"Kel, you really asleep?" Dixie poked her patients arm and smiled. "Well, looks like we need to leave him."
Joe chuckled. "Either tiredness, or pain."
"Pain? For how long?"
"Not too long. He's recovering quickly." Joe smiled and put his hand on Dixie's shoulder. "Can I buy you something to eat?"
"It is dinner time, isn't it?" Dixie looked at her watch with a frown. "Alright, Joe. I accept!"
"Then you can tell me more." Joe stated as they walked out.
Dixie rolled her eyes. "You are so…"
Joe waited for the words, but none came.
"Let's go." Dixie waved a hand in front of her. "Oh! Your are such a child!" She remembered and spun around. Joe pulled his hands in front of him to keep from running into Dixie.
"I know. But I don't know much about Kel and I'm learning a lot about him."
Dixie grinned. "You know I really should let him tell you."
"I won't repeat any of this."
"Well, if you say so."
"I say so." Dr. Early chuckled and led the head nurse towards the cafeteria.
They got what they wanted and sat down at a small table. Joe Early started to get organized before saying:
"Well?"
Dixie looked up from her sandwich. "Alright...let me eat a little first." She chuckled and took a bite.
"Now, where was I?" She covered her mouth as she chewed. "Oh, well, a few days later...since the time I was talkin' about...Kel got away. I mean he ran away for a while...until the police found him."
"Police?"
"His parents were so scared that they went to the police. Yeah know how it is." Dixie waved a hand around to emphasize her point. Dr. Early nodded in understanding and Dixie continued.
"So…"
There were fields ahead and trees dotting the fields in various places. Kel took a seat beneath one of the shady trees and leaned his tired head against its trunk. He let out a sigh and closed his eyes as he tried to calm his breathing. He had no idea how long he was walking but it was almost the whole day, from the looks of it. The sweat rolled down his face and he wiped it away with his sleeve.
'Leaving the house with no water was not a good idea.' He thought and then stood up. One area in the distance looked familiar, so he started to head in that direction. It wasn't long before he took another rest beneath a tree and then fell asleep.
"He probably is looking for the ranch." Blake said as he and Dixie walked further out of their neighborhood limits.
Dixie sighed. "Blake, you've been deciding between the two...what do you really think? Is he not or is he?"
"Sorry...I'm just a bit scared for him honestly. Ya heard what his parents said. He can get lost more easily in the state he's in. And he'll maybe do something he'll regret! He's my best friend."
"I know, Blake. I'm sorry. Let's keep looking, but we better get back once the sun starts to fall."
"Dixie, do ya always have to play the sensible one of the group?"
"Where would you be without me?" Dixie giggled and smiled at her friend.
"I'd be better off." Blake laughed.
Dixie swat his arm. "Boys."
"I'll be a man before you know it!"
"Yeah ri-" Dixie cut herself off and listened closely. "Did you hear something?"
"No." Blake stood, frozen and shook his head.
"It...oh well. You know that field we play soccer in?"
"Yeah."
"We should look there."
"Okay."
Kel's eyes flickered open and his eyes darted around as to register his surroundings. He felt a soft pillow beneath his head and a rough blanket over his arms.
"Told ya 'e was just dehydrated. See 'e's awake."
Kel looked into a pair of concerned, brown eyes. He felt his head being lifted up and glass pressed against his lips.
"Come on, drink." The gentle voice coaxed. Kel's vision was still zoning in and out.
"How old do ya think he is?"
"Ten, maybe."
"Have you seen him before?"
"No. Hey, boy, can you hear me?"
Kel was shaken a little and he responded with a grunt. Rubbing his eyes, he propped himself up on his elbows. A yawn escaped and he blinked in order to focus on his surroundings.
"I can hear ya." Kel said groggily.
"How ya feelin'?"
"Tired…"
"Just lie there. Alright. What's your name?"
"Jess Brackett." Kel shook his head. 'That ain't my name. At least it doesn't seem right.' He thought to himself.
The man noticed the frown on the boy's face and laid the glass of water on the side table.
"What's a'matter, Jess?"
Kel looked up at him. "Nothing."
"Alright. Well, where do ya live?"
"I…" He couldn't give it away. Now he remembered what he was doing before. "On a ranch somewhere...I got lost."
"Do you know your number?"
"Number?" Kel cocked his head to the side.
