“Bye, Grampa. I’ll beat you again next time.”
“I’m sure you will,” Jake answered. “By cheating!”
Stephen laughed and ran outside.
“Will you please explain to your son the difference between cheating and bluffing?” Jake asked Lloyd.
“I’m not sure I even want him to learn how to play poker,” Lloyd answered. “You can’t help teaching your grandsons how to get into trouble, can you?”
“They’re already in trouble. They’re related to me.”
“Yeah, well, God help them,” Lloyd joked. “You stay on that sofa, Pa.”
“Got no choice. I have to answer to the warden out there in the kitchen.”
Lloyd grinned and started to leave.
“Wait for Evie and walk her to her house,” Jake told him.
Evie came out from the kitchen then and leaned down to kiss her father’s forehead. “Brian should be back soon from delivering Jean Howley’s baby. I want to be there when he gets home. Mother gave me some chicken and pie for him.”
Jake reached up touched her cheek. “You take care, angel. Lloyd will walk you home.”
Little Jake came running up to him then, and Jake grabbed him up and kissed his cheek. “And keep a good eye on this little escape artist,” he added, tickling the boy. Little Jake giggled.
Evie left with Little Jake and Lloyd and his family. Randy came into the living room to collect the pie plates and coffee cups. “Jake, you didn’t eat your pie.”
He closed his eyes, putting an arm over his face again. “Later. I’m all of a sudden tired again.”
“Well, you should be. You’ve done too much today.” Randy started to leave the room, but Jake stopped her by calling her name, his arm still over his face.
“Don’t forget to see Peter and tell him we’ll meet with him tomorrow about ten, if that time suits him. I can walk around good enough for that.”
Randy turned away. “If you say so.” She untied her apron and removed it, laying it across a chair. “I’m pretty tired myself, so I might as well go now and get it over with.” She turned to a mirror near the front door and re-pinned the sides of her hair. “I’m not even sure Peter can see us as soon as tomorrow. He does have other appointments, you know.”
Jeff noticed Jake look her over with a possessive gleam in his eyes. “He’ll do it…for you.”
Randy turned, putting her hands on her hips and giving him a scolding look. “You just get out of that dark mood, Jake Harkner, and stay off that leg while I’m gone, or I’ll shoot you in the other leg.”
Jake finally grinned a little. “It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve shot me.” He grimaced as he scooted lower on the sofa. “Just make sure we see Peter as soon as possible. We have to get things going with Jeff before Lloyd and I leave again, which will only be another week or so,” Jake told her.
“Don’t you think that’s a little soon for that leg?”
“We have things to do that can’t be put off much longer.”
Randy watched him closely. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just routine.”
Randy sighed. “Well, as soon as Brian gets back, I want him to check your dressings and make sure that wound isn’t bleeding on the inside or something.”
“Speaking of Brian, it’s you he should examine. You’re in some kind of pain, Randy.”
“It’s nothing. You worry too much.” Randy walked into the bedroom, and Jeff could see Jake tense up.
“You all right, Jake?”
“I’m fine. Meet us at Peter Brown’s around ten tomorrow. In fact, come here first and we’ll all go to breakfast.”
“Sure.” Jeff worried there might be a confrontation between Jake and Peter soon. It seemed almost inevitable, with all the tension between the three of them. “I need to get things together for that trip with you and Lloyd—which, believe me, makes me very nervous.”
Jake kept his arm over his eyes, his voice sounding weaker. “Jeff, you’re braver than you know. If you’re put on the spot…you’ll come through. That’s why I don’t mind taking you along with us. And by the time Lloyd and I are done with you…you’ll be asking to sign up as a deputy U.S. Marshal.”
Jeff grinned. “Thanks, but I’ll stick to writing.”
Randy came back into the living room, wearing a velvet hat with a flower design crocheted into it. She took a shawl from a coat stand near the door, then came over and leaned down to kiss Jake. “I’m leaving. Promise me you’ll stay off that leg.”