Chapter 13
Jarrod returned fire toward the lamp and then toward the flash of a gun from a few feet to the left of the lamp. Secure he was firing at two pirates, he fired several times more and then reloaded. By then, Marty had secured his boat to Stone's boat and was up beside Jarrod, saying, "It's Marty," as he joined him and started firing as Jarrod reloaded.
"Reloaded," Jarrod said and returned a shot.
The gun flash from up ahead had moved closer. Jarrod fired at it as it fired at him.
Something else bumped the boat. Jarrod spun to see someone coming over the starboard side. The someone yelled, "Heath!"
More gunfire, back and forth, until Jarrod noticed the only gun flash now aimed at him was coming from whoever was holding the lantern. Jarrod took careful aim and fired at it.
The lantern went flying. Someone else came over the starboard side. There was no more gun flash aimed at him, so Jarrod yelled, "Hold your fire!"
Everyone now on Stone's boat quit firing and starting moving toward where the lantern had come down, to get to it before it started a fire on the boat. It had already broken and the fuel spread, catching fire. Jarrod saw someone stamping it out and in the light from the fire, he could see it was Heath.
"It's Jarrod!" Jarrod yelled. "You all right?"
"Yeah," Heath said and continued to get the fire out.
Something else bumped the boat from the water, and two more men came clamoring over the starboard side. Each held a lantern, so now there was light just as Heath was getting the fire out. Jarrod and Heath both looked and saw Nick and Stone in the firelight.
"Get that light over here!" Jarrod yelled.
Stone hustled it up. He, Jarrod and Heath stood looking down at Burns lying there in a heap, moaning. At the other side of the cabin, where Jarrod and Marty had crouched for cover, Nick was standing with a lantern of his own. "Jarrod!" he suddenly yelled. "Marty's hit!"
Startled, Jarrod ran down toward Nick and nearly tripped over Jackson, lying there near Marty. Nick was bent now, seeing to Marty who was sitting up with his back against the cabin. Jarrod could see blood down the front of him, but Marty looked up at him.
Jarrod bent. "How is it, Bob?"
"Hurts," Marty said. "Guess what? This is actually the first time I've ever been shot." He laughed a little.
"Elmo!" Nick suddenly yelled in the direction of the skiff that had brought him here. "You there?!"
"Right here!" the reply came from overboard.
"Got a man who needs a doctor! Can you get us to town?!"
"Get him over here!" Elmo yelled.
Jarrod helped Nick get Marty up and to the starboard side. Nick still had hold of the lantern in one hand, so Jarrod did most of the helping Marty over the side and down into the skiff. "We'll take care of him," Nick said after he and Marty were in the skiff. He handed Jarrod the lantern. "You and Heath and Stone can handle these guys."
Nick pushed off with Elmo and Marty in the skiff. Jarrod hurried back toward the bow where Heath and Stone were tending Burns. By now the two men who had been with Heath were on board. One of them carried a lamp and said to Jarrod, "We secured our boat and yours."
"Have you checked that other guy?" Stone asked.
"Yeah," the man said. "He's dead. We checked and there's no one else on board except this wounded pirate over here."
Stone stood up, looking around for the lights of town. His boat had turned in the wind, the sails fluttering, the beam starting to get in the way. "Let me get this thing under control and back to town."
"Let's do what we can for this guy," Jarrod said.
He looked toward the lights of town and could see movement, the skiff Nick and Marty were in heading that way. Everything was all right here. The pirates were under control, one dead. Now Jarrod's thoughts turned to the injured man in the skiff. Bob Marty, his former client, reformed ex-convict and now family man and father to be. But now lying shot in that skiff. Jarrod didn't know how bad.
His thoughts flew to Alice, then back to Marty. As Stone got his boat under control and started to head back to town, Jarrod found himself praying hard for both the Martys.
XXXXXXX
The sheriff was waiting at the dock when Stone got his boat in and moored. Jarrod was the first to get off onto the dock, asking quickly how Marty was. "Taken to the doc's," the sheriff said. "Your brother went with him. What do you have here?"
"One dead, one hurt," Jarrod said as Heath got off the boat and came up beside him.
Heath knew where Jarrod's thoughts were. "Go on to the doc's, Jarrod. We'll take care of everything here."
"Have you sent for Bob's wife?" Jarrod asked the sheriff.
The sheriff nodded.
