Authors: Kathryn Long
Upstairs in the intensive care unit, Caleb had just stepped inside to see Fred. He wasn't surprised to find the man as he had been for the last few weeks. He stood there just watching the peaceful figure and almost envied him. He had no worries at the moment, no troubles to straighten out, no Aunt Emma nagging at him to catch the bad guys. He scowled at that one.
Come on Fred! Just wake up! You could settle this whole mess, if you'd open your eyes and start talking.
He took his hat off and wrung the brim between his hands, over and over again. Seemed the more he dug into this mess, the more confused he became. Too many leads, too many loose ends. And he was just one man. He couldn't do it all. It made him frustrated as hell.
"Wake up, old man!" he practically yelled, but in a whispered tone. He looked behind him to see if anyone at the desk had heard him, but everyone kept going about his or her business. He glanced once more at Fred. Then, he jammed his crumpled Stetson back on his head and stormed out of the room.
Chapter 26
"I will not!" Jess pouted, her jaw stubbornly set. "I'm fine, thanks. Just a bit shook up from last night, is all." She mindlessly went around tidying up the room, straightening pictures on the walls, fluffing the pillows.
All to mask the nervous state she was in, Daniel imagined.
"Could I at least persuade you to have Doc Willis come and take a look, to play it safe, Jess," he pleaded.
"No. That's final. You're worrying for nothing." She shook her head. "It's wasted on me."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just that Uncle Fred and Emma … we all should be thinking about them."
Daniel threw his hat down on the chair. "Dammit, Jess! You could have been seriously hurt."
"But I wasn't," she spoke softly, laying a hand on his shoulder.
Her eyes still held the worry and concern, which he himself was feeling, but sensed that for her sake, he needed to let it pass. Let her think he wasn't worried. Then she might stop being afraid. He admitted that was it. Fear could eat them both alive. They needed to be strong, to think clearly, if they were going to figure out any of this mess.
"I still want to catch the scum who did this to you." His voice came through just as softly. Then gently, but briefly he touched his fingertip to her cheek. The worry seemed to be fading already as the lines on her face softened. She was still for a moment, her breath close enough to touch him, but then she backed away a few steps.
"I want that, too, Daniel. But seeing a doctor isn't necessary. What I'd like to do is go have a talk with some of those farmers and ranchers who've been the victims of these accidents. What do you think? Get a few clues or ideas from them? It's worth a try," she encouraged.
Daniel paced back and forth. Jess watched him intently, taking in every detail. He was such a strong person, so caring and giving, all qualities she admired. She knew how easily she could fall for Daniel. And also knew that now was not a good time. Not after just losing her parents. Her feelings were way too vulnerable. She needed to stand alone for awhile, build up her emotional strength. Sadly, she realized having Daniel in her life right now, like that, would not help her get better. Those very qualities she admired would make her dependent on him for that emotional strength. No, she couldn't allow that to happen. It tore her apart knowing how miserable her decision was making Daniel feel, but she couldn't help it. If only there was a way to explain all of this to him. She sighed. He'd want to rescue her all the more, protect her feelings. It all seemed hopeless.
"I guess that would be just as good a place as any to start," Daniel finally spoke. "But let me do the talking. Most of them are suspicious of any outsiders," he warned.
Jess felt disheartened. "Will it hurt having me there?"
"No. Not if you're with me."
"Okay. Well, when can we go?"
"Just as soon as I finish making the rounds this morning and let the boys know I'll be out for awhile. Say in about an hour?"
"I'll be ready," she answered. "I want to see how Emma is anyway. And ask how Uncle Fred is doing. I know she went to visit him earlier this morning."
"Hopefully he'll come out of it soon." Daniel said what they'd all been hoping for weeks. Unfortunately, by now no one wanted to say what he or she feared. Fred may not come out of his coma. Everyone had to admit it was looking dismal. Though to say anything remotely like that to Emma would be met with a verbal tongue-lashing. She had to be about the closest friend Fred had. Everyone who had seen them together could figure that one out.
"See you in an hour," Jess said as she walked out of the room and toward the back of the house. Emma more than likely would be in the kitchen, she guessed.
"Miss Emma? Are you back here?" Jess called to her. As she neared the kitchen the pleasing aromas of coffee brewing and bacon frying greeted her.
"In here, child," a voice answered in that gravelly tone Jess had grown to recognize.
"Miss Emma, good morning. My, that smells good," she remarked, renewed energy in her voice. For some reason, the elderly woman had that effect on people. Despite age, her get-up-and-go seemed to electrify and animate everything around her.
"Come sit down and have breakfast." She smiled as she set a plate on the table.
"So, how are things?" Jess began.
