Chapter 6

Maggie got only as far as the roadblock before she was stopped. “Sheriff radioed and said we were to send you back to town.” Elder Grant said as he helped turn Sadie around “You in some kind of trouble?” “No, just offered Marco my land, guess he decided to take me up on it.” Maggie wasn’t sure whether or not she was glad, not sure she could trust either of the men she was dealing with. She thought about this as she headed back to town. *** “Still need to deal with my animals Marco. This couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” “No the Captain is very worried about his women folk, doesn’t think they’re safe.” “Want to get this over with and get off this hell hole” Captain growled at the two “You get everything you want, but we need to set up some ground rules.” “Pretty sure that part can wait until tomorrow” Maggie said as she smiled at the Captain “We need to talk in private first, then we can get Kaylee and Inara out of jail.” Having said that she drove the wagon over to the ship. “See this ordering me about is something we need to talk about.” Mal yelled at her while following the wagon. “Captain I promise not to make a habit out of it, but I really need to talk to you.” Maggie insisted as she handed the reigns to Book and walked up into the cargo hold. “Oh this is going well.” Captain muttered to himself as he followed her. “What couldn’t wait until Kaylee was free?” “I need you to send….” Maggie started. “Your ordering again, ship can only have one captain.” “Fine, could you please send a shuttle out to my house to get my parent's last shipment off the property before Marco gets out there?” “Your parents last shipment?” “Yes, the one they died because of.” “What was it a shipment of?” Jayne asked. “Some kind of surface to air missiles and other rather large guns” Maggie smiled as his eyes lit up “It’s buried in the barn under Sadie's stall. You’ll have to break the floor to get to it. My parents never told me how to open it.” “Can’t this wait until Kaylee’s free?” The Captain asked as he look out the hold at Marco. “It’s why Marco wants the land. Think it would be best if you and I go with Marco to get Kaylee and Inara. Then we can stall for time by spending that credit at Marco’s store before he can raise the prices again. Jayne, Book and Wash can run out to the farm and get the stuff.” Maggie looked at Mal, Zoë and Jayne. “Kaylee can also waste time tinkering with the engine” Wash offered, glad at the chance to join in on the scam. “Not sure Kaylee’s going to be in the mood for tinkering” Zoë looked at her husband. “Kaylee is always in the mood for tinkering. She’s only been in Jail for four hours.” Jayne snorted “Hell, that’s just time enough for a good nap.” Mal shot Jayne a look that would kill a lesser man “Kaylee should never be in jail and it’s our job to see that she never is again.” Jayne backed up realizing that Mal will be in a killing mood until Kaylee is home free. “It’s a good plan Maggie. Jayne, Wash and Book head out and get the stuff. We will stall Marco for as long as we can.” Mal turned and headed down the ramp cutting off any further discussion. “Jayne” Maggie walked up to him “There is also a small wooden crate under the barn, it was my parents and I was hoping you could bring it back with you?” She looked up at him as she put her hand on his arm. “It has some letters and other family mementos in it.” Jayne looked down at her, he barley heard what she said, all he can hear is the blood rushing from his head. Finally he stammered out “Sure, not a problem.” Maggie removed her hand and walked down the ramp “Thank you.” She said to him as she went. Jayne quietly watched her leave then suddenly turned to Book and Wash and remarked “Well don’t just stand there, lets get moving!” The men looked at each other and smile knowingly. Wash knows what Jayne is going thru. He too had feelings for someone he wasn’t supposed to. He can’t decide if he wanted to torture Jayne with the knowledge or watch him struggle thru on his own. Mal, Maggie and Zoë walked down towards Marco as he watched the shuttle take off. “Where are they going?” He asked pointing at the shuttle. “Just a short jump to Aberdeen for provisions” Maggie answered “Lets go get this thing settled” Mal yelled as he and Zoë head off towards the jail. Marco just stood there looking at where the shuttle had gone “Why would you go all the way to Aberdeen when you got credit here?” “You think I would buy fresh food from you? You don’t even eat your own stuff. We’ll buy dry supplies from you.” Maggie said as she followed Mal down the street. “Nothing wrong with my food” Marco whined as he too followed Mal. The four of them enter the jail together. Kaylee was sitting on the floor while Inara brushed her hair. “Hi Captain” She said as she jumped up and ran to the door. “Took you long enough, Mal” Inara slowly stood putting the brush back in her bag. “You two OK?” He looked Kaylee over head to toe “Get this door open and let them out!” “No ones going anywhere until we get everything settled” Marco sat at his desk and gathered