Chapter 4

The two men were silent as the land-bound mule rolled across the country side, each lost in their own thoughts. Simon winced as his still healing body bounced in the uncomfortable seat and he shot an annoyed look at Jayne, who he figured was driving this way on purpose.

He noticed Jayne look at him out of the corner of his eye before muttering,” Didn’t make the roads.” The expression on his face was anything but apologetic.

Simon didn’t even bother to keep the snark out of his tone. “You could drive on them.” He looked away when Jayne didn’t respond.

Minutes of relieving silence passed, and Simon was already lost in his own thoughts when Jayne’s annoying voice intruded. “You got responsibilities now.”

Simon’s eyes narrowed and he pursed his lips, snorting indignantly as he exhaled through his nose. Jayne was the last person to be counseling him on responsibility. “You wouldn’t know anything about –“

“That’s lil’ Kaylee’s kid Inara been carin’ for. Your kid. Ain’t right for you to be ignorin’ –”

Simon clenched his jaw. “I’m not talking about this with you.” He’d had more than enough time to think about his responsibilities, he didn’t need Jayne to point them all out.

“Gotta talk about it with someone. An’ seein’ as I’m sittin’ right here an’ we got a long way to go, guess you’re gonna have to listen.”

“I have my sister to talk with. She’s my family.” The implication that Simon didn’t consider Jayne family was not lost on the big man. “Kindly keep your opinions to yourself until we get to wherever you’re taking me.”

“Could just snap your neck and dump you in the woods, instead,” came the quick retort. “No one’d ever find yer body.”

Simon had long ago stopped flinching beneath Jayne’s threats, but he also knew he would never be able to hold his own against the larger man. “And my sister would respond in kind.”

Jayne grunted and Simon couldn’t help but feel even more disgusted than usual at the sound. “Fight your own battles, little man. Don’t ask baby sis to