Chapter Ninety-One
Nick had convinced Heath to help him back up the stairs to check on Jarrod before he headed back to Maris for the night. Gene walked up the stairs with them.
"This is bad for that knee."
"Don't know where them boys headed off to—-Heath, your girls are at the house, Gene's and Jarrod's young'ns are bedded down upstairs in the nursery. That leaves all the boys. Where in tarnation are they? Yours and mine and JT and William."
"They have all learned their lessons well. I am sure they are at the mansion or bunkhouse. Probably playing poker or something. Quit worrying mother hen. They been in and out all day checking on Jarrod."
Gene laughed at their mock arguing. He said a private prayer that Jarrod would once again, raise his eyebrow, roll his eyes and shake his head at his brothers.
They tapped softly on the door and the nurse opened it.
She frowned, "No visitors"
Dr Merar overheard them, "Just for a minute. There has been no change. Maybe hearing their voices will stir him. Quiet voices," staring straight at Nick.
"Strangest thing, he laughed out loud twice then nothing. I wonder what that was about."
They all smiled and gathered around the bed. His head was bandaged and he was deathly pale. His breathing was erratic but the surgeon explained he still had been given laudanum.
The brothers all spoke softly to him to no avail. His brow furrowed but that was the only response.
"Ok let's go. It's 8:30. Better check on everyone for the evening"
Jarrod opened his eyes and clearly said, "Elisabeth is here."
They all looked relieved he spoke at all but the doctor quietly told Jarrod, "I will get her, Jarrod. She has been by your side most of the time."
He frowned, "No Elisabeth is here." Then he grimaced then smiled.
He looked clearly at each brother, "She is."
He closed his eyes with a smile on his face. His breathing normalized again and he fell back asleep.
"Well, I take it as a good sign."
"Me too even if he was wrong"
"Let's go check on the others and tell Elisabeth he spoke for her."
They walked across the hall and knocked on the door. She didn't answer and they gently pushed on the door. The bed was made and the room empty.
"Hmmm, maybe she went down for a snack."
—&—
Ximena, David, and a sleeping Jimmy readied for bed in the guest house.
"He's out. Playing with all the children today wore him out. All of the Barkley children and Audra and all the wonderful help. This family is a godsend."
"They are. I wish I had listened to you and not went off on Nick. Just before Jarrod collapsed. Nick told me today he got to thinking and he probably would have done the same if the situation was reversed. Said the real surprise was Maris. Couldn't be prouder of her. I agree, completely. I didn't recognize my ex-wife."
Ximena smiled and stopped herself from reminding him she begged him not to make a fuss,"Anything new on Jarrod?"
"No, not since he asked for water."
"It was a weird evening. All of us stretched out at supper between three houses. Never saw Elisabeth after she left Jarrod's room late afternoon and checked on her girls with me. Didn't see Maris all day. The big boys either."
"I was with McColl and Ciego. Felt good to just work on the ranch. Like our ranchero. I hope we head home soon."
"Anything on Lila from Nate?"
"No, but he doesn't think the judge will give her Jimmy back. He will be with us in Mexico this spring for sure."
"Davos? I do not want to separate a mother and child—-I hope she will come to us eventually; we can give her a new life. She has no family alive but the boy—-. I feel like Jimmy's madre."
"And a wonderful one you are. Any more ideas on when you might agree to be my wife?"
She smiled demurely, "Spring is a time of rebirth and my favorite on the ranch."
He grinned widely and kissed her passionately, "Ximena, you make me the happiest man on earth. And luckiest."
"You sure you want to marry a wolf?"
"I love you Ximena."
And he pushed her back onto the brass bed.
—-&—-
It took Heath and Gene to get Nick upstairs to the second floor of the mansion. Fritz hopped up immediately from his post at the door.
"Chip brought her supper up a while ago. She didn't feel like going downstairs. She asked me to let her know anything when I hear about Mr Jarrod."
"He woke up and asked for Elisabeth, earlier he said water."
"Sure hope he comes through this. One of the finest men I ever met."
Nick, Gene, and Heath could only swallow down their emotions and open the door.
The room was dimly lit but the moonlight showed a sleeping Maris under the covers and Chip curled up beside her with his cowboy boots on. His thick black hair was askew and his sling was pushed to the side.
The three brothers smiled, "Looks like Maris is in good hands. Night Nick."
"Night. Come get me no matter what if anything changes."
Nick took off his boots and vest.
He checked the bandage and it had fresh blood on it, "Damn, think about that in the morning,"
He covered up Chip with the quilt, "Night son. Appreciate you taking care of my girl."
He stretched out the extra floral blankets from the divan and snuck a pillow off the bed.
"Sleeping under roses. Only for them two," he muttered.
Nick made his pallet in front of the fireplace on the bear skin rug—"Last time I slept here, Maris and I had enjoyed ourselves quite nicely. But I have to admit the view is pretty nice. My boy, my woman and a baby on the way. Pretty blessed man."
His mind immediately went to Jarrod and his wife and children, "Please Lord, bring him back to us, please—-" and he let go of the torrent of tears he held inside all day.
—-&—
Heath and Gene headed down to the study for a drink. Gene poured while Heath stared at the painting over the fireplace. And the photograph on the desk was taken six months after he became a Barkley.
"I am just going back over to Jarrod's house in case they need me."
"Me too. Let's sit here for a while and get our thoughts together before we run into the children."
They downed several more whiskeys and sat alone in their pain for several hours.
In complete silence.
—-&—
Audra went down to Jarrod's room. She convinced the young surgeon to take a break and she would sit with her brother.
"Pappy? It's me, Audra. Just telling you I love you and how much we all want you to wake up."
He moaned for a second and she got a frown from the duty nurse.
"He's supposed to be resting."
"I am sorry," she said without any regret.
He stirred again and tried to open his eyes, "Pumpkin?"
She inhaled at the childhood endearment she had not heard since she was twelve. She had adamantly stamped her foot and told him not to call her that since pumpkins were round and plump. He kept his promise with his typical Jarrod smirk of humoring her.
"Yes Jarrod, Pumpkin is here. Your little sister needs you to get well."
"Father has been here all night, Audra. Did you see him? He says you favor your twins. You were his Princess, said you still are."
She was startled at Tom Barkley's name.
"Jarrod, tell Father we love him but do not go with him. We need you here."
"Father waiting on me, Pumpkin. He's here."
"No!" she screamed and the nurse bolted to the bed.
"You will have to leave."
"No, Jarrod, please stay with us. Elisabeth needs you, the new baby will be here soon—-JT, William, Frances, Benjamin, the girls—-Nick! Heath! The nieces and nephews need Pappy. I need you. Please, Father, don't take Jarrod. Think of Mother!"
Jarrod made a gurgling sound and Audra watched him twist in discomfort. He relaxed and fell back into a rhythmic breathing pattern.
The young surgeon came back in and checked his pulse. It was strong and regular.
"First time all day, young lady, it's been regular."
Audra raised her eyebrows at the nurse and made a hmpf—-"Then I am staying. Seems my brother needs his little sister."