Chapter Twenty-Six

"Finally! I can cook eggs again without getting sick," Rose mused, carrying the tray of scrambled eggs to the table and placing them down with a flourish. Carol placed a tray of biscuits beside them.

"It's getting cold out there," Duke grumbled as he and Marston came stomping into the kitchen.

Marston wrapped his arms around Rose and pressed his cold nose into her neck causing her to squeal and swat him with the rag in her hand.

"Is it snowing yet?" Lucy asked from where she sat in her chair at the table, swinging her feet and petting Creed's head that rested in her lap.

Marston shook his head and ruffled her dark hair. "Not yet. But it will soon."

"It's ridiculous," Duke grumbled as he sat down. "This cold air up here is making my bones hurt something awful. It's only the last week of October. It shouldn't be this damn cold."

"You make yourself sound old when you talk that way," Carol scolded teasingly as she sat down beside him.

He took her hand in his and kissed her fingers. "I am old. Nothing I say will make me sound any older."

Marston pulled Rose aside and laid his hand over her rounding stomach. "How are you both doing today?"

She laid her hand over his stubble covered cheek. "We're doing good. I can finally cook without being sick. I believe me and the little one are coming to a mutual agreement on how best to share this body."

Marston chuckled as he kissed her hair. "Thank God for that. I'm sure everybody was getting tired of my cooking."

"Mine too," Carol added. "I'm afraid that particular talent passed me by."

"That's for sure," Duke agreed, tossing her a wink. "Good thing I spent the first sixty years of my life growing so tough. It might kill a lesser man."

"He's a charmer," Carol sighed wistfully. "And that's why I love him."

Laughter filled the spacious kitchen. Everyone took their seats and, after Rose said grace, they attacked the meal with gusto.

"Mama, when is Langley coming home?" Lucy asked.

Rose frowned. "I don't know," she replied, finding it hard to swallow the bite she'd been chewing.

Marston reached beneath the table and squeezed her hand. They hadn't heard anything else from Langley in well over a month since his last letter had come.

"What about Uncle Jeremiah?" Lucy added. "Why doesn't he come anymore?"

"He's busy doing grown up things," Carol quickly replied while Marston grumbled into his coffee cup. Lucy seemed satisfied with that answer and returned to slathering jam on her biscuit.

Marston stood quickly when the squeaking of cart wheels approaching reached his ears. He walked to the window and his eyes widened when he realized who it was.

"Who is it?" Rose demanded, rising from her seat.

"Langley," he replied, a smile lighting up his face. Then he frowned. "But he's not alone...."

Before he could say more, Rose was laughing hysterically and dashing from the house. "Langley!" she exclaimed, her eyes falling on her son for the first time in nine long months.

Langley smiled, leapt from the cart and met her halfway. The mama's boy in him had been craving a hug from her for months and months. Langley felt a good deal of his tension, sadness and worry simply melt away when Rose wrapped him in a rib-crushing, breath-stealing hug. The kind of hug only a mother could give.

"I'm so glad you're home," she whispered.

He smiled. "Mama, I can't breathe."

She laughed lightly as she pulled away from him and straightened his coat. Then her good humor faded when she glanced back at the wagon and her eyes landed on Jeremiah who was getting down from the cart.

"Hi there, Rose."

"You have a lot of nerve showing your face here again," she hissed with venom. Langley was surprised. He'd never heard his mama's voice so angry before.

"Mama, I..." Langley's defense of his uncle was cut short when the sound of a rifle being cocked filled the mid-morning air.

Marston stepped off the porch with that Winchester aimed at his brother's chest. Duke and Carol were behind him and Carol had Lucy on her hip.

"I warned you what would happen if you ever came back here again," Marston growled.

Langley quickly jumped between his pa and Jeremiah. "Pa, don't kill him. Yeah, it's true that he let me get arrested but I knew the whole time that going along on that bank robbery was wrong and I did it anyway. I've learned a lot since I left home and I've grown up a lot too. Uncle Jeremiah has too."

Langley shrugged. "I think we should all just forgive and forget the past since there's nothing that we can do to change what happened."

"Well Langley," Marston grumbled, his eyes never leaving his brother. "Good to hear you're still talking too much."

"Marston, I know I messed up and you have every reason to hate me but like Langley said, he has forgiven me and the truth is... I miss my family."

"Marston, maybe you should put the gun down," Rose said cautiously.

Marston's jaw popped as his grip on the rifle tightened. "Be quiet, Rose." Langley saw her mama's eyes narrow dangerously. "So it's that easy, is it Jeremiah? Just like that I should forgive and forget that you turned your back and left my son lying bloody in the street?"

Jeremiah winced. "When you say it like that, it sounds a lot worse than it was."

Marston stared hard at Langley and Jeremiah for several long, tense moments. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking as he kept his emotions well hidden. Marston stepped forward and merely a sharp glance from him had Langley stepping out of his way.

