Nodding to Letty with a small smile, Janelle allowed Aaron to direct her toward the stairs with a guiding hand at her back. They were almost out the door before she turned back. “My phone.” She rushed over and grabbed it from Luke’s hand. “Forgive me, but I want to conserve the battery.”
“We have batteries.”
“You do? Huh… but I bet they’re not like this one. Once this is dead, I won’t have any pictures of my family. They’ll be gone to me forever. Or until Mr. Edison gets his act together and invents a wall socket so I can recharge it.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she switched off the phone.
Luke stroked her arm to comfort her. “I’m sorry, honey.”
“Come on, Janelle.” Aaron tugged her along, not liking the way his brother was touching her. He felt foolish, but he already considered the little blonde his responsibility and felt unusually possessive. “Don’t you boys have ranch work to do?”
They both laughed at their little brother, Heath commenting, “Don’t worry, runt, we remember our no poaching pact.”
Luke agreed. “Yeah, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy watching you squirm, baby brother.”
“Don’t listen to them, honey. They’ve been out in the sun too long.”
Snickers followed as he guided Janelle up the stairs.
“Your brothers sure like to tease you.”
“Yeah, they’re my penance here on earth, I’m sure. But I’m bigger than both of them and have no problem kicking their, um… hind parts if they don’t back off.”
“Do you really get into fistfights? I thought your mother was going to pass out earlier, and I pictured broken furniture like in a bar fight in an old western.”
“Well, I don’t rightly know what that is, but we have been known to kick up a row now and then, but never inside. Pa taught us the error of that a long time ago. Now we pretty much just bluster and preen, like I imagine most siblings do. Then we shake hands, and all’s forgiven.”
“I always wanted a big brother growing up.”
“Well then, it appears you’ve got two, cause the way Heath and Luke were fussing over you, they feel protective already. Time will tell if they tease you as unmercifully as they did me.”
Aaron escorted her back to her room and put her to bed despite her protests. Insisting that she needed to rest more after having a disturbing night on top of her head injury the day before, he was resolute and inflexible. She complied only because of the headache that had been creeping up behind her eyes. Thinking she should have taken some of that Motrin before coming upstairs, she sighed, her eyes closing as soon as her head hit the pillow.
“Good girl,” he whispered, before pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Sleep and heal. I’ll come check on you again in a few hours.”
Janelle cracked one eye open and shot him a glare. Her heavy lids wouldn’t cooperate though, and she stated softly as they lowered once again, “I’m twenty-three, not three, Marshal. I haven’t been a good girl in a very long time.”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. That is something I can help you overcome.” Leaning over her, he grinned as she wrinkled her nose, but made no comment.
“You’re a bit like Alice, when she stepped through the looking glass, aren’t you? Like her, you’re in a strange new world and will have to learn to adapt. I plan to help you, every step of the way. Now sleep, little Alice. All will be well, I promise.”
Comforted by his words, Janelle relaxed, and although she would have bet it was impossible, she slept straight through until supper.
Chapter Five
Over the next few days, she settled into a routine around the family’s schedule. Breakfast came early, followed by Letty shooing her out of the kitchen each morning, insisting she needed to rest. For the first day or so, the rest was welcome as a nagging headache plagued her, and she would often return to bed for more sleep. Lunchtime came about noon and often included just her and Letty if the men were busy out on the ranch. On those days, Letty would pack them a lunch or they would eat with the ranch hands. If they were working a long way from the house, the cook would pull out the chuck wagon and serve them at their work site. In the afternoon, she was expected to nap and rest some more. Supper came along at dusk, and the men, tired and dusty from their long day of manual labors, would arrive with hearty appetites and scarf down everything Letty had to offer.
