Follow Me Home

by Leona Karr

  When she glimpsed Kirby putting a bottle back in the cupboard, she wondered if he’d laced her tea. She tried to say something, but her tongue was thick and her head was suddenly floating away in a kind of revolving motion.

  “Feeling better?” he asked, his satisfied face wavering in front of her. Somewhere in her befuddled mind flashed the warning that people who had struck their heads should not go to sleep. Too late…too late….

  EVERYTHING WAS QUIET on the second floor. Hal was finally successful in getting the nosebleed stopped, and he stepped out of his bathroom. He discarded his soiled clothes for some clean ones and tossed the blood-splattered shirt and jeans in the hamper. The stains would probably not come out, but at the moment he had more on his mind than ruined clothes. He was anxious to get back downstairs to Jill. He wondered what she had made of the fight. No way she could have avoided hearing the heated exchange between Kirby and Zack. Damn fool men! He itched to knock their heads together for embarrassing her like that.

  Leaving his bedroom, he poked his head into the Millers’ room and was relieved to see that Gary had fallen asleep in a chair with the opened magazine on his lap; his wife and child were also sleeping. So far so good, Hal thought, as he quietly turned away.

  A muffled sound from the bedroom across the hall stopped him. If he hadn’t seen Gary asleep in the chair, he would have assumed that he was resting in Jill’s room. Puzzled, he peered in the slightly open door. The soft murmuring came from a man bending over the bed. Hal shoved the door open. “Kirby? What the—”

  The cook put his finger up to his lips in a shushing gesture. “She’s asleep. I brought her upstairs and put her to bed.”

  Hal saw then that Jill was lying under the covers on her back. Her mouth was relaxed in a peaceful expression and her deep brown hair lay loose over her shoulders. “Why’d you move her from the sitting room? You could have made her a bed on the couch there.”

  “She fell asleep at the table. I thought it would be easier to put her in her bed.” The cook smoothed the covers under her chin. “She’s sleeping like a baby.”

  “A person who’s had a blow to the head shouldn’t sleep.” He shoved Kirby away and gently tried to wake her. “Jill, Jill, wake up.”

  There was a slight break in her heavy breathing, but she went on sleeping. What should he do now? Let her sleep? Or try to wake her? Hal cursed the fight and the nosebleed that had taken him away from her. He hadn’t finished trying to explain why he couldn’t make any promises about their future together.

  “I bet she’s out till morning,” Kirby said. “You want me to stay with her?”

  “No, I will,” Hal answered shortly.

  “Too bad she hurt herself,” Kirby said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Zack didn’t arrange it all. Her fall and everything. He’s been looking for a way to be alone with her. You ought to set him straight about a few things.”

  “Don’t worry, I will,” Hal promised curtly. “When he finishes the chores, tell him to come up here and give me a report on the foal.”

  “What’s the matter with the filly?”

  “I wish I knew. The vet left some nourishment here the last time one of the mares had a foal. I’m hoping it’ll take care of whatever’s ailing her.” Hal ran an agitated hand across his chin. “We ought to know something by morning. Either she’ll be getting her strength back or we’ll have lost her.”

  Kirby shook his head. “Tough luck. All this happening at once. And the storm likely to kick up again. How many more things are going to go wrong?”

  “I would appreciate it if you’d keep your pessimistic thoughts to yourself, Kirby. If we make it until tomorrow without anyone else getting hurt, sick, or killed, we’ll have a chance to put all this behind us. The copter will take the Millers to a hospital, and I’ll take Jill into Rampart.” He was trusting Jerry to send a battery for the Bronco with the snowplow driver. Everybody knew everybody else in Rampart, and folks were used to depending on each other to help out when they could. The driver wouldn’t mind dropping off the battery when he reached the ranch.

  Kirby sighed as he looked at Jill’s wan face. “Worn out, she is. Better let her sleep tomorrow as late as she wants. When everyone clears out, this will be the best place for her to rest.”

