Runaway

by Eve

Part 1 

Thirteen-year-old Betsy Swanson paced the floor nervously. It had been three hours since Mama and her new stepfather had taken four-month-old Julia-May to the doctor for croup. When they had left little Julia was wheezing badly.

“Oh when will they get back? They have been gone for so long. I hate waiting.” As she gazed out of the window, Betsy’s thoughts shifted to the last couple of years. After a year had passed living with Aunt  Rebecca, Mama had found out what prison Betsy’s father, Troy, was staying in. Mama went to visit him and brought him a Bible.

Later that month she received a letter from the prison saying that Papa had died from pneumonia. A year later Mama had married a man named Ryan Cunnings. His former wife had died of typhus. He had one son who was fourteen named Sam. After Mama and Ryan had married, some trouble started.

Thirteen at the time, Betsy’s brother, Levi, had not done well with another authority in his life, and he seemed to detest Sam. After getting into many arguments with his mother, his step-pa and his stepbrother, Levi ran away. He had been gone for three years now, and nobody had seen or heard anything from him.

   ”Betsy?” Ten-year-old Hannah’s voice brought her back from her memories.” When will Ma and Pa be back?”

    “Yeah, when will they be back?” Sam joined in.

   “Hannah, I’m not sure, and Sam, you’re older.You should be telling us not to worry,” Betsy told her siblings.

   “Well don’t worry then,” Sam said with a sly grin, taking his step sister’s advice, “Hey, Betsy, will they be back soon?”

     “Arghh, go back to bed if you can’t be a comfort.”

      “I ain’t goin’ to bed if it can be helped.” Sam glanced at the clock. The clock showed 11:27. Hannah, who had been gazing out the window into the dark street, shouted excitedly “Hey, there they are.” 

  All three siblings huddled around the window as they gazed onto the street where their parents were coming.

  “Where is the baby?” Sam’s eyes were wide, and his face suddenly pale. It made his freckles stand out even more. He ran his hand through his dark, wavy hair.

The door opened revealing the children’s parents, and no baby.

 “Mama, wh-where is Julia-May?” Hannah asked.

 “Kids sit down, please,” Ryan said. 

“She’s dead, isn’t she?” Sam abruptly said.

 “Sam, sit down now

Sam grudgingly sat down.

”Is he right?” Hannah asked.

“I’m afraid so, sweetheart,” Kate sadly answered her youngest daughter.

 “But how? Mama, you told us that we all had croup when we were babies. We didn’t die. Why was it that Julia died, why did she have to die?” Hannah started crying.

  “I know honey, but the doctor said it wasn’t just croup. She also had a weak heart.”

  “Oh Mama, I can’t believe it. She’s really gone,” Betsy whispered.

****

“We are gathered here together to celebrate the short life of Julia-May Cunnings. Though  she lived a short life she brought much joy and blessing into many people’s lives. She was loved by all who knew her. Her family, her father Ryan, her mother Katherine, brother Sam, and sisters, Betsy and Hannah. All loved her and will greatly miss her. We thank God for the little blessings he bestows upon us no matter how short. Earth to Earth, ashes to ashes, and dust to dust. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blessings you daily give us. Please be with the family today and the days to follow. Amen.”

It had been two days since the funeral. The family had been coping well. Well, at least most of them. Hannah was extremely silent, apart from her normally boisterous self. And Sam was quiet and not talkative. Betsy was okay. They all missed their baby sister and were coping in their own way. Than a big shock came.

“Mama, Mama, where are you?”

“In the kitchen, Hannah,” Kate answered.

Hannah ran in carrying, a letter that the postmaster had given her.

Katherine opened the letter, expecting it to be from her family from the ranch. “Children come to the kitchen. A letter came from Grandma.”  

All the  kids came running to kitchen. Ryan came as well. ”Come on Mama, what does Grandma say?” Betsy asked impatiently.

Kate looked confused. “It not from Mother . . . It’s from Levi.”

Part 2

“Levi? You mean our Levi?” 

“Yes Betsy, it’s from our Levi.”

“Why is he writing us now?” Sam griped. “Doesn’t he know he did enough damage already and . . .”

