Randall Renegade

by Judy Christenberry

  “Well, I guess. We wondered why you didn’t answer the walkie-talkie, but I reckon I understand. You couldn’t let go of Jim.”

  “Mommy wouldn’t even hold me,” Tommy added, wanting some sympathy, too.

  “How about Drew and I help with Jim? That will free your mom to see about you,” Toby soothed. He turned to Patience. “We’ve got a carrier rigged up to fit between the horses. We’ll put Jim on that.”

  “But the trail’s not wide enough,” she said in concern.

  “I know. We’ll show you.” He motioned to Drew, who had some long poles tied to his saddle.

  Drew jumped down from his horse and walked to Patience’s side. “How’s old Jasper holding up?”

  “He’s been wonderful, never complaining.”

  “Yeah, he’s one of Jim’s favorites.” As he talked, his eyes were examining his brother. “Has he come to?”

  “Occasionally, but he’s running a fever and still bleeding a little. I’m so sorry he got hurt. I never wanted…” She was on the verge of tears as she made her apology, but both men waved her words away.

  “We know that, Patience. And you’re bringing him home. Aunt Megan will be thanking you for a long time.”

  “We’ve been worried about Jim since he left,” Drew said. “I should’ve volunteered to go with him, but when he told me he was leaving I was still half-asleep. I’m not too bright until about 10 a.m.,” he added, his cheeks turning red.

  Patience smiled slightly, too exhausted to talk anymore.

  “I’ll go put my horse in the lead position and put the carrier on his back. Drew’s horse will get the other end of the carrier. Then we’ll transfer Jim to it,” Toby explained.

  Patience and Tommy watched the two men get ready to transport Jim.

  As soon as the stretcher was ready, both men eased Jim off the horse and carried him to the stretcher, putting his feet at the front so his head would be on the high end as they went down the mountain.

  Patience rubbed her arms to restore circulation. When she finally bent them, she cried out in pain.

  “You okay?” Toby asked.

  “My arms are a little stiff,” she explained, embarrassed.

  “Mine would be, too.” Toby’s gaze moved to Tommy. “Say, Tommy, since your mom needs to rest, why don’t you ride with me for a while? We’ll beat your mom to the bottom if you ride with me.”

  Her normally shy little boy took the bait and agreed at once. “I like to be first,” he declared.

  Toby crossed to Tommy’s horse and held out his hands. Tommy reached for him, delighted to be out of the saddle.

  “I think it’s my nap time, ’cause I almost fell off my horse.”

  Toby grinned. “You can go to sleep on my shoulder if you want.”

  “Okay.”

  “Toby,” Patience said, “Jasper has taken the brunt of the weight. Should I transfer to the other horse?” she asked.

  Toby looked at Jasper. “No, I think he’ll be okay. It’s only about an hour’s ride away. They can get the vehicles close these days.”

  Before she could speak again, Jim roused and she heard him mutter, “Patience? Tommy?”

  Drew answered. “They’re here. They’re safe, bro. You did it. You got them back.”

  Jim closed his eyes and sighed. “Thank God.”

  The rest of the ride was completed in just under an hour. When they got close enough to see a SUV and a truck with a horse trailer attached parked at the bottom of the trail, Patience knew their ordeal was about over.

  She was so grateful that the two men had come up to meet them because she wasn’t sure she could’ve made it this far supporting Jim in the saddle and taking care of Tommy.

  She recognized Jim’s mother Megan and his aunt Anna as they rushed up the trail on foot to Jim’s side. Anna immediately began checking his pulse and the status of the wound. Megan leaned over his other side, held his hand and talked to him.

  Patience was too far away to even know if Jim responded to his mother. She was amazed to feel envy when it should’ve been a relief to be rid of the responsibility. But she wanted to be the one who made him well, who spoke to him, who roused him from his misery. Patience shook her head. Obviously she was over-wrought.

  By the time she got to the bottom of the trail, they already had Jim transferred to the SUV. She dismounted. Fortunately she kept hold of the saddle horn. That was all that kept her from sprawling on the grass, facedown. Both her arms and legs were shaking.

  Suddenly arms were around her.

