The Unclaimed Mail Order Bride [Brides for the Garrison Brothers 3] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic)

by Paige Cameron

  “I thought I’d be scared sitting up so high, but like you said, it feels natural and wonderful to me.”

  “Nevertheless, it’s time to turn back. Your muscles aren’t used to this type of exercise. Believe me. You’ll be sore.”

  “Fletcher.” His mother came running out the side door as they rode toward the barn.

  “What’s wrong, Mom?” Fletch slid off the saddle and ran toward her.

  “One of the men got hurt in the far west pasture. I’ve sent for Doc Shelly. He’s on the other side of the county and will get here as soon as possible.”

  “All right. I’ll take the truck and head that way.” He glanced at Abby. “You can stay and eat with Mom.”

  “No, I’m going with you. I have some first aid training.”

  “Then get in. There’s no time to spare. Mom, did they say what type of injuries he’d sustained?”

  “One of the bulls frightened his horse. He fell, knocked his breath out, and they think he may have broken some bones.”

  “Hold on tight, Abby. I’ll be driving over a rutted track to get to them.”

  * * * *

  Fletch’s mind raced, wondering what injuries his worker might have gotten, and how they might move him to the nearest road for the ambulance. When he glanced at Abby, he saw she’d taken his advice and held tight to the door and seat. He’d doubted she’d be much help, but he hadn’t had time to talk her out of going. When they got back, he’d make sure she knew to stay when he said to.

  He saw his men crowded around the injured one. Fletch slammed on the brakes and jumped out of the jeep when it stopped. He’d forgotten Abby. The men separated. “Jack, I never believed there was a horse alive that would unseat you. Wait until I tell Devin a horse did what a bull seldom could, unseated you.”

  Jack, an old rodeo rider, who’d come to work for the Garrisons when he retired, tried to smile through clenched teeth. “I didn’t either, boss. Damn, Nelly”—Jack glanced at the mare standing under the tree—“she stood right up on her hind legs. I sure wasn’t expecting it. She’d never been spooked by that old bull. Then the guys checked and saw a rattler sliding away from the area. I should have been ready. Must be getting old, boss.”

  “Where do you hurt?”

  “My back and leg hurts.”

  “Don’t move. We’ll make a stretcher to carry you to the road.” He glanced around and saw Abby running toward him carrying an old tarp she’d found in the back of his truck. His men had already cut down some good-sized limbs off a nearby tree. They were shaving the sides to make it work with a tarp or blanket. Fletch nodded to Abby. “Just what we needed, I hoped no one had used it and not put it back.”

  When they moved him, Abby reminded them to keep his body straight. Once Jack was on the stretcher, they slowly carried him to the truck.

  “Wait,” Abby called out. “Bouncing on the truck’s hard metal bed may do more damage to him. We need to find something soft to place under him.”

  The men glanced around and back at her. “There’s not much soft in this part of the ranch.”

  “Unsaddle your horses.”

  “What?” they said almost in unison.

  “The blanket under the saddle isn’t very soft, but with a good number of them centered underneath his back, it might help.” She shrugged. “What else do you suggest?”

  “It might work,” one man said. Several groaned. “It’s a long way back home with those horses.”

  “I’ll call for help to get you and the horses back to the ranch house.” But first, Fletcher called the ambulance to tell them where to come and then he called for backup for the men. “Get in, Abby. Once we have him arranged on the blankets, we’ll leave. We need to get him to the meeting place.”

  Abby shook her head, no. “I’m going to be in the back with Jack. In case he needs help.”

  Fletch protested, and she put her hands on her hips. He grinned. “That’s a good idea.”

  “I thought you’d agree.” One man helped her into the back while several others placed the blankets under the tarp. Then they all climbed down from the truck bed. “Sure do appreciate your help, Miss.”

  “I’m Abby. You all have done a wonderful job with Jack.”

  Fletch frowned at his cowboys, and they grinned and backed off. “Right, boss, you can go now,” the man who appeared to be the leader said. “Nice lady you have riding with you.”

  Fletcher frowned at his foreman. Then he nodded at Abby and Jack. “Be careful back here. If you need help, bang on the back window.”

