Chapter Nine

While Ryder was busy convincing his brother to help him, Susie was putting the finishing touches on the church and wondering if he was ever coming back.

"Four days, God. It's been four days and I haven't seen him. Am I doing the right thing by waiting for him? Is he the one you made for me?" Susie asked as she looked up at the wooden cross above the altar.

"He doesn't do much talking, I'm afraid."

Susie looked up to see George Bass wiping his dark hands on his pants as he approached her, "No, He doesn't. It would be so much easier if He could tell us what His plans are," she replied.

George nodded in agreement and the two of them stood in silence and gazed up at the cross, "You are a kind soul, Susie. I'm sure that God has someone wonderful in store for you."

"I didn't think so for a long time but then I met someone and I thought maybe....." her voice trailed off.

"I never met this mystery man," George admitted, "But I heard he was a wild one."

Susie smiled as she thought about Ryder, "Yes. I never got to know him very well. Brody ran him off before I got the chance. He was funny though and he made me laugh. He said the sweetest things. Things that amazed me because most men don't speak that way. He made me feel special, even though I was skeptical of him. I wish he would come back so I could tell him how sorry I am for my rudeness," Susie blushed and bit her lip, "Sorry, I'm carrying on I'm afraid."

George chuckled, "That's quite alright. I remember when my daughter met her husband. She carried on about him day and night and liked to have driven me crazy. That's how you know it's the love bug."

"Love?!" Susie exclaimed as she shook her head, "I don't know him enough for it to be love!"

"Love starts right away, girlie, that's the way God made it. It's us that gets in the way of it. We doubt it or we fear it. We worry too much about getting hurt or being made a fool of. Some of us move quick, some of us move slow but in the end when you finally realize you're in love, you also realize that you loved that person from the very beginning."

"Well it doesn't matter anymore," Susie sighedas she smoothed out her blouse, "He's gone and I don't think he's going to come back."

"Maybe he will, Miss Sue, maybe he will," George patted her gently on the back, "I'm hungry for some lunch. Will you join me at the café?" Susie smiled and looped her arm through his, "Of course."

They walked out of the church and into the hot Texas sun. They were crossing the street when screams erupted from the bank and the sound of gunshots filled the quiet afternoon. The doors swung open and a man ran out with a bandana over his face and sacks in his hands. He jumped on a waiting horse and started out of town only to be brought down by a bullet fired from Brody's gun as Brody stumbled out of the bank, covered in blood from the wound on his side.

"Brody?!" Susie exclaimed as she ran down the street.

Brody was already going back into the bank, "Keep her out of here!" Brody warned George, his voice weak and strained.

George grabbed Susie and held her tight against him. Susie felt panic fill her when she realized that Brody was leaving a trail of blood on the wooden steps and porch.

People began running from the bank as Doctor Montgomery made his way to the bank with his black bag of supplies, "Anybody injured?" Doctor Montgomery asked one of the men who had come out and was currently holding his shaking wife against his chest.

"Sheriff Atkinson and one of the tellers. That Vicks man." Susie felt her heart stop beating. Brody and Justin were shot?? "That man lying dead down yonder came in to rob the place. He didn't realize the sheriff was there and sheriff Atkinson pulled his gun but that Vicks guy got grabbed by the robber and so the sheriff was at a standstill until that Vicks guy passed out right in the robbers arms. The robber was so angry that he shot the teller for passing out and then shot the sheriff and ran out the door... I guess sheriff Atkinson got him for it though."

As LeRoy picked up the sacks of money and left the body for the undertaker, Susie tried to break away from George to go inside, "Brody or Justin might need me!" she exclaimed.

George shook his head, "Brody told me to keep you out here and that's just what I plan on doing, girlie."

"You better get in here doc or else these men ain't gonna make it!" A man yelled from inside and Susie stood there in shock in George's arms.

Her heart broke for her brother and she felt as if she must be dreaming as the Doc went in and then several men carried Brody and Justin out the door and passed her. Her brother was pale and unconscious. His shirt was soaked with blood and his hair was laying across his face.

