Chapter Twenty-Three
Jed had seen Maeve ride plenty of times. Whenever the opportunity presented itself back home, she made sure to get herself onto Ash’s back. It was obvious she was completely enamored with riding, and Jed would often tease her for finding the silliest reasons to saddle up.
But now, as he watched Maeve shoot out from the starting gate, Jed realized that ‘enamored’ wasn’t a strong enough word to describe his wife’s love for riding.
Golden Hour was a completely strange new animal to Maeve, yet she rode the mare as if they’d grown up together.
They moved like the wind itself, weaving around barrels and taking jumps without a moment’s hesitation.
The rest of the world vanished from Jed’s sight; all he could do was marvel at his wife’s full immersion within the moment.
Her hair snapped and coiled in the wind like a raging inferno against the evening sky, and when he managed to catch sight of her face, she wore a smile that could chase away the night itself.
He watched Maeve grasp the reins in one hand, freeing the other to effortlessly slip the rope free from its hitch.
With a flick of her wrist, the lasso seemingly came to life, and Maeve carefully shaped it like a sculptor might shape their clay.
Jed couldn’t help but think of a large, spindly snake with the way his wife maneuvered the rope: dangerous, wild, yet perfectly in control of itself.
Then, the snake struck out in the blink of an eye, snagging around the ‘bull’s’ horn with a definitive snap.
A rousing cheer rippled around the pasture, throwing Jed back into the real world.
He found himself frozen in place, watching in amazement as his wife brought Golden Hour back to the gate and dismounted without a moment’s hesitation.
He watched raptly as she practically skipped around the length of the gate, slowly approaching Jed with a somehow even more brilliant smile than before.
His heart raced, filling his body with an indescribable heat that only grew the closer she got.
It was unfamiliar, but comforting in a way Jed couldn’t quite explain.
“I did it! We get to take Golden Hour home!” Maeve squealed with excitement as she approached. “They added my name to their list of fastest riders, too. ‘Maeve Mercer’ is gonna be known as one of the fastest cattle ropers on this side of Wyoming!”
Was this how she had looked the day the bulls escaped?
“And that there’s how you win a competition, Jed Mercer.”
Was this always how Maeve had looked?
“Aw, ye’re speechless! I know it were a sight to behold, but I’m sure if you really try yer best–”
Jed found himself stepping toward her, desperate to close the distance between them.
And as he did, as he caught the scent of sunshine in her hair, he couldn’t help but press his lips firmly against her own.
His arms acted on their own, settling perfectly around the curve of her hips as her spirit completely engulfed him.
An explosive burst tore through the sky, and Jed briefly became aware of a dazzling display of colorful lights above him.
Fireworks in the evening sky. The circus was coming to an end.
He pulled away, his face burning from Maeve’s presence, from her completely stunned expression.
Her blue eyes lit up beneath another shower of fireworks, and for a moment Jed wanted nothing more than to disappear.
To apologize for his sudden approach, for crossing into her personal space without so much as a word of warning.
Then, Maeve’s hands set firmly against Jed’s shoulders before she pulled him in for another kiss.
It tasted sweet from the candy she’d been chewing on, and Jed found himself utterly entranced. He moved his arms with purpose this time, firmly placing his hands on her hips while the moment stretched endlessly between them. Love. This had to be what real love felt like.
It made Jed wonder how how he’d lasted as long as he had on the artificial crumbs Thomas had fed him all his life. It was the first time in a long time that Jed felt entirely full.
This time, Maeve was the one to break free. She was breathless, seemingly unable to focus on getting enough air in her lungs. Her eyes continuously shimmered from the myriad of fireworks, from her fiery spirit that kindled something deep in Jed’s chest.
She was everything to him. The life they’d begun to make, it was all that mattered to him now.
And it all came crashing down as a familiar face suddenly appeared behind Maeve’s shoulder.
Instinct screamed all the way to the center of Jed’s mind as he swung his wife behind himself, acting as an unshakable barrier that would protect her from the smirking visage of his past. Thomas stood just barely to Jed’s shoulder, the curls of his hair and his moustaches perfectly styled as they always had been in every memory of Jed’s he plagued.
And his smile; it didn't hold an ounce of warmth.