"House number. The one on your house."
"There ain't a number on it...I don't think." Kel frowned again, feeling confused.
"You sure there's nothin' the matter?"
Kel nodded, but didn't look up from staring at the floor. He felt dizzy and laid back down.
"Dixie…" He mumbled and closed his eyes.
"Did he say a name or 'dizzy'?"
"I'm dizzy." Kel's eyes opened slightly and he looked towards the new voice.
The boy leaned against a wooded wall and was looking back and forth from the strange kid to the older man next to him.
"Hey, Jess, can you tell us what you're doin'?"
"Lookin' for my ranch." Kel was randomly getting irritated.
"You know where it is?"
"He told you already." The boy across the room stated.
"Ssh! Jess, you drink some more water. Okay?" He smiled at the little boy and he helped him sip some of the liquid.
Kel snuggled into the covers on the bed and began to drift back off to sleep.
"Thanks, Jonsey."
"What'd he say?" The boy frowned.
"George, he's not in his right mind at the moment, so we need to let him rest. And drink fluids."
Kel lifted his head a bit, he was more than just tired. He felt terrible.
"Mama?" He tried to call out, but it just came out as a croak.
He got down from the bed, which was now wet from sweat and...Kel grimaced. This was not his bed, nor was it his home. The door opened and in came a girl of about twenty. She smiled at Kel.
"I see you're up!"
Kel swallowed and fell back on the bed. He sat there watching her, looking her over. She brought a glass of water and handed it to him.
"Take a few sips." She told him. His blue eyes looked up into her cheerful brown ones and he obeyed.
"I'm sorry." Kel said immediately after his first sip.
"Don't be, dear! It's alright. At least you're not in a terrible stage." She smiled and stripped the bed of its sheets.
Kel sat down on the ground. Cup in hand, he watched her. His eyes began to droop but he snapped wide awake before falling asleep. He was so drowsy that he didn't notice the pair of arms that reached down to pick him up.
"You're running a fever." She said sympathetically and removed his shirt.
"What's your name?" Kel asked sleepily, he didn't care if she was undressing him.
"Caroline Walters." She smiled. "Get under the covers till I can round up some clothes for ya, and wash these."
"Where the people from earlier?" Kel asked, again snuggling under the covers, he was colder than he was before.
"How goes it, Jess?" The older man entered in smiling. He felt Jess's forehead and shook his head.
"Ya got a high fever."
Kel moved around a bit and frowned. "I wanna go home."
"You will. Just got to locate it is all. What's your parents names?"
"Parents names?" Kel looked out from under his hand which was rested over his eyes.
"Son, if we're gonna find your home, we got to have information."
"Oh."
"I sent my son George to the police. We'll find your folks soon. Don't worry." The man grabbed the water on the stand and lifted Kel's head up. "Another drink."
"No." Kel turned his face away.
"Ya need to drink some."
Kel shook his head several times.
"Alright." The man sighed and put the glass back on the table. He stood up.
"Wait, Jonesy."
"Is Jonesy someone ya know?" The man asked.
"But, you are! Ain't ya?" Kel's voice was confused and hopeful.
Mr. Walters sat back down. "Jess, how much do I mean to ya?"
"A lot! You're like my father."
"You knew your father?"
Kel looked down, saddened. "No. I've been with random folks for as long as I know, and they all lie to me."
"Who was the last to have you?"
"I had a dream ya put us all up for adoption. And sent us away." Kel said suddenly, ignoring the question.
"I would like an answer."
"I...they were B..." Kel was stumped now. What was the name?
"Brackett?"
"Brack...Yeah! Brackett!" Kel's eyes lit up a bit, but Mr Walters could tell he wasn't well.
"I better leave you, Jess. Thank you. Go to sleep now."
Caroline entered the room again, this time with some clothes.
"These'll work. They were George's" She smiled and handed him the clothes.
"Thank you." Kel smiled. He sat up slowly and pulled on the shirt. He waited till Caroline was out to put on the other half of his clothes. Mr, Walters was still in the room, but he was looking out the window. He was so into his thoughts that Kel had to walk up and pull on his shirt.
"I'm sorry, Jess. Was thinkin'."
"About what?"
"Nothin' you'd understand."
Kel shrugged and looked out the window, blinking at the sight.
"Horses? I thought they ran away! Good their back." Kel began to feel a little better. "I'm home now..."
