Do Not Forsake Me(119)

“You just remember that those men can’t really touch her. Understand? Katie Harkner is yours! Just like Evie will always belong to Brian, no matter what happens. If a woman’s not willing, she hasn’t been touched!” Jake growled the words angrily.

“Well, life still won’t be worth living if something happens to my son…and to Little Jake.”

Dixie walked closer. “You two keep in mind that if Evie and Katie get through this, and your grandsons are all right, they will need you more than they have ever needed you, so you need to get your heads on straight and not do something that could get you sent to prison. I know you need to reach down inside to the mean snakes that dwell there, but you have to also be smart about this. And, Jake Harkner, it’s very possible your wife will come home just fine. And if something terrible has happened to your daughter and grandsons and Katie, she’ll need you worse than she ever has her whole life…and you’ll need her. Don’t do something crazy. Go get your family and get yourself back to Guthrie in one piece.”

Jake met her eyes, and Dixie hardly recognized him. His entire countenance, even his looks, were different. “I see what the old outlaw Jake Harkner must have looked like at one time, Jake,” she told him. “How that wife of yours managed to tame you, I’ll never figure. But now you have to think about her and what she’d be telling you right now. She’d be telling you to eat…and rest at least a little…and to keep your head on straight and not let rage make you do something foolish. A man doesn’t think right when he’s in your state, and that won’t help your family. Do you understand? Calm down and think this through.”

Dominic and Jeff returned with fresh horses, Ben walking beside them. Without another word, Jake mounted up. Dixie hurried up to him and handed up the gunnysack. “Eat,” she ordered.

Jake took it. “I’ll try. Thanks for the food. And I’m sorry…for that little shove. I didn’t mean it, Dixie.”

Dixie patted his leg. “I know that. Go get your daughter and Katie, Jake, but use your head. Promise me.” She could almost hear thunder and see black clouds hovering over him.

“I’ll do what I have to do. I’m not even sure what that is yet, but I’ll damn well get them back, and Marty Bryant might as well already count himself as dead.”

Jake rode off.

“Bye, Dixie.” Lloyd followed, as did Jeff.

Dixie looked at young Ben. “You poor kid.” She walked up and touched his hair. “Ben, he’s a good, good man—really. He’s just gone off to a deep, dark place for now. But he’ll get his family back and he’ll come for you. I just know he will.”

Ben nodded, tears running down his cheeks. “He called me his son.”

Dixie smiled for him. “Then that’s what you are, Ben, no matter what happens. You’re Jake Harkner’s son.”

Ben watched the three men disappear over the horizon. “I hope he doesn’t get killed.”

Dixie smiled. “Ben, it takes an awful lot to bring down Jake Harkner.” She wanted to sound hopeful for the boy, but the man she’d just seen hardly seemed human. How long his body could keep up with such abuse was what worried her more than the outlaws he was after.





Thirty-one


Randy!

She saw him…falling…falling into blackness. He reached for her, but only the tips of their fingers touched…and then he slipped away.

And who was that with him? Evie? Why was she with Jake, falling into that black hole?

Gampa’s guns! Gampa’s guns!

Little Jake? No! She couldn’t see him at all. She could only hear his voice. She cried out to them, the family she loved.

Someone grasped her shoulders.

“Jake?” she muttered.

“Randy, wake up.”

Randy gasped and started awake to see Peter bent over her. It took her a moment to remember where she was. The dream had been so real, she thought she was back home and Jake was calling for her. She looked around, coming to the reality that she was still in a hospital bed. She looked back at Peter.

“Something’s wrong! Something’s wrong!”

She reached up and he pulled her into his arms. “Randy, what is it? Are you in pain?”

“No!” She clung to him. “Take me home! Take me home! Something terrible has happened!”

“Randy, you were just dreaming.”

“No, it’s more than that!” She pulled away and tried to get up.

“Randy, don’t get up.” Peter held her down. “You have another week before the stitches come out. Maybe not even then.”