The priests and Jim spent almost three-quarters of an hour visiting. Finally, Father Biron got out of his chair.
"Jim, we have to make several more visits," he said. "We'll stop by on Thursday and bring Holy Communion for you. Is there anything else we can do for you?"
"Just one thing, Father," Jim answered. "I want to confess that I've killed a man, in fact several men."
Father Biron sighed. "We've had this discussion before. As we've said, the killings you have done in the line of your duties as a Texas Ranger are justified both in the sight of the Church and the sight of the Lord."
"This time will be different," Jim said. "You see, Father, as soon as I'm able to sit a saddle, I'm goin' after the hombres who shot my boy and violated my wife. And I won't rest until every last one of 'em is dead. I'm not gonna give 'em the chance to surrender. I'll gun them down where they stand. They're gonna get the same chance they gave Julia and Charlie.
"Jim, I can't even begin to imagine what you are feeling. I won't insult you by trying to say that I do. But I do know that what you intend to do is wrong. You have every right to try and bring those men to justice, but you don't have the right to seek revenge, or to take the law into your own hands."
"You mean I should let those men to get away with what they did?"
Father Biron put his hand on Jim's shoulder. "You know that's not what I meant. Jim, if you exact revenge on those men, you'll be no better than them."
"Father Biron is right, Jim." Father Koszmowski added. "After all, 'Vengeance is Mine, sayeth the Lord'."
Jim's blue eyes blazed with an unholy fury when he answered.
"Father Gary, vengeance may well be the Lord's, but I'm gonna be His right hand in meting out that vengeance. Those renegades won't only be facing the Lord's retribution, but the retribution of a Texas Ranger. And when I catch up with 'em, they'll be sorry the devil hadn't roped 'em in first, because by the time I'm done with 'em they'll wish they were in Hell. But they're gonna die real hard and painful before they get there."
Father Biron's eyes held a deep sadness, but also great sympathy as he responded to the soul-shattered Ranger's tirade.
"Jim, no one should have to go through what you and your family have suffered. But another wrong won't undo this injustice. Just hear me out." He raised his hand when Jim started to protest.
"You're hurting very deeply, both physically and to the depths of your soul. It's impossible for you to think clearly right now. Father Gary and I will be back on Thursday. I'd like to request you think about your intentions over the next two days. You also need to pray to the Lord for His guidance. I'm sure you will see Father Gary and I are correct, and once the anger you are feeling subsides you will realize that. And as soon as you do, then you will be able to begin your search for those men as a quest for justice, not reprisal. And you will be justified in that mission. Will you promise to do that?"
"The only promise I'm makin' is to see those hombres in the ground." Jim's anger had not receded.
"Will you at least try?" Father Koszmowski asked.
There was a moment of awkward silence before Jim answered the young priest.
"All right, I'll think about it, but nothing's gonna change my mind, or stop me from what I have to do."
"That's all we're asking for now," Father Biron said. "Now we really do have to leave. We'll pray you make the right decision, Jim."
The pastor blessed Jim, making the Sign of the Cross over the wounded Ranger.
Once the priests departed, Jim offered a prayer of thanks that Julia and Charlie were still alive, despite the bitterness gnawing at his guts. He tossed restlessly for quite some time before he finally fell into a fitful sleep.
Jim spent the next several days recuperating. His parish priests had again stopped by, still attempting to dissuade the Ranger from his vow to avenge the attack on his family. Their efforts only seemed to harden Jim's determination.
While Dr. Vender worked on Charlie one morning, the anxious Ranger questioned the physician.
"Doc, Charlie seemed sort of restless all night. His tossin' and turnin' kept me up until early this morning, before he finally settled down. Is he gettin' worse?"
"I don't believe so," Dr. Vender replied while he changed the bandage on Charlie's chest. "His fever is a bit higher again, but that's not unexpected. With a bullet wound as severe as your son's, a body's temperature will fluctuate. In fact, I feel his restlessness is a positive sign. I believe Charlie will be regaining consciousness soon, at least for a short while. Again, that's to be expected during his recovery. He'll drift in and out for several days. But I finally think he has a good chance of surviving, although even after he regains consciousness he still won't be out of the woods by any means."
