"We were strangers starting out on a journey, never dreaming what we'd have to go through. now here we are and I'm suddenly standing at the beginning with you."  Richard Marx &Donna Lewis 'At the Beginning'

Jonah tapped on the door to Reb’s hotel room with his knuckles and then opened the door slowly when his friend told him to come on in.

                “How are you, Reb?” Jonah asked when he saw the man lying on the worn bed sheets, his skin more pale than normal and seeming to be drawn tighter around his eye patch. He was wearing only his trousers and had a thick white bandage wrapped around his middle, though there was a bit of red soaking through.

                The local doc had insisted that Reb would be okay and simply needed time to heal. As a matter of fact he’d given them all a good prognosis just so long as they got a couple days of rest.

                “I’ll be alright, Jonah. I’ve been through worse than this before.” Reb replied quietly. Jonah nodded and then took several more hesitant steps into the room, his boots dragging on the frayed rug below them.

                “I talked to the law here. We’re in the clear since we were working with Sheriff Phillips. Apparently they’d been keeping an eye on Scarlett for a while and just hadn’t been able to catch her hands in nothing yet.” Jonah stuck his hands deep in his pockets and sighed. “They’re gonna go to the fort and collect the bodies…”

                “Won’t be much left of those inside.” Reb said, his blue eye not meeting Jonah’s. “How are you, Joe and the kid?” he added. “Ya got pretty beat up in there.”

                “We’ll be alright eventually. We just need a bit of time.” Jonah replied honestly. He sighed and rubbed at the back of his neck.

                “I talked to Joe about Bart.”

                “What was that damned man thinkin’?” Reb demanded with rage and sadness as he pushed himself up to a sitting position, his back resting against the cool brass bars of the headboard.

                “That we’ll never know.” Jonah replied with a shrug. He swallowed hard around the lump of emotion in his throat. “Joe said they didn’t even give him a chance. Two men held him while Bear shot him in the head.”

                “Jesus……”

                “And Clayton saw it all.”

                Reb looked out at the setting sun and blinked several times. “I’m gonna miss that skinny Mexican bastard.”

                Jonah agreed whole heartedly and he rubbed the back of his neck again as he said, “Me too.” Then Jonah began to back toward the door.

                “We’re gonna rest in town for a few days and get healed up a bit before we head home.”

                Reb looked at him then and offered a ghost of a smile. “Reckon I can come with y’all? Mind you ya may have to rent a cart fer me to ride in a while ‘til this damned hole in my side heals up. Doc said it missed my liver but just barely. Though like I said it wouldn’ t a hurt nothin’ if it had  hit my liver. That things been shriveled up fer years.”

                Jonah chuckled. “I was hoping you’d want to come with us.”

                “I reckon I’m damn near fifty… That would be my best guess at my age anyhow and I’m getting a bit too old fer all this ridin’ crazy and shootin’ people nonsense.”

                “You could always go back to your wife.”

                Reb shivered. “Ha!” he shot back and then he winced and gripped at his side. “I’m a perfectly content bachelor. Give me a good lookin’ whore now and then and that’s all the need I got fer a woman. But now a family…. I might like to have me one of those.”

                Jonah smiled. “You do. I always have looked up to you, ever since that first day you found me wandering. Joe loves you even though she’d probably chew nails before she’d say so and Clayton is pretty well attached to you so you kinda owe it to us all to stick around.”

                “Well then I guess that settles that. I’ll be stickin’ ‘round a while.”

                “Is there anything you need before I go turn in for the night?” Jonah offered, his hand on the door.

                “Naw, I’m good fer now.” Reb replied. Jonah nodded.

                “Goodnight, Reb.”

                “’Night, Jonah.”

                Jonah went back in the hall and shut the door before leaning his back against it and rubbing his face with his hand.

                Today had taken its toll on him. Hell the last week had taken its toll. He was emotionally and physically spent and had nothing left to give. He was feeling the loss of Bart hard and the Sheriff as well. The fact that the man would sacrifice himself for a family he didn’t truly know helped to restore some of Jonah’s faith in the law.

