Carrie's Montana Love: New Montana Brides (New Montana Bride Series)

by Susan Leigh Carlton

  “Somebody put the horse down, Case said, and shortly thereafter, a shot rang out, the sound echoing against the walls of the canyon, over and over. Case rode in the back of the wagon, holding his son, while one of his hands drove the wagon as fast as safely possible.

  They were met at the back door. “Is he…?” she asked, unable to say the word,

  “Her husband said, “He’s alive, barely. His leg is broken, but the bone didn’t come through. “Maude, start some blankets warming. He was covered in snow and ice. We have to be careful, he may be frost bitten. The horse’s body kept most of his body warm, and he had gloves on.”

  An hour and one half passed before they heard the sounds of a wagon. Doctor Carter Palmer came hurrying into the house. “Where is he?” he asked. “Has he lost any blood?”

  Case said, Carter, his leg is broken, but the bone didn’t come through the skin. The horse fell on him after it apparently stepped into a hole. His face was covered with ice. He was barely conscious, and when we moved him, he screamed.”

  The doctor pulled the blankets back so he could do a complete examination. He did quick checks by scraping the edge of a tongue depressor against the bottom of the foot. The toes curled under, a good sign. He moved up the body. “I don’t see any signs of frostbite on the hands, there may be some on the tips of the ears. “Did he have them covered?”

  “Yes,” Case said. “He had a bandana on, but it had been pulled down when we got there.”

  Palmer said, “He has a lump on his head. He may have a concussion. His temperature is still a good bit below normal, and there’s no telling how low it got. You did the right thing with the warm blankets.

  “I’m going to have to set the leg. Carrie, it might be best if you leave. This is not going to be a pretty sight.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Carter,” she said adamantly” You do what you have to. Can’t you knock him out?”

  “It wouldn’t be a good idea, with his temperature so low. If he has a concussion, it wouldn’t be good to sedate him. Ether would slow the heart rate and we don’t need that.

  “You men hold him down, and I mean hold him down, I’m going to set the leg.” He cut the boot down the side to make for an easier removal. Next, he cut the leg of the pants off, and gently peeled it down the leg.

  With four men holding CP, the doctor pulled on the leg, feeling the break point. CP let out a scream. “Hold him again. He pulled and felt the bone go in as well as it would without open surgery. He then encased the leg in a cast.

  With the leg cast, and CP’s temperature nearing normal, Dr. Palmer felt it safe give CP laudanum to dull the pain.

  “I am going to leave some laudanum, but don’t give him any yet. I wouldn’t mind him sleeping for forty-eight hours. It doesn’t look as if there’s any serious frostbite, but I want to keep an eye on the tips of his ears. I’ll be back out tomorrow to check.

  “What about Carrie Elizabeth?” Do you want me to tell Letty so she can get word to her.?”

  “If you would, please. They’ve had some problems lately, but she should know. And please let Lucy know. She’s one of CP’s favorite people.”

  “Mine too,” Carter said and smiled

  .

  chapter Eleven

  Word Gets Out

  Carrie received a letter from Lucy. It read in part, Girl, you are out of your mind. If you’re not careful, you could lose the nicest thing that ever happened to you. If I thought for one minute, he would have me; I would ditch this school and be on the next train. If you don’t want him, I’d take it as a personal favor if you told him I’m available.

  She’s serious, Carrie thought. I always wondered why she never paid any attention to boys. I just thought it was medicine. She had it for CP.

  When Carter returned to town, he stopped by the Owens home and told them about CP’s accident. “Carrie thought you might want to let Carrie Elizabeth know. I think he’ll be all right, but I’m keeping him sedated for now.”

  “Thanks, Carter. We’ll ride out tomorrow and see if there’s anything we can do,” Jack said.

  Letty said, “I’ll write Carrie now. She should get the letter tomorrow or the next day.”

  Typically, Carrie did not check her mail every day. She had wondered why she hadn’t seen CP on Monday or Tuesday. When there was no sign of him on Wednesday, her concern grew. She decided he had gotten held up at the ranch.

