Jesse by Barbara Goss (namjoon book recommendations txt) 📕

“I’m tired,” Charlie said.  “Can we do that tomorrow?”

“Whatever you'd like, but it has to be done.”

Chapter Eleven

 Sean came out to meet them as they approached his house.  Instead of looking confused, he seemed more amused.

“What’s going on?  I thought Charlie would be on the train to New York by now,” Sean said.

Jesse slid off his horse, and before he could help Charlie from hers, she was already walking to him.  She put her hand in his and smiled up at him lovingly.  “We discovered something on the way,” she said.

Sean smiled.  “Is that so?”

“I apologize for not making good on my promise, but Charlie and I... we sort of fell in love on the way.  We married in Sterling’s Mill.”  Jesse handed Sean their marriage certificate.

Sean scanned the certificate before handing it back.  “Welcome to the family.”

Charlie cuddled up closer to Jesse and squeezed his arm.  “We’re so happy...  Aren’t we, Jesse?”

Jesse pulled Charlie closer and nodded.  “Where’s Sophia?  I suppose I should explain this all to her.”

“I’ll tell her,” Sean said. “She’s doing some shopping in town.”

“We also had our home ransacked while we were gone,” Jesse said.

“Really? Why would someone break into your house?  Any idea who would do such a thing?” Sean asked.

Jesse gave him a knowing look.  “I’m sure it was Roy.  He tried to get Delia to seduce me so I’d have to marry her.  When that didn’t work, I’m sure he broke into my house, looking for money.  I wonder what I could have said to make him think I had a load of money.”

Sean sighed. “He’s been acting strangely lately. Word has it his wife is about ready to toss him out into the street.  He still hasn’t found a job, and that flat behind the saloon is a dump.”

Jesse shrugged, “Funny that he never mentioned he wasn’t working. Does he have a trade?”

“Not really.  He worked at the livery before he married. He claimed he quit, but gossip has it they fired him for sleeping on the job.”

“How did he ever become friends with you and Mac?  He doesn’t seem to fit in with you two.”

“We grew up together and went to the old schoolhouse.  He was an all right guy back then, but he's changed lately.  I don’t know what his problem is.  It seemed to start shortly after he married Gwen.  I think she wants more than Roy can give her.”

“Well,” Jesse said as he mounted his horse, “I hope this won’t affect our friendship, but I plan to call him out.”

Charlie hopped onto her horse and waited for Jesse.

Sean went over to Jesse’s horse. “You have nothing to worry about, Jesse.  You’re family now and will always be my friend.  If you have a shootout, I want to be there to ensure it’s a fair fight.”

Jesse nodded and waved as he and Charlie started their ride back to the main road.

Jesse and Charlie stopped in town to get supplies.  They saw Sophia loading her wagon with boxes, but Charlie put a finger to her lips.  “Let Sean tell her.  I’m not in the mood to deal with her now.”

They waited for her to ride off before entering the general store.  The clerk put their purchases in burlap sacks which Jesse tied to his saddlebag, and they walked their horses home.

Charlie asked, “Why don’t you put your... um... our money in the bank?”

Jesse sighed.  “I’ve seen too many bank robberies.  I also don’t like small-town gossip.  Everyone in town would know exactly how much we had if I did that.”

“How much do we have?” Charlie asked.

“Not a fortune, but it's enough to see us through the winter and then some.”

Charlie was silent for several moments before asking, “What will we do then?”

Jesse shrugged.

“You won’t leave me alone to go hunting down bounties, will you?”

“I don’t have a trade, Charlie.  It’s all I know.”

Charlie frowned and bit her lip, but she kept silent.

The following day, Jesse rode into town to look for Roy.  He wasn’t at home, and his wife seemed distressed.  She said she hadn’t seen him for two days, and Jesse wondered if he was trying to avoid being called out.  Then, he decided to see what Delia might know.

Delia opened the door with a shocked look on her face.  “Jesse!”

Jesse nodded as a greeting.  “Do you happen to know where Roy is?”

She shrugged.  “Not exactly, why?”

“You wanted me to forgive you for your part in the trick you and Roy tried to pull on me; now’s your chance to get that forgiveness.”

“So, if I tell you where Roy is, you’ll forgive me?”

 “Yes, I will.”

“He’s hiding in Sterling’s Mill.  He heard you were going to call him out.”

“Aha,” Jesse said.  “The coward.”

“So, we’re friends again?” Delia’s eyes it up.  “Can we continue having lunch together?”

Jesse couldn’t wait to give his answer.   “I don’t think my wife would appreciate that.”

“Your wife?”

“Yes.  Charlie and I didn’t even get as far as Cheyenne before we fell in love, and we were married before we came home.”  He stared at her shocked face.  “Aren’t you going to congratulate us?”

Delia slammed the door in his face.

Jesse walked into the house, glad to see Charlie’s smiling face.

“Hey,” she said.  “I’ve made a delightful supper for us.”  She pulled the lid off the pot as if she were a magician pulling a rabbit from his top hat.

Jesse couldn’t help but laugh—she was so unique.  “I don’t know what it is, but it smells heavenly.”

“My mother’s Sunday favorite: chicken, and dumplings.”

“How interesting—I’ve never had chicken and dumplings before.”

 “Go on—are you serious?”  Her eyes were full of excitement.

Jesse walked closer to her.  “I’ve never had it,