“Boy,” Ryan said. “That is enough. You don’t even know what he’s writing about.”

“But Pa! Not only did Levi run away, he didn’t write for years. Now he’s writing, and I wish he hadn’t.”

With that statement, Sam stomped out of the room.

“Sorry about that, dear,” Ryan said. “I’m not sure why he exploded like he did, but I’ll talk to him later. What does the letter say?”

 Kate cleared her throat and started to read.

Dear Mama and family,

     I reck’n it was long time overdue I wrote to ya’ll, but I’ve not really felt like it till the present.

     I’ll start right off by making it clear, I ain’t planning on coming back. I feel like I don’t fit into the family anymore. I want you to know that I am sorry for  all the trouble I caused. I’m doing fine so don’t be worried sick.

     Mama, I’m sorry for yelling at you. It was rude and really awful of me and I’m sorry. Mr.Cunnings, I’m sorry for undermining your authority so often. Tell the kids I love them, and sorry. 

   Love ,

   Levi  

***

 Levi walked along the train track, kicking at the stray weeds that ran along the rails. The thoughts that filled his head were of home and of the future. A train started coming into view. Soon the train was rushing past. The wind ruffled his hair. There were words written in gold paint on the side of the engine, Fresno Express.

“I reck’n I could give Fresno a try.

So Levi headed to Fresno. He looked forward to seeing his family there. Along the way he decided he would not use his real name in case his family there would send him home. After a couple days of walking he reached Fresno.

     Fresno hadn’t changed much since Levi had been there last, which had been about three years ago. He had been visiting his grandmother, and his three uncles and two aunts. His Aunt Melinda, and Uncle Justin were all married. He wasn’t sure if his Aunt Andi or Uncle Chad or Uncle Mitch were married.

    “Well, I reck’n I could try to get a job in town, but I would have to give my real name.” So Levi walked towards the  livery where a ”help wanted” sign hung from the window. A man who seemed to be about twenty answered the door to the barn office when Levi knocked. 

   “Howdy, my name is … Troy Cunnings.” Levi used his pa’s first name and his step-pa’s last name.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Cunnings. I’m Cory Blake. How can I help you?”

“I was wondering  if I could try as the help you needed here.”

“Sure, but have you had any experience around horses?”

 “Yes, sir, when I was younger I was on a ranch for a little while and the last couple of years I have worked in other stables.”

   “All right, you can have a two-week trial, and we’ll base it on your performance in those weeks if you can stay on permanently.”

 “Thank you, Mr.Blake, I…”

“Just call me Cory. From the looks of it, you don’t look that much younger than I am. Anyways, if you want to you can sleep in the barn loft and eat your meals with the family.”

So arrangements were made and Levi had a job. Now only if he could keep from being recognized as Levi Swanson.

That evening Levi was having dinner with the Blakes, but it wasn’t just the Blakes. It was also the Carters from the Circle C ranch. Mrs. Carter, Mitch Carter, and Andi Carter. Also Justin and Lucy were there.

“Carters, I’d like ya’ll to meet Troy Cunnings. He is our new stable hand. Since Pa died with that heart attack I’ve had trouble keeping up with all the work at the livery, so I decided it was time to hire some help.” 

  “Well, I completely see why you need the help. You work from early in the morning to late at night,” Cory’s ma said.

  “Oh, Ma, You don’t need to worry about that any longer. Troy came today.”

  “So where did you come from, Troy?” asked Chad.

   “Lately I’ve been all over the place.” Levi replied slowly. He was not too eager in front of the Blakes and Carters. The last thing he wanted was to be discovered once he had found a job. The rest of the meal went calmly. Nobody asked any personal questions.

    After breakfast the next day Levi headed to the barn. He was eager to get to work. Not only did he need a job, but he was also excited to work around horses again. The last time he had really worked with western horses was when he was ten or eleven.

He had learned to ride at the Circle C ranch. “Uncle Mitch sure taught me quickly. That was my favourite time of my life. I loved being able to be on the ranch and  getting to work with my uncles on the range.”  

Levi opened the barn doors and headed  down the aisle to the farthest stall, where Cory had told him to start. He put the halter on the head of a handsome brown mare and started to lead her down the aisle towards the gate to the coral, when the sound of a man’s voice and the sound of a gun hammer being pulled into place, stopped him in his tracks.

