“You don’t have to ride with me. I’ve ridden all over this country and back, without my Pa by my side.” He mounts swiftly and checks his weapons before his father speaks.
“I know that son, but you don’t have to do it alone now.” Dane pulls himself up and settles onto the worn saddle. He puffs on his pipe softly as they ride out.
They ride along the perimeter around the house, checking the fencing that holds the bulk of their horses. The Rivers Ranch sits on five thousand acres, and with the coming of the railroad, they've been able to add to their livestock. Horse, cow, sheep, and more. It was a blessing to see how well the family is thriving.
Truth be told, Chase missed this way of life. The simplicity of surviving off the land instead of a gun. He missed waking up and working the land with his family, but mostly he missed the laughter and love.
“You ready to talk about whatever it is that’s bothering you,” Dane asks.
Chase laughs and glances at his father. Short cropped white beard, skin leathered from the sun and the same River’s eyes he grew up with. He pulls the horse to a stop and looks over at him. “I know you’ve heard about the shootout in town.”
“I did. Damn fine work, Chase, catching that outlaw,” Dane pulls his horse up evenly with his son.
“I didn’t catch him. I put him in the ground,” his hardened silver eyes flash at his father.
Dane is quiet for a moment before he speaks. “It’s not an easy thing, taking a man’s life and living with the doubt after, can eat at your soul.”
Chase steps from his horse and drops the reigns allowing his horse to graze on some grass. Dane follows suit and steps closer to his son to listen while he repacks and lights his pipe once more.
"That's just it. It doesn't." Chase starts pacing while he talks. "Yesterday, I weighed the value of one human life over another and I was willing to do whatever necessary to make sure he didn't get away."
"You did what had to be done," he argues, and Chase stops and turns to look at his father.
“I did, but for one instant, one fraction of a second, I thought about it. I almost made the wrong choice. Oh, I try to tell myself that if I let him get away who knows how many more victims he would take. Is the life of one saloon girl worth potentially hundreds?”
"In the end, you made the right choice. You're not here to judge her choices. Addie's life is not meaningless. Chase something in you recognized that. But surely you know that your job is important. Without consequences for our actions, right or wrong, countless more victims would scream out for retribution and not find it."
“Maybe.” Chase looks out over the surrounding valley and wishes he was sure. “I used to know.”
“Tell me, Chase, why you felt the need to go join in the war? It wasn’t required for our part of the country, yet you enlisted anyway. Why?”
“Justice and Freedom.” Chase answers without hesitation. “I don’t believe it’s a privilege but a right every human should have.”
Dane smiled warmly. “Exactly, and when you became a U.S. Marshall?”
"Same reason. We shouldn't have to fear for our family, homes or property. I wanted those like Cassandra to have justice," he states, referring to his brother's wife. Her family was slaughtered by men seeking gold. Running a hand through his newly cut short hair, he glances at his father. "Addie called me a monster, and I can't disagree with her. I saw it in her eyes, the moment of doubt and I thought about shooting anyway."
Dane lets him vent and listens.
Chase paces and his voice grows louder. “During the war, they became meat to me. No different than the cattle we raise and slaughter.” Chase punches his chest, “I didn’t feel anything, only the rush of the kill. What do you say now?”
The burden he carries weighs heavily on his son, and Dane feels for him.
"I say you need some time to heal. Wrap yourself in the comforts of home. Decide why you do what you do. Remember who you're doing it for. Watch your niece and nephew growing on the land we fought and killed for. Yes, killed. We are no more monsters than you are." He points his pipe at him, "Killing can't become the reason you live, Son. Only a last resort to save a life or protect those you serve. As a soldier, you served your country, as a Marshall, you serve your district.” He grips his son’s shoulder, “Maybe now it’s time to serve yourself. Find your purpose again.”
Chase listens and takes the words to heart. "I'll try, thank you for listening, Pa."
“Always, Son.”
Chapter 4
“The tickets are here!” Lizzy waves the unopened letter in the air, the second Bronnah steps inside. “Hurry, Bronnah!” She grabs her arm and drags her inside slamming the door.
Butterflies erupt in Bronnah's stomach, and her hands tremble as she looks at the envelope. "Elizabeth, you should be sure. It's not too late for you to change your mind," she says softly.
Lizzy snorts, “What, stay here and marry some old dodger? No. I need adventure, Bronnah. I’ll die if I stay here. I want to travel, see the world, and meet new people.” She shoves the envelope at her, “Open it.”
Bronnah slides her finger along the seal and rips it open, carefully. Inside is a single
