Anna, I will find him. I will make sure he pays for what he’s done to you and David. I won’t let the two of you down. Not this time.”
Steps rustled in the grass behind him, and he stiffened. He hated he’d been caught in a weak moment. He lifted a hand to wipe the wetness from his cheeks. When he finally turned around, his stepfather waited for him, sorrow and pity in his eyes.
“You can come home with your Ma and me, Will. David will come too when he’s able.”
“I have to find him. I wasn’t able to protect them while Anna was still alive. I will make sure they get justice.”
“David is still alive. He needs you, Will. He needs you to be here and whole for him.”
Still, this weight on his soul wouldn’t leave him. “I can’t let him get away with this.”
Patrick shook his head. “You don’t want to start down this path of revenge. You don’t want to see what it will do to you. I don’t want to see it.”
“It doesn’t matter, Pa. He needs to pay for this. He’s never paid for anything he’s done. I’m not going to let it happen again.”
“Will,” he started to say, but William had already moved away.
“I’m going to see my son.”
Chapter 9
Bailey Ranch, Wyoming Territory
October 13, 1887
William rode into the ranch yard, his gaze scanning as he rode. He didn’t let out a breath until David came into sight, standing next to the corral. Patrick rode up beside him. “You’re going to kill that horse you ride him any harder. David’s fine. He wasn’t alone here. Your ma’s here. I left my foreman here. He was protected.”
He wasn’t sure he could ever be protected enough. The two days they’d spent driving horses to the fort and returning home had been hell for him, not being able to check on his son. “He’s not riding one of those horses.”
“It’s been nearly half a year, Will. Doc said he could do normal things if he felt up to it. He wants to ride again.”
William swung down from the saddle and jerked the cinch loose. The saddle nearly fell to the ground before he caught it by the horn. “He’s my son, Patrick, and he has a damn bullet in his back. Because of my brother. He’s not getting on one of those horses.”
“You’re not doing him any favors. He wants to do something. You should let him.”
He removed the bridle with more care then let the horse into the corral before turning to his stepfather. “Did you forget what else the doctor said? Even the smallest fall could dislodge the bullet and paralyze him if it doesn’t kill him. I’m not letting that happen.”
“You can’t control everything, Will.”
William closed his hand into a fist then slowly released it. “I’ll control what I can. He’s already taken Anna and my ranch from me. I’m not going to let him take my boy as well.”
He turned and strode off to where his son still stood. More like leaned, he realized as he approached. He could walk now, even though he got tired easily. It frustrated the boy.
He couldn’t run. Even walking was awkward, but he made sure to do it as often as he could. William had seen the pain and frustration on the boy’s face from walking across the room. It nearly tore his heart from his chest.
He put a hand on his son’s shoulder, and the boy tensed underneath his touch. “Which one do you like?”
“All of them.”
Even David’s voice sounded weak. Not good. He’d been gaining strength until the last month. It seemed like he fought for every step, every breath, now. Worry had been eating away at William. He tried to ignore it by working himself harder.
David shouldn’t be dealing with this. He should be able to run and play like any other kid. He should be able to do his chores, should have his mother calling him to dinner. Hell, they should be back on their own ranch. What was the point when he had only a couple horses with no where to keep them? Patrick offered to help him rebuild, but without
Steps rustled in the grass behind him, and he stiffened. He hated he’d been caught in a weak moment. He lifted a hand to wipe the wetness from his cheeks. When he finally turned around, his stepfather waited for him, sorrow and pity in his eyes.
“You can come home with your Ma and me, Will. David will come too when he’s able.”
“I have to find him. I wasn’t able to protect them while Anna was still alive. I will make sure they get justice.”
“David is still alive. He needs you, Will. He needs you to be here and whole for him.”
Still, this weight on his soul wouldn’t leave him. “I can’t let him get away with this.”
Patrick shook his head. “You don’t want to start down this path of revenge. You don’t want to see what it will do to you. I don’t want to see it.”
“It doesn’t matter, Pa. He needs to pay for this. He’s never paid for anything he’s done. I’m not going to let it happen again.”
“Will,” he started to say, but William had already moved away.
“I’m going to see my son.”
Chapter 9
Bailey Ranch, Wyoming Territory
October 13, 1887
William rode into the ranch yard, his gaze scanning as he rode. He didn’t let out a breath until David came into sight, standing next to the corral. Patrick rode up beside him. “You’re going to kill that horse you ride him any harder. David’s fine. He wasn’t alone here. Your ma’s here. I left my foreman here. He was protected.”
He wasn’t sure he could ever be protected enough. The two days they’d spent driving horses to the fort and returning home had been hell for him, not being able to check on his son. “He’s not riding one of those horses.”
“It’s been nearly half a year, Will. Doc said he could do normal things if he felt up to it. He wants to ride again.”
William swung down from the saddle and jerked the cinch loose. The saddle nearly fell to the ground before he caught it by the horn. “He’s my son, Patrick, and he has a damn bullet in his back. Because of my brother. He’s not getting on one of those horses.”
“You’re not doing him any favors. He wants to do something. You should let him.”
He removed the bridle with more care then let the horse into the corral before turning to his stepfather. “Did you forget what else the doctor said? Even the smallest fall could dislodge the bullet and paralyze him if it doesn’t kill him. I’m not letting that happen.”
“You can’t control everything, Will.”
William closed his hand into a fist then slowly released it. “I’ll control what I can. He’s already taken Anna and my ranch from me. I’m not going to let him take my boy as well.”
He turned and strode off to where his son still stood. More like leaned, he realized as he approached. He could walk now, even though he got tired easily. It frustrated the boy.
He couldn’t run. Even walking was awkward, but he made sure to do it as often as he could. William had seen the pain and frustration on the boy’s face from walking across the room. It nearly tore his heart from his chest.
He put a hand on his son’s shoulder, and the boy tensed underneath his touch. “Which one do you like?”
“All of them.”
Even David’s voice sounded weak. Not good. He’d been gaining strength until the last month. It seemed like he fought for every step, every breath, now. Worry had been eating away at William. He tried to ignore it by working himself harder.
David shouldn’t be dealing with this. He should be able to run and play like any other kid. He should be able to do his chores, should have his mother calling him to dinner. Hell, they should be back on their own ranch. What was the point when he had only a couple horses with no where to keep them? Patrick offered to help him rebuild, but without
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