Chapter 18

“Ma, this here is Maggie, My wife.” Jayne had the biggest grin at the look of shock that was on his Ma’s face, knew his Ma never thought he would get married. “Hello, Mother Cobb.” Maggie gave the older women a hug. “Well Jayne congratulation, never thought you had it in you.” Mother Cobb said to her son. “How’s Matty? He still feeling poorly?” Jayne picked up his Mother and hugged her “Thought you could use some help around here, ‘til he’s feeling better. Where are Tibbi and the kids?” Jayne put his Mother down and picked up their bags and headed inside. “Matty’s feeling a little better, thanks for the money, helped to pay for the Doctor, not sure he helped much. Tibbi and the kids are in town, surprised you didn’t see them. You want some tea?” She is not sure what her son is doing with such an educated women, thought for sure that if he settled down at all it would be with Torri. This women looked much to cultured for him, not sure she will last long on a ranch. “I would love a cup of tea, thank you.” Maggie answered, she sat down at the table while Jayne took their bags up to the spare room. While Mother Cobb made tea Maggie got a package out of her big bag “I made cookies last night for the crew and I kept a few, would you like some with your tea?” She put the package down and took the plate Mother Cobb has handed her “Jayne said oatmeal was your favorite, said you have a secret ingredient, I hope you’ll tell me what it is, He ate them, but said they were not quite right.” Maggie laughed at the memory. Mother Cobb took a bite of the cookie and knew that either Maggie or Jayne was lying, these were better then anything she ever made. At least she can bake, she thought to her self “Sorry there’s no sugar for the tea, but there is lots of cream.” Handing Maggie the mug. Maggie dug around in her bag and pulled out a jar of honey, she put it on the table “I keep this with me, Jayne likes lots of honey in his tea.” She smiled at her Mother-in-law, Mother Cobb smiled back, thinking she seemed to be prepared. Maggie had never had a Mother-in-law before and she was very worried about being excepted. Jayne came back downstairs just as the door opened and three tow-headed kids ran in yelling “Uncle Jayne, Uncle Jayne” soon they were crawling all over him. Maggie sat still and smiled at the young women that followed them in “They said in town that you were here, didn’t believe it. How you doing Jayne?” “I’m just fine Tibbi, this here is my wife, Maggie.” Jayne stood up with all three kids hanging on him “Maggie this is Matty’s wife, Tibbi.” Maggie stood up and extended a hand, Tibbi just looked at Jayne “Wife?!!? Kids go on up to your rooms.” She waited until the kids left “You bastard, what about Torri? You said you were going to marry her!” Tibbi slapped Jayne, he grabbed her hands “Never said I was going to marry her, Tibbi. That’s something you two cooked up. Maggie is my wife! Except it.” Jayne took Maggie and headed upstairs. “Jayne, were you promised to another?” Maggie looked at him. “Naw, never really asked, Torri is Tibbi’s sister. They always wanted me to marry her, we fooled around, but that’s all.” Jayne took Maggie into his arms “Never wanted to be married before now.” He kissed Maggie on the head, slowly moving down to her neck, he stopped himself before they could go any farther “We should go back downstairs, I’m sorry about Tibbi.” Dinner was a very quite affair, even the kids knew something was up. Matty was at dinner, thou Maggie wasn’t sure he should have been. She and Jayne exchanged looks, Jayne was wishing Simon was here to look at him. They discussed all the chores that needed doing and that Matty should see the Doctor again. It was hard, but Tibbi finally warmed up to Maggie, she knew Jayne had never promised Torri anything, they had just hope to live on the ranch together. It was going to be hard to tell Torri about Maggie. The next day was a whirlwind of activities, fixing fences, branding calves and lots of household chores that hadn’t been done for along time. *** “You know where the Cobb’s ranch is?” Mal asked the girl behind the bar. It had taken them eighteen hours to get here, this was the third town they had tried and Mal was very angry thinking about what Jayne had pulled. Stealing Maggie right out from under his nose and taking her away when they needed her most. “What business you got with the Cobbs?” The girl asked back, looking Mal up and down. “Jayne Cobb used to work for me, left some stuff on the ship, want to return it.” Mal was barely able to control himself, he was so pissed at Jayne. “Sure, that bastard and his new wife live about 15 miles down the road out of town. You staying in town long?” She leaned in and gave Mal her best smile. “Only as long as it takes to see Cobb.” Mal looked at her again “You must know Jayne well to think so highly of him.” Mal laughed, Taking the drink from her. “He was suppose to marry me, not some bitch from off world. I’m Torri, what did you say your name was?” Leaning in closer to Mal. “Simon, name’s Simon.” Mal said wondering if she could get him onto the ranch “How could he marry someone else with you here at home waiting for him.” He Finished his drink and held the glass out for her. “Well, we were never really promised, but my sister is married to his brother and Tibbi and I always hoped Jayne and I would get hitched.” Torri took Mal’s glass but kept her hand on his, Torri leaned even closer and whispered into Mal’s ear “How about you make me forget all about Jayne?”

Fighting the impulse to push her away and clean his ear Mal answered “How about you help me sneak on to Jayne’s ranch so I can take Maggie with me and leave Jayne here for you?” “What you want that bitch for, I’m much prettier.” Making a pout that only made her look older and used. She had seemed more Jayne’s type, Mal thought, his type before his years on Serenity. “I need to take her back to her uncle’s house.” Mal answered, pulling back from the bar a bit. “And you’ll leave Jayne here for me?” Torri asked, Mal could just see the wheels spinning in her head “Let me call Tibbi and find out what's going on.” With that Torri left to use the phone. *** Mal walked back to the ship “Wash, get the shuttle ready, we’re going to get Maggie! Zoë, got a girl inside that said Jayne is out fixes fences and Maggie is in the garden working. Lets go!” “Captain, are you sure about this, if they got married what right do we…” Wash backed up when Mal turned to face him. “If they’re married, then Jayne owns part of Serenity, you want to take orders from Jayne?” Mal accept the stunned look on Wash’s face as a no and turned around and walked away.