Big Sky Daddy. Linda Ford
He sounded as if he were working hard to grate his voice from his throat. “When it was over they were dead. Amanda was already dead—murdered by the pair.”
“And Teddy?” she whispered, hardly able to take it in.
“Amanda must have seen the intruders coming and made him hide in the closet. When I found him, he’d been shot in the leg.”
“Oh, no.” Pain and sorrow twisted through her with such vengeance she couldn’t breathe. “How awful.” Caleb’s face contorted and she knew he was reliving the horror. The only comfort she could offer was the one thing Ma had taught her. Sometimes all a person could give another person in pain was presence and touch. She pressed her hand to his arm. “Caleb, I am so sorry. It’s too dreadful for words.”
A shudder shook him hard. He turned to face her, his eyes dark as a summer storm, his mouth a white line.
She too shuddered at the frank agony she saw.
“That’s not the worst part.” His voice was a hoarse whisper. “I’ll never know if I was the one who fired the shot that hurt him.”
She nodded, understanding this feeling of guilt must edge every thought, every glance at his son. What comfort could she offer him? Only the truth.
“You have no way of knowing it didn’t come from some other gun, either.”
He nodded, but she could tell the words had not gone farther than his ears.
“How long ago did all this happen?”
“Nine months. Almost ten.”
That long and the boy’s injury still remained? There had to be something wrong, likely an infection. One that long-standing was unusual and—she shuddered—usually life threatening.
“Has the wound not healed?”
“It’s healed, but he can’t use the leg. And I have no idea why. No doctor has been able to help me.” He told her about the many trips he and Teddy had taken to find help. “I have to get him to a doctor down east.” He stepped away as if he were already on his way. “I can’t leave him here. I need the job at the Caldwells in order to pay the special doctor.”
She nodded. She and Ma used only common sense and old-fashioned remedies, along with herbs and poultices. Surely a special doctor would have newer things to offer. But if the infection had gone to the bone...
She shivered. If she could do anything to help, she would. She opened her mouth to ask him to reconsider taking Teddy away for the night.
Caleb turned on his heel and strode toward the barn before she could utter the words.
She rumbled her breath out. She’d been about to suggest he stay, too.
How had she so quickly forgotten that he was a Caldwell cowboy? Rose would be shocked.
Worse, she’d shocked herself by how much she’d been drawn to this man and his pain.
She could see Teddy through the open barn door, leaning over his dog, crooning words of comfort when he himself needed those same words. Likely some of Ma’s medicinals wouldn’t do his leg any harm, especially if infection had gone deep inside, but that type of deep infection usually resulted in severe pain, and the boy didn’t appear to be suffering.
She or Ma could at least provide comfort measures to Teddy until Caleb took him to the special doctor.
Never mind that his father worked for the Caldwells.
Halfway across the yard, Caleb’s feet slowed and he slowly came about to face her. With measured steps he returned to her, his expression full of determination.
“Tomorrow is Sunday. I don’t have to be at the Caldwells’. If your invitation is still open, I accept for the day.”
One day! What could she hope to do for Teddy or Blossom in one day?
“Unless you’ve changed your mind. Perhaps your family wouldn’t welcome a Caldwell cowboy.” He had clearly mistaken her hesitation.
Rose would have concerns, but she’d voice them in private. Ma and Pa would take a wait-and-see approach. As for Lilly, she’d make the most of the limited time, grateful in a way he’d not be there longer. The locked doors around her heart shuddered every time she thought of what he’d been through. “The invitation is still open.”
Caleb gave a quick nod. “I’ll deal with the consequences when I get back.”
“I’m not trying to discourage you, but are you sure about this? From what I’ve seen of Ebner and the others, they won’t be happy to know you’re consorting with the enemy, so to speak. Only the Caldwells view the disagreement in such terms. We only want to be left in peace to farm our little bit of land.”
“I only want to do what’s right for Teddy. I’m sure I can make Ebner understand that.” His words rang and his dark eyes flashed.
Lilly had her doubts, but she’d never before let the Caldwells stop her from doing what she thought was right.
She certainly wasn’t about to let them stop her now.
Caleb hadn’t decided how he’d deal with Ebner should the man object, but he felt he should be able to do as he chose on a Sunday and return to his work at the Caldwells’ on Sunday night without questions being asked.
He was a free man, after all.
He tried to dismiss the doubts cluttering his mind. At the moment, staying seemed the right thing to do.
Lilly’s invitation had sounded sincere, but her eyes were now shadowed by second thoughts. Was she concerned about how the Caldwells would react? Or her family? Then she smiled and drove away every bit of darkness. “Let’s make Blossom comfortable. Then I’d like Ma to look at Teddy’s leg, if you don’t mind.”
He wouldn’t have minded if he’d thought there was any chance they could help, but—
“He’s been prodded and poked. Some of the suggestions for helping him have been absurd. And too many of them cruel. Hang him in a harness until he uses his leg. Use some kind of noxious rub that would burn a hole in the hide of a cow. Poke his legs to stimulate the nerves. Seems everyone had a cure. Too bad none of them worked.” He sucked in air. “No more torture.”
Her hand brushed his arm and stilled his rush of words. Her touch when he’d been almost overwhelmed by his memories had soothed him. He had noted, too, how she’d touched Teddy to calm him. He didn’t know if he should object to the touch or thank her for it. But he couldn’t pull words from his brain, so he simply stood there as she spoke.
“Caleb, I promise you neither my ma nor I will do anything to hurt Teddy.” She held his gaze unblinkingly until he nodded.
“Very well.”
Satisfied, she said, “I’ll let you tell Teddy.” She carried the water to the barn.
Teddy turned to them as they entered, his expression tight as if he expected Caleb to insist they had to leave.
Caleb’s insides warmed at his ability to give his son one small gift—a yes to his request to stay. He squatted in front of him. “Teddy, I’ve decided we can stay until tomorrow evening. Then I’ll have to go back to work and you’ll have to come with me.”
“One day?”
“I’m afraid that’s all we have.”
Teddy sighed softly. “Then God will have to make Blossom better in one day.”
Caleb blinked. How could his son have any faith left after all the praying that had been done over him to no avail? But he would not rob his son of it. Please, God, honor the faith of this little one.
“I