Jarrod knew where the doctor's office was. He was a little surprised so many people were gathered watching just on shore, but then he supposed they probably heard all the shots from the water. No one asked him anything. He pushed by them and hurried on to the doctor's office.
He found Nick pacing the waiting room. "You all right?" was the first thing Nick asked.
Jarrod nodded. "I'm fine. What about Bob?"
Nick shook his head. "Don't know yet. The doctor's with him. Everybody else all right?"
"One dead pirate, one wounded, that's all," Jarrod said. "They'll probably be bringing the wounded one up here or taking him to jail, depending on how bad he is. Thanks for your help, Nick. I wasn't expected you and Stone out there."
"We caught a ride," Nick said. "Assuming that wounded pirate can talk, I expect the sheriff might have this pretty much wrapped up by morning."
"These guys have someone else involved somewhere, maybe near San Francisco, somebody they've sent what they stole to," Jarrod said. "It looks like they were taking Jack's boat down to be fenced too."
With a sigh, Jarrod sat down, his thoughts settling on Marty again. Nick could see his concern in his eyes. "Marty was hit in the side. He didn't lose consciousness the whole time we had him. That's a good sign."
Jarrod nodded, his gaze wandering, his eyes narrow. He finally said, "Alice is gonna have a baby, Nick."
Now Nick sat down with a sigh. "Heckuva time to have this happen."
"Isn't it?" Jarrod said. "A man straightens out his life, finds a good woman, settles down and makes his way even if some people won't let him forget his past. They find me washed up on their beach – me, a man who plugs him right back into his bad past – and they not only take me in. He helps me find the men who hurt me and now they've hurt him." Jarrod shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder why God seems to decline to be merciful."
"Don't give up on this one yet," Nick said.
"I know one thing," Jarrod said. "I've changed my holiday plans. I'm gonna spend it working on a farm. Even if he survives and recovers, Bob's gonna need some help for a while."
Nick chuckled and slapped Jarrod's knee. "A little sweat will be good for you too, Pappy."
The door to the treatment room opened, and the doctor came out. Jarrod and Nick both stood up, staring, waiting. The doctor nodded. "He'll be all right with some rest. The bullet went through without hitting anything other than flesh and muscle. Blood loss is his biggest problem, but liquids and good food will help him with that."
"Can I see him?" Jarrod asked.
"Sure," the doctor said, "then help me get him into my recovery room. He's not going anywhere tonight."
"I'll wait out here," Nick said. "His wife should be along anytime."
Jarrod nodded and went into the treatment room, where he found Marty lying flat on the table. His shirt was draped over a chair. White bandage was wrapped around his midsection, but he looked up when Jarrod came in, and he smiled.
Jarrod came over to him and smiled too, taking his hand. "You scared the living daylights out of me," he said.
"Is Alice here yet?" Marty asked.
"Not yet," Jarrod said. "Nick's out there waiting for her."
"Stone and his boat?"
"At the dock," Jarrod said. "One pirate dead, the other shot but I don't know how bad. He's not over here yet. Maybe it wasn't so bad and they took him to jail. But they're done. This piracy is over, thanks in part to you."
Marty smiled but closed his eyes. "I'd say it's been a pleasure, but I'm happy we took care of it at least. Jarrod, can I ask you a favor?"
"If it's will I stick around and help out while you get well, don't worry, I've already decided that's the way to spend my holiday," Jarrod said. "Relax. I'll have you covered, you and Alice and whoever that little one turns out to be."
Marty grinned. "Alice told you."
Jarrod nodded. "You are one lucky man, Bob."
"And I know it," Marty said. "A few years ago, I'd have told you my life was garbage and I wished it was over. Now – I think I'm the happiest man in California."
"You worked hard for it. You've earned it."
"Maybe," Marty said. "Funny, I never thought you and Jack Stone would be the men I'd be saying that to."
Jarrod chuckled. "Life is full of funny turns, isn't it?"
Alice suddenly came in, full of worry, but Jarrod smiled, let go of Marty's hand, and stepped away. "I'll leave the two of you to ease each other's minds. Then, Bob, the doc wants you here until morning at least. I'll help you over into that more comfortable bed in his recovery room."
Alice had taken her husband's hand, but she looked up at Jarrod and said, "Thank you, Jarrod."
Jarrod smiled, nodded, and went out.