Her gaze went to Justin and she frowned when she didn't see any blood on him at first. Then she realized that his black pants were wet with it. Susie hated guns and violence and this was why. Two good men, both of them potentially fighting for their lives all because one lazy man with a gun had wanted to make his money the wrong way.

"I want to go to Doc's," Susie said to George.

He nodded, "LeRoy, you better go tell miss 'lisbeth what happened," George told the deputy.

LeRoy blew out a strained breath and nodded. He tried to give Susie a comforting look, "Don't worry, Sue. Brody's a tough man. Tougher than any I've ever seen. He's been shot up worse than that and lived to talk about it."

"Yes but even the biggest oak tree will eventually fall if you strike it enough times," she countered softly. LeRoy nodded and then headed to the livery to get his horse while George led Susie to the docs.

"You'll have to sit in the waiting area." Doctor Montgomery warned when they walked in.

Susie and George both took a seat in the parlor. Mrs. Montgomery brought them tea and Susie tried to drink it but her stomach was tied in knots. Two men, both of whom she cared about, were lying in the next room possibly dying. Why did men take such joy in shooting each other? She would never understand.

Seconds became minutes and minutes became hours. Susie had no fingernails left, she had chewed them all to nubs and she was sure her hair would fall out if she ran her hand through it one more time. Suddenly the door to the Docs home flew open and Elizabeth, Sally and Jacob came running in.

"Where's Brody?" Elizabeth demanded, her eyes wide and bright with fear and unshed tears. As if on cue the door the office opened and Brody limped out. The doctor had removed his shirt and all he wore above his pants was wide white bandages around his middle. His bare chest was gleaming with sweat from pain and he was more pale than Susie had ever seen him, but his eyes sought out Elizabeth's instantly and filled with love.

"I'm right here, boss." he said, in a strained voice as he gripped the back of the sofa for support.

Elizabeth let out a strangled cry of both happiness, relief and fear and ran to him. She hugged him tight around the neck and Susie saw that he gripped her back fiercely with his free arm. It was as if he had been dying up until he'd seen her and holding her was all that kept him living... Susie smiled. That's how she liked to imagine it anyway. Sally always told her that she was hopelessly romantic.

"Are you supposed to be walking around?" Elizabeth asked as she pulled away from him and smoothed his long, messy hair from his face.

"Hell no he isn't supposed to be walking!" Doctor Montgomery grumbled as he joined them in the parlor, "The man just got shot in the side! It missed all the important stuff and went through the same damn hole that a bullet had gone through before. He'll be alright but he needs to take it easy for a week or so."

"Don't worry," Elizabeth assured the doc as she sent a no nonsense gaze up in her husband's direction, "He'll take it easy."

Brody grumbled under his breath, "What?" Elizabeth asked as she put her hands on her hips.

Brody smiled and raised a brow, "Yes, boss."

"Doc, what about Justin?" Susie asked quietly as the rest of the family focused on Brody and got the story about what had happened from him.

"You can come on in and see him," Doctor Montgomery replied. Susie followed the doctor into the office and she saw Justin lying on the table. He was lying on his stomach, which she found odd and he was covered with a sheet.

His eyes opened and fell on her and he turned his head away, "What is she doing here?" he demanded.

"She was worried about you, I guess," Doctor Montgomery replied. Justin snorted, "Does your precious Ryder know you're here?"

"Stop acting like a child," Susie scolded, though her scolding voice wasn't much meaner than her normal voice. It seems the only person she'd ever used a truly mean voice with was Ryder.

"Am I gonna make it, doc?" Justin asked.

Doctor Montgomery mumbled under his breath as he nodded, "Yeah, you'll make it. I ain't seen no one die of a bullet in the backside yet."

Susie tried desperately to fight back a laugh but it was no use. The laughter poured out of her in a rush. She supposed some of it was due to the release of all of her worry in learning that both men would survive. Mostly, however, she laughed because it was funny. Justin had been being held as a hostage and instead of fighting back he had passed out and made the robber so angry that he had shot Justin in the backside before making a run for it. It was quite possibly the funniest thing Susie had ever heard.

