Jake shrugged. “They were stealing my cattle and threatened to come for Randy. Was I supposed to let them do both?”
“Have you ever heard of shooting to wound rather than kill?”
“I don’t pay much attention. I just shoot to stop them from shooting back.”
Peter looked at Jeff. “Maybe I should just go home.”
Jeff grinned. “The man doesn’t bend easily.”
Peter faced Jake. “You’re going to have to bend on this one, Jake. You’re the one who said Randy can’t lose you, so you’re going to have to do what I ask if you don’t want that to happen. Now, let’s go see Lloyd. Maybe he’ll heal faster, knowing his father has some help in getting out of this and going home. Jeff is anxious to see him, too.”
“Randy and I were heading for his room when you two showed up. I’d like to go see him first and make sure he wants visitors,” Jake told him.
Peter nodded. “All right. We’ll wait here.”
With a sigh, Jake walked up to Randy, leaning down to kiss her. “Just give me a few minutes. Have some more coffee and try to relax.”
“Jake, I’m so anxious to see him.”
“I know.” Jake turned to Peter and Jeff. “I appreciate what both of you are doing. I never expected you two to show up—especially you, Peter.”
Peter shrugged. “I went to all that work to get your sentence reduced. I couldn’t let this one go and risk you being sent right back to prison.”
“Yeah, well, some people expect the worst from me, and I guess they got it the other night.” Jake lit another cigarette and turned to Jeff. “Come with me, Jeff. You can help with Lloyd. He won’t mind, and he’ll be thrilled to see you again.” He turned to look from Peter to Randy. “I’m sure you two wouldn’t mind a couple of minutes alone.”
“Jake—” Randy started to protest as she rose.
“It’s okay. I’ll come back in a few minutes.” He opened the door, taking a good look around before going next door into Lloyd’s room.
Randy met Peter’s gaze. “He’s been doing almost everything for Lloyd. He bathes him and changes the dressing on his wound and cleans his teeth and shaves him and even takes care of more personal things. The contrast between the Jake who put a gun to Mike Holt’s head and the Jake who’s been nursing Lloyd is stark. People need to know what kind of a father he is, Peter.”
Peter nodded. “I’ll do my best to make sure they see that. Maybe if Lloyd is healed enough by then, he can testify himself and make an impression on the judge as far as his father’s devotion to his family.” He walked closer. “And you look like you need to sit back down.”
Randy wavered a little, and he hurried up to embrace her. Randy hugged him in return. “Thank you, Peter! Coming all the way here so quickly just shows the kind of friend you are, and I’m so happy you’ve found someone. I can’t wait to meet Katrina.”
Peter pulled away, smiling sadly. “And she’s anxious to meet you. She knows the whole story, Randy. She’s a very gracious, understanding woman. We’re very happy.”
“I’m so glad!” Randy studied his handsome blue eyes, thinking how Peter Brown was such a good man in his own right.
Peter kept hold of her arms. “We all deal with the what-ifs, Randy, but in your case, I don’t think you have ever once asked yourself, ‘What if I’d let Jake Harkner ride out of my life? What if I’d married someone like Peter Brown?’”
Randy shook her head, smiling sadly. “God put me in Jake’s path for a reason, Peter. There are things about him that make him constantly on the defensive, but those same things make him easy to love.”
“Notwithstanding the fact that he is still an extremely handsome man who has a way with women and worships the ground you walk on.”
Randy smiled more and leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Something like that.” She stepped back and squeezed his hand. “Peter, Jake will spend his whole life being on the defensive, because he spent his childhood the same way—trying to shield himself from his father’s blows…and trying to shield his mother and little brother from that man’s cruelty. John Harkner left a lasting effect on Jake that he struggles with to this day. I shudder to think what the little boy Jake suffered.”
Someone knocked on the door then, and Jeff called to them. “Randy, Jake says to come to Lloyd’s room. He’s standing up!”
Randy sucked in her breath with surprise and joy, letting go of Peter and rushing to fling open the door. She hurried out, and Jeff glanced at Peter.