Page 5 of A Letter to Adaya
“Why do you think there’s going to be yelling?” Beau shifted his eyes to his brother. They needed to talk, but he hadn’t planned on shouting at the man.
“I’m assuming you didn’t bring me just to brighten your day. I know how the others feel.” Jesse wasn’t looking at him, and Beau studied the drop of his little brother’s shoulders.
“There’s not going to be any yelling. You already know how the others feel. But I brought you because you’re the easiest one to work with.”
It was true. Jesse didn’t stick his nose in conversations, and he could disappear into a crowd, but still knew everything that was going on. Beau appreciated those qualities in his brother.
Jesse ducked his head; that was practically a declaration of love between the two men. “I don’t understand why how I spend my time is anyone else’s business.”
“They—wejust want you to be safe. Flat River is your home, and even you know how fast the rumor mill travels in a town this size.”
“What? Is Bass worried I’m going to embarrass him?” Jesse snorted. “I remember some things you all used to get into.”
“What happens when you get one of those girls pregnant, Jess?” Beau asked quietly. “Or you end up on the wrong end of a bar fight?”
“What do you mean get a girl pregnant? What is it you all think I’m doing, exactly?” Jesse pulled his horse to a stop, causing his string of mares also to stop.
Beau felt his throat tighten.Why did this suddenly feel like a fight he wouldn’t win?
“You’re earning a reputation for spending time with the women at Miss Marcy’s. Do we need to have the...” he stuttered momentarily, “birds and the bees talk again? You spend enough time with the cattle, I’d think you knew the basics.”
The thought that Jesse didn’t know where babies came from horrified him, and suddenly, he considered making this Bass’s problem after all. At least he had a wife to point to.
“What? I’m not having relations with anyone!” Jesse yelped, nudging his horse back into motion.
“Then what are you doing? I know they don’t let the women play the card games.”
Jesse shook his head and started moving back to his position in line. Clearly, they had finished their conversation, but now Beau had more to think about.
Did Jess need help? How would he even open that conversation up? Thoughts swirled in his head until Bogey called out a stop for dinner. The horses needed to rest, and they were only about halfway back.
“Are we pushing through the night?” Bogey asked, looking over the herd. His tone was noncommittal, and Beau glanced around the clearing they’d stopped in.
“No. We need a break. Let’s camp for the night. We’ll head out at first light and be home before nightfall tomorrow.” He stretched out his arms before loosening the ties on the horses in his care.
He glanced at Jesse. Beau didn’t know how to handle this. He was the grumpy brother, not the talk-about-your-feelings-brother.
“Jess,” he called out, taking a step toward his brother. Bogey could get the fire set up.
“Beau, leave it alone.” Jesse turned his back, his body clenched.
“I can’t leave it alone. If you’re in trouble, and getting arrested counts as trouble, you need to say something.”
“I got arrested because I beat the idiot that nearly killed Tater’s girlafterhe started hitting Izzy.” Jesse hung his head low, as if waiting to be reprimanded.
“And Whit arrested you?” Beau didn’t think that sounded right at all. “Just you?”
“Whitney took me to the sheriff’s office so I could calm down and not kill the oaf. The marshal took the liquored-up cowboy to see Nate, but nobody wants to talk about that part.”
Beau nodded sharply; that made more sense. “Who’s Izzy?” The name still rang in his ears.Did Jesse have a girl like Tater?
“Izzy plays the piano at the saloon.”
“So, she entertains men upstairs?” Beau stared at him icily.
“No. Izzy, well, she doesn’t get the same attention as the others. She sings and plays the piano. I’m sure there’s something else, but Miss Marcy didn’t turn her away. She’s a nice girl.”
Beau nodded his head. “Well, we’ve talked about it now. But if you want to clean up this town, speak out. There’s less to talk about if it involves all of us.”
