Samson & Delilah

Part 2

Jayne sat in his bunk pondering over the latest events of the past few hours. Mal Reynolds, the captain of Serenity had brought into question his ability to distinguish the difference between reading someone that may be a spy, opposed to someone who was not. This irritated the “sheng ming” out of the tuff Serenity mercenary.

Of course he could tell the difference! Hadn’t he proven to the captain his loyalty since their post confrontation on Ariel? Jayne was not about to jeopardize his commitment to the small transport and it’s crew at this juncture, not now anyway. He felt with all his heart, and all his intuition, that Delilah was not a part of the banking security that may be attached to the guard of Heavy’s bank establishment.

Mal Reynolds would eat his words at questioning his ability to distinguish the difference. Jayne felt confident an apology was forthcoming. Still he needed time to think. He ventured outside for some fresh air to help clear his thoughts.

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The brook was crystal clear, the water refreshing. Jayne looked side to side for any disturbances in the bush that may provide evidence that he was not alone. There was no indication. He took a deep hand-cup of water and splashed his face. Gorramit the water felt fantastic. At that moment he heard a sound behind him coming from the brush.

He turned to confront whatever was entering his space. Soon there came the recognizable beat of a horses’ cloved footsteps, and in close vicinity the big man became aware of a rider cursing as the tangle of dense brush pummeled her face.

“ Delilah??!” The mercenary’s eyes widened at the recognition.

“ JC??!” What in God’s green creation are you doing here?”

Jayne’s brows closed tightly in suspicion.

“ I could ask you the same thing.” He questioned. Was it coincidence, or something else?

Delilah looked at the big, strong, hulk of a man.

“ I’m lost! Told you I weren’t very good at this thing, I mean horses and all.” It was a pliable answer considering.

Jayne stood with his hands upon his hips.

“So, you just happened to come upon me while I was washing my face?”

Delilah looked upon the big man with pain on her face.

“ Yaw Wuo!” She said, and turned her mount to escape the man who questioned her reason for being there.

Jayne was aware of the hurt in her eyes.

“ Delilah wait!”

She stopped long enough to look over her shoulder.

“ I’m sorry. Just seems strange is all.” He said.

“ You don’t think it’s the same for me?”

Jayne felt as low as a clam on the beaches of Bellerophon.

In one in a thousand chance encounters this could be the very one that could be deemed plausible to the big mercenary. he could either accept or reject it, his choice. In the span of a heartbeat, Jayne decided to accept it.

“ Come on. I’ll introduce you to some friends of mine.” Against his better judgment Jayne made a choice that many of us make in our lifetime as well. A bad one.

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Kaylee sat in her lounge chair soaking up the afternoon raise of a beautiful Lilac sky. Her colorful umbrella twirling behind her. In a moment she heard the sound of someone approaching from the north and she sat fixed in a paralyzed pose until she made out the silhouette of Jayne coming through the brush. Not only that but there was someone with him.

“ Hey there sweetness!” Jayne spoke as though he were on good impressions with everybody. With Delilah on her horse right behind him there was no need to suggest otherwise.

“ Jayne?” The young mechanic expressed, although she knew the big mercenary, she hadn’t a clue of the horse riders’ identity.

The two came to a stopped before her.

“ This is Delilah…….Delilah Holbrook, a friend of mine.” Jayne clarified the relationship.

“ Yeah, well Mal…….the Cap needs to know……” Kaylee paused momentarily, “…..when guests arrive. You know he‘s got that surprise phobia thing going.” She made a quick exit while the others remained outside.

“So your name is Jayne?” Delilah made a little smile. “I would have never guessed.”

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Six minutes later Mal Reynolds stood at the top of the loading ramp, scrutinizing Delilah for all she was worth.

“ Jayne my friend,” He paused, “ Have I told you lately what a value you are to our community?” he eyeballed the big man with a look of death.

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The next thirty minutes were spent explaining the reasons why Delilah was there and the reason why Serenity found itself ported away from any designated landing field so far from Lehi Township.

If eyes could be cast as daggers then samurai swords could be the descriptive look Mal was casting upon the Romeo in question.

With all the explaining and happenstance circumstances it still wasn’t evidence enough to provide the ship’s captain, or his crew with reason to put trust in anything Delilah had to say. Not that she knew this. At the conclusion Mal bid a healthy goodbye to the girl while questing Jayne to escort her home.

“Return as soon as you’re able.” Mal Reynolds told the big, burly man. Jayne knew he was in for a scolding but he accepted the consequences.

With the two travelers upon Delilah’s single mount they made their way in the direction of the young girl’s homestead.

Jayne felt comforting arms encircle his big frame and he again felt the satisfaction of a man in control, someone in the possession of power. Not that he would ever abuse this young maiden in any way. Fact was he had the beginning embers of what could be considered love.

They reached Delilah’s homestead way to soon for Jayne’s pleasantness. Delilah dismounted and bid her new acquaintance farewell.

“ What of Bronco here?” Jayne quizzed about the horse.

“ I’ll get him from you tomorrow.” She said. Then with the blow of a kiss she entered the front door of the fine ranch style dwelling that seemed enormous, yet vacated at the same time. The thought zipped though Jayne’s mind, yet it spent only a micro second there. He turned and resumed his trek back to Serenity.

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“Delilah Holbrook! Yep, there she is!” Wash pointed out the information to the captain on the cortex monitor as he’d been tasked to find out more about the girl Jayne had now taken a fancy to. The pictured image was no doubt the girl in question, and the information said that she was the daughter of a financial clerk under the employment of the wealthy land Barron Von Royston Apocalypse. A picture of her father was also presented, along with a complete family history. There was no arguing what was captured on the cortex monitor, but what could be argued was, was it the truth?

Deception was the name of the game when it came to cops and robbers, if anyone knew this the crew of Serenity did. Heck, they were the guilty party most of the time themselves. That very day in fact.

Zoe had posed as a secretive wealth laden Baroness, new to the area, while Malcolm Reynolds himself had played her obedient man-servant. Zoe had employed the manager and owner of Heavy’s Bank and Feed Store to open a new account for her while she and Mal took a look around the inside of the bank, and surveyed it’s defenses. There was good reason to believe that there was a sizable amount of fortune stored in a vault under the bank. Information that Mal had not shared with anyone, not even loyal Zoey. The fewer who knew this the better.

Mal had taken in a ton of detail about the bank, although his expression had given little away. Still he thought he knew the make-up of how the money was stored. Now he only needed to devise a plan on how to get it out. This would take a few days and he didn’t feel the need to be burdened by some unknown individual roaming around Serenity. He would speak with Jayne and have him keep his new girlfriend at a distance.

So in earnest the planning of the Heavy’s Bank robbery began. Would it meet with success and Serenity flying high, or failure and her crew locked within a holding cell, or maybe even under it? Their fate was yet to be known.

End Part 2