Redemption

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Jessie had never been so proud to see an old shack as she was when Colt’s home came into view. She smiled broadly and clapped her hands once, feeling the soreness from the long ride begin to roll away. The past two days had been quite uneventful. Colt had been careful not to push her too hard, but she saw that he was more than anxious to get home.

“Praise be to God Almighty.” Doc sighed and leaned back, resting against the wagon seat.

Colt smiled next to her.

It wasn’t long before Worthless caught sight of them and began barking - hardly taking a breath even as they rolled to a stop by the front door.

“Worthless, would you shut yer yapping mouth! I’m about fed up with your shenanigans!” Carby’s voice echoed from the open window.

Colt put a finger to his lips and silently hopped off the wagon. Jessie smiled as he crept over to the window where Carby stood inside washing the dishes. He glanced back and grinned broadly at them.

Doc and Jessie smiled back at him.

He stepped up to the window and appeared in front of him, crossing his arms over the flower box.

“Hey beautiful,” he said to his grandmother.

A squeal came from the house, followed by a dishtowel colliding with Colt’s face.

“Boy, you near gave me a heart attack!” Carby complained as the front door flew opened.

She wrapped her arms around Colt and hugged him tight, in spire of the scare he had just caused her.

Jessie’s heart melted. Colt was so good to his grandmother, even though she had cost him a lot of hard-earned money and didn’t even know it. That was the true meaning of loving your family, and it was beautiful.

“Did ya’ll have a safe trip?” Carby asked, turning to the wagon.

Colt nodded. “Pretty smooth.”

“Nice to see you got some crutches, Jessie,” Carby observed.

Jessie smiled. “The doctor was so kind to give them to me.”

“That was nice of him, wasn’t it? Why are we all standing out here for, anyway? Let’s get this young lady in the house.” Carby smacked Colt on the arm and motioned for him to help her.

With Doc on one side and Colt on the other, Jessie was able to get down off the wagon and into the house. They helped her into a chair and she slapped at their arms.

“I can walk on my own, ya know. Well… sort of. I have my crutches,” she scolded

They backed away, holding their hands back.

“Go get that wagon unloaded down at the ranch so you can get back,” Grace shooed the men away with her words.

Colt sighed. “I guess she’s right, Dawson.”

Doc shook his head. “You’re handling the boss, ya know.”

Colt groaned and turned to the door.

“Did I cause trouble for you?” Jessie asked.

She would hate to think that they had to get in trouble with their boss on her account.

Colt shook his head. “Nah. The day I can’t handle Sherman Cooper is the day that I quit my job as foreman. It’s gonna be sad to see the condition of the boys, though. They had to answer to the man for over a week.”

Doc shook his head. “Every year it’s the same way. We come back and every man on that ranch is in a tizzy.”

Colt smiled. “It’s pretty fun to watch, though.”