Jess Lange surveyed the small cow town of Alden as his gelding plodded down the dusty street. It appeared to be a replica of the town he had recently left, and much like the town he rode through the day before that. The Civil War was over, but the distrust and prejudices it had fostered still remained. Jess couldn’t imagine that things would be getting better anytime soon.

He dismounted in front of a mercantile with the intention of restocking his dwindling supplies. Jess had long made it a point of completing that chore as soon as he entered a town. He had been known to leave in a bit of a rush on occasion and had learned to be prepared.

As he stepped into the store, he immediately realized he had encountered a situation. He silently mulled over leaving the store, at least until things became more stable. He wasn’t normally the kind of man who got involved with the problems of others. He avoided conflict as long as he was left alone.

“Mister, just hike your ass back out the door. Go get a drink to cut the dust. You can come back when we’re done,” stated a big bearded man in a stained brown vest.

That demand went directly into the face of what Jess considered to be his biggest flaw. Ever since he had mustered out of the Army, he hated being told what to do. He looked briefly at the man before turning his attention to the others in the room.

A very pregnant woman was sitting on the plank floor with her back against the wall. She was sobbing as she cradled an unconscious man’s head in her lap. The man had blood running down his face from some sort of head injury. Two nondescript armed men hovered over the pregnant woman in what could only be considered a threatening manner.

Jess glanced around the room and found the shopkeeper cowering in a far corner. “I have a list of supplies I need. I don’t have a lot of time. I want you to work on this list now. I’ll wait.”

As he spoke, Jess took several steps toward the shopkeeper. That placed him in the center of the room, a few feet from the large bearded man.

“Maybe you didn’t understand me, Stranger,” began the large man angrily. “I told you to get the fuck out of...”

He stopped talking when Jess’s boot heel caught him in the knee. As he began to crumble, Jess grabbed the back of his head and pulled his face down as he savagely raised his bent knee. Blood spurted from the man’s beard as he dropped silently to the floor.

By the time his companions realized their friend was down and out, Jess had them covered with his revolver. They both raised their hands slowly as Jess strode toward them. Without warning, he swung his pistol around and caught the shorter man in the temple.

Seeing his cohort drop, the second man went for his gun. Jess quickly brought his weapon down on his skull, causing him to collapse on top of his companion.

“Ma’am, let me help you up. Is this your man? How badly is he hurt?” asked Jess with a surprisingly gentle voice. “Do you live around here?”

“Jack’s my husband. He tends to say things that these damn morons don’t understand, so they think he’s insulting them. The big bastard with the beard and the newly ruined knee clubbed Jack on the head with his gun, about like you did to these two shitheads.

“We have a ranch twelve miles west of here. We rode in on a buckboard. If you’ll help me get Jack to the wagon, I’ll take him home,” the woman added.

“You helped Jack and me when we needed it, but I’m afraid your ass is going to be in trouble. You just ruined Sam Jackson’s knee. You gave his two toadies major headaches and embarrassed all three of them. They won’t be forgetting that. I’d suggest you keep on traveling.”

“Thanks, Ma’am. I appreciate the advice, but I’ll be finishing my business before I leave,” replied Jess before bending over and scooping up the inert form of her husband. “Lead the way to your buckboard.”

Once Jess had gently placed Jack into the back of the buckboard, he helped the woman up to the seat. As she leaned forward to take the reins, she winced.

“Suppose I tie my horse behind your wagon and drive the wagon home for you?” suggested Jess. “You’re getting pretty close and shouldn’t have to worry about a damn horse. If he kicks over the traces, you’ll be in a hell of a mess.”

“Mister, I don’t even know your name, but you’re treating Jack and me better than most of the assholes in this shit town. I’m Maggie and I sure appreciate that offer. I’ll take you up on it. I didn’t look forward to fighting the reins. The horse is a little green. Jack was using the trip to town to train him.”

If the plain talking women noticed Jess didn’t surrender his name, she never mentioned it. Jack considered her as he tied his horse to the buckboard and climbed up to the seat.