"That's the best news you've given me yet, Doc," Jim almost yelled.
Late that afternoon, Jim was half-asleep when he heard a soft murmur coming from the next bed.
"Charlie?" he called. "Charlie?"
"Dad is that you?" came a whispered response.
"It sure is, son," Jim answered.
"Where are we?"
"We're at Doc Vender's. I'd better call him now that you're awake."
"Where's Mom?"
"Your Mom's here too. She's sleeping in the next room. Now let me get the doc."
Jim got out of bed and went to the door.
"Doc! Doc Vender!"
"What is it, Jim?" the doctor answered from the front room.
"Charlie's awake!"
"I'll be there in a moment."
Jim could hear Dr. Vender's murmur as the physician explained to another patient he would return to her as quickly as possible. A minute later he was with the Ranger and his son. Jim settled back in his own bed while Dr. Vender went over to Charlie.
"Hello, Charlie." The doctor placed his hand on the boy's forehead. "I'm glad to see you're with us again, son. How are you feeling?"
"I'm kinda tired, Dr. Vender," Charlie answered. "And my chest is awful sore."
"I'm not surprised," Dr. Vender answered. "But at least your fever seems to be down. Charlie, do you remember what happened to you?"
"Sure. I got shot. I don't remember what happened after that, though."
Dr. Vender gave a soft chuckle. He took Charlie's wrist to check his heart rate. "I don't imagine you do. But that's why your chest is sore. I took a pretty large chunk of lead out of you. In fact, I saved it if you'd like to keep it. That bullet would have killed most grown men, let alone a youngster like you. You're one tough boy, Charlie Blawcyzk."
"You mean, tough like my dad?" Charlie asked.
"Yes, tough just like your dad." Dr. Vender laughed. He let go of the boy's wrist.
"Charlie, you seem to be doing fine. Since that's the case, I'm going to finish with my other patients. I'm sure you'd like to visit with your dad for a while. I'll return to change your bandages later."
"Okay, Doctor Vender."
"Jim, don't you wear him out."
"I won't, doc," Jim assured him.
Once Dr. Vender departed, Jim swung his legs over the edge of his mattress to sit up. "Charlie, you gave me quite a scare," he said. "For a while there I thought I was going to lose you. Thank the Lord you're going to be all right."
"Dad, what about you? I know you got shot too. And what happened to Mom? Did those men hurt her?"
Jim hesitated before answering.
"I'll be fine. And yes, those men did hurt your Mom. That's why she's here. They didn't shoot her, but she was badly injured. It might take her a long while to recover."
"She's not gonna die, is she Dad?"
"Doc Vender says he's doing everything he can for her, and she should be fine," Jim answered. "But she does need us to pray for her."
"What about those men? Did the Rangers find them?"
"Not yet. But they won't get away. Soon as I'm a bit stronger, I'll be takin' the trail of those hombres. And I won't be back until I find 'em. So I'm gonna need you to get better quick so you c
an look after your Mom until I get back."
"I will, Dad. Count on me."
Charlie's voice was hushed, almost a whisper.
"Dad, I shot one of those men."
"You did what, Charlie?"
"I shot one of those men. When I heard gunshots, I ran out of the barn. I saw you lyin' on the ground. I knew right then you'd been shot. Then I saw riders comin', so I grabbed your gun. I nailed one of 'em right in the stomach."
"So that's why my gun was in your hand. You shot a man off a gallopin' horse with one shot from a six-gun? That's some shootin', son."
"Thanks, Dad. I reckon it was as much luck as aim."
"Doesn't matter. At least you got one of 'em. Charlie, this is important. Do you think you killed that feller?"
"I dunno, Dad. I know I drilled him plumb center. He kinda sagged over his horse's neck, and then fell off. But that's when I must of got shot, because I don't remember anything after that. I'm sorry, Dad."
"There's no need to be sorry. You did what you could. I'm just sorry you had to shoot a man."
"I'm not, since he might've been the skunk who plugged you," Charlie answered. "When I saw you lyin' in the mud, I thought you were dead. I had to do somethin'. It did make me a bit sick to my stomach when I saw him get hit, though."