Marston stood toe to toe with his brother. "You're actions could have killed my son but if Rose and Langley are willing to forgive you..." Marston shrugged. Just as Jeremiah was letting out a sigh of relief, Marston's fist shot out and caught him hard in the jaw. His head snapped back and he went down hard on his backside in the dirt.

Marston stood over him. "If you ever pull something like that again or say the shit you said outside here that day, I'll do a hell of a lot worse than make you eat a couple of teeth."

With that Marston turned and headed for the house. Delilah scrambled from the cart and rushed to Jeremiah. "Are you okay?" she gasped, pulling her handkerchief from her pocket and dabbing a bit of blood from his lip.

Instead of yelling or getting angry, Jeremiah began to laugh. Happy, joyous laughter that had everyone around him frowning. "Thank you, Lord!" he exclaimed. "The giant bastard finally hit me!"

Delilah frowned and shook her head. "You're happy he hit you?"

Jeremiah took her face in his hands and gave her a loud plopping kiss. "Yes! It means I have my brother back!"

Duke stepped forward and held out his hand, helping Jeremiah to his feet. "Welcome back," he greeted.

"Who's your friend?" Rose asked, her confused gaze falling on Delilah.

Langley held up his hands before anyone could say anything else. "Please! Allow me to make the introductions," he insisted. "Delilah, this is my mama Rose, my sister Lucy, my uncle Duke and my Aunt Carol," Langley said, pointing to them each in turn. "Family, this is Delilah. Uncle Jeremiah's wife."

Langley watched on with amusement as his family stood there letting out various gasps, curses and mutters of complete disbelief.

Marston stepped back out on the porch. "Did you just say wife?"

"Yeah that's right," Jeremiah agreed, slipping his arm around Delilah's waist. "I reckon I caught the crazy."

Lucy reached over and tugged on Rose's sleeve. "Mama... it's cold."

Langley chuckled and hoisted her into his arms, settling his younger sister on his hip. "Let's get you in where it's warm."

"You look different," Lucy stated as Langley carried her to the house.

"I do?"

"Yeah, you aren't scrawny anymore. And you're face is getting all pokey."

Langley ran his free hand over his stubble. "Yeah, well, you're still just as beautiful as ever."

"I know," Lucy replied. She sighed with contentment when Langley grinned and kissed her cheek.

Langley carried his younger sister into the kitchen and his mouth began to water when his eyes fell on the sight of his mama's home cooked breakfast. "Thank God I'm home," he stated, as he flopped himself down in a chair and took a deep breath of the food.

Rose pulled off his hat and ruffled his messy red hair. "I agree."

She gave him back his hat and began making him a plate. "I'll do that, Rose," Marston insisted, taking the plate from his hand and laying his hand over her belly. "You sit down and rest awhile."

Langley studied his mama carefully as the table became full of family. "Mama, are you....?"

"Mama's gonna have another baby!" Lucy exclaimed, swinging her feet as she sat in her chair.

"Wow," Langley mumbled.

Marston sat a plate in front of him. "Yep. Wow." He patted Langley's shoulder. "Glad to have you home, kid. Your mama has been worried sick about you."

"So has your pa," Rose insisted as Marston sat down.

Langley smiled. It felt good to be home. Just like that the din of a family meal filled the kitchen. "So how did the harvest go this year?" Langley asked his pa.

Marston sighed. "It went good. We made good money but it's a damn hard way to make that money. Being an outlaw was so much easier."

Duke shivered. "Says the man who wanted a job."

"Says the man who better be finding a job if he wants to keep living here," Marston countered with a grin.

"Hush," Rose cut in, smiling at her husband. "You know you love having Duke here and you'd never make him leave."

"Speaking of loving folks here." Jeremiah shifted in his chair. "I was hoping you all wouldn't mind having a bit more company—at least until next spring when we can build our own place."

Marston opened his mouth but he remained silent when Rose's hand gently laid against his arm. "I won't pretend that I'm not still angry with you, Jeremiah," Rose began softly. "But this family has always been about forgiving and letting go of the past. If Langley, who is the one you wronged the most, can forgive you and let that go, then who am I to hold a grudge? You are more than welcome to stay here."

"He can?" Marston grumbled, his golden eyes meeting Rose's blue ones.

Rose nodded. "Yes."

Marston glared angrily. "What the hell are we running here? A goddamned soup kitchen, halfway house?"

"What your language!" Delilah scolded loudly, her hand covering her breast.

The kitchen fell silent and Langley recognized the smooth grin that suddenly appeared on Marston's face. It wasn't a good sign. "And why exactly would I want to do that?"

Delilah squared her shoulders and met his gaze full force. "Because cursing is not the way the Lord expects us to speak to one another. Taking His name in vain the way you did is bound to make Him quite angry."

Marston chuckled. "Woman, with the shit I've done, I think the way I speak is the least of the problems I'll have with the Lord."

"Yeah my pa was a doubt claw," Lucy noted, before taking a bit bite of her jam laden biscuit.