  After classes on Thursday, she stopped by the post office and found she had a letter from her mother. She decided to wait until she was in her room to open it.

  Dearest Carrie,

  I doubt that you heard, but I have some bad news. CP has been in an accident. He was out looking for strays, when his horse broke his leg, then fell on top of him, in the process breaking his left leg below the knee. He was alone at the time and it was two or three hours before they found him.

  Carter told us he nearly froze to death. He has been in a coma since Sunday, probably the result of hitting his head on the frozen ground when he fell off the horse. He said the coma was the body’s way of protecting itself, so the healing can take place. Papa and I have been out to visit twice, but he was still unconscious. His temperature was dangerously low when they found him.

  Carrie asked us to let you know. It would be nice if you came home and visited. Of course, that’s up to you.

  Love,

  Mama and Papa

  The color drained from her face as she read the letter. Stunned, she sat on her bed.

  “Carrie, are you okay?” asked Laura, her roommate. “Is it bad news?”

  Her voice barely above a whisper, she said, “Yes, it’s CP. He’s been in an accident and is in a coma. I have to go home. She pulled her carpet bag from under the bed and began cramming things in it.”

  “Let me do that for you. You’re in shock. You can’t get a train until tomorrow, so take it easy.”

  “I’ve never even told him I love him, and I do. He can’t die. He can’t. I need to tell him.” Her tears wouldn’t come. She sat there, her lips were moving, but no words came. Not feeling like eating, she skipped dinner, and spent the evening reading and rereading the letters from her mother and Lucy.

  As she read the letter from her mother, it dawned on her, though unvoiced, her mother was unsure what to expect.

  Sleep never came that night. As the first light of dawn peeked around the curtains, she got out of bed, washed her face in the basin on the dresser.

  Carrie intended to be on the early train to Helena that would arrive in Helena shortly after noon. Awakened by the noise, Laura asked, “Are you leaving now?”

  “Yes, I can get the early train. Would you do me a favor and tell the school I had to go home, and don’t know when I will come back?”

  “Yes, of course. I’ll say a prayer for him. And you.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate it. I need to get going.”

  “Want me to come with you?”

  “No, that’s okay, but thanks anyway. I’ll see you when I get back… if I come back.”

  “Don’t talk that way. Things will work out.”

  “I hope so.”

  The boarding platform at the depot was nearly empty when she arrived. Two men were the only passengers boarding, and ad the train left the station on time.

  Anguish and recriminations filled Carrie’s during the two hour trip. When the train braked to a stop in Helena, she was the first one off. Clutching her bag, she hurried home.

  “Mama,” she called out.

  “Carrie, I didn’t expect you to come,” her mother said.

  “I had to. Mama, is he still alive?”

  “We were there yesterday, and he was still in a coma. Carter said it wasn’t as deep as it had been, so he may be coming out of it. I’m sure we would have heard if anything happened.”

  “I have to go to him, Mama. He told me before he left, he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me, and I just stood there, without saying anything. I love him, and didn’t
tell him. I have to tell him. He has to know.”

  “Oh Honey, I’m glad you came, and he will be too. We can go out there as soon as your Papa comes back. You haven’t eaten, have you? You look a fright. Why don’t you go wash up and brush your hair while I fix us some lunch.”

  “I couldn’t eat anything.” She said. My nerves are shot. I didn’t sleep at all last night. Laura even packed my bag for me.

  “What if he wakes up and doesn’t know me or doesn’t want to see me? What if Aunt Carrie doesn’t want him to see me?”

  “Honey, get hold of yourself. You know Carrie is not like that.”

  She washed her face, changed dresses, and brushed her hair. When she returned to the kitchen, her mother placed a bowl of soup in front of her, and said, “Now eat.”

  She forced herself to take a few spoonfuls of soup, and realized how hungry she was. Her mother retrieved biscuits and bacon left from breakfast, and put them on a saucer in front of her. Would you like a glass of milk to go with it?” she asked.

