To Honor and Cherish

by Kari Trumbo

  He saw Jax give an order to one of his men and point back at the barn. Jax led the young merchant right toward him. He snorted and prepared for the encounter.

  “Gus, sir, Mark and I’d like a private word with you in the bunkhouse while he packs his things.”

  “We don’t need him for this. I’ll get my stuff and go.” Mark yanked his arm from Jax’s grip but Jax was quicker and caught him before he could slither away. Mark looked frightened. Gus nodded and he followed the pair inside the bunkhouse for privacy from all the eyes and ears standing about. Mark started to wiggle and squirm in Jax’s grasp and he cuffed Mark on the ear. Gus sighed and waited for them to tell him what this had to do with him. Why didn’t Jax take this to Meg? The ranch and its operation were hers now.

  Jax closed the door behind both men and proceeded tell Gus the gist of what he’d just witnessed in the barn. Gus felt his heart pump in his ears. He was livid. His face turned florid and he sputtered in fury.

  Gripping Mark by the front of the shirt, he held him an inch off the ground. “Do you have anything more to say, try me, I dare you, son.”

  He hitched his chin up, and looked at Gus. “Just what do you think you’re going to do, old timer? My father will make sure you pay if you hurt me.” Gus let him go and Mark crumpled to the floor.

  “So you need your daddy to fight your battles, whelp? You think it’s all right to treat women like that?” He hauled him to his feet only to lay him out again.

  Mark touched the side of his mouth and blood seeped from the wound. Mark had hit a nerve.

  “No, sir, maybe we should all treat our women like you. Marry for money then sleep with any ‘ol thing who’ll do.”

  Gus knew when he was too angry to deal with a problem well. He walked out and waited for Jax to bring Mark out. Mark’s horse waited, already saddled, it was a beautiful bay roan. A fine horse with a well-made saddle. Mark shrugged off the two men and went for his horse, but Gus was quicker. He grabbed one of the horse’s reins. Jax clutched Mark. Gus tied Mark’s hands together with the rein, the other rein he tied to his own saddle horn. Gus mounted his own horse, ready to ride back into town.

  He tipped his hat to the men and Jax. Kicking his horse up to a quick trot, he wanted to make it as uncomfortable a walk for Mark as possible. Gus couldn’t trust himself to even speak another word to Mark. In fact, he wouldn’t even look back at him to see how he kept up. If he didn’t keep to a trot so Mark would be far behind, he just might be tempted to kick him. As far as Gus was concerned, if Mark was uncomfortable, he deserved every second of it and more. He’d force Mark to jog the whole way to town.

