It was well after dark when Jimmy and Beth slowly made their way into the yard of Bryce and Rachel’s house. They climbed off their horses and Jimmy looped the reigns of his mount over the corral post and then walked with Beth as she led her horse into the barn. She was gently brushing her horse down while Jimmy put her saddle away. They both were startled when they heard a horse whinny and footsteps coming into the barn. Jimmy whirled around and instinctively his hand rested near his Colt, but then a sheepish smile crossed his face. 

“You might as well put your mount up for the night,” Bryce said to Jimmy. “She looks tired and there’s no sense making her go back to Kid and Lou’s when you can just stay here for the night, Jimmy.” 

“Thanks, Bryce,” Jimmy said softly and then took Sundance to bed her down in a stall for the night. 

Bryce turned to Beth and asked, “You alright?” 

“I’m fine,” she smiled. “Jimmy and I had a lot of things to talk about, once he found me.” 

Bryce nodded his head slowly and smiled back. “Yeah, we was getting worried about you two. Rachel and Lou were ready to send Cody out to find you, but Teaspoon said that Jimmy would bring you back safe, or you’d send him runnin’ home with his tail ‘tween his legs. Either way, they didn’t need to worry.” 

Beth’s laughter carried through the barn and Jimmy raised his head to look at her. “Well, I was ready to send him home with his tail missing, but then he said all the right things." 

“And what would that be?” Bryce asked, already sensing the answer. 

“That he loves me,” Beth said softly, a blush creeping up on her cheeks. 

“Well then, he’s a smart man,” Bryce said wrapping his arm around her shoulders and giving them a squeeze. “’Though it did take him a week to finally realize what all of us saw the first day, I’m glad to hear he came to his senses.” 

Jimmy, having finished taking care of his horse, walked up to Beth and Bryce standing together. “Hope we didn’t wake you comin’ in.” 

“Oh no, I told Rachel I’d stay up waitin’ for you two. She wanted to, but was just too tired. But now that I’ve done my duty, I’ll see you two in the morning. Beth, you’ll help him find what he needs for his room?” 

Beth nodded and then slipped her arm around Jimmy’s waist. “Yeah. Good night, Bryce.” 

“Night, Bryce,” Jimmy added. 

“Night you two,” he said walking toward the barn door. He stopped and then turned back. “Almost forgot, Jimmy. Teaspoon said he wanted to see you tomorrow at the jail. Something about figuring out what you’re going to do around here since you’ll be stickin’ around.” 

Then he turned and walked out the door and up to the house. Jimmy made sure that everything was secure in the barn and then laced his fingers through Beth’s as the two walked outside. She held the lantern as he closed the barn door and slid the wooden beam into place, then Jimmy took the lantern from her hands and blew out the flame. The moon gave off ample light for them to see as he led her up to the front porch. 

Silently, he sat down in the wooden porch swing and tugged on Beth’s hand until she was sitting beside him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as she leaned her head against him, listening to the soft echo of his heartbeat through the fabric of his shirt. 

“Jimmy?” 

“Hmm?” he lazily replied, his hand softly tracing patterns on her arm. 

“Are you gonna stick around?” 

Jimmy nearly asked how she could even question that, but stopped when he realized there was still a lot of hurt that needed to heal. “Of course I’m goin’ to stick around, Beth. I meant what I said this afternoon. I was a fool for leavin’ the first time, I don’t intend on making the same mistake twice.” 

She turned and buried her face in his shirt, her arms wrapping around his chest. By the muffled sounds and the dampness he could feel spreading through his shirt he knew she was crying and a pang of guilt hit him as he thought that even with all they said today she was still fearful that he would leave. He wrapped his other arm around her tightly and held her, while gently pushing the swing back and forth. 

“I love you, Beth, and I’m not goin’ anywhere,” he whispered as he placed tender kisses on top of her head. 

Jimmy stopped his horse outside the Marshal’s Office and climbed out of the saddle. He stepped up onto the wooden walk and looked inside the office. Teaspoon was sitting inside, along with Buck and Barnett. Jimmy ruefully shook his head. There certainly was no job waiting for him here in 
Sweetwater, at least not in the marshal’s office. He wondered what else Teaspoon could have in mind for him. 

Teaspoon looked up from his cup of coffee and saw Jimmy standing outside. He stood up from his chair and slowly made his way outside to where Jimmy was waiting. “Glad to see you made it, Jimmy.” 

“Well, figured you wouldn’t have asked if it wasn’t important,” Jimmy answered, a bit uneasily. 

“Take a walk with me, son,” Teaspoon said, turning in the direction of the doctor’s office and casually walking. 

They walked silently, for a little while, though Teaspoon could sense Jimmy’s unease and impatience with each passing step. “So, you find Beth yesterday?” 

