The Jouster's Lance

by A. J. Marcus

  “He’s staying with me at the moment,” Austin piped in from outside of Dale’s limited view.

  “As long as you can get him back and forth to physical therapy, and he’s doing well enough, we can probably release him within a week,” Dr. Hall said.

  “We won’t miss an appointment,” Austin promised.

  Dale liked the idea of Austin wanting to take care of him, but he didn’t want to be an imposition. In the back of his drug-addled mind, he hadn’t thought Austin would care. He just hoped he wouldn’t be too big of a baby when it came to Austin helping take care of him. Illness wasn’t something he was normally graceful with.

  “Good,” the doctor continued. “Your employer has filed this as a work-related accident, so the workman’s comp paperwork has already been started.”

  The nurse returned and began taking Dale’s vitals as the doctor continued talking.

  “The only thing we really need right now from you is your okay for replacement surgery. Mr. Renfro says your family is out of state, otherwise we would’ve had them come in and approve it for you, but we also had to order the parts. I figured you’d approve the surgery, so I took the liberty of getting ready. They’ll be here tomorrow afternoon. I’d like to get you into surgery Tuesday before we have to reopen the cuts we made tonight to stop the bleeding.”

  The sooner he got out of the hospital bed, the better. “As soon as we can, Doctor.”

  “Good. I’ll have the nurses bring the paperwork in for you to sign.” He paused to look at the chart the nurse was busily filling out. Dr. Hall nodded to her as she finished. “It looks like you’re right where you should be considering your trauma. Are there any allergies or family history we need to know about right now? The nurses will be in later to go over the full forms with you.”

  “No, sir, not that I’ve encountered so far,” Dale replied.

  “Very good. You get some more sleep, and I’ll check in on you this afternoon. The orthopedic doctor should be by then as well.” Dr. Hall and the nurse vanished back into the hallway.

  “If I have to stay here, I’ll need to get my own place,” Dale said. “At least until they release me to go back to work. I wonder if I could head back to my folks’ ranch in Texas and convalesce there?”

  Austin’s hand closed on his again. “If you’ll let me, I can take care of you right here in Colorado.”

  “But you’re living on Jas’s couch,” Dale objected—not to letting Austin take care of him but to doing it on Jasmine’s couch. He looked up and realized Austin wore a tight blue T-shirt and jeans. He’d been out long enough that folks had brought street clothes and left again.

  “We’ll figure something out.” Austin smiled down at him. “Maybe the fair can do something to put us up in an apartment or something.”

  “And my horses?” He didn’t like the idea of not being able to care for his horses.

  “Max already said he’d take care of them until you were back on your feet.”

  The door opened again.

  “Is he awake?” Catherine’s voice was little more than a whisper. She sounded tired.

  “Yeah, I’m awake,” Dale replied.

  “Good. Visiting hours are over, but we snuck past the folks,” Jasmine said.

  “We shouldn’t stay too long. It’s after two in the morning.” Cat yawned.

  The two women came over to the bed. Austin started to move, but Cat wouldn’t let him. They pummeled Dale with questions until he drifted back to sleep, knowing he was surrounded by the people who cared for him—friends he’d only known a short while but who had already become family.

  Chapter 28

  Austin threw his pirate hat onto the top shelf in the back room of the pirate shop. The final cannon had fired fifteen minutes ago, and he was ready to get moving. The last customers had lagged, debating over a frilly costume dress for the woman, while the man couldn’t make up his mind about which flintlock he wanted. Jasmine had arrived from the bar before the woman finally settled on the red dress with the black lace and the man took the pearl-handled gun. Phillip had been happy with a final three hundred to add to the large till for the day, but Austin wanted to get out of there and up to the hospital to pick up Dale.

  Dale’s physical therapist had announced he could leave the hospital, but they had to wait for Austin to get done with work. He couldn’t afford to miss another day after missing the previous Sunday. But he wanted to hurry. In the back of his mind, he felt like he was rescuing Dale from a torture chamber.

