Page 71 of My Darling Clementine

“Like you hearing a hungry she-bear.”

“Just like that,” she agreed, laughing.

Clem stood to watch as Jed jiggled his pole a bit. The line pulled down and then bounced back up. “Did you see that?” She pointed. “Look where the line meets the water, there! It did it again.” Clem looked up to see Jed grin, eyes trained where she pointed. “Jiggle it a bit more…there! You got it! Keep your pole up, don’t let him swim off the hook.” She reached out over the water and grabbed his line, pulling the fish up to land on the rocks by their feet. It wriggled and jumped free of the hook, flopping like mad toward the water. Clem laughed and put her foot on it, holding it down. “Got something to string it on?”

Jed reached in his pocket for twine, took the fish from her, and threaded it through the gills. “Thanks, Clem.” He took back the empty hook she handed him, found a worm, and baited it. Standing near her, he threw his line in a different direction to avoid tangling. “Handy, me running…” he laughed, “no, you running into me!” He guffawed. “You can eat off the story of running from a hungry bear for days.”

Clem grinned. “Kizzy will never believe me.” She chuckled, posturing. “Hey, guess what happened to me? A large mama bear snuck up on me and stole all my fish to feed her babies.” She broke into a laugh. “No, she won’t believe it – it sounds too outrageous.”

“Naw, not half outlandish enough, not the way you told it.” Jed grinned at her. “I thought you were a writer, Clem. You’ve got to make that mama bear eight feet tall, first, with teeth as long as your arm. And tell how it is you scared her, then throw in her and the cubs coming after you, that’ll make it exciting. You add a talking fish who warns you for a bit of whimsy, throw in an exciting chase scene with a few narrow escapes, and maybe a gigantic bird to pick you up and fly you out of there.” He laughed. “Then you’ve got yourself a story.” The big man jiggled his pole. “Straight forward telling takes all the ‘zing’ out of it. You’ve got to punch it up, add a few grandiose details to make it unforgettable.”

He flicked a glance at Clem. “The bigger the better when impressing the ladies, am I right?”

Clem knew she was blushing, but let it ride. “Never had any complaints.”

Jed laughed, easy with his teasing, throwing in his line. “Me neither, ‘cause when I’m with a lady, I always leave her laughing.” They chuckled together, comfortable. “Of course, I have been told this tickles.” He stroked his impressive mustache.

“It’s a fine one,” Clem said, rubbing her smooth chin and jaw. “I prefer being clean-shaven, myself, go out of my way to do it every other day.” She grunted. “I’ll never be able to grow one like yours, not with the few and far between I sprout.”

“A man ain’t measured by his mustache, Clem.” Jed sent her a look, one that was curious, understanding, and accepting.

“Your molly’s just fine, fit as a fiddle, and raring to go. If she’s dropped weight, it’s not doing her any harm. Fresh air and exercise are healthy for man and beast.” His line started swimming away. “Hey!” he shouted, jerking his pole in surprise. A fish flew up in the air, flipped its tail, spit out the hook, and landed back in the water, swallowing his bait as it swam away. “Damn.”

Clem laughed. “That one blew you a kiss, Jed, saying thanks for the invite, but he won’t be coming to dinner as he just ate!”

Cushing pulled in his line and stared at his empty hook, glared at the lake, and started turning over small rocks, looking for worms. “Let’s try that again,” he muttered, “I’m coming for you, Mr. Fish.”

Clem pulled in a large sunfish, holding it up to spin in the air. “Kizzy’ll be jealous. She caught the biggest yesterday, but this one’s twice as large.” As she worked her hook free, she asked, “What else did you want to talk to me about, Jed?”

Hunkered on his haunches as he hunted worms, the big man looked up. “Marriage looks good on you, Clem.” He nodded his head. “I haven’t seen you drunk once, you drive the neatest, tightest wagon in the group, you keep your camp and animals tended, and,” Jed looked out over the lake, “you’re calmer, more settled.” He paused.

“Last night,” he paused again, “well, you could have got your nose out of joint, started a fight, made the trip unpleasant. But you didn’t. You got the message and don’t hold a grudge.” He looked up at her again. “You’ve changed, Dennison; you worked hard before, don’t get me wrong, and you always got along fine, but this trip you care about more than just crossing to find gold.”

Clem shielded her eyes as if from the sun, staring out at the still lake. “I found gold in California, but struck it rich the day I married Kizzy,” she said, voice gruff with emotion. “I mean, I knew I wanted to marry her, who wouldn’t? She’s beautiful.”

“She is that,” agreed Jed, threading a worm on his hook. “And a lady through and through. You’re a lucky man.”

Clem searched for the right words. “I’m discovering what real treasure is, the richness she brings to my life, the wealth of opportunities, and she surprises me more every day.” She glanced at the trail boss, but he was casting out and not looking at her. To hide her massive smile, she stooped, catching a worm trying to wiggle away. “I won’t deny it, Jed; I am the luckiest man living.”

Jed stood in the mid-morning sun, watching his line where it met the water. “I need a second, a deputy, to help get these greenhorns across. You’ve done it before, you know a hell of a lot more than anyone else on this train, except me and Paps. And I need a man who knows how to draw a line that won’t be crossed. After watching you these last few weeks, I can tell you’re the man I need.” He jiggled his pole. “If you agree, I’ll pay you once we get to Sacramento.”

“Well, I don’t know, now,” stammered Clem, stunned by the offer. “I don’t know what I could do to help you, Jed.”

“Teach the other men how to handle their gear, get them to drive from dawn to dusk without falling behind, keep their wagons balanced, and stay healthy.” He paused, then grinned. “All the things you’re doing right this time you didn’t do last time. You learned those lessons real well on your first trip, and the hard way.” He glanced up, and their eyes met, both remembering the cost of their first crossing.

“I see you toting water from above the camp, and getting the missus to cross to swift, instead of scooping out shallows. And now,” he grabbed his line and pulled in a beautiful fish, kneeling to unhook and string it on his line, “here you are catching your dinner and teaching me to do the same.” He laughed with delight. “And Paps says that isn’t easy. He’s always telling me, Jed, you’ve got a hard head for learnin’. Always gotta do it the hard way.” He grinned over at her, holding up his two fish. “Once I get a couple more like these, me and Paps are tucking in to a tasty supper.”

Clem laughed. “You don’t expect me to teach every man how to fish, do you?” She patted her pockets. “I only have two more hooks. Everyone will have to share.”

Jed laughed with her. “You taught me without shaming me for not knowing how,” he said. “These men need to learn a few things pretty damn quick, and they’re not picking it up from me. Will you give me a hand, visit around, strike up a few conversations? See if you can get a little common sense into a few hard heads.”

“Sure,” Clem nodded, doubtful, “if you think they’ll listen to me more than you.” She shrugged.

“It’s almost fall, so sickness will be down unless people get careless, and they always do.” Jed re-baited and tossed in his line. “You’ve seen for yourself what works on the trail and what doesn’t.” He shrugged. “Think about it.”

“I will, and talk it over with Kizzy. It’ll mean leaving her alone more than I like.”

Jed turned his head and nodded. “I thought of that. You’ll be wagon one for the duration, and the Flannigan wagon, with Donald and his wife, Mara, can take the two spot. They’re a young couple, friendly and down to earth. They’ll be nice, safe company for your missus.” He turned back to his fishing. “With the pleasant weather we’re facing, I figure we can travel fast, barring more fool accidents like the idiot yesterday who busted his shoulder falling out of his wagon.”