by Danni Roan
“I’m marshal Jason Danvers.” Jason replied, stopping Charlie so fast in his tracks that Joshua walked into him, snorted, and then pushed him forward with his nose. For a long moment Charlie just stood there, lantern in one hand and horse in the other straining to look at the tall stranger standing in his barn. Then Joshua nipped him impatiently and with a squeal and an oath, the old hand stepped forward into the stall.
“Marshal, you say?” He called as he hooked the dun’s halter lead to the manger and began unsaddling the little mustang. “Now what might bring a marshal out this here way?”
“The usual type of business.” Jason replied softly as he moved his big gray into a stall and stripped his tack, tossing some hay in the manger as he stepped out again.
“Well, I’m sure you’ll have plenty to say come daylight, anyway.” Charlie added as he gave Joshua a pat on his way out of the stall. “Been nothin’ but trouble out here for us honest folks lately. ‘bout time some’un showed up to see to decent hard working folks. What took you so durn long? I been waiting ever since I sent off that…” Charlie suddenly stopped speaking, realizing what he’d almost said.
“Don’t worry old timer.” Jason replied “I’m sure I’ll see for myself what’s going on in the morning. In the meantime I think it’s time we get this young lady somewhere warm and get some good food into her.” He looked at Maggie.
“That sounds like a plan.” she agreed, then leaning over to give Charlie a peck on the cheek she said “The hotel is just down on the other end of the street.”
Jason offered her his arm and with Chaz bringing the saddle bags, together they walked up the street and onto the board walk. As they passed the saloon, bright lights spilling out onto the rough wooden planks, a drunken cowboy, staggered through the bat wing doors almost right into them.
“Well what have we here?” he slurred, reaching toward Maggie. “Now ain’t you pretty?” Jason stepped easily in front of Maggie his sheer bulk, causing the man to stop and look up. For a long moment the inebriated puncher smiled and oily smile at the stranger, then his eyes, took in the shiny badge pinned just over his left pocket, making the cowboy gulp and grab for his hat.
“I’m, I’m, I reckon I mistook ya’ ma’am.” The cowman said, eyeing the marshal the whole time, then slipping sideways down the board walk, he disappeared in to the night.
Jason looked at Maggie, checking to see that she wasn’t too shaken by the incident, but she simply smiled at him and together they walked on. They were just knocking on the door of the hotel when, they heard the sound of hoof beats racing out of town.
Moments later the night clerk opened the door for them and smiled when he recognized Maggie and Chaz. “Oh, Miss Weston, what a pleasure.” He drawled inviting them in with a gesture.
“Have you eaten yet? We’re still serving if you haven’t and I’m sure cook would love to see you.” Closing the door, he reached for the bags Chaz carried, then examined the marshal, his eyes widening as they took in the badge. “I’ll just take your things up stairs and you go on in to the dining room and get comfortable. Two rooms or three?”
“I’ll share with Chaz.” The marshal said, then guided Maggie into the dining area and seated her near the fire. A server came out as the three new guest got comfortable and told them that it was beef stew with biscuits and apple pie for dinner while pouring coffee.
Maggie was thankful for the warmth from the fire place and the hot drink in front of her. It seemed like all around her the air was charged with a tension that was fully tangible. Despite the fire, she shivered. “Miss Maggie, are you cold?” Chaz asked. Concern on his face. “I can give you my coat.”
Maggie smiled, “I’m fine Chaz.” She said lifting her eyes to the marshal and thinking what the next day, or the day after might bring. “It’s just been a long trip. I’m warming up now.”
Jason studied Maggie, wondering about her strange shiver while sitting by a blazing fire. He hoped she wasn’t coming down with something and for the first time in his life since leaving home he was worried about someone other than himself.
He longed to reach out and take her hand, to touch her face and see if the chill were truly leaving. His eyes rested on her face and he felt ashamed for even thinking these things. There was no room for love in his life. Suddenly he noticed the flush of her cheeks as she met his gaze and slowly he lowered his eyes.