  * * * *

  They took off at a slow pace. Jack grimaced. “Take my hand,” Abby said. “You can squeeze it real tight whenever you need to.”

  “Thank you, Miss Abby.”

  “It’s my pleasure.”

  Thank goodness, it wasn’t too far from the road. Jack got paler with every bounce even though Fletch drove slowly and Abby noticed he tried to miss ruts.

  The truck had just come to a stop when Jack grabbed his chest. His face got paler. He’d raised his head. It fell back, and his breathing stopped. Abby checked his pulse. There wasn’t one. She knocked on the back window. Fletch stopped, jumped out of the truck and into the truck bed when he saw what had happened. Abby had started CPR. He called the ambulance to see when they’d be arriving.

  “He’s in cardiac arrest. Yes, someone is doing CPR. You are? Great, see you in a minute.” He clicked his phone off. “They’ve turned onto the ranch driveway. The driver knows this road. They’ll be here in a moment. Do you want me to take over?”

  Abby shook her head no. Fletch glanced around and saw the ambulance bouncing down the road toward them. Before the wheels completely stopped two men jumped off and ran to Jack.

  “Any response yet?”

  Abby shook her head no and backed off. They set up the machine to shock his heart. “Get back,” one man ordered.

  Fletcher grabbed for Abby and held her tight.

  It had taken two shocks before they had a faint heartbeat. “Let’s get Jack to the hospital,” the medic said.

  “Can we go to the hospital? I want to see he’s responding well before I go home.”

  “Sure, we’ll follow them in the truck.” Fletch helped her in and walked around to get in the driver’s seat. The ambulance had taken off with the sirens shrieking through the quiet countryside.

  “We’ll drive at a slightly slower pace.” Fletch reached across and squeezed her hand. “Thanks for your help.”

  At the hospital, Fletcher asked the nurse about Jack.

  “He’s with the doctor. They’re going to do some tests on his heart and call in an orthopedist to view his x-rays.” The nurse shook her head and looked sad. “I doubt old Jack will be able to work after this injury. Doc Evans whispered to me that his heart wasn’t doing well. The shock of the accident brought on the heart attack, but he’s probably been hiding how sick he was to you. You know these old guys never go to the doctor until something like this happens.”

  When she walked off, Abby asked, “I thought you couldn’t give personal information to anyone but to the person identified on paper to be his surrogate.”

  “Don’t think we’re lax on rules out here in the country. Jack asked me to be his go-to person, that’s what he called it. We signed all the official papers, and he lives in a cabin on the ranch. My family has a soft heart for old rodeo riders who don’t have any family.”

  “Fletcher.” A tall, thin man came from behind a curtained area down the hall to the left. “My patient is insisting on seeing you and the lady who saved his life.” He glanced at Abby. “That must be you.”

  “I didn’t save him. I had done a bit of CPR before the emergency crew arrived.”

  “He’d have died if you’d waited for them. Anyway, you are his angel. I’m quoting Jack.” Doc Evans smiled at Abby.

  Fletcher introduced her to the doctor as they walked toward the curtained area. He pulled back the curtain and Abby walked inside. The pale, gray-haire
d man raised his head. Still weak, he motioned for her to come closer.

  “My angel,” he whispered and took her hand.

  “Most people call me Abby. I’m Abigail Strahan.”

  He studied her for a moment, and then smiled. “Then I’ll call you Abigail. It’s a beautiful name,” he whispered.

  “Don’t try to talk,” Abby said. She held on to his hand tight.

  Jack glanced past her and motioned to Fletcher. “Lean down so I can whisper in your ear.”

  Fletch did as he said. Slowly, Jack whispered. “Have my lawyer come to see me, the one who wrote up those other papers for us.”

  “Sure, I’ll go out and call him now.”

  Jack nodded his head. “I need to see him soon. Tell him it’s an emergency.” Then he turned his head back to Abigail. “Sit, and tell me how you came to Pleasure Valley.”

  “That’s easy. I got on a plane, and it brought me here.” She sat in the chair the doctor placed behind her.

