It had been weeks since they had faced Wayne Matthews. Still Slim and Jess moved slower than usual as they changed the stage horses.
�What you two need is some of Jonesy�s ointment,� Mose yelled down from the seat. �I�ll have to ask Daisy to write him and get the recipe.�
�Oh no you don�t!� Slim threaten. �That was the only good thing about Jonesy leaving. No more ointment.�
Mose laughed loudly. He started to snap the reins then stopped. �I almost forgot.� He pulled a letter out of the pocket of his jacket and handed it to Jess. �She gave it to me personally to give to you. See you boys in a few days. Ya!� The horses took off in a run.
Jess opened the letter. He read it quickly then sighed. �It�s from Em,� he said softly. �She�s opened a dress shop in Medicine Bow. She ain�t coming back to Laramie.�
The sound of a carriage pulling into the yard drew their attention away from the departing stage.
As Claire stepped down from the carriage, Jess stuck the letter in the hip pocket of his jeans. Claire smiled sweetly as she rushed towards Jess. She kissed his cheek, then complained, �Jess Harper don�t you dare grow a beard! It�s too rough against my skin.� She handed him a basket.
�You bake this?� Slim asked as the aroma caused him to peek under the cloth.
�Of course not, Silly,� she said with a laugh. �These came from Miss Molly�s bakery. Not as good as the sweet rolls I had in New York City but still very tasty. I know they�re a favorite of yours, Jess.� She playfully slapped Slim�s hand. �Now Slim, you have to wait �til Jess gets one.�
�Uh Claire, I�m not too hungry. Here Slim, you might as well eat them.� Jess handed Slim the basket.
Slim�s eyebrow raised. When had Jess ever turned down sweets!
�Oh...well...of course darling,� Claire smiled. �I know you�re still recuperating. Why don�t you and I sit on the porch for a spell. We can catch up. I hated that daddy sent me away so quickly. I wanted to be here to nurse you. But I�m back and now we can��
�Uh, I got some business that I need to take care of right away,� Jess said bluntly. �Slim, can you spare me for a couple of days?�
�Sure.�
�I�m going to Medicine Bow,� Jess announced.
�Medicine Bow?� Claire echoed. �Why on earth would you go��
"You be sure to tell Em that I said hello," Slim requested.
Claire's face puckered with anger. "Jess, surely you aren't leaving me to go visit Em?" Claire demanded to know.
�I made the wrong decision awhile back. I�m aiming to correct that,� Jess said then turned and left her standing there. He headed for the corral.
She looked stricken. No man had ever left her. She looked up at Slim. �Well doesn�t that beat everything! Why would he��
Slim grinned. �Well you know what they say? Pretty is as pretty does.�
A look far from beautiful molded her face. She grabbed the basket out of Slim�s hand. With a huff she headed for her buggy.
Slim watched as the buggy left the yard. Claire was driving as if the devil was chasing her. Slim knew there would be hell to pay next time he asked for a bank loan.
Jess led his saddled horse out of the corral.
�I guess you ain�t scared of a decent woman any longer,� Slim said, a smile tugging at his lips.
�Oh, I�m still scared of a decent woman,� Jess acknowledged. �But I found out that I�m a lot more scared of something else than being left a foot and a decent woman.�
Slim raised his eyebrow questioningly.
Jess stated, �I�m more scared of losing a decent woman, especially one like Em.�
�Well I don�t think you�ve lost Em yet. Not the way she stayed close by you in that cabin. It might take some convincing on your part, but I think she�ll eventually take a shine to you again.�
�Slim, I don�t know how I could have made such a wrong decision when it came to them two,� Jess said as he swung himself up into the saddle.
�Well it�s easy to be taken in by a beautiful face.�
�You know what�s funny, Slim. I use to think that Claire was prettier than Em. But lately Em seems much prettier than Claire. They still look the same but...� He shook his head as if he couldn�t figure it out.
Slim grinned back, for he had known all the time that Em had always been the prettiest girl in Laramie.
