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Awkward Marriage 70
Two hours later, Jenny was working on a baby gown for one of the better well-to-do new mothers in town when a loud rapping at the door made her bolt in surprise. She accidently pricked her finger with the needle. ―Ouch.‖ She sucked on her finger and set aside the thimble and clothing so she could answer the door. Jeremy got up from where he was playing with his toys and followed her. Jenny‘s heart raced at the rapid pounding at the door. Did something happen to Owen or one of her siblings? There was no denying that whoever was on the other end considered their visit to be an emergency. ―Who is it, Ma?‖ ―I don‘t know, honey.‖ She could have checked through the window, but she didn‘t want to waste the extra couple of seconds that it would require. She opened the door and gasped when she saw Clyde‘s mother standing in front of her with a scowl on her face. ―My son is not a killer!‖ the woman yelled before Jenny could speak. Jenny wasn‘t sure she heard right.
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Did you come for a tour?‖ Owen asked, walking over to them. ―We were in town and thought we‘d say hello,‖ she replied. ―What do you think, Jeremy? Do you want to see where Pa works?‖ The boy eagerly nodded, so Owen put him up on his shoulders. ―Here is Sheriff Meyer‘s desk. I share it with him.‖ She motioned to the stack of paperwork. ―It looks like you do a lot more than catch dangerous men.‖ ―Yep. Judges and lawyers like reports.‖ That made sense. ―Over here,‖ he began as he directed them to the three cells, ―is where we keep the prisoners.‖ ―Whoa!‖ Jeremy said when they stopped in front of an empty cell. ―Do really bad men go in there?‖ ―Some more bad than others. We get the occasional drunk or bar brawler.‖ ―Do you get bank robbers?‖ ―Sometimes.‖ ―I want to see a bank robber!‖ ―Well, you would have if we didn‘t stop a robbery.‖ Jeremy‘s eyes grew wide. ―You did?‖ ―Just the other day. Someone was goi
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Jenny bit her lower lip as she studied the parlor. If this didn‘t peak Rick‘s romantic interest, then he was a lost cause. She spent that entire Saturday getting everything ready for the special supper. The lacy white curtains were drawn to give the room a private feel to it, and she had set out the matching tablecloth. She made both years ago when she thought she‘d marry Clyde. Was she ever glad she ended up with Owen instead! She hummed as she lit the two candles. She dimmed the kerosene lamp and smiled. Though she had no flowers, she arrange some colorful leaves in the center of the table and placed a pinecone on top of it. Closing her eyes, she inhaled the sweet scent, which was almost masked by the pot roast that was cooling in the oven. She opened her eyes and set the cushions on the chairs so they‘d be comfortable. Then she stepped back and examined the effect of the candlelight. It seemed magical to be in here. She clapped her hands and nearly skipped out of the
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Jenny wiped ointment on Owen‘s arms to soothe his burns. As she did, he watched her, enjoying the way she fussed over him. His Aunt Rachel had fussed over him too, but it was different with Jenny. It was much nicer. He was lying on the bed and she sat next to him, gentle and caring. Yes. It was definitely much nicer. She closed the lid on the jar and placed it on the nightstand. Then she wiped her hand on a clean cloth. ―It was funny...in a way.‖ ―What? Seeing me on fire?‖ ―No, silly.‖ She nudged him playfully in the side. ―That a squirrel could cause so much damage.‖ He chuckled. ―That was a smart squirrel.‖ She got up. He tried to reach for her hand to stop her, but she was too quick for him. Quick just like the squirrel. ―Where are you going?‖ ―To check on Jeremy.‖ He watched as she left the room. It was unfortunate that things happened as they did. Jenny had been so excited about making the perfect supper,
