Set after S4E1, Among the Missing and before S4E4 somehow fitting a couple months action in around 2 other episodes

There is period appropriate language that I started to use in this story, but what was considered appropriate in 1870 or even 1970 just doesn't feel comfortable typing in 2024. They are self-censored with ***.

First Sight

The family was just rising from breakfast when they heard a horse and wagon approaching. When Slim opened the door, young Tom from the farm up the road stands breathlessly, hand raised as if to knock. "Mr. Sherman, Pa told me to come ask Mrs Cooper if'd she come by as she can. Ma started labor last night and Pa says it ain't goin' as fast as with us other kids."

Daisy, who had heard from the kitchen came around the corner, drying her hands, "Of course, Tom. Slim, I had planned to go into town today and pick up supplies. We're low on everything, especially flour. Could you or Jess run in and get the list filled?"

"Sure, Daisy, we need some wire and other things from the hardware anyway. If you'll be riding back with Tom, we can take our buckboard into town this afternoon after the stage runs through."

Daisy raised an eyebrow at Tom who nodded. His breath was coming easier now that his nerves were calmed, but speaking was never his strong suit.

Just then, Slim's eyes fell on Mike who was watching closely, his eyes wide. Mike generally didn't have any trouble nagging, but seemed to be holding back. Slim remembered that he had promised to take the afternoon off and take Mike fishing. He was struck with a pang of guilt remembering all the times he'd disappointed Andy because of work. He was trying not to repeat the mistakes of the past and it had been a while since he had spent any time alone with Mike.

"Jess, how about you make the run to town? I was looking forward to going fishing with Mike. You can just take the afternoon off and come back tomorrow." Daisy was just coming out of her room with her overnight bag to grab her medical kit.

Jess jumped up to grab it for her and carry it out to the wagon where Tom was fidgeting, trying not to ask her to hurry. "Sure, Slim. Like you say, everyone has to do their part to keep a ranch operating. I'm willin' to make a sacrifice now and again," he winked at Mike. "Don't have to ask me twice to go all the way to town and spend the night bein' social-like." It'd been too long since he'd had time to really blow off steam. He liked going to town with Slim, but he also liked going without him. Plans were starting to form in his head already.

It was a sunny one in early spring. The wind was brisk as it swept over the snowfields high in the hills, but you could smell the early wildflowers, too. Jess thrilled at seeing the reds and purples of early flowers peeking out among the grasses along the way. He didn't know their names, Daisy called them spring e-fer-mals, or somethin', but knew his chances of complaining about the cold were coming to a blessed end. Until next year, with one side of his mouth turned up in a grin, danged if I'm not startin' to get used to the cold, though. But ain't plannin' to let Slim know. Don't wanna give up an excuse for complainin' and drinkin' more coffee.

Laramie was bustling with families in for the week's shopping, strangers drifting through, business men looking for opportunities. Everyone seemed to be caught up in the optimism that such a day can bring. Jess had finished his errands by late-afternoon and headed over to grab a drink in Stockman's.

The saloon was already hopping with customers. He got a beer and looked around. There were lots of local ranchers, farmers and other laborers that he recognized. There were a few strangers, he'd guess passing through or looking for work. None gave the appearance of looking for trouble.

Next, he checked out which girls were on duty, wondering at his prospects there. Mille was taking orders from a group of cowhands at one table. He had gone out with her for about a month before they had drifted apart. He wasn't sure why. Crystal was headed towards the bar. They had flirted heavily since her arrival in Laramie, but never quite connected. Maybe tonight. Crystal favored him with a huge smile and sidled up to ask him to buy her a drink. He ordered one from the bartender and chatted for a few minutes before she had to tend to some of the other customers and the night was young. There was time.

Jess glanced over at a poker game going on at a nearby table. These guys were locals he'd played with many times over the years since he'd drifted into the Sherman Ranch and Relay. They were not serious players, not very good either and hadn't gotten any better for playing and losing to Jess over the years. They were good natured, though. The game would be penny-anty but the conversation would be lively. Jess took his beer and wandered towards the table. Lon, Bill and Chuck had just ended a hand, with Chuck taking the modest pot. Lon glanced up, "Hey, Jess, care to join?" He was pulling up an empty chair from the nearby table, scooting his over, "We saved you your favorite place, back to the wall." He added with a smile. It had been a while since Jess settled down, but all the regulars at Stockman's knew he still preferred to sit where he could watch who was coming and going, always ready if trouble should start.

As darkness fell outside and the lamps were turned up just a bit, Jess had won and lost several hands, but was still ahead by a fair amount. Crystal came by regularly to get their orders and flirt a bit. He was pretty sure he had a chance for an invitation tonight if her mood stayed good.

It was just about 9. Jess continued to play poker and was maintaining a pleasant buzz to go with his good mood. Just then, Jess saw someone new come into the saloon. He was dressed in typical western gear – denims, chambray short with leather vest, high quality boots and belts. The gun was worn at waist height. He looked to have cleaned up recently with his face clean shaven and hair newly cut under a clean but not new slouch hat. Jess didn't recognize him, but got the feeling he knew him. His mind started flipping through mental images trying to place him.

Meanwhile, Bill was starting to win while complaining all the while about his wife and kids, like every week. Lon asked, like every week, "I just don't understand, Bill. You married the prettiest girl in Laramie, she's given you 2 of the cutest kids and every week, you come in here and complain about them all night long. Isn't it about time you just lit out and let one of us pick up the pieces?" Lon was himself married to a woman he never complained about. Chuck, on the other hand had never managed to keep a woman long enough to propose. "Yeah, Bill," he threw in. "I'd be happy to console the poor deserted woman." Bill was pretending to get offended, as he did every week.