After dinner, the family often sat in the parlor, reading, chatting or playing games. Most times, the two oldest Jackson sons would bow out for the evening. Although they both had their own homes nearby, they often stayed in the main house when they were working, finding it was easier to have Letty cook for them than fend for themselves. Sometimes after supper they would clean up and head to town, shaved and smelling better than any man should be allowed to. They’d leave with a quiet goodnight and no one would see them again until the next morning at breakfast. Letty had said that neither Heath nor Luke were “courting” anyone—her word for dating, Janelle supposed. She had to wonder if they were visiting the saloon girls or the painted ladies that Henry had mentioned.
So, Janelle was left in the company of Henry and Letty, who would invite her to join them in a spirited game of dominoes, checkers, or jackstraws, the latter being like the game “pick-up sticks” she had played as a child.
On the fourth night of her stay, she sat in the library, her book abandoned long ago as she couldn’t concentrate and had reread the same paragraph several times without comprehending a word. A heaviness settled in her chest as she listened to Henry and Letty’s voices drift in from the parlor across the hall. They were arguing playfully over who beat who in their last game of checkers. They were close even after over thirty years of marriage, just like her parents, who she missed desperately. Feeling the sting of tears burning her eyes, she decided she needed some air and walked quietly to the front door and out onto the porch. The wide swing was inviting, and she sat staring off into the dark Wyoming sky, slowly setting the swing in motion with a gentle push from her toes. It was a beautiful night, with thousands of stars twinkling brightly overhead and the crescent moon hanging low in the sky.
Unable to sit still, Janelle rose and paced to the top of the wide wooden stairs. Champ, Aaron’s dog, came running up, and she sat on the steps to pet and cuddle with the very affectionate yellow lab. He licked her face and neck until it tickled, and she nudged him away.
“Let’s take a walk, boy.”
Hoping a walk would clear her head, she slowly descended the stairs and started across the yard, with Champ following at her heels. She had to do something about her situation. The Jackson’s were kind and treated her like one of the family, but she couldn’t continue to sponge off this nice family forever. She had to find a way back to her own time, or begin some kind of life in this new one.
She missed her parents terribly, as well as her friends, and even her job. Although she often complained about the long hours spent on her feet, she found her nursing job rewarding and didn’t really mind working the four 12-hour shifts at the hospital each week. Now she wasn’t allowed to do anything except rest, per Aaron’s instructions.
As her mind wandered, her thoughts turned to the tall, dark, and handsome man who had taken her in and was providing for her. As marshal for the Wyoming territory, he was in high demand and had to respond to any difficulties throughout the large area of his jurisdiction. According to Henry, Wyoming was a U.S. Territory for which the Federal marshals were the ultimate law enforcement agency. This made Aaron the highest authority in the land. Henry had gone on and on about Aaron’s accomplishments, and Janelle could tell he was very proud of what his son had achieved at the relatively young age of 28.
It was rather scary to learn that Aaron’s job was to track down fugitives and apprehend all sorts of outlaws throughout the territory. Although he had help from the local sheriffs and deputies and could even form a posse when needed, it was still all Aaron’s responsibility. This reminded Janelle of all the westerns she
had watched with her dad as a kid. She remembered they featured shootouts, outlaw gangs, train and stagecoach robberies, and criminals like Jesse James and Billy the Kidd. Being marshal made Aaron Jackson Wyoming’s version of Wyatt Earp. Geez-oh-Pete!
Henry also told her that Laramie was the county seat, so Aaron spent most of his time there. He worked out of the Laramie jailhouse and chose to buy a house in town for that reason. Janelle knew that since her arrival he had been making the 30-minute trip to and from the ranch every day, just to see her. He would have breakfast with her and the family each morning before heading out, not making it back again until late in the evening, often just as they were headed to bed. Janelle didn’t see the point and often wondered why he went to all the trouble. Although there was a spark between them, they weren’t a couple, and he didn’t really owe her anything, after all. She was just a poor, lost girl who had ended up in his jail. He should just stop running himself and his horse ragged and stay in town. However, knowing he was making the extra effort to check on and spend time with her made heart do a little flip-flop.