 

Part 3

 

“I wouldn’t move if I were you, lad. You’ll only get yourself into more trouble.”

Without moving his head Levi peered out of the corner of his eye and saw a man about six feet pointing a pistol at him. On the man’s brown leather vest was a silver, five-pointed star.

Oh, no! the town sheriff. What did HE want? Levi was certain he had broken no law.

The man’s deep voice interrupted Levi’s thoughts. “All right, lad, turn around and don’t make any sudden moves.”

Levi turned around and faced the man. It was none other than. Chad Carter? “Ty Marshen, you are under arrest for charges of horse thiev’n  and bank robbery.”

  “But I did none of that.”

  “It’s no use denying it. There were eye witnesses on both accounts.”

  “Sheriff, really. I didn’t do none of it. Honest.”

   “Changing your name to Troy Cunnings was  a smart move, but the not-smart thing to do was to come here.” Re-holstering, Chad started walking toward Levi. He took the handcuffs out of his pocket.

Since the gun was holstered, Levi decided to take his chance with getting away. He dropped the lead line for the horse and started sprinting toward the coral, where he vaulted over the fence. Chad was shouting something and then there was a bang and then darkness.

 “Oh, Mama, I’m sorry . . . sorry,” Levi  muttered halfway between consciousness and unconsciousness.

“What’s he apologizing about?” Levi  heard someone say.

“Is he dying? I just wish he hadn’t run off like that. According to the reports on this fella he was wanted dead or alive.”

   The sound of voices whirled around Levi. The immense pain in his chest  made him want to get sick to his stomach.

It seemed like seconds to Levi, but it was actually an hour. 

“Sheriff Carter, I don’t know what you mean. Ty was imprisoned seven weeks ago, and he has a scar on his cheek. This boy doesn’t have one.” Ty Marshen’s sister had been brought to the doctor’s office to clarify that it was Ty. To everyone’s surprise it wasn’t the famous horse robber.

   “Who is he then?” Levi heard Chad say. By the tone in his voice he could tell Chad was upset for shooting him.

  Levi opened his eyes and squinted at the bright light. The doctor crossed the room toward the examining table where Levi lay. “Well boy, you sure had the sheriff sitting on pins and needles for a time. How do you feel?”

Levi shrugged and winced.” I guess I feel  all right. My chest hurts.”

Chad came over and stood over the table. He made eye contact with Levi.

Levi dropped his eyes and gazed across the room where Mitch stood. For some reason he was there. Most likely he had found out Uncle Chad had shot me and came to find out what it was all about.

“So, is Troy Cunnings your real name or not? And don’t lie about it because it will only get you into more trouble.”

Levi didn’t say anything. He clamped his mouth shut and ground his teeth.

“Answer me.”

 Chad sure hadn’t lost his bossy touch. Finally Levi shook his head.

“I thought so. Now, what is your real name?”

“Ain’t telling nothing,” Levi retorted stubbornly.

Mitch stepped away from the wall and said, “Chad, give him a break, for Pete’s sake. He just got shot, and you’re already interrogating him. Give him a little bit of time and he’ll come around.”

“Yes, I guess you’re right. Sorry about that, lad, but don’t think I’ve given up on finding out who you are and why you are here.”

With that final word, Chad left the doctor’s office. The doctor than turned to Mitch. “Mitchell, I know the boy getting shot was an accident and all, but I can’t let him stay here. I just don’t have the room, and he should have care given to him.”

“I’m sure it will be alright with Mother if he comes to live with us for a while.”

So it was settled. Levi would stay at the Circle C ranch while he recovered from the gunshot wound.

Three days later after work, Mitch came to pick up Levi. On the way to the ranch Mitch started talking. “Sorry about my brother shooting you. He was just doing his job.”

“Who did he think I was?” Levi questioned.

“Ty Marshen, a famous horse robber from around these parts. You do look like him though. In fact, Cory Blake hired you just so you could get caught, but I guess we were all mixed up. How old are you?

“ I’m um … sixteen.”