"You should always regret havin' to kill a man," Jim gently chided. "But I can understand your feelin's."
"Why'd those men do this, Dad?"
"I don't know, Charlie. Probably lookin' to get even with me. When I catch up to 'em, I'll ask 'em for you."
"But why'd they hurt Mom?"
"For the same reason they hurt you. They knew that'd tear me up inside, and would hurt me more'n any bullet in my guts. Of course, they didn't plan on leavin' me alive either. I reckon they thought they'd finished me. They sure figured wrong, and they're gonna be sorry for that."
Jim paused for breath.
"Charlie, do you know how many of them there were?"
"I think there were six or seven of 'em."
"You didn't notice what any of 'em looked like, did you?"
"No. They were too far off. The man I shot was ridin' a roan. Couple or three of 'em were on bays. One of the bays had a star on its forehead. There was a blaze-faced sorrel, a stocking-footed chestnut, and a gray."
"Just like your ol' dad, notice the cayuses, eh, Charlie?" Jim laughed. "That's good. It'll help me track 'em down."
"I sure wish I could ride with you, Dad," Charlie said.
"And I'd like to have you sidin' me," Jim answered. "But you're still a bit too young, and like I said I need you to take care of your mom."
Jim glanced toward the door when it opened and Dr. Vender returned.
"I wasn't expectin' you back so fast, Doc," he said.
"I didn't have any patients who couldn't wait until tomorrow. I cancelled the rest of my appointments for the day so I could tend to you and Charlie," Dr. Vender explained. "I knew you'd keep talking with Charlie until I came back, and I don't want him to become exhausted. And Captain Trumbull is outside. If you don't mind him watching while I work on you two I'll bring him in."
"That's not a problem at all," Jim answered.
"Fine. We'll be right back."
Dr. Vender disappeared, returning a moment later with Captain Trumbull.
"Howdy, Jim. Howdy, Charlie," the captain boomed. "This is an unexpected surprise findin' you awake, son. That's certainly good news."
"Thanks, Captain Trumbull," Charlie replied.
"Cap'n, any word of those renegades?" Jim began.
"Just hold on a minute. You and the captain can talk while I change your bandages, Jim. Now flop over on your belly," Dr. Vender ordered.
"All right." Jim rolled onto his stomach, and the doctor commenced removing the bandages from his back.
"Any news, Cap'n?" Jim asked.
Captain Trumbull filled his pipe and lit it. He took a puff before answering.
"Not much, I'm afraid. There hasn't been a sign of those men. We couldn't find much at your spread to help us identify who they might be, either. There's not a lot to go on."
"What about my horses? Ouch. Take it easy doc, will you?" Jim protested, when Dr. Vender yanked a last stubborn length of bandage from the Ranger's back.
"I'm sorry, Jim."
"It's all right," Jim said.
"There hasn't been a sign of them," Capt. Trumbull answered. "We've checked with all the horse traders in the area, and of course we sent wires all over the state askin' anyone who might be offered broncs answerin' the description of your herd to contact us. But there's not much hope of that."
Charlie spoke up from his bed.
"Dad, all of our horses were stolen?"
"I'm afraid so, Charlie, except Sam and Sizzle," Jim answered. "Sam wouldn't let himself be taken, of course, but he was badly hurt fightin' those hombres off. And they did take Sizzle, but he got away somehow and came back home."
Charlie's voice trembled as he fought back tears.
"They even took Ted?"
Ted was Charlie's pet buckskin paint gelding. Jim had given him the gentle horse when Charlie was only a toddler, and Ted a yearling. Boy and horse had grown up together.
"Yes, they did. But I'll get him back for you. When I come back from runnin' down those outlaws I'll have Ted with me. You can bet your hat on it."
Captain Trumbull nearly choked on his pipe as he spluttered a protest.
"Wait a minute, Lieutenant. I thought we'd settled that. You're gonna stay right here and recuperate. Leave findin' those hombres to the rest of the Rangers. We want to find 'em as badly as you do. Smoky McCue will be back from Denton in a few days, and I've already sent for Jim Huggins. He'll be ridin' back from San Angelo any day now. I'm assigning them special to this case. You know Huggins is the best there is when it comes to turnin' up clues no one else can. He and Smoke will track down those renegades."
