Sarah - Good News, Ma.

From last time ...

"I think that's great, Mom. Can we have our ice cream now?"

And now ...

"I've got my pension from the Service. That's enough for me."

"That may be, Mackey, but it's time I gave something back for all you've done for me."

"I ain't done nuthin'. Just what Jake asked, is all."

"You've been with me for a long time, Mackey. You trained me back home in Frisco and you've stuck with me out here in the desert. There's no way I could ever pay you enough. If it wasn't for you, I'd never have gotten this far with what I have to do - and none of THIS would have been possible."

Sarah had waved her hand to include the room they were in, and by inference, the building.

"This is my little desert hideaway, and you saw to it - that it got built."

"I'd rather you gave the money to Two Feathers. Him and that little band of spies of his can use it way more than me."

"Don't you worry about Billy. I plan to take care of him - and those kids he's got watching those murderin' crooks. There'll be plenty of money to take care of all of us, Mackey. Now when are we meeting the lawyers from the mining company?"

"They'll be here tomorrow morning, contracts in hand."

"Good. Let's get in the jeep and go see Ma."

And just a short time later ....

"Alphonse Mackey!! How many times have I got to tell you to drive up here slow?"

Ma was walking toward the door and she could see it was Mackey by his outline against the darkening sky. She liked yelling at Mackey. It was her way of telling him she loved him - but she'd never let him know that. Mackey stopped to open the door and stepped aside so the Sarah could enter.

"SARAH!!! Oh my God, Sarah!! C'mere, girl and give me a hug. Mackey, you sonofabitch, why didn't you tell me she was comin'? Damn, girl you look good. Come over here where I can see you better - Mackey, flip them lights by the door there will ya? I was just gettin' ready to flip on the night light and get me some supper 'fore I went to bed."

"Ma!!"

"What?"

"Slow down, will ya? Breath. Are you okay?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. I'm just glad to see ya, is all. Ever since Mackey asked me to marry him I been meanin' ta call ya anyway and now you're here so I don't hafta call ya - I can tell ya right straight out. Me and Mackey is gettin' hitched."

Sarah turned and looked at Mackey.

"You could warn somebody, you know?"

"Who me? Not on your life. Ma wanted to be the one to tell you and there's no way I'm gonna open my mouth and have her put her foot in it."

Sarah thought for a second.

"Good thinking, Marine. I don't blame you."

She turned back to Ma.

"I'm so happy for you, Ma. For you and Mackey. He didn't say a thing."

"He knows better."

"So? WHEN?"

"Oh we ain't set a date yet. Don't nobody know but you. We wanted to tell you first. Didn't think much beyond that."

"Well, I'll tell you what, Ma. You two are gonna have one hell of a wedding. I promise. I'm buyin'."

"You? Why?"

"Why? Because tomorrow morning, the people from that mining company that's been prospectin' back up in the hills behind the Adobe are gonna pay me a whole BUNCH of money to buy that land. Gotta spend it somewhere."

"Whoa, girl. You mean all that land in the hills back there? What did they find?"

"Gold and Silver."

"Well, I'll be damned. You do know where Jake got that land, don't you?"

"No, I don't."

"He bought it off me."

"Oh, Ma!!"

"No, no. Don't worry. He bought less than half of what I own up there. If they found gold and silver on yours, likely they'll find the same on mine - or at least I hope so."

"Wouldn't that be great? We'd ALL be millionaires!!"

They both looked at Mackey, who had a great big grin on his face. Then Sarah remembered what she heard as she walked toward the Motel when they first arrived.

"Alphonse??? Really?"