"No, Rudy, I don't want to be under for the surgery."
Rick was tired of the pain and the discomfort, but he did not want to have anesthesia for his knee operation. He saw his friend's look of dismay, then Laurie spoke up from her place next to his hospital bed.
"I'll stay right next to him Rudy, I won't take my eyes off him in case he has pain, I promise."
"All right, Missy. But the first sign of a problem, we'll have to put him under, okay?" Rudy Wells gave both of them a stern look, then he smiled as husband and wife nodded.
Rick sighed as Laurie stood aside and let Rudy's assistant prep him for his arthroscopic surgery. He'd been forced to wait several days until the swelling in his injured knee had gone down, and had to depend on A.J. and Robbie to handle the chores at the ranch.
He was the first to admit he wasn't a good patient, but with "Nurse Laurie" in attendance, Rick had been too busy enjoying her pampering him to be very grumpy.
Besides, with his wife needing a little TLC too, Rick found he relished having Laurie with him all the time. It had taken a few days for her to sleep through the night, but after talking through the bad dreams, it was a relief to once again wake up in the morning and see her smiling, coffee in hand for the two of them.
"Face it, Rick, she spoils you rotten." Ron had stopped by the day before and had been present when Laurie came in the room with Rick's lunch. A.J. was right behind her and started laughing.
"Does not." Does too!" Both men carried on with each other until a low whistle broke them up.
"I don't spoil Rick, Ron…..I just love him." Laurie told them emphatically, then giggled as Rick pulled her down onto the bed and kissed her thoroughly.
"Any time, precious. You can love me whenever you want." He teased her, as A.J. merely rolled his eyes and said "Don't encourage him, sis."
"Don't need any, little brother." Rick smirked, then broke up when Ron groaned, "Oh, I think I'm going to be sick. Laurie, I'll bring Joey by next week for his riding lesson. Call me after Hopalong has his surgery, okay?"
"Sure, Ron." Laurie smiled and made as if to get up.
"Never mind, honey, A.J. can see me out." Ron waved her off, then left the room as Laurie settled back down on the bed and pulled Rick's tray over.
"Sweetheart, I need to talk to you." Rick had put off telling Laurie something about his surgery long enough, he decided.
"Sure." Laurie sat up, then saw the serious look in his eyes.
"What is it, Rick? Did Rudy say something about your operation?"
He nodded. "It's just an arthroscopy procedure, but in case I've got a fracture or something shows up, well, you won't be able to stay with me."
"Oh, Rick….." Laurie's lip quivered, then she took a deep breath.
"I understand, darling. Rudy just wants to make sure you'll be all right, and I wouldn't mess things up for anything. You'll be fine, I know it."
"Angel." It was Rick's turn to be emotional. He knew Laurie had a hard time being separated from him during any medical problem, and he pulled her into his arms and kissed her all over her face.
"I love you, you are my strength, Laurie. I want you holding my hand when I close my eyes and when I open them." Tears ran down his face and at once Laurie wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering, "I'll be there, always, my love, my rock. I won't ever leave you."
"Okay, Rick, time to get you fixed up."
Startled, Rick looked up from his reverie to see Rudy, his surgical mask already in place.
"Ready?"
He nodded, then turned to look at his wife as she held his hand and smiled at him.
Suddenly he had an idea.
"Tell me a story, sweetheart."
Laurie's face lit up, "Of course, Rick. Which story do you want to hear?"
"Any of them, darlin'. How about the Lost Valley one, I never heard what happened after your Great-Grandmother stumbled into her father's shack." He didn't feel the prick in his knee, only the slow numbness that went down his leg.
"That's right, I've started that story so many times, but I've never finished it for you." Laurie grinned, then brushed a stray hair from Rick's forehead.
"Where was I?"
"I opened the door, and except for the shaft of moonlight, saw only a dark room. Fortunately a dull gleam appeared once my eyes got used to the darkness, and I remembered the emergency kit I had in my holster. Opening the little compartment, I pulled out a match, then struck it on the doorframe. In the flame's light I saw a small lamp on a low table, and I quickly lit it.