“Yes,” Jimmy answered. 

When Jimmy didn’t elaborate, Teaspoon arched an eyebrow at the young man and pressed, “You two work things out or…” 

“We worked things out,” Jimmy answered, a hint of a smile crossing his lips. “It wasn’t easy, and we’ve still got some things to work out, but things are definitely better.” 

“Good to hear, son. That actually makes what I wanted to talk to you about easier, now.” 

Finally, Jimmy thought, but said nothing. If there was anything Jimmy had learned during the time he rode for the Express, there was no hurrying Teaspoon. Teaspoon would lay things out in his own time and his own manner, and the harder anyone pushed, the slower the marshal would go. 

“I figure you don’t plan on headin’ back with the Army,” Teaspoon said, not even bothering to wait for Jimmy’s answer or look to see the shake of his head. “So I figure you’re gonna be lookin’ for something to do around here. I wish I’d know you were coming when I offered Buck the deputy position. This area needed a second deputy, but there just really ain’t no room for a third.” 

Jimmy said nothing, but felt his heart drop to his stomach. He really hadn’t expected any different. Teaspoon was a fair man, and though Barnett may have been a bumbling klutz sometimes, he didn’t really expect Teaspoon to fire him just so that Jimmy could have a position. His only hope was that Teaspoon had somewhere found a perfect niche for him. 

Continuing on, oblivious to the growing disappointment in the man beside him, Teaspoon said, “So it was actually great timing when I got a letter from the marshal over in Blue Creek the other day. They’re having some trouble with a couple of families over there. These families got some money and land and are causing all sorts of problems and he was wonderin’ if I knew of somebody who’d be interested in a deputy position. He’s hopin’ that by bringing in an outsider to the town this person won't be swayed by the influence of the families.” 

They stopped at the edge of the boardwalk and Teaspoon turned to Jimmy with a twinkle in his eye. “I say that’s just the perfect answer to the situation, wouldn’t you say so, Jimmy?” 

Jimmy swallowed hard and hoped that his voice or his stomach wouldn’t betray him. “Yeah…I mean, in this situation…I guess so.” 

“What’s the matter, son, you don’t sound too happy.” 

“I don’t want to sound ungrateful, Teaspoon, ‘cause I do appreciate you lookin’ for a position for me. But it’s in Blue Creek. And I just promised Beth that I wasn’t goin’ anywhere,” Jimmy said, the words rushing out in his agitation. “So how do I tell her now that I’m takin’ a job in Blue Creek? 
She’s gonna think I’m taking off again. She cried last night ‘cause she’s…” 

Teaspoon stood still, watching as Jimmy took off his hat and raked his hand through his hair. “Jimmy, slow down. Who said anything about you headin’ off to Blue Creek?” 

Jimmy narrowed his eyes and looked at Teaspoon. “Well, you did. You said this marshal needed a deputy and I just thought…” 

“I’m sending Barnett,” Teaspoon told him. 

“Barnett?” Jimmy asked, not sure he’d really heard right. 

“You really think I’d send you off to Blue Creek? Every woman here would skin me alive. Besides, you’re a heck of a better deputy than Barnett. Why’d I send you off to Blue Creek, instead of keeping you for myself?” 

Nervous laughter escaped Jimmy as the words seeped in and the relief washed over him. “Thanks, Teaspoon. Guess I shoulda let you finish before getting’ myself all worked up.” 

“Well, that’s alright, Jimmy. I like to see a little fire in a young man in love. I’da been disappointed if you’d just given up so easily instead of trying to convince me to send Barnett instead.” 

As the two men turned and headed back to the office, Jimmy turned to Teaspoon with an amused smile. “So I just got one question for you, Teaspoon. What’d this marshal in Blue Creek ever do to you that you’re so eager to send him Barnett?” 

A deep laugh rumbled up out of Teaspoon as he clapped Jimmy on the back. “Well, son, I just said I knew the man. I didn’t say I liked him all that much. Let’s get back and break the news of his ‘promotion’ to Barnett.” 
 

Chapter Seventeen

Three months passed and school was now underway. Jimmy and Beth had spent the summer reconnecting and working through the past two years. The pair soon became inseparable, and it was quite clear to everyone around them that their romance had certainly returned. Every moment that Jimmy wasn’t working he spent with Beth, taking her on picnics and rides. 

Jimmy and Buck were settling into their new jobs, and shared the rooms above the Marshal’s Office. Jimmy enjoyed having Beth in town at the school while he was on duty. On mornings that he didn’t have to work, he would ride out to Bryce and Rachel’s and hitch up the buckboard to drive her to school. During the day, whether he was on duty or not, he tried as often as possible to eat lunch with her at the schoolhouse. 