  Gus knew what people thought of him. They knew he’d been unfaithful because Charlotte had told everyone she could in order to get their support. Then she’d proceeded to blame him for people looking down at her. If she’d kept quiet, no one would have known. After so many years, and so many attempts to make what he’d done right. He was tired of comments like Mark’s. They didn’t know the whole story, and they never would.

  ~~~

  Meg crept from the stable to the house. She shook from head to foot and could not quit looking over her shoulder, terrified that Mark would come after her again. That he would somehow break free of Jax and finish what he’d started. Her hair was a tangled mess, with straw and other debris stuck in it. Her hand trembled as she pulled the bun out of her hair and tried to get the comb through it. It snagged and pulled. She wanted to slip away from everyone, so that no one could see her.

  Meg hefted the old copper washtub from its hiding place in the kitchen into her room. She stumbled out to the back pump and filled buckets of cold water. Normally, she’d just wash off with a cloth, but today she needed to submerge under the water. Get to the pump, fill the bucket. Her brain couldn’t think beyond the two steps. She felt dirtier than she’d ever been before. Mental and physical exhaustion assailed her after a few trips. Chase and Rose had always helped with this task but she didn’t want to see anyone, so doing the job alone was the only way.

  Jax walked right into the house. He didn’t knock anymore. She heard him calling for her, but didn’t respond. He found her and without a word took the buckets from her hands, stopping her. He put his hands, firm but gentle, on her shoulders and tried to make her look him in the face.

  “Are you all right?” he asked for the second time. She couldn’t look up into his eyes, she didn’t want to. If she looked at him, she might see disappointment on his face or loathing, neither of which she could bear. Her memories, visions of what happened in the barn were burned into her thoughts. Every time she blinked, she could see Mark leering at her. All she wanted was the warm water over her head and to scrub every inch of her skin.

  “I need to be alone.” She avoided the answer and shoved away from him grabbing at her buckets.

  He gently gripped her shoulders again, standing her up straight. He shook her body once, just enough to get her attention, and tried again to look her in the eye.

  “Did he hurt you?”

  She still couldn’t look at him, she focused on his second button on his shirt. It was at eye-level. She was so ashamed he’d seen her in that predicament. But so thankful he’d stopped Mark.

  “Meghan, please.” His voice so quiet and concerned.

  Meg looked down and her shoulders quaked in earnest. The care in his voice broke her. “He was going to. I didn’t want him to touch me and he did. He forced himself on me…” she couldn’t say anymore. She just looked away and sobbed. If Chase had been here, this wouldn’t have happened, she thought, Mark wouldn’t have even been here.

  “Meghan, I’m going to hold you for a minute. I won’t hurt you and I won’t push you. You’re shaking so hard you look like you’re going to break apart.” He waited for her to agree or not. When she only looked down, he took her in his arms. He was slow and gentle, she wanted to push back but only at first. He held her until she stopped trembling. Unlike Mark, his arms offered protection and gentleness, and true to his word, he did not hurt or push her.

  He let her go and looked at her again but she wanted to be back in his arms where she’d just found safety. For the first time since Chase died, she’d felt it. She let herself look at his eyes and could feel their intensity, it made her vulnerable. She wanted to duck back into his arms to avoid those penetrating, grey pools.

  Picking up her buckets he told her to sit and wait while he got her bath ready. Listening to him, she waited, sitting on the edge of her bed, watching him fill the tub. Rose came back to check on her while Jax filled buckets. He’d given Rose a few buckets to heat up a little of the water so it wouldn’t be too cold. When it was ready, he poured the hot water into the cold and it turned the water lukewarm. He told her it was ready and left her to have some privacy.

  ~~~

  It was just past the dinner hour when Gus and Mark arrived in town and groups of people were outside, enjoying the cool of the evening. As the strange procession went by, first one person would stop and stare, then conversation would stop altogether, and soon it was silent on the walk in front of the businesses and homes. Gus didn’t look at anyone. He knew better than anyone how fast a story could spread and this would provide a good one.

  The merchant, Mark Scott Sr., and his wife had come from the East. He and his wife had worked hard to make the mercantile what it was. Mark’s wife was a good woman, but disdainful of western education. Mark Jr. had been sent off alone to school in the East. The only time he’d been home with his family was for summers and by the time the boy had hit his early teens, he was already difficult to manage. This had only gotten worse the older and more independent he got.

  Gus brought Mark to his parent’s store, their apartment was above. He left Mark attached to his horse and climbed up the outdoor stairs to, most likely, interrupt their supper. Mark coughing and trembling, cowered up at him, too tired to fight.

  “Augustus, I didn’t expect to see you—.” Mr. Scott looked down at his son, his expression t
urned grave at seeing his son led through town like a calf.

  “Scott, you can see I have your son downstairs. We need to have a private chat.” His demeanor said he wasn’t in the mood to debate his statement.

  Mr. Scott came downstairs to see his son looking tired, dirty, and tied to his horse.

  “Augustus? What’s the meaning of this?” His glare bore into Gus.

  “Your son attacked my daughter today. One of two things will happen. Either you send him off somewhere to assure me he’ll grow up, or I’ll take him over to the sheriff and we can hope a little humanity will find him there, though I doubt it.”

  “Your daughter?” Mr. Scott wiped his forehead with his handkerchief. “Mark has been an issue for some time. I’ve been aware of it, but he’s a grown man. I can’t be disciplining him now.”

  “It’s too late for that. He should have had some of that when it would have done him some good.” Gus stood his ground.

