Please Don't Leave Me : Chapter 6: { On the Mend}
''I'm glad he's on the mend now''; Betsy said as she took the dishes to the kitchen. How's Randy doing now , Betsy ?;
the Judge asked when Betsy came into the kitchen.
He's much better , Daddy , ; Betsy replied with a yawn. He went back to sleep again, ; Betsy replied as she washed their dishes.
If you'd like to get some rest , Betsy , I can keep an eye on Randy for awhile , ; the Judge said thoughtfully. Would you , Daddy ? ; Betsy said as she took off her apron. Of course dear , you go and take a nap ; the Judge said as he got up. Thanks , Daddy , ; Betsy said as they left the kitchen. You just go on in and take a nap , ; the Judge said when they reached the top of the stairs. Alright , Daddy , ; Betsy said as she headed for her room.
If you need me , don't hesitate to wake me , ; Betsy said as she left. I will , dear , ; the Judge said as he went inside the guest room. ''Betsy was right , he does look much better'', ; the Judge thought as he sat down by Randy's bed. ''Hopefully , the doctor will be here to check on Randy today'' , ; the Judge thought. About a half- hour passed by , and still he sat there so Betsy could take a much- needed nap. '' Looks like he's starting to wake up now'' , ; the Judge said to himself as Randy's eyes opened. Hello , Judge , ; Randy said quietly when he noticed Betsy's father sitting there instead of her. Hello , yourself , Randy , ; the Judge replied pleasantly.
You gave all of us quite a scare , boy , ; the Judge said. Including Betsy , ; the Judge added softly. I'm sorry about that , Judge , ; Randy replied gently. It was'nt your fault that those rustlers chose to raid the herd , Randy , ; the Judge said.
Accidents will happen , ; the Judge added in a warm tone of voice. Did anybody else get hurt , Judge? ; Randy asked. No , no one else was hurt, Randy , ; the Judge replied. I'm glad to hear that , Judge , ; Randy replied. I'm sure grateful to you and Betsy for lookin' after me , Judge , ; Randy said softly. You're more than welcome , it was the least we could do , Randy , ; the Judge said warmly. You mean a lot to both of us , ; the Judge added. I know , Judge , ; Randy said quietly. How do you feel now ? ; the Judge asked.
I'm feelin' somewhat better , Judge , ; Randy replied.
I imagine it'll take awhile before I'm out there chasin' those steers again , ; Randy joked. No rush , Randy , ; the Judge said with a facetious smile at Randy's joke. Now , you just go back to sleep and get some rest, ; the Judge said in a fatherly manner.
That's almost what my daddy would say to me when I was sick or somethin' , ; Randy said with a gentle smile as he drifted off again. Your father must have been a very good father , Randy , ; the Judge said quietly , but Randy had already gone to sleep. '' I hope that we don't have any more trouble with rustlers in the near future'' ; the Judge thought as he sat there.
'' I wonder who that could be'' ; the Judge thought when he heard someone coming quietly up the stairs. '' Can I come in , Judge'' ? ; Trampas said quietly from the guest room door. '' Please , come in , Trampas '', ; the Judge whispered. How's Randy doing , Judge ? ; Trampas asked quietly.
He's doing better , Trampas , ; the Judge replied. His fever was pretty high last night , but Betsy was up with him all night , and she managed to get it down some , ; the Judge replied. That's a relief , Judge , ; Trampas replied. Me and the boys were sure worried about Randy last night , Judge , although some of us could'nt say it as well as others, ; Trampas said. None of us ever had a better friend than Randy , Judge , ; Trampas added. It's good to hear that you all worried , Trampas , ; the Judge said warmly.
I confess that I worried a little myself , ; the Judge added.
Where's Betsy now , Judge ? ; Trampas asked quietly. She's in her room taking a nap , Trampas , ; the Judge replied. How about you boys , does The Virginian have anything for you to do today ? ; the Judge asked. Yes sir , he's got some branding for us to do , ; Trampas replied. He and the boys were still eating breakfast , so I decided to come and see how Randy was , ; Trampas added.
I'm glad you dropped by , Trampas , ; the Judge replied , smiling warmly.
So am I , Judge , ; Trampas said. Well , I'd better be getting back before the bossman misses me , Judge , ; Trampas said as he got up.
If Randy wakes up again , tell him I was here and that I said hello , alright ? ; Trampas said. Of course , Trampas , ; the Judge said quietly.
See you later , Tramps , ; the Judge said as Trampas left.
[ Hope I captured the special father -son relationship that Randy and Trampas had
with Betsy's father the Judge in ''The Virginian''. ]