“So,” Mal said, feeling the breeze from the mountains blowing through his hair and pulling his coat a little closer about himself. “You want us to drop by Jiangyin any time soon?”

Jayne muttered something under his breath, but shook his head. “Ain’t asking.”

“Only I’d’a thought you’d want for us to see your son get married.”

“He ain’t mine.” Jayne concentrated on the way ahead, manoeuvring the hover mule around an outcrop of rocks.

“Close enough.” Mal glanced at the big man. “You ashamed of us or something?”

Jayne didn’t answer, not for a few seconds. “Ain’t you,” he finally said, his voice whipped away by the wind. “Me.”

“You’re ashamed of you?”

“Mal, I really don’t wanna talk about it.”

Mal sat quietly for a minute or two. “Have you answered his letter?” he asked finally.

Jayne shook his head. “Not yet. Don’t seem right, not ‘til I know what to do.”

“When’s this wedding supposed to be, anyhow?” Jayne was silent, and Mal turned to look at him. “Well?”

“I’m thinking.”

“Well think a little faster. I’d kinda like an answer before I’m too old to hear it.”

Jayne sighed audibly. “Mal, the thing is … Simon’s kinda said he ain’t gonna ask the girl ‘til I say I’m coming.”

“He wants your permission?” Mal tried to hide his amusement, and only the corners of his mouth twitched.

“Nah, nothing like that.” Jayne sat up straighter. “Least, I don’t think so. He just wants me to be there, be his best man ‘n’ everything.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“It’s me, Mal.” Jayne shot a glare at him. “I ain’t what a girl wants in a father-in-law. Not even a one who ain’t real.”

“They don’t know that.”

“Makes it worse. She’s gonna think he’s gonna end up like me, and … well, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”

That wasn’t something Mal could really argue with. No matter that the big man had changed over the past few years, more recently since River had taken him in hand, but there was no doubting he was a shock to the system. That’s what made him so useful