Jess usually participated in this conversation, shared his opinion of marriage to a decent woman with his friends, but he remained distracted trying to remember the man at the bar. Bill took note. "What's the matter, Jess? That's the third hand in a row you've lost. Not sure I've ever seen the like."

Jess looked up from his hand. It was true. He should have folded with each of those hands. "Guess my mind is just on other things, fellas. Tell you what, you've won enough of your money back from me for one night. Deal me out."

Having noticed how often Crystal managed to come by, all three guffawed while Jess picked up his stake, winked at them and moved to the nearby table where his friend, Burt, a cowhand who worked at a ranch the other side of Laramie, was being entertained by Millie. The chair facing the bar and the door was available, so Jess settled in. He kept an eye on the stranger. He still wasn't sure where he knew him from, but his sense of unease was growing. He had a vague idea it was from the war and decided to keep his distance and was not a good friend. A little of the joy of the night was gone, even as Crystal found time to take a seat and Jess started recounting to Millie one of the adventures he and Burt had shared. One where Burt had ended up on the losing end of an argument about who could break a particular pony.

Just as the story was ending, the stranger approached the table. "Well, Jess Harper, as I live and breathe!"

Jess eyed the man with an increasing sense of dread tightening in his belly, "Do I know you, Mister?"

The man took a seat without waiting to be invited. "Sure, it's been a while, can't believe I've changed that much, though? Sure, it's been - what – hell, over 10 years, now, I guess. Supposed I've filled out a mite since starvin' in the trenches with you. Cleaned up a bit, too. Brian McCarthy, son! We served together in the Texas calvary until you disappeared on that patrol. Heard you got captured. You sure look good now, though! Fancy runnin' into each other after all this time!"

The memory popped. McCarthy had been one of those that enjoyed the fightin'. Killed when he could've captured. Somehow, never on the front line when charges against superior forces were ordered, though. McCarthy was also always on the patrols that went foraging and always seemed to come back with plenty of fresh food. Rumor had it, they raided homesteads and took what they wanted even on southern territory. Considered it the patriotic duty of women and children to starve so's he could eat. Jess had avoided him whenever he could. Brass liked him, of course. The only saving grace when he got promoted was that Jess was in another unit and could distance himself from him.

Jess' voice took on a lower growl, his mood souring, "Yeah, I remember you." A few years ago, he'd've gone on to add a few choice insults. But time had calmed him down, some. He left it at that with a glare that would have warned most men off. Crystal saw it, and knew her time and good mood were better spent elsewhere. She slipped away from the table mumbling that she should get back to serving. Millie recognized it as well, and turned her full attention to Burt. She was in a good mood, too. She and Burt had started going out a couple of weeks previous and she had plans that Jess was not going to spoil.

Not McCarthy, though. "Seems I heard your name a time or two over the years. You became a gunslinger, didn't you? Had yourself quite the reputation down our ways. Where you been keepin' lately?"

This guy is asking for it. Jess thought. Bringing up the war, being in a prison camp, living by the gun. Never denied my past, not ashamed of what I done, but those were none of them pleasant memories I liked braggin' on or bringin' up in company on a Saturday night. Just a couple of years previous, he'd have answered with a fist. "All of that's in the past, McCarthy. I'm partner in a ranch now and settled down. I don't remember bein' friends with you and don't figger to change that now. I got nothin' to say to you. Move along."

At that, Millie whispered in Burt's ear. Burt looked over at Jess, hesitant to leave him. But he also wanted to go upstairs with Millie. It had been a long week. Jess caught his look and signaled to him that it was Ok. He was sure McCarthy wasn't going to start anything – direct confrontation with someone who could defend himself had never been his style. Burt and Millie moved towards the staircase. McCarthy followed with his eyes, a satisfied grin on his face.

"Glad to get you alone for a minute, here, Jess. I know we was never best friends, but I remember you as a good fighter. I gotta proposition for you."

"Told you, I'm partner in a ranch here. I ain't interested in nothin' you got ta offer."

McCarthy put a hand on Jess' arm to stay his movement to leave. It would have taken violence to pull it away and Jess wasn't ready to go quite that far. "Fine, have your say, then I'm headed home."

McCarthy leaned in, speaking just loud enough to be heard above the din of the saloon. "Bunch of us got somethin' goin' back home in Texas, Jess. The Reconstruction is hurtin' folk back there. Carpetbaggers and d****** takin' over all over the place. A true Texican can't make a decent livin'. Why, there's even blacks bein' made sheriff and mayor and all manner of stuff, pretendin' they can tell us what we can and can't do. We plan to take it back, Jess, and want you to be part of it."

Jess' anger had grown through the short speech and he jerked his arm away violently, "Now you listen and listen to me good, McCarthy. The war is over. For the country and for me. I got me somethin' good here and plan to keep it. You come near me again with any of this kind of talk and it's my fists that'll answer." With that he rose and headed for the door. He paused on the boardwalk. It was too late to drive the buckboard back to the ranch. Between the hands he'd lost earlier and not getting invited to stay with Crystal, he'd be staying at the boarding house, leaving him down a couple dollars for the month. McCarthy had well and truly ruined his night.