Jesse by Barbara Goss (namjoon book recommendations txt) 📕

see that your roughness seemed to disappear a little every day, replaced by a smiling, clean-shaven, handsome man.”

 “Was I that intimidating?”

“Oh, yes,” she said emphatically.  “When you walked into the church at my sister’s wedding, I cringed when you stood beside me. All I could think of was that right beside me was a man who had killed other men.”

Jesse grimaced.  “Does that still bother you?”

“No.  Now that I know you, I realize that you probably only killed when you had to, and those men you were chasing were dangerous and evil.”

 “You are a very smart young lady, Charlie.  That’s exactly how things were.  Most of the time it was a matter of self-defense.  The men didn’t want to be turned in and spend years in jail, so they did their best to kill me, and I defended myself.”

Charlie looked up at him.  “So, when we get home, how will we break the news to Sophia and Sean?”

“We’ll simply ride out together to tell them.  But remember: we have to act as if we are in love.”

Charlie smiled.  “I think I can handle that.”  Then, she frowned.  “What about Delia?”

“Delia is history as far as my friendship with her goes.  She and my supposed friend, Roy, were plotting against me.  They must think I’m richer than I am.”

“What’s your plan to deal with Roy?” Charlie asked.

“I plan to call him out.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means a gunfight.”

Charlie gasped.  “No!  What if he wins? I’m too young for widow’s weeds.”

“It’s a matter of honor,” he said.

Jesse put his napkin down on the table.  “Do you want dessert?”

“No, I’m stuffed and feeling tired.”

Jesse cupped her chin.  “Is that why your eyes are drooping?  Come—I’ll walk you to your room.”

In the morning, after a light breakfast at the hotel, they went to the town hall to register their marriage.  The church was just four buildings away from the town hall, so they walked to it with their license.

The minister performed a quick wedding with his wife and the church's janitor as witnesses.  Jesse paid the man, and it must have been more than the minister had expected because his eyes lit up and he grinned.  The newlyweds thanked him and walked back to the hotel.

Jesse warned Charlie, “Don’t mention that we're married to the hotel clerk, or he’ll put us in the same room.”

Charlie laughed.  “We’ve slept beside each other on the trail, so it wouldn’t be too bad.  However, I do like the comfort of having an entire bed to myself.”

 “I’ll give you the large bedroom when we get home.  I’ll move my things into the smaller room.”

“I don’t want to put you out of your room, Jesse.  The size of the room isn’t important, it’s how comfortable the bed is,” she said.

Jesse laughed.  “Yes, we’re going to get along just fine.  I’ll let you choose your room when we get home.”

“Home,” Charlie said dreamily.  “It sounds so wonderful.”

In the morning, they packed their horses and began the short ride home.  Jesse felt nervous about confronting Sean and Sophia, and he wondered how they’d take the news.  He’d promised to see Charlie off to New York, and instead, he'd married her and brought her home.

Charlie and Jesse brought their horses to the small horse shed where he unpacked their things and unsaddled the horses.

“Is this shed large enough for two horses?” Charlie asked.

“It’ll be a mite crowded for now, but I’m going to have a barn built soon.  First thing in the morning, we’ll let them out and put them in the small corral for the day.”

“Can I help with the horses?”

“No, why don’t you open up the house and pick out your bedroom?” Jesse said.  He dug into his pants pocket and brought out a large key.  “It’s for the front door.”

Charlie took the key and ran off to investigate the house.

Jesse stayed out to brush down the horses and feed them for the night.  He’d just started brushing one of the horses when he heard Charlie scream.

He dropped the brush, ran to the house, went in through the front door, and stopped in his tracks when he saw what had made Charlie scream.

Not only had someone knocked over furniture, but they'd sliced some of it with a knife and strewn Jesse’s things all over the place.

Jesse felt swear words form on his tongue, but since he never sworn in front of a woman, he changed his words.  “Dagnabbit!”

 “What happened, Jesse?”

Jesse went to the kitchen, reached up to the highest cabinet, and opened the door; the safe was intact.  He let out the breath he’d been holding.

“It looks like someone was looking for our money.”  He pointed at the safe.  “They didn’t find it, though.”

 “Our money?”

“Yes, Mrs. Morgan.  Everything I own is yours now, too.”

She smiled. “I’m glad you've found such a clever hiding place, then, but if I were you, I’d put a sack of flour and some other things up there so the safe doesn’t show at all when the door is opened.”

“Good idea.”  Jesse put his arm around her and hugged her.  “We’re going to be fine despite this ransacking, and I think I know who’s responsible.”

 “Roy?” Charlie asked.

“Yep.  He’s really in deep trouble now.”

Charlie took a tour of her new home.  Jesse followed her as she peeked into each bedroom.  “This one.  I’d like this room, if it’s all right,” she said.

“It’s fine, but I’m curious as to why you chose the smallest room of the three.”

Charlie smiled up at him.  “It has a window facing east, so I can see the sunrise each morning.”

Jesse laughed.  “So, you shall.”

Once the couple had settled in, Jesse asked, “When do you want to break the news to Sophia