  “You could be right,” Hal agreed. “But getting Jill to agree to stay another day will be something else. She’s anxious to get back to that boy of hers. And I want someone to look at that head, no matter what she says.” He sighed. “We’ll have to see how she is in the morning.”

  Kirby gave Jill a lingering look as he started toward the door, then paused in the doorway. “If you have to run out to the barn later, boss, I’ll be. glad to look in on her.”

  Hal didn’t answer. He pulled up a chair beside the bed. At the moment, trouble in the barn was the farthest thing from his mind.

  Jill moved with weightless buoyancy through a gray mist that parted in front of her as she tried to run away from the dark figure behind her. Flinging frantic glances over her shoulder, she glimpsed his shadow through the swaths of thin clouds. Sometimes she could see his arms and torso. Sometimes his hips and legs. But never his whole body. Never his face. She darted this way and that, trying to lose herself in the swirling haze. But she couldn’t hide. Every way she turned, the fog would part and he was there. Sometimes behind her. Sometimes in front. Sometimes close enough to brush against her side. She ran and ran until she fell. When he reached down for her, a terrifying scream broke from her throat.

  “You’re all right Jill, darling, you’re dreaming.” Hal’s voice broke into the nightmare. “I’m here. I’m here.”

  His face swam in front of her as if she were looking at him through moving water. In the dimly lighted bedroom, his dark figure loomed over the bed. When he reached out and caressed her cheek, she drew back. The nightmare was still heavy upon her. Fear screamed silently in her throat. Her heart raced madly. Her chest was so tight, she couldn’t breathe. Lingering sensations of the dream fought with reality.

  “Don’t be frightened. Are you awake?” he asked anxiously.

  Am I? Her eyes rounded as she stared at him and then relief rushed through her with the force of a wellspring. She saw his tired face laced with worry and tenderness. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’m awake.”

  He stroked her flushed face. “You must have been having a doozy of a nightmare. Your scream just about jerked me out of my skin.”

  Only a vague, lingering sense of being chased remained. The dream had already retreated into her subconscious. She was thankful to be fully awake with Hal’s strong protective body sitting beside her.

  “You slept clear through supper and the night, and now the sun’s about ready to come up. How are you feeling?” he asked as he gently brushed back moist hair from her perspiring forehead.

  “Kinda washed out.”

  “How’s the head? Does it still hurt?”

  She waited a moment before replying. Gently touching the side of her head, she was relieved that the swelling had gone down. “I just have a slight headache.”

  She’d slept in her clothes. The idea of Hal undressing her without her knowing it would have been embarrassing, or disappointing, she didn’t know which.

  The hours sitting by her bed had been hard. He blamed himself for not keeping her from harm while she was in his care. He wanted only the best for her, even if it meant sacrificing the deepest longing he’d ever had in his life. She deserved to find happiness with a man who could give all of himself without reservation, without heavy clouds over his future.

  “I’d better get up,” she said, trying to put her thoughts into some order. “How is Sue?”

  “No worse.” He’d checked with Gary a couple of times during the night. Her temperature was staying about the same.

  “And the baby?”

  “He’s fine. I think he’s off to a good start.”

  For a moment they looked at each other, remembering the long tense hours of delivery, a
nd the joy of holding the newborn in their arms. Neither spoke until finally Hal cleared his throat and said, as evenly as he could, “I heard the weather report. The wind is down.”

  “Then this is D-day?”

  “D-day?” he echoed.

  “Departure day.”

  “If all goes well, I’ll have you back in Rampart later today,” he promised.

  The thought of Randy sent a wave of energy through her, and she was glad he didn’t argue when she insisted on getting up. “I have to check on Sue.”

  “Take it easy,” he cautioned.

  “I’m fine,” she assured him, but she was grateful for his support as he helped her to her feet, then kept a firm arm around her waist as they walked down the hall to the bathroom. “I’ll take it from here,” she told him at the door.

  “Are you sure? I don’t want to scrape you up off the floor.”

  “I promise to stay upright,” she said, shutting the door.