"I'm glad you find such humor in my pain!" Justin grumbled.

Susie worked hard to quell her laughter and once she had it under control she wiped her face and smoothed out her skirt, "I'm sorry I laughed. I was just so worried and I suppose that laughter came out because I was so relieved that you and my brother will be fine."

"You weren't worried about me," Justin argued, still refusing to look at her.

Susie sat down in the chair beside his bed, "I most certainly was," she assured him.

"You're gonna need someone to take care of you for a week or so until you can get up and move around easier," Doctor Montgomery interrupted.

"How much will you charge for me to stay here?" Justin asked. "I don't have anyone who will take care of me."

His sad voice tugged on Susie's gentle heartstrings. She couldn't stand to see anyone suffer alone. She was used to men like Brody. Men who got shot and stood back up and carried on. Justin was soft and weak and he needed her help. He was a little puppy... Who could turn their back on a defenseless little puppy?

"Yes you do," she said gently.

"Huh?" Justin asked, turning his head to look at her. His blue eyes were full of hope.

Susie sighed, "You can come stay at the ranch while you heal. I'll take care of you."

"You will?" Justin asked as he saw another opening. Maybe he shouldn't give up on being with Susie just yet. He had asked around town and learned that Ryder was long gone. Maybe there was still some hope for him to have her.

"Yes. But you can only stay until you get better. I still don't think we should be together." she warned, wanting to make sure he knew where she stood.

He nodded and relaxed on the bed, "Thank you, Susie. You are truly a remarkable woman."

Susie blushed and then stood from her chair, "I'll go send someone back to the ranch for the wagon."

Susie left the room she heard Justin begging the doctor for more pain medicine.

***

"I still can't believe you told that pain in the ass he could live here," Sally grumbled and then she laughed and poked Susie in the ribs with her elbow, "Get it? Pain in the ass?"

Susie couldn't help but laugh as she watched her family preparing to go their separate ways. Justin was settled into the spare room across from her room.

"I couldn't just let him lay up at the doc's alone," Susie replied.

"I would have," Sally countered, "The little weasel passed out at the first sign of danger! He's worse than a woman; he's like a little infant bunny rabbit or something."

"Be nice," Susie scolded.

"Come on, Sally." Thomas called, motioning for her to come to the barn where he and Max were waiting with their horses.

"Come on, Sally," Max echoed.

Sally rolled her eyes and stood up, "I'm outnumbered by bossy men."

"Well give me a little niece and it'll be evened out." Susie replied. Thomas chuckled and gave her a wink, "Trust me, I'm trying."

Susie remained her seat on the porch and watched the little family ride away, "Nathan, Bryant, Lexi, it's time to go home!" Brody called and the three kids came running up from behind the house. Their clothes were thoroughly drenched and they each had guilty grins on their faces.

"Have you been in the river?" Elizabeth demanded.

Lexi shook her head and her wet braids splashed against her pink cheeks, "No mommy, honest."

Elizabeth's hands went to her hips and her eyes narrowed, "Then how did you get all wet?"

"The river reached out and splashed us," Bryant replied with conviction. Susie marveled at the boys ability to keep a straight face when he was telling such a wild tale.

"Really?" Brody asked skeptially as he lit a cigarette and leaned against the wagon, still shirtless.

"Really pa," Lexi insisted with a big nod as the water dripping from the three children began to form quite an impressive puddle at their feet.

"Nathan, what really happened?" Elizabeth asked the boy.

He shifted his feet and bit his lip. Bryant and Lexi both looked up at him and Lexi tugged on his shirt sleeve, "Stay strong," she whispered.

That simple statement did away with any anger or annoyance their parents may have had, "Get in the wagon, you hellions," Brody said and the kids quickly did just that.

Elizabeth held out a hand to help Brody into the wagon and he glared at her, "I ain't riding in no wagon."