She was a product of her times and environment. She had her dark hair tied back, but it was obvious she had to struggle to control it. She was plain looking with a small nose and a ruddy complexion. She certainly wouldn’t be considered pretty by most men, but she showed strength and determination. As Jess guided the horse down the street, the woman kept looking back at her husband.

“I saw how you looked at me when I called the people in the town assholes,” said Maggie as she tried to start a conversation. “I know I’m a bit coarse, as Jack says, but I grew up with three brothers and no mother. It’s the only way I know how to talk.”

“Maggie, I find your honesty refreshing,” replied Jess. “There’s no reason to apologize.”

“I’m afraid you’ll change your mind before long,” responded Maggie as she once again winced. “We have to go slow so we don’t hurt Jack, but I don’t think the baby will wait till we get home. Please don’t leave us alone in the middle of nowhere.”

“Maggie, I won’t desert you, but I’ll admit that I’m not very keen on delivering a baby. Hold off as long as you can. We may get back to your ranch before you deliver, or Jack may come around by then and help you.”

“Jack won’t be much help,” replied Maggie. “He’s real smart but isn’t too good with practical matters. Ask him to build a windmill and he’ll come up with a great design, but someone else has to do the construction. A pencil is his tool of choice.”

Jess smiled as he listened to Maggie’s description of Jack. He had always been like that, even when they were kids. Jess had seen firsthand how people reacted to Jack’s lack of social skills. He always stated what he was thinking, and often it was uncomplimentary to others. Jack was smart as hell, except he had no idea how to act around other people. Many men, especially insecure bullies, took offense when Jack stated his opinion of their mental limitations. Jess had come to Jack’s defense on more than one occasion.

“Do you and Jack have your own spread?” asked Jess. “Do you have some hired hands? Your husband isn’t exactly the world’s best cowboy.”

“That’s true,” agreed Maggie as she studied Jess thoughtfully. “We live on a decent sized ranch with Jack’s parents, his sister, one of my brothers and his wife and kids. We all work so we only hire extra hands when we need them for branding or something.”

“Does Jack’s sister have any kids, or a husband?”

“She married a guy just before the war broke out, but he left to join the army and she hasn’t seen him since. Do you know Jack’s family?” asked Maggie.

“I’ve heard of the Masters from someplace,” replied Jess a bit too casually.

“How did you know their last name? I never mentioned it. Who are you, Mister? If you’re here to cause trouble for the Masters family, we’re going to have a problem. You can stop right now, climb on your horse and ride the hell away. I’d rather take my chances delivering the baby with Jack being hurt than lead a wolf to their door.”

Jess tried to conceal the admiration he felt for the woman sitting next to him. She was obviously loyal to her husband and family. “I know the family, but wish them no harm. Sorry if I asked too many questions.”

“I noticed that you didn’t tell me your name,” stated Maggie. “I think it would only be proper for you to tell me who the hell you are and how you know my husband and his family.”

“Jess? Is that really you?” interrupted a weak voice from the back of the buckboard. “Maggie, he’s Jess Lange!”

“Jack! Are you okay? I think the baby’s going to come before we get back to the ranch. How do you feel?” asked the concerned woman as she leaned back to look at her husband.

“I have a killer headache and I’m sleepy as hell,” was all Jack managed before again losing consciousness.

“Which Jess Lange are you?” demanded Maggie as she turned her attention to Jess. “Are you the one who abandoned Becky, or the one who risked his life to save Jack from the Union soldiers? They surely can’t be one and the same.”

“That’s pretty accurate,” admitted Jess. “I’m not the same man I was back then. The war and circumstances have changed me, maybe not for the better.”

“If you think you’re going to ride in and have Becky rush into your arms, think again. She’s got no use for a man who abandoned his wife and ran off to play soldier. She deserves a lot better than the likes of you.”

“She should be very pleased to have such a staunch supporter in the family. I’m not here to discuss my character, or the lack of same. I didn’t know Becky lived in this state, never mind in the area,” replied Jess. “I’m just going to make sure you and Jack make it home safe, and then I’ll ride away. If I’m lucky, Becky won’t even see me.”

