“Of course I do. My father is a cousin to Queen Victoria and from all I hear, she’s a wonderful leader.”
“That would sure be something to be proud of—a reward from Queen Victoria.” He had a kind of dreamy look in his eyes.
Rena figured it was as good a time as any to ask him to escort her home. “I dread going back to the ranch, Jasper, but I know it’s the only thing I can do at this point.” She sighed. “Since I’m probably going to have to plan a funeral, I don’t know when I’ll get to town. Would you mail this for me?”
“You trust me to mail it?”
“Of course I do. I want you to get your money and have the honor bestowed on you right away. To do that, this needs to go out as soon as possible.”
By the look in his eyes Rena knew he believed her completely now. She wasn’t going to have to keep thinking up little ways to draw him into her false story. He was already there. It was time to head home to the love of her life. In her heart, she felt he’d be there for her.
Chapter 24
Rena ran to the front door of the cabin and pounded on the door. It opened immediately.
“Rena!”
“Where’s Jake, Silas? Please tell me he’s still alive.”
“Barely. Where have you been?’
She ignored him. “Is he in our room?” She started down the hall without waiting for an answer.
“Rena,” Silas followed her, “the doctor’s with him. You’ll have to wait.”
Again Rena ignored him. She flung open the door and ran inside. Jake was lying face down on the bed. His wound wasn’t bandaged and the side of the face looked pasty gray.
“What are you doing in here, woman?” The doctor whirled around and yelled at her. “Get out.”
“I couldn’t stop her.” Silas looked at the doctor.
Rena ran to the other side of the bed and dropped to her knees. “Jake, darling, can you speak to me. Can you open your eyes, my love?”
“Silas,” the doctor roared. “Get her out of here. I can’t work with a screaming woman in the room.”
Silas put his hand on Rena’s shoulder. “You need to come with me. The doctor has to do his job.”
“What are you doing to him?” Rena glared at the doctor. The knife in his hand looked almost rusty under the fresh blood.
“It’s none of your business.”
“What do you mean, it’s none of my business? This is my husband and I won’t let you do anything to him with that knife.”
“I’ll do what I have to do. Now shut up and get out.”
Adela came into the room. “Rena, we’ve been worried about you.”
Rena ignored her. She turned to Silas. “What’s he going to do to Jake?”
“He says he has to bleed him to get out any infection that’s there. The wound is pretty bad.” Silas looked into Rena’s eyes. “Let’s go.”
“Now you know what I have to do, so get out.” The doctor was still furious.
Rena looked him and yelled, “You’re not going to bleed him.”
The doctor ignored her. “Silas, you’ve got to control this woman.”
“Rena, let the doctor do…”
“No, Silas.” Rena got off her knees and turned to her brother-in-law. “You can’t let him do it. It’s barbaric.”
“If he says…”
Rena shook her head. “He’ll kill Jake.”
“So, I guess you know more about medicine than I do?”
Rena whirled and faced him. “Let me assure you that I do.”
“Rena,” Adela started. “I know you’re upset, but…”
“Upset! You’re damn right, I’m upset. This barbarian is about to kill my husband and you’re going to stand here and let him do it.”
“Rena!” Silas grabbed her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Are you telling us that bleeding him is not the right thing to do?”
She realized that Silas was wavering. She lowered her voice. “I know it’s not, Silas. Please don’t let him do it.”
“Make up your mind, Silas. I’ve got to head over to the Canter ranch. She’s having another baby.”
Adela walked up to them. “Maybe you should listen to Rena, Silas,” she whispered.
Silas looked directly at Rena. “Are you sure?”
“Silas, bleeding a patient was labeled as an outdated practice many years ago. The measure is most often more dangerous than it is helpful.”
Silas looked as if he didn’t know what to do. Finally he said, “If you’re wrong, he could die.”
“For this kind of wound he should be given blood, not drained of it. If you let the doctor take any more from him, he’ll die for sure.”
“I’m waiting for you to get her out of here, Silas or I’m going to do the procedure with all of you looking on.”
Silas hesitated for a moment longer. Then he turned to the doctor. “I think you’ve done all you can for Jake tonight, Doc Bradley. Maybe you can come back by and check him in a couple of days.”
“Are you saying you’re going to take that woman’s opinion over mine?” The doctor stared at Silas.
“She’s his wife. I have to consider it. What will a day or two matter?”
“In this case, it could mean your brother dies. In two days the infection will probably kill him.”
Silas bit his lip and looked at Rena. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive, Silas.”
“I don’t know.”
“Please believe me. I’m begging for Jake’s life.” Her heart pounded. How could she convince him that Jake couldn’t stand to lose any more blood? How could she tell him that his only chance was to keep what little he had inside him and try to build his strength? How could she tell him there was a medicine in the wardrobe which would take care of any infection that Jake might develop? She was about to say this when Silas spoke again.
“We’ll give him a couple of days.”
“Thank you, Silas.” Rena smiled at him and went back to kneel at Jake’s bed.
The doctor wiped the knife on a dirty cloth and began to pack his black bag.
“Aren’t you going to bandage him up?” Silas asked.
“His wife knows so much. Let her do it.”