  “Sixteen, eh? I have a nephew who would be about sixteen. Actually, he ran away from home three years ago.”

  “How come?” Levi wanted to find out how people interpreted his running away.

  “Well, what we think is after his pa died, and his ma remarried, he had trouble accepting the authority of another grownup. Kate was real upset by his running away. Anyways, I feel sorry for Kate, first losing her son, and then a daughter—”

Levi snapped his head to attention. “Did her daughter run away?”

“No, one of her daughters died.”

The rest of the way to the ranch Levi was quiet. He didn’t notice Mitch looking at him out of the corner of his eye.

That night, Elizabeth Carter had some news for the whole family. “In seven weeks Katherine and her family are going to come for a visit.”

 “Wonderful, I can’t wait to see the girls again,” Andi exclaimed excitedly.

Inwardly, Levi was quaking. If his family came to visit, would they recognize him?

 

Part 4

 

 Betsy Swanson leaned against the window of the train, and stared out at the quickly passing grassland.

 “Betsy, do you think Grandma will recognize us?” Hannah gazed up at her sister.

“Oh I’m sure she will. It’s been only a year since she saw us last.”

Sam came down the aisle towards his sisters and sat across from them. He was silent for a minute or so before he spoke. “Do you think that maybe Levi is in Fresno? He may be there ’cause he knows places around there. Maybe he’s even working on the ranch.”

“Sam, you are totally crazy. In all the places in the world why would he be on the ranch?”

***

  Levi nudged his horse into a gallop. The brown gelding dashed toward the herd of runaway steers. Several other hands were on the other side of the cattle. It had been six weeks since Levi had been shot. Levi had found out that the daughter Mitch had mentioned was a sister he hadn’t even met. Strangely, Chad didn’t pester Levi to give them his name. He had been given a nickname that most people believed was his real name—Ryder.

“Ryder!”

Levi swung around. “Yeah, what is it?”

“Boss wants you back at the ranch.”

“All right, I’m going.” With that Levi started toward the ranch wondering what Mitch wanted.

”Ryder, I want you to go into town and escort my family back to the ranch with Chad. You know with his job and all he might be called away at any moment.” Mitch turned away and walked toward the house. He gave no room for Levi to try to back out of the job.

Levi arrived at the train station just as the train pulled up. Chad was there waiting with a buckboard. He dismounted and went to stand beside Chad.

There they are. My family running towards Chad. Well the children are, anyway.

 ”Uncle Chad,  it is so great to see you again,” Betsy exclaimed.

“Chad!” Katherine gave Chad a hug. She saw the sheriff badge on Chad’s vest. “Oh, Chad, Mother never mentioned  you were sheriff.”

“Some sheriff.” Levi muttered under his breath. He still hadn’t really forgiven Chad for shooting at him, although he had seen a picture of Ty Marshen and they did look a lot alike.

 Ryan Cunnings and Sam were coming with the luggage behind Katherine and the girls.

“Good to see you again, Ryan.” Chad warmly greeted his brother-in-law.

“Likewise Chad.” Ryan returned the greeting.

“Sam, you’ve  grown a lot. Maybe Mitch will put you out on the range with the other hands, and we’ll get free work from you.” Chad ruffled Sam’s hair, and Levi laughed inwardly. He was the only one that knew that Sam hated having his hair ruffled by grownups.

“Where’s your rig, Chad? We’ll put the luggage in,” Ryan asked. Clearly the luggage was heavy.

“Ryder,help with the luggage. Everybody, this is Ryder. He’s one of the ranch hands.”

 On the way to the ranch, a rider caught up to the  buckboard. “Sheriff, there’s a fight in town. If I were you, I’d get back to town as soon as possible.”

“All right, I’ll start heading to town. Ryder, make sure the family gets back to the ranch.” Chad rode after the man.

The group rode quietly for a few minutes. Than Sam cleared his throat and said,” We have a missing brother. Did you know that?”

“Mitch mentioned it.”

“Well, his name is Levi. He’s sixteen and—”

“Sam,” Ryan intervened. “You can talk to Ryder later.” 

“Pa, why can’t I talk to him know?”

“Because I said so,” Ryan said sternly

“All right.”

