* * *
They returned to find the store's annex uncharacteristically full for a place supposedly closed to business. Missy was teaching Jorrin again, which was something Aaron had expected. However, he had not expected her to have an additional five students. Furthermore, three additional children and Mistress Turnbull were also there. The children sat in Aaron's chairs, but the Mistress sat in an oversized armchair Aaron had never seen before. Mister Townsend played chess with the Mayor at one of the end tables, while Doc Gunther read a book to the elder Mister Knight and his two wives.
It was, altogether, a very respectable gathering, especially for something so totally unplanned.
Glancing up from his book, Doc saw Aaron peering into the sitting room. He finished his page and closed the book. Rising, he pointed an accusing finger at Aaron. "Young man, it is past time I pulled those stitches from your head."
"Yes sir." Within moments Aaron was seated and squirming uncomfortably while the doctor cut the threads and pulled them free. Having so many people watching while he sweated and tried not to flinch did not help his aplomb.
"There, now. That wasn't so bad."
"Of course, it wasn't," Aaron lied. Truth to tell, it had hurt like a bitch. He wasn't sure the things had been ready to come out, but damned if he was going to say so with half the town looking on.
He had a headache again.
"Okay," Doc said. "A little more and we'll be done. I have to clean the wound."
Sarah spoke up. "That is for Cathy and me to do." Her stare allowed for no arguments.
Mistress Turnbull twisted awkwardly in her chair so she could look in their direction. "Is it like that then, Miss Townsend? Miss Bayne?"
Cathy nodded shyly. Sarah said a simple yes. At the table, Missy jumped up and let out a little cheer. Mister Townsend made a move on the chessboard and smiled slightly.
"About time," he muttered. "Mayor Golard, I believe you are in check. Mate in three if I am not mistaken."
"Right you are," Mistress Golard answered. "Mister Turner, I'd like to have a word with you after Mister Knight has his say."
"Do you wish privacy, Mister Knight?" Aaron looked at the elder Knight and grimaced. The man made Aaron uncomfortable. This man's son had damaged him. Now the elder Knight was here and Aaron was here and so was Jorrin. Jorrin had hurt young Steven more than a little, so the entire situation was uncomfortable.
"No sir, I do not," Knight said. "My son started this in public so what I have to say can be spoken in public. Mister Turner, I apologize for the actions of my son. He did you a terrible wrong. Mister Bran made him pay a price, but that price is not enough. Please sir, exact any penalty on me that you feel is fair. I will pay any amount you set if you will forget any and all grudges you hold against Steven."
Aaron thought about the events of the last few days. In the time since Steven Knight had sucker punched him, Aaron had seen death and found possible love. Anything that had happened outside of those events paled into insignificance. Steven Knight and his jealousies were matters too small to take up much of Aaron's time. The stitches were gone, and the question of Sarah was answered.
"It's over," he said. "Tell your son that I shall forget the incident unless he revives his ire. I believe I have won the affections of Miss Townsend. That is recompense enough. "But…!" The unconscious iron in his voice sent chills even through him.
"But," he said in a quieter voice, "if he wishes to continue our argument, then he is welcome to do so. I warn you now, sir, that the next time he starts something between us the finishing will be mine. I will have satisfaction whether he strikes like a coward, from behind, or has the courage to stand up to my face."
Aaron took a look at the serious expressions pointed his way. A giggle wanted to break free from his throat as he realized just how ridiculous he sounded. What the hell was he saying? Steven Knight was twice his size. The man could break him with one hand.
"The matter is finished, sir. I will see to that. Thank you." Knight hurried from the store, taking his wives with him.
Aaron sighed in relief. The bluff had worked.
"You handled that well," Jorrin applauded. "Just the right message at just the right time."
"I don't want to face young Knight again," Aaron said truthfully. "The man scares me half to death."
Jorrin laughed. "Why do you think I had a chat with the fellow? I was scared of what you'd do to him. The man is a fool, but I don't think he deserves to die."
