A/N: Hey guys, how are we all? Hopefully keen for a new chapter…
Sorry it's taken me so long. This is such a different concept to write and it takes me much longer now than it used to. Trying to keep up the standard is hard so I'd rather take that extra time and make sure it's spot on.
Plus hat is grumpy. I told him to back off a little and he isn't very impressed with that, lol.
No beta, so all and every mistake is mine.
So, let's see how our poor rancher is doing shall we? Man I need to write smut can't even remember the last time I wrote smut. I think the GSR fans are well in need of some…
Chapter 112
Sara washed and changed in a daze. She didn't utter a word as Rana helped her bathe and slip on her night attire.
As Sara tied the belt on her robe around her waist, she felt the housekeeper's hands softly cup her shoulders.
"Are you alright, Miss?" Rana asked. The concern, the trusted long time employee held, was quite obvious.
Sniffing hard, Sara bowed her head but nodded. "I guess," she whispered.
She turned to face the older woman. "I'm ready to go back to Gil now."
"Yes, Miss," Rana replied, slipping her arm around Sara's waist to support her as she walked. Sara looked incredibly shaky and Rana thought it best.
They exited the room to find Nicolas and Gregory hovering on the landing looking into Sara's bedroom.
The boys immediately noticed Sara approaching and Nicolas rushed into the room closing the door behind him.
Sara approached her youngest cousin with a frown and could hear talking coming from her room. "What's…happening?" she asked.
Greg noticeably swallowed and gave his cousin a sympathetic smile, "Getting ready to move the colonel's body." He slipped his hands into his pockets. "There is a wagon waiting to transport him into town."
"Oh…" She glanced to the door and then turned away sharply.
"Come, Miss," Rana advised, gently urging Sara forwards and passed her room.
Sara didn't argue with her chaperone and was quickly guided back to Grissom.
Laura sat, watching over the rancher but stood upon hearing her daughter's entrance. Sara approached her mother and Laura cupped her daughter's cheeks softly in her hands. "Feel a little better?" she asked.
"Yes, Mother," Sara replied flatly, tilting her head to get a look at her fiancé. Laura removed her hands and also looked to Grissom.
"Any change?" Sara asked on a shaky voice.
Nibbling on her bottom lip, Laura shook her head. "No, not yet."
Sara nodded sadly and slipped back into the chair by the bed, taking Grissom's hand once more. She yawned, she didn't mean to but the events of the long evening were quickly catching up on her now. Lightly shaking her head, she tried to will the tiredness away.
Footsteps were heard behind and the captain entered. He immediately moved to stand by his wife. He still needed to change as did his wife. Laura didn't have as much blood on her as the captain did but they both needed a good clean up.
"They are moving McKeen now," the ranch owner said.
Sara closed her eyes at the sound of his name. If she never heard that name again she would be a happier woman.
The captain cleared his throat. "Jim said he needs to speak with you," he said to Laura. "And to Sara."
Laura sighed. "I thought he might." She took her husband's hand. "I suggest we go clean up first."
The captain nodded his agreement. "Good idea."
"Rana, can you stay until we get back please?" Laura asked her dearest worker who hovered by the door.
"Yes, Ma'am," Rana agreed immediately taking a seat by the door.
Laura squeezed her daughter's arm with her free hand. "We'll try not to be too long, okay? And if anything happens or you need anything, send Rana to get us."
"Yes, "Mother," Sara replied not taking her eyes from Grissom for a single second.
Laura sighed sadly and she and the captain left the room and Sara to her thoughts.
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It took a little longer for the captain to clean up than he thought it would. He scrubbed and scrubbed at his hands to remove the stains, eventually managing to get rid of most of the taint. His finger nails were the worst, clotted deeply with his future son in laws blood. This isn't exactly how he'd expected the evening to end.
Eventually, he was as clean as he could be and he changed along with his wife.
They left their room and passed by Sara's bedroom stopping in the doorway. Numerous servants were inside cleaning up the mess and mopping away the blood.
"Well at least that monster is now out of our home and our lives forever," Laura said quietly.
"Yeah," the captain mumbled, pulling her away from the door and back to Grissom's room. They hovered in the doorway and watched as Sara still watched over the man she loved. She hadn't moved an inch since they left.
"How about we leave her be for a while and I go talk to the sheriff?" Laura suggested. "Sara won't be in any fit state to talk to him tonight anyway and I'll make sure I tell him that."
The captain puckered his lips at her.
Laura lowered her head. "I'm the one that killed him, Thomas…" She almost sounded regretful. "My sin is unforgivable…"
Placing a finger under his wife's chin, the captain slowly lifted so she looked him in the eye. He gave her the gentlest smile he could find and cupped her face in his hands.
"You were protecting your child, were you not?" he asked softly, knowingly.
