Chapter 26

Nick couldn't hear exactly what was being said, but it was only David's voice. Things got quiet for a second and then Nick heard a gunshot. He ran into the cabin and saw David on top of Emma. The sight sickened him and made him so angry he charged into the room and grabbed David by his shirt. Nick punched him se veral times before he fell onto the floor. He turned to Emma. Her face was bruised and bloody. She was unconscious and he was trying to wake her up. Nick heard voices outside and Jarrod and Heath came running into the cabin. Nick's back was to David, so he didn't see the moment when David unsheathed the knife he was carrying. He was about to plunge it into Nick's back when another shot rang out. Nick turned around to see David grab his chest and fall to the ground.

Nick looked up to see Jarrod with his gun drawn. He silently thanked his brother and then turned back to his wife. Emma was beginning to regain consciousness. She started pushing Nick away, thinking he was David. Nick spoke to her in soft tones, telling her she was safe. He lifted her up and took her from the room so that she wouldn't have to see David's body.

When Emma finally realized who held her, she began to weep. The last few weeks of pent up emotions came pouring out. Husband and wife held on to each other tightly. Jarrod and Heath, after making sure David was truly dead, stepped outside to give the couple some privacy.

"Oh, Nick. I prayed you'd come. I prayed you'd save me. I was so scared. When I saw him riding Coco, I thought maybe he'd killed you!" Emma sobbed.

"No, I'm here. I'm all right and so are you. Shhh. I'm here now," Nick was doing his best to try and calm her down. She was near hysterics and he was worried she would harm herself further.

Jarrod stepped inside the cabin and waited for Nick to look at him.

"Do you want to camp out here tonight?" he asked softly.

"No!" Emma pleaded with her husband. "Please, Nick. Take me home. Are we close enough? I just want to go home," Emma sobbed.

Jarrod had his answer. Heath had gone to get the horses. Nick would ride Coco, but Emma was in no condition to ride by herself. Nick mounted Coco and Jarrod lifted Emma up to him. They had taken David's body and tied it over the horse Nick had ridden earlier.

The four made their way back slowly. Emma was drifting in and out of consciousness. They had just crossed the lake when Emma began moving restlessly.

"Nick," she said, gasping. "Let me down. I'm going to be sick."

"Jarrod!" Nick called and Jarrod was immediately there to catch Emma. She half ran, half crawled from him, trying to make it to the bushes before she became ill. Nick was at her side in a moment, holding her hair back as she wretched. Heath brought over the canteen and handed it to Nick. He soaked his bandana in some water and bathed her face. She cried as he did it, not because she was in pain, but because of his gentle touch. He tried to get her to take a drink, but she was afraid she wouldn't be able to keep it down.

"Please Nick. Take me home," she begged. Again, they started off toward the ranch. Although they weren't that far away, Emma was struggling to keep from becoming ill. They finally made it around 4 am. Victoria was waiting for them downstairs. One of the ranch hands had ridden over to Heath's and Cassie's to tell her where Heath was and what had happened. He brought her back over to the large house and she waited with her mother and sister-in-law. Victoria finally sent Sarah and Cassie off to bed around midnight, afraid that if they didn't get some rest, their babies could be harmed.

Victoria helped to get Emma settled, her heart breaking at the sight of her. Nick, who refused to leave his wife's side for anything, helped undress her and put her nightgown on. Heath had ridden to get the doc after checking on his sleeping wife.

Jarrod had gone into his room to make sure Sarah was okay. She had been sleeping lightly and woke when he entered. She sat up and asked if he was all right. He assured her he was and then asked her to go and check on Emma. It could be a while before Doc Merar could get there. She immediately stood and put on her robe. Jarrod held her tightly for a moment, telling her how much he loved her. Sarah knew this comfort was more for Jarrod's sake than for hers, but she didn't mind and held on just as tightly to him. She finally pushed away from him so that she could check on Emma.

Sarah entered the room quietly. Victoria had gone downstairs to make some tea. It was all Sarah could do not to weep at the sight of her dear friend. She made herself remain professional, almost detached as she asked questions and gingerly probed Emma's swollen face. She didn't think there were any broken bones, but she was sure Emma had a concussion. Nick sat on the bed next to Emma and watched as Sarah tended to her. Jarrod was waiting outside the door when his mother came up with the tray of tea.

At her questioning look, he said, "Sarah's in there with her. I thought it would give Nick some peace of mind since it could be a while before the Doc got here."

Victoria smiled at her oldest son, appreciating his care for Nick and Emma.

"Don't let her stay too long, Jarrod. She was up past midnight. She needs her rest too."

Jarrod nodded, not intending for Sarah to stay up too long.

Doc Merar arrived in record time. He sent Sarah on to bed, telling Jarrod firmly that she was not to be up again for several hours. Jarrod promised he would make her rest. The doc then set his attentions on the couple before him. Nick's bandaged head showed that he was injured as well, but Emma looked to be the most seriously injured. Sarah had told him she didn't feel any broken bones and she had been right. Emma's concussion was serious. Since she had lost consciousness and Nick told him she had vomited several times, he knew they were going to have to watch her closely.