Beth was certainly enjoying the attention and also her new position as the teacher. Having been Rachel’s assistant, it wasn’t a big adjustment for her, but at times it was still a bit daunting. The students liked her as their teacher and their biggest delight was on the days that Deputy Hickok came to the school to have lunch with her. As they would run out of the schoolroom onto the playground he would be waiting by the door and smile and nod to each one until the last one was out and then he would walk into the classroom. Beth’s heart never ceased to flutter every time she would look up and see him silhouetted in the doorframe. Smiles would cross both their faces as she would bring out their lunch and he’d pull up the chair from the side of the room to her desk. 

As usual, Jimmy was waiting outside the door when Beth dismissed the class for lunch one day in late September. A little boy racing after his friends called out, “Hi, Deputy Hickok.” 

“Hi, Willie,” Jimmy returned, laughing at the small boy’s exuberance. He figured the last of the children were out and stepped into the school, but stopped when he saw Beth sternly talking to an older boy at the front of the class. The boy mumbled something and Beth gave an encouraging smile and nod and then watched as he turned and quickly scurried down the aisle. 

“Something wrong?” Jimmy asked as he walked up to Beth. 

“No,” she said with a small laugh and a roll of her eyes. “Ted likes Maryann Redmond, but being a boy he can’t just tell her that. So instead he torments her. Got a little bad today.” 

“Boys’ll be boys,” Jimmy said with a chuckle as he moved aside the papers on her desk so she could set out their lunch. 

“They don’t change that much as they get older. Just find new ways to torment the girls they like.” 

“Hmph,” Jimmy snorted. “So, you still going out to Lou’s after school?” 

“Yeah, Kid’s not due back from Ft. Laramie until tomorrow, so I’ll take Teresa and Jeremiah home after school and stay for supper. Besides,” she said with a happy light in her eye, “I have to see my favorite niece you know.” 

“She’s your only one,” Jimmy said. 

“She is not, there’s Sally,” she reminded him. “But Rose will always be special, bein’ named after me and all.” 

Jimmy laughed as he remembered back to when Lou had given birth. Everyone had gathered to see Lou and the baby. Kid was beaming at being a father all over again, and he sat proudly by Lou’s side as she held the baby. Jimmy couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy and regret when he realized that if he’d never left this could have been him and Beth. 

**What’s her name?** Ike signed, asking the question they all were anxious to know. 

“Rose,” Lou said tenderly. “After Beth.” 

“If you’re naming her after Beth, shouldn’t her name be ‘Elizabeth’?” Buck asked, his eyebrow arched comically. 

“Rose is Beth’s middle name,” Lou explained to them all. 

“It was my ma’s grandmother,” Beth said somewhat nervously. She was embarrassed that Kid and Lou had named their daughter after her, but also very touched. She had hoped to use the name for her own daughter some day and had offered the name to Lou long before Jimmy came home. 

“What are you smiling at?” Beth asked Jimmy, bringing him back to the schoolroom. 

“Oh, nothing,” Jimmy said with a twinkle in his eye. “Just thinkin’ your parents should have just gone ahead and named you Rose.” 

“So I could have been Rose Thorne?” she asked, knowing he was egging her on, and yet not quite able to ignore him. “That’s really funny Jimmy, I’m so glad every one of you boys has had a great chuckle over that. My ma was real sad that she couldn’t name one of her daughters after her grandmother, so you just keep on thinkin’ it’s funny. I’m just glad Lou wanted to use the name, ‘cause it’s not like I’m ever gonna have a daughter to use the name for.” 

In an instant the mood changed and Beth kept her head down, pretending to look at the papers on her desk. When she looked up, Jimmy thought her eyes looked moist, but he kept silent. She stood up and had almost finished putting lunch away when she finally spoke. 

“I’m sorry, Jimmy. I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just been a very long week and I’m glad it’s Friday. I just want to go to Lou’s house, visit with my friend and relax.” 

“Alright, I…I,” he stood up and picked up his hat and turned for the door. 

“Jimmy, wait,” she said when he was halfway down the aisle. “What did you want to say?” 

“Nothin’,” he said haltingly. 

“Jimmy…” 

“Well, I was just gonna ask you to say hello to Lou and tell her I’ll stop by sometime and see her.” 

Beth’s shoulders drooped as she stepped out from behind her desk. “Why don’t you just tell her hello tonight? I was gonna ask you if you wanted to come anyway, I see no reason for you to stay away.” 

He saw the embarrassed smile, and heard her nervous chuckle and smiled to keep his own voice light as he asked, “Are you sure?” 