She nodded.
"And he would no doubt have taken our daughter's life without any form of remorse. Try not to feel so ill for saving the life of our own when he would not have cared if he had murdered each and every one of us." He removed his hands and placed his cheek against hers, pulling her against him. "It was self defense, sweetheart; I would have done the same."
Sighing into him, she held him tightly. "I just hope the sheriff understands that. Everyone will pretty much know what I did."
He pulled back. "Let's go talk to Jim and get this settled, yes? And then bed. I can see you are exhausted."
Taking another peek into the bedroom she placed her head on his shoulder, clinging on to his arm. "I don't think it's going to be quite as easy to get Sara to go to bed."
"We'll see," he whispered, kissing the top of her head. "Come on, let's go find the sheriff."
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The captain and Laura caught up to Brass just outside the front door. He was watching his deputies disappear upon the wagon carrying the colonel's body. Nicolas and Gregory stood by him after helping with the loading.
Both boys were excused by their uncle so he and his wife could talk to the sheriff in private and the law man accompanied them to the lounge.
Closing the door, the captain urged his wife to sit and he walked to the bar. He poured them all a large glass of brandy.
Brass thanked the captain for the drink as he was offered it and sat opposite Laura. The captain slid in beside his wife holding out a glass of the brandy to her. She gratefully accepted it and took a swift sip.
"How is he?" the sheriff asked. He and Grissom had been friends for many, many years and what had happened had deeply saddened him.
The captain took a large glug from his own glass before offering a reply. "He's fighting for his life."
Bowing his head, unsurprised at the answer, Brass gave a short nod. "Not the most ideal way to end the evening, huh?"
"No one expected what happened," Laura said.
Brass looked to her. "What did happen?" he questioned. "And I need to speak with Sara; I have to hear her side also."
Laura took another drink, feeling the burn in her throat. It felt good. "You won't be speaking with her tonight; she's already been through enough."
The sheriff's brow rose.
"I mean it, Jim," Laura pushed. "She is so exhausted and sitting by her fiancé who may not even live to see his own wedding day. Plus, I don't think she is ready to relive what happened tonight even if she was able. She just won't be able to, not with Gil in the condition he is…"
"Okay," Brass agreed. "I will talk with her tomorrow."
The lady of the house offered him a weak smile. "Thank you."
He nodded but continued with his questioning. "I know it's been a long night but the mayor is going to want answers. No matter how much McKeen was detested by most, he still had his supporters and I need to know what happened.
Looking to her husband, Laura handed him her glass and then entwined her hands over her lap. "Please pardon my language but I stabbed that bastard before he killed my daughter…"
That wasn't exactly the account Brass was expecting and he cleared his throat. "I understand that but, I am going to need specifics."
Laura tried to remain patient and blew out a heaving breath. "Fine…" she mumbled and began her true account of what had happened…
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The captain and Laura reentered Grissom's room not long after the sheriff's departure.
They were relieved that the sheriff hadn't pushed for more after Laura's truthful recollection of what had happened. He would however be returning once the sun rose and that left a nervous feeling within the Sidle couple. How would Sara cope having to recall another horrid event curiosity of the late Jeffery McKeen?
They didn't know, but, until morning they would both do their duty as they saw fit. They immediately noticed Sara was tipped forward in her seat, her head sideways, half upon the sheets half upon Grissom's arm and her eyes closed.
Laura looked to Rana who still sat by the door. "How long has she been asleep?" she asked her worker on a whisper.
"Not too long, Ma'am," Rana replied standing, "Ten minutes or so. I don't think she could fight it any longer."
Smiling sadly, the captain approached the bed.
"Thank you, Rana," Laura said. "You're excused, go and get some sleep."
Rana nodded. "Yes, Ma'am. Please wake me if you need me."
Laura squeezed the older woman's arm, thankful for such a dedicated presence. "I will."
Nodding her head, the housekeeper left the room and Laura approached the bed.
The captain hovered over his daughter as her soft breathing slipped onto her fiancé's skin. He observed as her hand still firmly gripped his and the ranch owner gave a soft smile before a frown appeared on his brow. He looked to his wife as she stepped up beside him.
"She can't stay like this, she's totally exhausted," he whispered. "I need to get her to bed."
Laura didn't argue and gave her husband a nod. "We should find someone to stay with Gil for the first few hours," she recommended.
The captain shook his head. "I'll do it," he whispered again. "Then one of the boys can take over from me." He bent forwards and carefully prized Sara's fingers away from Grissom's. Then, he slipped his arm underneath her, pulling her fully from the chair and into his arms.
Her head lolled against his chest and she moaned a touch but she didn't wake. He held her closely, her weight, in his mind, too easy to handle. But he knew since her illness she was much lighter.