Emma was awake now, and she held onto Nick's hand and wouldn't let go. He laid on the bed next to her, whispering words of love as the Doc examined her. Her left eye was almost completely swollen shut and the dark bruises were already very evident. She complained of a headache and Dr. Merar gave her some headache powders to help with the pain. He told Nick he only gave her a half dose since he wanted her to wake up every hour or so for the next several hours.

Howard looked at Nick's bandaged head and smiled slightly. Sarah had not practiced medicine in a few years, but she had done well with Nick's wound. Thinking of Sarah, the doctor promised himself he would check on her the next time he stopped by. She still seemed too thin for his liking and she continued to have no color in her face. He knew she had been up a lot the previous night and had been worried, but something else was concerning him.

Howard walked out of the bedroom and found Jarrod, Victoria, Heath, and Cassie standing in the hall. All of them looked exhausted, except for Cassie who was the only one to get a good night's rest.

"All of you to bed!" Howard said sternly. "They'll sleep for a while and be fine. I'll come back later this afternoon and check on them."

"I do need to get some rest," Jarrod said. "Tori will be up soon."

"Oh, Jarrod, I'll watch after her. I feel quite rested," Cassie offered.

Jarrod looked at Heath who nodded to him. Jarrod knew if Cassie weren't feeling well, Heath wouldn't let her hurt herself or their unborn baby. He thanked them both and went to his room. Sarah was sleeping soundly and didn't even move when he joined her in bed. Jarrod fell asleep quickly, thankful that everything had turned out well.

It was early afternoon and Emma woke, feeling sore and disoriented. She could only see out of one eye and she opened it gingerly.

"Welcome back," Jarrod said softly. He'd been sitting in a chair next to the bed, reading a book. He set it down and leaned forward.

"Where's Nick?" Emma asked, looking around for him. She began to sit up, but Jarrod gently pushed her back down.

"Shh, shhh, settle down. He's been at your side constantly and Mother made him go take a nap. He had promised he would do so here, but he kept watching you and finally Mother made him go to the guest room."

"He's alright, then?"

Jarrod smiled. "He's fine. Just needs some rest. Want me to go get him?"

Emma thought for a moment. She did want Nick there with her, but knew he needed his rest. She shook her head and relaxed. As long as she wasn't left alone, she was fine. Having Jarrod there was a comfort.

"David's dead, isn't he?" Emma asked. Her memories seemed hazy.

"Yes, he's dead."

Emma began to drift off to sleep again, but before she could, she thanked Jarrod for staying with her. He took her hand and held it until she fell asleep.

Dr. Merar was pleased with Emma's progress. She still needed lots of rest and he said she was not to be out of bed except for a trip to the privy. Nick promised he would keep her in bed and the doc smiled at how much of a mother hen Nick was.

The doctor turned his eyes to Sarah who had come to assist him. He motioned for her to follow him out into the hall where Jarrod was waiting for her.

"I'll see you next, young lady."

Sarah's eyes met the one's of Dr. Merar. They had been colleagues and she counted him as a friend as well. She nodded and headed toward her room. Howard said he would give her a minute to undress and then would be in. Jarrod looked at the doctor with concern, but the older man only smiled and said, "Just checking on her Jarrod."

"Is there a problem?"

"She looks weary to me. I know the family has been through a lot recently and that could explain it, but I'm concerned. I'd rather be safe than sorry."

Jarrod nodded, agreeing completely although he couldn't shake the feeling that the doc wasn't telling him everything. He waited outside the door of the bedroom for the doctor to complete his exam. It seemed to take forever but was only about 15 minutes. He heard a lot of talking. The doctor asking a question, Sarah answering. When the doctor came from the room, he told Jarrod he would see him downstairs. Jarrod went in and closed the door. Sarah was standing in front of the mirror, trying to button the back of her dress. He went over to help. Their eyes met in the mirror, neither saying anything but a lot of communication was going on. Something was wrong and they both knew it. Sarah had been feeling it for a while but hadn't known how to put it into words. It was just a feeling she couldn't explain.

When Jarrod finished buttoning his wife's dress, he led her over to the bed and sat her down.

"How did the exam go?"

Sarah swallowed. "Things seem to be alright."

"'Seem' to be?"

Sarah looked out the window, her eyes not really seeing anything. "This time has been so different than with Tori. I've talked with enough women to know that carrying each child is different, but something just doesn't feel right."

Jarrod thought about his wife's words. She wasn't one to go on her feelings with things. If Sarah said something was wrong, then something was.

Jarrod put his arm around her and turned her face so that she would look at him. Her eyes showed fear. He placed a gentle kiss on her mouth and then went downstairs to talk with Dr. Merar.

As they stood next to the doctor's carriage, Howard explained he couldn't find anything wrong with either Sarah or the baby. But he admitted he suspected something wasn't quite right. Jarrod asked him what they should do to which the doctor replied,

"If she were my wife, I'd take her to San Francisco around the first of the year and stay there until after the baby is born. Be near a hospital just in case. Now I'm not saying something terrible is going to happen. I'm just saying that if something is wrong, then by being in San Francisco you might have a better chance."

Jarrod thanked the doc and watched him ride away.

The darkness was descending rapidly.