  “You can go,” Jack motioned to the doctor. Chuckling, Doc Evans left. “You had frightened, sad eyes when I asked how you got here. Can you tell me what happened?”

  “Why do you want to know?”

  “Because I had the same look when I arrived in Pleasure Valley.” He closed his eyes for a moment. “It was about forty years ago.”

  “Then you liked it enough to stay.”

  “I did. When I found out how well I could ride bulls, I joined the circuit and loved the job. But it takes its toll on a body. I quit and married a sweet lady who’d waited for me to stop traveling. We didn’t have any children, but we had a good love and life. She died three years ago. Fletch brought me to the ranch and gave me a place to live where I’d be with others.”

  “Did he make you work for the rent?”

  Jack threw his head back and laughed so hard he coughed. Doc Evans ran in. “I’m fine, Doc. Go away.” He threw his hand out toward the doctor.

  “Don’t get too rowdy in here, or I’ll have to run this lady off,” Doc Evans said and grinned as he backed out of the room.

  “Doctors,” Jack grumbled as the curtain fell shut. “Where were we? Oh, yes, talking about rent. Fletcher wouldn’t let me pay him anything but insisted on paying me a day’s work whenever I rode with the cowboys.” He studied Abby’s face. “Did he rescue you, too?”

  Abby looked down at her hands. “He did.” And then raising her head, she told Jack why she came to town and meeting Fletcher at the airport. “He took me to his mother’s home, and the Garrisons have been wonderful and very helpful.”

  “Can I adopt you? You’re just the type of young woman my wife, Betty, and me would have loved to have had for our child.”

  Tears came into Abby’s eyes. She swallowed around the lump in her throat. After clearing her throat, she leaned over and kissed Jack’s wrinkled cheek. “I’d be honored, but I’m too old to be adopted. How about we settle for best friends?”

  “If you insist,” he grumbled and then smiled. “I still think it was a good idea.” He laid his head back against the pillow.

  “You need to rest. I’ll sit right here, just close your eyes.”

  “Wake me when the lawyer gets here. I don’t have much time.”

  Abby wanted to put her head on his hand and cry. I wish I’d met this sweet man sooner when he was in better health. “I’ll lean back in my chair and rest.” Not letting go of his hand, Abby closed her eyes.

  Men’s voices woke them both. Fletcher and a man she didn’t know had pulled the curtain aside. Guessing from the suit he wore and the briefcase he carried, the man was Jack’s lawyer.

  “This is Tom Wellington, he’s Jack’s lawyer. Hunter would have helped Jack, but he thought it best another lawyer not related to me do the work for Jack. Tom and Hunter have been partners since Hunter became a politician.”

  “Hi, you old rascal, what do you mean scaring all of us?” Tom took long steps around the bed and gave Jack a handshake and then a hug.

  “I hadn’t seen you in a while, so I had to do something to get your attention.”

  “I came for Sunday dinner.”

  “But if I don’t see you every few days, I figure you’re spending my money.” Jack laughed and shook his finger at the younger man. “When are you going to get married?”

  “He’s as bad as Mom,” Fletch said to Tom. “They both worry about us marrying.”

  “I keep reminding him, that he waited until he finished the rodeo business before marrying his wife.”

  “The dumbest thing I ever did. We’d had five more years together if I’d quit the rodeo circuit sooner. I can’t let you make the same mistake.”

  “Out, all of you, the orthopedic doctor is ready to examine Jack,” Doc Evans said.

  “He can wait for my lawyer. I won’t be long, but the doctor isn’t doing anything to me until I talk with Tom and sign the papers he brings back to me.”

  Another man came to the door. “How about I examine you and then you and Tom can talk. We won’t do any surgery or tests until you sign your papers.”

  “Tom, you stay right here. The rest of you can go.” Jack caught hold of Abby’s hand. “Abigail, don’t go far. You are my good luck charm.”

  “I’ll be in the waiting room.”

  Fletch walked into the empty room with her. The air smelled like every other waiting room she’d been in, a mixture of overdone coffee, stale food, and perspiration. The chairs had a worn look, and the carpet had been walked on much too often.

  “This place needs a facelift. To me it’s a sad room,” Fletch said.