The facade had shed itself, and as Jed stared at that smile, all he could see was the triumphant smirk of a fox as it finally ran its prey into the corner.
As always, Thomas Gedney towered firmly over Jed despite his short stature, and without having even spoken a single word.
“Jed?”
The briefest spark of cognition returned to Jed’s mind, and he managed a glance back to Maeve. Her spirit had significantly dampened, the light behind her eyes reduced to a cautious flicker. He turned back to Thomas, his mind whirling for the right words–for any word–he could say in the moment.
“That is you, Jed!” Thomas’ silken voice dragged like ragged nails against Jed’s mind. “Now, I’m not one to intrude on a loving couple, but when I saw your face I thought to myself, ‘Certainly, that must be my old friend! He wouldn’t mind me interrupting for the sake of our reunion’.”
Thomas’ eyes flickered. His smile was far too pleasant.
“I’m right, aren’t I, Jed? You don’t mind my intrusion at all, do you?”
Jed could only stand firmly in place. If the words wouldn’t come to him, he’d do all he could to shield Maeve.
But even that seemed to be failing, as she stepped around to stand at his side, her arms wrapping firmly around one of his.
A shudder rolled up Jed’s spine, and for the first time in their life together, he saw the blue of her eyes freeze over completely.
“Ye’re Thomas?”
It was the first time Jed had ever heard someone speak with such hostility to the man. Part of him had been terrified that Thomas’ usual charm would catch his wife in its net, but Maeve looked ready to throw Thomas to the ground if he so much as breathed wrong.
Thomas hardly seemed shaken, only offering an affirmative nod. “I see my reputation precedes me! Only the good parts, I hope?”
Jed shifted his stance, trying his best to obscure Maeve. “What’re you doing here, Thomas?”
Words. Finally, he’d managed to say something. Some small hope began to build in Jed’s chest, and he raced to stockpile as much confidence as he could before Thomas could tear it away from him.
“So accusatory, Jed!” Thomas mockingly gasped. “Why, do I not have the right to enjoy the circus like everyone else? Awful big of you, assuming my entire life revolves around you.”
A wave of anger crashed through Jed.
“This was just a happy coincidence!” Thomas insisted. “Almost as happy as when I crossed paths with our lawyer friend earlier. I didn’t know Edgar still had the capacity to intrigue women at his age.”
Jed’s blood turned cold as Maeve squeezed his arm tightly. Her expression remained tight, but it was obvious she was upset he hadn’t told her. The first of many holes had been poked into his limited story of his past, and it was all Thomas’ fault.
No. It was Jed’s own. He should have told Maeve earlier.
“Clear out, Thomas. I ain’t gonna say it again,” Jed warned.
Thomas lifted his hands defensively, the wolfish grin remaining on his face.
“Alright, alright. I can see when I’m not wanted.
Besides, it looks like this little circus act is coming to a close.
” He took a step back, but couldn’t seem to help himself as he added, “Oh! If you do see Edgar again, let him know I’m looking for him.
We have some…personal matters to discuss about his latest lawsuit. ”
Once more, the rest of the world faded away as Jed found himself completely fixated on his old friend.
Thomas walked away with a confidence built up and molded over the length of his entire lifetime, a confidence that seemed unshakable.
Jed couldn’t help but stare after his old friend, his once chosen brother, disgusted at the small part of him that desperately wanted to follow.
The part that still saw Thomas as that cocky but harmless boy who always knew just what to say.
Something squeezed against his arm. Jed glanced over, the briefest bit of reality returning to shape around Maeve. She was still at his side, the ice in her eyes slowly beginning to melt, returning to the clear and beautiful sky Jed had grown used to.
It slowly, agonizingly, brought him back to himself.
***
Jed had done everything he could to act normal upon returning to the general store.
He tried to smile in greeting at Bert, tried to be attentive to Sadie as she excitedly spoke about the details of the equestrian show.
He tried to appear approachable as Sadie’s mother cooed over Lila while asking a dozen questions about the toddler, tried to be continuously grateful to Uncle Wit as he praised Lila’s good health.
He was even certain he’d convinced Samuel he was alright, as the number of curious looks the younger Wright sent his way diminished once supper began in earnest.