"Woah, boy, you're not home."
"But, Jonesy...that weren't a dream that you got rid of us. Huh?"
Mr Walters sighed and put a hand on the sagging shoulder.
"No, son. To be truthful, I'm not Jonesy. I'm Jeb Walters. You've been calling me that name."
"But you...you..." Kel felt painfully confused. He held back angry tears that were threatening to emerge. Mr. Walters saw the water that was resting on his bottom eyelids. He leaned down and drew the boy into a hug.
"It's alright, Jess. We'll get you home."
"Home. I've been looking. And everyone tells me it ain't here! Even my horse ain't around!" Kel sobbed into the older man's shoulder.
"Would you want to go see mine? They love little boys." Mr. Walters smiled down at Kel's tear stained face. Kel sniffed and nodded.
"Alright come on."
They walked outside where the horses were grazing and walking around in a fenced in area. A girl came walking up with a saddled horse.
"Hello, Mr. Walters. My mother is here. Thank you for the lesson." She smiled before leaving. Kel watched Mr. Walters tie the horses rope to the fence.
"Excuse me for a moment, Kel. Can you watch Monkey here? I just need to talk to this students mother."
"Yes sir." Kel grinned and reached up to pet the animals soft, warm snout. He walked over to the side of Monkey and grasped the stirrup in his hand. An idea came to him and he climbed the fence to where he could get one foot in the stirrup and he threw his other leg over Monkey's saddle. He grabbed the reins and pulled to the left, kicking the horse twice.
"Come on, Monkey." Kel prompted the horse, a smile playing on his lips. He got the horse going in a trot now and Caroline came out of the house.
"Jess, stop, please." She called out. Kel didn't listen and kept on riding around the big yard. He took off towards the back of the house, the horse began picking up its pace.
It wasn't long till Kel began to feel sick again. His head began to hurt and he leaned forward, then slid off the saddle and landed on the ground with a thud. The world spun around as Kel shook his head several times. Mr. Walters jumped down from his mount and hurried over to the dazed boy.
"You alright?" He asked as he helped Kel sit up. Kel was limp but he was laughing silently.
"You must've hit your head bad."
"No, no." Kel's laughing grew a little louder. "Horse's fault."
"And you're laughing about it?" He raised his eyebrows.
Kel didn't reply, but a grin continued to widen on his face. He looked from the older man's face to the blue sky above, and the laughter slowed down.
"Mmmonkey." Kel's laughter increased again, this time he looked around for the horse before covered his eyes with his arm.
"Come on, Jess, better get you inside." Mr. Walters said, a tad bit nervous about the child's behavior.
Kel's laughter subsided completely once they were near the house and he began to moan. Mr. Walters informed his daughter about the accident and she carried him inside from there.
"It hurts." He whined, closing his eyes tight.
Caroline laid a gentle hand on his forehead and tilted her head to the side in sympathy. "I know, darling."
Kel groaned and rolled over on his side, as if trying to go to sleep. His blue eyes were opened and looking at Caroline. She smiled at him and lowered her hand across his eyes, then whispered that he should go to sleep.
"Caroline, these officers are looking for Jess!" Mr. Walters rushed into the room, Caroline raised a finger to her lips, but Kel was already sitting up, but barely staying awake.
"Jess, some men are here to take you." She put an arm around the sleepy boy.
Kel rubbed his eyes and followed the older people out the door. The sight of the policemen made Kel stop and stare, wide eyes filled with fear.
"What'd I do? I didn't…" Kel looked up at Caroline for help. The girl looked down at his distressed look and she lifted him into her arms.
"No worries, Jess. These men are here to take you home." She beamed.
"Home?"
"Yes!" She placed him back on the ground.
"His parents are coming to pick him up." One of the officers stated as he came back from using the radio. He smiled at Kel. "It won't be long."
Kel held on to his mother's hand as the adults talked to each other. Some odd reason he felt so happy to be with them again, even though they weren't his parents. What confused him was that he some how came to accepting them as his parents, but he didn't remember ever doing it.
"You can come back tomorrow if you want, and ride Monkey."
Kel heard Mr. Walters say and smiled at him.
"Would you like that, Jess?" His father asked.
Kel nodded, then let go of his mother's hand and ran on passed them. All four turned around and laughed as Kel greeted Blake and Dixie with a hug, almost knocking Blake down.
