Chapter Twenty-One

Saturday, January 15, 1977

Ennis slowed down when he got to the driveway of the ranch, afraid of what he'd find when he got there. He fumed all the way home that he hadn't made Ben tell him what was going on, but resigned himself to the fact that Ben probably wouldn't have told him anyway. He was relieved to see their station wagon, the car Franki had been driving, parked next to Ben's pickup truck, but it still didn't give him any indication of what was going on. He parked close to the door and was out of the truck almost before the engine stopped purring and was opening the door to the house moments later.

"Franki? You here?" Ennis called, heading into the kitchen. He saw a blur coming at him and then his arms were full of his eldest daughter, who was sobbing hard. He put one hand on her back to hold her up while the other tangled in her long, auburn hair. He just held her, tight as he could, while she cried.

Ennis didn't know how long he stood there, holding his daughter while she soaked his shirt and broke his heart, but he eventually became aware of movement and looked up. Franki stood there, with her arms around Franny, who looked like she'd been sleeping and was holding back tears. "Franki? What . . ." he started, but was cut off when Franny launched herself at her daddy and clung to him.

"Come on girls, let's sit on the couch," he said and started shuffling them forward into the living room. Junior's sobs had subsided to sniffling, but she wouldn't let go and Franny's crying was mostly silent. Ennis looked at Franki. "Tell me what's goin on."

"Junior called me a last week and said she and Franny were running away. She begged me not to tell anyone, but said she couldn't stand it there anymore. I told her I wouldn't tell on the condition that they take the bus and come here. I offered ta go out and get them, but I didn't know how to work it out without raising everyone's suspicions. 'Sides, Junior convinced me she could take care of herself and her sister. So, I sent them money for a bus ticket and they took it to Fargo. I picked them up there today."

"What's been goin on out there? What couldn't you stand?" Ennis asked, looking at Junior. She didn't answer, so Ennis looked up at Franki, who shook her head. Ennis held onto the girls for a while, letting them lean against him and draw strength from him, until Junior fell asleep, followed soon after by Franny.

"Ennis, I don't think you should let the girls tell you anything until we can get Janie, or someone else from social services, and the sheriff out here to listen. It was hard enough for them to tell me. I don't think they can stand to tell you and then have to tell someone else."

"You think it's something they'll have to tell someone else?" he asked.

"Yes," she said, starting to rise. "Why don't you just stay there with the girls and I'll call Janie. And that deputy, what's his name?"

"Travis Drake. Wait. Have you heard what happened today? Did Ben tell you? Where is he, by the way?"

"He's out in the barn. We thought it'd be best for you ta see the girls before anything. No, he hasn't said anything. He called for you when we got here and then said he had to do something in the barn." She took a longer look at Ennis's face and asked, "What happened?"

"Janie's at the hospital right now," he started and told her what had happened at Russell's funeral. Her eyes grew wider and tears were standing in them by the time he'd finished.

"So, Jack is going to be okay?" she asked. Ennis nodded. "And Tyler?"

"I don't know. Nancy said he will be, but no one's even been in to see him cause he was in surgery and then in recovery. But maybe Travis can bring her with him if he can make it out to talk to the girls. You want to give him a call?"

"Yes, I'll call now," she said, rising to go to the phone.

Ennis looked down at his daughters, one slumped on each side of him, and held them tight to his chest. He didn't know for sure what was going on or what would happen, but he knew that he would do anything to protect them. He felt like he'd failed them in so many ways, so many times, but that was done now. His mind went to Jack, who also relied on him, and Bobby, who had become as important to him as his own daughters, and knew he had to find a way to protect all of his family—his daughters, his son, and his… Jack.

Beau wiped his eyes, could feel they were red and swollen. It felt like he would just get himself under control and then the tears would start again. He wanted to smack himself for being such a... such a girl about this, but he couldn't help it. Tyler had come to mean everything to him and the thought of losing him was too much to bear. Everyone else had gone to the cafeteria to find something to eat, with the promise to bring him something back with them. It actually felt good to be alone for a few minutes. He sighed, leaned back against the wall behind his low-backed chair, and closed his eyes. He'd started to think about going to find another cup of coffee when he felt a light touch on his arm.

