Chapter 17 – Home
"They what?" Bart spit out.
"They think you're dead. Jean's brother Art is the one that left you here, but it was Bill Collins that claims he killed you and dumped your body in the Brazos River."
"Why, in heavens name?"
"I have no idea," Clay answered him. "But I figured you'd want to get home as fast as possible, so I came right back here."
"I can't ride yet, Clay. How am I gonna get home?"
"I've got an old buggy out in the barn. I'll get that cleaned up for you and pack some provisions, and you can get started in the morning. Look, I don't want you to feel like we're pushin' you out."
Bart shook his head. "I couldn't possibly, after everything you've done for me. I'll make sure the horse and buggy get back to you after I get home." He walked carefully over to Jean and hugged her, then did the same to Clay. "Thank you for saving my life, both if you. I would have died without you."
Jean corrected her patient. "You would have died without Art. He might be an outlaw, but he's no murderer, and he couldn't leave you at Bryce Canyon to die. Remember that, would you?"
"I promise I will. What can I do to help?"
"Nothin'," Clay told him. "You just take it easy and save your strength. Gettin' home ain't gonna be easy."
Bart did his best to sleep that night, more than anxious to get started on his journey home. He was up at dawn, along with the DuPont's, and Jean made him sit through breakfast before she would let Clay load the buggy. It wasn't the fanciest buggy in the world, but it would get the job done. Much as it was sad to say goodbye to the DuPont's, he was almost crazy with excitement to get home. He felt terrible, knowing what it must be like for the family to think him dead. He remembered what he went through in Dodge City when he was convinced that Bret had been killed in a shootout.
He headed straight for the ranch and would have driven all night if the horse could have handled it. As it was, it took him all of three days to get back to familiar surroundings. It was almost sundown on the fourth day before he swung the buggy onto the road that led directly to the B Bar M, and his heart was racing when the ranch houses were in site.
Bret had just finished feeding the horses and was about to join the rest of the family for supper when he saw the buggy. It was kind of an old, beat-up thing and he couldn't imagine just who would be using such a thing. As the buggy got closer, Bret found himself staring at the man driving. He blinked several times and then wiped his eyes with his sleeve; he must be seeing things. The driver looked like his brother . . . it had to be an illusion. When the buggy was finally close enough that there could be no doubt, Bret let out a yell that could be heard all the way down the road, and took off running towards the contraption. Bart pulled the horse to a halt and scrambled down from the driver's seat, and was almost bowled over when Bret went flying into him. Shrieking and screaming, Bret threw his arms around Bart and lifted him all the way off the ground.
By that time everyone at the supper table had heard the noise and come outside to see what the commotion was. Doralice was the first one to recognize her presumed dead husband, and she took off running, tears streaming wildly down her face. Maudie followed her mother, and it would be hard to determine who came in what order after that. The screaming and crying went on for several minutes until Pappy finally made his way to his youngest son. They embraced and kissed several times on the cheek, with Pappy quietly murmuring, "My boy, my boy." When they parted, Bret asked the question everyone wanted an answer for. "How can you be alive? Collins swore you were dead and he dumped you in the Brazos River."
"He lied, but I have no idea why. Art Decker took me to his sister's house northwest of Granbury, and she and her husband nursed me back to health. We just found out four days ago that you all thought I was dead."
Maudie rushed to her father and threw her arms around him. "Oh, Daddy, I didn't get you killed. I'm so happy."
Bart caught the change in endearments and had to question his oldest. "Daddy? What happened to Poppy?"
"I'll never call you that again. Never ever. I swear."
Bart almost laughed. "Honey, I don't care what you call me, as long as you let me breathe." She sheepishly loosened her grip on him.
"Where were you shot?" Beau asked.
"In the shoulder. Feels a whole lot better now than it did."
Lily Mae came and hooked her arm through Bart's. "Supper's on the table and it's gettin' cold. Come inside and sit down with us so we can thank God for this wonderful gift he's given us."