“I don’t mind doing it.” Rena looked at the oozing wound on Jake’s back. “Adela, would you get me some hot water and clean bandages?
“You’re going to need more than hot water and clean bandages. You’d better stay on them knees and pray a lot. It’ll take more than prayers when you have to face the fact that you’ve condemned your husband to death.” Doctor Bradley slammed his black bag shut and stalked out the door.
Silas watched Rena get to her feet. He turned to her once again. “I’ve done what you asked, because Jake says you know more than anyone here. I’m trusting you because of him, but if my brother dies, I’m holding you responsible.”
“I’ll do everything in my power to save my husband.” She looked up at Silas. “I love him more than life itself. If he dies, I want to die, too. After I kill Jake’s murderer, you’d do me a favor if you’d make sure I die.”
Silas stared at her with puzzlement in his eyes. “You love him enough to die if he does?”
“I do.”
For a moment the two of them stared at each other.
Adela moved close to Rena. “You’d better go ahead and bandage the wound. Is there anything you’ll need besides hot water and the bandages?”
Rena turned her mind to the task ahead. “Yes. Please bring me two cups, one empty and one with black coffee. Also bring me a spoon and the strongest whiskey you have.” Adela started out the door and Rena added, “One other thing. Do we have any honey?”
“Honey?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll see.”
“If we don’t, make sure we have some tomorrow. I don’t care if you have to go into Yellow Creek to get it. I have to have it.”
As they went out the door, she heard Silas whisper to Adela, “What the hell is sh
e going to do to him?”
“I don’t know, Silas, but she seems to know what she’s doing. I’m going to help her all I can.”
Rena rummaged through the wardrobe until she found the backpack. She took out the penicillin the doctor had given her for the expected infection. Thank God, she hadn’t taken any of it. She still had a whole prescription left. She prayed that it would be enough to keep the infection from spreading. And from the looks of the dirty knife the doctor was using, infection would be an issue.
When Adela returned, she put the items Rena asked for on the table beside the bed. “I would’ve put cream in your coffee, but you wanted it black and we did have a little honey. Will it be enough?”
“No. Make sure someone goes for some more tomorrow.”
“What’s it for, Rena?”
“Adela, honey is nature’s only perfect food. It never goes bad and doctors often use it on cuts and wounds. I intend to coat Jake’s wound with it. It’ll eat the bacteria in the infection, maybe help his pain a little, and it’ll keep the bandages from sticking to the wound.”
“I’ve never heard of such, but until you got here, I’d never heard of a lot of things.”
Rena smiled. “I’ll tell you anything you want to know, but right now, I want to see if I can help my husband.”
Rena let Adela help her clean the wound with whiskey. She then washed it in the hot water. Afterward she spread the honey on the wound and bound it with the clean white cloths.
Throwing the washcloth in the basin of water, she said, “Would you please take this out, Adela. It hurts me to see it, knowing it’s full of Jake’s blood.”
“Of course.”
When the door closed, Rena took two of the penicillin capsules out of the bottle and opened them in the empty cup. She put a spoon full of coffee on them and stirred until they dissolved. She then poured it back in the spoon. She knew it was going to be tricky, but she had to do this alone. No one else could know about the medicine. She held Jake’s head as high as she could and forced the medicine down his throat.
“You did good, darling,” she whispered when the medicine didn’t come back up.
She got the rocking chair and pulled it close to the bed. She sat and took Jake’s hand in hers. “Now it’s up to God and your strong will. All I can do is wait.” She leaned down and kissed his forehead. “I love you, Jake Haywood. Please get well for me.”
An hour later there was a knock on the door. “Come in,” Rena responded in a soft voice.
“I hope you don’t mind me coming in to check on Jake, Rena,” Gideon Finn said as he entered.
“Of course not, Finn.”
“He’s almost like a son to me, you know.”
“You’re not old enough to be his father, Finn. I’d say you’re more like another older brother.”
He nodded. “Is he going to be all right? I know you ran the doctor off.”
“He was using a dirty knife and he wanted to bleed Jake. I knew that wouldn’t be good.” She smiled at the little man. “Where’s Belle, Finn? Shouldn’t you be with your new wife?”
“We set up the wagon. Silas said we could put it under that tree by the garden. I told her as soon as she drifted off I was coming to check on Jake. She didn’t mind.”
“You can’t live in a wagon, Finn.”
“I know, ma’am. When we get back from the cattle drive, we’re going to fix up the cabin what’s on the back of the ranch. I just had to make sure you and Jake was all right tonight.”
“We’re going to be fine, Finn.”
“Good.” He moved closer to the bed. “Why don’t you let me set here with him for a spell and you go out there and talk to Silas. He’s about to die wanting to know what happened to you after the shooting.”
“Will you promise to call me if there’s any change in Jake? I don’t care if he just moves a finger. I want to know.”
“I’ll call you even if he only snores.”
She smiled. “Thank you, Finn.” She picked up the two coffee cups and headed out of the room.
* * * *
“So Wigham did shoot Jake?” Silas stood. “I’ll kill…”
Rena put her hand on his arm. “Please, Silas. Let me tell you what happened when he took me to his ranch.”