One of the nurses, whose name he couldn't remember at the moment, stood next to him, her hand still on his arm. "Beau? Tyler's awake. He's asking for you."

The words took a moment to register and then he was on his feet, following her to the ICU. She didn't even pause, just breezed through the doors, forcing Beau to follow or get left behind. In spite of his fear and anxiety, he was afraid to see Tyler—afraid it might be the last time. There was an area for the medical staff and four areas for patients, but only two were occupied. The nurse stopped in front of one curtained off area and turned around to face him.

"You okay?" she asked, as if aware of his internal struggle. She probably was, he thought, working here she probably saw it every day.

"Yeah."

"Just thought I'd warn you, he looks worse than he is. He's really doing well for what he's been through."

"Okay."

"Any questions before you see him?"

"No."

"I'll be bringing his sister in soon, but you can stay, as long as he's doing all right."

"Of course. And thanks," Beau said.

"Okay, here you go," she said and patted him comfortingly on the back as she pulled the curtain aside.

Beau went to the side of the bed, his hesitation gone. Tyler was still, hooked to machines and swaddled in white cotton blankets, white sheets, and white bandages. Against all that, his dark hair and skin stood out in harsh relief. It looked like he was struggling a bit, but he was breathing on his own. Beau took Tyler's hand in his and leaned over to press a kiss to his head. He brushed the hair off Tyler's forehead and kissed him there, before finally pressing a kiss to Tyler's lips.

At the last, Tyler stirred and cracked his eyes open. "Beau?" he whispered.

"I'm here, sweetheart." Beau was grateful his voice sounded steady.

"What happened?" Tyler's eyes opened wider. "Where'm I?"

"You're in the hospital. You don't remember what happened?"

Tyler tried to shake his head, winced, and said, "No."

"We were at your dad's funeral, do you remember that?"

"Yeah." A frown crinkled his forehead.

"Steve came, at the end." Tyler just looked at him, his eyes blank. "He had a gun. He shot you and tried to shoot me, but hit Jack."

"Jack?"

"Yeah. He's here, too. Doing better than you, sweetheart." A knot formed in Beau's throat and he blinked back tears, but couldn't hold them back when Tyler squeezed his hand.

"Am I... " Tyler started and had to swallow before finishing. "Am I going to be okay?"

"Of course you are," Beau said, finding his voice. He leaned down to press another kiss to Tyler's lips and was relieved when Tyler responded, albeit weakly.

"What 'bout Steve?" Tyler asked.

"He was arrested. That's all I know," Beau replied.

Tyler closed his eyes and was still. Beau thought he'd gone back to sleep, but Tyler shifted and murmured something.

Beau leaned closer and asked, "What, sweetheart?"

"Love you."

"I love you, too. You should get some rest now."

Tyler shifted again and before long, his breathing evened out. Beau was still standing next to the bed holding Tyler's hand in both of his when Leah came around the curtain.

"How is he?" she asked, going to Tyler's other side and taking his hand in hers, careful to avoid the IV line in the top of his hand.

"He was awake for a few minutes. He was coherent, but doesn't remember what happened."

"Probably the shock," Leah said, brushing the hair from Tyler's forehead and leaning down to kiss him there, just as Beau had done.

"He asked about Steve. Have you heard anything yet?"

"A police officer came while you were in here. I have to go down to the police station and make a statement. Actually, you do too. And Ennis. Whenever we can—I think he's out at the farm doing the chores or something. They're going to talk to Jack, too, when he's a bit more stable." She brushed Tyler's hair off his forehead again. Beau looked up when he heard her take a deep, shuddering breath.

"I can't believe this is happening," Leah said, wiping a tear from her cheek. "My whole family is falling apart."

Beau reached across Tyler and put his hand on hers. "Things'll get better. Tyler will get better and be out of here in no time. Your dad found some peace before he died. Think of that, Leah. And you have two beautiful, amazing children."

Leah smiled through her tears. "Yeah, I do." She wiped her face and took a deep breath, then the smile disappeared and she met Beau's eyes. "Take him away from here—when he's better. Take him someplace safer."

"Okay. If he'll go." Beau ran his hands through Tyler's dark hair.

"Oh, sunshine, he'll go where you go," Leah said, smiling again as she added, "You better come back and visit, though."

"We will. I promise."