  Megan told her to lean against her. “I owe you so much for bringing Jim home,” she said as she walked her to the SUV.

  “Oh, no, Mrs. Randall. I owe Jim. I would never have gotten away without him. I’m so sorry he got hurt.” The tears began flowing this time. She couldn’t stop them, adding to her embarrassment. “I’m so sorry. I never cry,” she told Megan between sobs.

  Suddenly, Anna was by her other side. “Patience, Toby will take Tommy to the ranch. You will ride with us to the clinic. You need to be checked over after that ordeal.”

  Then Patience was in the back seat of the SUV with Megan beside her and Anna up front driving. Jim was resting comfortably in the third back seat. Toby and Drew were getting the horses together to take them back to the ranch, along with Tommy. Patience closed her eyes and dozed.

  “DO YOU THINK Jim will be all right?” Megan asked Anna softly.

  Anna looked in the rearview mirror. “Megan, he’s going to be fine. It looks like the bullet didn’t hit anything major. He’s lost more blood than I would’ve liked but Patience got him down the mountain the best she could. That wasn’t easy.”

  “I know. Both she and Tommy deserve a reward.”

  Anna smiled. “We’ve got our reward, getting Jim back. He’ll be up and around in no time.”

  Megan sighed. “You know, Anna, I just want all my kids to be safe and happy. That’s all.”

  “I know. I used to worry about Tori, but now that she’s settled with Jon and they have their baby, I don’t worry as much. Now Jessica, that’s another situation.”

  “Yes. Elizabeth’s marriage to Toby is wonderful. We know him so well. But I’ve still got two to settle down.”

  “I think we’re all spoiled. We all have such good kids.”

  “We do. We really do.”

  Anna hit the paved county road and increased their speed. In a few minutes they’d reached the clinic in Rawhide. An exhausted Patience had fallen asleep. Jon Wilson, the only doctor in Rawhide and Anna’s son-in-law, had been watching for them. He met the SUV as Anna cut the engine, helping the one orderly they had move Jim onto the gurney to wheel him into the clinic.

  “How’s he look, Anna?” Jon asked.

  “He’ll need transfusions, hydration, antibiotics. I’ll let you take over the rest. And we want to admit Patience, too. She’d needs hydration, food and some rest.”

  Since Jon had been there when Patience’s sister died and Tommy was born, he knew Patience. “Where’s Tommy?”

  “Toby is taking him to the ranch. He and Davy can play together. Elizabeth will look after him. He’ll be fine. Oh, and his grandmother is staying with us, of course.”

  Jon looked at Megan. “You have Mrs. Anderson at the ranch? I hadn’t heard that.”

  “I looked in on her after Jim left. She was so shaken by Tommy’s being taken and Patience looking for him that I helped her pack and took her home with me,” Megan explained.

  “You’re a good woman, Megan,” Jon said.

  He’d sent the orderly in to bring another gurney for Patience. “Looks like the past few days have been hard on her,” he commented softly.

  “Yes,” Anna agreed. “That’s why I thought we should bring her in, too. She supported Jim’s weight on the horse for a number of hours.”

  Jon reached into the SUV to pull Patience from Megan’s arms and then lift her onto the gurney. “Well, looks like I’ll be busy for a while. By the way, have you contacted Ch
ad?”

  “No, Jon. Since the men left to look for Jim, they’ve pretty much been out of radio range,” Megan said. “I wish he was here. But Anna says Jim will be all right.”

  “I’d never bet against Anna,” Jon said with a smile. He began wheeling Patience toward the hospital door. As soon as he got in, he ordered an IV for her and treatment for Jim. Within an hour, Patience was fully awake and seemed surprised to find herself in a hospital bed.

  “Tommy! Where is he?” she asked, pushing herself up to a sitting position. She was surprised at how hard that simple movement seemed to be.

  Megan, who was still at the hospital keeping an eye on both Jim and Patience, suggested they call the ranch. When Red answered the phone, she asked to speak to Elizabeth. She explained that Patience was concerned about Tommy. She then handed the phone to Patience.