“You’d ride off without talking to her? No explanation for being such a bastard? You don’t sound like the same man Jack’s always carrying on about. He pretty much thinks your shit don’t stink.”

“Jack’s always been a good friend. We shared a lot of adventures growing up together back in Virginia. He’s probably a little biased in his opinion of me,” acknowledged Jess.

“You talk like you’re smart like Jack, except you know how to handle unruly fellas a hell of a lot better,” observed Maggie.

“Jack’s brains rubbed off on me when we were growing up,” responded Jess with a chuckle. “I wasn’t much at defending myself back then, either. That was something I picked up in the war.”

“That’s another thing. Jack, Becky and their parents supported the Confederacy, but Jack said you were a Bluecoat. How could you grow up in Virginia and fight for the North?”

“I don’t care to explain my life choices. It was brother against brother with no real winner and a lot of losers. We need to get past what happened, and why it happened. It’s time to build the country back together.”

“That’s a hell of a lot easier for a Blue belly than for us secessionists. Those bastards beating on Jack were Jayhawkers,” spat Maggie. “No one told them the war’s over.”

“Why did you and the Masters move here if everyone’s so hostile?” asked Jess.

“Most people are okay to us. They want to forget the war as bad as we do,” admitted Maggie. “It’s just that the few who can’t let the war go. They’re determined to make life hell for us rebels.”

“I get a lot of shit tossed my way when I ride very far south,” replied Jess. “It’s going to take time before the war’s forgotten and people decide to work together again.”

“Pull over by that stand of trees,” directed Maggie. “My water just broke!”

Jess cursed his luck as he pulled off the trail. It was early afternoon and he had hoped he could return Jack and Maggie to their ranch before dark. It seemed the baby had different ideas.

Luckily, Jack came around again before Maggie gave birth just after midnight. As Maggie predicted, he wasn’t much help, although he was able to accurately describe in detail how a baby should be delivered.

“I read some books on it when Maggie became pregnant,” he explained as Jess helped Maggie welcome a healthy baby girl into the world.

Maggie was exhausted, but still managed a big smile when Jess handed her the baby wrapped in one of his spare shirts.

“Jessica!” declared Jack. “We’ll name her Jessica after this no-good tinhorn Bluecoat who delivered her after saving her dad from some very bad men.

“Jess, I’m so far in your debt, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to make things square. You always had my back when we were kids. You carried me home when it looked like those Union soldiers were going to plant me on that hillside. Today you appeared out of nowhere and took on three Jayhawkers to save Maggie, the baby and me. If you ever need me for anything, I’ll be there for you.”

To Jess’s considerable discomfort, Jack suddenly wrapped his arms around Jess and hugged him in a tight embrace. Jess quickly disengaged from his over-appreciative friend.

“Jesus, Jack! We’re friends, but this shit’s just wrong. How hard did they hit your head?” demanded Jess.

Maggie wore a wide grin as she watched the scene unfold. “Jack hasn’t had any in a month or so and it’s beginning to wear on him. It’ll be another month before I’ll be able to perform my wifely duties. As a true friend, you should hang around and help him out.”

“Not happening!” declared Jess. “The Confederate soldiers may have enjoyed that shit, but we Union men never partook in deviant behavior.”

“But Jess, the war’s over!” joked Jack as Jess backed even farther away. “If the nation’s going to heal, we need to come together.”

“What the hell kind of father are you going to make?” Jess wondered as he shook his head and walked away.

The travelers got a late start the next morning. Jack was still experiencing headaches off and on and had slept late. Maggie was able to walk, but very gingerly. Jess found himself holding the baby while Maggie moved out of sight to do whatever women do after they have a baby. Jess had no desire to know more.

Maggie decided she’d be more comfortable lying in the back of the buckboard with Jack and the baby, while Jess took the reins. Jess made certain the horse proceeded slowly to avoid jostling the new mother and baby.

It was late afternoon when Jess topped a ridge and was able to see ranch buildings nestled in a depression a half mile away.

“Jack, why don’t you take the reins,” suggested Jess. “I have some things to do and I’m running late. You should be able to handle it from here.”

