The Standard of Honor by J Gordon Colford

Author:J Gordon Colford [Colford, J Gordon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781657298903
Published: 2020-01-06T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“I’ve seen fathers lose the affection of their sons by overlooking

the man in search of the boy they used to know.”

Attributed to Captain Robert Elderson in

The Chronicles of Kaled Del Danaal III

As recorded by Steward Reid Elderson

Bret sleepily passed his hand through his hair. Robert lightly scruffed his curls again and he reluctantly opened his eyes. It seemed he had just closed them in sleep. Morning had come all too quickly and Bret heaved a cavernous yawn as he pushed himself up from the warm cot. Robert held a plate of hotcakes and venison near his face and Bret forced his eyes all the way open. The old captain chuckled. “About time,” Robert said, and Bret straightened up. The morning sun invaded the cabin through open windows and made him squint.

“How’s Tim?” Bret asked as he accepted the plate from Robert.

“His color’s better, but he’s in a lot of pain. His father arrived just a few minutes ago.”

“Hal’s here?” Bret set his plate down and looked to the back of the cabin. Hal stood by the bed talking to Alden. Hal turned, and when he saw Bret was awake he came to him. Bret stood to meet him.

“Thank you for saving my boy,” Hal said in a raspy voice. He had dark circles under his eyes, so Bret knew he probably hadn’t slept through the night.

“I’m sorry this happened, Hal. He should not have been stripping limbs in the first place. Don’t worry about the expense of his care. We’ll pay the cost of it. We owe him that much, at the very least.” Hal nodded his acknowledgment of Bret’s offer. “Feel free to stay here as long as you need to,” Bret told him.

“Thanks,” Hal rasped curtly, then he returned to his son’s bedside.

Bret ate his breakfast and washed in the bucket. While Robert went out to saddle the horses he gathered his gear, then said his goodbyes to Tim and Alden. Kneeling by the bed, he looked into Tim”s limpid eyes. The drug Alden had given him was taking full effect.

“Well, Tim,” Bret said to him, “I’ll leave you in your father’s care. When you’re back on your feet come see me at the house. I’ll have a job for you.”

“Yes, sir,” Tim mumbled, his voice barely audible. “Thank you, sir.” He was trying to fight the drug and stay awake, but he was rapidly losing the battle. Bret squeezed his shoulder as he succumbed to the induced sleep.

“Thanks for staying,” Bret said to Alden. “Bring the bill for your services when you come by the house to check on Dad. I’ll settle with you then.”

“I’ll do that,” Alden said, offering his hand. They exchanged a firm handshake, and Alden gave Bret’s hand an extra squeeze before releasing it. “You take care of yourself,” he admonished kindly. Bret smiled and nodded, then left the cabin.

Bret’s mare nickered a greeting when he approached her. Being tethered in a strange place with strange horses, with a thunderstorm rumbling around her through the night, had been an unsettling experience.

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