Aaron let it ride. In this case Jorrin and the others were more foolish than Steven Knight. They kept trying to make him into somebody he wasn't. Not one of them saw the real Aaron Turner. Not even Sarah and Cathy saw the person he truly was. They insisted on building him up into some sort of dangerous creature it was better to walk carefully around than to confront directly.
"Doctor Gunther, could I interest you in a game?" Mister Townsend raised his eyes inquisitively.
"I don't play for free."
"Hmmm." The miller raised his brow even higher. "Shall we say a copper a game?"
Doc sat down at the chess table. "Pretty cheap stakes if you ask me."
"Two coppers then?"
"Perhaps we could talk in the main store," Mistress Golard said. "It's more private in there."
"Sure." Nodding, Aaron followed her out of the sitting room and into the store. "What is this about?"
"Miss Townsend told me your story." She held up a hand. "Don't be angry with her. She was only doing her job. Besides, several of us already suspected something of the sort. This kind of thing is rare, but it has happened at least twice before that I've read about. Truthfully, we were only waiting for you to step forward and tell us yourself, and by we I don't mean just the leaders of Last Chance. I mean the government of Isabella too. They are the ones who sent me the information on Talent Travelers."
Shock ran through him. Up until now he had consciously chosen to ignore the entire central government issue. "Are you telling me that you suspected what I am and still accepted me?"
"You really gave us no choice since you fit in so well that we found it hard to remember you are really an outsider no matter where that outside originated. What matters, Mister Turner, is that you won our hearts and respect. We knew this was your home."
Aaron grabbed her arms. Her elbow slipped off his counter, and she stiffened. "Why do you people keep doing this to me?" he demanded. "You treat me like I'm somebody special, like I'm somebody important. Jorrin thinks I'm tougher and meaner than he is. Sarah thinks I'm dangerously fascinating. Cathy thinks I'm her knight, and the rest of you have me made out to be so many somethings that nobody could live up to half your expectations."
He drew in a deep breath. "Mistress Golard, I'm a nobody. Nobody! I'm a small frightened man who has been pushed into being where I am right now. I don't deserve friendship or love. By the Gods, I spied on you!"
The Mayor laughed in disbelief. "Oh Mister Turner, you don't know yourself. Maybe you aren't who we say you are, but you are certainly not who you think you are either." Freeing an arm, she poked him in the chest with a stiff finger. "I know Sarah very well. She wouldn't fall for something that she dreamed up after eating too much bad cheese. The woman is far too pragmatic to do anything so foolish as that. As for Cathy, she has had more than one opportunity to be used by knaves these last few years. None of them stood a chance against her. That lady has a very sensible head on her shoulders."
"What I want to tell you," she continued, "is that I sent a message to the university in N'Ark. Because of this I'm sure you'll receive a visitor from there before too long. Whatever happens, don't worry. This is your home. This town won't stand behind you. We will stand proudly beside you."
Aaron felt humbled. This woman had such a fire in her that anything she said could only be believed. Her eyes blazed with solid conviction. Her bearing was stiff with righteousness.
Her intensity scared the hell out of him.
Missy had finished her lessons whe
n they went back into the sitting room. After congratulating her students on their progress, she hurried Mistress Turnbull and her brood out the door. The doctor finished his game and won two coppers from Mister Townsend, not without a good deal of gloating on his part. They cleaned up the chess area and said goodbye.
Aaron noticed that the doctor took the book he was reading with him. Missy saw Aaron looking.
"I hope you don't mind," she said hopefully. "There are very few books in town so people are always hungry for more. I loaned out some of your books, but I made up a separate card for every book I loaned out, and I wrote down who borrowed the book on the card. After word got around about what I was doing, a couple people donated their own books"
"It isn't her fault," Jorrin added defensively. "The young lass was trapped once she loaned a book to Mistress Halfax. Once word got out that you were loaning books to her, people assumed they could borrow some of the others, too."
