I want to thank all the ones I've chatted with for encouraging me to sit down and write this story. It is based on an actual event that took place in my own life three years ago. While I did write poetry at the time to help deal with it I never really sat down and 'got it all out'. Thanks to my Beta Reader too—though all mistakes are still my own. Any songs I use in this story I got off a site that has songs that are in PUBLIC DOMAIN-Gene just gets credit for the one for the sake of the story.
ALWAYS IN MY HEART
CHAPTER NINE
SCENE SIXTEEN
Audra stood in the doorway watching Gene pack a few things; the brothers were going to be heading out on the round up soon. "I wish you wouldn't go on this roundup. Nick, Heath and the others can handle it." She'd found herself wanting more and more to keep Gene in one place as if that would spare his life. She knew it wasn't the case…she just found herself wishing it was.
Gene turned away from his things and walked over to his sister and said, as he gave her a hug, "I need to. I want you to know you're the best sister a man could ask for. I'd like to do something for you before I go though; I mean, before I pass on. Is there anything you want?"
Audra felt anger rising inside of her. She didn't want anything but her brother to stay alive! For Gene's sake though she pushed it back down; there would be another time and place to deal with that issue. "Explain something to me, something that has been bothering me for some time now."
Gene's gave her a puzzled looked, "If I can. What is it?"
Audra fought to keep back the tears that wanted to come, "Why did you leave us in the first place? Why travel from place to place working various jobs? You had a good job offer right here in Stockton." He had too. The bank had wanted him to take over the manager's job when it had become vacant.
Gene let out a slow breath then shrugged his shoulders, "I didn't want to be stuck inside a building all day. I got a chance to travel, to see the world. I was younger and thought I was invincible," he took hold of her shoulders and looked into her eyes, "If it makes any difference, I never stopped thinking about, or loving, my family here."
That did it; Audra wrapped her arms around her brother and cried.
0000
Jarrod and Victoria were standing outside talking when Gene opened the door and exited the house. Concern was on both their faces. "Wish you'd change your mind about this," Jarrod spoke in 'that voice', the one he always used when playing the role of 'Pappy', "You're not that strong anymore." He hated to say those words only they were the truth. How he wished they weren't.
"Please, son," Victoria reached out and took a hold of his arm, "Listen to your brother." While she did not beg he could see her plea in her eyes.
Gene wished he could take all their pain and hurt away, but he couldn't; no one could. "Please, this is something I need to do. Let's just be grateful Amanda got through to me-and then backed it up by finding a way to help Jarrod see what was going on." He gave them the biggest hugs he'd ever given anyone and started walking away. When he stopped and turned around they thought, maybe, he'd changed his mind. He hadn't. "Do me a favor when I join father, Pappy."
Just the fact that his brother had referred to him as 'Pappy' got Jarrod's full attention. "Anything, just you name it."
"Make sure Amanda sings that song at my funeral. It's exactly how I've been feeling for months," he said as he turned around and walked towards Nick, Heath and the others.
They watched as the men rode away. "I hope he knows what he's doing." Jarrod spoke quietly wishing he'd known a way to convince Gene to stay behind, only he didn't. Once his brother had made up his mind he was just as stubborn as any of the rest of them.
"Me too." Victoria remained standing in the yard long after Jarrod had turned around and went back inside. She couldn't shake the feeling he'd be crossing over to the other side sooner than even he thought. How she hated it.
SCENE SEVENTEEN
Gene rode beside Nick; his brother had insisted on it. He'd told him, "I won't stop you from comin' with us but you ain't leavin' my sight." Gene might have argued, but knew Jarrod had been right about one thing, he wasn't as strong as he used to be.
For whatever reason his mind had pushed the night of Nick's abduction to the forefront of his mind 'but we're just a river port' '...doesn't make a difference….they could be short of men…' "Thanks for bringing him back." Gene, without thinking, spoke softly.
Nick turned his head, his eyebrows turned down, "What did you say?" Was the ride getting to his brother already?
"Oh," Gene smiled, "I'm just glad you're not still out there on the sea."
Nick grinned as he chuckled, "I am too! The sailors can keep that place! I'll take good old hard ground any day of the week!"
Gene turned his attention back to the cattle. He was glad it was fall instead of the dead of summer. He was afraid if that had been the case he would have been forced to stay home. As it was he was enjoying the scenery around him without having to deal with anything more than what his body was already throwing his way.
McCall rode up to Heath. He'd been keeping an eye on Gene, they all had, and he was growing more and more concerned, "Don't ya think one of us should talk him into lettin' one us accompany him back to the ranch? He doesn't look all that great."
Heath had to fight with every fiber of his being to keep from doing just that. 'Don't argue with me goin' with you on this last trip and I promise," Gene was talking to Heath and Nick, "I'll stay around the house the rest of my days. I need to go with you. Don't ask me to explain it 'cause I can't. Make it my last request." "No, he's stayin'." Heath spurred his horse forward.
0000
Amanda stood next to the empty corral gazing off toward the horizon. When she turned to see who it was, Jarrod walked up beside her. "I wish they'd get back too."
Amanda shook her head. She may not love Gene as some women seemed to think she should, but she still cared for him a lot. "You have great perception," she paused then added, "Thanks for not being mad at me."
Jarrod was surprised. He'd never been mad at her for anything. "What exactly have you done that I should have been mad?"
Now it was her turn to be surprised, "For keeping my mouth shut as long as I did? For not telling you he was doing the same thing Sarah's grandfather did?"
"He seriously told no one until the day he died what was going on?" Jarrod couldn't believe anyone doing that to his family.
She shook her head, "Told them he hadn't wanted them to suffer along with him. He thought it was kinder to do what he did. Good grief! He gave them no time to adjust to anything. Oh, I know they would have still grieved; still, at least they wouldn't have had the rug pulled out from under them like they did. Okay, so Gene's reasons were a tad bit better, but he was still wrong."
Jarrod smiled, "I'm just glad Gene has you for a friend."