  After she’d splashed warm water on her face, then dried it, she looked in the mirror and groaned. Long straight hair, glazed eyes, and wrinkled clothes made her look like a reject from some Mother Earth compound. She never felt so unkempt in her life. And so vulnerable. Vulnerable? She wondered why that thought had crossed her mind. Why did she feel she’d lost something she never had? She knew that Hal had made up his mind that she wasn’t wife material, at least for him. A long time ago, a childhood sweetheart had set the standard for the mate he wanted. She doubted that any woman would ever meet that mark. One thing was for sure, she missed it by a mile, Jill admitted to the face in the mirror. City bred, adopted, no family ties, and no traditions to bring with her. No wonder Hal had warned her off.

  “Are you all right?” Hal called through the door.

  “Fine.” She straightened up and gave her reflection one last disparaging look. As soon as she collected some clean clothes from her backpack, she would come back and take a shower.

  Opening the door, she saw the relief on his face and quipped, “What’s the matter? Did you think I’d fallen in?”

  He heard their laughter from the bottom of the stairs. Mocking, taunting laughter! Fury burst like deafening, clanging cymbals inside his head. His heart pounded loudly, and he felt a rush of hot blood sluicing through his veins. He felt control slipping away. He fought an overpowering urge to rush up the stairs and bury his fists in anyone who dared to interfere. Time was getting short. It had to happen today. He took his hand out of his pocket and let his arm drop to his side. Everything would begin to fall into place when the helicopter came at high noon. High noon. He liked that. As he turned away from the stairs, he put his mask in place.

  Chapter Nine

  Kirby passed around a bowl of scrambled eggs to Hal, Scotty, and Larry. Zack had eaten his breakfast earlier, and Kirby had told Hal that the cowhand was apparently packing up and leaving.

  All for the best, Hal thought. Saves me from firing the guy. No way he was going to keep Zack around after what had happened with Jill.

  “How’s the foal?” Kirby asked.

  “Better.” Hal had been relieved to see that the filly was on her feet, nursing, when he checked on her. He’d have the vet take a look at her as soon as possible, but for the moment, a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders. “I think she’s going to be all right.”

  “Thank God for that.”

  “And what about the new mom upstairs?” asked Scotty. “Is she any better?”

  “Still running a fever,” Hal said. “But the baby’s doing fine.”

  “And Jill?” asked Larry. “Somebody said you were sitting up with her all night?” There was a suggestive lift to his eyebrows. “Did either of you get any sleep?”

  “Some.” Hal gave a noncommittal shrug.

  Scotty scooted back his chair. “Well, then I’d say everybody and everything is on the mend.”

  “What do you think, boss? Will that copter get here?” Kirby asked, filling the coffee mugs around the table.

  “Weather report says it’ll be clearing today,” offered Scotty before Hal could answer. “I guess those whirly-birds can set down about anywhere they want to. Don’t need a big pad to do it either.”

  “As long as the wind stays down,” Larry agreed. “They set ‘em down in parking lots and on hospital roofs. Guess they can find a flat place near the house in spite of the snow.”

  Hal nodded. “Heavy winds swept the ground almost clean in some spots and piled the snow up in drifts against fences and the like. The west meadow should be blown pretty clean with the wind we’ve been having. Once the copter lands, we can tell if we need to do some shoveling.” He ignored the chorus of groans from Larry and Scotty. “They’ll use a stretcher to get Sue and the baby from the house to the copter. We’ll probably have to make a path for them.”

  “If they’d land in front of the house, they could use part of the path we dug to the front door,” Scotty said hopefully.

  “Too many drifts. You know how deep the snow is in some spots.”

  “Well, I’m glad we got the truck dug out. Shouldn’t be any trouble to head it down the road once the plows take a run by. The radio says they’ve been out all night Should be coming by here before long.”

  “Don’t count on it. They’ll probably do all the main highways first,” Larry warned.