  “Hey, slow down, you know it will take forever to get through the traffic,” Jasmine said as she undid her blouse.

  “I know, but I still want to get there as fast as I can so we can get him home.” Austin pulled off his tunic and reached for the T-shirt that lay on the shelf where he’d put it up and out of the way at the start of the day. He hadn’t told Dale yet, but they weren’t going to be staying at Jasmine’s apartment. Max was letting them stay at his unused guest cabin/bunkhouse. It wasn’t much, a single bedroom with kitchen and bathroom, but Dale would be close to his horses, which would make him feel better. The place was just west of Castle Rock, which would make it easier to get Dale to physical therapy than it would be from Jasmine’s place in central Denver.

  “Sweetie, we’ll get you guys settled in tonight, don’t worry about it. Did Max already get the horses and Dale’s stuff out there?” Jasmine pulled her boots off with a grim look, and then pleasure washed over her face.

  “Yeah, I want Dale to see them as soon as we get out there.” Austin sat down to slip on his hikers. “He’s been worried sick about them.”

  “They’re his livelihood. I can understand wanting to make sure they are safe and sound. Particularly with John Bishop out on bail.”

  Austin had been trying not to think about the fact that even after Dale pressed assault charges, the church the man worked for had posted bail. Having John on the loose was the only thing that made Austin nervous about bringing Dale home. At least in the hospital, Dale had other people around him at all times. Out at Max’s ranch, there might be times he’d be alone.

  Austin stood up with his shoes on. “I just think it’s incredible that those lawyers from the church have put a gag order on the whole thing. If any of us go to the press about what happened before the trial, we could get sued.”

  “They have more money, and they make the rules,” Jasmine replied as she hung up her long multilayered skirt. “I’d love to go to the press and expose their hate for what it really is.”

  “You and me both, but for John to get what he really deserves, we have to stay quiet until after the trial, and that might take longer than Dale’s recovery.”

  He grabbed the bag he’d shoved his costume into as Jasmine buttoned her jeans and then picked up her clothes. Austin was out the door before she could fall into step with him. He had to restrain himself to keep from running down the hill.

  With only a smile and a wave, he acknowledged Catherine when he passed her.

  “Catch you guys later. I’ll bring the pizza!” she shouted in his wake.

  They’d had to stop several of the cast from turning Dale’s release into a party. The only way they did that was by promising he would be at Chipmunk’s end-of-fair party in a couple of weeks, and letting folks know they could stop by in a few days. The outpouring of support and caring from the cast and crew had been amazing. Austin wasn’t sure they were going to be able to get all the flowers and such into the Jeep. He’d thought about driving Dale’s big truck over, but the idea of driving the diesel still bothered him. Max said something about getting it worked out.

  The traffic was worse than it had been a week ago, when they’d been trying to get to the hospital. It took them half an hour just to get out of the parking lot. There was actually a policeman directing traffic at the one stop sign between the fair and I-25. Even he wasn’t helping things move along faster.

  A radiant glow of orange and red rose up behind the mountains to the west as the
y pulled up to visitor parking. Austin got as close as he could to the front doors so they could keep Dale from having to walk too far.

  When he walked into the hospital room, all the flowers were gone except for two plants: a blooming shamrock he’d picked up and a small cluster of cactus Catherine had found in the gift shop. Her card said she’d seen the pricks and thought of him.

  Dale sat already dressed in the chair next to the bed. He’d spent a lot of time there after they replaced his shoulder. The doctors and therapist had refused to let him lounge around. he smiled at the sight of Austin and Jasmine coming in. Austin was just beginning to realize how important that smile was to him.

  “So you ready to get out of here?” he asked, wishing he could sweep Dale up in his arms, kiss him, and carry him out of there. They’d only shared one brief kiss since the attack; a couple of days before, they’d had the opportunity when no one was around. It still amazed him how busy a private hospital room could be.