up some paper. “OK, Captain Reynolds gets four thousand in store credit and the women. I get Maggie’s land and Maggie gets two thousand in cash and part of Serenity. Is that everything?” “Maggie, you giving up your home for us?” Kaylee reached thru the bars and took her hand “Ain’t there any other way Captain?” “Hell Kaylee, she’s getting part of the ship, think she made out on this deal!” Kaylee hugged Maggie thru the bars and that’s all it took, soon they are both in tears. “Must not of been any other way Kaylee, you know Mal would rather cut off his arm then give a part of Serenity away. Thank you Ms. Dixon, I don’t know how we can every repay you” Inara gave Maggie a smile. “Hey I gave up part of my home too” Mal walked over to the bars and tapped Kaylee on the arm “Where’s my hug?” she stopped hugging Maggie long enough to glare at the Captain “We’re family, Maggie just got caught in the middle” Kaylee returned to hugging Maggie. “OK, everyone just sign here and we’ll be all done” Marco handed pens to Mal and Maggie. “Gotta read it first Marco” Mal took the papers and walked over towards the window. “I’ll need to send a copy to my Godfather. Can I use your Cortex?” Maggie sat down and typed an address. While waiting for the connection she read the contract. “Mal, you and I are going to need some sort of contract too, you put any thought into that?” she looked over to where Mal was reading his copy. “Said you could have half the ship, what more do you want?” “Mal, nothing is going to get settled today until you and I have a written agreement. If nothing gets settled, the girls will spend the night in here!” “That ain’t going to happen. Kaylee is going home with me now. Besides nothing on paper will keep me from tossing you out the airlock if I want to.” Mal stormed off to finish reading his contract. “Maggie dear it’s so good to see you. What’s going on that you used the emergency number ?” Maggie’s Godfather asked looking a little worried. “Uncle Warwick, I’ve decide to trade the house for part of a transport ship, and I wondered if you could help me write a contract?” Mal came over when he heard who Maggie was talking to “Hello Sir Warwick, How you doing?” “Maggie is this the man you’re trading with?” Sir Warwick asked his Goddaughter “If so, you can trust him with your life.” “Might come to that, are you sure?” Maggie looked at the screen and then at the grin on Mal’s face. “Yes Maggie you can trust him. If anything happens I’ll deal with him myself. You understand me Captain Reynolds?” “Loud and clear Sir Warwick, nothing to worry about” Mal answered “How about you two come to the estate and tell me all about it. I need to get back to work. Maggie, I’m glad you’re selling and getting off that awful planet. I’ll see you soon” “We OK here Maggie? Can we get Kaylee and Inara and head home now?” Mal handed his signed paper to Marco “Unlock the door we want to leave. We’ll be back later for some shopping” Mal had clearly hit the end of his rope and wanted to leave. “If Uncle Warwick says you’re trustworthy, that’s good enough for me” Maggie handed over her paper and got ready to leave. “Well people, all looks good here. You can shop later and Maggie when will you be out of the house? I got plans for it.” Marco filed the papers and handed Maggie an envelope “Two thousand” “After we shop I thought we could take the ship over and load up all the household stuff…” Maggie replied. “There you go making plans, told you before – ship only got one captain and that’s me!” Mal grabbed Kaylee as she was let out and swung her around. “Fine, Captain Reynolds could we please take the ship and pick up my belongings? Pretty please?” Maggie pleaded getting ready to sink to her knees. “I think we can do that. How much stuff you talking about?” Mal held on to Kaylee like he would never let her go. “I thought we could take everything that’s not bolted down. If we can’t use it I’m sure we can sell it somewhere.” Maggie followed Mal, Inara and Kaylee up the ramp. “Zoë, you notice if the shuttle was back yet?” Mal asked while preparing to close the door. “Wait, what about Sadie and the wagon.” Maggie ran down the ramp to her horse. “Shuttles not back yet sir, Should I try and raise them on the communicators?” “No, think they’re out of range” Mal walked down to Maggie “What you planning to do with her? Not much need for her on a transport. Shuttles not back yet. Still need to kill some time.” “I think I’ll go over and try and sell her to Miss Callie, she’s real good with horses. Then maybe we can take Marco for all he’s got. Later you can tell me how you know Sir Warwick Harrow.” Maggie grinned at him as she checked on Sadie. “Sounds like a deal. Kaylee is going to take a shower and then is itching to get back to the junk yard behind Marco’s store. Seems that’s where they were taken. Kaylee was right, you did get caught in the middle of this mess. Not sure how to thank you, but I promise not to toss you out the airlock.” Mal held out his hand. Maggie looked at it for a moment and then shook it. “And I promise to be a more silent partner.”