The Last Outlaw(22)
Randy quickly wiped at her eyes. “No. How could I? I thought you might die this time. I had to stay with you.”
Jake saw the terror return to her eyes. “Randy Harkner, you have to live for me! At this rate you’re the one who will die!” Anger at her condition brought back some of his resolve to get out of bed and help her. Again, he tried to sit up. This time, in spite of incredible pain, he managed to do so. Randy quickly propped some pillows behind him.
“Jake, you shouldn’t be moving around! You’ll break open your stitches!” she fussed. “Are you hungry? Should I get you something to eat?”
“No!” He grimaced again. “You need to eat!” He called out louder, “Nurse! Anyone out there? Get in here!”
“Jake, don’t do this. Please calm down. You’ve just had serious surgery and you lost so much blood.”
Jake grasped her wrist again, squeezing lightly. “I’m more worried about you! This has to stop, Randy! I can’t believe you managed to get through this. And the doctor should have made you go take care of yourself. Look at you! He should have made you eat, made you clean up, given you a bed to sleep in beside me instead of letting you lay half-on and half-off this cot!”
“I’ll…I’ll be all right.”
“No, you won’t!” He kept hold of her wrist and laid his head back against the pillows. “I wish Lloyd were here. He wouldn’t have allowed this.”
“I sent for him. Please don’t be angry, Jake. I can’t eat. How can I eat or sleep when you might need me?”
“I do need you!”
A nurse came in, followed by Doctor Snow.
“Well, look who’s awake!” the doctor exclaimed. “Let’s have a look at that—”
“Why have you let my wife just lie here with hardly any sleep and nothing to eat?” Jake asked angrily.
“Well, I… She insisted.”
“You’re a doctor, aren’t you?”
“Of course, Mr. Harkner, but—”
“But nothing! This woman needs nourishment and rest. She’s been losing too much weight, and you should have noticed the state she’s in. You should have ordered her to eat and given her something to help her sleep. She hasn’t been well. You could have set up a bed beside mine if she didn’t want to leave!”
“We were just too concerned about you, Mr. Harkner.”
“And I’m a goddamned worthless sonofabitch compared to this woman! Someone go to the nearest restaurant and get her some food—something nourishing and something with fat in it that will stick to her bony ribs! Bring it back here, because I intend to watch her eat it and make sure she swallows every last bite!”
Doctor Snow turned to his nurse. “Well, no more wondering when this man will wake up and regain his strength. Constance, go to the café two doors down and bring back some food for his wife.”
The nurse glanced at Jake with a scowl. “Would you like something, Mr. Harkner?”
“I’d like my guns. Where are they?”
Constance glanced at Doctor Snow.
“They are in a trunk in my office,” the doctor told him.
“Get them! People will know I’m in a weak state. You’d be surprised how many men might decide to take advantage of that.” Jake turned to the nurse. “Go get that food.”
“Jake, don’t be rude,” Randy argued. “I’m fine.”
“I’ll be rude when it comes to you being neglected. And you’re not fine. In fact, I want the doctor to look you over and give you a tonic or something that might help you get your strength back. And I mean it about eating. You’re wasting away to nothing.” He looked at the doctor again. “And send someone to get her companion, the Mexican woman called Teresa. She’s over at the Gold Dust Hotel with my little granddaughter. Have her pack some things and bring them over here so my wife can wash up and change her clothes.”
Constance left, and the doctor moved to Jake’s side. “I want to look at your stitches.”
“Go right ahead. Are you sure you didn’t leave a knife in me or something? It sure feels like you did.”
“I assure you, it’s just the bullet damage. It will get better.”
“I’ve felt that before, too many times to count.”
The doctor stood at his side and folded his arms. “You know, Jake, somewhere amid all of this someone said something about you being too mean to die. In fact, I think you’re the one who said it. I’m beginning to agree with that comment. I’d like to think your personality has changed because of your head wound, but I have a strong suspicion that this behavior is common for you.”