Samson & Delilah

Part 1

There he sat, at the big window of Murphy’s Café, at a small table all by himself. It wasn’t strange for the man to be sitting alone and it wasn’t odd for him to be in a small town like Lehi on a moon like Lilac. What was a bit odd were the cloths the man had on. The big jacket and the old aviators cap with the thick flying goggles did make the him look funny. Jayne had worn them before, on Higgins moon. Mal had told him to dress in a way as to make himself not easily recognizable. Jayne figured he’d done that.

There he sat, eating his meal staring across at “Heavy’s Bank and Feed Store” .

Jayne had reined his horse just outside the café while his two accomplices were inside casing the bank. His duty was to make note of any security that might be posted outside the structure while the others were inside. Jayne hadn’t noticed anyone suspicions looking, but that meant nothing. These small town alliance affiliated money holdings were becoming pretty cleaver at disguising their bank guards. Could be they had posted someone outside dressed as a street vendor or goods distributor. Jayne hadn’t noticed anyone doing that kind of work.

As he took his next bite he became aware of someone reining their horse next to his. He looked up to the saddle. There sat one of the most attractive girls that Jayne had seen in a long while. Her hair was light brown and her eyes were a sparkling shade of green. She had a slim build which seemed fragile for someone in this part of the country.

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Lehi was a farming community with acres upon thousands of acres of fertile soil. Most of it was owned by a land Barron named Von Royston Apocalypse, and, most of his workforce was indentured, or enslaved would be a better word, to do the work of cultivating the crops of the Lehi Township. This kind of situation always appealed to Mal, Jayne knew it. A chance to rob from the rich never failed to ply his interest.

Anyway, as Jayne sat there, the girl with the beautiful green eyes looked straight at him. She smiled a smile that nearly melted his hard boiled heart. She dismounted her steed and began trying to tie him to the very hitch railing Jayne had his own horse tethered to. She seemed to be having difficulty doing this. Jayne arose and went outside to help.

“ Hi!” She said to him as he neared.

“ Hello” He replied. “ Having trouble with the reins there Miss?”

“ Yeah, a bit. I’m not used to riding these animals, much less securing them so that they can’t free themselves.”

“ Well let me show you.” Jayne volunteered his services. “ Once over, two under, then over again.”

He shackled the beast to the rail with ease.

“ Thank you so much.” she beamed with gratitude, then gave him a smile that would have melted Vera had he been holding the weapon in his grasp.

She then turned and headed towards the bank. Jayne watched her every step. For some reason she had all the qualities of every woman he had ever been attracted to combined. This should have been a red flag for the big man, but Jayne, as on many occasions, wasn’t thinking with his brain. He went back inside to finish his meal.

A short time later the girl returned from the bank and this time she was having trouble undoing the hitch he had used to tether her animal to the post. She gave a quick glance in his direction. Jayne stood next to her in an Ariel second. He unfastened the straps.

“ Seems I’ve found the man of my dreams.” She smiled at the big, burly hero. Jayne assisted her onto the saddle. Once seated properly she offered her hand.

“ I’m Delilah…………Delilah Holbrook.”

On impulse Jayne reached out, “ I’m J………JC. Very glad to meet you.”

The two shook hands and it was at that very moment that the Serenity scout noticed Mal and Zoe coming out of the bank. Mal gave Jayne a sturdy frown and Jayne parted the handshake abruptly. The Serenity captain then seated himself upon the “Mule” which had a cart taxi hitched behind it. Zoe positioned herself in the cart. She closed the umbrella she had borrowed from Kaylee. She was wearing one of Inara’s dresses, and Mal was decked out in one of Wash’s fancy shirts. You would have never guessed at that time that they, at one time, were two ruff and rugged veterans of the browncoat struggle for independence. They made an exit west, as did Delilah, while Jayne mounted his own beast and went east.

The day was just entering the 1pm hour and another adventure for the crew of Serenity was about to begin.

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Thirty minutes later:

Jayne tethered his mount just outside of Serenity. He walked up the ramp and entered the ship. Kaylee was there to meet him.

“ Mal wants you up in the galley.” She told the big bulk of a man. Jayne complied.

**************** In the Galley ******************************************************

Jayne entered Serenity’s food court, Mal was there, so was Zoe, Wash, Simon, Book and River.

“ Have a sit down my big inquisitive equestrian!”

Mal was walking back and forth while Jayne took a seat at the table. Mal stopped momentarily.

“ Jayne! What is the first rule of thumb as presented by Serenity when it comes to robbing banks?”

Jayne thought for a second.

“ Make sure there’s something worth stealing inside!” He answer.

It was now Mal’s time to think. That was the right answer, it hadn’t occurred to him that Jayne would remember the right answer…….. gorramit!

“ Ok, what’s rule #2?”

There was a pause,

“ That we make no contact. No one is to know why we’re there, what we’re up to or even remember a face. Nothing to identify us or link us to the robbery!” He answered.

“ Bingo!” Mal looked at Jayne. So did the others.

“ If this has something to do Delilah then she’s just a girl that was there having a bit of trouble with her horse!” Jayne went to his defense, “ No connection what-so-ever to do with what you and Zoe were doing inside Heavy‘s.” Jayne crossed his arms. He was confident in his manner.

“ You sure?”

“ I’m gorram sure of it Mal!”

“ Delilah!!?”

It was the first time that Simon had spoken since Mal and Jayne’s confrontation. Everyone looked in his direction.

“ Delilah was a figure from old “Earth That Was”. Actually it was “ Samson & Delilah” a story of two lovers, where the one betrays the other into the telling of secrets.” Simon finished.

“ See!” Mal put his hands on his hips.

“ What’s that got to do with us?” Jayne looked at the doctor.

“ Well nothing I guess, it’s only a fable from the old home world.” Simon never looked in Jayne’s direction, “ Thought I’d spend in my two cents worth.”

“ Well, keep your money doc! I’m sure the girl had nothing to do with Heavy’s Bank security!” He paused, “……….and I’m willing to stake my claim of the heist to the fact that she ain’t involved with the banking business!” Jayne thought a second, “ Well half of it!”

Simon continued his tale, “ The story goes, that Samson told Delilah his secret and she used it against him to play against his strength.” The doc looked over to the big mercenary, “ I’m only telling the tale.”

“ And that’s all it is!” Jayne said, “ A fairy book story told by a people long dead that couldn’t even keep their own world alive. Mal we gonna listen to this gossa?” The big man questioned.

The captain of Serenity thought for a second.

“Well, just keep an eye out!” He looked at every face in the galley at that time,” Most likely it ain’t nothing, but it never bothers to be cautious before leaping into an endeavor. Especially one that Badger’s supplying the Intel for. Don’t want to screw this up.” Mal looked directly at Jayne, “ You know how he is about throwing work our way. Especially easy jobs. We can’t afford to screw something up, especially since that Derby Hat is looking to raise himself up a notch level in Persephone’s aristocratic society. Well at least from what Sir Warrick Harrow has to say. Better we stay on Badger’s good side for now.” Mal concluded his analogy of trust.

End Part 1