Simon returned his attention to Violet. She rode with Faith and the two of them were laughing about something. They’d certainly become good friends and they worked well together. Simon and half the community kept an eye out for any strangers arriving in the area, inquiring about someone named Faith. He certainly hoped her father never came looking for her. The McLennons wouldn’t allow Faith to return home with him, even if it meant bringing Sheriff Robertson into the decision. Of course, the way Roland looked at her, Faith could be a married woman before her father ever arrived in town. And even if the drunken fool did, he’d have no claim on her if she was Roland’s wife.
A commotion nearby caught his eye and he stretched his neck for a better view. A few longhorns had been discovered and had joined the herd, moving slowly forward, driven by a few fellows in the Double M crew. Simon wasn’t particularly fond of the breed. Those dangerous horns worked well in the cattle’s defense against natural predators like coyotes, but they could do serious harm to a rancher as well. A man needed to keep his wits about him when working with the critters.
Roland waved his arm, riding alongside the cattle and encouraging the herd to keep moving. Simon rode closer, intending to strike up a conversation with his friend. They’d hardly seen each other lately, what with Roland working in town now.
“Watch that animal,” Simon called to Roland.
A large longhorn steer turned ornery about something; maybe he hadn’t appreciated being hurried along. He bellowed and then purposely slammed himself against Roland’s cow pony, frightening the little mare who uncharacteristically reared up, surprising her rider. Roland grabbed for the pommel on his saddle but his hand missed. Simon watched in alarm as, arms and legs flailing, his friend landed hard on the ground.
Simon urged Hero forward and he grabbed the mare’s reins when her hooves landed on the ground, narrowing missing Roland’s body. “Are you all right?”
Roland lay in a heap at an awkward angle, unmoving.
“Dammit,” Simon muttered, looking around for some help and spotting one of his men riding toward them. “Take this mare.”
The cowhand took the horse’s reins as Simon slid from the saddle. Thankfully, the cattle parted when the rider landed, and it appeared Roland hadn’t been trampled by any of them. Simon crouched down at Roland’s side. “Are you hurt?”
“I landed on a rock. Heard something snap.” Roland moaned. “I think… I think I broke...”
Simon ran a hand over his friend’s body. When he started on the left side, Roland cursed aloud. “I reckon you might have broken a bone in your leg.”
“Get me… out of… here… I…” Roland slumped in a heap on the ground.
Violet and Faith rode up and gazed down at the still form on the ground.
“What happened?” Violet called, dismounting.
“Is he hurt?” Faith added.
Simon explained the fall, realizing his friend had passed out. “He’s out cold. Not certain if pain was the culprit or perhaps he hit his head and concussed himself.”
Faith fell to her knees beside Roland. “Wake up,” she encouraged him, shaking his body.
“Leave him be. We need to get Roland to Doc Bennett and fast.” Simon gathered up Hero’s reins and mounted up. He glanced to the left where one of his neighbor’s ranch hands was driving a supply wagon toward him. Someone had been thinking ahead, knowing the dangers surrounding roundup, and decided having a rig handy to haul an injured person into town would save precious minutes. “Over here,” Simon called, dismounting again and silently thanking the rancher for his forethought.
Ten minutes later, Simon, his neighbor’s ranch hand, and the two women had carefully loaded Roland into the wagon and covered him from head to toe with the quilts they found inside.
“I’m coming with you,” Violet announced, passing her horse’s reins to the ranch hand.
Faith handed over her horse. “Me, too.”
As the ranch hand walked Hero and the other two horses toward the makeshift corral housing the horses, Simon climbed into the seat the ranch hand vacated and took up the reins. Violet and Faith sat in back, watching over Roland as Simon turned the rig around and headed for Milestone.
Just his luck. One of their own had been injured. Jackson and Michael would keep their stock and Faith’s cattle with the herd, watching over them. Simon hadn’t a single worry there. His priority now was getting Roland help. If Roland heard a snap, then he’d wager the fellow had a broken leg at the very least. But Doc Bennett would know what to do. He slapped the reins and the horses picked up the pace. Simon intended to make good time as long as Roland remained passed out and oblivious to the pain.
