Sorry this took a little longer than normal:
Molly waited until Parker was led out of the Saloon before heading for the door. Mary waited just outside.
"You've been missed the last few days," she said as Molly approached her.
"Buck and JD thought it best that we stay at Mr. Larabee's until the Judge arrived," Molly said.
"I trust that Buck...behaved himself?" Mary asked. Molly had anticipated the question and struggled with how to answer it. She wasn't ashamed of what she'd done but society would be. The attitudes in this place might be a bit more relaxed but she was the school teacher, and the town thought her a lady. That the Judge hadn't put her or Cheyanne in jail didn't mean she still held her position. Would admitting what her and Buck did be the final nail in that coffin? Molly drew in a breath and looked Mary square in the eyes.
"Buck behaved...exactly how I wanted him to behave," she responded.
"I took over lessons for you," Mary commented after a beat.
"I appreciate that," Molly replied. Mary reached out and took Molly's hand in hers and squeezed it. "I think I'd like to get myself sorted out," Molly said. "I would imagine you'd like some time with your father-in-law."
"He'll be busy with some other business while he's here, but I hope you'll join us for dinner later?" Mary said.
"Are you sure that's wise?" Molly asked. Mary smiled.
"The Judge isn't one to hold a grudge and he believes in second chances. I think it would be good for him to get to know you better," Mary replied.
So it was later that evening that Molly found herself fussing with the placement of her hat, nerves making it difficult to pin it to her head the way she wanted it. She was just about to unpin it for what seemed like the millionth time when Mary appeared in her doorway.
"Leave it," she said. "It's just fine."
"I think the angle is all wrong," Molly said. Before she could unpin it, Mary walked up to her and adjusted it just the slightest.
"There," she said, not giving Molly a chance for one last look in the mirror, Mary reached down and picked up her shawl and pouch from the bed and handed them to Molly as they walked out the door. She could hear voices coming from the front of the office - Billy's and a man's that she presumed was the Judge's. Stopping to draw in a quick breath Molly held her head up as she walked into the main part of the office.
Their chatter stopped when Molly entered the room.
"Miss O'Rourke," the Judge said with a nod. Molly gave him a small curtsy.
"Judge Travis," she said.
"Baa, we don't stand on that kind of formality here," he waved off her gesture as she rose. Mary appeared in the room just then and walked over to her father-in-law.
"Are we ready then?" she took the Judge's arm. "Billy, would you please escort Miss O'Rourke?" Molly was completely charmed when Billy walked up and offered her his arm. She accepted it and they made their way out of the office and up the street towards the hotel. Once seated in the hotel dinning room, Molly struggled to not let her nerves get the better of her. The meal went fine, the conversation light, until the end of the meal when Judge Travis handed his grandson a coin and suggested Mary take Billy to the store to pick out some candy.
"I'd like to have a word with Miss O'Rourke," he'd said. Molly carefully folded her napkin and set it next to her plate as the waitress appeared. The Judge ordered a neat whisky and looked over at Molly before saying "and a sherry for the lady." Molly hesitated just the slightest before nodding her agreement to the waitress feeling as if she were taking a test she was ill prepared for. She reminded herself what the Judge thought he knew about her. Having a small glass of sherry after a meal wasn't unheard of for a woman back east.
"You understand that I'd be well within my rights to fire you as the teacher in this town and send you packing back to Baltimore?" he said. Molly took in a breath.
"Yes," she responded simply. The waitress returned just then with their drinks.
"So why am I not doing just that?" he said after the waitress left their table.
"I won't presume to know your mind, your Honor," Molly replied. "But if you're fishing for an apology or an acknowledgment of wrong doing, you'll not get it."
"Mary said you were strong willed," the Judge replied, taking a sip of his drink. "She said you'd confronted Parker on your own, tried to get him to release Hawk. Some might call that foolish."
"Others the right thing to do," Molly countered.
"Regardless, it meant he set his sights on you which forced Buck Wilmington to play the hero and take you from town in a rather unconventional way and un-escorted. Don't think in the drama of all this Parker business that hasn't gone unnoticed."
"We weren't un-escorted, JD Dunn was with us," Molly responded.
"I was told JD left several hours later. That was also noticed."
Molly reached out and picked up the glass of sherry and took a sip. The action prevented her from lashing out that she was a woman grown and asking why Buck wasn't under the same scrutiny. She knew very well why - the rules for men were different. Here in the wild frontier of Four Corners or in the high society of Baltimore it didn't matter. She doubted very much that the Judge planned to have a similar conversation with Buck and imply his position in town was at risk.
"What did or didn't happen between the two of you is your business," the Judge said. "But you both hold positions of authority in this town and I plan to remind him of the same." He took another sip of his whisky. "You seem surprised," he said and Molly realized she was holding the Sherry glass halfway between her mouth and the table. Carefully, she lowered the glass to the table.
"It's been my experience that most men of your position aren't as forgiving of a woman's...indiscretion. Real or assumed." Molly replied.
"Yes, well...maybe in spite of my best efforts I'm a progressive man after all," the Judge replied.
"Well then, a toast, to progression," Molly lifted her glass and was pleased when the Judge did the same, clinking it to hers. After taking the obligatory sips, the Judge checked his watch.
"It's getting late," he commented and the nodded behind her. "And it appears I should surrender your attention to someone else." Molly shifted in her seat to look behind her. Buck was standing in the entry to the dinning room, his hat in his hand. The Judge finished his whisky in one last gulp before standing and waving Buck to the table. The waitress approached the table.
"Have a drink on me, Buck," the Judge said. "And then be so good as to see Miss O'Rourke home, would you?" He turned to Molly who was still seated.
"It was a pleasure, Miss O'Rourke," he said with a nod.
"Likewise, your Honor," Molly replied with a nod of her own. Buck took the Judge's seat and reached out to take Molly's hands in his own.
"I've been dying to see you all afternoon, on pins and needles wondering if..." Molly squeezed his hands in return.
"I still have my position. At least, I believe I still do," she replied. "Though I did get somewhat of a dressing down for leaving town un-escorted with one Mr. Buck Willmington. I expect you'll be in for one of your own."
"Every word of it will have been worth it," Buck replied, his deep tone making Molly feel warm. They were interrupted by the appearance of the waitress with Buck's drink. When they'd finished, Buck walked Molly home, their pace slow in an effort to drag out their time together.
"Will you do something for me?" Molly asked as they reached the back door.
"Anything," Buck answered.
"Watch over Mr. Hawk and Cheyanne for me. I don't trust Parker."
"We'll keep them safe. I promise you," Buck said, giving Molly a kiss. Molly wrapped her arms around him praying he'd be able to keep his promise.