                Jonah sighed and pushed himself off the wall and then headed back to the room he was sharing with Joe and Clayton.  He heard a scream come from behind the closed door and he drew his gun, (now fully loaded thanks to a trip to the gunsmith in town), and he burst into the room, fully prepared to kill whoever was causing his son to scream.

                When he saw Joe cradling Clayton on the bed and trying desperately to comfort the flailing, screaming child Jonah quickly holstered his gun and went to them. Joe stared at him desperately, her green/gray eyes wide.

                “He won’t stop.” Her voice was tight and it was clear she was exhausted. Jonah nodded and took the boy from her arms.

                “Clayton…” he began softly and then realized that the boy was sound asleep as he fought tooth and nail to be let go of. “Clayton Winchester!” he stated more harshly and the boy’s eyes flew open as his movements stills.

                “Pa?” he asked sleepily. Jonah kissed his sweat soaked brow and nodded.

                “Bad dream?”

                “No.” Clayton replied quickly and Jonah looked over at Joe who was rubbing at a fresh red welt on the side of her jaw, compliments of Clayton’s fists of fury.

                Jonah chuckled and was going to lay Clayton back onto the bed but the boy’s arms tightened around his neck. “Do you think you could hold me pa?” Clayton asked quietly, his cheeks flushing red. “’Least ‘til I fall back asleep?”

                Jonah saw Joe swallow hard and begin to chew on her nail as she busied herself fixing the tangled blanket on the bed.

                “Of course I will, Clayton.” Jonah replied, settling down in the high backed chair beside the fire. Clayton curled up against his chest and laid his head on Jonah’s shoulder. Jonah felt his heart fill with love. This was the first time that Clayton was acting like a small child and Jonah felt as if he could take on the world to protect this boy as he held him tight against him.

                Jonah rested his cheek against Clayton’s thick blond hair and caressed his bare forearm as he hummed quietly. The tune came to him seemingly out of nowhere but as Jonah continued to hum it he realized that it was a song he could remember his mama singing to him.

                It was the one happy memory he had of his mother. The only good thing he could faintly remember about the abusive, neglectful whore that raised him his first few years of life…. This lullaby.

                Jonah lost track of time as he comforted his son and stared into the dancing flames of the fire. It wasn’t until he felt Joe’s hand on his arm that he realized pitch blackness had fallen outside the window and Clayton was sound asleep against his chest.

                Jonah stood up, his legs and side aching as he carried Clayton to the cot beside the bed and tucked him tight, the boy never even stirring as he slept soundly.

                Jonah kissed his brow tenderly and then turned to his wife.  He held out one arm and she came to him holding him tight. Jonah buried his face in her hair and breathed her in. She smelled of roses thanks to the soaps that had been poured into her bath.

                “Lay down with me, Jonah.” Joe urged quietly. Jonah nodded and led her to the bed, curling up beneath the covers and wrapped his body around Joe’s, shielding her from  the world and hating the haunted expression he could see in her eyes.

                “Get some rest, Josephine.” He urged and she shook her head.

                “Every time I close my eyes I see things I don’t want to see.”

                “Tell them to go away.” Jonah replied as he stroked her back.

                “Why did Bart get caught? Why did he have to look at me so sadly before they shot him? Why didn’t the sheriff just throw that dynamite? Why didn’t he even hesitate before laying his life down for us? Why…….” Jonah cut her off with a soft lingering kiss to her lips. He waited until her eyes were once again open and looking into his own before he replied.

                “It’s over Josephine. The whys you are asking can’t be answered. All we can do is move on from here.”

                “I’m ready to go home, Jonah. I want to be in our cabin with our son and just try to forget everything.”

                “I know, Joe. I do too.” Jonah replied with a sigh. “Now get some rest. I’ll be right here. Nothing is going to happen to you or to Clayton tonight. I promise.”

                “I can’t sleep Jonah, when I close my eyes I just see…..” Jonah cut her off once again with a kiss, though this one was hungrier than the last.

                He needed her. He needed to kiss her. Hold her. Touch her. He needed to feel her tender hands burning him, scalding him, as they danced across his bare skin. He needed to feel himself buried inside of her and know that they were both still alive. Still together. And that the horrors of today were something they could recover from and move past.

