasted proudly.

"Yeah well you'll always be nearly three years younger than me no matter what," she reminded him. "When's your birthday?"

"October," he answered quietly.

"That's months away," she laughed.

"I suppose." He answered with a sigh.

"Well let's find you something to eat," she said dragging him off towards the food.

Mags was happy to see the young Givens. She had always like Raylan despite the feud and found the same affinity for his son. Loretta was so pretty and Nate a handsome little doppelganger of his father, they made a great young couple. She abruptly excused herself from Coover and made her way over to them.

"Hey there guys how are you doing? Nate it's great that you're here."

"Thank you, Loretta invited me."

"I'm so glad she did, is your daddy here?"

"No ma'am, at least I haven't seen him."

"Well you have fun and if you need anything you just let me know," she said putting her hand on his head.

"So, I heard the Bennett's and the Givens don't like each other much," Loretta said after Mags was out of range.

"Yeah, but for some reason she likes me and my dad. Or at least she acts like she does."

"Young Givens," Boyd said his smile huge. "It is so nice to see you here back in your family's old stomping grounds."

"Thanks, I guess."

"You remember Ava right?"

"Sure I do, how are you?" Nate asked smiling, thinking it funny that Ava had now landed in Boyd's camp.

"Fine thank you," she said looking uncomfortable.

"You ever dance, like we do down here in the hollers?" he asked nodding towards the clogging area.

"I can't bounce around like that, but I'll watch you," Nate said.

Boyd smiled. "Well I'll take that challenge." He climbed up and began his moves looking well practiced. The three watched until he convinced Ava to join him while Nate explained his illness to a questioning Loretta.

"So there's all kinds of things that are wrong with you?" Loretta asked.

"No easy way to describe it, except totally fucked up."

"Will it kill you," she asked, concern written all over her face.

"Some days – not soon enough," he said with a sigh walking away before Loretta could respond.

Finally Boyd excused himself and met up with Mags and they both disappeared into the house. Nate looked over and saw the still on the side of the house and couldn't help but take a closer look. "Is this real?" he asked Doyle.

"Of course it is, what else would be a lawn ornament?"

"Not really lawn ornament territory is it?" Nate said following the tubing around and around with his eyes.

"Who's your friend Loretta?" Doyle asked.

"Nate Givens," Nate said extending his hand. "And you are?"

"Doyle Bennett," he answered dryly. "Your dad here yet?"

"Just pulled up," Nate said looking across the yard.

"Now, we won't be welcomed warmly but I don't expect a lot trouble here," Raylan said as he helped Carol out of the car.

"Charming," she said looking around.

Nate walked over to his father and looked at the representative from Black Pike. "Hi," he said quietly.

"Well hello there, what's your name?"

Nate smiled realizing that his father had remained quite mum about his personal life. "Nate Givens."

"Well that's…"

"Yep that's my dad's last name too," he said continuing to smile.

"Carol Johnson this is my son Nate," he said with a forced smile. "I see Helen got you here alright," he said as Carol looked at Raylan's ring finger again.

"He's not married, my mom's dead and he's trying to figure out which direction he wants to pursue romantically."

"I see," Carol answered obviously uncomfortable.

"I saw Boyd and Mag's go inside a several minutes ago," Nate said.

"Thanks, we'll check it out," Raylan said steering Carol towards the house.

"Cute kid," she managed to say.

"He has his days." Raylan said as Dickie made his way over to them.

Loretta and Nate finally found a quiet spot to watch the festivities wrap up. They found solace in the similarities they shared. "It must have been hard to lose your mama so fast," Loretta said.

"Yeah it was a shock, but I knew she didn't suffer. One minute she was trying to decide whether or not to buy some sunglasses the next…well the next thing is a mystery, one that she now knows but we remain shrouded in ignorance."

"I guess I never thought of it that way," Loretta pondered. "Not sure if that makes death easier or not."

"Guess it depends what they mystery entails. Sorry your dad isn't around; I know how hard that is. I had a long distance relationship with mine for years. You just keep feeling like you're missing out; growing up without him."