"I see we weren't the first ones to find you." Dixie frowned and folded her arms. "All that walking for nothing."
"We got K-Jess back!" Blake said in triumph.
"Yeah! You don't look too happy, Dix."
"I'm happy." Dixie stood straight. "And tired."
"We can drive you two home. I'm sorry, Dixie." Mrs. Brackett hugged the girl, who waved a hand and welcomed the warming hug.
"No hug for me?" Blake jokingly said in disbelief.
"Nor me?" Kel pipped up.
Mrs. Brackett smiled with amusement. "Well, you two look like a couple of fine young men. Not sure if I would want to hug you though. You know how my husband would feel."
"Mom!" Kel frowned. "Dad won't care!"
"You know something, Jess?" She kneeled in front of her son and held his face in her hands. "He wouldn't." She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"Do I get a kiss too?" Blake joked some more.
"No, Slim. None for you." Kel shook his hand and stood in front of his mother. She chuckled and exchanged amused looks with Dixie.
"From me you can." Dixie walked over to him. Blake's eyes widened and he stepped back.
"You wouldn't?"
"Dixie! You can't!" Kel had to stop Dixie, she was his. He shook his head in an attempt to set his mind straight. What was he thinking.
"Why can't she, Jess?" Mrs. Brackett asked in a curious tone. Dixie stopped to watch her younger friend, and began to giggle at Blake.
"Uh…" Kel swallowed nervously. He couldn't tell anyone that he liked Dixie, not even Dixie knew. He turned his head from Blake to his mother's questioning gaze.
Mrs. Brackett saw the nervousness in Kel and decided to leave it be. She laughed and pulled him and Blake into a hug, smiling up at the Walters and her husband. She loved all three of them so much.
"Alright lets get everyone home!" Mrs. Brackett said and stood up, leading the kids to the car.
"See you tomorrow, Jess. Your friends can come too." Caroline smiled.
"Okay! That will be fun! Thank you!" Kel was filled with excitement. Dixie shook her head and smiled. He seemed alright.
Once Blake and Dixie were dropped off, so was Kel. Dropped off in bed. Mrs. Brackett made sure he was comfortable and alright. She held his hand tight and smiled, eyes beginning to water.
"Mama, why you cryin'?" Kel frowned as he noticed his mother's eyes were watery. Mr. Brackett entered the room just as Kel asked the question. He sat down on the other side of the bed.
"Mama is going to have surgery tomorrow, Jess."
"Surgery? Mean when they cut you open?"
"Yes, Jess." Mr. Brackett half smiled at his son's to-the-point question.
"But, why? What'd you got in ya that needs takin' out?"
"Cancer." His mother brushed his wavy black hair back with her fingers.
"What's that?"
"Can't really explain it, Jess, I wish I could." She said calmly.
"Why were you cryin' about it?"
"Just scared, Jess. That's all. Nervous." She didn't want to tell him the truth, that it might be too late for them to fix it.
"Don't be scared. Remember how you told me not to be scared when you dug a needle in my finger to get a splinter out. It hurt, but I was brave!" Kel's recollection surprised both parents.
Mrs. Brackett laughed. "I remember. You were a brave little boy."
"Your calmness helped me, too. Want me to be there with you? I'll be calm for you. Dad can too."
"No, you can't, Love."
"Why can't I?"
"We're not allowed to stay in the operating room." Mr. Brackett informed the dismayed boy.
"But they gotta understand that Mama needs us!"
"They don't need you getting in the way, Darling." Mrs. Brackett's turn to get Kel to understand.
"But I wouldn't bother no body!"
"Jess, I know these doctors. One is a good friend too. You need to trust me on this. I will be fine. Just thinking of you and your father makes me calm."
"You sure you're not lying to me? Like you done before?"
"I am not lying. Now you can come tomorrow if you'd like and meet him."
"Okay." Kel's eyes searched his mother's face, there were no signs of fear. "What about the Walters?"
"You can go there after you meet the doctor, if you'd like. If you don't want to go…" She paused, running through what she was going to say. "Jess, I would like you to go to the Walters, after meeting the doctor." She quickly added the doctor, so to satisfy the boy.
Kel struggled with the decision, but his mother wanted him to go to the ranch so he best do as he's told. He gave her one last long hug before being tucked in bed and falling asleep.
