Do Not Forsake Me(20)

“Enigma?” Jake shook his head. “Well, number one—I never had any schooling, so I wouldn’t know what that word meant if it weren’t for my wife. She schooled our kids most of their lives because we usually lived where there weren’t any schools. I guess while she was teaching them, I was learning more myself. And number two—I guess you’re right. I can’t figure my own self out, let alone somebody else understanding me, so enigma is a pretty fitting word.”

Another hymn. “Amazing Grace.”

…that saved a wretch like me…

Jake quieted for a moment and seemed to be listening to the words. Jeff waited.

“I guess my wife understands me better than anyone.” He smoked quietly for a moment, then cleared his throat. “So, what did those men really say about me? As if I can’t guess.”

Jeff adjusted his spectacles. “They pretty much called you every name in the book. Some were so bad, I can’t even bring myself to repeat them.”

Jake grinned again. “Well, sticks and stones may break my bones…”

“Yeah, I guess you’ve heard it all.”

“And a lot of those names apply, which is why I’m not in that church.”

“Aren’t you a little worried about revenge?” he asked. “Those men said if they ever get loose, they’ll come after you…and I’m afraid they also threatened your family, your daughter in particular. That really roused your son-in-law.”

Jake cast him a dark look. “That true?”

“Yes, sir. The one called Marty made the threat.”

The look in Jake’s eyes made Jeff wish he hadn’t said anything about it.

Jake looked away again and smoked silently. Jeff waited until the man spoke again on his own.

“Jeff, my daughter is an absolute contrast to me. She’s as close to an angel as anyone. Marty Bryant is welcome to come after me anytime. If he does, he has half a chance of living through it, because I’m supposed to behave like a lawman.” He stared at his cigarette as he rolled it between his fingers. “But if he goes after one member of my family, especially my daughter”—he watched a wagon go by—“the badge comes off,” he finished. “I’ve done some rotten things in my life, but none of it would compare to what I’d do to that man if he ever touches Randy or Evie. Hurting a woman is unforgivable in my book.”

Jeff swallowed. Because of your mother?

“I’ve been a target most of my life, Trubridge,” Jake added. He seemed to be weighing his words then. “I’ll tell you something about revenge. I’ve enacted revenge of my own, and I’ve been the brunt of it. Either way usually ends bad, and revenge doesn’t take away the hurt, or the ugly memories. Sometimes it creates even more ugly memories. But a man can’t help going after it anyway.”

Jeff wanted to ask specifics but decided it was way too soon to press the man for more details.

“Tell me what keeps you and your wife together,” he dared to ask instead, hoping to lighten the mood. “Twenty years or more, I’m told.”

“Twenty-six.”

“From what I’ve observed, the two of you couldn’t be more…well…different.”

Jake finally grinned again. “Different is an understatement,” he told Jeff. He thought a moment and Jeff waited, deciding he’d get farther by keeping his mouth shut than by opening it at the wrong time. One wrong question and the man would probably throw him off the church steps.

“I actually tried once or twice to get rid of her—for her own good, not because I didn’t love her. I expect maybe I love her too much. The damn woman won’t leave me. She’s stuck by me through things that would make most women scream and run away, but not Randy. She’s everything a man hopes to find in a wife, and why in hell she picked me, I’ll never understand…never.”

Jeff scribbled some notes. “Maybe she saw the good in you.”

Jake didn’t answer right away. He took one last draw on his cigarette, then stepped it out while inside the preacher carried on about sin and salvation. “Some people see things through a rosy glow, I guess,” Jake finally answered.

“And some see very clearly, Marshal.” I see you, Jake Harkner. There’s a part of you that wants to go into that church. Jake glanced sidelong at him, and Jeff knew it was a warning. He decided to move on to something else.

“Tell me something, Marshal. How in heck do you know when to draw on somebody…or I guess I should ask when you know he’s going to draw on you. Do you watch his gun hand?”