Chapter Text
Jesse
Scarlett's loud laugh echoed through the empty store, amplified by the glass of whiskey she'd been nursing. I had snuck away from the farm after lunch into town to see her and was now helping close up her little bakery while we talked.
I hadn't been to town in ages because last time we had a delivery I'd gotten in trouble and was sentenced to stay home with a sore ass. 'Restricted' Will had said, because he'd made me mad that week and I was making sure he knew about it. So when he said something about getting my attitude right the other day or else miss the next delivery, too, I decided I'd just take things into my own hands and take myself into town. He didn't have to know I was skipping an afternoon of work, there was always more to do.
My friend Scarlett had moved to Surefire a little more than a year ago from Boston with a pocket full of slightly mysterious cash and a dream to open a bakery. I liked her right away. She's smart and determined and fierce and funny and raised herself kind of like me. Unlike me though, she wasn't quite as useless out here and didn't need to be swept off her feet by a surly cowboy when she got off the train. She had a plan and had worked hard for independence and wasn't at all interested in the men in town who immediately came knocking.
I knew she did have some feelings for a persistent, handsome lawyer by the name of Caleb Driver, but she was a stubborn cuss and he had not yet been able to convince her he didn't want to change her into a homemaker. Until now, apparently. We'd cheers-ed and toasted her engagement and I'd poured us a few rounds of whiskey.
"I didn't think you'd ever give him the time of day. I felt bad for the fella. He's a good man, Will likes him."
"I just know not a lot of men would truly be happy with what I want. They'd say all kinds of things until I got pregnant and then think everything would change. He finally convinced me he knows he's marrying a businesswoman, I suppose. And if he backtracks on his word, well he'll find out how I deal with liars."
I nearly spit out my whiskey at that threat, "Damn! Well you did put him through hell so he must be serious. If he can survive that AND convince you then you better believe I'm hiring him if I ever need a lawyer."
She rolled her eyes, "Lucky him he made it out of hell. And they say women are dramatic."
We got so lost in our toasting and teasing that it wasn't until the glint of sunset nearly blinded me that I realized how late it was. And it wasn't until I jumped up and my head spun that I realized that the drinks had caught up with me.
"Shit! It's late! Daddy's gonna kill me! He's gonna blister my hide. He probably alread-uhhmmmm…" I finally realized what I'd done and snapped my mouth shut, willing my addled brains to cover my tracks quickly, but there was nothing but panic swirling around in there.
Scarlett just looked at me calmly, no hint of confusion, just looking thoughtful with maybe a little curl of smile. I finally opened my mouth to do something but she spoke first.
"Will's so stern and big, I bet it is like you're living with your daddy sometimes," she spoke a little slowly, like she wanted to be sure I caught every word, "I'd definitely think twice about crossing him."
I grabbed at the excuse, "Ha, yeah…You know how he is, all work and no play and serious as can be. He doesn't…he wouldn't…I'm a grown man, I just tease him like that sometimes," my heart was nearly beating out of my chest, but maybe that would be enough.
But she didn't drop it like I hoped. Instead she said, "Caleb and I tease like that sometimes. Like if I'm working late he'll come barging in here scolding me to take better care of myself telling me I need to hire some help. Which I don't. Sometimes I'll say, 'Of course, Daddy, anything you say,' just to rile him up."
"Oh," I said weakly, mesmerized by what was happening.
"But mostly I tell him to get the hell out of my store and stop telling me what to do cause he ain't my daddy, and that riles him up even more," her eyes flickered with mischief.
"What then?" I wouldn't have asked if we'd had one less drink, but it just popped out.
Scarlett leaned in and said quietly, "Well, then, we play Daddy."
I choked on my own gasp and sputtered and coughed while Scarlett giggled, thoroughly enjoying my discomfort.
"I stamp my feet and curse him and then he might say 'is that so, little girl' and throw me over his knee…" she stopped abruptly, taking advantage of my overwhelmed state, "What was it you said? That your Papa was Will's Papa's cousin?"
The story of our relationship had fully left my head. It was something like that, but I couldn't for the life of me answer her. I just opened and closed my mouth like a giant fish out of water trying to catch a breath.
After a minute or two of my silence she said gently, "Will ain't your cousin, is he?"
Well it seemed like a question, but the way she said it, she already knew the answer. I shook my head once.
"And you two, you like to play Daddy like me and Caleb sometimes?"
At the time I didn't really see the point in lying so I whispered, "Sometimes…"
A conspiratorial grin took over her face, "I knew it! I knew it! Will seems like a very good Daddy. Don't worry, I would never tell. Not even Caleb until you say it's alright."
"I… what? You can't! Not even Caleb!"
"I won't! Don't worry. I suspected…takes one to know one I guess. Really I'm so happy to know for sure! I've known men like you before. Some of my dearest friends back east…"
It was a little like I missed a step coming down the stairs and I was still falling. Scarlett was going on about a fancy club where she worked in Boston. The patrons were people who had all kinds of strange relationships. I was only taking in about every fifth word, but from what I gathered there were other people who liked to be looked after the way I did, and she did, and all kinds of other ways I never even thought about with all kinds of people.
I was still reeling but one thing stuck in my head: Scarlett was safe. I could trust her. I was terrified, but she was looking at me with warmth, like we had grown our bond somehow. After my head stopped spinning I was flooded with relief.
Before I had fully recovered from my shock she threw her arms around me, "I'm so happy I met you, Jesse. We need to have each other's backs. And help each other out when Will and Caleb are being too overprotective and bossy. But I'm glad now I have someone I can complain about Caleb to without having to watch what I say or someone think any less of me."
"I…what?! How could I think less of you?" I sputtered, she was just about the most capable person I'd ever met.
"Exactly," she said, "Now let's get you out of here. Just maybe you can think of a good excuse why you're late on your way. Will's got those big, farmers hands, after all. I'll come out and visit-"
As if he was summoned, there was a rap at the large store window and we both turned and saw my stone faced cowboy looking like...well looking like he had to make an extra trip into town to retrieve a naughty, slacking, farm hand.
"Uh oh," we said to each other.
Scarlett ran to open the door while I gathered my things and tried to hide the whiskey.
"Good afternoon, or nearly evening, Miss Scarlett," I heard Will drawl, "I came searching for my cousin who disappeared from our pasture. I thought I should check here before going to the sheriff's office. Looks like you two were celebrating."
I was too slow. I tacked the whiskey onto my list of troubles.
"Well it so happens we were, Will. As Jesse says, I put Caleb Driver out of his misery," she held out her hand to show off her engagement ring, clearly hoping to soften Will's heart to my misdeeds.
"Congratulations to you both, Miss Scarlett. I wish I could stay for a toast to you, but we'll be rushing to be home before dark as it is."
Before, I would think no one else could hear the promise in his voice, but now I saw that Scarlett understood the hidden meaning. She grinned over at me with not an ounce of sympathy. I glared back. So much for having each other's backs!
"Jesse, let's go," Will called in his deep, growly 'you're in trouble, boy' voice, as if I didn't know and wasn't already getting ready to go.
"Keep your shirt on!" I snapped, immediately regretting it when I saw Will's hand tighten around his belt buckle.
Scarlett muffled a giggle behind her hand and I felt my ears burn red.
"Goodbye, Jesse, Will," she singsonged, "I was thinking of coming by to drop some goodies off for you two bachelors this week if that's alright with you."
Will accepted and bid Scarlett goodbye and I did the same except for a whispered 'traitor!' as I passed her on the way out the door.