Jack’s headaches had ceased hours before, but he never mentioned that fact. He enjoyed lying next to his wife and daughter as the buckboard bounced down the trail.

“You have to get us to the ranch, Jess. Maggie just had a baby and my head is killing me,” Jack lied, since he wanted his family to have the chance to see Jess before he rode off. “You aren’t afraid of Sis, are you? I think she’s cooled off enough so she won’t shoot you.”

Jess simply nodded grimly and kept the horse from breaking into a trot now that it knew it was almost home.

Becky Lange had seen her brother’s buckboard break over the skyline, but she quickly determined that her twin brother wasn’t in the seat. Maggie wasn’t visible either, and this fact concerned Becky.

“Mom, I see our buckboard, but Jack isn’t driving it and Maggie’s nowhere in sight. I’m going to wait for whoever the hell it is in that copse of willows. I’ll find out why he has our buckboard and where Jack and Maggie are,” declared Becky as she grabbed her well used Colt revolving rifle and slipped out the back door.

Jess decided he’d deliver Jack, Maggie and the baby to the ranch buildings. As soon as he stopped the horse by the house, he’d jump down, untie his horse from the buckboard and take off at a fast trot, or maybe a gallop.

He was within a couple hundred yards when he was ordered to stop. “One more foot and I’ll blow your brains out, Stranger. That’s my family’s buckboard, but you sure as hell aren’t any family of mine.

“Where’s Jack and Maggie. If you’ve hurt them, I’ll...”

Becky suddenly stopped speaking when she heard the obvious sounds of a newborn baby. Her attention swung to the back of the buckboard. Because she wasn’t mounted on a horse and was standing in a slight incline, she was unable to see over the sideboards of the wagon.

Her brother’s head popped into sight. He had a huge grin as he got to his feet and then held his hand down in an obvious offer to help someone else stand. Becky felt tears form in her eyes when she saw Maggie rise to stand next to Jack. In her arms was a precious infant.

The stranger driving the buckboard was forgotten as Becky rushed to the buckboard. When she reached it, Maggie gently offered the baby to her.

“Meet your niece, Jessica,” Maggie stated proudly. “She was born yesterday on the trail and she’s tired of this damn buckboard. You need to thank our driver and come with me to show your mother her new granddaughter.”

Becky was staring in wonder at her beautiful niece as she approached the front of the buckboard. “Mister, I’m sorry about holding a rifle on you, but I didn’t know if you were friend or foe. I sure appreciate you helping out Jack and Maggie, and this little doll. Will you stay and have dinner with us? This calls for a celebration.”

Jess had kept his hat low so little of his face could be seen. Becky had barely glanced at him as she concentrated on her newborn niece. She was turning back to chat with Maggie when he spoke. Becky suddenly froze when she heard his voice.

“Thanks, Ma’am, but I think it would be better for all concerned if I just climbed on my horse and rode away. Your family has a lot to celebrate and my presence would spoil the mood.”

“Jess? Jess Lange? You show up after all this time? Why are you here? Are you trying to claim part of the ranch?” demanded Becky.

Jack tried to correct her, but she kept her attention on Jess. “It’ll be a cold day in hell before you get any of our property or money. We’ve worked hard for everything we have, and no damned drifter is going to get any of it simply because I made a bad mistake years ago and married poorly!”

Jess stepped down from the buckboard, gathered the reins to his horse and mounted. “Jack, it was good seeing you again. Take good care of your family. Your wife and daughter are real keepers.

“Maggie, it’s been a pleasure. You have a beautiful daughter and a jackass husband, but he’s good people. I wish you the best.”

Before he turned his horse, Jess touched the brim of his hat and nodded to Becky. He touched his spurs to the gelding’s sides, and the horse jumped into a gallop. The group watched until the horse disappeared back over the ridge.

“Oh, Becky! Why did you do that?” questioned Maggie. “You had a chance to talk to him and settle things between you. Did you see how he’s dressed? The horse he’s riding? Did he look like he needed or wanted your money?”