"And a very good doubt claw he was," Duke agreed.

"You will not speak that way around me," Delilah insisted.

The grin on Marston's face turned a bit more smooth and cold than it had been before. Langley knew the proverbial shit might soon be flying and he could tell by the way Jeremiah was edging away that he realized it too.

"Listen here, lady. If you're gonna be living in my house then you and I need to get a few things straight," Marston warned. Rose rolled her eyes and covered her face with her hand. Marston tapped the table. "There is only one damn woman that I answer to and she isn't you. If you got a problem with how I speak then I suggest you cover your damn ears and keep your complaints to your damned self."

Delilah and Marston stared each other down for several long moments as everyone simply watched on. Finally Delilah sighed and went back to her food.

Jeremiah shifted in his chair. "So does that mean we do get to stay here?" he asked his brother.

Marston glanced over at Rose and she looked at him between her fingers. She nodded slightly and he growled. "Fine. You can stay here but you better stay the hell out of my way." He shoved his chair back and got to his feet. "Dammit, I liked it better when we just tolerated each other and only saw each other if we needed something. This living together bullshit is for the goddamn birds. There are only a few faces I want to see every day and they sure don't belong to Duke or Jeremiah."

"Love you too, little brother," Jeremiah said with a grin as he took a drink of water.

Marston simply muttered under his breath and motioned toward Langley. "I'm heading to the gun shop to get some work done. You coming? I'm overrun right now without an extra set of hands."

Langley took one last bite of eggs and leapt to his feet, taking a fistful of bacon with him. "Heck yeah! I've missed the shop."

Jeremiah nodded. "You'd have been proud of him, Marston. He had every man at the camp impressed by his gun fixing skills."

Rose pointed her finger at Jeremiah. "About that outlaw camp," she began with a very Mastonesque growl.

"We better get going, Langley. Before the storm strikes."

Langley was on his pa's heels out the door. "So, kid, why don't you fill your old pa in on all your adventures," Marston urged once the two of them were saddled up and on their way to town.

Langley sighed. He knew the there was no point in lying to his pa. Somehow Marston always knew when someone when someone was lying and he wouldn't' be fooled by face to face lies from his son. "Might as well tell me, Langley," Marston assured him. "You might have been laughing with the family but I can tell something is wrong with you. You spoke about a girl named Jessie in your letters but you came home alone. Let me hear it."

Langley felt that barely scabbed wound in his heart come tearing back open. Marston must have seen the pain etched on his face because he shook his head. "I know I've always given you a hard time, Langley, and I've never been one for open moments and self-reflection but I'm your pa and you can talk to me. I probably won't do much talking back but I'll listen."

Langley opened up to his pa then. He had needed someone to talk to for a while and his pa was the last person he thought he'd be pouring out his heart to but that's exactly what Langley did.

They were entering town when Langley finally finished and Marston let out a long breath. "I met her once," Marston admitted. "She was young at the time, probably around eight. Her pa was already training her back then. She's been trained from a young age to be cold-hearted and calculating."

"It sure didn't feel cold when we were...." Langley let the sentence drop as his ears burning and his hand rubbed at the back of his neck.

"Well, maybe it wasn't," Marston offered. What he'd like to do was ride out, find Jessie Burke and beat a bit of sense into the girl for hurting his son. Langley was a good man. Too good a man for some outlaw woman to come play with his heart and leave him hurting.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore," Langley grumbled, rolling his shoulder. "It's over and I'm home now. Let's get to the gun shop and I want to say hello to Kaitlyn while we're in town."

Marston nodded, happy to have the heart to heart conversation over for now. He'd make sure to sit down and talk to Rose that night. She always seemed to know the right things to say and do and that was something that Marston lacked.

***

"Make love to me, Langley," Jessie breathed warmly.

"But you left me," Langley whispered, forcing himself not to take her bare body into his arms as she stood there in the moonlight pouring in his bedroom window.

She shook her head and her violet eyes shone with regret. "I never should have done that, Langley. You were the best thing to ever happen to me. Forgive me? I need to feel your touch."

Langley couldn't tell her no. He would never be able to refuse the woman anything she wanted. He stood and went to her but as he reached to pull her into his arms, she vanished into nothing.

Langley quickly sat up and looked around his empty room. He swiped the sleeve of his long johns across his face to dry his tears. Getting to his feet, Langley walked to his frost covered window and looked out at the barren, frozen fields.

Would the pain ever go away? Would the shame of being made such a fool of ever go away? Jessie had played things so perfectly. She had hooked him in just enough to have him willing to give her the world. He had ridden beside her, killed to protect and save her and helped her accomplish the goal she'd been after—Benjamin's demise.

Then when he had begged the woman to stay with him, she had all but spat in his face. Every single loving word that the woman had ever said had been a lie.

The worst part about it all was that despite it all, Langley didn't hate her. He wasn't even mad at her. He still loved her.

Desperately.