Sighing, Aaron looked more closely at his shelves. Less than twenty books remained. "Cathy, the next time we see Mister Bronson, remind me to order a whole bunch of books. Better yet, just tell him to pick up a couple hundred or so. New books will be sold. Old books can be brought in here and are free to be borrowed."
Her eyes lit up. "Can I be in charge?" Her face sparkled with excitement, softening the remaining gauntness. The mood change transformed her from somewhat lovely to stunning. Aaron did not stand a chance against her beseeching eyes. He gave his permission.
"Oh good," she exclaimed. "We'll call it Bayne's Reading Emporium. I can set up a few chess and checker games. I'll charge a half copper an hour for use, and I'll charge fines to people who borrow books and don't return them in a reasonable time. Oh I know! How about if I sell tea and treats, too?"
Aaron mentally kissed his comfortable sitting room goodbye.
"And I can give lessons in the evening when the store is closed," Missy added, visibly excited. "I'll charge a copper an evening and give every third one to you, Cathy. Oh this is wonderful."
Setting a massive hand on Missy's shoulder, Jorrin guided her towards the door. "Come along, little lady. It's more than time for us to leave. Goodnight people."
"G'night," Aaron said as Jorrin gently shut the door behind him.
Cathy looked at Sarah. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Now?"
Sarah nodded. "All right, buster. Off with the shirt. We have some wounds to tend." She wasted no time in helping Aaron off with his shirt, much to his discomfiture. They examined him like he was a bug under a glass.
He was far too aware of his scrawny body for the experience to be pleasant. His ribs were too prominent; his chest too flat. Sure, he now had some muscle. The last year had been good to him that way, but his was still a child's body when compared to that of most of the local men.
They firmly turned him around.
"Is that red normal?" Cathy asked. Aaron grew warmer. A prickling sensation ran up and down his skin.
"At this point it is," Sarah replied. "I've seen a lot of them, and there wasn't a one that wasn't red right about now."
"Oh." Cathy's voice turned thoughtful. "It's rather pretty in a way."
"Really? I don't think so at all. I'd say it's ugly."
"Hey," Aaron protested.
"Oh shut up," Sarah said. "I've seen too many wounds over the years. Every one of them is horrible."
Cool hands touched his back and then a damp cloth. They were careful, but it still hurt. By the time they finished Aaron's jaw ached from grinding his teeth--except they did not stop washing him once the wound was clean. After all, Sarah commented, why should they waste such perfectly good wash water? Aaron got the impression they were enjoying this more than a mere washing merited. They made several comments about bone structure and compared him unfavorably to Mister Bran, but then the smith was so hairy, they admitted, who could know what was under it all. Surely the Mistress Brans?
Since they were having fun washing him, he let them have their way until they crossed the limit. There was no damn reason for them to drench his head. After deciding they weren't playing fair he grabbed the basin from Cathy and threw its contents at them. That started a wrestling match, and then they ended up laying on the wet floor, getting wetter, at which time the ladies spontaneously figured that he needed to further his lessons on kissing. The ensuing contortions hurt his back, but by that time he really did not care.
Matters eventually had to turn serious. After they dried off as best they could, Aaron gave the store's keys to Cathy and kissed her goodbye. She clung to him until Sarah pulled her away and sent her to the inn.
"Aaron," Sarah said with quiet worry as they watched Cathy make her way across the street. "She's still very young. Do us all a favor and go slow with her. Please. I know you must be in a state with the both of us crawling all over you, but it's too soon for her."
Feeling unsure, Aaron looked at Sarah. She seemed--defensive. It was the first time he had ever seen her look that way. He wanted to reach out and hug her, but something, perhaps the fact that they were truly alone, made him hold his impulse in check. Being affectionate with Sarah without Cathy present seemed wrong somehow. The idea felt like cheating.
"I'm not very comfortable with this myself," he admitted finally. "In Jefferson, Cathy would still be a child. I feel like a monster taking advantage of a little girl, especially since I seem to be chasing the two of you at the same time. The rules where I come from say that one man is only allowed one woman."