Fifty minutes later, he pulled the rig up to the path leading to Doc Bennett’s clinic. Violet leapt out of the wagon, leaving Faith holding Roland’s head in her lap. His sister raced toward the clinic’s door, and a moment later, she returned with Doc in tow.
Doc peeked over his spectacles. “What happened?”
“Toppled off his horse when the mare unexpectantly reared up during a run-in with an ornery steer. Before he passed out, Roland told me he heard something snap.” Simon helped Doc carry Roland into the clinic and settle him on the metal examining table. Faith and Violet followed on their heels.
“I’ll take a look and let you know what I find,” Doc muttered, slipping his arms into the sleeves on a white coat. “Wait outside with the women.”
Simon dragged his hand down his face. “I’m staying.”
Doc glanced at him. “You’re covered in dirt and manure. Out!”
Simon glanced down at himself. “Oh,” he muttered. A fellow could eat off Doc’s examination room floor; he kept an impressively clean clinic. “All right. I’ll wait out there.” He strode down the short hallway to the main entrance where Violet and Faith paced the floor.
“Is he…” Faith whispered, spotting Simon.
He shook his head. “He’s still passed out, but alive. Doc’s examining him and then we’ll hear something.”
“This is all my fault,” Violet muttered, wringing her hands. “He should have stayed in town, doctoring animals.”
Simon reached for her arm and turned her toward him. “Look at me.” Her tear-filled eyes gazed into his. “This is nobody’s fault. Accidents happen during a roundup. A skittish mare reared and toppled him onto the ground. He’s going to be fine.”
Several minutes later, Doc emerged from the examining room and strode down the hallway. “He’s broken a leg all right. Hasn’t regained consciousness. Not certain if he’s concussed, but I suspect he is.”
“Now what?” Violet blurted.
Faith’s eyes filled with tears. “Can I see him?”
Doc shook his head. “I’m starting surgery to set the leg. Might be broken in more than one place.”
Simon cursed under his breath. That was the last thing Roland needed. “Keep us posted. We’re all mighty concerned for him.”
“Understandable. I reckon he’ll be fine. But I need to get busy operating on him.” Doc pointed to a nearby table as he headed back toward the examination room. “Help yourself to some water and cookies and try not to worry.”
Simon glanced at the patient’s sister and his sweetheart. “Might as well tell the sun not to bother rising tomorrow, Doc. We’ll all worry until we hear from you again,” he called.
“Is your wife here to assist?” Violet called.
“No. Sue’s visiting her sister back east,” Doc replied.
“Then I’m helping.” Faith brushed past Violet and raced after Doc. “I’ve done some nursing, assisting the doctor back home when his nurse was away visiting her relatives. Reckoned if I couldn’t doctor animals, I could help out with people.”
“Well, I’d appreciate your help.” Doc accompanied Faith into the examination room and closed the door behind them.
Simon stood, arms hanging at his side. He’d never felt so helpless. “Guess we wait,” he mumbled to himself.
Vi
olet’s lips moved and she closed her eyes.
Simon reckoned a bit of praying wouldn’t hurt either.
A minute later, she opened her eyes.
“What are you thinking?” He reached for her hand.
“Moe’s alone on the ranch. We put Misty and her four kittens in the barn.” Violet heaved a sigh. “Faith was supposed to return home to feed the horses and—”
“I’ll send someone out there. Maybe one of the Double M ranch hands is in town fetching supplies for Mrs. Sheridan.”
Violet nodded. “Faith loves Roland as much as we do. We’ll never convince her to leave his side until we know he’s out of the woods.” Tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.
“Leave it to me, sweetheart. I’ll think of something.” Simon wrapped his arms around her and let her cry.