Levi could tell by the tone of Sam’s voice that he was upset about being told to be quiet, and strangely he felt sympathetic.

The buggy pulled up to the yard, and door of the house opened. Mitch, Andi, and Mrs. Carter ran out of the house.

“Mother, it’s so wonderful to see you again.”

“Grandma, Grandma.” Hannah wriggled up beside her grandma and gave her a hug.

“Sam, you’ve grown so much.”

“Uh, thank you.”

 That night, one of the ranch hands cut his hand, and Levi was sent to the ranch house kitchen to get some herbs. While in the kitchen he overheard his ma and Ryan  talking to Mitch, Chad, and his grandmother. To his surprise they were talking to him.

“Mother, I just don’t know what to do. Levi has been gone for years. What if he never comes back?” Kate started to cry.

Levi grabbed the herbs out of the medicine cabinet and ran out the door. He couldn’t stand to hear his mother cry.

The family continued their conversation oblivious to have been overheard. “Dear, I’m sure he’ll come back.” Elizabeth tried to comfort her oldest daughter.

“That is if he hasn’t already,” Mitch mumbled under his breath.

“What was that you said Mitch?” Ryan asked.

“Oh, uh, nothing, just an idea.”

 The next day Mitch had to pick up supplies up in town. He stopped in at the sheriff’s office to talk to Chad. He pulled up a seat across from Chad’s desk and sat down. “Chad, have you noticed anything different about Ryder?”

“Like what? That he glares at me every time he sees me?”

“No, not that he sees you as a man who saw him as a criminal and shot him, but that he knows his way around the ranch.”

“Mitch, he’s been here for six weeks,” Chad said skeptically, not sure of the point Mitch was trying to make.

“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying he knows his way around the ranch closer to the house.”

“So? Shouldn’t know his way around the ranch yet? I don’t get what you are trying to say.”

“I think Ryder is Levi.” Mitch stared across the desk at Chad.

“You’re crazy. Levi wouldn’t come here . . . or would he?”

“Remember when he wouldn’t give us his name? And he knew a lot of the names of the hands when most of them use nicknames.”

“Okay, little brother. You could be right, but how do we figure out that he’s Levi? We can’t go up to him and ask him. We have to be careful.”

Mitch got a twinkle in his eye. “What makes you think I’m going to include you?”

Chad raised his eye brows and crossed his arms.

“I’m kidding,” Mitch hastened to say.

Chad grinned and asked the question that was strong on his mind. “So, what’s the plan to catch our runaway nephew?

***

 The next day Chad was home for the afternoon. Earlier that day Mitch had suggested

to Hannah that perhaps she could go riding Patches that afternoon.

“Uncle Mitch, it’s after lunch. Can I ride Patches now?”

            “Sure thing, honey. I’ll get one of the hands to get him saddled up for you.”

Mitch’s plan was to have Ryder—or Levi, or whoever he was—go to the barn and get Patches. If he was Ryder he wouldn’t know what horse was Patches. He had never been in the barn where Patches was kept. If he was Levi, he would know what horse was Patches.

  Walking over to  where the ranch hands were finishing their noonday meal. Mitch motioned Ryder over to where he was standing.

“Yeah, boss, what do ya want?”

“My niece wants to ride Patches. Please saddle him up for her.”

Ryder never hesitated. He walked towards the family barn without a question.

Mitch grinned to himself. This was working out just perfectly. 

Part 5

Chad  glanced  out of  Shasta’s stall where he was brushing him. There was Ryder, carrying a saddle for the old horse Patches. He entered the stall and started giving the horse a rubdown before he saddled him up. Mitch came up the aisle, winked at Chad, and leaned up against the stall door.

“So Levi,” Mitch said. “You never did tell us how old you were.”

“I’m sixteen,” Levi said without realizing they had used his real name. He was busy trying to get the stubborn Patches to open his mouth so he could get the bit into his mouth.

“How old were you when you ran away from home?” Mitch questioned further.

“Thirteen . . . ouch!” Levi shook his hand,and clamped his mouth shut from the pain.

Mitch walked into the stall and took the bridle from Levi. He tried to put it on the stubborn horse.

“So, why did you run away?”