The horse was tied to the hitching post, and everyone went inside to eat. Bart sat in the middle of the table and listened to the racket going on around him. He was thrilled with the noise and thanked God for Art Decker and the DuPont's. He was truly a lucky man.
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The next morning Bart sent two of the ranch hands back to the Dupont's to return the buggy. He also sent a letter he'd written to them and five hundred dollars. He told them in the letter he could never thank them enough and he would put in a good word for Jean's brother.
Bret, Bart and Beau took the Maverick buggy and drove into town to see Dave Parker, who almost fell out of his chair when he saw Bart. "My God, you're alive!"
"Yes sir, I am. And I think you better put Art Decker in a separate cell from the rest of the rustlers, for his own safety."
"Why, for heaven's sake? He's just as big a horse thief as the rest of 'em."
"He might be that, but he's the only reason I'm alive right now," Bart explained.
"How's that?"
Over in the cells, Bart heard Richie tell Bill Collins, "You liar."
"Maybe you better move Decker and Collins."
Dave went over to the cell and unlocked the door. "Decker, Collins, come out here." Dave turned to Jerry, his deputy. "Open that cell up." He herded Decker and Collins into the open cell and locked the door. "Now, you wanna tell me what that's all about?"
Bart sat down at Parker's desk. Bret and Beau left to go see Billy Sunday down at Maude's. "I was shot in the shoulder, and Collins wanted to leave me in Bryce Canyon to bleed to death. Decker insisted that he was takin' me with him. He left me at his sisters, who didn't know me from Adam, and she and her husband nursed me back to health. Then Collins claimed that they'd dumped me in the Brazos River so Richie wouldn't come after me."
"Complicated, but I see why we shouldn't keep 'em together."
"You got a trial date yet?"
"Nope, not yet. I'll let you know when we do. Prosecution wants you to testify."
"The Defense should want me, too."
"I would imagine so with that story."
"Glad to see you alive, buddy." Parker was genuinely happy.
"Glad to be alive."
"I know somebody else that will be just as happy – Billy Sunday."
Bart stood up. "That's who I'm goin' to see next."
"Good luck with that."
Bart wondered just what Dave meant by that, but he strolled on down to Maude's, where he found Bret and Beau drinking coffee and eating sweet rolls with Tommy Hatcher. Tommy poured Bart a cup of coffee. "Sure am glad to see you're not dead, boss. You're just in time . . . "
"Shhh, don't tell him. Let him find out for himself," Bret interrupted.
"Find out what?" Bart asked as he reached for a roll.
"You'll find out soon enough," Beau informed him.
"Mmmm, I'd forgotten how good these are."
Billy Sunday came out of the back office and dropped his coffee cup when he saw Bart. "Boss! You're alive! How . . . "
"It's a long story, Billy. You got a few minutes? Let's go back to your office and talk."
Billy set his coffee cup on the bar and walked towards the back, with Bart's arm around his shoulders. When they got inside the office, Bart closed the door and took a seat. Bart explained everything that had happened and Billy just sat there shaking his head. When Bart was done he looked at his General Manager and waited, knowing that Billy had something to tell him.
"Well, now that you're back, I guess you want me to step down from doing your job. I'm real glad you're alive, boss, but that means . . ."
"No raise, Billy?"
"Well, yeah. You see, Evan and me are gonna have a baby, and that extra money sure would come in handy."
Bart broke out in a big grin. "That's great news, Billy! Congratulations. And you don't have to worry about the extra money. I want you to keep the job of General Manager. I've got more than enough to do with the ranch, and I'd like you to assume all the duties here, just like you were going to with me . . . er, gone. And that house up the street is empty again. If you and Evan still wanna buy it, I'm ready to sell it to you."
"I . . . I don't know what to say, Bart. Yeah, we wanna buy the house. Wait till I tell Evan. She'll be so happy!"
Bart got up and offered his hand to Billy. "You'll love bein' a father. Take care of the old girl, would you? She's near and dear to my heart."
"Yes, sir. Just like she was mine."
"Who knows, Billy? Maybe someday she will be."
Sorry, I confused the chapters yesterday. They are in the right order today.
