The Price by Cary West

sense of something that made no sense to him.
    “Jack, I have wanted to be a teacher all my life. It’s all I ever wanted to do. It’s part of who I am.”
    “What about Jesse?” he asked. “He’s part of you too.”
    “I know he is,” she sighed. “It’s going to be the hardest thing to leave him when I go to work every morning. As a mother, I’m struggling with that.”
    Jack looked up at her and saw the tears in her eyes. He reached out and took her hand, folding it into his.
    “It’s that important to you?”
    “Yes, it is.”
    Jack nodded. “Then you should teach,” he said, and lifted her hand to his lips and kissed them.
    “Thank you, Jack.” She folded into his arms.
    “I love you, Kate,” he said, holding her tight. “There isn’t anything in the world I wouldn’t do for you.”
    “I know that,” she said. “That’s why I love you so much.”
    “No more holding back from me,” said Jack, lifting her chin and looking into a vastness of blue. “I know I can be stubborn and overbearing at times, but you have to be straight with me.”
    “I will, I promise,” she sniffled.
    “No more crying, baby.” He wiped the tears from her eyes. “I hate it when I’ve upset you.”
    “No more crying,” Kate gave him a sweet smile. “And it’s not exactly all you’re doing.”
    She had a point, and like a dark cloud, his irritation returned.
    “What are we going to do about your mother?”
    “I don’t know,” she heavily sighed.
    “She’s got to go!” said Jack, shaking his head.
    “She’s leaving tomorrow.”
    “I don’t know if I can stand another night with her under our roof,” he growled.
    “It’s one more night, Jack,” said Kate, and she stroked his arm with her finger, running it up and down soothingly against his skin.
    A cool breeze echoed a haunting whistle in the graveyard behind them, like a whisper, signaling his own unrest.
    “I know it ain’t right to ask, but I’m asking anyway,” said Jack. “I need you to keep that woman away from me. She’s poison and I’m ready to explode.”
    “I’ll take care of my mother.” She nodded. “But I think for the time being, we should go back inside and rescue Mark from her scrutiny. We’ll make up some kind of excuse and call it an early night.”
    “I think that’s best,” Jack agreed. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.”
    Jack took Kate’s hand and together they walked back to The Wild Horse Saloon . He cringed at the thought of holding his temper. It wasn’t going to be easy, but for Kate he would do it. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her, including spending another few waking hours dealing with her difficult mother. Jack reigned in his temper and together they returned to their guests.

SEVEN
    MELTDOWN WITH A CHERRY ON TOP
    “I thought the old battle axe would never leave!”
    Jack slammed the front door closed after personally witnessing his mother-in-law get into her car and drive away down the dirt road.
    “Good riddance,” he said, following Kate into the kitchen. “This calls for a celebration.”
    “I don’t feel much like celebrating,” sighed Kate, and she began cleaning the dishes from breakfast, putting them into the dishwasher.
    “What’s wrong, baby?” Jack wrapped his arms around her belly and rested his chin on her shoulder.
    “I wish it could have been a nicer visit, that’s all.”
    She wondered why she always felt so empty after her mother’s departure. It would be nice to have a real relationship like most daughters had with their mothers, but that was never going to happen with Marnie St. Claire. The sooner Kate accepted it, the better she would feel. But still the little girl inside wished she had a mother she could lean on.
    Kate brushed aside her blues and leaned back against Jack, feeling the warm safety of his arms folded about her.
    “We have the whole day to ourselves.” He snuggled closer. “What do you want to do?”
    “I don’t want to do much of