“’Cause I didn’t like my step-pa taking my pa’s place . . .” Levi looked up and suddenly realized what he had just said. He was caught.

“Why didn’t you tell us who you were?”

“You woulda made me go back home and I wasn’t ready.”

The barn door opened. Kate came to where Mitch was talking to Levi. “Mitch, is Patches ready for Hannah to ride? She’s . . .” She paused and for the first time took a good look at Levi’s face. “Levi? Levi!” Her voice caught. “Why didn’t you let us know you were here? Your pa and I have been so worried.” Kate stepped forward to give her son a hug.

Levi left the horse stall and stared at his mother. “He is not my pa. And the reason you didn’t know I was here was because I didn’t want you to know I was here. And the only reason you know I’m here now is because of Uncle Mitch. And I never want to see any of you ever again.” Levi ran out of the barn.

Kate just stood there.

“Sorry Kate.” Mitch came up beside his sister.

“I think we  should go after him,” Chad spoke for the first time since he had come into the barn. “Actually, I take that back. I think Ryan should go talk to him.”

“I have to agree. I’d like to find out what he has against me.”

“Ryan, I didn’t know you had come down to the barn.” Kate was clearly surprised to see her husban.

“I had something I wanted to talk to Chad about, but that can wait. I’ll go after him.”

“You’ll need a horse.” Chad led a chestnut mare toward Ryan. “I looked out the barn door and Levi was heading out onto the range.”

Ryan took the reins from Chad and started leading the horse out of the barn, but Mitch’s next words stopped him in his tracks.

  “Watch out for rattlers. They’re out this time of year. But if you do get bit there is some snake root in the saddle bag. Do you know how to use it?”

   ”Yes, I sure do. It’s saved my life before.” Ryan left the barn and mounted his horse and left the ranch yard.

***

   Levi leaned up against the sapling. He had been gone from the ranch for a couple of hours. Or so he figured. Exhausted from running, he closed his eyes and fell asleep. While he slept, a young rattlesnake crawled onto a rock close by his lower leg.

  About twenty minutes later, Levi heard the sound of galloping and sat up quickly. The low rattle of the snake caused Levi to tense. The rider approaching didn’t know that the rattler was ready to  strike.

 Ryan saw Levi. Strange. Levi knows I’m here but he isn’t running.

Then Ryan saw it. The snake. He took his gun from the scabbard hanging off the side of his saddle. The only choice he had was to shoot the snake or let it bite Levi. He could shoot and miss and hit Levi, or the snake could bite Levi. The medicine could or it might not work. He’d let Levi make the decision.

Levi moved his eyes toward where Ryan was standing. Ryan picked up his gun and waved it indicating he could try and shoot. Than he made a biting motion with his hand and waved the bag of medicine.

Levi made no indication.

Ryan held up the gun, and Levi gave a slight nod of his  head.

Ryan took a deep breath and got ready to shoot. He pulled the trigger. With a bang the gun went off. Ryan ran toward his stepson. The snake was dead. The snake had been on a rock, and the bullet had ricocheted and hit Levi in the leg. 

 “Son, you all right?”

“Yeah, my leg hurts is all.” Levi clenched his jaw as a another wave of pain washed over him.

“Do you think you can make it to the ranch?”

Levi shrugged and shut his eyes.

Ryan led his horse over to where Levi lay. By the looks of it, Levi had passed out. Ryan bent down and picked up his stepson. Levi groaned and came back to consciousness when Ryan started the horse into a canter.

“How are you feeling?”

Levi tried to sit up, but the pain in his leg made him fall back against Ryan.

“I take it you don’t want to talk.”

Levi shrugged.

Ryan decided to take the opportunity of Levi being somewhat subdued to talk to him. “We got your letter.” Ryan thought that was the best way to start the conversation.

“So? I just did it because I felt like it.” He turned his head away from Ryan.

Taking it as a good sign that Levi had not gotten mad right away, he continued, “You said you were sorry for the way you acted towards us. I  forgive you, you know.”

With that statement Levi sat bolt up. In doing so, he jarred his leg against the saddle. “Ouch! You do? You forgive me?”

“Sure. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Well, maybe ’cause I acted horrid. I really am sorry for the way I acted.”