"I'm just concerned because he hasn't called, I would have thought he would have been in some kind of contact by now."

"I'm sure there's a good reason."

"Hey you two, come over here and help me," Coover barked out to them.

"Help me load this up here," he said rolling a keg towards the truck.

"Nate can't lift stuff, he's sick." Loretta said grabbing one end of the keg.

"Don't look sick to me."

"Well I am, it's a rare autoimmune disorder."

"Oh whatever," Coover said. "Lift girl," he ordered Loretta who suddenly looked as if she had seen a ghost.

Nate began, as he did so well, to study Coover. It didn't take long before he realized what was out of place. He hadn't been wearing that watch when Nate had seen him in the store earlier that summer. It was also the only thing that stood out that Loretta would have keyed in on so quickly. If Nate was a betting man he would put money that the watch had belonged to Loretta's father.

Unsatisfied with the help he summarily dismissed both Loretta and Nate. "Let me guess that's your dad's watch?" Loretta just blankly nodded that it was. "The whole reason he wanted you to help was to show it off, that was a threat Loretta."

"What do we do?"

"Tell my dad," Nate offered.

"I want to look for more clues first. I'm afraid if we just tell him there won't be enough evidence."

"That could be pretty dangerous, have you seen the size of that man?"

"Please help me."

"Tonight?"

"Yes, I have to know."

"I can understand that."

"Hey you two, sorry to break this up but come on Nate I have to get Ms. Johnson to the airport." Raylan said.

"But I just called Helen; she's on her way to get me. She has to pick Arlo up from the hospital tomorrow so she can drop me off at home."

Raylan thought about that for a minute and though he would much rather have Nate come home with him, but keeping him out of camp with his questions for another day wouldn't hurt. "Okay, but call me when you get back to the house. And I want to hear from you tomorrow.

"Yes sir, thanks," Nate said forcing a happy smile.

"Wow, you are good," Loretta complimented.

"Yeah, champion liar that's me."

"He'll find out, I mean it's not full proof."

"I know, but hopefully we'll have some answers by then. Besides maybe he'll ground me from camp."

Once back in her room Loretta threw the hair comb down and did her best not to cry in front of Nate, but couldn't totally pull it off. "I'm sorry about your dad." Nate said putting his hand on her shoulders.

"Thanks for being here," she whispered.

"Got nowhere else to be," he said smiling. "Besides I know you would do this alone and I can't let you do that. So what's the plan?"

"This," she said holding up a bag of pot.

"Weed, you're planning on taking down Godzilla with weed?"

"It's strong stuff."

"Only if you crush up some horse tranquilizers to stuff in there."

"You won't tell your dad that I have this will you?"

Nate chuckled. "Right, cause that's the part that will concern him; never mind the possible murder and cover-up."

Nate made himself scarce while Loretta changed into something more suitable for their adventure. "Do you have the phone my dad gave you?" Nate asked when he came back into the room.

"Yeah right here, here's a flashlight." She said handing him a small light.

Nate, glad he brought his coat, zipped it up. "It gets cold up here at night."

"Life in the mountains."

"I'm used to life on the beach."

"Well suck it up boy cause your back to your Kentucky roots now."

"And how," Nate said following Loretta into the dark.

They got to the house that Coover and Dickie shared and while Nate stayed outside, Loretta went inside to share her gift. It took about a half hour for Coover to go down for the count but finally he appeared to give in to the powerfully rolled herb. Loretta waved Nate inside and the two of them tiptoed to the back bedroom. "Look for anything that might not belong," Loretta whispered.

"Duh, son of a lawman." Nate teased as he began to paw through Coover's dresser. "You might want to call my dad now, just in case King Kong wakes up."

"What should I tell him?"

"Your suspicions and that you are looking for further evidence." Nate said as he found the watch and handed it to Loretta who squinted at it under the light of Nate's flashlight reading the inscription on the back.

