Do Not Forsake Me(58)
Randy smiled. “Well, that’s a perfect title for a book about Jake,” she answered. “It’s a bit too true. There is never a dull moment when Jake is around.”
Suddenly Jake felt her fingers dig a little too deeply, and she stopped massaging his shoulders. She let out a tiny whimper. He set down the gun and turned, grasping her wrist. “What’s wrong?”
Randy put on a smile, loosening her grip. “Nothing. I think I ate too much pie, that’s all.” She quickly returned to the kitchen, and Jake watched her the whole way. Frowning, he picked up the gun parts again.
“I don’t like what I just saw.”
“Sir?”
“She’s in pain. I told you the other day that I’ve seen her do that before, almost bend over in pain. I’m going to talk to Brian about it.” He worked quietly and soberly for several minutes, saying nothing. “When I give you that shooting lesson, I’ll let you try one of these,” he finally spoke up.
“Thank you, sir.”
Jake laid a partially assembled gun on the coffee table and eyed Jeff again. “Jeff, you are the most polite young man I’ve ever come across, but I told you the other day that you don’t have to call me sir and you don’t have to thank me for everything.”
“Yes, sir…Jake.”
The kitchen door slammed twice—two grandsons coming in for cookies and then running out again. Lloyd came into the room then. “You doing all right, Pa?”
“I’ll live. How’s Brad Buckley?”
Lloyd ran a hand through his hair and sat down in a rocker near Jeff. “Still hurting, seeing as you cracked his breastbone.”
“I wanted to do a lot worse than that, but I have to remember I’m a marshal. That’s pretty hard to do sometimes.” Jake took a last drag on his cigarette and put it out in the ashtray. “I suppose the damn kid will give us trouble down the road because I killed his beloved father.”
Lloyd nodded. “Maybe. I think we should ride out and pay a visit to both families, make sure they understand that if they want to give us any more trouble, they’ll regret it.”
Jake laid down the second gun, not quite finished yet, and moved his leg back to the sofa. He stretched out against a pillow on the arm of the sofa, suddenly looking tired. He rubbed at his eyes, his mood seeming to change somewhat. “Soon as I can ride we’ll go,” he told Lloyd. “Jeff can go with us. I told him we’d teach him to shoot and that he could ride with us a time or two, as long as he stays out of the way.”
Lloyd shrugged. “Whatever you say, Pa. I did promise Katie I’d stick around a few more days.”
“Is she all right?”
“Actually, the shoot-out shook her up pretty bad. She just needs to get used to what I do for a living.”
Jake sighed. “She’ll never get used to it. Your mother never really has. She pretends, but she doesn’t fool me.” He glanced at Lloyd. “She ever say anything to you about not feeling good—lately, I mean?”
Lloyd frowned. “No. Something wrong?”
Jake put an arm over his eyes, settling deeper into the pillow. “I’m not sure.” His voice sounded weaker.
“Pa, are you all right?”
“I’m fine. I’ve just been lying around too long. Makes a man weaker. Much as I love being with your mother, I’ve got to get up and around and out of here.”
Stephen came running into the sitting room, Katie following behind.
“Hey, you little cheater, where are you going?” Jake asked.
“Home. Katie says I have to help her put away some new china she got.”
“That doesn’t sound like much fun for a boy,” Jake teased.
“It teaches him patience, Jake,” Katie answered. “And a respect for fine things.”
“That son of mine taking good care of you, Katie?”
Katie reddened as Lloyd rose to walk closer. “Yes, sir. He’s been…helping me redecorate the house, and we took Stevie fishing and on a picnic the other day.”
“Good.” Jake glanced at Lloyd. “You two happy?”
“What do you think?” Lloyd bantered. He moved an arm around Katie.
“Be careful, Lloyd,” Jake warned, “about going on picnics and such. There are still some Bryants and Buckleys out there who aren’t real happy with us. Don’t let yourself be caught off guard.”
“Pa, I know what to watch for. In the meantime, you do exactly what Brian tells you to do and don’t get up and around sooner than you should.” He glanced at Stephen. “Let’s go, Son.”
Stephen ran up to Jake, leaning down to give him a peck on the cheek.