Weston Hayes

Chapter six ~Letters~

Chapter Six

Jackson ~Letters~

Jackson had received a letter from Dan Chambers, Emma's doctor from Colorado City General; Emma had some complications, which resulted in her now blindness. Dan had assured him that if Emma had remained at the hospital, she most likely would have, at some point, had the use of her legs. Emma had a complete shutdown after she went blind, and she requested to be sent home.

That letter had come six months before Emma was to return home. Jackson received a second letter that stated Emma had refused all help from the staff and would not eat. As a result, she slipped into a coma and nearly passed away. The medical staff were able to revive her but feared that they would not bring her back if she had another attack. After Emma came out of her coma, the hospital director decided that Emma would return home on the next available train. The letter stated that Emma had given up on her recovery and the hospital felt if she were to pass away, it would be best to do so in her home surrounded by her family. The letter stated that Emma's passage had already been paid. A nurse would accompany Emma home and would remain with her until her services were no longer needed.

It had been nine months since Jackson had received the first letter. Three days ago, Jackson received a telegram with the date and time of Emma's arrival in Tyler, Texas; it also informed him of the stagecoach Emma and her nurse would be on.

Jackson stood on the train platform with the letters gripped firmly in his fist. He'd be damned if he missed Emma at the train station; she had been through so much and given up more in her young life than anyone should ever have to. Jackson wanted her to hear his voice first when she was wheeled off the train; hell, he needed to see her and be comforted in the knowledge that she was safe.

Jackson heard the train's whistle before he could see it through the crowds of people already on the platform. He walked up to the edge of the platform as the train came to a stop. A billow of steam roared as the train shuddered to a halt, and the conductor ordered everyone to disembark from the train.

As Jackson waited for his angel to be let off the train, he fought a battle with the moisture in his eyes that he did not win. With a cough and subtle wipe of his eyes, Jackson caught sight of his Emma. He choked on a sob deep in his throat as he inspected Emma for the first time in over a year. Rage boiled to the surface as he took in the sickly pallor of her face. A grey tinge replaced Emma's once vibrant and youthful glow; her cheekbones and eyes were sunken in a deathly way. Jackson placed his large warm hand on Emma's shoulder, and he shuddered as he felt the sharpness of her bones. Jackson couldn't stop himself from lifting Emma in his arms and embracing her.

Emma was nearly lifeless and barely conscious until she felt Jackson pick her up. She reached out with both of her arms and embraced his neck. Emma let out a mournful cry and broke down on his shoulder. Emma finally felt like she was home for the first time in a long time. After a while, she was able to compose herself enough to say simply, "Daddy."

The dam that held his tears back broke upon that simple word, Jackson sobbed into Emma's neck, until there were no more tears. Jackson carefully lowered Emma back to her wheelchair before he wiped the tears from her face. Jackson cleared his throat and wiped his eyes with a handkerchief. He said, "Hello, my beautiful girl. I've missed you," Jackson tucked a curl behind Emma's ear before he asked, "How are you?"

Emma looked up to where his voice came from and smiled a genuine smile for the first time in months, with a voice thick with tears, she spoke truthfully, "I'm broken, Daddy. I don't know what to do anymore; I wanted to see Wes. With all my heart, I did, but I can't now. I couldn't take it if I heard pity in his voice, I probably would have died." Emma trembled as she took a breath, "I wrote him a letter I had nurse Marion write the letter, I've set him free. He needs a real woman, not this," Emma pointed to herself as she continued, "broken body. I know him; he would come to me out of pity. No, it's better this way, I love him too much to allow him to have half a life."