"And is it never different?" Sarah asked.
"Oh sure," he admitted. "Sometimes it's two men and two women. Sometimes a man or a woman looks for someone outside their marriage. A lot of lives have been ruined that way. Every so often jealousy causes murder."
Sarah was aghast. "I can see why one man would kill another, but why would a woman do that? Men have to be shared or hardly anybody would have a husband and children--and why would two men mate? That seems so unnatural."
"You think it's unnatural for two men to be together but not for two women?"
"Well, of course it isn't wrong for women to be together. There are so few men that some of us women have to look to each other. I've done it myself, and so has Cathy. It isn't every family that can afford more than one wife, so of course women bond sometimes--but men--" she shuddered. "It seems such a waste."
Understanding, Aaron nodded. "Yeah, well I've heard the same thing said of women who bond in my world. Truthfully, I never really cared one way or the other--but then I've never--well, you know."
Her eyes grew large. She fought against and lost to a laugh. "Never?" She wiggled her hips suggestively and then blushed. "Not even once?"
"Not even."
She frowned. "I won't lie to you, Aaron. I have twice with men and several dozens of times with women here and when I was on the border. Will that matter to you?"
"No," Aaron lied. It did matter but he wasn't going to let her know that. A faint twist of green jealousy squirmed through his insides but there was no way he would let that monster out. The lesson of Mister Knight was not lost on him. Sarah had no patience for a jealous man. "As long as you don't again. I couldn't stand thinking of you with another man."
"No way." She smiled in relief. "When this woman commits, she commits all the way. Um--would you mind if we didn't--you know. Not forever, but maybe we should wait until Cathy is ready. I don't want to leave her out. She's young still so she might feel hurt."
This woman was tossing his insides around in too many different directions. Aaron had no idea when Cathy might be ready but he knew damn well he wasn't ready himself, even if he was too ready right now. He allowed a smile to spread across his face.
"No, that would be best. I know it will be better for all of us."
"Good." Leaning forward, she kissed his cheek. Her lips felt soft against his skin, and he remembered the first time she had done that. It had been his first kiss. A lot of other kisses had come his way since then, but he was glad to discover that th
is kiss was just as sweet as the first.
Sarah kissed him again, patted his cheek, and leaned forward to whisper in his ear. "Just don't be so careful with your hands the next time the three of us are together. Learn to loosen up and have fun. I won't be offended, darling. Promise."
Drawing back, she left with a quick patter of footsteps on the boardwalk, leaving the scent of fresh sweat and clean hair behind.
Feeling inexplicably sad, Aaron walked back into the store and went to the counter. The money box drawer was open because he had made sure it was unlocked before he gave Cathy the keys. A dozen gold coins were plenty for his needs so that was all he took. Truthfully, they were probably too much. He might not be able to carry half that many when he transferred over. Before leaving the main store he was careful to shut the door. He could not lock it since Cathy had his keys, but one night unlocked would not hurt matters. The locals were honest enough, and the Movers had no reason to be in town after dark.
The ice room seemed unnaturally cold as he closed its door and lifted the trap in its floor. Light from his lantern gleamed sinisterly against the walls and floor when he went down the steps.
Several dozen crates were stacked against the far wall where he had left them. All together they held one hundred and thirty weapons with ammunition for each. Two of the crates held bars of silver. So far he had only used a part of one bar to set himself up in business.
Thinking ahead, he opened the cover on one crate of silver. The women might need it for something. Besides, he was willing to bet they'd be snooping if he did not come back anytime soon. Sarah would want more shells for her Winchester, and Cathy was worried about Baby getting hungry. If they saw the silver they might not snoop any further, thus keeping them out of potential trouble.
Despite all his efforts, he failed to cross over on the first six attempts. After throwing away one gold coin, he allowed the sadness inside him to fill his soul until he felt black and alone and lost. Longing rose in him and desire for the freedom of escape. He sought with his mind, grasped something intangible and--
Flicker