“Jimmy, how could I stay mad at you for very long?” she said softly. “Of course I want you to come for dinner tonight, and I know Lou would say the same thing. Besides, if you’re there, she won’t get all in a flutter about me riding back to Bryce and Rachel’s afterward. I mean, she rode for the 
Express, but she gets nervous about me riding a couple of miles in the dark.” 

“I think it comes from being a mother,” Jimmy said with a laugh. “’Cause she woulda had any one of our heads if we’d tried to stop her from riding.” 

“I know. So come, we’ll have dinner, and then you can make sure I get home safe.” 

“Well, how could I say no to that?” he grinned, taking a step closer to her. He dipped his head and placed a very chaste kiss on her cheek. With all the children just outside, she was very insistent they keep things proper. 

“Then I’ll see you for dinner,” he said and turned for the door. 

“Jimmy, wait,” she said and laid a hand on his arm. “Could you do me a favor? Lou sent a list of supplies with Jeremiah and he dropped it off at the store this morning. I really don’t feel like facing Tompkins today, so could you pick it up and bring it out to the ranch?” 

Jimmy placed his hat on his head and tipped the brim, in a move reminiscent of Cody. “Sure.” 

“Thank you,” she said and then raised up on her toes and brushed a kiss across his cheek. “Well, I guess I better call the children in from lunch.” 

They walked to the door and Jimmy headed back to the marshal’s office while Beth rang the hand bell to call the children inside. He stopped at the corner and watched as she stood outside the door as the last of the kids filed inside. She gave a quick glance at the schoolyard and then turned and shut the door behind her. He knew she was trying to hide it, but things were starting to get to her. He wondered what it was now that Tompkins had said to her that made her want to avoid him. 

Turning back toward the office, Jimmy hoped Teaspoon was back from Otter Creek. He had a few things he needed to talk to someone about before he burst. Buck was a great friend, but Jimmy knew that in his situation he needed advice from the expert. 
 

Chapter Eighteen

“Jimmy?” 

Jimmy looked up from loading the supplies onto the buckboard and saw Teaspoon headed towards him. He flashed a relieved smile at the marshal, because if there was one person who could keep him from killing William Tompkins, it would be Teaspoon. It was straining every last bit of his patience to get Lou’s supplies and get out of the store without causing a scene. Not that he didn’t want tell the storekeeper a thing or two, but he knew he was too close to bubbling over to attempt it. If he said anything, he’d probably end up creating a bigger mess than the time he, Cody and Lou got into the fight with Tompkins and his men over Buck. 

“Buck said you wanted to talk to me?” 

“Yeah, just let me get the last of Lou’s things,” he said through gritted teeth as he turned back toward the store. When he came back outside, Teaspoon was leaning casually against the buckboard, his thumbs hooked lightly under his suspenders. 

“You look like you sat in a hive of bees, Jimmy. What’s wrong, son?” 

“Tompkins,” Jimmy heaved out as he flung a sack of sugar onto the back of the conveyance. 

“Well, I figured it was him, given the murderous looks you’ve been shooting at the store, but what did he do this time?” Teaspoon asked languidly. 

“Beth asked me to pick up Lou’s supplies, she seemed to be wanting to avoid Tompkins. After I walked in there today, I understand why.” 

“Oh?” Teaspoon asked, watching as Jimmy paced a short distance in agitation. 

“What has he been doin’ the last three months since Beth and I got back together? Him and all the rest of this town? Stickin’ their noses in our business.” 

Teaspoon quirked his eyebrows up slightly, but said nothing. 

“When I went in there today, he asked me if Beth had settled down. Said I had me a real feisty gal on my hands, and he could see why I hadn’t made an honest woman out of her yet.” 

“Oh boy,” Teaspoon said softly, and let out a low whistle. This was fast becoming a very sore spot for both Jimmy and Beth. All the old ladies in town seemed determined to get the schoolteacher and the deputy married so as to protect the delicate sensibilities of the children. It was a load of cow pies, as far as Teaspoon was concerned. The women in town, chiefly Mrs. Burdick, weren’t happy unless they were meddling in somebody’s life. 

“I guess Mrs. Burdick was there,” Jimmy said, finally coming to rest next to Teaspoon. He leaned against the buckboard and slumped his shoulders forward. “Seems she started insinuating things ‘bout Beth and me again and told Beth she was considering bringin’ the matter before the town council.” 

“They’re threatening to take her job away unless the two of you get married?” Teaspoon asked, but already knowing the answer was yes. 

“Yeah,” Jimmy sighed. “’Course it didn’t help that I had to find this out from Tompkins instead of Beth telling me about it.” 

“Well, Jimmy, she probably figured you’d act this way, or rush off and do something you didn’t want to do,” Teaspoon tried to rationalize calmly. 