  Scotty laughed. “Maybe, but I doubt it. One of the county commissioners has a place just down the road from here. Somehow they always manage to get his place dug out real fast-like. I’m betting we’ll see a plow heading this way anytime now.”

  Scotty was right. Less than an hour later, they heard the snowplow clearing the county road. The Scotsman grunted in satisfaction as it disappeared in the direction of the commissioner’s house. “Told you. The driver will turn the plow around and head back this way. You wait and see.”

  A young fellow wearing earmuffs, a checkered mackinaw and snow boots was at the wheel of the snowplow. He waved as he tackled the driveway leading up to the ranch house and the nearby garage. When Hal and Scotty went out to speak to him, he opened the door and handed Hal a box.

  “Got a battery for you. Jerry sent it out. He said you were lucky he had one more. Guess he’s been handing them out like sugar candy.”

  “I appreciate it,” Hal told him. “We’re mighty glad to see you. We’ve been snowbound long enough.”

  “It’s been a bear, all right. I’ve been out nearly fourteen hours and ain’t nearly done yet.”

  “Did you get to my place?” the Scotsman asked anxiously.

  “Sure thing. Went all the way to the river bridge.”

  “How are the roads into town?” Hal asked. Even though he’d rather have Jill stay at least one more day, he knew she’d insist on leaving for home as soon as the copter took off.

  “The highway’s still snow-packed but traffic’s beginning to get through. Going to be a while before everything’s back to normal.”

  UPSTAIRS, JILL GATHERED up the Millers’ belongings making ready for Sue and the baby’s flight to the hospital. She’d checked her temperature again; it was still high. Thank heavens they’d made arrangements to get her medical attention without any more delay. She glanced at her watch. Would the copter be there at noon as promised? She prayed that nothing had gone wrong. What if the flight had been canceled? What if it didn’t come? Stop it, she silently rebuked herself. A snowplow was clearing the roads. They’d get Sue and the baby to the hospital somehow. It would just take a little longer.

  “I don’t like to fly,” Sue fretted as her husband helped her into some warm clothes. “Especially not in helicopters.”

  “You’ve never been in one,” Gary answered patiently, but Jill could tell the young man wasn’t all that thrilled about taking a trip in one either.

  “It’ll only take a few minutes,” Jill assured Sue as she diapered the baby and snugly wrapped him in a blanket. “And the paramedics are well trained. You’ll be in good hands. When you get to the hospital, a doctor will be rea
dy to tend to you and the baby. And I’ll come by later today and see how you’re doing. The snowplow is here now. Hal will be able to get his car out and drive me back to Rampart. I’m pretty anxious to see that boy of mine.”

  Sue smiled gratefully. “You’ve been an angel.”

  “That’s me,” Jill quipped. “Have halo, will travel.”

  They laughed.

  Hal poked his head in the door. “Can I come in, or is this a private party?”

  “Sure, come on in,” Gary said warmly. “We’ve been wanting to tell you something, Mr. Haverly.”

  “Let me,” said Sue.

  Jill expected her to thank him again for his hospitality, so she was as surprised as he was when Sue said, “We’ve decided to name the baby Hal, after you.”

  Hal’s face flushed and he looked totally embarrassed. Jill remembered how his eyes had glowed with tenderness when he held the baby. He seemed too choked up to say anything. Finally, he managed, “I’m really honored.”

  “And we’ll be bringing little Hal back for a visit with his namesake. Since he was born on a ranch, he’s bound to like horses,” Gary said proudly.

  “I bet you’re real good with kids,” Sue said. “You ought to have some of your own.” Her eyes deliberately moved from his face to Jill’s. “I know a nice name for a little girl.”

  Hal laughed. “You’re pretty obvious, young lady.”

  “She can’t help herself,” Gary apologized. “She gets some idea in her head and won’t let go.”

  “That’s right. When I see two stubborn people pulling in opposite directions, I have to say something.”

  “There it is! Hear it?” Gary shouted as he hurried over to the window, stretching his neck one way and then the other. “Can’t see it, but it’s coming.”