  “Of course.” Dale smiled. “Been ready all day. If you could let the nurse know you’re here, they have to roll me out in a wheelchair.”

  “I’ll let her know,” Jasmine said and vanished down the hall toward the nurses’ station.

  “So how was your day at the fair?” Dale asked.

  “Not bad. It took the last couple forever to get out. I hate to tell the woman after she spent two hundred dollars on the dress, but it’s designed for someone half her size. Just because she can fit into it doesn’t mean it’s a good fit on her.” He shrugged. “But the customer is always right, so I had to let her leave with it.”

  Dale chuckled. “Not another one of those ladies who wants to push the girls up and out so they look more like bread spilling out of loaf pans.”

  Austin nodded. “So you’ve seen them.”

  “Gay or straight, those things are hard to miss,” he replied as Jasmine and the shift nurse came in with a wheelchair.

  “So, Mr. O’Toole, you ready to go home?” the nurse asked as she pulled the chair up in front of him.

  “Guess so.” He stood up, not nearly as wobbly as he’d been the first day after surgery, when they’d forced him out of bed to start using his new shoulder.

  “Good.” She held the chair while he sat down. Then she turned and began checking through the small wardrobe. “Looks like you got everything out.”

  “All right there.” He pointed to the two plastic bags on the bed.

  Minutes later they’d managed to get his discharge papers signed and his meds collected, and were wheeling him out the front doors. Austin handed the shamrock to Jasmine so he could open the car door and help Dale into the passenger seat.

  “I’m so glad you’re out of there,” Austin said as they stopped at the first light, several blocks away from the hospital. He looked over at Dale, who had more color in the fading evening light than he’d had in days. Austin leaned across to the passenger seat and kissed the jouster. It was a very sweet kiss. Their lips lingered together.

  “Ah… green light,” Jasmine called from the backseat.

  “Sorry,” Austin said, straightening and stepping on the gas.

  “Thanks for rescuing me,” Dale said, settling his hand on Austin’s thigh. “I know we still have months of recovery to go, but I’m so glad to be out of there. So where are we going?”

  Austin chuckled. “Not far. You’ll see.” The road curved a bit as they headed west toward the mountains.

  “I might be new to the area, but I thought Denver was north of Castle Rock.” Dale patted Austin’s leg. The weight of his hand sent warmth through Austin. His pulse quickened. He wanted them out to their new temporary home so they could get some much-needed alone time.

  “It is, but that’s not where we’re going. It’s a surprise.”

  Dale glanced at Jasmine in the backseat. “Well, it must not be a huge surprise. Jasmine’s here.”

  Jasmine stuck her tongue out.

  Seeing Dale’s smile warmed Austin’s heart the way the hand on his thigh had his leg. Driving away from the hospital lifted his spirits. For the first time in over a week, he felt like everything was going to be just great.

  They turned onto a two-lane road, closer to the mountains. It quickly turned to dirt.

  “Can we take it just a bit easier?” Dale asked, pain shadowing his voice. “This is a bit rough on my shoulder.”

  Austin hit the brakes and nearly brought the Jeep to a halt before giving it just enough gas to keep moving up the hill. “Sorry, wasn’t thinking.”

  “It’s okay, just a little less jarring,” Dale said. “So I guess you’re still not going to tell me where we’re going?”

  “Nope.” Austin shook his head. “We’re almost there. I could be mean and blindfold you.”

  “I think not. I need to know when to grab the oh shit bar and brace myself,” Dale replied. Less than a minute later, they hit a bump and he yanked his hand off Austin’s leg to grab the bar in front of him.

  They rounded a corner, and there was the gate for Max’s property.

  Austin pulled up and Jasmine got out to open the gate.

  “This is a really pretty place,” Dale said, looking around at the rugged landscape. Austin had to admit that even in the deepening twilight, it looked a lot better than the urban sprawl he was used to.

  “Yeah, it’s pretty amazing.” He pulled forward enough so Jas could close the gate and get back into the Jeep. It was still another half mile to the house, and he didn’t think she would appreciate walking it, particularly not after a long day at the fair.