  “Mark has been fired from every job he managed to get. He can’t stay away from drink and his mother insisted he was merely young and that it would all pass.” Scott’s shoulders slumped in defeat.

  “No accountability means he won’t grow up.” Gus growled.

  “I know, but the Mrs. wouldn’t listen. I let my wife spoil Mark, he’s our only child.”

  “I understand Scott, but that’s all in the past. My daughter was attacked today by your son who can’t control himself when he’s in the drink.”

  “I know where to send him.” Mr. Scott finished. “I have a brother who manages a fishery in Maine. Hard work, long hours. They teach a boy respect. I should’ve sent him there years ago.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Augustus. He’ll be on his way tomorrow.”

  “Because of this young man, my daughter’s now short one man for her cattle drive, leaving tomorrow.”

  “What can I do? He’s my son, but I’m no longer his keeper. He’s an adult and I certainly can’t go. I have the shop.”

  “If Meg needs your help. Help her.” He enunciated each syllable slowly.

  Mr. Scott nodded his agreement but his face said a war waged on in his head. He walked from the landing down the last few steps to the ground, untied his son and brought him up for dinner. Augustus knew it would be an uncomfortable night in that house and he hoped it would teach Mark a little lesson, though many opportunities had been ruined by that boy.

  Augustus rode toward his own stable at the boarding house near the edge of town. I need to be the extra hand for Meg. She will be short-handed if I don’t. He ate a simple dinner at the boarding house with a friend he’d known for years and went home to prepare for his trip. He wasn’t sure his old bones could handle the long ride in the saddle, but he had to do it for his daughter. His wife wasn’t here to irritate him about it and try to stop him so he saw no reason not to. Plus, Jax might be willing to let him drive the wagon, and he could probably manage that.

  ~~~

  Jax waited, pacing the kitchen like a caged lion, for Rose to emerge from Meg’s room. He flexed his hands to keep from punching something. Rose closed the door to Meg’s room so softly he wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t seen her, and came out to speak with him.

  “Meg is just finishing up. She might be a little while. You should eat something. I’ll check on her to make sure she is asleep after a while, then you can take the water out.

  He nodded, but it wasn’t food he was hungry for. He’d been told by both Mac and Meg to send Mark on his way. He’d been too interested in giving Mark a second chance to listen. This was as good as his fault. He deserved to be fired. He’d half expected her to do it tonight. Jax slammed his fist down on the table. The drive. He had to stay because she’d need him. When he got back, she’d fire him. He had no doubt about it. So much for finding someplace he wanted to stay.

  Jax stalked outside to make sure his horse was in for the night and cared for. When he returned, he went in Meg’s room to retrieve the water from her bath. He looked down at her peaceful sleeping form. Knowing he shouldn’t linger, it wasn’t right to even be in her room, but he couldn’t help looking at her beautiful face. His gut wrenched and he cursed to himself. He’d ruined the one good thing he’d ever had. Her long lashes were closed and her hair was down around her shoulders. She was such a beautiful woman, and he should have protected her. He could never have her, especially now. If she didn’t fire him when he got back he’d act in every way but one as a husband would for her. She would never fear anyone or anything ever again.

  Trying not to wake her, he took great care to draw the water out by bucket full then Rose helped him lift the tub out and dump it.

  “I don’t like her being in this big house alone,” Rose pushed her sleeves back down into place. She’d pushed them up to move the tub.

  “Go home, Rose. You may not see that man of yours for months. Go be with him. I’ll stay. I’ll sleep in the sitting room so it doesn’t scare her if she wakes up. I don’t want to frighten her even once more.”

  Now it was his turn to hear Meg toss, turn, and talk in her sleep. Even from the other side of the house, he could hear her. Though he’d prevented Mark from going very far, he hadn’t gotten there soon enough and listening to her filled him with guilt. He’d noticed earlier in the day Mark had disappeared. He’d looked, but had to get so many other things done, he couldn’t waste too much time. Then, Gus showed up and he’d had to abandon searching for Mark altogether.

  He’d been thanking Gus for his help when he saw Mark slinking into the barn. He’d taken his time finishing his conversation with Gus. If he’d excused himself to take care of Mark right away, he’d have caught him right away. He had been too far to off hear Meg screaming in the stable until he was right outside. The wind had prevented her voice from carrying. He hadn’t heard her until he was close enough to realize something was wrong. That had made him run. He’d thought maybe a horse had gone wild in the stall on her. He’d never dreamed he’d find what he did. How could he have been so wrong about his one-time friend?

  Now everything was wrong. He was one hand short and Meg was not only hurt, her reputation would be ruined. Meg had been right. He shouldn’t have given his friend a chance when, ultimately, it was her and her ranch it affected. He couldn’t shake his feeling of guilt and he couldn’t relax enough to sleep.

