The One Cent Piece

Mabel sat on the corner of Clive Bennetts desk talking with Marie and Jack. They were discussing the Bizzarre that was being planned for Christmas, the town was buzzing with excitement. There would be music and dancing, crafts and knitting for sale as well as baked goods and preserves. The townsfolk had been asked to submit their ideas for a game booth or a table that would be used as entertainment for the crowd. Some were planning a pie eating contest, which Mabel assumed Jack would win since he ate faster than anyone she had ever known. She and Marie were tossing ideas back and forth, but each time they thought of something, the marshal laughed it off as silly.

"I know," Mabel said, "We could have one of those knife throwing wheels that you see in the circus! You know, where someone volunteers to be tied to the wheel and then it's spun around fast and another person throws knives at it."

"Any idea as ta who yer gonna tie to it?" Jack asked with a grin.

"I thought I'd ask Mrs. Radway." Mabel said matter of factly, and the three of them burst out laughing.

Clive entered the room and after listening briefly to the discussion, made his suggestion. "How about a kissing booth?" He smiled at Marie.

"Why don't we have a kissing booth for women?" the doctor replied.

"You mean the women would pay the feller fer a kiss Marie?" Jack questioned.

"Yes Jack. Now all we need to do is find someone who would make us lots of money." Both women looked at Clive.

"That's pony dust, who's gonna pay money ta kiss Bennett?" Jack scoffed

"I would." Marie smiled.

" We'd make a fortune." Mabel giggled, looking in Jack's direction.

Clive shook his head as if to say they were all crazy. "But I'll tell you what Marie...if you have lunch with me at Zack's, we can discuss the possibility." Marie graciously accepted his arm and together they walked out the door, leaving Jack and Mabel alone.

Jack got to his feet and removed his hat from the hook by the door. As he turned Mabel noticed the angry look on his face. He was mad at her again. Seems he was always mad at her these days. Things hadn't been the same since she returned from Bragg Creek, and they had gotten even worse since her fight with Joanna Radway.

"Have you got something you want to say to me Jack?"

He lowered his face to hers, it was obvious she was in for a lecture, she could tell by the furrowed brow. He thrived on telling her she needed someone to put her in her place. She hated that lecture. That was the ' you ought ta have a husband ' lecture. It reminded Mabel of her father.

"Do you have any idea how lucky you are that Mrs. Radway dropped those charges against ya?... Huh?"
His voice was stern, and he pointed a finger in her face.
"That woman had you fair in her sights, couldn't shot ya down like no one's business! Had witnesses ta say ya took the first swing. You know how close ya came ta loosin' yer job fer good?"

Mabel stared into Jack's face, but said nothing. ' Why was he going over this again? It was like beating a dead horse. '

"This kissin' booth 'a yers," Jack continued, still pointing his finger, " It's just gonna give Joanna Radway somethin' else ta use against ya! 'sides..it just ain't proper! "

"It was Marie's suggestion, not mine." Mabel said in her own defense.

"Makes no difference! Folks 'll blame you! They ain't about to accuse Marie 'a nothin', 'sides the money ya make from this kissin' booth is goin' fer yer school books ain't it?"

He was right. They would blame her. " You're right Jack... as usual."

The marshal noted the sarcasm in her voice. Feeling he may have been too hard on her, he lowered the tone of his voice,"Yah.... well, it ain't yer fault.... and Marie shoulda known better."

"Meaning what?.... That I"m stupid?" Mabel knew that Jack meant no harm, but that didn't stop the fuse he had lit, and her temper was getting the best of her.

"Now don't go...."

"You may think that I'm just a stupid woman who can't think for herself....."

"Now hold on there a minute!"

" I don't need the likes of Jack Craddock telling me what to do! I don't need another father! "

Mabel stormed out of the office and ended up in the livery stable, in Abby's stall, in the corner. She was so angry that she couldn't stop the tears that streamed down her cheeks. Wiping her face, she cringed in pain as she rubbed her sore eye. It had been three weeks since her fight with Joanna but her left eye was still bruised and tender, and at the moment, so was her heart.

Jack was sitting on his front porch. He had seen her run into the livery and was debating on whether he should go after her. He was doing everything wrong. It had been so easy with Juanita. Why was this such a mess? Maybe he was too old now. He longed to go back to the simple days when he and Mabel would go fishin', he was sure that she was fond of him back then, seemed they always enjoyed each others company. But he wasn't ready then. Couteau had always been a problem, Jack had a hard time accepting his relationship with Mabel. It troubled him that they were so close.
He hadn't been jealous when he was with Jaunita, maybe 'cause he was younger then, more sure of himself. He knew there was nothin' between Mabel and Clive, yet Jack felt a twinge of jealousy when she made the comment about Bennett and the kissin' booth. Maybe it bothered him 'cause Clive had come between him and his hopes of winnin' Marie.
Do I really remind her of her father ? He remembered Couteau telling him about Samuel Nestor, how hard he was on his wife and daughters, that's why Mabel rebelled against authority, why she didn't want a husband.
It was Jack's jealousy that was causing the problems now, he knew that, but somehow he just couldn't control it.

" Jack? " Mabel's voice startled him. She teathered Abby to the porch and climbed the steps, seating herself on the bench beside him.

" We used to be such good friends Jack...I miss that. "

" Uhuh...me too." he said with a reflective smile.

They both sat staring at the horse for a few moments, each thinking about what to say to the other. Jack spoke first.

" Would you really pay Bennett ta kiss ya ?" It was the only thing that came to his mind and once the words left his mouth he regretted saying it.

Mabel laughed as she dug around in the pocket of her jacket. Finding what she was looking for, she took Jack's hand in hers.

"No, I wouldn't pay Bennett." She smiled as she carefully placed a one cent piece in the marshal's open palm.

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