by Ember Pierce
“Sure, but you’re the bravest lady I’ve ever laid eyes on, Mae.”
* * *
“Thank you for saving the town, Sheriff Henderson.”
* * *
“Mrs. Henderson, you’re such an inspiration.”
* * *
“Thank you, Mayor Charloux.”
* * *
“You will take over as sheriff again, now, won’t you, Sheriff Henderson?”
* * *
“It would be so wonderful to have our real sheriff again. You’ll come back to us, won’t you?”
* * *
“I don’t know about that, folks. You all have a sheriff already.” Scott seemed perplexed and slightly embarrassed.
* * *
“No, Scott.” The acting sheriff, Sheriff Bentley, spoke up. He had been a deputy and taken over only because Fable Springs had needed someone to step in after Scott’s accident. “I was only holding things down until you came back, Scott. I’m ready and willing to relinquish this badge to you, Sheriff.”
* * *
The townsfolk stood around them and began clapping wildly and whooping. The relief in everyone present was palpable. Scott looked at Mae. She smiled back at him.
* * *
“Mae? Do you have any thoughts on this? You came out here to marry a farmer, but it looks like you might be getting a sheriff, instead. How does the idea sit with you?”
* * *
“It sits fine with me.” She looked deep into his eyes.
* * *
He pulled her closer and with his arm about her shoulders, he raised his other hand to still the crowd.
* * *
“I just want to say, although I’m honored that you are all so supportive of the notion, I’d like a little time to think about it. I’d like to discuss it privately with my wife.”
* * *
A voice called out from the crowd. “The term is up in three months. You will run again, won’t you Sheriff?”
* * *
“Yeah, we need you for more than a couple months, Sheriff Henderson.” Someone else spoke.
* * *
“Tell us, Sheriff. Tell us!”
* * *
Laughing, Scott raised his hand up again. “Give me a little time, okay?”
* * *
The crowd erupted into spontaneous applause. Mae and Scott looked at each other and smiled. He leaned down for a quick kiss and they embraced.
* * *
Somebody yelled out. “Hey everybody, let’s go to Donnelly’s. We’re finally free of Wayne Bixby’s gang!”
* * *
Again the crowd cheered. The townsfolk headed to the saloon for a night of dancing and revelry to celebrate their freedom from the gang that had plagued them for months.
* * *
When they all arrived at the saloon, one by one, they went up to Scott to talk to him. They had thanked the acting sheriff and the deputies, and Mae.
* * *
But the citizens of Fable Springs all seemed intent on telling Scott that they wanted him back. Some apologized for acting weird after the accident. But the overwhelming message was that they wanted Scott back protecting their town. They had missed him.
* * *
He shook hands and spoke to each one. Ephraim, standing nearby jokingly told his friend that maybe he should consider running for mayor instead of sheriff. Scott and Mae had laughed and toasted with Ephraim. The three of them were very happy.
* * *
“Well, if there’s going to be a big party, I’m taking Mae down to the boarding house. She can get cleaned up and change into a different dress.” Elisabeth took Mae by the hand and they ducked out with no one seeing. They returned three-quarters of an hour later. Mae looked beautiful. Elisabeth’s dress of golden yellow cotton suited her in every way.
* * *
The musicians were setting up and tuning and everyone was getting their drinks and acquiring their dancing partners. The music started, but before the couples took to the dance floor, one by one, Scott called out for everyone’s attention.
* * *
The people all gathered and stood in a semi-circle around Scott and Mae.
* * *
“I’d like to say that I’m very grateful that you are all safe and happy. And I appreciate your thanks and gratitude...all of you. But I must give credit where credit is due. First, I’d like to thank Mayor Charloux, Sheriff Bentley, Deputies and Assistant Deputies. Running Bixby’s gang out of town was a combined effort. Everyone worked hard for it. As hard as anyone could.”
* * *
The crowd clapped and howled uproariously.
* * *
Scott held his hand up to quiet them. “There is another hero today who helped us beyond measure in taking down Wayne Bixby. Some of you have already spoken with her.”
* * *
The people hooted and clapped some more. Mae felt Scott’s arm about her waist move her toward him. She glanced up. “Oh no, Scott. It’s fine. I don’t need thanks.”