Emma raised her eyebrows. "Things? That's pretty vague. Now if you are referrin' to me, I'm fit as a fiddle. The ranch? Doin' great. Cattle goin' to auction this mornin' should clear a good profit. Now, Fred?" Her voice caught in her throat. She turned to face the sink and wash off her plate. Her back hunched over and shook every so often. Jess noticed and waited till the uncomfortable silence ended. Emma looked at her to speak once again.
"He's holdin' his own. Not talkin' yet, but he will soon. Yes siree." She smacked the wet washcloth down in the sink. Again, silence filled the room until Emma, in a quivering tone, began to tell the young woman about Fred's "miracle" from this morning.
"Well, I'd best get back to the hospital with these things," she announced, as she picked up the books and cassette tapes piled on the counter.
"Give Uncle Fred my best," Jess called out after her. "I've got something to do this morning, but I'll be there to visit this afternoon."
Emma hollered an acknowledgment, and then slammed the screen door after her, nearly running to the car, anxious to see Fred once again. If she didn't know any better, Jess would suspect there was more than friendship in Emma's heart. She shrugged it off because now, more importantly, Jess needed to think about this morning's mission. Would anything come out of it, she wondered? She ran upstairs to change, checking her watch to see how much time she had until meeting with Daniel, when the phone rang.
Chapter 27
"Hello?" she answered. There was a pause before someone finally spoke.
"Is this the Thomas residence?" a man's voice spoke.
"Yes, it is."
"Is, ah, is Miss Emma at home?"
"I'm sorry. She just left. Would you like me to give her a message?"
"No. No. I, ah, this is a friend of hers. Mac Yearling? Don't know if she's mentioned me. You must be one of her guests?" he inquired.
"Yes, Mr. Yearling. Jessica Clinton. Glad to meet you. Even if it is over the phone."
"Yeah, hah … that's a good one."
Jess wasn't sure, but this Mac character seemed nervous. "Anyway, she just left for the hospital, Mr. Yearling."
"Mac, please. Just call me Mac. Everyone around here does," he explained. "Goin' to visit Fred, I imagine."
"Ah, yes. He's my uncle. Of course you probably knew that already."
"Of course," he answered.
Almost too abruptly, Jess felt.
"Well, I'm sorry to cut this conversation short, but I have to get going," she excused herself.
"Gonna do a bit of site seeing?" he inquired.
Again, Jess was puzzled. First, he seemed nervous, then abrupt, and now, a bit too curious. What was with this guy's moods? Or maybe it was just her being overly sensitive.
"Yeah, something like that," she answered, putting him off. "Well, gotta go. I'll tell Emma you called." Then before he had a chance to respond, she put the receiver back into the cradle. She reflected on how strange the conversation was, only for a moment, and then ran upstairs to quickly change and go meet Daniel. She had just fifteen minutes.
They decided Daniel should drive his truck since it was a familiar sight to the people of Chickasha. They headed toward the first neighboring ranch. The family, Louis and Dawn Tallfeather along with their five children came out on the porch to greet them as they pulled up.
Daniel approached the Choctaw neighbors and greeted them respectfully with Indian formality. Daniel had advised Jess to stay in the truck, informing her that Louis Tallfeather was a decent, honorable man, but had little tolerance for whites and the American way. His suspicions ran high, so that most of the non-Indian sector of the population in Chickasha steered clear of him. At least if they were wise, they did. Daniel smiled as he recalled confrontations between Louis and others. In any case, he knew he was the right one to approach because he would get nothing but the straight truth from Louis. No wild imagination, no exaggerated stories, just plain, simple facts.
Jess watched the two men as they carried on their conversation. She noted the contrast in behavior from the Daniel she knew. This Daniel's expression seemed very guarded and serious. Of course his companion seemed just as formal, if not more so. She wondered if they all acted like that. Then realizing she was doing that stereotyping, again, Jess scolded herself for being so naive. It was difficult getting adjusted to all the diversity in this place. Back home, she'd dealt with very little. It shocked Jess to realize how sheltered she'd been and how much she had missed, until now.
She looked at Daniel with warmth and renewed affection. A frown crossed her face as she admitted how every chance she got, she pushed him away. Of course, friendship and being in love were two different things entirely, she argued to herself. She just wanted the friendship right now. He had to accept that. Like it or not.
Daniel soon walked back to the truck, his expression grim. As he got in and started the vehicle, one of the Tallfeather children came running up.
"My father said this is for you, Mr. Ross, sir." The young boy handed a small object to Daniel. His expression was almost as solemn as his father's was.
Daniel studied it for a brief moment then glanced back at the boy. "Tell your father I thank him. It is a generous gift."
The young Tallfeather immediately broke into a grin, a stark contrast to his once serious expression, and then nodding his head vigorously, he ran off to join his family, still standing on the porch. Everyone waved as Daniel and Jess pulled away.