“But I do want to marry Beth. I bought the ring an’ all. I was goin’ to take her out and ask her when all this started to surface right before school started. Now, I’m afraid she’s gonna think I’m only asking ‘cause the town’s threatening to take her job away.” 

Teaspoon laid a gentle hand on Jimmy’s shoulder. The young man he regarded as a son looked like somebody had punched him in the gut, several times. He had faith they would figure things out; he just didn’t know how to tell Jimmy to do that. “It ain’t fair, son.” 

“’It ain’t fair?’ That’s all you have to say? I figured that out already, Teaspoon.” 

The marshal gave a small chuckle. “Son, the people of this town are makin’ your life miserable. Do I wish they weren’t? Sure. But you and Beth are two strong, and sometimes stubborn, people. You gotta stop talking at each other and talk to each other. If you want to marry her, then ask her. Tell her what you told me, she’ll believe you.” 

Jimmy gave a nervous laugh. “I sure wish I had your faith in that. I know she loves me, I know I love her. I just wish I’d asked her sooner.” 

“Well, son, the more you wait, the harder it’ll get. And the more you stand around here draggin’ your feet and flappin’ your jaw the later you’re gonna be to Lou’s. No need to spend the evening with two women mad at you.” 

“Yeah,” Jimmy laughed as he climbed up on the seat. “Thanks, Teaspoon.” 

“No need to thank me, son. Keepin’ the peace is my job. Though there are times I’m sure half the town has wanted to teach Tompkins a thing or two, I admire your restraint. Shows just how much you’ve done grown up on me.” 

Jimmy rolled his eyes and shook his head as he snapped the reins on the team. He turned the buckboard toward Kid and Lou’s ranch and just hoped that he would know when the right time was. He wanted to marry Beth; he figured she felt the same way, given how touchy she got whenever somebody pressed them on it. He knew from Kid that when Ken Miller started talking marriage or when someone like Mrs. Burdick mentioned it, Beth let them know very clearly that she wasn’t interested or ready. He figured her reaction now was, she wanted it, she just was too proud, or possibly scared to bring it up. 

He had to figure this out soon. He wasn’t sure how much longer they could keep avoiding this. Sooner or later, he was just going to have to grab the bull by the horns. 

“Beth, if you don’t slow down, you’re going to slice the skin off your finger instead of the potato,” Lou said, trying to maintain a calm outer demeanor that belied her anxiousness. 

“Sorry, Lou,” Beth said as she dropped the peeled potato in the bowl and picked up another one. “Just a little upset this afternoon, is all.” 

“Well, I gathered that given the way you’re banging around my kitchen and attacking the food. You wanna talk about what’s bothering you?” 

“I’d say no, but I highly doubt you’d let it drop,” Beth said, paying close attention to the potato and not raising her eyes to her friend. 

“Well, I won’t push you, but I think you should tell someone about it. If you don’t want to talk to me, maybe you’ll at least talk to Jimmy tonight,” Lou suggested. 

“No,” Beth interrupted, and Lou eyed her curiously. “If I gotta talk about it, I’m not going to talk to Jimmy.” 

Lou carefully walked forward and took the knife and potato out of Beth’s hands, before asking. “What did he do this time?” 

“Nothing,” Beth said softening. “It’s not him, it’s the rest of the dang town I’d like to throw in a barn and put a match to.” 

Lou nodded sagely, guessing what it was that had Beth looking like she was going to burst out of her skin. She busied herself putting water into a pot and adding the peeled potatoes, then set it on the stove. The she checked the oven where the chicken was starting to emit a delicious aroma before turning to her friend, sitting wearily in a chair by the table. 

“I think we got a while before these potatoes are going to be soft enough to mash. I know that Jeremiah’s a growing boy and Jimmy always appreciates a home cooked meal, but I think we’re going to have a pile of leftovers,” Lou said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. Beth merely looked at Lou and shrugged her shoulders. 

“Let’s go outside,” Lou suggested. “We can keep an eye on Tommy, so Teresa can finish her chores. Little Rose is still asleep, but we’ll put her cradle near the door so we can hear her if she wakes up.” 

Lou steered Beth toward the door and gave one last look at Rose who was sleeping peacefully. Then the two women sat down on the porch swing and for a few moments just watched the horses in their pens and Tommy chasing after the butterflies by the rose bushes. 

“So, what did Mrs. Burdick say this time?” Lou asked, breaking the silence. 

Beth didn’t even bother with asking how her friend knew that the doctor’s wife was the chief source of her frustration. Mrs. Burdick just couldn’t seem to keep her nose out of anybody’s business, but had taken a particularly fiendish delight in butting into Beth’s. 

