Victim of Circumstance

Still shaken by what had happened with Ruechari, Jake hurried towards the forge, knowing he'd be sorry.

Not just because he'd finally admitted to Rue there was no future between them, and he was letting her go. It was for the best he did know.

He wasn't good for anyone, especially with Sallie around. It was probably best if he left this town.

But for now, he had to throw himself at the mercy of Petra, to plead and beg. A line out the door, he swore, and that was even before Petra caught his gaze when he walked in.

She was holding a hammer, her eyes burning bright as the fire. She was quite an intimidating sight. 

Jake swallowed and awaited his fate...

"You can go, I don't need you today," is all Petra had to say.

"Don't give me that look, Jake. I've got enough on my plate. I've had to call in Jasper to cover for you again for Heaven's sake!"

"I know I don't deserve another chance, but today I'm a victim of circumstance. I would have been on time today, I swear if not for my unplanned trip down the stairs," he grinned and pointed to the stitches there, " I need this job Petra, and you have a line out the door a mile long. An extra set of hands will move it faster along."

"A trip down the stairs, are you kidding me? And who'd you get to stitch you up, Ruechari? I need to know I can depend on you, and frankly, I doubt that's something I can do."

Then from the corner, Jasper chimed in. Just when Jake had nearly forgotten about him.

"Come on Petra, let him take the second shift. I've got a date, I don't want to miss. You know what it means to me. I can't let down Rue. I'm sure Jake here can help you."

Jake swallowed thickly and refused to let him get under his skin. He doubted Jasper and Rue would last. It didn't matter anyway, it was in the past. He had more important things to worry about these days. Namely, how he'd rid himself of Sallie. And keep this job, he did so desperately need. But old habits died hard, or so they did say. He looked Jasper's way.

"I don't need you to stand up for me. And I really don't care what you do with Ruechari. I haven't been fighting, Petra, if that's what you mean. And I'm sober now, here and ready to work. So what could it hurt? I'll make it up too. Be here on time, the whole week through. Besides rent is coming due."

Jasper gave Jake a shrug. Gave his leather apron string a tug.

"Well then, it looks like we all agree. Jake's here to work and I'm off to woo Ruechari. With a smirk and a punch to the arm, he gave Jake the apron. "Try not to come to more harm. Petra, I'm gone for the day, since you've got Jake to stay."

Petra sighed, but she just gave in, she'd never admit it to Jake, but she needed him.

The nerve of him, but Jake let it go. But he was skating on thin ice, he did know. He got to work right away, and soon the day had faded without delay.

The pounding of iron. The infernal heat. But Jake forced himself to be steady on his feet. His head still did hurt, he didn't think it would ever quit. Luckily, Petra wasn't in the mood to chat and Jake was glad for that. Finally, when dusk had settled in, Petra hung up her apron and said to him,

"It's quitting time Jake, but for your sake, you'd better be here bright and early in the mornin'".

With a nod he promised her he wouldn't let her down, then made his way back across town, up the stairs, he dragged his weary feet. He needed a wash and then to sleep for a week. But he needed to talk to Josie and then there was the matter of Sallie. If he didn't meet her for dinner, she'd surely raise hell.

But the devil herself was waiting for him in his room at the hotel. She gave him a scare when he stumbled in. She sat on the edge of his bed with a grin. Jake had come to learn to grow concerned when she smiled that way.

"I had to work," he explained, "late night at the forge. Why are you in my room? I'll be along soon, down to dinner. Go on ahead."

Get the hell out of my life, he wished he'd said. Better yet, he wished she were dead. But then again, he'd never had the guts to do it before. Things were different now, he swore. She had to be stopped and he no longer had any feelings left for her rather than hate. And she was a threat to the people he loved most of all, she needed to die before it was too late.

"Oh Jake, pretty soon, we'll be married, with our child, and a place of our own. You will be happy to see me when you get home. Just give in and submit. They'll be no other for you or for me. It's meant to be."

A strangled laugh escaped his throat.

"You really are crazy Sallie. I don't love you. A match made in hell. You brought out the worst in me, but you were messed up in the head before I even came along. I thought I could fix you, I was wrong. Some people are just too far gone."

Her smile only grew. She smoothed out the wrinkles on her dress, and his apprehension only grew. When Sallie was seemingly calm, she was most dangerous of all.

"I told you whatever dalliances you had in this town were over Jake. But did you listen for pity's sake? So I had to fix your mistake. Nothing will stand in our way. You and I are destiny."

Jake froze, his heart turning to stone in his chest. He crossed the space between them and his hands came to rest, upon her shoulders, holding them tight.

"What did you do Sallie? What did you do to Rue?"

Sallie laughed then, not a pleasant sound.

"It's so sad really, a young widow all alone. No family here in town. No one to miss her, when she's no longer around. Well, I guess except for you."

She wasn't talking about Rue. Jake let go of her shoulders and out the door, he flew, down the hallway to Mary Sue's room.

He pleaded with the higher power above, that she'd answer the door with a frown, asking Jake why he was there, especially when other folks were around. He hoped Sallie was just playing a cruel joke on him. Please God, just let Mary Sue let him in.

A woman walked past with a scowl, as Jake nearly beat Mary Sue's door down.

"Is Miss Chastain down in the dining room Miss?" he asked as she passed.

"Haven't seen her since lunch, why do you ask?" Her tone was sharp, her eyes narrowed on him.

But Jake dismissed her, his heart clenching tightly in his chest. Sallie didn't make idle threats. He rammed his shoulder hard into the door. Behind him, the woman gasped.

Ignoring the sting in his shoulder, Jake slammed into the door again and again, until it gave in. Splintered from the frame with a crack, he nearly fell flat on his back when he burst into the room.

It didn't take long to find her after that. She sat in a chair near the fireplace, a book on the floor at her feet. Her long brown hair was down, touching the shoulders of her yellow gown. One hand clenched atop her chest, her face looking startled and pale. Her blue eyes seemed to stare at him.

But even before Jake pleaded her name, he already knew.

"Mary Sue?"

No move did she make. Her eyes weren't focused on him. They would never see anything again.

Jake was going to be sick. The world was spinning and he clutched onto the broken doorway to remain on his feet. Behind him, came a scream, breaking him from his trance.

Poor Mary Sue had been a victim of circumstance. Through no fault of her own, but rather his. And then on the carpet, Jake was sick...