"Brody you have to!" Elizabeth argued.

"Nope. I rode back from town in it and I ain't riding in it no more."

He walked over to his horse and untied it from the wagon, "You'll hurt yourself!" Susie exclaimed while Elizabeth simply watched on in silence.

"I've been shot worse than this before," Brody assured her as he pulled himself up into the saddle, letting no pain show on his face, as the muscles of his chest and arms strained and tensed, "See you all later," he said to Susie and Liza on the porch and then he tipped his hat and started toward his house with Elizabeth and the children following behind him with the wagon.

The chiming of a tiny bell filled the air and Liza snorted with laughter, "Susie, I believe your infant bunny rabbit needs your assistance." Susie frowned at the other woman as she stood up, "We should always do what we can to help others, Liza. We never know when it will be us that needs help."

Liza nodded but still couldn't hide her amusement when the bell chimed again, "You're too nice for your own good, Susie."

Susie sighed as she stepped toward the door, "That's what I keep hearing," she muttered and then disappeared into the house.

Liza sat on the porch alone and looked out across the yard. The hands were done for the day. Some were still milling around but most had gone into town for drinks, food and women. Liza picked at her black skirt and tried to ignore the loneliness that crept into her heart.

She put on a big front with others but she was innocent when it came to men and to loving a man... She would love to know what it felt like to have a man touch her, hold her, even look at her the way that Brody, Thomas and Jacob looked at their wives. Would she ever experience that?

"Liza, I need your help in here!" Ellie called from the kitchen and Liza sighed as she stood up.

"Probably not." she answered her unspoken question a loud and then walked into the house to help her sister.

***

"I want you to quit," Elizabeth whispered quietly against her husbands chest as they lay in bed that night. She had almost hoped that he wouldn't hear her but Brody's ears didn't miss much.

"Quit what?" he asked as he ran his hand up and down her bare arm gently.

"Being a sheriff and facing danger everyday. I want you to quit." Brody sighed and put his finger under her chin to lift her head up so he could look into her emerald eyes that still looked at him with as much love as they always had, "I'm fine, Elizabeth. I'm right here and I'm alive," he assured her.

Elizabeth laid her hand over his heart and felt its steady beat. She pressed her lips against his calloused finger and felt tears fill her eyes, "This time," she croaked. "Brody, do you know what I go through everyday worrying about you? Do you know how scared I am every single day that you ride off to chase bad men that you won't come home that night?"

Brody's brow rose and he shook his head, "You never said anything..."

"Of course not!" she exclaimed as her jaw stuck out stubbornly, "I'm a cowgirl and I'm tough. But I'm not made of stone, Brody, and I can't stand it anymore. I lost you once, remember?"

Brody shivered and tightened his hold on her, ignoring the pain in his side. He remembered. He remembered all too well, "You won't lose me, cowgirl."

"You can't promise me that! Not when you're out going after bank robbers and murderers for a living. I don't ask you for much Brody but please.. Please quit."

Brody was quiet for a long time. He stared up at the ceiling and Elizabeth nestled her head against his chest, "Okay." he agreed after a few minutes of silence.

"Okay?" Elizabeth was skeptical. She hadn't expected him to give in that easily.

"Elizabeth, I would do anything for you. I'd move the stars if you said it would make you happy," Brody vowed, "I didn't realize how worried you were about me and I'm sorry for that. I'll quit. Just as soon as I can find a replacement, I'll be done. I promise you that."

"Are you sure that's what you want to do?" Elizabeth whispered. She wanted her husband at the ranch with her but she didn't want him to give up something he really enjoyed.

"Yeah. I'll be able to see you more and the kids. And I might be tough but even I'm getting real damn tired of being shot. I got so many holes in me that if you filled me up with water I'd look like one of those watering cans you women use in the flower gardens. I'm over thirty years old... I think it's time for me to take it a little easier."

Elizabeth pressed a tender kiss to his rough jaw, "I love you, Brody."

"I love you too, boss."