  “Oh, Patience, we’re so glad you got Jim home,” Elizabeth said. “And Tommy is doing just fine. Red fixed an early supper for him and he ate a big meal. Then he played with Davy for a while. They get along so well. Now he’s asleep in Davy’s room.”

  “Thank you, Elizabeth. I really appreciate what you’ve done.” Patience was finding it difficult to swallow.

  “Your mother spent some time with him, too. She hopes to see you tomorrow. I promised to take her in the morning to visit you.”

  “Thank you,” Patience said again.

  “Patience, you saved my brother. I owe you so much.”

  Patience, tears falling again, held out the phone for Megan. “I can’t seem to stop crying,” she gulped.

  “Darling, what are you crying about?” Megan asked after a brief conversation with her daughter.

  “People keep saying I saved Jim, but he saved me and Tommy. We’re the ones who are in his debt. I never would’ve gotten away from Kane without Jim. He risked his life for us.”

  Megan wrapped her arms around her. “Things will be better tomorrow. Jim will be much better and so will you. They’re bringing you some dinner now,” Megan said just as the nurse arrived with a tray. “I’m going to make sure you eat it all.”

  “Why aren’t you with Jim?” Patience asked.

  “He’s not conscious yet. Anna is with him. She can help him more than I can, and she promised to let me know when he wakes up. But they don’t expect that until tomorrow at the earliest.” Megan smiled. “I wanted you to have someone with you, too.”

  “Thank you,” Patience said.

  Patience gave the meal a good try, but after a while, she couldn’t eat anymore. Soon her eyelids grew heavy.

  Megan sat by quietly and watched her fall asleep.

  Wearily Megan got to her feet and walked down the other hall to Jim’s room. Pushing open the door, she found Anna sitting by Jim’s side.

  “He hasn’t come to yet,” Anna told her, “but his fever has dropped, and he’s resting more comfortably. The bullet is still in his shoulder. Jon is going to operate in the morning.”

  “Will Jim be all right?”

  Anna nodded. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. But I’m going to scrub for the surgery.”

  “Oh, Anna, I know you’re tired already, but it will make me feel so much better to know you and Jon are taking care of him.” Megan wiped away a stray tear that escaped. “Now I’m feeling like poor Patience.”

  “Don’t worry. It’s a normal reaction to the stress you’ve been under.”

  “Mom?” Jim said faintly, grabbing both women’s attention. He was awake.

  “Jim!” Megan exclaimed, reaching out to touch her son.

  “Where’re Patience and Tommy?” he asked hoarsely.

  “They’re fine. Patience is spending the night here, but she’ll go home tomorrow. Tommy and his grandmother are at the ranch.”

  “Keep them there,” Jim said. “Please.”

  “Well, of course they’re welcome to stay, but why—”

  “Keep them there,” Jim said again as his eyes closed.

  Anna checked his pulse and the IV. “He’s drifted off again,” she murmured. Then she looked at Megan. “Why do you think he wants them to stay at the ranch? So he can see Patience?”

  “No. I think he’s worried about their safety. Until he’s better able to talk, we’re going to do what he wants.” Megan frowned as she watched her son.

  “I’m going to sleep here tonight,” Anna said. “That way I won’t have to get up early and drive in. We’ve got another front coming in soon. You’d better get started for the ranch.”

  “I’m not going home. I’ll call Elizabeth and tell her. With our husbands out of touch, still looking for Jim, no one else will dare fuss at me,” Megan told her with a smile. “I’m going to be here for Jim’s surgery.”

  Anna nodded, clearly not surprised by Megan’s decision. “How about we share a room, then?”

  “Sounds good,” Megan said, reaching for the phone.

  Chapter Seven

  When Patience awoke the next morning, a terrible sadness seemed to hang over her.

  When she turned her head, she saw Megan dozing in a chair beside her bed. She wasn’t sure why Jim’s mother was still beside her.

  Patience decided to try to make it to the bathroom without waking Megan, but when she stood, she realized she was woozy. A quick grab for the bed saved her, but the commotion disturbed Megan.

  “Patience? What’s wrong?” Megan sat up, a startled look on her face.

  “I’m sorry. I needed to go to the bathroom, but the room began to spin.” Patience felt tears gathering in her eyes. Ridiculous. Why was she crying?

