She faced Peter again, her mind running in circles with various scenarios that could influence when Jake might get home…if he got home. “He might stop somewhere to clean up first.”
Peter laughed lightly. “He’s coming home to you and knows you’re all right, plus he’s been through the depths of hell. He won’t stop to clean up first this time. He’ll be bent on getting to you as fast as he can.” He stood up and grasped her arms. “Randy, I wish you would just sit down. I need to talk to you.”
She met his eyes…saw the love there. “I’m sorry.” She embraced him. “Peter, I am so grateful for everything you’ve done. You’re such a good man, and having someone with me who cares so much means a lot.” She pulled away. “But even if something happened to Jake—”
“I know.” He sighed and took hold of her hands. “I just want to tell you that I hope Evie and Lloyd and Little Jake all make it back alive and well, and I hope he gets that reprieve and that you can all move to Colorado. I won’t forget you…ever…but I know when something is hopeless, and you, my darling Randy, are hopelessly in love with Jake Harkner. When he dies, you will be in love with his ghost. There will never be another man for you, and what you feel for him is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “What I feel for you is partly because I want my wife back with me, but I can’t have her, so I guess I’d better start looking around…elsewhere. I feel honored just to have been able to hold you when you needed holding, and my only comfort is that I’m pretty sure Jake appreciates what he has in you. He doesn’t just love you. He adores you.”
Her eyes teared. “Thank you so much, Peter.”
“For helping a woman I love? That takes no thanks.” Randy slowly turned away and went back to the door.
“He should get here today,” she repeated. “I feel it.” She rested her forehead against the oval window in the door. That’s when she heard the familiar whistle, somewhere in the distance. “It’s him! It’s him!” She started to open the door.
“Wait!” Peter hurried over, taking her arm. “Wait and see who’s with him. You need to prepare yourself, Randy. And you sure as heck shouldn’t be running down the street in your condition. Don’t go tearing something open and put yourself back in the hospital.”
They stepped out onto the porch together. Randy glanced at all the bullet holes that still pocked the outside of the house. So many! That meant a lot of men. It sickened her to think of Evie with them…and Little Jake.
They finally appeared at the end of the street. “Three! There are only three of them!” Randy held a hand to her mouth, sucking in her breath. “Peter, just three!”
“Don’t panic,” Peter warned. “At least that looks like Jake and Lloyd. I think that’s Jeff with them.” They came closer. “Jake has Little Jake with him.”
“Where’s Evie? Where’s Evie and Brian?”
With a pounding heart, Randy watched Katie run out of the house and toward Lloyd, who dismounted and limped up to her. “He’s hurt, Peter! Lloyd’s hurt!” She started off the porch, but Peter kept hold of her. “He’s embracing Katie. He’s all right, Randy.” The Donavans came out with Stephen and Ben. Stephen ran up to his father, and Lloyd embraced both his wife and son.
Ben ran to Jake, who reached down and tousled his hair. Ben grasped his hand with both of his and Jake lifted him with one hand onto his horse. He put his arms around Ben and said something to him. Ben threw his arms around Jake’s neck, and Randy could see the boy was crying. Jake talked to him a moment longer, then lifted him down, saying something more to him. Ben nodded and walked back to the Donavans.
As always, townspeople were beginning to gather behind Jake.
“Jake, where’s Evie?” a man asked.
“She and Brian came in the back way. They’re already at their house. I don’t want one person going over there, understand? They need to be alone.”
“Oh, Peter, that means…” Randy turned away and wept. Peter put an arm around her.
“She’s alive, Randy. She and Brian are alive, and Brian is a good man. They love each other and they will get through this.”
“The baby. If she lost the baby, it will be harder for her to ever recover from this.”
Randy took a handkerchief from her dress pocket and wiped at her eyes. Peter could see that at the moment, he didn’t even exist as far as Randy was concerned. Her gaze remained riveted on her husband. He went inside and picked up his hat, quietly leaving out the back door.