  As they came in view of the house, Dale gasped. “Wait a sec, is that my truck and trailer? Hey, there’s Champion and Pyre. Austin, how did you get them out here?”

  Austin couldn’t help but smile. “I didn’t, Max did. This is his place, and we get to stay in his guest cabin while you’re getting well. It’s better than Jas’s couch.” He glanced in the rearview mirror, meeting his best friend’s glare. “Not that there’s anything wrong with Jas’s couch. It’s been very comfy while I’ve been sleeping on it.”

  He pulled up in front of the cabin next to Jasmine’s car, which she’d parked there that morning. Max wasn’t there yet, nor was Catherine.

  “Let me help you get out,” Austin said as he jumped out of his seat. He raced around the car before Dale could finish opening the door. He grasped Dale’s good arm and tried to help him down without too much jarring. As Dale got his feet on the ground, he wrapped his good arm around Austin, holding the other man close.

  “It feels good to hold you again,” he said softly as Austin fumbled to return the embrace without hurting Dale’s injured shoulder.

  “I know. I missed this,” Austin replied. Behind them, a horse whinnied.

  Dale released Austin but claimed his hand as they walked over to the corral next to the cabin. The two horses leaned against the wooden rails, pushing their heads toward their wayward owner. Dale released Austin’s hand, and his face lit up as he reached for the two heads, but he grimaced as he extended his replaced shoulder too far.

  “Hey, you guys, did you miss me?”

  Champion pushed Pyre out of the way, trying to get the most attention. For several minutes, Dale stood there reassuring his horses that he was all right. The sound of a vehicle coming down the road made them all turn. Catherine’s little blue car bounced along the dirt road. Austin was amazed the little thing had made it in one piece.

  She pulled in behind the Jeep and got out, smiling. “It’s good to see you outside the hospital,” she said, walking over.

  “You too,” Dale replied, leaving the horses. He caught her up in a lighter version of the hug he’d given Austin.

  “I brought some diner. Figured you would want something less cardboard, and keeping with the Renfair slash pirate theme of your life, I got Black Jack’s Pizza. They’re really good.”

  “Sounds awesome,” he said.

  Another vehicle coming down the drive drew their attention. Max’s truck rumble
d into view. They waited as he parked in front of the house before joining them. His steps were slow, and he leaned heavily on his cane. He looked almost as tired as he had that night in the emergency room.

  “Good, you guys made it,” he said as he got near enough.

  “Max, thanks for letting Austin and me stay here for a while,” Dale said, offering the man his good hand.

  Max looked grim as he took the outstretched hand. “It’s the least I can do for you. We needed somewhere for your horses after the fair closes down, so I figured you’d like to be with them and I had the extra space. It’ll be good to have someone around.”

  “Well, thanks. We’ll do what we can to help out. I might even get Austin to feed horses now and again.”

  Austin shrugged. “Sure, I’m always up for learning new things.” He didn’t add that he’d do anything right now to make Dale’s life a little easier. As long as they spent lots of time together, he didn’t care what they did.

  Chapter 29

  Dale stifled a yawn. Catherine and Jasmine had gone, finally leaving him and Austin alone. The cabin was small, but it was so much more private than Jasmine’s couch had been. The small bedroom held a queen-size bed. It’d been a long time since he’d slept on a large mattress. His bunk in the trailer was small, and even the one in the hospital had only been large enough for him to awkwardly turn over once. Of course, the pain in his shoulder kept him from moving around much in his sleep.

  “I guess we need to get you lying down,” Austin said, coming over to the table after closing the door behind the departing women. Max had gone up to the main house almost an hour before.

  Austin’s suggestion made Dale smile, even as another yawn threatened to escape. Being in their own private place made Dale feel good. He’d never lived with another man, not even for a short while. This was new territory for him. But since he didn’t know how his career as a jouster was going to be affected by the shattered shoulder, now might be the time to think about settling down.