“She was in Tompkins’ store yesterday and said she’d noticed Jimmy and I seemed to be taking an awful lot of picnics together. Saying that we were spending a lot of time away from town, and as the schoolteacher it didn’t look proper to not have a chaperone.” Beth heaved out a sigh and continued, “She didn’t come right out and say of course, but she all but accused me and Jimmy of sneaking away from town so we could dance.” 

“Ah, yes,” Lou said, nodding her head. “Why else would you be wanting to get away from town? It’s not because even when you are in town there aren’t people giving you sly looks and not so subtle questions about when you’re going to get married.” 

“Yeah,” Beth said as she put her elbow on the arm of the swing and leaned her hand against her forehead. “So I was just annoyed and frustrated and I said something harsh to Jimmy while we were having lunch. We were talking about Rose, and he was teasing me how my parents should have given me that name despite my last name of Thorne. And I said I was happy that you wanted to use the name for your daughter ‘cause it wasn’t like I was going to have a daughter of my own to give the name to.” 

“Boy, just give it to him, why don’t you?” Lou said with mock seriousness. The smile was completely missed by Beth who had her head cupped in her hand. 

“I didn’t mean to say it,” Beth protested. “I’m just so tired of all this. I love Jimmy and I would love to marry him. But each day that goes by, I think that maybe he doesn’t want to get married at all. And the more the town keeps on us, the less we even acknowledge the option of getting married. We don’t even talk about, pretending like nobody’s saying anything, but all the while it’s just hanging over us like a really black thundercloud. 

“The worst part is, Mrs. Burdick is taking this before the town council. She thinks it’s not proper and she wants to the town to fire me unless Jimmy and I get married. I can’t tell him that. He’d probably think he has to propose so I can keep my job. I don’t want him to do something he doesn’t want to 
do. If Mrs. Burdick and her band of old ladies hadn’t started all this, I’d be happy to just continue on like we are and let Jimmy bring up the subject when he’s ready. But now, I just gotta figure out how to keep him from finding out about the meeting and keep him out of town Thursday night.” 

“Beth,” Lou cautioned. “You really should tell him.” 

“I can’t,” Beth said emphatically. “He’d get some foolish idea that this is all his fault ‘cause he left three years ago. If he’d stayed we’d probably be married by now and so he’d probably think he should just ask me to fix this. I don’t want to be proposed to like that. I’d rather he didn’t propose at all, if that’s the only reason he’s gonna do it.” 

Lou understood completely. She and Kid had went through a rough time when she turned down his proposals because he felt that they should be married since they were riding double. She understood why he asked, but at the time she wasn’t ready, and didn’t want to be asked to get married because it was expected that they should. She was trying to figure out what to say to Beth to comfort her, when the faint rumble of wooden wheels could be heard. She looked up and saw Jimmy driving the buckboard into the yard, his hat obscuring his face. Turning to Beth, all she saw was the back of her skirts as her friend disappeared into the house. 

Lou sighed as she stood up to greet Jimmy. These two were going to give her gray hairs long before her own children ever got around to it. 
 

Chapter Nineteen

“So much for her not stayin’ mad at me,” Jimmy said with disappointment as he stopped the buckboard and Lou walked up to him. 

“She’s not mad at you, Jimmy, she’s just-“ 

“Avoiding me, ‘cause of Tompkins and Mrs. Burdick,” Jimmy said flatly. 

“Yeah,” Lou agreed. “Give her a minute and she’ll be fine.” 

“She tell you they’re threatening to fire her?” 

“Yeah,” Lou said with disgust. “She doesn’t want to tell you, ‘cause she’s afraid you’re gonna do something…” 

“Like ask her to marry me just so she can keep her job?” 

Lou nodded and the two stood in silence for a minute. “Jimmy, how long you hold on to that ring before you ask her?” 

Jimmy turned and stared at her, and Lou smiled back mischievously. “Don’t look at me like that, Jimmy Hickok. You’ve had that ring for over a month now, haven’t you? Somewhere around the time Rose was born you got the anxious look of a man with a ring burning a hole in his pocket. I saw the same look on Kid and we all saw Ike when that girl Annie came to town.” 

“You know it’s frightening how perceptive you women can be sometimes?” Jimmy said as he walked to the back of the buckboard and reached for a sack of flour. 

“Yes, well, sometimes you men need to be hit upside the head with a two by four,” Lou teased back and reached for the basket of small packages. 

“So what did she say? What should I do?” 

“Jimmy, you need to talk to her. I’m not going to break her confidence in me. And as for what you should do…well, stop dawdling and take her out on a nice romantic ride and ask her. She might think you’re doin’ this just to save her job, but if you tell her you’ve had the ring since before Mrs. Burdick started stickin’ her nose in your business, she’ll believe you.” 

“You really think so?” Jimmy asked skeptically. 