Loretta began to shake and could barely dial the phone. "Raylan we're at Coover's I think he or one of the Bennett's killed my father. I really need your help," she said barely keeping it together.

"Okay just stay calm, um by we do you mean you and Nate?" Raylan asked wincing as he did.

"Yes sir, he didn't want me to do it alone."

"Okay I want you two to get out of there and wait for me down by the road at Mags house okay? I have to turn around and come back."

But as Raylan finished his sentence the only thing he could hear was a scream and shuffling around along with Coover's booming voice. He yelled into the phone but got no response. He looked at Carol as the phone was disconnected. "I have to go back; I need to drop you off at the gas station. I'm sorry but Loretta and Nate are in trouble."

"No problem, I'll be fine you just go get the kids."

Raylan screeched to a stop and helped her with her luggage and apologized once again before he raced away retracing his steps back towards the Bennett's.

Loretta tried to get away with the aid of Nate tripping Coover up, but she didn't get very far. And size does matter as neither of the kids could escape his powerful grip. He threw them both in the truck and threatened that if either one tried to leave he would kill the other.

They bounced around in the cab of the truck over the back roads. Nate had no idea where he was as the blackness surrounded them. Loretta had lost her phone but Nate still had his, but had no way of using it or know if could even get a signal. He knew Raylan would be on his way but would have no idea where they were, and unfortunately Nate wouldn't be of much help. They finally slowed down as they chugged up a hill, the moonlight providing very little in the way of assistance. Coover climbed out of the truck and while waving a gun around ordered the kids out of the cab.

"I have tried so hard all my life for her to notice me and you come in and just a few weeks you get a hair comb and a special place in her heart. Now I'm going to give you two a dose of reality."

"Coover just take a breath man. You can't compare yourself to Loretta, that's like apples and oranges," Nate said looking up at the man.

"What are you talking about?"

"Look, your mom had three boys, any mom who has three children of the same sex wants what Coover?"

Coover stood there unsure what to say. He looked down at Loretta's scared face. "A girl?" he asked unsure of his answer.

"Exactly, if she had three girls she would have wanted a boy, but since she had three boys, Loretta is the answer to her prayers. A pretty girl she can dress up and give hair combs too; it's every mothers dream."

Coover stood there quietly contemplating what Nate had said before he shoved him to the ground. "That might be true, but she has always treated me like dirt. I bet your daddy don't treat you like that." Nate stood up and brushed himself off. Coover didn't allow him to answer as he continued the march up the hill.

Raylan had gone to Coover and Dickie's house to discover the dropped and forgotten phone but no kids. Luckily Dickie was able to be revived from the fracas he had had with Coover, and with a little persuasion gave up the information that Raylan needed to recover two over-curious and naïve kids. He ran to his car and jammed into drive and drove much too fast for the curvy dark roads.

"You know what this place is?" Coover asked.

"Dude I'm from Florida," Nate said keeping Loretta behind him. Since she was several inches taller than him she could easily feel a part of the whole nightmare despite Nate's protective measures.

"Old mine shaft," Loretta whispered having a good idea of the message Coover was trying to send.

"Listen to me man, I know what it's like to have a parent disappointed in you. Like Loretta said, I'm sick. We don't even know exactly why or what my future will be but I do know what it's like for your parent to look at you differently, wish you were something else. He tries to hide it but I can see it in his eyes, the hint of contempt, frustration that he is sitting in the doctor's office instead of the bleachers of the ball game you were supposed to be playing, if you were only healthy. That somehow this weakness is intentional and if you just try hard enough you can make it go away. Being the son of a marshal is hard enough but to be weak is inexcusable."

Coover stood quietly and motionless. "I want to show you what's down there," he said finally finding his voice and shoving Nate towards the shaft.

Raylan was trekking up the hill as fast as he could without drawing attention to himself. He had heard Nate's voice but couldn't make out too many of the words he had spoken. He could just see the figures up ahead and prayed that he could take Coover by surprise. He really wasn't sure the best way to tackle this, he hated it when potential hostages were involved.