Champ’s barking startled her out of her reverie, and she watched as the dog excitedly scampered away into the trees as they reached the end of the yard. He was obviously on the trail of some animal. The sweet, playful dog was a reminder of her own pet. She missed her cat’s furry-faced greeting when she got home each night from work and the way she cuddled in her lap and kept her company. She prayed to God that someone was taking care of her sweet Cleo.
Deep breaths of the clean, fresh air helped her keep from turning all weepy again. She’d done entirely too much of that lately. Turning back, she got the first look at the outside of the Jackson home. It was a lovely wood-sided house with a slate roof. Letty had told her the family bought the ranch and built the large two-story house about 15 years ago. Aaron would have only been thirteen. Wondering what he had been like at that age had her lips quirking slightly. Considering the man he was today, she imagined a big, strapping youth with warm brown eyes and a scruff of peach fuzz on his face.
It seemed unreal that this family had actually lived through the Civil War, or the ‘War Between the States’ as Letty called it. They were Virginia natives, and she’d said the war had ravaged their small town. Their crops had been destroyed, and the house burned. Hearing that the railroad would be running through Wyoming, they had packed up, risking everything. Spending what little money he had left, Henry had scouted out the 50,000 acres of land and decided it was a perfect place to relocate his family. Originally homesteaders, they were lucky to have arrived before word spread and all the choice land was claimed. With three sons to help with the hard work, it had only taken a few years to turn their homestead into a successful cattle ranch. The value of the land had skyrocketed as the area developed, and now, Henry and his three sons were some of the wealthiest land and cattle ranchers in Wyoming. Letty had beamed with pride as she’d told their story. Her contribution was left out, but Janelle knew she had worked just as hard as the men had.
Janelle admired the home they had built, with its porch rockers and an inviting swing. It would have looked like an ordinary farmhouse except for the octagon-shaped tower located in the center of the house. Four sides visible from the front on both stories, it housed the parlor on the first floor and the master bedroom on the second. Letty’s idea she was sure because there were tall windows that let in a lot of natural light. On either side of the tower was a wide porch. Janelle saw another porch toward the back of the house—it was the first time she had noticed it. It had an eastern exposure, and she imagined Letty took advantage of it in the afternoons as an escape from her hot kitchen.
Janelle turned away from the beautiful home they had made. It made her wonder where she would be in fifteen years. Which decade and century would she live in by then? For that matter, where would she live, and what would her life be like? Would she ever be as lucky as Letty and have a wonderful home, husband, and children?
Exhaling heavily yet again, she had so many unanswered questions. As she continued on her walk, she turned toward the barn and stables. It was a pleasant August evening with low humidity and a light breeze blowing, so she wasn’t nearly ready to return inside. She’d been cooped up in the house for too long. Summertime in Wyoming was warm, but without air conditioning or fans, it was unbearable. She’d been burning up ever since she arrived in 1878.
Worse for Janelle, they were having an unusually hot summer, and the nights had also been warm, making it nearly impossible for her to sleep. In order to stay cool, she’d started sleeping in a short-sleeved shift because the high-necked granny gown Letty had loaned her was just too darn hot. Not to mention it could have doubled as a tent. She had ended up sweating and kicking off the sheet during the night only to find the huge gown twisted around her waist each morning. Letty had scolded her, saying that the shift wasn’t decent and had asked what would happen if she had another nightmare and the entire family paraded once again through her room. Janelle had teased her by saying she was lucky she didn’t sleep the way she did at home—in the buff—and that wearing anything was a concession. This wasn’t actually true. Her usual nightwear consisting of skimpy nighties or a tank and panties, but she was covered and very comfortable. Still, she couldn’t help teasing her easily-shocked new friend. Besides, she’d reminded Letty, she hadn’t had any more nightmares requiring Aaron or anyone else to make any more late night visits to her room. Although, as she thought of Aaron’s muscular bare chest and strong, comforting embrace, she knew a nighttime visit from him wouldn’t be unwelcome.