Dinner came and they sat catching up on gossip from Charlie, who told them that several of the farmers had left early in the fall.
“Done left most of their harvest in the fields and just up and left. Never seen nothin’ like it.” He prattled as dessert arrived. “Now how ‘bout you Miss Maggie, what news you got fer an old man like me?” he gave the marshal a significant glance which was not missed by Maggie.
“We done got a good harvest this year Charlie.” Chaz chimed in, sensing some awkwardness but not sure why. He then went on to tell of their garden, and the hay season and even of having to do ‘woman’s work’ to make sure everything got put up for cold weather. He ended with a grumble that set Charlie off to chuckling.
“Now son, don’t be too hasty there. You never know when you’ll be cookin’ your own grub and knowin’ a think or three never hurt a man.”
After dinner they bid Charlie good night and retired to their respective rooms. The marshal sharing with Chaz, answered the boys excited questions, as he asked him about what would happen next, but Jason’s mind was not on the job he had come here to do but on the woman across the hall from where he lay. Finally, he told Chaz to get some sleep and turned over facing the window and drifted off with Maggie’s sweet smile still on his mind.
Maggie, pulled her warm winter night gown over here head, tying up the ribbon at the neck, and crawling into bed. Someone had placed a warm brick under the covers for her and she was thankful that she didn’t have to wait for the sheets to warm as she slid beneath them.
Soft moonlight trickled through the split in the heavy drapes at her window giving her just enough light to make out the slats of the ceiling over her head. For a long time the image of Jason Danvers seemed to drift there, the soft light in his blue eyes as he gazed at her during dinner making her feel suddenly warm all the way through. Then with a shuddering sigh she closed her eyes and whispered into the night.
“Lord, I don’t know what is happening now. For some reason you brought this man into our life; I know you have a purpose, but I can’t see it. I will do my best to trust in you. Now I pray for your protection on him as he has a dangerous job to do. Amen.” Then finding peace by leaving her cares in His hands. She drifted off to sleep.
Morning came earlier to Sawbrush than it did in the mountains and the ever lightening window woke Maggie from a peaceful sleep. She rose, washed in the cold water still in the pitcher on the wash stand and dressed for the day. She did truly need to go and see about supplies to replenish what they’d use so far, and she knew that even though the weather had eased so far, that winter was far from gone and that at any time they could find themselves snowed in once more.
Pulling her long woolen coat from the peg by the door she headed down to breakfast where she met Chaz.
“Mr. Danvers is already gone, Maggie. He was up and out the door pretty early this morning. You suppose there really is trouble right here in Sawbrush?”
“You heard Charlie last night Chaz, it looks like something has this whole town on edge. Let’s hope that Mr. Danvers can get it sorted out before anything terrible happens. For now, how about we have some breakfast and then we’ll head over to the mercantile and see about supplies.”
Jason stepped out into the early morning light of a crisp winter’s day onto the board walk that ran the length of the main street in Sawbrush and looked around. The sun wasn’t half way over the horizon in the eastern sky but already traffic was picking up in the street.
Several horses stood, cow hipped and dozing at the hitching posts spread along the store fronts. He could see two large far
m wagons standing across the street at the general store, and a few more cowhands abled their mounts down the road looking briefly in his direction. Jason spotted the train station and the sign for the telegraph office at the depot and decided to head there first.
Looking both ways he stepped into the hard frozen mud of the main drag and walked toward the depot, his eyes alert and scanning as he went. His boots made a loud clunking sound as he walked up the steps, crossed the platform and pushed the door open.
A small bell’s chiming greeted him as he walked into the cozy office where a clerk sat by a small window. A bench sat against one wall and in the middle of the room stood a tall trestle table with papers and pencils neatly organize for any patron’s use. Moving to the table Jason picked up paper and pencil and wrote his note, then carried it to the clerk, who took the note, looked at it, then looked up at him, giving a small start when he saw the badge.
