Mr.
& Mrs. CodyMr.
& Mrs. Cody
Chapter 2
"Rider coming." Jimmy shouted to Noah.
Noah was up in the saddle and ready to take the hand-off from Ike when Ike rode in.
"Any trouble?" asked Jimmy. Ike shook his head no as Noah took off.
"We left you some breakfast, Ike."
*Cody must not be here* Ike signed.
"He and Lou had to make a special run to Ft. Laramie. They left yesterday."
*Good. Won't have to listen to Cody snore tonight.* He grinned and headed into the bunkhouse.
After he ate, Ike headed over to see Emily Metcalf. He arrived at the farmhouse, but no one was home so he decided to make a detour into town and get a sarsaparilla. At the saloon he saw Mr. Metcalf at a table playing poker. He wondered where Emily was. He decided to check over at Tompkins store for her. Sure enough that's where she was placing an order for some supplies for their farm. When she turned around, Ike waved at her.
"Hi, Ike. I'm glad you're back from your run safe and sound. Would you like to ride with me back home? We could check on Jimmy and Lou's place."
Ike nodded with a twinkle in his eye.
When they arrived at the new Hickok farm they sat on the porch and Ike continued teaching Emily some hand signs. It's something they had been working on since Emily had asked Ike to teach her. He would write down a word on paper, show her the sign and she would try to remember it the best she could. They had progressed to her interpreting whole sentences, but sometimes she got confused on a word and Ike would have to write it down for her. Ike thought Emily was very bright and a fast learner and was happy she cared enough about him to learn.
It wasn't long before Ike and Emily gave up the lessons for more amorous pursuits out in the barn.
Afterwards they lay next to each other, fingers intertwined as Emily spoke from her heart.
"Ike, I never want this to end. I want to be with you like this always. I've never felt like this about anyone before. You make me feel so complete. Like something was missing from my life that I didn't even know was missing until I found you. Please tell me you feel the same way - that I'm not making a complete fool of myself."
Ike silenced her with a kiss. When he broke the kiss off, he beamed at her from ear to ear.
*Will you marry me?* he signed.
Emily didn't understand what he was trying to tell her. She knew it had something to do with the two of them but wasn't sure what he meant.
Ike could see the confusion written all over her face, but before he could ask her again they were interrupted by Jimmy shouting for them out in the yard.
They quickly dressed and ran outside. When Jimmy got a glimpse of the pair he smirked and briefly thought how funny they looked - their clothes in disarray and bits of straw clinging to Emily's hair. 'I wonder if Lou and I look that obvious after a visit to the barn?' Jimmy quickly pushed those thoughts away when he remembered why he was here.
He looked at Emily and said, "Teaspoon told me to come get you. There's been some trouble in town. Your father has been shot over a poker game. The doc's not sure he's going to make it."
Emily started for her horse and Ike and Jimmy quickly followed. They rode as fast as they could into town with Emily in the lead. They reached the doctor's office and Emily raced through the door before Ike and Jimmy were even off their horses.
She reached her father's bedside and knelt next to him. Grabbing one of his clammy hands she begged him to wake up. His breathing was so shallow - she was afraid he wouldn't last much longer.
The doctor and Ike came into the room.
"I'm sorry, Miss Metcalf, there isn't anything more I can do except make him as comfortable as possible until…" the doctor trailed off.
Ike put a hand on her shoulder and she broke down and cried.
"Don't cry baby-girl." Emily heard her father say.
"Papa, save your strength. Everything's going to be alright."
"No, Emily. I'm dying. I'm so sorry you had to see me like this. I've got to tell you something before…I'm sorry I was always gambling and for leaving you alone so much. After your mama died, God Bless her soul, I felt so lost and I didn't know what to do, so I gambled. I know it wasn't right, but everytime I looked at you I saw her and it was just too painful so I tried to stay away from you as much as I could. It just hurt so much. I know I was wrong and if I could go back and change things I would, but I can't. You look so much like your mama, so beautiful. I love you, Emily."
"I love you too, papa." They both cried.
"Now you're going to hear some things about me in town and you're not going to want to believe them so I want you to hear it from me first. They're going to say I was cheating at cards and that's why I was shot."
Emily started to interrupt.
"No, it's true. I was cheating. That man, Neville, had cause to shoot me. I know how protective you are of me and I didn't want you to go chasing after the man that did this to me. I'm sorry I had to disappoint you like this, Emily."
Mr. Metcalf looked up at Ike. "You'll take good care of her for me, won't you?"
Ike nodded. *I want to marry your daughter.*
Mr. Metcalf didn't understand.
Ike quickly ran outside and dragged Jimmy in with him.
*Tell him I want to marry his daughter.*
"Ike, you're sure?" Jimmy asked.
*Just do it. Please.* Ike's look of desperation spoke volumes to Jimmy.
"Sir, Ike says he'd like to marry your daughter." Jimmy related. "With your permission of course." He hastily added.
Astonished, Emily looked up at Ike. "That's what you were asking me earlier, wasn't it?"
Ike knelt down on one knee next to her and signed, *Will you marry me?*
She hugged Ike around the neck and said, "Yes, I'd love to marry you."
Mr. Metcalf replied, "Son, I think you have your answer…and my blessing. I only wish I could be around to witness it." He coughed, feeling weaker by the moment.
Ike quickly signed something to Jimmy and Jimmy took off out the door.
It seemed like an eternity later when he returned with the preacher in tow.
"Son, are you sure about this? It's awfully sudden and marriage is forever." The preacher asked.
Ike nodded emphatically.
"Miss Metcalf, do you feel the same?"
"Oh, yes, Reverend Jiles. I've never been more sure of anything in my life." Emily replied.
The ceremony was short, with the doctor and Jimmy standing as witnesses. As soon as they were pronounced man and wife, Mr. Metcalf smiled and faded into death. After Ike and Emily's first kiss as Mr. And Mrs. McSwain, Emily turned to her father. "Oh, papa, I'm so glad you got to see…" She then noticed he was gone. She quietly began sobbing. "He didn't see me get married."
The preacher laid a comforting hand on her. "Child, look at that peaceful smile on his face. I'd say he saw the ceremony to the end and was comforted knowing you would be well taken care of."
Reverend Jiles said a blessing over Mr. Metcalf and took his leave.
Jimmy quietly left to find Teaspoon to explain everything that had just happened.