                Both of them had done things in the last week that were out of character. Both had murdered for vengeance. Both had felt the power of death over life as they had stood above helpless victims and made the decisions to take their lives. Both had wept for their son, for each other and for themselves….. But now it was over. The past was the past and Jonah only wanted to feel his woman’s touch and begin to heal.

                He looked deep into Joe’s eyes, searching them, and when she nodded it was the only permission he needed.  

                Jonah’s lips devoured hers and he quickly removed her from her clothes, wanting to taste that soft skin that he knew so well. He loved the catlike moan that came from her as her back arched and he licked at her tight nipple. Jonah took it into his mouth and suckled, nipping at the tight bud until Joe’s hands were buried in his hair and pulling his face back up toward hers.

                Jonah once against trapped her lips beneath his own and smiled against her mouth when he felt her hands desperately trying to undo the button on his pants.

                Jonah stood then and removed his clothes in a rush, freeing his throbbing arousal and tossing his shirt into the corner. He looked back at the bed and his breath caught in his chest.

                His wife was beautiful. The lamps hadn’t been lit and the firelight had burned down, leaving the room illuminated by a light orange glow. It caused Joe’s skin to shine and the small flames were dancing in her eyes as they looked him up and down, pausing at the sight of each bandage and bruise.

                “Are you hurting, Jonah?” she whispered, biting her lip and looking up at his face. “We don’t have to……”

                Jonah cut her off as he lowered his body over hers and nudged her legs apart with his knee. His mouth went to her neck and that small spot below her ear that always made her push her hips into him when he nibbled at it.

                “Yes we do.” he assured her before sliding into her and burying himself deep in her warmth. Joe gasped and her fingers dug into his bruised back. They moved together as one, the firelight glow dancing on their bare skin.

                Jonah felt his release nearing. Joe tightened beneath him, finding her own release while Jonah captured her moans with his lips and shuddered inside her.

                He collapsed against the bed and pulled her into his arms as she rested her head on his sweat slicked chest and his heart thundered beneath her ear. Jonah hooked the blanket with his foot and brought it up to cover them both as Joe snuggled closer.

They lay there in silence, simply holding one another tight. Jonah caressed her bare arm with his fingertips and then smiled against her hair when he heard her sigh with contentment.

                “Sleep now, Josephine. I’ve got ya.”

                Jonah lay there awake long after Joe’s breathing indicated she had fallen asleep. The clocked ticked on the wall and the wood in the fireplace popped and crackled. Jonah stared at the shadows dancing on the ceiling and thanked God for allowing him to keep his family.

                He still had his Joe and he had his Clayton. Reb was going to stay around and that made Jonah happier than he’d ever admit to the one –eyed bastard. While Jonah had never had a real father, Reb would be the man he would consider to be closest to fitting that role.

                Finally it was time to really let the past go. Forget about all the bad that had happened in his life, all the mistakes he had made, and simply live for today and for the future he was going to have with this beautiful woman and that innocent boy sound asleep beside the bed.

                Jonah sighed and let his eye slip closed, content with the knowledge that he had finally gotten things right.

***

Three Weeks Later

                “Home!” Clayton exclaimed as he jumped off of Chief and began to run around the yard. Joe watched with amusement as he began to whoop loudly and chase after the chickens that they had left running loose to try to avoid them starving while they’d been gone.

                “I’ll have to head to the neighbors tomorrow and get the cows and hogs.” Jonah stated as he slid off Copper’s back and frowned at Joe. “What’s wrong?” he asked her.

                She shook her head and pointed at Clayton. The boy was laughing loudly, his legs kicking up behind him as he ran and the chickens squawked loudly, waddling away from him as quickly as they could. “He’s chasin’ chickens.”

                Jonah laughed and put his arm around her shoulders. “He’s being a kid, Joe. It’s nice really.”

                “He’s never acted that way before.” Joe whispered. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing…. And it made her heart feel lighter. Clayton had always been so grown up and honestly Joe had needed him to be when it had only been the two of them. Now that they had a family, Clayton was finally free to be a child.

                “He’ll be just fine.” Jonah assured her.

                “Sure he will.” Reb agreed, getting off his horse carefully and holding his side.

