Chapter 11 – Change of Heart
My last day in Grand Junction was Sunday, and I spent the day with Buckley. He had a buggy, and I persuaded him to take it out in the country; I thought it would do him some good to get fresh air and sunshine. He spent too much time closed up in the blue house. We were gone most of the day. The land surrounding the little town was lush and green; the trees were in full bloom and my old friend seemed genuinely excited to be outdoors.
Mrs. Murtaw packed a lunch for us and I found one of the many lakes Jim told me about. There was plenty of shade, and the breeze even decided to cooperate. Jim seemed more at peace than he had when I first arrived; I know I certainly was. We reminisced about the old times and talked about the last few years. He told me all about Jack and I explained my five and a half (remember Tim Demerest?). They were growing up so fast, it seemed like just yesterday that they were babies, all of them. "You really do love being a father, don't you?"
I grinned like an idiot. "I do. They're the best things I ever did, after marrying Doralice. If this new doctor comin' from Denver can get you straightened out, you'll have to come down and see 'em for yourself."
"I'd like that, Bart." I think he really meant it.
Monday morning I climbed on board the stagecoach and set off for home. It had been a long time since I'd felt this good and my mind had been this clear. No more regrets about what I should have said or done . . . I was relieved to have a solution to the whole matter.
It was early Friday evening when the coach pulled up in front of the Wells Fargo office in Little Bend. I was the last one off and it sounded like dynamite blew up when my family finally saw me. As soon as I kissed my wife I hugged and kissed each one of the kids; I'd never been so glad to see them all. They were a rowdy bunch, but that was alright. They were my rowdy bunch.
"How's James?" Doralice asked me when everything had quieted down some.
"Thin, and frail. But he's got a doctor from back east comin' to see him, and things are lookin' up."
"And how are the two of you? Did you get everything worked out between you?"
I grinned at her. "Yes, ma'am, we did. I feel much better about things now. I'll tell you all about it tonight. What's goin' on at the ranch? Anything exciting?"
As Doralice began telling me all the little things I'd missed, I couldn't help but smile. I was home with the people I loved the most, and when it came to my old friend Dandy Jim Buckley, I'd definitely experienced a change of heart.
The End