“Will that be all, marshal?” the clerk asked, looking around the room to see if there were anyone there to hear.
“That’ll do.” Jason replied, pulling a coin from his pocket to pay for the telegram.
“Well, it sure is good to see you here in Sawbrush. We haven’t had a lawman here to date, reckon it’s time we saw one. I mean mostly it’s been a quiet town but you just never know what notions people get in their head. Not to mention the rail road bringin’ in all types from everywhere. Seems like we’re getting our fair share of toughs around these parts lately.”
“Any real problems?” Jason asked mildly, as he tucked his receipt away. “I mean since I’m already here, I might just have a look around and check out any issues.”
“Well, it probably ain’t my place to say but seems like we got some mean costumers wondering Sawbrush lately. An awful lot of out of work punchers seem to spend most their time in town, drinking, and making noise. Seems like decent folks can’t hardly walk the streets anymore. Why just the other day the Johnson’s left town. Nice family too, they was making a pretty good show of farming just outside of town and now they’re gone. I thought this here town was really gonna start growing up now with the railroad and all coming in but maybe it will just stay cow country and nothing else. Seems a shame to me.”
At the sound of the bells tinkling again both men looked up from their conversation to see a rough looking customer saunter in. He wore a brown Stetson pushed over his eyes, a faded blue shirt under his black jacket, and jeans, but what really caught Jason’s eye was the way he carried his gun, slung low on his hip. The man’s arrogant gaze, lingered on Jason for a long moment, sizing him up, then an oily smile slid across his face as he looked at the bright tin badge.
“Mornin’ Marshall.” He drawled, tipping his hat slightly as he stepped up to the clerk handing him a note, and basically ignoring Jason.
Jason walked back out onto the street, and if he had been a dog, he knew his hackles would be raised all the way down his back. The man he had just seen was nothing short of a hired gun, and they both knew it.
For a long moment he stood on the open platform in front of the train stop, surveying the town called Sawbrush. It was a typical western town for the times. It had two rows of buildings facing the main drag each building with a small ally between and its own boardwalk. There were two saloons evident across the street as well as a general store. There were several shops on the opposite side of the street, a barber shop. He could see a tiny church just on the far side of town but no evidence of a school, bank or jail house were to be seen.
As yet Sawbrush was a small town but with the railroad it would quickly grow. Jason stood on the platform for a long time just surveying the town and getting a feeling for it.
Across the street he noticed a man obviously escorting his wife to a dress makers shop. He was a stocky man, not tall, but broad in the shoulders and muscular. His hair was raven black under his gray Stetson and beside him his tall, slim, blond wife, held confidently to his arm, chatting as they walked.
For just a moment the man across the street turned to look at the Marshall fully, his dark eyes sparkling in the early morning sun, as he nodded almost imperceptibly and strode on. These were the men and woman that made up this town and towns all over the nation. Honest, hardworking and just wanting to get on with their lives with as little drama, and interference as possible.
Just as the couple passed by he saw Chaz and Maggie come out of the hotel and head toward the mercantile. He stepped out into the street and began to walk toward them, as a group of cowboys came meandering down the dirt track, four abreast on horseback.
Jason stepped back into the shade of the depot and watched as they ambled by, making their way to the saloon. He noticed how their eyes never seemed to settle too long on anything, how they each wore a new set of clothes, but that the pistols and holsters slung at their hips were all well-worn and well used. He knew trouble when he saw it.
Only after he had seen the toughs enter the saloon did he make his way to the mercantile, catching up with Chaz and Maggie just as they were about to enter. He smiled down at Maggie and tipped his hat as she looked up into his eyes and smiled back.
As they entered the store followed by a gust of brisk, biting winter air, the owner popped up from behind the counter like a wary bird, hopping from limb to limb. Seeing who entered his features broke into a wide smile.