                “Ya were supposed to stay in that cart the whole way here, Reb!” Joe snapped at him as he winced. “It’s yer own fault if’n ya’ve ripped yer wound back open.”

                “Pft! I’m just fine.” Reb argued. “I’ll even take the horses into the barn and help ‘em get comfortable.” 

                Joe shook her head as Reb led all four of their mounts into the barn. “Are we sure we want his ass stayin’ here with us?” she muttered and Jonah chuckled, wrapping his arms around her from behind and pulling her body against his.

                “Yep. We’re sure.” He replied. Joe smiled and leaned into his touch. The last three weeks had been a challenge. They’d buried Bart and Sheriff Phillips and had been traveling to reach home since. Clayton had nightmares most nights and woke up screaming. Jonah would always bring the boy to their spread out bedrolls and Clayton would curl up between his parents and sleep peacefully from then on.

                Jonah was a natural father and it made Joe proud to know that he was her husband, legally now as well as by proxy since the man had seen to that too while they’d been in that small Montana town.

                “Our son is a little off his rocker.” Jonah said with a laugh as Clayton leapt for a fleeing chicken, sliding across the dirt and roaring with laughter as the chicken squawked and hit him in the face with her wings, breaking out of the boy’s grasp and returning its mad dash for freedom.

                “He’s being a child. It’s nice.” Joe replied with a shrug.

                “I gotta get that boy that horse I’ve been promising. I missed so much, I got some time to make up for.”

                “Yer here now and he loves ya. That’s all ya need to be worried about.” Joe countered and Jonah held her a little tighter. Joe decided now was as good a time as any to tell him the secret she’d been keeping for a while. “And since yer here now, ya won’t miss a thing this time ‘round.”

                “What are you talking about?” Jonah asked with confusion and Joe sighed. She took Jonah’s hand and laid it over her low stomach where their second child was currently growing.

                “You’ll be ‘round fer it all this time.”

                “Are you saying that you’re……..” Jonah’s quiet voice trailed off. Joe nodded, wishing she could see his face.

                “Yeah, that’s what I’m sayin’.”

                Silence reigned for a long quiet moment and Joe was worried that maybe Jonah wasn’t as happy about the news as she had thought he was going to be. She tossed her hair, (which was a little more red every day), over her shoulder and looked back at him, just in time to catch him flush red and swipe at his wet eye.               

                “Are you cryin’?” she demanded and Jonah shook his head.

                “Nope.”

                “Yeah ya were!” she exclaimed with a laugh. “You was cryin’.”

                Jonah grumbled under his breath and turned her around, pulling her body against his and putting his hands on her cheeks.

                “I’m just happy is all. And since I’m married to the strongest person I know that means every now and then I get to be the weak one.”

                Joe smiled and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Alright. I guess somethin’ like that can be arranged seein’ as how it ain’t very often that I break.”

                “I love you Josephine.”

                “’Course ya do.”

                “I won’t let you down this time.” Jonah added, his voice becoming more serious as his thumbs caressed Joe’s jaw. She laid her hands over his and looked in his gray eyes, which were brimming and near to bursting with love. Love for her, love for their son and love for their unborn child.

                “I know ya won’t, Jonah. Yer a good man. Best one I know.”

                Jonah kissed her tenderly and then Reb hollered from the barn. “I can’t feed ‘em too! I’m injured ya know!”

                Joe was about to yell back at him but Jonah covered her lips with his fingers. “It’s alright, Joe. We’ll let him be a pain in the ass while he’s healing cuz he’s gonna have his hands full once he feels better. Clayton loves his uncle Reb and is real eager to go hunting with the man. Everyday. For hours. While we stay here….. alone.”

                Joe felt her body tremble and she smiled against his calloused finger. “Well in that case, get in there and feed them horses while I cook Reb some supper. We got some suckin’ up to do.”

                Jonah was laughing as he walked to the barn and Clayton ran after him, questions about the horse Jonah had promised him filling the early afternoon air.

                Joe wondered what her pa would think of her now. A wife. A mother. Still the tough as nails daughter of Gideon ‘the hawk’ Redding and yet softer somehow. Joe had always promised herself she’d never need anyone but now she realized she’d been wrong…. And she didn’t regret it. Not for one single minute.