As if she’d conjured him with her thoughts, Janelle saw his shadow moving from the stable toward the back of the house. She knew it was Aaron because no one else was as tall and muscular. Still, he moved gracefully for a big man, and she watched appreciatively as he climbed the stairs and disappeared inside the house.
He hadn’t noticed her, and since she was enjoying her freedom, she decided to linger outside for a bit and enjoy the fresh air while she could. He’d come fetch her in a moment, she was sure. Whenever she saw him, he was asking about her headaches and telling her to rest more. Today was actually the first day since the accident that she’d been headache-free. Her appetite was returning, and she was feeling stronger. In a few more days, the stitches would come out and she’d be her old self again.
Strolling closer to the tree line by the edge of the clearing, she noticed the fireflies in the trees. She hadn’t seen fireflies in years. Living in the city, she also hadn’t seen a night sky like the one shining overhead. The air was refreshing and clear. Crickets were chirping, and night birds hooted and howled from the trees.
The scent of tobacco wafted by, and she looked around for the source. A tall, thin ranch hand was leaning up against the split rail fence near the barn. He was smoking a pipe, and the odor tickled her nose. It was actually rather pleasant.
“Evenin’ ma’am. Taking some air?”
“Yes, it’s a beautiful night. Cooler for a change.”
“Does the marshal know you’re out here alone?”
“No, isn’t it allowed? I was just getting some air.” The words had no sooner left her mouth than she heard a door slam and a deep voice call her name. “Janelle!” It wasn’t his warm, friendly voice by a long shot.
“I’ll be leaving you to face the grizzly, ma’am.” He chuckled as he spied Aaron striding their way. Tipping his hat, he moved off to a long building set off behind both barns about 30 yards away. Male voices and laughter drifted out from the open windows, and she realized that was the bunkhouse.
A door slammed again, and Janelle turned to see Henry hurrying down the steps while strapping on his gun belt. He was followed by Letty, who stayed on the porch. Aaron, who was now only twenty feet away turned and called to Henry, “I found her, Pa. I’ll see her back to the house.”
“Okay then, son, please explain the rules to her. Tonight.” Henry’s voice was firm and tinged with irritation, but he said no more, turning
and escorting his wife back into the house.
Aaron stopped in front of her, towering over her 5' 4" frame by at least a foot. Looking up into his angry face, she noticed a small muscle tick in his cheek.
“Mind telling me what you were doing out here with Frank Larson? He’s not someone you want to get involved with, Janelle. He’s one mean old cuss.”
She bristled at his tone and implication. “I was taking some air and happened upon him. We weren’t getting involved, and I don’t like what you’re insinuating, Marshal.” For some reason his unwarranted accusation ticked her off, and she lost her temper. “Not that it’s any of your damn business. I’m a grown woman and can converse with whoever the hell I want. I’m not answerable to you, and I’ll do as I damn well please.” Fuming now, she made to walk past him and return to the house when his big hand circled her arm and stopped her.
The next instant, she was being dragged along to the barn. With a firm grip, he held her with one hand as he opened one of the huge doors easily with the other. It was at this point she began to resist.
“What are you doing? I’m not a child to be dragged around hither and yon.”
“Ma said you were feeling better today, no more headache.”
“Yes. What of it?”
“I think it’s time for that little discussion you’ve needed since you got here.”
She knew what ‘discussion’ meant to him and his father; it translated into spanking. “I don’t think so. I haven’t done anything to earn a punishment, and even if I had, you have no right to decide that I do. You’re not my father or my husband or my brother—or third cousin, twice removed, for that matter.”
He pulled her to a stop in a large open area with several bales of hay stacked up on one side. Lining the walls were saddles, bridles, and all kinds of other horse paraphernalia she’d never seen before. Janelle watched as Aaron easily pulled down a bale of hay and sat. Once settled, he wrapped a long arm around her waist and brought her in close to stand between his long outstretched legs.
Marshal's Law Page 5