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Jenny scanned the crowd of people the next morning. She didn‘t want to go into the church until she saw Sally. But Sally wasn‘t anywhere, and that wasn‘t like her sister. She couldn‘t even focus on what her brothers were telling Owen...or what Jessica and Mary were talking about. An uneasy feeling swelled in the pit of her stomach. Perhaps she should have run after her sister last night. But then she wouldn‘t have taken care of Owen and then... She blushed. She didn‘t know lovemaking could involve such bliss. She glanced at him, recalling the way his hands and mouth felt on her skin. Her body tingled from the memory. She couldn‘t wait to be alone with him again. ―Jenny?‖ Someone nudged her in the side. She jumped back and cleared her throat. She realized that Mary and Jessica were staring at her. ―What?‖ she asked, hoping they didn‘t detect what she‘d been thinking about. ―Sally‘s here,‖ Mary said. ―You wanted us to tell you if we saw her.‖ Jenny looked in th
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Owen patted his stomach and leaned back in the chair at the sheriff‘s desk. If he had to eat another bite of anything, he was going to burst. Those Larson women knew how to stuff a man senseless. Who knew Thanksgiving could render a man comatose for days on end? He sat up straight. He couldn‘t even take a deep breath. In an effort to finish up the leftovers, Jenny persuaded him to have an extra helping of ―thanksgiving breakfast‖ that morning. He hoped that they were officially done. He‘d had enough of turkey to last a lifetime. Now it was time for his poor stomach to get a break. He picked up the latest papers on Meyer‘s desk and sorted through them. Good. None were of him. But there was one on Robert Scott. Owen frowned. Why did the name Robert sound familiar? Oh yes. He was the name Joshua had written and placed in his wallet when Owen went to Guy Ike‘s house. That was the day of the shoot-out. He shivered at the memory. He hoped shoot-outs didn‘t happen often
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Jenny grabbed her broom. ―Stay here,‖ she told Jeremy who was eating at the kitchen table. She looked back out the window. She didn‘t know whether to be angry or afraid. Why was Clyde coming out to see her? Was it because Owen arrested him? Glancing over her shoulder to make sure her son was still at the table, she put her coat on and stormed onto the porch. He got off his horse. When he looked in her direction, he didn‘t seem concerned by the fact that she was ready to whack him with the broom if he got too close. ―Hi there, Jenny.‖ ―Get away from here,‖ she snapped. He sauntered over to the bottom step of the porch and stopped just two inches shy of her being able to hit him with the broom. Placing his hands on his hips, he tilted his head up so he could make eye contact. ―I want my son.‖ ―He‘s not your son.‖ She tightened her grip on the broom handle and got ready to strike if needed. ―That‘s not what you told me five years ago.‖ She gritted her teeth.
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Owen jumped up as soon as the door to the jailhouse opened. He rushed over to the bars to see if Jenny came. She did. But she also brought Sally and her four brothers with her. Four very angry looking brothers. He immediately stepped back as the four glaring men surrounded the cell. He examined the bars. He hoped the steel was strong enough to keep them out. They looked like they were ready to rip him apart and feed his remains to the vultures. ―You‘re lucky you‘re in there!‖ Tom barked, pointing an accusing finger at him. ―Because if you weren‘t, we‘d run you out of town.‖ ―How could you do this to our sister?‖ Richard demanded, shaking the bars. Owen swallowed the lump in his throat and backed up until he hit the wall. He glanced at the small window and wondered if he could escape if he squeezed through it. No. That was ridiculous. He was much safer here with the bars protecting him than in the open where these men could chase him down. ―First Clyde an
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It was about time Jenny‘s brothers stopped their harassment, Owen thought as they took in the bright, shiny deputy badge that Sheriff Meyer returned to him. Owen‘s chest puffed up with a sense of pride as he closed the door of the jailhouse and placed his hat on his head. ―Afternoon, gentlemen,‖ he said and buttoned his coat. ―Getting ready for Christmas?‖ ―We had some errands to run,‖ Tom replied. ―Even if women say they don‘t want anything but our love, they don‘t mean it.‖ Joel snickered. ―And you had to learn that the hard way.‖ Tom‘s face grew red. ―I can‘t wait until you get married, Joel. I don‘t care what you argue about. I‘ll take her side each time.‖ ―Unlike you all, I have no desire to tie the knot,‖ he replied and gave them a smug smile. ―I‘m going to stay single forever.‖ ―Since when?‖ ―Since I saw how you all ended up. No woman is going to tell me what to do.‖ ―Oh really?‖ Dave asked. ―Then what are you doing in town looking for gifts?‖ Joel sighed. ―I g