“Why’d you bring Jess here? You know how I feel about him. I’m disappointed in both of you,” declared Becky with heat. “Why in hell did you name this beautiful little girl ‘Jessica’? People are going to think you named her after that damned jackass.”

Becky was surprised at how annoyed Maggie became at her words. Maggie silently took Jessica back into her arms and turned toward the ranch house.

“I’m going to show Jessica to Mom Masters. She’ll be delighted to see her and I bet she’ll love the name Jack gave her. You’re going to be living alone your entire life if you don’t change your attitude about men in general, and Jess in particular.”

Jack shrugged his shoulders to Becky and turned to follow his wife to the house, leaving his sister to deal with the horse and buckboard.

Sharon Masters was in tears as she watched Maggie climb the porch steps. She met Maggie there and held her arms out for the baby.

“Mom, this is your granddaughter, Jessica. Isn’t she beautiful?” asked Jack with a proud smile.

“She’s adorable,” cooed Jack’s mother as she gently bounced the baby in her arms. “Where and when was she born? Did you have any trouble? Are you feeling okay, Maggie?”

“She was born on the trail from town. We had some trouble there. Sam Jackson and two of his asshole friends wanted to show everyone what happens to secessionists in Alden. He clubbed Jack on the head in the mercantile with his pistol and knocked him out. I sat on the floor and cradled Jack’s bloody head in my lap. They hovered over me like they were going to hurt Jack, or me, even more.”

“Oh, my God! Did they hurt you, or beat Jack more?” asked Sharon as she looked closely at the lump on Jack’s head.

“I think they were going to, but a stranger walked in about that time. Sam told him to leave and come back later. The stranger hardly looked at him before telling the clerk he wanted his list filled. Sam decided he was fresh meat and tried to scare the stranger into leaving.

“That didn’t go over with the stranger. He just kicked Sam’s knee so hard I could hear things breaking lose. Then he pulled Sam’s face down while he brought his knee up. That made some more unpleasant sounds as Sam dropped to the floor bleeding like hell.

“The man had the other two covered with his pistol before they could figure out what the hell happened. It only took a couple seconds for them to join Jackson, sleeping on the floor.”

“Thank God for that stranger,” exclaimed Sharon. “Did you get his name?”

“Not at the time. He loaded Jack on the buckboard and saw that I was having trouble working the reins, so he offered to bring Jack and me home in the buckboard,” responded Maggie.

“That was the man Becky saw with the buckboard, wasn’t it? You should invite him in for dinner. Your father will want to thank him,” predicted Sharon.

“Becky invited him for dinner, but changed her mind when she recognized him,” stated Jack. “Jess saved my life again, helped Maggie deliver Jessica and was called every name in the book by Becky. She made it plain he wasn’t welcome on this ranch.”

“Jess? It was Jess Lange that stepped in and helped you in town?” asked a stunned Sharon. “How is he? How did he look? Is he doing well?”

“I didn’t know he did all those things for you, Maggie,” interrupted Becky with a sob from the open door. “I’m sorry I reacted so badly. To answer your questions, Mom, he looks better than ever. He’s tanned and in much better condition than he was when we were married. He has a scar on his left cheek, but it just adds character.”

“I didn’t know him back when he and Becky were married, but I can tell you he’s the complete package now,” stated Maggie with a grin. “He’s hell on wheels when he needs to be, but he was gentle as a lamb when he delivered Jessica. He even cleaned her up with some clothes from his saddlebag and handed her to me. That’s his shirt she wrapped in right now.”

Meanwhile, Jess struggled with his emotions as he rode the trail back toward town. He had left without getting his damn list filled. He was determined to get his supplies and ride out of Kansas as fast as his horse would carry him.

Seeing Becky again had brought back all the pain and shame he felt the day he found her in bed with Big Joe Buck, the county sheriff. Jess had been enraged beyond all reason. He remembered how he had charged into the room and connected with a solid right to Buck’s chin.

Buck had heard Jess’ snarl and turned to face him. It allowed Jess the perfect opportunity to deliver the first blow. Jess had held nothing back and felt the shock of the blow through his arm to his shoulder.