Chapter 27
Violet wrung her hands and paced the waiting area outside Doc Bennett’s examination room. Late afternoon sunshine poured through the large curtained window, spilling onto the plank floor. Two lumpy sofas and a collection of mismatched, ladderback chairs circled the colorful rag rug in the middle of the floor.
She detested the clinic’s bothersome antiseptic smell assailing her olfactory senses. Of course, Simon smelling like a barn hadn’t been much better. At least, he’d headed off to buy himself a change of clothes at the general store. He promised to return to keep vigil with her as soon as possible.
Tears blurred her vision and she glanced heavenward as painful memories plundered her conscience. She recalled the agony that accompanied this clinic scent when she endured endless hours at her mother’s bedside before her heart gave out and she passed a few years ago. Violet had been so certain her mother would survive the bout of influenza, but she’d been wrong. Her mother’s death had come as a complete shock. The worst time in Violet’s life.
Then Fate took her father in the blizzard.
Now Roland’s accident.
She could have lost her brother also. Might still.
The clinic door opened and Simon strode inside. “I found Pa at the general store, picking up the mail. He’s going to drop by your ranch on his way home and feed the horses and Moe.”
“Thank you so much. What would I do without your help?” She glanced at Simon. “How much longer is this going to take?”
He straightened in the waiting area chair. “I don’t know, sweetheart. As long as is necessary.”
“Does anyone die of a broken leg?” Violet whispered the troubling thought while she settled on the chair next to him.
“I don’t think so. A couple of our ranch hands have broken a leg. Doc set the bones and stitched them up again. Good as new in several weeks when their casts came off. Even with one of those wheeled chairs, getting around was a nuisance for them, but soon enough our ranch hands were back at work again.”
“I hate this waiting.”
Simon patted her hand. “Roland might have broken his leg, but he’s not a horse. We won’t have to shoot him.”
Violet swatted his arm, but smiled despite herself. She wasn’t certain whether Simon was attempting to cheer her up with a bit of humor or hoping to distract her from her worrying. Either way, she appreciated him being here at her side; she couldn’t have survived the waiting alone. “With so much on his plate right now, Roland has to be all right. Operating his new vet clinic. Obligation to repay his bank loan. Serving the community.”
“Don’t worry. It’ll work out. Roland is a very resourceful fellow.”
“How resourceful can you be with a cast on your leg?” Violet slumped in her seat. “He made it perfectly clear he wanted nothing to do with the Triple C. Why would he offer to help with the roundup?”
“That’s the kind of man he is.”
“I should never have accepted his help.”
“Well, what’s done is done. Your brother can’t continue helping with roundup now. Not with a bum leg.”
Violet heaved a sigh. “I know. Most of my cattle have been shipped for sale. The rustlers completed most of the job for me.”
“We haven’t located any more with your brand during the past four days.” Simon shook his head. “When we found the cattle stolen by the rustlers, there were eighty-seven head with the Triple C brand.”
“In spring, I had one hundred and five after the calving. I may have lost a few to natural predators.”
“There could be a few more head out there, mixed in with our cattle or cattle belonging to other ranchers,” Simon speculated, attempting to sound hopeful for Violet’s sake. He reached for her hand. “We’ll try our best to find them all. I know how important this is to you. You’re counting on revenue from every head to cover the loan and mortgage payments at the bank.”
“With sufficient funds left over to buy stock next spring.” Violet sighed. “I’m so close to fulfilling my goal. I can’t fail now.”
Simon kissed her hand. “Your brother is back in town. Your neighbors and friends are behind you every step of the way. You’re not alone, Violet.”
“Some days it feels that way.” She smiled, weakly. “Even Moe almost died.”
“But he didn’t.”
“It’s just one thing after the other,” she bemoaned.
Ranching is not an easy way to make a living. Her father often repeated his conviction, and she’d listened to him. He’d been so right, but she couldn’t see herself doing anything else.