But no matter what he did, Jed knew he wouldn’t convince Maeve that he was alright.
Nighttime had fully blanketed the sky by the time everyone finally said their goodbyes, leaving only the Mercers and one Wright brother to travel back home.
The air was still thick from the day’s heat, but Jed wasn’t certain that was the only reason he was sweating.
The parties soon parted ways, and as the cabin appeared over the last hill, Jed’s dread had fully solidified into a rock-hard stone in his gut.
Maeve didn’t say anything as she went to park the wagon and settle the horses.
She only mentioned taking care of Ash and Golden Hour while Jed put Lila to bed.
Jed crossed the cabin with heavy steps, gingerly tucking the toddler into her new crib.
Her eyes briefly fluttered open, but she rolled over and grasped tightly at her lilac blanket, her breath falling back into something slow and rhythmic.
It took everything Jed had to leave the bedroom. It took even more to cross the cabin once more and step out onto the front porch, where Maeve patiently stood waiting. A tense quiet lingered between them, and Jed braced himself for whatever fury she had boiling in her chest.
“You wanna take a walk around the property with me?”
Maeve’s tone was surprisingly even-keeled.
She didn’t speak with a forced sense of ignorance, but it was also obvious she wouldn’t be the one to start the real conversation.
Jed’s heart skipped a beat, and he managed a nod as he stepped off the front porch.
Maeve’s hand stretched out, waiting to see if he wanted to take it.
It terrified him, but...he did end up taking her hand.
They walked in silence at first, starting toward the barn before walking the length of the gate.
Memories of their last fight bubbled into Jed’s mind, but Maeve didn’t seem keen on repeating the past. Her grasp around his hand was…
paradoxical, to say the least. Loose enough to imply she wouldn’t force him to stay, but firm enough to suggest that no matter what, she would remain at his side.
As they reached the fence’s halfway point, Jed found himself taking a deep breath. Then it all came tumbling out at once.
“I used to co-own a ranch with him. With Thomas.” His breath trembled, and he looked at Maeve for a reaction.
She remained quiet, only giving his hand a gentle squeeze.
“We…we built it up over a decade or so. It stretched out all across Cheyenne until everyone knew the name ‘Gedney Ranch’.” Jed paused. Took another breath. “Last month, I went to sell my shares in it. Edgar Caldwell was meant to help me. I’ve known him since the day we chose the name of our ranch.”
Maeve nodded and remained quiet, letting Jed continue uninterrupted.
“Thomas… He’d gotten himself involved with bad folk.
Maybe he’d always been involved with bad folk, and maybe some small part of me always knew, but were too much of a coward to admit it.
” Jed shook his head and squeezed Maeve’s hand.
“I tried to make things right. Tried to get away from that life. But Thomas had done something. He somehow made it so he were the sole owner of the ranch. I thought I’d lost everything–a decade’s worth of work, gone in a flash. ”
Maeve’s expression softened. Still, she let him speak.
“Edgar came to Bighorn during the first week of July. Said he’d discovered Thomas’ misdeeds, that he were forming a legal case and wanted my help.
” Jed’s voice caught briefly in his throat, and he suddenly found himself unable to walk and talk at the same time.
“I–I never thought Thomas could threaten a friend like that. I never thought he’d go so far…
and now I’ve roped you and Lila into this whole mess. ”
He managed to turn. Managed to face Maeve fully, even if it killed him to do so.
“I’m so, so sorry, Maeve. I didn’t want any of this to happen. The day I found yer ad, I thought it were God giving me a second chance. I never thought– I’d hoped the past would stay back in Cheyenne. But that were foolish, cowardly thinking, and ye’re suffering because of it.”
That was it. That was all Jed could manage.
He fell into an agonizing silence, waiting desperately for Maeve’s response.
Her grasp remained firm around his hand, and Jed couldn’t tell its underlying meaning anymore.
Was she furious with him? Seething? She had every right to be, and yet she remained quiet.
Contemplative. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could last in silence.
He needed her to say something, anything.
Even if it would ultimately break his spirit further. Even if it meant being forced to leave.
He would do anything–anything–so long as his wife just said something in response.
And finally…she did.