Jake folded his arms. “When in hell did you get so wise?”
“Since I had to figure out my father so I’d understand him instead of wanting to hit him.” Lloyd turned his horse and rode off, shouting orders to the men. Jake wanted to hug him for the child he used to be, but he most certainly was his own man now. Go ahead and get out from under my shadow, Son. It’s time.
By then Pepper approached with a freshly saddled black gelding for Jake. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” Jake mounted up.
“You and Lloyd get things straightened out?”
Jake lit another cigarette and caught Pepper’s gaze. “He’s quite a man all on his own, you know.”
Pepper nodded. “That he is.” Pepper sobered. “He was awful worried about you, Jake. Don’t let him make you believe otherwise. He’d be real lost without you.”
Jake nodded. “I feel the same way about him.” He took a deep drag on the cigarette. “Right now I have to straighten things out with the wife. That might be a bit more difficult than talking to my son.”
Pepper laughed. “I don’t envy you there.” He laughed again as he rode off.
Jake rode ahead of camp to the covered wagon and the women’s buggy a good half mile ahead. He could see the three women and Brian were dressed and ready to go. Brian was cleaning up a cook fire. Randy glanced at Jake, then turned away. Jake dismounted and walked up to Brian. “How bad is it?”
Brian’s eyebrows raised as he half grinned. “You’re in deep this time, Jake. Even Evie is mad at you for yelling at her mother and then riding off for two nights. Considering the fact that my wife is the most forgiving woman who ever walked, let alone knowing how much she worships her father, it takes a lot of hurt for her to be upset with you.”
Jake sighed and rubbed at the back of his neck. “Do me a favor and take all the women to the Brown Palace when we reach Denver and get rooms for all of us. Lloyd will make sure the cattle get counted and corralled. I’m going on in and get a bath and a shave and some clean clothes.”
Brian looked him over. “Good idea. You look like hell.”
“Yeah, well, you’re the third or fourth person who has told me that.”
“How’s that hand? I see some swelling.”
Jake flexed his hand. “It’s been better, but I’ll live.”
“I’m a doctor, remember? I can tell it hurts like hell. Need some laudanum?”
“Shit, no. I’ll put up with the pain. I don’t need to be half drunk with that stuff when I try making up with my wife.”
Brian shrugged. “Suit yourself. I’m here if you need me.”
Jake studied his blue-eyed, sandy-haired son-in-law, thinking how different he was from himself and even Lloyd—quiet, patient, highly educated, a man not easily shaken, and the perfect, loving man for his very gentle daughter who rarely saw the bad in anyone. “Brian, you have always been there for all of us, and I appreciate it. I’m sorry for the extra weight I throw on those shoulders at times.”
Brian grinned. “Well, you certainly make life interesting, Jake.”
Jake managed a weak smile. He turned then and kept his cigarette between his lips, taking his horse’s reins and walking over to the women.
“Daddy, it’s about time you came back,” Evie scolded. “We’re almost to Denver. And you look terrible!”
Jake rubbed at his eyes. “Evie, my sweet daughter, I am well aware that I am a mess. So far, every person I’ve talked to has told me so.”
“Well, we were all worried about you. I don’t like it when you get all mean and ornery.”
The remark brought a smile to his lips. He threw down the cigarette and stepped it out. “Sweetheart, for some people, mean and ornery just comes naturally, which is something someone like you could never understand. You just take care of that good husband of yours and that baby you’re carrying, and I’ll deal with the mean and ornery.” He glanced at Randy. “All of you go on ahead and get our rooms. I’ll be along later tonight.”
That got Randy’s attention. “Later tonight? What does that mean?”
“It means that, as everyone tells me, I’m a mess, and I’m going into town on my own to buy some clothes and find a bathhouse to clean up before I come to our room. You will let me in, I hope.”
Randy looked away. “I’ll think about it.”
“Well now, I’d hate to have to kick the door in. I’d have to pay for it.”
Randy met his eyes challengingly. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“Wouldn’t I? How well do you know me, Mrs. Harkner?”