Simon wrapped an arm around her. “It’s called ‘life’. We all face challenges from time to time. You’re not riding life’s bumpy roads alone. When difficulties come your way, that’s when you ask for assistance. Lean on your friends and family, move forward, and never give up.”
Violet patted Simon’s knee. “You’re right. Quitting is not an option. And I don’t give up easily.”
“Nor is there any need to.” Simon smiled at her. When she attempted to stand, he guided her back onto the chair. “No more pacing. You’ll be making me nervous.”
Violet leaned back. “This is quite the turn of events. Not long ago we were waiting to hear about Moe when my brother was operating on him. Now the tables have turned and Roland is the patient. What are the chances?”
“Another doctor is performing the miracles today.” Simon held up his hand. “Not that your brother requires a miracle. He’ll be fine.”
Violet closed her eyes. Simon was right. Her brother’s surgery was common and there was no reason to think he wouldn’t come out alive and well and cursing the Fates for causing such a stupid accident. At least she hoped Roland didn’t require a miracle.
Chapter 28
Faith sat at Roland’s bedside while he slept. She hadn’t assisted with any doctoring in so long she feared she might have forgotten everything she’d been taught. But Doc Bennett praised her for her assistance since his wife hadn’t been available to help.
She glanced over at the talented physician who was busily cleaning his surgical utensils. She hadn’t a clue to all the names but remembered the knives were called scalpels. “When do you reckon he’s going to wake up?”
“Shouldn’t be long now.” Doc paused and gazed at his patient. “I gave him a good dosing with the chloroform. Didn’t want him feeling me setting those bones. He did a powerful good job of breaking that leg.”
“Three places. He must have fallen off the horse in the worst way possible,” Faith bemoaned.
Doc shook his head. “Seen worse. Riders have landed on their heads and been killed instantly. Some fall and break their spines, maimed for life. All Roland needs is some time to mend.”
“Keeping him off that leg will be a challenge. He’ll want to return to his own doctoring as soon as he can.”
“Well, if he wants to mend properly, he’d better mind me and stay off it for at least six weeks, eight would be better.” Doc turned to Faith. “I’m counting on you, young lady, to help me with that.”
“I’m going to suggest he recuperate at the Triple C. Violet would love having him stay with us on the ranch
.” Faith caught herself smiling. “I’ll watch that he doesn’t overdo.”
“Sounds like an excellent idea. Hope you can convince Roland.”
“We’ll try our best.” Faith shifted on the chair and laughed. “Besides, he can’t move fast enough to avoid being placed in a wagon and hauled to the ranch if necessary.”
Soft moaning caught her attention and she returned her attention to Roland. “I think he’s coming to.”
Doc Bennett stepped up beside the patient and took his pulse. He smiled. “Wake up, Roland. Your surgery’s over. Wake up now, son.”
Roland moaned and his eyelids fluttered. Finally, he opened his eyes, frowning. “What… what happened?”
“You fell off your horse, remember?” Faith leaned forward and reached for his hand. “The mare startled and reared up. You landed on the ground.”
Roland grimaced. “I remember now.”
“You broke your left leg in three places. The femur in two places and the tibia in one,” Doc explained. “Took some doing, putting you back together again, but you should be good as new with a bit of healing.”
“When… when can I…”
“Roland Campbell! You’re not going back to work until Doc tells you that you’re healed,” Faith scolded him.
“But…”
“No buts. You need to stay off that leg.” She gave him a stern look. Not that she expected it would do much good. Roland loved being a vet. “Sitting around for a couple months will near to kill you, I know. But you have to do it.” Suggesting eight weeks’ recovery now would perhaps make six weeks sound a bargain later on.
Roland turned away from her. Faith suspected there might be unshed tears in his eyes and he didn’t want her to see them. She’d known Roland for a short time, but she’d fallen in love with him the first time she set eyes on the handsome young vet. Love at first sight, which she’d never believed possible until it happened to her.
Inherit A Dream (Sons Of A Gun Book 4) Page 16