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Jenny flung a dish at Clyde‘s head. Drats! She missed! ―Get off my property!‖ She picked up another plate from the stack she held to her chest and threw it at him. Again, he expertly dodged it as he made his way to the porch. She grunted and threw the whole stack at him. This time two plates hit him in the face. He yelled and touched his cheek which had a bloody cut on it. Glaring at her, he took a step toward her. ―Not this time, Jenny! I‘m getting my boy.‖ She grabbed her broom and swung at him. Unlike last time, he jumped back. She stepped forward but someone came up behind her and held her arms in place. She screamed and kicked at her captor, but his hold only grew tighter. ―Get the boy and let‘s get out of here,‖ the man growled at Clyde. ―Run!‖ she yelled at Jeremy who was supposed to be in his room. She prayed he would make it to the attic before Clyde found him. Clyde climbed the rest of the porch steps, and as he passed her, sh
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Owen recognized that gruff voice anywhere. And there was no way he was going to play possum now. He leapt over the counter, nearly knocking over the startled owner who ran to retrieve his gun. ―This is my store. You have no business being here!‖ the owner barked. Then he fired his rifle at the doorway. Owen didn‘t bother seeing if the man hit Big Roy or not. He just ran. He ran down the narrow space that led to the backdoor and found himself in another alley. The scene was eerily familiar. Except this time Mitch and Lance weren‘t chasing him. Nope. Big Roy was doing the honors this time. Owen raced past the dumpsters. He heard a door open and almost got hit with a bullet. He swerved to the right and found himself on a less traveled part of the business district. He bent to hide behind stagecoaches and buggies as he scampered as fast as he dared without giving Big Roy ample opportunity to get a clear shot. Where was Irving anyway? Some stellar deputy he was turnin
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It was a week later when Big Roy finally arrived in Omaha. And Owen had just finished breakfast when the fateful knock came at the door. He put his napkin down and went to answer it. ―Amos?‖ he asked, surprised to see the boy with his two friends standing on his porch, holding fishing rods. ―Isn‘t it a little cold to be fishing?‖ It was December after all. ―Big Roy‘s in Omaha,‖ Amos said, looking unusually excited by the prospect. Owen‘s eyes grew wide. ―How do you know this?‖ ―We saw him. Oh, he‘s big and angry alright. He was asking where you were.‖ ―You didn‘t tell him, did you?‖ Owen demanded as he watched the boy practically dance with glee. Was everyone but Jenny and Jeremy eager to send him to an early grave? ―Course not! We‘d never do that,‖ Amos assured him. ―In fact, no one‘s telling him anything. But Irving wants you down at the jailhouse.‖ Amos motioned to his fishing rod. ―You don‘t need to worry about a thing. We‘re ready to help you!‖ Amos and h
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Jeremy ran to the front door and jumped into Owen‘s arms. Surprised, Jenny turned from the sandwiches she‘d been making and went over to him. ―They let you out of jail?‖ ―As long as I promised not to run away.‖ He gave Jeremy a big hug. ―I missed you, squirt.‖ ―Was it scary in there?‖ Jeremy asked. ―No, but it was lonely. It‘s good to be home with my family.‖ He leaned forward and gave Jenny a kiss. ―I can‘t believe how much I missed you two.‖ ―We missed you too,‖ she said, hugging him as much as she could with Jeremy between them. ―I was just making supper. Are you hungry?‖ ―I didn‘t get much to eat, so yes.‖ He set Jeremy down and took off his coat and hat. ―It‘s nothing fancy. Just sandwiches,‖ she warned. He put up his holster on the hook next to his coat and hat. ―After eating nothing but beans and jerky, sandwiches will be a treat.‖ He turned to them and gave them another hug. ―It feels so good to be back home.‖ She laughed and hugged him back. ―It