“Well hello little lady. It sure is nice to see you. I didn’t think you’d be back until full spring.”
Maggie smiled at the man then turned to introduce her companions. The store owner lifted his eyes to the Marshall, and his grin widened even further as he took in the bright tin badge.
“Well howdy, for sure now Marshall. Sure am glad to make your acquaintance. I reckon it’s about time the law came to town. Now what can I get you Ms. Maggie?” he added with another smile then followed Maggie as they began stacking and packing supplies.
Jason watched Maggie as she directed Chaz and Mr. Brown. He noticed the grace and confidence with which she moved. He observed that every purchase was practical and not one frivolous item could be seen among the growing supplies.
She was an attractive woman, and he smiled as he enjoyed seeing her at work. He knew from their conversations that she had been ill but there was no sign of it now. Her skin was bright from working outside in the fresh air and the cold bite of winter had only heightened the pink in her cheeks. Her figure was slim but with curves in all the right places, and when she bent to pull something from a lower shelf, the site of her well rounded bottom, even covered in layers of fabric, warmed him far more than the wood burning stove in the corner could have.
Her dark, russet hair was pulled neatly into a tight bun on the top of her head but tendrils of the unruly mass, had escaped and lay along her face in soft waves. Her hazel, eyes, now almost green in the bright light of the mercantile, were soft and kind and suddenly Jason knew that he didn’t just like looking at this woman who had taken him in and nursed him back to health, didn’t just admire the way she had struck out on her own when life had turned against her, but that he had developed feelings for her on some deeper level. The thought both frightened and delighted him.
Donavan Vane tossed the reins of his big sorrel horse to one of his men standing on the boardwalk. “Where is she?” He asked not having to even explain who he meant.
“Last I seen her she was in the mercantile.” A broad, wolfish smile spread across Donavan’s face. He’d been trying to track down this little filly for half a year now and finally she’d come to him. He pushed his hat back on his head to a jaunty angle, and stepped out into the street.
The sound of the door being thrown open caught the attention of the four people in the mercantile and they turned as one to see who had entered.
“Well hello, there Miss. Weston.” Vane said boldly, emphasizing the Miss. “Now aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” He strode across the store past the dry goods and fabrics, a wide smile on his handsome face, and stepped right up to her. “I’ve come to take you t
o lunch, and I won’t take no for an answer now.”
His bold attitude once again annoyed Maggie, but she turned calmly to him and replied. “I’m afraid that won’t be necessary Mr. Vane. I’m quite busy and won’t have time for such pleasantries.” With that she turned back to Mr. Brown as he continued to tally her account, a worried expression on his face.
Jason, stood in the darker shadows of a corner of the store unnoticed, but watched with interest as the stranger made himself known.
Donovan Vane’s eyes flashed for a moment at Maggie’s rejection, then with another wide smile he reached out and took her arm.
“Now I already told you I won’t be taking no for an answer.” He said smoothly. “We’ll just let Mr. Brown finish up your order and then we’ll go.” He added pulling her toward him by his grip on her elbow.
Maggie tried to pull her arm free from the man’s grip but it was too firm. So she did the only thing she could think of and dug in her heels.
“Mr. Vane!” she stated loudly. “I am afraid that you are destined to be disappointed. I am not coming away to lunch with you nor do I like your tone. Now unhand me as I have business to deal with.”
Donovan dropped her arm out of sheer astonishment. No one had ever said no to him before, no one. He couldn’t believe that this little upstart of a woman would dare say NO to Donovan Vane. Then he threw back his head and laughed.
“Well I’ll be you do have spunk don’t you? I suppose if you have business, I’ll just wait and then we’ll go to lunch.”
The sound of spurs jingling was the first thing that caught Vane’s attention and he turned to see a tall dark haired man step out of the shadows toward him. The man was broad across the shoulders, and narrow through the hips, and had a strong jaw and handsome features.