“Yes,” Lou said simply. “If she doesn’t, you just send her to me and I’ll talk some sense into her. Now let’s get these supplies in the house and call the kids in for supper, or poor Beth is gonna bust out of her skin wondering what we’re talking about out here.” 

When dinner was over, Jimmy helped Teresa and Jeremiah clean up the dishes and the kitchen, while Beth helped Lou get Tommy and Rose ready for bed. Beth walked out of Tommy’s room after having told him a story from her book, and passed by Rose’s bedroom. She could hear the soft creak of the rocking chair, and the murmur of a lullaby as Lou nursed the baby to sleep. Then she went downstairs and saw everyone working in the kitchen. 

She went to grab an apron to put on, only to realize Jimmy was wearing it. She couldn’t keep from laughing as he turned and she saw the light pink checked apron with white trim in stark contrast against his black pants and dark gray shirt. “I don’t know, maybe I should be the one to go out with Jeremiah and make sure everything’s secure in the barn for the night. You look awful pretty in that apron there, Jimmy, and it would be a shame to get it all dirty. Don’t you agree, Teresa?” 

The younger girl started to laugh and Jimmy glared at her and then at Jeremiah who had turned to beat a hasty retreat out of the kitchen. He walked towards Beth, a wet rag in his hand. 

“Maybe you should go help, Jeremiah. I rather like the look of this apron. What do you think, Teresa?” he asked as he turned and gave her a wink. 

The young girl couldn’t answer for the fit of giggles she’d fallen into. Jimmy did a twirl, holding onto one side of the apron, and Teresa had to cover her mouth so she didn’t wake the children upstairs. Jimmy turned back to Beth, who was trying to swallow her laughter, but her shoulders were shaking uncontrollably. 

“Jimmy?” Lou laughed from the doorway. “What are you doin’ wearing my apron.” 

Jimmy suddenly reached up and untied the apron and stuffed it into Beth’s hands along with the rag. “Nothin’, I was just about to go help Jeremiah make sure everything’s secure for the night.” 

Then with a bright red blush covering his cheeks, Jimmy turned and headed out the kitchen door. Lou looked from Beth to Teresa and all three laughed right out loud until Lou suddenly put a finger to her lips and pointed up at the ceiling. The three of them quickly finished with the work in the kitchen and then spilled out onto the front porch, still silently laughing at the antics of Jimmy. 

When Jimmy and Jeremiah walked up to the porch, Lou sent her brother and sister inside to get ready for bed. She sat on the porch swing with Beth, while Jimmy stood leaning against the railing. The dinner had gone well, and by the end both Jimmy and Beth were laughing and thoroughly enjoying themselves. She felt that for just a few minutes they’d managed to forget Mrs. Burdick, Mr. Tompkins and all the rest of the town. Feigning a yawn, Lou stood up and said she was going to head off to bed soon herself. She gave Beth a hug and then turned to Jimmy. She gave him a hug and whispered that tonight with the full moon was the perfect time to sort some things out with Beth. 

Jimmy chuckled softly and whispered his thanks. When Beth came out of the house with her belongings, Jimmy offered her his arm and she linked hers through it as they walked to the buckboard. He put his hands on her waist and lifted her up to the seat, then handed her bag to her. Once he climbed up, he put his arm around her shoulder and drew her close to his side while he flicked the reins with one hand. 

“Are you tired?” Jimmy asked, when Beth laid her head on his shoulder. “I thought we could take a ride, but I can take you back to Rachel’s if you want.” 

“No, I’m not tired,” she sighed with contentment. “I’d like to take a ride.” 

Jimmy smiled, as he pulled her closer. Then he turned the horses in a new direction and let them walk slowly. They were content to ride together in silence until they neared their destination and Jimmy pulled on the reins and stopped the buckboard. He climbed down and looped the lead rope around the branch of a small tree and then helped Beth climb down. As he set her down, he let his hands rest on her waist and slowly drew her into a kiss. 

When they finally parted, he leaned his forehead against her and stared, drinking in her features as the moonlight played across them. There was a definite charge between them, and Jimmy wished he could take this moment and just freeze it. It was a moment he was almost fearful to break, but Lou had been right. This moment was perfect. They were at the stream, the place he first knew he was in love with a scared young woman who was trying so hard to be strong for everyone around her. When he returned with Cody, it was at this spot that they saw her, her shoes and stockings off and her feet dangling in the water. In the two years he’d been gone, she’d grown more confident and sure of herself, and yet there was still the same frightened woman underneath it all sometimes. 

He loved the many sides of her. The strong, proud, fiercely determined person who could flash sparks when she was provoked. And there was the frightened, vulnerable side that she tried to hide because she hated to show weakness. He always felt he was being let into a secret corner of her life when she cried or admitted she was frightened or hurt. After those moments he was always ready to charge forth and slay her dragons, and tonight was no exception. 

