Chapter Sixty-One
The next day found the family all packed up and preparing for the trip back home. Wilma and the other girls had gone to have the wagon prepared and Tanner was attempting to usher his son and wife from the hotel but that was proving easier said than done with Jackson.
The boy was stopping every single person he met along the way and attempting to show them his newly won trophy and tell them all about riding his pony and what it had felt like to win the contest.
"They all cheered and clapped and everything!" Jackson exclaimed to the elderly couple he had cornered in the hall.
"Well isn't that something?" the soft-waisted woman replied with a smile. "You must have been quite proud of yourself."
"I was. My mommy and daddy were too! Weren't you?" Jackson craned his neck to look up at Tanner and he nodded with a grin.
"Sure was, son."
"Me too," Temperance agreed, holding onto Tanner's arm and laying her head against his shoulder.
Tanner was happy the woman hadn't been too upset and angry at him over what had happened with Yancy. Had he gone a bit overboard in his torture of the man by doing everything he'd done before the man had had a chance to bleed out? Yeah, probably. Did Tanner regret it for one damn minute? Hell no. Yancy had stolen so much from Temperance and from countless other girls before and after her.... He had deserved even worse than what he'd been given.
"You must be a proud man," the old gentleman said as he patted Tanner's shoulder. "You've got you a beautiful family."
Tanner smiled down at his son. "I am and I happen to agree with you," he replied. Then Tanner scooped Jackson up and propped the boy on his hip. "I've gotta be getting them home now. Y'all have a good day," Tanner tipped his head and led Temperance down the hall.
They stepped out into the sunlight and Tanner breathed in the scent of the midmorning air. The fair had ended and the streets were surprisingly empty compared to the crowds that had been the norm. Vendors were gone, games were gone and everything seemed deserted despite the vastness of the city.
"Daddy, why don't you wear a hat like mine?" Jackson asked as he adjusted the leather hat on his head hat he'd gotten for his birthday.
"Sometimes I do," Tanner shrugged. "When the mood strikes me."
Jackson grunted. "Well I woke up today and the mood said, 'Put on your hat' and so I did!" A smile split the boys cheeks and Tanner couldn't help but laugh.
"We have to hurry you two," Temperance urged. "Wilma and the others will think we got lost."
"Mama, can we go to the barn and see that horse one last time before we leave? I promised him I'd say goodbye before we left...."
Tanner sighed. Jackson had fallen in love with a large Clydesdale gelding named Big George that was too old to do much of anything other than stand in a stall and graze in a pasture. The boy wanted to take the horse home with him but the owner had said he loved the beast too much and hadn't wanted to sell him.
"Jackson..." Temperance began and Tanner could tell she was going to tell the boy no.
"I don't see what it would hurt, Temp. The barn is on our way to the livery anyhow and that's where our wagon will be waiting," Tanner reminded her.
Temperance smiled and gave an exasperated wave of her hand. "Fine. We'll go see Big George."
Jackson let out a happy hoot of victory and then launched into a ramble about how shiny his trophy was in the sunlight. They entered the barn and the Big George's owner laughed the moment he saw them. "I figured you'd come back at least one more time!"
"The boy is in love with your horse," Tanner replied as he sat Jackson on his feet and the boy raced back to Big George's stall. Instantly that massive piece of horseflesh tossed his head over the low door and let the boy hug his muzzle.
"I think my horse is in love with your boy as well," the man, Greg Profit, admitted, rubbing at his white beard. He pulled a sugar cube from his pocket and walked over to Jackson. The boy happily took it from him and fed it to Big George who gobbled it greedily.
"Jackson, I've been thinking..." Greg sighed. "Big George is getting older now and I'm sure he'd like living somewhere with open fields where he could roam and enjoy his remaining years instead of being locked in that old dirty stall. Do you have fields he could play in?"
Jackson's green eyes widened and his head bobbed up and down. "Yes, sir..." he whispered.
"Would you be willing to let my horse come stay with you then? He just seems to like you an awful lot and I fear he'll get mad at me if I don't let him go on home with his new friend."
Tanner was surprised by the tears that shown in Jackson's eyes. "Really?"
Greg gave a long sigh and nodded. "Yeah, really. Just so long as it's okay with your folks of course."
Jackson was hopping up and down as he turned to Temperance and Tanner. "Can I bring him home? Can I? Can I? Can I? Can I? Please????" he begged as he grabbed their hands and shook them with his bouncing.
Tanner and Temperance shared a look of amusement and then Temperance smiled down at their son. "Will you help with all his care? Will you feed him and make sure he gets brushed and loved on?"
"Yes, mama! I promise!" Jackson vowed as a happy tear slid down his cheek.
Temperance pretended to think hard for a moment as she tapped her chin and studied the boy. Finally she shrugged, "I suppose you'll need to ask your daddy."
Jackson was practically bursting with anticipation at this point. He turned his attention to Tanner and stuck out his bottom lip. "Please, daddy? I'll be real good with Big George and I'll take care of him all the time. Please?"
Tanner couldn't help but laugh and could simply nod in response. Jackson hopped up and down with happiness and turned to Big George who was watching the whole scene and sniffing around as if hoping for a second sugar cube.
"Did ya hear that, George? You're my horse now!" Jackson exclaimed jubilantly. Big George tossed his head and let out a snort as if to say he was fairly happy about the arrangement as well.
Temperance motioned for Greg to follow her as she walked a short distance away. Tanner followed as well. "Now, Mr. Profitt, are you sure about this gift? Tanner and I would be happy to pay you whatever you feel that horse is worth..."
"Nonsense," Greg waved his hand. "Now I did hear tell that you breed and sell work horses, is that true?"
Temperance nodded. "Yes, sir. It's a business we've just been getting into the last few years or so. Why?"
Greg smiled. "I can always use a good work horse and I'd like to come down sometime and have a look at what you've got. Maybe we could work out a good deal in my favor?"
Tanner knew that, as good as Temperance's horses were, they weren't equal to Big George. Clydesdales were rare in these parts and highly sought after--even the older ones.
Temperance seemed doubtful a moment, no doubt thinking the same thing that Tanner was, but Greg held out his hand. "Don't hurt my feelings now, miss. Take my offer."
With a sigh and a smile Temperance shook the man's hand and sealed the deal. "You're welcome on our ranch anytime, Mr. Profitt."
A short time later Tanner found himself leading a gelding Clydesdale down the road with Jackson's hand held tight in his while Temperance held Jackson's other hand after having safely tucked his trophy away in Big George's saddle bags.
"Do you think everybody will like my new horse, daddy?" Jackson asked.
Tanner clicked his tongue. "If they don't then there's clearly something wrong with them, isn't there?"
"Yep," Jackson nodded in agreement.
Tanner had never been happier. His family was happy, healthy and safe. The sun was shinning brightly overhead and the day was proving to be a good one as they walked down the fairly empty side streets of Savannah.
Until the sound of a gun cocking behind him drew his attention. "Stop right there, Tanner Montgomery. I intend to kill you."
Before Tanner had time to turn or have any reaction other than complete shock and fear for his son and wife, the sound of a gunshot ricocheted through the late-morning air.
Temperance screamed, Jackson began to cry, Big George spooked and reared, tearing himself from Tanner's grasp and Tanner....
Tanner's mind took a full ten seconds to comprehend that the gunshot he had just heard was the cause of that searing pain in his side as bullet tore through flesh.....