Do Not Forsake Me(79)

“Giving you some peace is all I think about,” Jake told Randy. He sighed deeply. “Are we done here?” he asked Peter.

Jeff glanced at Peter, who watched them a moment with obvious pain in his eyes. “I think so—for now. Go ahead and take Randy home. In fact, there is a buggy tied outside with a pinto horse rigged to it. It’s mine. I’m leaving soon for a meeting with some people outside of town. Have Jeff use it to drive you two back to your house. It’s five blocks away and you need to get off that leg, and your wife needs some rest. Jeff can take you home and bring the buggy back to me.”

“Thank you, Peter,” Randy said softly, wiping at her eyes.

Jake nodded to him. “I appreciate anything you can do about the sentence. If it means paying a higher fine, I’ll pay it. I still have money in a bank in Denver from when I raised horses in Colorado. We used some of it to help support Randy and Evie when I went to prison, but there is enough left to make a new start, and Lloyd has quite a bit of his own money. I know he’ll help pay the fine if necessary. And he’ll want to go to Colorado with us.”

“I’ll do my best,” Peter told Jake. “I have a few connections that might help.”

“Thanks for whatever you can do for Randy.”

Peter folded his arms. “Believe it or not, part of me wants to do it for you too, Jake.”

Jake looked him over. “I’ll let myself believe that, and I thank you for trying. We’ll wait to hear from you. Lloyd and I have to head out on rounds in a week or so, and I don’t want Randy working for you while I’m gone.”

“Jake—” Randy started to protest.

“I’m not saying that to be rude.” Jake kept his eyes on Peter. “No offense, but it’s because I want Randy to rest and spend time with Evie and Katie and the grandsons.”

Peter nodded. “I understand. I have no problem with her taking care of herself. I just hope things turn out for the better rather than worse.”

Jake drew on the cigarette and put it out in the ashtray on Peter’s desk. “Yeah. Well, I can’t live without her, so it has to turn out for the better.” He rose and took Randy’s arm, moving his own arm around her as she walked around her chair to join him. She thanked Peter again and left with Jake.

Jeff looked at Peter Brown. “Do you need anything more from me?” He actually felt sorry for the man. Peter looked devastated, and Jeff realized that helping Jake get out of being a federal marshal so he could move back to Colorado meant Peter would never see Randy Harkner again, something that had to hurt. But the man would do it—for Randy—which showed Jeff just how much Peter loved her. And hearing she was sick had apparently hit him hard.

Peter cleared his throat and straightened, trying to hide his feelings. “You drive those two home first. Then you can come back and give me the particulars on yourself. See if you can get Randy to write down Jake’s father’s full name and bring it to me. I have no doubt she knows what it is but was afraid to say it out here today.”

“Sure.” Jeff started out, but Peter called to him. “What do you know about Randy’s health…this…surgery she might need?”

Jeff shook his head. “I just heard about it myself this morning. I don’t know the details.”

Peter frowned. “I know Ed Rogers pretty well. Maybe I can learn something from him.”

“Maybe. I’m sick about it myself, Mr. Brown. She’s a wonderful woman.”

“She certainly is. In all his years of living the outlaw life, Jake struck pure gold when he met Randy. Nothing he ever stole or earned can match what he found in her.”

“I have no doubt he is completely aware of that, sir. I think she’s real worried about what he would do if he lost her. So is Lloyd.”

Peter rubbed at his eyes. “I understand Jake Harkner more than you know, Jeff, and that’s the hell of it. The man loves as passionately as he hates, and there is no competing with him.” He looked at Jeff sadly. “Do you know what I’m talking about?”

Jeff nodded. “I think I do, sir.”

“Yes, well, it’s just kind of understood. It’s just…there…a fact that I can’t deny, and Jake damn well knows it. He has every right to put a gun to my head for thinking like I do, but out of respect for Randy, he won’t do that—although I can’t be real sure of that if I step over the line. Which I would never do anyway, because I know it’s hopeless, plus I respect Randy too much.” He eyed Jeff directly. “That’s between you and me, not something for that book of yours.”