Instantly the light revealed a small room, containing a cot, a washbasin, small bookcase and pot-bellied stove on one side, then a set of cupboards and two chairs with another small table on the other. Surprised, I picked up the lamp, then holding it up examined the furnishings, which looked to be dusty but in fairly good shape.
Turning to see what was on the bookcase, I was startled to see 3 pictures displayed on the top shelf, all 3 featuring me as a child, teenager and college graduate. Now I knew whose cabin this was. All of a sudden a gust of wind blew in, and I hurriedly shut the door, then fearful of breathing carbon monoxide in case the stove vent was blocked, I propped it open with one of the chairs. Worn out, I limped to the cot and sat down..
"Oh, Father." I spoke aloud, "Why did you have to leave me. I'm so alone, Gene is going to be so angry with me, what if he can't find me." At once all the fear and tiredness weighed on me, and my eyes filled with tears. I lay down onto the bed and began to cry. Just then I felt something being pulled over me, and I realized a blanket was covering me. I was too exhausted to open my eyes, so I whispered "Thank you" to whoever was there.
"Wait a minute, there was a ghost in the cabin?" Rick was surprised when his wife nodded.
"I've always thought Kasey had the gift of sight, but when I read this story, I realized that she believed that her father watched over her after his death. She didn't fear the supernatural."
"Almost done, Rick. Just stay calm." Rudy broke in, then his eyes crinkled as he added, "Keep going, missy, he's doing fine."
Rick smiled as Laurie grinned at the both of them. "Okay, guys, now….let me see.."
The next thing I knew, faint daylight streamed in the open door of the cabin. Confused, for a moment I didn't know where I was.
Oh, yes. I remembered, I was in Lost Valley, I had fallen down the slope, and had taken refuge in a cabin past the clearing. Beyond that….I was fuzzy on who had opened the door and covered me with a blanket.
Wait a minute…someone else was in Lost Valley, had called to me, and covered me with a blanket so I wouldn't freeze. Has someone been living in my father's cabin? There was no sign of anyone else having been there since his death almost a year and a half ago. Yet someone had looked after me when I was at the end of my strength.
Suddenly I saw that the snow had stopped, and I got to my feet, only to let out a groan as my ankle refused to support me. I grabbed at the bedpost, then struggled to stand. Once I was up, I shuffled over to the washbasin, and was shocked to see a small water pump attached.
What on earth, my father had installed a water pump? Nearly holding my breath, I worked the rusting handle, and clear water ran into the bowl.
Carefully I tasted the water and found that it was fresh, like out of a spring. Gratefully I washed my face then gingerly dried myself on a not-to-clean towel.
Straightening up, I had the feeling again that I was not alone, so I spoke aloud. "Thank you, whoever you are."
"You're welcome, Kasey girl."
That voice! I whirled around, hanging onto the washbasin, but no one was there.
"Father! Where are you?" I cried out, then there was silence.
I waited a moment, then I spoke again. "Father, if you're there, please…talk to me. I need you!"
There was a sigh, almost like a wafting breeze, then I heard my father once more. "You're not
alone, Kasey. You'll be safe……"
As if in answer to his words, I heard my name being called. "Kasey! Kasey!"
Gene! It was my Gene! I limped to the door, then turned back to gaze at the room behind me.
"Thank you, Father. I love you." I said, torn between relief and sorrow at leaving this piece of my father's life behind. "I'll come back, I promise. I'll make sure your place is taken care of."
Footsteps crackled in the distance, then my fiancé's voice sounded again.
"Kasey? Where are you?"
"Here! Gene, I'm here, in the clearing, darling." I shouted back, then nearly broke down as he came through the trees. I stumbled towards him, then I was in his arms, saying "Gene, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll never disobey you again."
He hugged me tightly, whispering, "It's all right, Kasey. Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
I drew back, startled. "Gene, you know about the horse thieves? I was afraid they'd gotten away, how did you find me?"
He picked me up, then seemed to notice the little shack for the first time. "Where did this come from, Kasey?"
"It's…Gene, It's my father's. I guess it was his little hunting cabin or something. It's got some pictures of me, and books…..I didn't know he had it either, until last night." At my request Gene reached behind me and closed the door.
"We'll have to come back, sweetheart. I want to see it, but, oh Kasey…." He saw the lump on my forehead, then dropped a kiss on it.