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Jenny heard Sally knock on the front door but hesitated to answer it. No one had been out to see her since the day they found out about Owen, probably because Mary managed to talk them into giving Jenny time to herself, so she didn‘t know why Sally came out. She pushed the curtain aside in the parlor. Sally was alone. She exhaled. At least, the cavalry wasn‘t coming out again. She quickly thought of a way to distract her sister from the matter at hand and opened the door while Sally was in mid-knock. ―Oh good! I wanted to talk to you.‖ Jenny pulled her into the house and peered out the door. Good. Sally really was alone, just as she thought. She shut the door and turned to Jeremy. ―Take your blocks and play upstairs. I have to talk to your aunt.‖ Jeremy obeyed and went up the steps. As soon as he was in his room, Jenny led Sally into the kitchen and sat her down. ―Would you like a snack?‖ ―No thanks,‖ Sally said. ―I came to talk to you.‖ ―Yes, and I‘m glad yo
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She relaxed. ―Oh. I thought you meant...‖ She had thought he meant that he didn‘t want her to stay married to Owen. But he hadn‘t, and she didn‘t want to explain it. Looking at Irving, she knew that they wouldn‘t have made a good match. She would have married him for her son, but he wouldn‘t have been her first choice. She glanced inside the jailhouse. There, in the cell, sat the man she would have chosen. Returning her gaze to Irving, she asked, ―So I can talk to him?‖ ―Follow me.‖ He led her into the building. ―Meyer, I got the wife wanting to see her husband.‖ Jeremy broke free from her and ran over to the cell, calling out ―Pa!‖ Owen‘s face lit up and he eagerly ran over to the bars so he could hug Jeremy... Well, as much as he could with the bars between them. The tender moment brought tears to Jenny‘s eyes. How many times had she seen fathers and their sons and wished Jeremy could have a pa that loved him too? Wiping her eyes, she turned to the sheriff and de
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Jenny didn‘t feel like dealing with anyone at the moment. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, and her relatives weren‘t helping. Her brothers and Sally sat around the kitchen table trying to decide what to do about the situation while Greg, Jeremy, and Isaac played with the dog in the backyard. Mary stayed out there to watch them from where she sat in the chair next to the house. Maybe Jenny shouldn‘t have come to Sally‘s house after they left the jail. Maybe she should have just gone home. She watched the children as they laughed and took turns throwing the ball for the dog to catch. It was simple for them. Children didn‘t sit and analyze things. They either liked something or they didn‘t, and they acted accordingly. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and rested her forehead against the cool glass of the window. Her hand fell to her abdomen. She should‘ve realized it sooner, but she and Owen had stayed up well into the night to enjoy lovemaking. The fatigue was ea
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Owen jumped up as soon as the door to the jailhouse opened. He rushed over to the bars to see if Jenny came. She did. But she also brought Sally and her four brothers with her. Four very angry looking brothers. He immediately stepped back as the four glaring men surrounded the cell. He examined the bars. He hoped the steel was strong enough to keep them out. They looked like they were ready to rip him apart and feed his remains to the vultures. ―You‘re lucky you‘re in there!‖ Tom barked, pointing an accusing finger at him. ―Because if you weren‘t, we‘d run you out of town.‖ ―How could you do this to our sister?‖ Richard demanded, shaking the bars. Owen swallowed the lump in his throat and backed up until he hit the wall. He glanced at the small window and wondered if he could escape if he squeezed through it. No. That was ridiculous. He was much safer here with the bars protecting him than in the open where these men could chase him down. ―First Clyde an