  “Filled with too much emotion,” Abby added.

  “You don’t have to stay. I can get you back quickly if needed.”

  “No, I promised, and I don’t break promises. I like Jack and feel a bond with him. We both don’t have anyone of our own except you and your family.”

  “He’s a sweet man. You’d have loved his wife, Betty.”

  “I’m sure I would have. Jack misses her a lot.”

  Fletcher’s cell phone rang. “What? Okay. I’ll be there as soon as possible.” He looked at Abby. “Once Tom is ready, I’ll drive him to his office. If you aren’t ready to go, I can send Mom to get you. Just call the home place.”

  “Is there another problem?”

  “Not as serious as this one. But I’m needed.”

  “Then don’t worry about me. I’m going to stay until Jack’s in a room and doing better.”

  “What about your job?”

  “I’ll talk to her. Knowing how most people are in this town, I think she’ll understand.”

  Fletch grinned. “You like us.”

  “Don’t get a big head, but yes, I really like Pleasure Valley and its people.”

  The orthopedic doctor knocked on the door sill. “May I join you?”

  “Sure, what do you think about Jack?” Fletch asked.

  “The x-rays show his femur is fractured. It has to be repaired eventually, or he won’t be able to get out of bed. Luckily, his back is all right, except for some arthritis. I talked with him about the risk and about waiting until he’s more stable. I explained how we could stabilize the leg until then, but, he insists he wants surgery now and wants to go home as soon as possible.” The doctor raked his hand through his thinning hair. “You’re his health care surrogate. I’m not sure he’s thinking clearly. I want your input.”

  “I hate this, but I knew when I signed the papers it would come to a difficult decision one of these days. I do believe Jack has his right mind. He’d hate being unable to walk, and then while you’re waiting for his heart to stabilize, he’d lie around being angry about the time it was taking, which probably wouldn’t help his heart. I agree with his decision.”

  “He might die. But the tests that have been done show his heart has improved some since he’s arrived. I could insist on putting the surgery off and just stabilize the leg, but having heard from Dr. Evans about how stubborn Jack can be, he’d probably refuse to sign the pa
pers for that procedure. I discussed it, but he shook his head no.”

  “But his injuries can wait until his heart is more stable?” Abby asked.

  “Yes, but without him allowing me to stabilize the leg, the results probably won’t come out well.”

  “Let us talk to him.” Fletch nodded toward Abby. “But the final decision is his regarding the choices.”

  “Fine.” The doctor walked to the nurse’s station as they went down the hall to see Jack.

  “I can see from your long faces the doctor spoke with you.” Jack frowned. “You can’t change my mind. I don’ want to have to wait around to have this darn leg fixed. When I leave this hospital, I don’t want to have to return. If I live, I’ll enjoy getting to know this young lady better. If I die, I’ll see Betty. It’s a good bet either way.”

  Fletch nodded. “I understand. It’d probably be my decision, too in the same situation. But, you try to live, old man. I want you at our wedding, once I convince Abby to marry me.”

  “Jack may be very, very old before you accomplish that task,” Abby teased.

  “Good girl, make him work for it. Everyone’s always thought I wouldn’t marry my Betty until I retired from the rodeo. The truth is she made me wait, wanted to be sure I had the rodeo business out of my blood. Finally, she said if I’d retire, we’d get married. It wasn’t a hard decision. I hung up my hat the next day, and we married a month later. She and I never regretted marrying. I lost my soulmate when she died.” He coughed when he finished talking.

  “Lay back and relax. I’m going to be right here until you go to surgery, and I’ll be in the waiting room until you come out.” Abby kissed the top of his head.

  “Makes me feel stronger and gives me something to fight for in there.”

  “I’m going, but Abby will keep in touch with me.” Fletch pulled her to him and kissed her.

  “Her name is Abigail. Tell Tom to get those papers done fast. I intend to sign them before I go into surgery. There’s no sense in taking chances. I want my wishes known.”

  “Yes, sir.” Fletcher saluted, smiled and left.

  “You like him?” Jack asked.

  “That is a personal question, but to be honest, I’m afraid I like him, too much.”