The Texas Kid
by Patricia Henry
Chapter Six
�Jess, she told us all right,� Mort stated.
Jess glanced worriedly at Mrs. Corey. �Ma�am, I swear, I didn�t-�
�Oh I know you didn�t. I know my daughter. That�s one of the reasons I wanted her to take this trip. She has been romanticizing the West for so long that I thought if she met some real cowboys then the boys back home would seem more likeable.�
�But she had to meet you, Jess,� Mort sounded critical.
�Mort, I didn�t do nothin�! Honest!�
Mort sighed. �So, Mona, how do we handle this?�
�Well we can�t let Cecily go around kissing Jess. He�s much too old for her.�
Jess nodded.
Mrs. Corey suggested, �What if another hero came along?�
Mort�s eyes narrowed. �What are you planning?�
�Well, we�ll be leaving in a couple of days. What if someone else saved the day so to speak and Jess couldn�t help this time. And Jess even had to be rescued himself?�
�Jess, you mind looking helpless?� Mort asked.
�Well,� Jess did mind. He was used to be independent and in charge. �I guess not. If it will make
Cecily stay away from me. No offense, ma�am.�
�I understand,� Mrs. Corey said with a laugh. �I was a young impressible girl once.�
�Now, who is going to be the hero to save Jess?� Mort questioned. �Jess, you got any ideas on that?�
�I could ask Slim,� Jess suggested.
�The young blonde cowboy from your spread?� Mrs. Corey asked.
Jess nodded.
�I�m afraid that wouldn�t do. She�d just transfer her affection from you to Slim. No, it has to be someone like...� Mrs. Corey smiled. �Like her Uncle Mort.�
�Me?� Mort stood up, looking shocked.
�Why you�re the Sheriff! Who better to be her Western hero?�
�Oh I don�t know anything about being a hero,� Mort argued.
�I don�t either,� Jess said. �But she took a shine to me.�
�I don�t know,� Mort said with a shake of his gray head.
�I�m sure you fight bad outlaws every day,� Mrs. Corey flattered.
�No, mostly I do paperwork and occasionally arrest a drunk who decides to tear up the saloon.�
�Mort, please! We just need someone to be a hero. And Jess, you wouldn�t mind being saved by Mort, would you?�
�He�s saved me before,� Jess said.
�Oh all right,� Mort agreed but he didn�t sound enthusiastic. � I guess if Jess will go along with this. I can too.�
Jess looked as unimpressed as Mort appeared to be about the whole idea.
***************************************
