The Last Outlaw(31)

Lloyd stepped back. “Damn it, Pa, I didn’t know what the hell to expect.” He quickly wiped at an embarrassing tear. “I wish I’d been here for the big shoot-out. It would have been kind of like the old days of riding together.”

“Yeah, well, those old days are behind us, and good riddance.” Jake turned to Brian and gave him a quick embrace. “Brian. Looks like I’ve proven again that this family is enough to keep a doctor busy full-time.”

Brian, wearing a suit like he almost always did, grinned. “Nothing broken? No infection?”

“Not so far.”

“What about that new part in your hair there?” Brian asked, nodding toward the head wound.

“One of them decided I needed to show a little more scalp. The doctor said if he leaves it like it is, some of my hair will grow back.”

“And I suppose Randy is upset that someone spoiled that thick head of hair she loves.”

Jake sobered. “Yeah, well, she’s upset about a lot of things.”

Brian sighed. “I’m sure she is. Right now, all I can say is it’s damn good to see you up and about. Just don’t overdo it, all right? You don’t need to prove how tough you are. That gash on your head tells me how close you came to being dead. About a half inch over and Lloyd would have been shopping for a headstone.”

“Yeah. It knocked me out for a few minutes.” Jake glanced at Lloyd, who stepped up and embraced him once more.

“Damn it, Pa, this shit has to stop.”

“Couldn’t be helped.” Jake squeezed his shoulders before letting go. How many fathers and sons were as close as he and Lloyd were? His son had turned into a hell of a man. “Give me a cigarette, will you?” he asked Lloyd. “I haven’t had much chance to smoke.”

Lloyd took a cigarette from a pack inside his vest while Jake buttoned his shirt.

“It’s your mother that worries me,” Jake told him. “She’s thinner than ever, and this really knocked the life out of her.” He leaned in as Lloyd held a match to the cigarette.

“Seems to me like the life was already knocked out of her before you two came here,” Lloyd answered. He folded his arms and leaned against a porch post. “What a hell of a thing to happen now.” He lit his own cigarette. “She probably thought she’d watched you die, and right after being held hostage, too. That must have brought back bad memories for her.”

Jake took the cigarette from his lips. “I’m glad you waited out here. The doc gave her something, and I want her to sleep. Have you seen Tricia?”

“Sure have. She about choked me to death hugging me with those little arms. She’s stronger than she looks.”

Jake grinned. “All Harkner kids are stronger than they look.”

“Pa, it’s chilly out here,” Lloyd told him. He removed his jacket. “Put this on.”

“I’m okay.”

“Put it on, damn it! Why do you always have to be so stubborn?”

Jake grinned. “Why do you always have to be such a good son?” He turned and put his arms in the sleeves, and Lloyd pulled the jacket up for him.

“How did everything happen, Jake?” Brian asked. “Were you already inside the bank?”

Jake winced a little as he leaned against the wall. “Nine men rode into town like an army. I just happened to be standing nearby, and it was pretty obvious what they were up to.” He filled them in quickly on the rest of the story. “I honestly wasn’t sure I could shoot straight, because I was already wounded, but I had to do something or they would have ridden off with the women. I couldn’t let Randy go through that. She’d rather die.” He looked past Lloyd to see people beginning to gather and stare.

“How are you doing, Mr. Harkner?” a man asked.

“I’ll live. Thank you.”

“Hey, Jake!” Clete Russell hurried up the steps to stand near him. “Good to see you up and about. When they carried you off, we weren’t even sure you were alive.”

“I appreciate your good wishes,” Jake told him, glancing at Lloyd. He could tell his son wasn’t happy about the extra conversations.

“Jake!” someone yelled from the street. “Looks like America might go to war with Spain over Cuba! I’ll bet they could use you!”

“Which country?” Jake joked.

The man laughed. “I guess you’d be running guns to whoever pays the most money.”

“If this was the old days, that’s exactly what I’d do.” Jake grinned and turned toward the door. “Let’s go inside. It’s the only way we’ll get to talk. Doc Snow has some living quarters behind his office, and he’s gone right now.”