  “Yes, please. Mama, I’ve had so many doubts lately. I didn’t know if I could live on a ranch and be a good wife, I didn’t even know if I wanted to live here. I missed the excitement of Chicago. I talked to Laura about it, and even wrote Lucy.”

  “What did Lucy say?” her mother asked.

  “She told me I was crazy. She said if CP wanted her, she would drop medical school and get here as fast as she could. I never even dreamed she felt that way.”

  “CP is one in a million, Honey. You would never know he is from one of the richest families in the state. He’s just like his parents, as down to earth as Case, and as kind and loving as his mother.”

  Jack came into the kitchen, and smiled when he saw his daughter. “You came,” he said.

  “As fast as I could, Papa. Will you take me out there?”

  “Of course, baby. Just let me get a bite to eat, and we’ll go.”

  chapter Twelve

  The Lazy J

  Carrie was quiet during the five mile ride to the Lazy J Ranch. As they entered the yard, she could see the swing Case had hung from a limb in the large cottonwood tree that shaded the yard in the summer. She, Lucy, and CP had spent many hours swinging, and arguing over whose turn it was. She recalled how CP would pass on his turn and let her or Lucy go ahead. He was the same way then, as he is now, flashed through her mind. Why didn’t I realize it before now? He hasn’t changed. I was the one that changed.

  The carriage had barely stopped before she jumped down and ran into the house. Maude was in the kitchen when she burst in.

  “My gracious, child. It’s good to see you.”

  “Where is he, Miss Maude? Is he in his room?”

  “Why no, he’s in the spare bedroom down the hall.”

  The door to the bedroom was open, so she tapped on the frame, and walked in. CP’s mother, for whom Carrie was named, was sitting in a rocking chair, a book in her lap. In between the lines on the page, she was watching her son.

  “Carrie Elizabeth. I didn’t know you were coming. I’m so glad to see you. I know it will mean a lot to CP when he wakes up. He cares for you so much.

  “If you love him, let him know. I wouldn’t waste any time.”

  Through her tears, Carrie looked at his mother. “I know, he told me before he left to come home. How is he?”

  “Carter thinks he’s beginning to come out of it. Pull the other chair over here and talk to him. He might hear you, who knows?”

  “Did your mother come?”

  We’re here,” said Letty from the doorway. “Is there any change?”

  “Carter thinks so. Now that Carrie is here, maybe that will speed things up.”

  Carrie burst into tears again. I should have come home with him,” she said. “He asked me to come.”

  “It wouldn’t have made any difference,” said his mother. “He was coming to help with the cattle, and would have been doing the same thing.”

  “Maybe,” Carrie Elizabeth said.

  She took his limp hand and began stroking it. “CP, I don’t know if you can hear me or not, but I’m going to say this anyway. I love you with all of my heart, and I won’t let you down again. I’m here and here I stay.”

  His mother stood and went to Letty, and said, “Let’s leave them alone.”

  They joined their husbands in the kitchen.

  Carrie continued massaging his hand. She leaned over the bed and kissed his cheek, then kissed him on the lips. There was no response, but she continued talking. “If we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together, where will it be? Will we use your bedroom, or do you suppose we could build our own house nearby?”

  She had no idea how long she sat there, but her legs began to cramp. She stood, leaned over and kissed him once again. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. I just need to stretch.”

  She went to the living room and joined the others. “Aunt Carrie, would it be all right if I stayed? I really don’t want to leave him.”

  “Well of course it’s all right. Maude will get his room ready for you.”

  Her mother said, “Honey, your father put your bag in the carriage. We thought you might want to stay. He brought it in.”

  “Thanks, Mama. I’m going back in with him.”

  Late afternoon, her parents left to return to town. She stayed by the bedside, even while eating the food Maude had prepared for her dinner.

  It had grown late when CP’s mother suggested, “Carrie Elizabeth, you need to get some rest. You look a bit haggard. Get some sleep. It won’t do either of you any good for you to make yourself sick. Why don’t you take a hot bath and go to bed.

