|
|
|
NICK AND JIM ARRIVED AT the county jail that was sullen, quiet and fairly empty. The guards were happy to see Nick. They all shook his hand and patted him on the back. Then they got to the important question. “To what do we owe the pleasure of your company, Nick?”
“My friend, Jim, would like to see his friend, Peggy Taylor.”
“I’m not sure we can do that.”
“Bob, let’s keep it simple. He will be gone before you can find someone to give you permission. As I remember it, you didn’t ask me for a lot of permission when I was sheriff.”
“You got me there, Sheriff. I mean, Nick. Okay, come on back. I suppose I can give him thirty minutes.”
“Sir, thank you so much.”
Jim didn’t know what to expect when he saw her, but was surprised to see the big smile on her face. “Oh, darling. Jim, it’s so wonderful to see you. I thought you’d forgotten the way home.”
“Peggy you look so beautiful. I thought this mess would have changed you.”
“I have changed. Didn’t you notice? I’m pregnant.”
“Still outspoken, I see.”
“Don’t you just love it?”
“I love you more than life itself.”
“How do you feel about being a Daddy?”
“I would love it even more if you were out of here.”
“Me, too, but we must play the hand that was dealt.”
“We’ll appeal this and get you out.”
“My lawyer tells me I don’t have enough of a reason to get an appeal.”
“Is he a good lawyer?”
“The best I could afford.”
“Do you need money?”
“Not now. Tell me why you took so long to come home.”
“No real reason. I just got involved in learning to drive and continuing my education so I could come back and marry you.”
“Is that a marriage proposal?”
“If you will, it is.”
“It’s about time you made an honest woman out of me.”
“Are you serious?”
“I couldn’t be any more serious. Our son needs a father.”
“How do you know it’s a son?”
“He kicks too hard to be a girl,” smiled Peggy.
“Oh, sweetie. I have so many questions to ask and something I must tell you about me. First, my name is Jim Coleman, not Cole. I want our son to have a legal name.”
“Are you going to tell me you are already married?”
“No! Absolutely not! I just want you.”
“We can talk about these little stupid problems later. For now I need to know if we can really get married. Jim, I don’t want our son to be raised by Judge Roy Bean.”
“Me either. Roy Bean? Is that a joke?”
“What happened to your sense of humor?”
“I think I left it outside the jail.”
The guard approached the cell: “You must leave now. The doctor is scheduled to arrive in ten minutes.”
“Thanks for allowing us time to see each other.”
“Anything for Nick.”
“Peggy, I will take care of what we talked about. I promise.”
“I love you, Jim”
“I love you too.”
 |  |  |
|
|
|