Chapter Twelve #2
It hit Jed all at once. Maeve trusted him with Lila.
She’d said as much, and showed it tirelessly through her actions. Then he threw that trust back in her face just now. Spat back her trust in him without a second thought.
Jed stood still as Maeve stormed past him and tore back up the property, throwing the barn door open before slamming it shut behind her.
He didn’t follow, didn’t hope that their argument could be resolved by simply sitting in Mossy’s stall together.
Jed looked up at the sky and sighed as he realized that Thomas had been right from the start.
Jed had proven he was right, hurting Maeve the way he had.
Her trust... He’d completely shattered the relationship they’d built up the last month, and it had only taken a few words to do so.
He was just no good at talking to people.
He should have never thought to speak in the first place.
***
Someone had to see Ms. Miller off, and it was obvious that Maeve wouldn’t be doing it. So Jed made his way back to the house, doing his best to exchange as few polite words as possible.
“Sorry again ‘bout Maeve,” he said, helping Ms. Miller up into the sheriff’s wagon.
“It’s quite alright, Mr. Mercer. This sort of thing is very difficult.” Ms. Miller offered him another of her sweet smiles. “Do let me know if you decide to adopt Lila for yourselves, though. She seems very happy with the two of you.”
Jed’s stomach soured terribly. He offered her a curt nod.
“Hey, Jed?”
He glanced around the wagon, catching Joshua giving him a wave to come over. Jed obliged, noting the sheriff’s obvious worry.
“She’s alright. Just…having a hard day.”
“Seems like it.” Joshua considered something, then gestured toward his wagon. “You interested in riding with us to town? I’m getting Samuel on the way, as he’s needing to restock some supplies. You an’ him could shop together, if that’s helpful to you.”
It was helpful, in more ways than one. Some time away from Maeve might help ease the tension between them, and it’d give Jed a chance to gain a different perspective. He nodded again, rounding the wagon and climbing into the back while Joshua got his horse ready to go.
It was a quiet ride to town, even with so many passengers.
Jed made it abundantly clear he wasn’t interested in idle conversation, and both Wright brothers were happy to oblige, keeping Ms. Miller entertained between the two of them.
As the sun climbed to the highest point in the sky, the wagon came to a slow stop, and Jed hopped out of the back to find himself surrounded by buildings and busy walkways once more.
“Now I’ll make sure Ms. Miller gets home safe, but you gotta promise not to bust up my wagon.
” Joshua gave a teasing, and somewhat threatening, poke against his brother’s chest, and Samuel raised his hands defensively.
Jed watched the exchange with a pang of longing, briefly visited by Thomas’ visage from when they were younger.
With another round of goodbyes, the party split into two.
Jed followed after the younger Wright brother, trying his best to recall if the ranch did, in fact, need supplies.
He didn’t notice the strange abundance of floral decorations and haystack seating collecting in the main square, but he did notice the distinct scent of gunpowder lingering in the air.
Jed stopped in place, finding the source of the scent in a wheelbarrow full of fireworks being pushed by a pair of older teens who were trying to outrun a horde of audibly excited smaller children.
Samuel let out a low whistle as the group passed them by. “Looks like folks are trying to outdo last year’s fireworks show.”
Fireworks. Jed blinked, suddenly remembering the time of the month. “It’s already Independence Day?”
“Nah, that’s tomorrow,” Samuel corrected him. “But I get what you mean. Time’s flying this year, ain’t it?”
It certainly was.
“Don’t go telling Sadie about this,” Samuel added in a conspiratorial whisper, “but I ain’t actually allowed to be messing with them fireworks no more.”
Jed blinked. “Wh–why not?”
Samuel put on a defensive air, though he was clearly playing things up for dramatics’ sake. “It weren’t even my fault! I mean, I were the one with the sparkler, but that there bush I smacked were already dried out!”
A snort of startled laughter escaped from Jed. “Maeve ain’t ever told me she were friends with a known arsonist.”
“I ain’t no criminal!” Samuel insisted. “I mean, I still got the charges on my record, but Joshua said li'l things like that ain’t brand someone a bad person. Even good folk make mistakes, you know? T’ain’t right, only seeing the worst in ‘em.”
Something about the sentence gave Jed pause. “Hey, Samuel?”
Samuel gave him a curious glance.
Jed opened his mouth to speak, but as usual, wasn’t sure what to say.
Samuel’s words struck him in such a specific way, as if he knew it was something Jed needed to hear in that exact moment.
Did he know about his fight with Maeve? Could he sense that he was struggling?
Or was Jed far more obvious than he’d thought?
He let out a breath, then pointed toward the post office. “You mind if I stop by there and see if we got any packages?”
Samuel’s smile was…just that. He didn’t seem disappointed or upset with Jed for seemingly ignoring his attempts to help him feel better. He was just smiling as if he didn’t mind at all. As if he just…like talking with Jed.
“Sure, bud! I’ll be over at the general store when ye’re done.”
Jed offered a weak wave as Samuel set off.
Part of him wanted to call him back over and thank him for his attempt.
Another part–the part that won out–pushed Jed toward the post office without another word.
A bright bell chimed in greeting as he opened the door, revealing a surprisingly packed interior.
Bags of mail were being sorted behind the front desk, and a long line of folks with parcels and packages eagerly waited to add their delivery to the pile.
Jed grimaced, uncertain about how much time he had available to wait.
“Y’here to pick up local mail, sir?”
Jed turned toward the voice, spotting a bespectacled young man standing off to the side.
He had his own small bag of deliveries, though the lack of uniform suggested he was a local carrier.
Stepping up to his desk, Jed offered a nod and gave both his and Maeve’s surnames, uncertain which one any senders might use.
“Let’s see now…” Spectacles shifted mail out of his bag, giving the pile a quick once-over before stopping on an ivory envelope. “Ah, here we go! Mr. Jed Mercer. I take it that’s you and not yer missus?”
Mail for him? Jed’s blood ran cold at the thought. Who would even know he was here? He forced himself to take the envelope, trying his best not to let his nerves show.
The penmanship was pristine, a grand swooping display of ink that showed the sender to be from the Cheyenne land office. That offered only the briefest of relief, as it meant the letter wasn’t from Thomas. But the only other man he knew who worked for the land office, was…?
Jed wasted no time opening the letter then and there. His eyes scanned the message quickly, settling on the sender’s signature: Mister Edgar A. Caldwell. It was him. But the question of ‘why’ continued burning in Jed’s head, so he finally gave the message a read.
To Mister Jed Mercer,
I write this missive with great urgency, in hopes it will be delivered into your hands before I arrive in Bighorn Basin. My intent is to arrive and stay throughout the first week of July, though I anticipate travel may be somewhat delayed due to the festivities.
If you do receive this letter before the aforementioned time passes, I hope you will grace me with your presence at the local sheriff’s office. There has been an unexpected development in your case, and I urge you to seek me out for further details.
I do hope to see you, Jed. When we last spoke, I fear I made a terrible mess of your life. I hope God will allow me to make amends, but if it is not meant to be, know that I am truly, deeply sorry for my actions against you.
Sincerely Yours,
Mister Edgar A. Caldwell
Practitioner of General Law for the State of Wyoming