Lloyd groaned again, but this time he called out, “Pa…” Jake hurried over to the side of the bed as Evie moved around to the other side, touching Lloyd’s cheek.
“Lloyd? Hey, big brother, are you awake?” she asked softly.
Lloyd put a hand to his head and bent one knee.
“He moved his leg!” Jake exclaimed, grasping Lloyd’s hand.
“Oh, Daddy, I told you prayer helps!”
Lloyd opened his eyes and stared blankly at both of them for a moment, then locked his gaze on Jake. “Pa?”
Jake leaned closer. “I’m here.”
Lloyd moaned. “Everything…hurts bad…real bad.”
“I know, Son. We can get more laudanum for you.”
Lloyd kept his eyes on Jake. He frowned. “You…look terrible.”
Jake grinned and pulled the blankets higher over Lloyd’s shoulders. “I should look terrible. You’ve kept me awake for almost three days straight. Your mother and Evie, too. And Brian and Katie aren’t in much better shape.”
Lloyd looked around, bending up his other knee.
“Oh, thank you, Jesus!” Evie whispered. “Daddy, he’s moving both legs!”
“What…happened?” Lloyd tried to sit up but cried out from pain.
Jake gently pressed his shoulders. “Take it easy, Lloyd. You were shot. We weren’t sure you’d even live. You’re still in a lot of danger, so you have to lie still. We can’t be positive infection won’t set in.” He leaned closer, kissing his forehead.
“Jesus, Pa…what the hell…was that for?”
“Because I love you.”
“Well, if somebody is going to…kiss me…I’d just as soon…it was Katie. Where is she? Where’s…my Katie? Is she…okay?”
“She’s fine.”
Evie wiped at tears and leaned down to give her brother a kiss on the cheek.
“That’s more like it.” He suddenly scowled. “Wait! Evie! You…that man! I…remember now.” He reached for Evie and tried to sit up again.
Jake held him down. “It’s okay, Lloyd. Evie is all right.”
“I’ll go get Katie,” Evie told him.
She started to rise, but Lloyd grasped her hand. “You really…okay?”
Evie smiled for him. “I really am. And Katie will want to know you’re awake. Just lie still, big brother, and I’ll go get her.” Evie glanced at her father. “You stay calm, Daddy. God is with us. As soon as Katie gets in here, you go see Mother.” She started to leave.
“Wait.” Jake walked around the bed and pulled her into his arms, his embrace saying everything.
“It’s okay, Daddy.”
Jake took a deep breath, keeping her close. “You have a way of taking the gun out of my hand. I’m so sorry…for the things you’ve been through.”
Evie felt his whole body shiver as he hugged her tighter.
“Don’t you be sorry for one thing, Daddy. Not one thing. Just promise me you’ll get out of here and get some rest and be with Mother. She needs you so much.”
“I promise.” Jake kissed her hair and let go of her, wiping at tears with his shirtsleeve. “You do the same thing. Get some rest. Your husband is already mad enough at me. I don’t want him blaming me for you losing that baby.”
“I’ll be just fine.” Evie leaned up and kissed his cheek. “I’ll go get Brian and Katie.” She left, and Lloyd groaned the word “Pa” again.
“I’m right here, Lloyd.” Jake hurried back over to his side.
“I remember something. Evie…looked so scared.” He closed his eyes. “Jesus, now I remember. Evie! Pa, I tried to stop him…”
“It’s over, Son. Mike Holt is dead.”
Lloyd met his eyes. “You?”
“Me.”
“You in…trouble again?”
“Probably.”
Lloyd closed his eyes. “Shit.” He grimaced. “Pa, I can’t…keep getting you…out of trouble.”
“I’ll handle it. Your job is to just get better.”
“Everything hurts, Pa.”
Jake leaned over and fluffed his pillow as best he could. “It will get better. And I’ll be here to help Katie. So will Brian. And we’ve had the best doctor in Denver taking care of you. He took the bullet out. You have no idea how good it is to see you moving your legs and arms. We weren’t sure you’d be able to move at all. The bullet ended up pretty close to your spine.”
“Katie,” Lloyd whispered. “Tell me she’s okay, too.”
“So far.”
“The baby—”