"I'll be okay, Gene. I hurt my ankle when I fell, but I think I'm all right otherwise." I told him as he started back to the canyon edge. As we approached the rocky walls of the valley, a sudden gust of wind blew the vegetation covering the rocky surface.
At once, a cave entrance was exposed, and Gene gave a low whistle. "Would you look at that?"
"Now I know how my father got in and out of here, hopefully it's still clear, Gene." I told him, then lowered my head against his shoulder as he stepped gingerly into the passage.
Within a minute we traversed the winding path, and emerged at the edge of Lost Valley.
I was surprised to see Captain Jackson, Gene's friend from the fort, as well as Deputy Pat, waiting beside Champ, Gene's horse.
Over the exclamations of relief, I explained what happened, then saw anger in the men's faces as Captain Jackson said, "The only reason we knew they had run into you was that one of them said they would have gotten away if it wasn't for "that nosy deputy."
Gene scowled, then tersely he thanked the others. Lifting me onto Champ, he climbed up in back of me and we rode into town.
I could tell Gene was upset with me, so as soon as the two men were out of earshot, I said "Gene?"
"Yes."
"I'm sorry, I should have listened to you. I wanted to prove I could catch a couple of the turkeys like my father used to. I wanted to help, but instead, I guess I messed up."
I heard Gene take a deep breath, but he didn't say anything in return..
I was heartsick, I couldn't bear his silence, what if my stubbornness had cost me Gene's trust.
I closed my eyes, willing myself not to cry, then rested my aching head against his chest.
"Kasey, I'm the one who's sorry." Gene's voice startled me, and I opened my eyes to see him looking worriedly at me.
"I was upset that you thought about helping Father Gregory with Thanksgiving, I'd forgotten all about the church dinner. I should have remembered Bob's bringing the turkeys for the feast and offered to go with you." Now I wanted to cry in earnest, and I put my arms around his neck and kissed him.
"I love you, Gene. I promise always to share my ideas with you." I smiled up at him and he wrapped his free arm around me and returned my kiss.
"I love you, sweetheart. And I promise I'll always listen." He told me earnestly.
As Silver Rock came into view, a warm feeling filled my heart. Like my father had told me, I wasn't alone. He was still looking after me, and so was the man I loved.
"All fixed, you two. As soon as I check a few things, you can go back to your room for the night." Rudy said, then he leaned down and hugged Laurie. "Good story, missy. You're better then medicine for this guy."
"Thank you, Rudy. You're the best." She replied, returning his embrace. Rick reached out his hand to his friend. "That goes for me too, Rudy."
"You're welcome, son." The older man sniffed then wiped his eyes. "Now you've gone and gotten me all mushy. I'd better let our family know you're okay."
As the door closed behind him, Rick took Laurie's hand and kissed it, then pulled her to him.
"I think I like you better then medicine too."
"Me too." Laurie kissed him gently, then snuggled against his shoulder. "Our family..I like the sound of that. Did you like the ending to Kasey's story, love?"
Stroking her hair, Rick nodded, thinking about the miscommunication that had almost mirrored their own so many years ago. "I don't like that it almost happened to us, but I do like the kissing and making up parts." He saw Laurie's eyes widen as it hit her about the similarities.
"Oh Rick, I never thought about it like that, when I fell into Lost Valley….I'm glad we listen to each other better then now. But like Kasey said…." Rick interrupted her with another kiss.
"I will always look after you, never alone, darlin'."
"You can say that again, sis." A.J. spoke up from the doorway, and Rick tried to scowl at the interruption. "Geeze, A.J., ever hear of knocking?"
"Sorry, Rick." A.J. pretended to be penitent, then burst out laughing when his brother dropped the grumpy look and grinned. His smile broadened as Robbie stuck his head in. "How do you feel, Pop?"
Rick couldn't resist. "With my hands, Son, of course." Everyone broke up, causing the surgical nurse to leave the room, grumbling about rules.
"You three are so funny, no wonder you make a great team." Laurie giggled, then Rick looked up at A.J. and his son.
"We do, don't we, A.J.?"
A.J. clasped his brother's hand, then put a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "You can say that again."
Fin