Chapter 2

As Jayne gets up the skinny guy grabs Maggie and tosses her against the wall. “What the hell is going on …..” is about all he got out before Jayne’s hands are around his throat and he’s saying between clenched teeth “Get your hands off her.” Marco dropped his hands with the realization that a very large, very naked man had him by the throat. The feds are not sure whom to believe, but Marco is their local contact so they smack Jayne on the back of the head and he again finds himself on the floor, this time by his pants. “Do you mind if I put my pants on?” he sneered. Relieved that he is now somewhat dressed and somewhat armed. Finally Maggie convinces the Feds that she and Jayne had been married in Aberdeen earlier that day. Marco glances at Jayne and grabs Maggie’s arm again. “You and I been courting for three years and I barely get a kiss. Him you bed the first day you meet? Something ain’t right here.” “You may have been courting me, but I spent the last three years avoiding you.” Jayne snorts and looks at Marco with scorn. “She’s mine now so get your gorram hands off her.” Marco pushes Maggie toward Jayne and stares at them. After a few more tense minutes the Feds leave with a still complaining Marco. Maggie sags against Jayne as they go. “We need to get you two to town before Marco can come back.” she reaches for her dress and puts it on as she heads down the stairs. Jayne gathers up his clothes and weapons and follows her down. They open the wall up to let Mal out. ”What the hell took so long?” He then notices the marks on Maggie’s arm and that she is shaking, he pushes Jayne up against the wall “Jayne! I told you not to touch her!” “Wasn’t me, was the other guy.” “What other guy? And why are you two half dressed?” Maggie grabs Mal’s arm and tells him “We will explain every thing later, right now we need to get you out of here and back to town. Jayne can you bring down the feather bed? I’ll go harness Sadie and bring the wagon around.” Mal lets Jayne go “ We ain’t done with this.” After wrapping Mal up in the feather bed Maggie and Jayne start off for town. Things go well for awhile and then they spot the roadblock. “Only way to town Jayne, we have to go thru it. Mal you better be still.” “Hello Elder Stern what’s going on?” Maggie said as she stops the wagon in front of the two men. “Out pretty late aren’t you Widow Dixon? Who’s your friend?” “This is my husband Jayne, we got married in Aberdeen today. Trouble in town?” “Helping the Alliance look for a couple of thieves. Where you two headed this late?” “Have to get Jayne back to his ship.” “Not much time for a honeymoon was there?” said Elder Grant as he walks around the wagon poking at things. “No there wasn’t. Hoping to get some time in before I have to leave. So can we get?” Jayne asked nervously. The Elders exchange glances and wave them on. Elder Stern looks at Elder Grant “I can’t believe that she got married again.” “How long has she been a widow?” asked Elder Grant “Her first husband died when she was sixteen. Her parents had died the year before and the council thought that marriage would be good for her. They thought an older husband would calm her down so they married her to Elder Baker. She killed him with a frying pan as he held her head to the stove for burning the toast a few weeks into the marriage.” “How many husbands did she have?” “Just two, well three now. She would have been charged with murder but she spent a month in the hospital recovering from her wounds. Council sent her to the maidens house until a new husband could be found. Took awhile, seems men were a little scared of her. After a few years Elder Dixon joined the council and he married her.” “What happened to him?” “Well, seems she can home one day and found him raping the neighbor’s kid, she pick up that same frying pan and smacked him on the back of the head. Would of gone to jail for sure this time, but the kid was Elder Cartrites ten year old son. After that no man would touch her. Thought that Elder Weir’s son Marco was courting her, but looks like some one beat him to it. Did you notice she had that frying pan next to her, she calls it Betty.”