When Levi said that Ryan got really confused. “Sorry I’m confused. If you were sorry why did you run away then?”

“I guess I didn’t want to face my fears. Even though my pa was mean, he still was my Pa, and I didn’t want anyone to take his place.”

“I understand what you’re trying to say,” Ryan said softly. “I hope you’ll come back home with us. Your mother misses you, and so do the kids. Even though you and Sam fought, he really looked up to you and was hurt when you left. So all, I”m asking is that . . . well . . . that you think about it.”

“I will.”

***

   ”Well, you are surely one that gets shot quite a bit, boy. You heal from one wound and get another. What has it been . . . seven weeks? And two incidents with guns!” The doctor shook his leg as he looked at Levi’s leg. Levi had been back at the ranch for a couple of hours, and the doctor had been called out.

   ”So, Doctor  how’s the leg look to you?” Kate leaned over the doctor’s shoulder, watching everything he did. She had not left Levi’s side since he had gotten back, much to his annoyance.

“Looks fine. Just a flesh wound, no shattered bone,” The doctor was removing the bullet as he spoke.

“Mama, look. It does hurt, but I’m fine. It isn’t the first time I’ve been shot.”

“I know Levi, but a mother can’t help but be worried when one of her children is hurt,” Kate gave his shoulder a light squeeze.

  “There, it’s all fixed up now. Just keep an eye out for redness or swelling. Let me know if any of that occurs. Also. he should keep off his leg for about a week. If no problems occur he can get up and use a crutch for a little while.”

“A week!” Levi wailed. “After I got shot in the chest I had to stay in bed for a long time. This one isn’t so serious, and a week is seven whole days, and each of those days is twenty-four hours.”

“Yes, that makes one-hundred and sixty-eight hours, and you’ll stay in bed for every single one of them,” Ryan said sternly. He crossed his arms.

Levi groaned.

“Looks like you’ll have your hands full.” The doctor chuckled. ”I better be on my way.”

“Oh, yes, thank you doctor,” Kate called after him as he went down the stairs. Then she looked back at Levi. ”Sam was wondering if he could come up and talk to you later today. Is that all right?”

“Yeah, I guess,so.” Levi replied, looking at his bandaged leg.

“Wonderful. I’ll tell him that he can,” Kate sounded relieved that Levi hadn’t flatly refused.

Later that afternoon a knock wakened Levi from a light sleep. He shook his head to clear himself from sleep. “Come in.”

The door opened and Sam poked his head in. “Hi. How are you?”

“Fine.”

“How can you be fine when Pa just accidentally shot you?”

“No, he didn’t,” Levi said. “He gave me a choice. I’d rather be shot than bit by a rattler.”

“Oh! I heard Uncle Mitch say that you had been shot before.”

“Yeah, Uncle Chad shot me that time.”

“He shot you?”

“Yeah. He thought I was a criminal,” Levi said sarcastically.

Sam started laughing,

Levi shook  his head and said, “Well I’m sure it wouldn’t have been so funny if you had been the one shot.”

“True. So, are you going to come home with us?”

Sam’s quick change of subject caught Levi off guard. “Umm, I . . . uh, maybe.”

“Well, think about. I really want you to come home with us. There are only girls at home when Pa’s working and that isn’t fun. Come on home. You’d only have to stay home for a little while.”

“All right, I’ll give it a try/” Levi gave into Sam’s persistent asking.

***

  It had been five weeks since the family had come to the ranch, and they were ready to go back home. Much to the thrill of everyone, the Carters went with the family to the train station to say good bye.

“It was great to see you, and come back soon,” Elizabeth Carter said.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be back,” Ryan assured her.

It was time to board the train. Final good-byes were said, and the family boarded the train.

“So are you glad you’re coming home with us?” Sam asked Levi.

“I guess so.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that.”

***

Two months later the Carters received a letter from the Kate.

Dear Mother and family,

     We still talk about our visit to your house. We are thrilled to have Levi back at home. He and Sam are working at a livery down the street a couple blocks. Everyone gets along well. It’s like we’re truly a real family now, and we thank God that he helped us through that hard time.

      Sincerely,

     Katherine and family

The End