Aftermath of the Reckoning

Chapter 22

Zoey did not feel right about this at all. She didn’t want to leave Patch alone in Piedmont, but paying a visit to Nex would certainly be far more dangerous. Aside from walking over thirty-five miles of contested terrain, Nex would not be sleeping this time around. In fact, he may even be expecting her return.

All of this on top of Patch’s condition. Though his color looked much better, they both knew he wouldn’t be able to maintain his health for long without regular doses of thyroxine. Dr. Lockwood had already dropped by to deliver Patch’s last dose. To her surprise, Solomon even provided Patch with his own pill as well, explaining that he could more easily endure the effects of skipping a day in the relative comfort of the clinic.

These thoughts passed through her mind as she sat on the couch in room 107, watching Patch get dressed. Several times, she faced temptation to offer assistance, but each time she resisted, instinctively knowing he wouldn’t appreciate her encroaching on his independence. 

As Patch pulled on his last boot, she noticed he didn’t bother attempting to tie the laces. Probably not the easiest thing to do with one hand.

Patch stood and looked directly at her. With the morning light from the window casting his shadow across the room, he radiated in her eyes, like a battle-worn lieutenant prepared for the next encounter. His determined smile lifted her spirits in a way that only he could accomplish.

Zoey met his eyes and scowled a bit. “Are you sure there’s nothing wrong with your vision now? Your left eye still looks a little off.”

“Yep. Twenty twenty. Otherwise how would I be able to see those cute freckles on your nose from this distance?” Patch walked over and ruffled her hair, a gesture which invoked in her a strange mix of annoyance and enjoyment.

“What? I don’t have freckles.” Zoey knew she did have a few but she didn’t want that to be the feature Patch noticed about her for some reason. 

Patch ignored the comment and held out his hand. “Come with me, my freckleless princess. Your surprise awaits outside.”

Zoey smiled and allowed herself to be helped off the couch, though she did not release his hand. “Do I need to close my eyes?”

“Of course!” Patch replied as he walked her down the hallway to the lobby. “How else could it be a surprise?”

With her eyes firmly shut, Zoey felt the fresh morning breeze against her skin as the door to the clinic opened. “Can I open them now?”

“Hold your horses.”

Zoey waited though they had stopped moving.

Patch spoke again, “Well, what are you waiting for?”

Zoey opened her eyes and stood in utter disbelief at the sight. Halcyon and Coco stood calmly on the clinic lawn, looking at her expectantly. She felt tears of joy welling in her eyes as she put the pieces together in her head. Zoey reached out and hugged the golden neck of Halcyon with one arm while simultaneously rubbing the chestnut colored mane of Coco. 

“Patch, how did you —”

“Let’s just say that Solomon decided not to charge Pennyworth for ‘medical’ expenses. So, being an honorable man, Pennyworth allowed me to rearrange the terms of your agreement.”

Zoey had forgotten about the medical expenses entirely. Of course Solomon wouldn’t charge anything. If he did — well, best not to even think about that.

Patch adjusted the brown leather bags hung behind the horse saddles. Using a nearby chair, he mounted Coco and spoke to Zoey, who still hadn’t stopped hugging Halcyon. “Alright now Zoey, we got a long way to go and Halcyon is looking like she’s ready for a ride.”

Zoey smiled and deftly maneuvered onto her saddle, seeming to avoid use of the stirrups altogether somehow. She did place her feet in them once mounted, however.

Before they could head off, a heavyset man with a scraggly salt and pepper beard came running toward them from the north. Upon reaching the side of Patch, he knelt with his head bowed, breathing heavily for a few seconds before speaking. “Kind sir, my name is Wyatt. I came to thank you for what you did to heal my son, Finn. I am eternally in your debt.”

“Stand up, Wyatt. I did nothing. You have a very smart and energetic son by the way.”

Wyatt stood and clutched Patch’s leg. “My son...he can see again! He is going to become a great hunter, all thanks to you!” Removing his hand and reaching into his pocket, Wyatt continued, “We...we do not have much. But Finn wanted me to give you this.”

Eyes brimming with a new batch of tears, Zoey couldn’t quite make out the object being handed to Patch. A yellow toy car perhaps? It didn’t matter. The love she felt for Patch at this moment made nothing else matter.

She knew Finn from her previous visits. The boy had slowly become blind in one eye due to a cataract, exactly like the one that now occluded Patch’s left eye. He promised her that he wouldn’t do anymore healing! But she couldn’t be angry with him. Not after looking at this grateful father, who wanted nothing more than to help his son survive in this harsh world.

Patch examined the item for a while and placed it into his saddlebag. After a few more words of gratitude and Patch’s continued refusal to take credit, Wyatt eventually walked off, but not before urging them to visit upon their return.

Zoey managed to dry her eyes before Patched turned her way with a feigned look of confusion.

She said, “Patch, close your right eye and tell me how many finger’s I’m holding up.”

A grin snuck across his face. “Zoey, we really ought to get going. Wouldn’t want to waste the daylight.” And with that, he squeezed Coco a bit with his legs and they trotted off to the east.

“Hey! Wait for me! I’m not done with you yet Patch!” Zoey urged Halcyon into a canter to catch up with Patch. They did have a long way to go, so perhaps it was best to let this issue slide. For now, more important matters lay on the horizon.