Beth had dropped the edgy reserve she’d adopted lately with him. She was laughing, she was tender, and as he stood there with her, in their spot, he knew the moment was right. Jimmy didn’t want to marry her because her job was in jeopardy and he felt responsible for that. He wanted to marry her because he couldn’t imagine not having more of these moments. He wanted her to be the first thing he saw when he woke up, and the last he thing he saw before going to sleep. He wanted to have children with her and watch the gentle way that she would tuck them into bed at night after she told them a story. He was certain their children would become characters in new stories, and perhaps even a new novel. Their hopes, dreams and adventures would be written down for them to relive again and again. 

He slowly reached into his pocket and felt the small velvet sack that he’d been carrying around with him for the last six weeks and two days. Closing it tightly in his fist, he wrapped his arm around her while with his other hand he soften traced over her jaw with his thumb. Jimmy lowered his lips to hers as he softly breathed out; “I love you, Beth.” 

“I love you too, Jimmy,” she whispered, just before their lips crushed together. 
 

Chapter Twenty

They pulled away, their flushed skin welcoming the soft breeze that had started to blow. Jimmy took her hand in his and slowly led her towards the stream. 

“You’re not planning on throwin’ me in, are you?” she laughed as she leaned into his side. 

“No,” he smiled, “I just wanted to talk to you about something and thought we could take a walk.” 

“Alright,” she said, her senses picking up the subtle change in his voice, but trying to just enjoy this night and not worry about everything else going on. 

“Beth,” he said softly and a bit warily. “When I was in Tompkins’ store today, he told me what happened with Mrs. Burdick and what she plans to do at the meeting on Thursday.” 

“Jimmy-” 

“Why didn’t you tell me, Beth?” 

She tried to pull her hand away from Jimmy’s but he wouldn’t let go, and she found that she couldn’t get very angry with him while still holding his hand. “Because I was afraid you’d think you had to fix it. And that you’d…” 

“Ask you to marry me just so you could keep your job?” he asked when she trailed off. Beth didn’t answer but turned her head and nodded. 

“Hey, come here,” he said and tugged her closer, wrapping her in his arms. “You know I love you, right?” 

She nodded her head against his chest and mumbled an agreement. 

“Will you believe me if I tell you something?” 

Again she nodded. 

He stepped back and pulled the ring out the velvet pouch. “I bought this for you just before Rose was born, and before all this started with the old ladies in town. I’ve been carrying it around, waiting for just the right moment. Every time I think we may finally be able to forget about everyone stickin’ their noses into our lives and I can ask you without you thinking I’m doing it because of them, something else comes up. Well, I’m tired of waiting for them to stay out of our business.” 

Beth stood perfectly still, stunned that he was holding a ring in his hand, and stunned at the forcefulness of his tone. 

“I love you, and I want to marry you. I wanted to marry you in July, but thought you’d think I was crazy if I asked you then. The day Lou had Rose; I had a surprise planned for you. I was going to take you to the pond and ask you. Then everything fell apart on us. You were helping Lou, and getting 
ready for school to start. The old biddies in town started makin’ trouble, and before I knew it, I felt like I couldn’t even bring up the idea of us getting married.” 

“Jimmy,” Beth said softly, walking forward and placing the flat of her hand on his chest. His voice was reaching a fevered pitch, but it instantly stilled when she said his name. “It’s alright, I believe you.” 

“You do?” 

“I do,” she said sincerely, with a nod of her head. 

“Wow,” he said softly. “That was easier than I thought.” 

“I know, kinda takes all the fun out of it when I so readily agree. So, can I ask you something?” 

“Anything,” he told her, a smile on his face. 

“You gonna stand there all night waving that ring around, or were you actually gonna do something with it?” 

“Well, for that I should just put it back in my pocket and throw you in the stream,” he laughed out, even as he reached for her hand. “Beth, will you marry me?” 

She cocked her head slightly to the side and said, “Nope.” 

“What?” he gasped out. 

“Jimmy, do you remember the story of the knight on the golden horse? How he asked for the fair maiden’s hand on bended knee?” 

“Yeah,” Jimmy said puzzled at first, and then his smile spread and he placed one knee on the ground and looked up at her. “Beth, I love you. We’ve made mistakes, and we thought we lost each other. But I know that even if I can’t change what happened then, I can do something about the future. I can’t imagine my life without you. I want you with me, always. Will you marry me?” 

Beth collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her face, and wrapped her arms around Jimmy’s neck. As she feathered soft kisses on his face she whispered, “Yes, Jimmy. Yes, I’ll marry you.”