Coover waved the gun around to gain Loretta's compliance. She shuffled near the opening of the shaft privately berating herself for thinking she could handle this. She didn't know what she had been thinking and now Nate was in serious danger as well. The panic had swelled inside her until she thought her head was going to explode. Nate seemed so calm as if he knew at any minute it all be okay. She didn't know if he was deluded or just that comfortable with the possibility of death.

"Hey there Coover, you taking these two on a field trip?" Raylan asked.

The youngest Bennett spun around and suddenly the two men were wrapped up in a brawl. Coover had the advantage of size and anger, but what he didn't know was that he had lost his gun as he had dropped it when he lunged at Raylan.

The two jockeyed back and forth as the kids looked on. Loretta took a step back and felt the gun at her feet and stooped to pick it up. Nate was watching the action around him edging his way towards the battling men. "Nate get out of the way," Raylan growled losing ground.

Coover had managed to push Raylan over to the edge of the mine shaft and was doing his very best to shove the marshal over and down into the darkness. Nate couldn't stand by and watch his father be murdered and he had no doubt that he and Loretta would be right behind him. It was not going to end like this. So when Loretta raised the gun and shouted for them to stop it he knew what he had to do. He gave no warning just grabbed the gun from her as Coover parted with his threats. "You're dead girl."

"No I don't think she is, Gomer," Nate said taunting him. "I've gone to the range for years and finally I get to shoot at a human target," he said moving over to change the angle as to not kill his father as well.

Raylan had no doubt his son meant it. Despite the darkness he saw a look in Nate's eyes that reflected his own. Nate had easily stepped into the role of protector. Coover's grip relaxed as he turned to face Nate and that was the only window he needed. "Coover," Raylan yelled just as he pulled the trigger.

Raylan moved and assisted the body into falling down the shaft to join Loretta's father below. Nate looked disappointed as he lowered the gun missing out on his chance to shoot. Raylan holstered his gun and ordered Nate to hand over the gun he held. "You guys okay?"

Loretta was breathing hard, trying not to cry while Nate looked defiant. "Yeah, we're okay." The boy answered looking over at the blackness that had just consumed their threat.

Loretta looked like she was about to fall over so Raylan stepped forward and met her with an embrace as Nate looked on.

The ride back to Lexington was long and too short at the same time. Once Raylan got a good enough signal he worked the phone reporting what had happened and discovering what he had to do with Loretta. He looked into the backseat; Loretta's face held a blank stare while Nate held her hand and looked angry and lost.

When Raylan pulled up to a building; a tired and perturbed looking woman was standing there waiting for them. "Marshal Givens I presume?"

"Yes ma'am," Raylan answered looking back inside the car. Nate and Loretta looked exhausted and unhappy. He waved at them to get out of the car. Loretta was clinging to Nate who looked as if he was going to need some kind of serious decree to get him to let her go. "You know she is a friend of my son, so why can't she just stay at my place tonight and we can figure all this out in the morning."

The social worker shook her head slightly. "That's a lovely offer, but she is a ward of the state now and must be in our care. You don't happen to be a foster parent do you?"

"No, I'm not," Raylan admitted.

"Well I'm sorry then," she said reaching out for Loretta.

"That's stupid, she has had a hell of a day and night and needs to be around friends not strangers," Nate argued.

"I understand, but rules are rules young man."

"It's stupid," he spit out as he held fast to Loretta's hand.

"It's okay, I'll be okay." Loretta answered, her voice bereft.

Raylan pulled his son over to him and ordered him to get into the car. "I'll be by in the morning to pick her up so she can make her statement at the Marshal's office." He turned to Loretta, "Nate will be with me and we can get some breakfast before we go."

"Sure," Loretta said looking ahead, her shoulders slumped admitting defeat.

Other than asking Nate if he was okay the two remained silent the rest of the ride. When they got home Nate went straight to bed leaving his father wondering exactly what he had been thinking. Raylan lay down in bed and wondered exactly what he himself was thinking. His mind was contorted and confused and he had no idea of what he would eventually say to his son.