  ~~~

  Mark slipped out of his parent’s apartment above the mercantile, just as he’d done on numerous other occasions. No way would he go to a fishery. That sounded like work and the way his father had described it, it could just as well be torture. He slipped down the few blocks over to the boarding house, keeping to the deep shadows. He’d done his part in watching and ratting out Jax. Now it would be time to collect his fee and get out of this two-bit town. Jax may have been his friend at one point, but everyone had a price. The amount that Larson had named meant that Mark could finally move out of town, away from his parents and boring Little Springs.

  He knew the way to the room, up the stairs and all the way back. He knocked two short raps to avoid disturbing the other people in the house. A scruffy older man came to the door and looked at him.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I need to see Lars.” Mark looked down the hallway to make sure no one saw him.

  “Lars is at the bar. Ain’t that where he usually sees you?”

  “I can’t go to the bar tonight. I need to head out of town. He asked me to watch for Jax. I did my part, I let him know as soon as Jax came into town. I even took a job out there to keep an eye on him. Now I need my money. I need to head out.”

  The old man grinned, he was missing three teeth that Mark could see. “So, you want yer pay, eh? Well then, you best wait for the boss.”

  Mark was nervous, he didn’t want to hang around. He wanted to get as far away from town as possible before his parents noticed he’d left. “Can’t you just pay me? I really need to leave town, now.”

  “Nope, not my job. You’ll have to wait fer Lars or go find ‘
im yersef.”

  Mark ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “Fine, I’ll head down to the saloon.”

  He made his way back down the hall, pulling on his vest nervously, and down the stairs. This would be a long night. No way would Lars hand over money at the bar. He’d be well into his cup by now. Mark poked his head in the saloon and saw about ten men sitting in there, all of them familiar to him.

  “Mark, my boy, I heard you got into a bit of a predicament tonight. I’m glad it didn’t keep you from joining us.” Lars motioned him over to the table.

  “Yeah…about that.” He trudged to the table. “I need to leave town, Lars. Can I talk to you in private for just a minute?” he asked. His face contorted into what he hoped was submission and respect.

  “Mark. Look around, it’s nighttime. Time for fun. We don’t talk business at this hour. Let me buy you a drink.” He held up his hand to the bartender to send them a round of drinks.

  Mark sighed, he could stay and hope he’d get paid once Lars was drunk enough to forget or he could fold this hand he’d been dealt and leave without pay. Tough call.

  “Sorry Lars, I can’t join you. I need my money. If you could see fit to break your rules this once, I’ll be out of your hair for good.”

  “I like that idea.” Lars hit the table with his palm and nodded his head. “Get out of my hair for good.”

  Mark’s eyes lit up like he’d won as Lars pulled his gun and put a bullet between them.

  “Get this bonehead out of here.” He gestured to the door with his gun. “I don’t need his parents’ whining. Make it look like he left town. Oh, and give me his beer.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Jax listened to Meg’s agony for most of the night until the sun came over the horizon. Right before the cock crowed, he heard something that made his blood run cold. As plain as day in her sleep, Meg called out, “Jax, you can’t leave me, too!” He got up to prepare for the long day ahead. He couldn’t stop to think about the chocolate-haired beauty he would leave behind, perhaps for good, and tried to remind himself he was doing what she wanted him to.