* * *
“I’d like to introduce my wife. Some of you may know her, Mrs. Mae Henderson.”
* * *
Plentiful applause filled the room once more, this time of a more calm, polite variety.
* * *
“Mae is the real hero here today. She is the one who shot and killed Wayne Bixby.”
* * *
The men were impressed by Mae’s shooting prowess. Many of them had seen the body. Mae had taken Bixby down with one shot to the heart. The men spoke in low tones and many went to Mae, each congratulating her in turn.
* * *
The women’s eyes had all grown wide and they looked around, one to the other, nodding and murmuring their agreement that Mae was the real hero of the day.
* * *
Some of them went forward to thank her and to shake her hand or to introduce themselves to her. They’d never known a woman so brave. So sure of herself.
* * *
Mae tried to tell the ladies that she’d only done what she’d had to do, just as they all did what was necessary for their survival everyday. They’d all made the trek west, Mae told them. They were all heroes based on that and that alone.
* * *
Her brief talk ended with the ladies embracing her one by one with invitations to Sunday dinner, tea, luncheon, and the next quilting bee.
* * *
When the ladies had rejoined their husbands and sweethearts, the band was ready to play. In a matter of minutes the music filled inside the four walls and spilled out into the street.
* * *
Scott looked at Mae and smiled. “Would you care to dance?”
* * *
“Very much so.”
* * *
They stepped out onto the floor. Mae was thrilled. Scott was treating her as his wife. He’d introduced her as such in front of the whole town.
* * *
Her reasons for coming to Fable Springs, the reasons she gave them. That she’d been a mail order bride was accepted as the most regular of occurrences. Her marriage was valid. And now it was finally real to Scott and acknowledged by everyone else.
* * *
After a number of dances, the joyful couple stepped outside of Donnelly’s for some air. The party was at full capacity. They’d danced until Mae was breathless.
* * *
But she’d already noticed that being breathless seemed to be a side effect of being near her handsome husband. She felt giddy about him and couldn’t believe she’d accused him of being a coward. She wanted to apologize. She needed to apologize.
* * *
“Scott, I’m so sorry I called you a coward.”
* * *
“I forgive you, Mae,” he said, shushing her with a kiss.
* * *
They looked up at the stars and all around the area. The town square, across the street, was empty, but the lamps were lit and it proved an inviting scene. A young couple, strolling throug
h the park, took a bench and talked quietly under the gaslamp.
* * *
After some minutes Scott placed his arm around Mae’s shoulders and pulled her against him once more. She liked the feel of herself next to him.
* * *
“You know, Mae, I have to thank you.”
* * *
“Thank me? Whatever for? You have no reason. In fact, I should be the one thanking you. You’ve made it possible for me to hold my head up. I feel as if you really see me, Scott. You see who I am. You look into my soul and you know me. I’m grateful for it.”
* * *
“Mae. You’ve caused me to become a better man. My life is much improved because of you. Meeting you and getting to know you has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my whole life. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I understand, now, why I survived the explosion that killed Annie. I understand why I was given another chance at living. It was because I was destined to meet you. To make you a part of my life. To learn from you.”
* * *
“Scott,” she whispered. Her arms crept up about his neck and he leaned down to kiss her sweetly. Mae felt as if she were flying. The love she felt for Scott was all-encompassing. She’d never been so happy or felt so accepted.
* * *
“I love you, Mae, so much,” he said, pressing his forehead to hers and gazing into her eyes.
* * *
“I love you too, Scott.”
* * *
Knowing that Scott returned her love completely warmed her inside. She had finally been seen for who she was. Not for what she looked like. Oh, she knew that Scott found her beautiful...she’d seen the look in his eyes that she’d seen in the eyes of other men. But, from him she didn’t mind it. She wanted to be beautiful for him. Scott always brought himself back from the fantasy.
* * *
She knew, from the beginning, that he was a realist. And that he wanted more in a partner than just a lovely face. Scott wanted her input on things and that made her feel needed in a way she’d never felt needed before. He wanted and seemed to accept all of her. He wanted to know all of her.
* * *
Together and without discussing it they walked, leading the horses, toward the house, their house at the edge of town. They strolled in a leisurely manner each leading a horse with one hand while their other hands were joined.
* * *
They got to the house and went around to the back.
