Page 54 of Calder Country

Blake slowed the car. “Are you all right? Do I need to stop?”

Joseph fought to control his churning stomach. He shook his head, forcing himself to sit up. “I’m not all right,” he said. “But I know what I’ve done, and I need to face up to it.”

Blake gave him a brusque nod and kept driving.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

JOSEPH STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR AND WALKED UP TO THE HOUSE THAT served as the doctor’s office. His hand shook as he clasped the doorknob. He still felt sick, but if he was ever to be a man, he needed to own up to what he’d done.

Blake stayed several steps behind him, offering no support. Joseph was on his own.

The door opened on an empty reception room, still deep in morning shadow. But Joseph could see light and hear voices from the back of the house. He followed the sound to the spare bedroom that was used for patient recovery.

The sheriff was sitting up in bed, propped from behind by pillows. A gauze dressing wrapped his wounded shoulder. A quilt covered him from the waist down. His face was colorless, but as Joseph walked into the room, he smiled.

“I’ve been hoping you’d show up, Joseph,” he said. “I wanted to thank you for staying with me last night after I was shot. That was going the extra mile. I appreciate it.”

Joseph stared at him. With effort, he found his voice. “You mean nobody told you?”

The sheriff gave him a questioning look.

“It was my fault!” The words spilled out of Joseph. “That girl in the car—I gave her the money she had, two hundred dollars that I stole from my father. When I found out she was running away with her boyfriend, I tried to stop them. That was when you came out and got shot. What happened was all my fault.” A tear spilled over and trailed down Joseph’s cheek. “I’m the one to blame for everything.”

The smile had faded from the sheriff’s face. But he spoke in a level tone. “Joseph, when I got shot, I was doing my job. I knew the risks when I signed on to be sheriff. You may have played a part in what happened, but you didn’t pull that trigger.”

“But I gave her the money—money that wasn’t even mine. If I’d just said no—” Joseph broke down in sobs. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“Being sorry doesn’t change a thing. We take what we’ve learned and move on. You as well as me.” The sheriff’s voice roughened. “Now stop mewling, dry your tears, and grow up. That’s all we can do—either of us.”

Just then, Kristin walked into the room. She carried a tray with a glass of water and a tablet, probably a painkiller, which she gave to the sheriff. Blake, who’d been listening from the hall, stepped in to join her.

“Where’s Britta?” he asked.

“Britta’s gone to look after Jake’s little girl,” Kristin said. “Marissa will be staying with her grandmother for now. But she’ll need to be told about her father and prepared for when she can be with him.”

Joseph remembered how devotedly Britta had tended the wounded sheriff. Anyone could see that she loved him. But what would happen to their relationship if Jake couldn’t use his legs?

And there were more issues to be resolved. How could Jake live in the quarters above the jail if he couldn’t climb the stairs? How could he drive, mount a horse, or look after his most basic needs? How could he be sheriff?

Joseph knew better than to voice his thoughts. But in his heart, he knew one thing—events triggered by his actions had destroyed a man’s life.

“What about those two runaways?” Blake asked. “Have they been caught?”

“Not that we’ve heard,” Jake said. “The doctor called the sheriff in Miles City after I was brought here. He said he’d send his deputies out to watch the roads and the train station. But there’s been no word this morning. We’re still waiting. I hate to think they got away.” Pain flashed across his face as he shifted against the pillows.

“Somebody should talk to Webb Calder,” Joseph suggested. “Lucy’s father—if that’s who he really is—has been working for him. He might know who her boyfriend is and where they could have gone.”

“Webb called just before you got here,” the sheriff said. “When he went to look for Nigel Merriweather, or whatever his real name is, the man had cleared out in the night. So, unless he shows up, we’re out of luck.”

“We’ll leave you to rest now,” Blake said. “Come along, Joseph. Kristin, would you walk us to the door?”

She fell into step beside her brother. Joseph followed behind as they passed through the hallway and into the reception room. Short of the front door, Blake paused and turned to her. “How is Jake really doing?” he asked in a lowered voice. “What are the chances that he’ll walk again?”

She shook her head. “I can’t be sure of the damage to his spine without an X-ray. But I’ve seen injuries like this. Based on the evidence, I’d say that it would take a miracle.”

“Let me know if he needs anything,” Blake said, preparing to leave.

“I will. But he’s a proud man. Don’t expect him to ask.”

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