Heaven Must Wait, Part II (The Wades of Crawford County Book 4) by Brenda B. Taylor

Author:Brenda B. Taylor [Taylor, Brenda B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bethabara Press
Published: 2016-05-02T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

Ralph squinted his eyes in the bright light drifting through the open window. Where is he and what is the time of the day? Did he sleep too long? His hay needed cutting before the fall rains began. He swung one leg over the side of the bed. A pain greater than any he had ever experienced shot through his head like a bolt of lightning and pushed him back to the pillow. A figure appeared over him, lifting his leg back to the bed. Ralph tried to make out who tucked him under the quilt and pulled it up to his chin.

“Stay put, Son. You can't get up yet,” the figure said.

Ralph put both hands to his head, relaxed and closed his eyes. Looking at the light intensifies the pain. A hand wiped his face with a cool, damp rag. He opened his eyes to the blur again. Now two figures hovered over him, one sat on the side of the bed wiping his face.

“Ma?”

“Praise the Lord! I'm here, Son. Me and your Pa are here.” The cool rag passed over his lips. The moisture eased their dryness.

“Where am I? Can I have a drink of water?” Ralph managed the words through the pain in his head. One place on top of his skull felt hot and sore.

“You're at the Townsends'. Dr. Reynolds told us not to move you, so Clara let you have her bed.”

A cool glass touched his lips. His father came closer and held Ralph's head up while his mother tilted the glass so he could sip the water. The refreshing liquid soothed his parched mouth and throat.

“What happened?” Trying to remember why he lay in Clara Townsend's bed hurt too much.

“One of them outlaws pistol-whipped you. The doc didn't know if you would live or die for a couple of days,” his father's voice spoke close to his ear. Pa eased Ralph's head back to the pillow.

“How long have I been here?” His eyes popped open. Now he remembered. “Where is Leann?” Ralph tried to sit up through the pain.

Ma gently pushed him back to the bed. “Stay put. She's at home and okay. This is the morning of the fourth day.”

“Four days? I've got to get up and go see Leann, then get my hay cut.” Ralph tried to sit up once more.

His mother pushed him down again. “You aren't going anywhere 'til the doctor says you can, so just relax. Joe or Dave Townsend will make sure you follow Doc’s orders.”

Ralph couldn't help but obey Ma. Her face still looked blurred and the pain in his head wouldn't let him sit up, but he wanted to hear about Leann. “Tell me about Leann. What happened to her?”

“Like I said, she's okay except for some cuts and bruises,” Ma said. “A farmer found Leann walking along the riverbank. She didn't know where she was or how she got there. Her clothes were torn, had a black eye, cuts and bruises on her arms and legs, but otherwise she was okay.

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