  Megan reached over and pressed the button to summon the nurse. “I’m not sure they want you walking around.”

  “But I’m not sick.”

  “No, but they gave you a sedative early this morning, and its effects may not have gone away yet. Don’t you remember waking up and telling us about your nightmare?”

  Before Patience could tell her that she did not remember, the nurse entered the room and Megan asked her to help Patience to the bathroom. After the nurse helped her back to bed, minutes later, she announced, “Breakfast trays just arrived. I’ll bring both of you some breakfast.”

  “I’m not hungry,” Patience said.

  “If you want to go home today, you better eat a good breakfast.” With a brisk nod the nurse left the room.

  Patience frowned, then said, “She didn’t give me much choice, did she?”

  Megan chuckled. “No. Are you feeling better this morning? More rested?”

  “Yes. Yes, I am. And I’m going to eat so I can go home. And Mom and Tommy will come with me, so we’ll all be out of your hair, Mrs. Randall.”

  “Call me Megan. You know, there are a lot of Mrs. Randalls. Even Elizabeth is Mrs. Randall.” Megan smiled warmly.

  Patience smiled back and nodded, not mentioning how she’d once thought she would also be a Mrs. Randall.

  The breakfast trays arrived and they both ate in silence. Patience discovered she had an appetite, after all.

  At last she asked, “How’s Jim this morning?”

  “We should know soon. He’s in surgery—they’re removing the bullet. We should know any time now.”

  There was a knock on the door and Anna entered. “The operation’s over and Jim came through just fine. Jon got the bullet out and the wound is clean. He should be going home in two or three days.”

  Megan sighed with relief, but Patience stared at Anna in horror. “The bullet was still inside him? I never thought of that. He must have suffered terribly on the ride down the mountain.”

  Anna came over and patted her hand. “Nonsense. I’m sure it would’ve hurt just as much if the shot had gone right through. He probably would’ve bled more, too. You did everything you could.”

  “It’s all my fault,” Patience said, her voice trembling. “He’ll never forgive me.”

  Megan cleared her throat. “I’m quite sure you’re wrong, dear. Jim’s conscious thoughts were of you and Tommy. He wants you both to stay at the
ranch until he’s recovered. You will, won’t you?” Shamelessly she added, “It will make Jim rest easier.” She figured Patience’s feelings of guilt, however misplaced, would force her to do what Jim wanted.

  She was right. “I…I suppose we could stay.”

  “It’s a good idea, for Jim’s sake. He won’t worry if you’re with his family.” Anna gave her a big smile. “And we’ll love having you.”

  “Elizabeth said Davy is delighted to have Tommy there to play with. His little sister isn’t that much fun, according to him.” Megan shook her head in mock dismay. “Does Tommy wish he had a brother or sister to play with?”

  Patience blushed. “Sometimes he asks if he can have a brother. When he goes to Sunday school and plays with the other children.”

  Megan smiled in sympathy. “Kids never understand.”

  Patience nodded, not wanting to discuss the problem of having a child with no man in her life. But after her disgust with Joseph’s treatment of her sister, her argument with Jim, and then her sister’s death, Patience didn’t want to discuss anything having to do with her love life.

  “Can we see Jim?” Patience asked, anxious to change the subject.

  “He’s in recovery. In a couple of hours, just before lunch, we’ll have him in a room. Of course, you’ll be more comfortable with a robe, since all you’re wearing is a hospital gown that ties up the back.”

  Patience blushed again. “I don’t have anything of my own here,” she said, disappointment in her voice as if she thought she wouldn’t be able to see Jim.

  “We’ll get you a robe,” Megan assured her.

  “Oh, Megan, thank you. I…I would like to see Jim.”

  “I think he’ll like seeing you, too.” Megan smiled. She was feeling much better to know that her son was out of surgery and doing well. “Now, if Chad would just get home, I’d be a happy camper.”

  Patience sent her an apprehensive look.

  Megan noticed and said, “Oh, dear. I suppose you wouldn’t have known. My husband, Chad, and several of the Randall men went out to find Jim. We haven’t been able to contact them to let them know you’ve all been found.”