* * *
“I reckon I need to ride out to the end of the farm to get the buckboard. No sense leaving it out there all night, uncovered.”
* * *
“Alright. I’ll make a light supper. Unless you want more than that? Are you very hungry?”
* * *
“Light supper sounds wonderful, Mae. I’ll see you in a bit.”
* * *
They stood on the back porch. He was going to collect the wagon which had been left out past the last field on the road away from Fable Creek. He would be gone an hour at most. She smiled and kissed him quickly.
* * *
“Make it quick, the food will be ready soon, okay?”
* * *
He kissed her lips again, passionately this time. Mae felt as if she might faint. She felt her knees go weak and she leaned against him as she gave in to the power of his love.
* * *
A myriad of emotions and physical sensations she’d never felt before, circled in and around her body and her being. She didn’t want him to release her, ever.
* * *
Reluctantly she pulled away. If he was going to get the wagon, he should go right away, before it got even later. She just wanted him home safe. In order to get him back as quick as possible she had to let him go now.
* * *
She patted his shoulder and went to the cookstove to stoke up the embers and add more wood. She always kept a few clean pieces of wood in a coal scuttle by the stove.
* * *
The wood was dry and would take fire quickly. Within minutes she’d mixed up the biscuits and put the coffee on. She went into the pantry for a few things and returned only to start laughing.
* * *
“Scott! Are you going to get the wagon, or not?”
* * *
“You’ll have to excuse me. I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you,” he grinned.
* * *
“Get going,” she joked, pushing him toward the door.
* * *
He turned and pecked her cheek and stepped out the door.
* * *
Mae went back to getting supper. She felt happy about the future. They were going to have a good one. The whole town of Fable Springs was going to have a wonderful future. She knew Scott wasn’t afraid to love her anymore. That meant that everything would change for the better.
* * *
It wasn’t that she thought things were bad. There’d been some tension between Scott and her since she’d arrived. Now she knew that the strain had mostly been due to Scott’s fears.
* * *
Once he’d told her the whole truth about the Wayne Bixby situation and his late fiancé, he’d seemed to have found a calm space within himself. A place that allowed Mae to come in.
* * *
She sliced some cold roast beef onto a plate and decided to heat it so Scott could have hot sandwiches. As she prepared the food and bustled happily around the kitchen, she sighed with calm happiness. Everything in her life was looking up.
* * *
She had a husband she was madly in love with who returned that love. She had a lovely house in the most convenient location to town possible.
* * *
As she counted her blessings, she knew that from now on, things would be more wonderful than she’d ever imagined.
* * *
The screen door shut and she turned from the stove. Scott stood in the doorway, smiling at her. Mae ran to him and threw her arms around him. He caught her and they enjoyed another kiss before sitting down to their supper.
Epilogue
Scott sat on the front porch. It was evening. He could hear the crickets in the grass, the breeze in the trees. He sighed deeply and sipped his whiskey, relaxed and looking forward to his new life with Mae.
* * *
It had been months since the showdown with Wayne Bixby. Mae had recovered from the shock of having shot and killed the villain. Things were getting back to normal in Fable Springs. New businesses had opened. More people still came to town everyday.
* * *
Of the animals that the Bixby gang stole the night they were at the farm, Scott had been able to locate and get the some back. The chickens, pigs, cows, and the very small herd of cattle had come home. The rest he’d have to replace.
* * *
The first couple of months after Bixby’s death he’d had his hands full making sure Bixby’s former gang didn’t resurrect itself with a new leader. Each of the criminal’s henchmen had wanted to take over after Bixby had been shot. But Scott had taken care of every last one of the gang members.
* * *
Scott smirked. Wasn’t it just like those kinds of men to not waste a minute trying to step into the shoes of their fallen leader? Two had gotten killed and four were in jail.
* * *
The other four, when they realized that Ephraim, Sheriff Bentley, and Scott were about to publicly run them out of town, seemed to have counted their losses and left Fable Creek of their own accord.
* * *
He didn’t care either way why they were gone, he was just glad they were. He didn’t worry about Mae’s safety anymore. She often walked into town by herself to shop or visit. She’d become friends with Molly, the cook at the Mayor’s Residence. And Mae’s friend, Patricia, from Havenshire had come to Fable Creek, an occurrence that Mae was ecstatic about.
* * *