“He had you there?” Silas all but roared. “Did he touch you?”
“No.” She put a little pressure on his arm. “He planned to, and if you’ll sit down, I’ll tell you why.”
Reluctantly he took his seat.
“It all started with Rachel McGregor.”
“Was she there?” Silas frowned.
“No.”
“Then, how in the world…”
“Quit interrupting and let her tell us, Silas.” Adela looked at him.
“Just get on with it.”
“After Jake and I paid off the mortgage we went to McGregor’s Mercantile. Rachel wanted to talk with me and she sent Jake to the Silver Slipper for a drink.” She could see Silas was getting ready to interrupt again and she said, “I’ll hurry the tale as fast as I can.”
He nodded and she went on. “It wasn’t long until the banker’s wife came in. She was mad because I’d called her husband by his first name.”
“You did that?” This time it was Adela who interrupted her.
“Yes. He called me Rena and I thought it only fitting that I call him Wadell.”
Adela giggled.
“Well, anyway. I was hidden by the bolts of cloth when Mirabel Jefferson came in. She went on and on about how uncouth the Haywoods and I were. I was about to jump out and confront her, but Rachel McGregor started telling her this tale about how I was kin to the royal family of England and I was sent here to marry one of the descendants of the family who had been thrown off the Spanish Throne. She said she heard that your ancestor wasn’t really an Indian, but a Spanish king. Mirabel swallowed the story and when she left, Rachel and I laughed about it.”
“Are we going to get to the part where Wigham shot Jake?” Silas was getting irritable.
“We’re there now. I just had to give you some background. On the way home this morning I told Jake the story. He thought it was funny and told me that his grandmother really was an Indian.”
“Does that bother you, Rena?” Silas looked at her as if he expected her to say it did.
“Of course not.” Without missing a beat she went on with the story. “I told Jake I couldn’t wait to have our beautiful dark haired babies with his beautiful black eyes. He wanted us to get to the cottonwood trees and talk about it. When we pulled the wagon to a stop and Jake came to help me down, Wigham stepped out from behind a tree and shot him in the back.”
“I knew it. Jake didn’t have a chance, did he?”
“No. When I realized Jake hadn’t died immediately, I diverted Jasper’s attention so he wouldn’t shoot him again. After Jasper sent his men to town, he took me to his ranch. He kept telling me all the horrible things he was going to do to me. I didn’t listen. I was concentrating on how I was going to kill him if Jake died. I think my silence confused him and by the time we got to his house I’d decided that I had to go into my police woman role and find out why Jasper felt he had to kill you and Jake.”
“He wants our ranch.”
“I knew he wanted that, but I knew there had to be more. While Belle and I were waiting for the men to load our supplies this morning, we overheard some cowboys talking in Dunnel’s Café. I heard them say some things that made me think Jasper Wigham was fighting for this ranch for another reason.”
“Did you figure out what, and did you tell Jake?”
“Yes and I think I know why he wants it, but please let me finish the story.” She went on to tell him how she embellished Rachel McGregor’s story and convinced Jasper she was of royal blood and how there was a possibility that the Haywoods were, too. “When he read the letter I wrote my uncle he was convinced I was telling the truth.”
“Did you send it to your uncle?”
�
��I don’t even have an uncle, Silas. I wrote my old address in Atlanta on the envelope and left it for Jasper to mail. I was thinking as I wrote it, that it was probably a cotton field in this time. The letter will go nowhere. If it doesn’t fall in the dead letter file, it will be sent back to me here, but Jasper doesn’t know that. He’s all puffed up and waiting for his reward and commendation from Queen Victoria.”
“I’ll be damned.”
“How did you get away, Rena?” Adela looked at her.
“I convinced Jasper that I had to come back or nobody would believe he hadn’t forced me to go to his house. He decided it’d be better for his reputation if I did come home.” Rena laughed. “He even brought me to within site of the house.”
“I’ll get the boys together and we’ll…”
“No, Silas. You can’t kill him now. If Jake dies, Jasper Wigham is going to die by my hand, not yours. I want to look into his face as I kill him.” Rena looked at Silas with determination in her eyes.
“You mean that, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Jake’s my brother. I have to do something.”
“You’re going to go to town tomorrow.”
“Why would I want to go to town?”
“I want you to buy some more honey.”
“Honey? Hell, Rena. I can’t let that bastard get away with shooting my brother.”
“I don’t intend for him to get away with it either, Silas. Besides getting the honey, I want you to go to a lawyer and show them this. When Jasper went out to talk to one of his hands, I stole it from his desk.” She reached in her dress and pulled out the document.
Finn burst into the kitchen. “Rena, I think Jake might be trying to wake up. He’s moaning or something.”
Rena was out of the chair and running down the hall before the others could get up.
Chapter 25
Jake was moaning when she flew to his bedside. She took hold of his hand. “Darling, are you waking up?”
He continued to moan.
“He’s in pain.” Rena looked at Silas and Adela as they entered the room behind her. Her eyes were pooling with tears.
“Doc Bradley gave us some laudanum to give him before you got home,” Adela suggested.
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