  “You’re right,” she said. “I am tired, but it’s late and I don’t what anyone to go to the trouble of heating bath water.”

  “Carrie, we have a hot water heater. The bathtub has a cold water tap and a hot water tap. Case had it installed a couple of years ago. Come on, I’ll show you how it works.

  “I heard about those, but I’ve never seen one or known anyone to have such a thing. It sounds wonderful.” Wearily, she stood and kissed him once again. “Good night, darling. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be upstairs. In our room.”

  The tub was huge, and was filling with hot water. She undressed, and got in. It felt so good, she nearly fell asleep.

  Sometime during the night, Carrie awakened and came downstairs and went into the room with CP. She took his hand in one of hers. She talked to him for a while, then her eyelids, heavy from the lack of sleep, began to close. She let her head rest on the bed for just a few minutes. It was the way CP’s mother found her the next morning when she came in to check on her son, who was still unconscious, his hand clasped tightly in hers.

  Carrie’s sleep encrusted eyes opened. She looked at the serene face a foot or so away. It hadn’t changed from the last time she looked. “Good morning, CP. See, I’m still here, just like I promised. Waiting for you to wake up. I love you CP. Do you remember hearing me say it? Well, I do. I love you.”

  “Can you hear me, CP? I need to know. Should I keep talking? If you hear me, squeeze my hand. Just squeeze it if you can hear me.”

  Did I feel a squeeze? Was it my imagination, or did I feel something, she asked herself.

  “Squeeze my hand again, if you hear me. Please, CP. Squeeze my hand.”

  That was not my imagination. I felt something. I felt it. She jumped up and ran to the kitchen. “Aunt Carrie, he squeezed my hand. I asked him to squeeze if he heard me, and I felt it. Just to make sure, I asked him again and he did it again! He’s coming back.”

  His mother hurried into the bedroom with Carrie. “Take his hand and ask him to squeeze it if he hears you,” Carrie urged.

  His mother took his hand and said, “CP, let me know if you can hear me. Squeeze my hand, son.” Carrie was watching the muscles in the back of his hand. She could see them tense as he squeezed his mother’s hand.

  “Did you feel it?” she asked. You felt it, didn’t you?”

/>   “I felt it.” She hugged Carrie. “He came back for you,”

  “Carrie, kissed him on the lips. Can you open your eyes? Open your eyes for me, darling.” She could see the lids quiver as he struggled to open them. One eye fluttered open, then closed again.

  For the next two hours, Carrie didn’t move from her seat, maintaining a constant line of chatter. CP continued to drift in and out of consciousness.

  “Carrie?” She thought she was hearing things. “Carrie,” there it was again. The scratchy voice, saying her name.

  “I’m here, darling. I’m here.” She leaned over him, and kissed his cheek, then his forehead and finally his cracked lips. I’m here. Welcome back,” she said.

  “When… you get here?” the voice asked.

  “Yesterday,” she said.

  …day is it?”

  “It’s Saturday,” she said.

  Aunt Carrie, do you think it would be all right for him to have water? His voice is really scratchy.”

  She was handed a glass of water, with a straw. She held it to his mouth. “Not too much now. Just a little and then you can have more.”

  Dr. Palmer came into the room. “I understand our boy is awake.”

  “Yes. He squeezed Carrie’s hand this morning after she asked him. He’s been in and out of it since. He’s talked a little bit. We gave him a little water. Is that all right?”

  “Yes, I’m sure he’s dehydrated. Just take it slow. I’ll check him over now.” Carrie moved back to give him room.

  “Carrie, don’t go.” The scratchy voice rasped.

  “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here. Dr. Palmer needs to check you over.”

  After the examination, Carter said, “He’s on the way back. Because of his leg, he can’t get up yet. We need to get some soft food in him. And water, plenty of water.” He patted CP on the shoulder. “You fought hard son, good job, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  After the doctor left, Carrie was alone with CP. “Do you remember telling me you wanted to spend the rest of your life with me?”