Jim started to rise from his bed in anger. "Cap'n..."
"Hold it right there, Jim," Dr. Vender ordered. "I can't change your bandages with you jumpin' around like that. Now just lie still until I'm done. You and the captain can continue this argument once I'm finished.
"But," Jim began.
"No buts, son, get back on your belly. Ten minutes while I replace the bandages won't make a difference."
With a long sigh, Jim settled back on the bed.
A short while later Dr. Vender taped the last new bandage to the Ranger's back.
"There. I'm done. In a few more days, you'll be able to get outside for a bit and sit in the sunlight. That should make you feel a little better. Now you and the captain can talk while I take care of Charlie," Dr. Vender said.
Jim glared at Captain Trumbull.
"There's only one thing that will make me feel any better, and that's gettin' after the hombres who did this."
Capt. Trumbull took another pull on his pipe.
"And I ordered you to stay outta that search, Lieutenant. You know that. I can't say I know what you're feelin', but I can say with what happened to your wife and boy you're not thinkin' straight."
"You can't keep me from goin' after those renegades," Jim said. "There's nothing you can say or do that will stop me."
"Jim, you're too personally involved. I need men who can think objectively if we're to have any chance of finding our quarry."
"Will you two stop shouting at each other?" Vender interrupted, "I can't concentrate on my work with all your noise. Take an example from this boy here. He's staying perfectly quiet."
Dr. Vender had removed the old bandages from Charlie's chest and was cleaning out the boy's wound.
"I apologize, Doctor," Capt. Trumbull said. "We'll speak more softly. Jim, I hope you understand what I'm saying."
"Cap'n, you know I've never disobeyed your orders."
This time Capt. Trumbull did choke on his pipe. "What?"
"Well, maybe a time or two, but you have to let me go after that bunch. That's my boy lyin' in the next bed with
a bullet hole in his chest and my wife who was beaten and..."
Jim stopped, not wanting Charlie to know the awful details of the attack on his mother.
"All the more reason you need to stay here with them," Capt. Trumbull answered.
"And what would happen if you took off before you were fully healed?" Dr. Vender put in. "You'd probably reopen your wounds, they'd get infected, and you'd die. That means those men would still escape and you wouldn't be around for your wife and son. What would that prove? Listen to Captain Trumbull. Your fellow Rangers will find those outlaws."
"There's another person in this room who should have a say," Capt. Trumbull added.
The Ranger captain turned to Jim's son. "Charlie, what do you think your dad should do?"
"Cap'n, that's not fair puttin' my boy on the spot like that," Jim protested.
"He should have as much say in this as you, Jim. Charlie, do you want to answer my question?"
"Sure, Captain Trumbull," Charlie replied. "My dad's the best Texas Ranger ever. He'll get those skunks that hurt my mom. I can take care of her while he's gone. My dad'll get my horse back, too."
"See, Cap'n," Jim said. "Even my boy knows what needs to be done. Thanks, Charlie."
"I should have guessed what Charlie's answer would be, knowin' how much he thinks of you," Capt. Trumbull grunted, "But that doesn't change a thing. Jim, if you try and go after those men, I'll take your badge. And if I need to I'll have you arrested. I mean that."
"All right, Cap'n, you win," Jim said. "Reckon that means I'm finished as a Ranger."
"That's not what I meant at all. There's still plenty of work for you once you're better. I can send you to a dozen trouble spots in Texas right now."
"I'll go along with whatever you say," Jim grudgingly answered.
"You'll see I'm right, Jim. Since that's settled, I've got to get back to Headquarters."
"Dad, shouldn't you tell Captain Trumbull about the man I shot?" Charlie asked.
"What? You shot one of those men?" Capt. Trumbull exclaimed.
"I sure did. I plugged him right in his belly," Charlie answered.
"Charlie told me he'd done that just before you came in, Cap'n," Jim explained. "I was gonna tell you but then we started arguin' and I didn't get around to it."
Ranger's Revenge (Texas Ranger Jim Blawcyzk Book 7) Page 4