A Rose That Never Fades by Brieanna Sturm

Author:Brieanna Sturm [Sturm, Brieanna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781664224681
Publisher: WestBow Press
Published: 2021-03-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Ricochet felt embarrassed for losing himself to his emotions, especially in front of the woman he adored. No woman ever found a man’s tears striking or attractive, at least, that is what he had been led to believe. He’d ruined the image of his strong, powerful, and charming character by doing so. Frustration was the word for it¾bitter frustration. He wondered what had gotten into him.

Still, recalling her warm, gentle voice of encouragement brought a tug to his lips. If a few tears won him her wholehearted support and care, he would have gladly shed a bucket more to hold her in his arms.

Jacob exited the wagon, wiping sweat from his brow. He greeted them solemnly and informed, “He’s stable.”

“How bad?” Ricochet asked, hushing his tone in case Autumn, the boy’s mother, overheard.

The doctor shook his head. “It’s a miracle he’s alive. The bullet grazed his skull without shattering it, which is amazing in itself, but he’s been in and out of consciousness. As long as we can get him to drink and rest, he should be able to face recovery. It’s going to be a long haul for him though, especially if infection sets in.”

The wagon master couldn’t begin to describe his relief at the good news. Andrew was alive, which meant that he had a chance. A slim chance was better than nothing was.

There was one thing more that had him concerned. Something had been fired during the echo of the first misfire. Not only that, but something had hit the kid while slicing the side of Ricochet’s own cheek as well. That had to mean that there were two shots fired and not one.

Earlier, his interrogation of Isaac had been curt, but the troubled man was in deep agony over the incident. The story was that Isaac and Victor had been on their way back to camp when Isaac’s gun had misfired and hit Andrew’s temple, knocking him unconscious. No one had fired a second shot. But the proof on Ricochet’s cheek and the second echo that he had heard proved another theory: Someone had shot at the same time as the first one. Accident or not, someone else’s gun had gone off. This was too many mishaps for Ricochet’s liking.

“Is Andrew up for visitors?” he asked.

Jacob shrugged. “The boy’s out cold. He hasn’t woken up.” His sigh seemed to go on for several seconds in Ricochet’s ears. The pain of the doctor’s next words was unbearable. “I don’t know if he ever will.”

The wagon master stared passed Jacob, watching the medical wagon like a hawk. He had feared that this bullet wound would cripple the young boy. That hadn’t stopped him from going to his heavenly Father for a miracle. Even now, his soul cried out to God to show up and do something in Andrew’s life.

If Andrew never awoke from this sleep, he would never know another sunrise or walk under the speckled light through the tree branches of the woods. The reality of the situation was heart wrenching, and Ricochet was near his breaking point.

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