"I'll wait here until you get back," Laura said, knowing someone needed to be with Grissom constantly.
He nodded and moved away, carrying his daughter from the room.
The captain hurried down the corridor, conscious that the longer he held her, the more chance she would have of waking. If she did, he knew it would be a battle to keep her away from Grissom.
Entering the spare bedroom he was swift to gently place Sara upon the bed which had already had the sheets turned down. Rana certainly knew her job and she must have been to the bedroom after she had left Grissom's to prepare it for Sara's slumber.
Carefully, he positioned her head upon the pillows and pulled the sheets around her, edging her feet underneath the cotton. He couldn't actually remember the last time he had put Sara to bed like this but he knew it was the first time in many years.
Once satisfied she looked comfortable he stepped back and simply watched her for a moment. A lengthy sigh seeped through his lips. Earlier that night she was so happy and once again all that happiness had been destroyed by another atrocious act.
He said a silent prayer both for his daughter and his future son in law before leaning forwards and softly kissing Sara on the cheek. "Gil told me to tell you that he loves you," he whispered, giving her a second tiny kiss.
Sara shuffled a little, her head flopping to the right and the captain stood back holding his breath. Thankfully, she remained asleep.
After one last look at her, the captain stepped away, extinguishing the three lanterns that were lit around the room before leaving and quietly closing the door behind him.
Stepping to the room next door he noted his nephew's bedroom door was still open and he poked his head inside.
Both Nicolas and Gregory were chatting by the window but sensed their uncle's presence and immediately approached him.
"How are they?" Gregory asked.
The captain worked his jaw. "I just put Sara to bed; she passed out while watching over Gil. He is still unconscious. Pretty much the same as he was after we put him to bed."
Nicolas folded his arms. "Do you think he'll make it?"
Feeling a lump forming in his throat, the captain somberly shrugged. "I really don't know," he replied sadly. "David said the next 72 hours will probably determine that."
The two boys looked disheartened at the news.
"I'm going to take first sitting with Gil. Someone needs to stay with him all the time," the captain informed them. "Can one of you take over…"
"I'll do it," Gregory said, cutting his uncle short. "Whenever you need me, just wake me. If I'm asleep that is. I'm not sure after tonight's events rest will come to many of us that easily."
"And I'll go after," Nicolas added.
The man of the house smiled, "Thanks, boys."
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Stepping back into Grissom's room, the captain approached his wife. She was once again sitting by the bed. He slipped his hands onto her shoulders and she reached an arm up, her right hand gently clasping over his left.
"He's beginning to look a little flushed," she mumbled, reaching out her free hand to check his forehead.
The captain felt her shoulders slump.
"I thought so," she continued, patting each of the rancher's cheeks in turn. Then she looked over her shoulder to her husband. "The fever has started." The concern in her eyes notably grew and the captain squeezed her a tiny bit harder.
He gave her a weak smile. "You should get some rest, you look exhausted."
She squeezed her hand tighter upon his. "I'd rather stay with him for a while longer, monitor his fever. No offense, Thomas, but you are not particularly skilled in the field of caring for the sick." She looked back to the fallen rancher. "I'd feel better, at this crucial time, if I was here for him."
"Are you going to be stubborn about this?" he asked tenderly.
Laura nodded. "Once again he was prepared to risk his life for our daughter, Thomas. I owe him as much to sit with him." She leaned forwards and took a hold of the bed sheet at Grissom's waist, pulling it up a touch. "My mind is in knots right now anyway," she sighed then. "So I doubt I can sleep."
He cleared his throat and pulled up a chair to sit beside her. Looking at him, she studied his eyes. "What are you thinking?" she asked.
"What if he doesn't make it?"
Laura closed her eyes, a tiny sob escaping her lips. "That…I really don't want to consider."
"Laura, we have to."
She shook her head, her eyes opening. "No. I can not even contemplate that outcome right now. We have faith, Thomas, we must. Sara would not pull through this if…" She found herself unable to finish the comment. "He will fight, he always did and he knows exactly what the future holds for him now."
The captain took his wife's hand and held it tightly. She leaned into him, placing her head on his shoulder and prayed…
*** "My brave wife. I do not question all this. But it has lasted a long time, and it is possible-you know well, my wife, it is possible-that it may not come, during our lives."
"Eh well! How then?"
"We shall not see the triumph."
"We shall have helped it," she returned, with her extended hand in strong action. "Nothing that we do, is done in vain. I believe, with all my soul, that we shall see the triumph. But even if not, even if I knew certainly not, show me the neck of an aristocrat and tyrant, and still I would-" ***
*** - Extract taken from A T ale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (Extract adapted)
A/N: Will he make it? Hat is trying to get back in….
Reviews please if you can. They make me happy! Have a great day!