Johnny sat by his brother's side long into the night. He watched as Scott struggled to hold back his cries of pain when he moved. He'd promised to wake Murdoch at two and it was already past four. He knew Scott was running a fever by the flushed tone of his cheeks.
Johnny thought over the last couple of years. He'd grown to love having a brother and didn't want to lose him. He reached out and took Scott's hand in his. "Scott, I may not tell you this often enough, hell I may not say it at all, Boston, but I need you. We've only just found each other and I kinda like having an older brother," he said as a single tear rolled down his cheek. "Remember you promised to always be there for me. Well it may sound selfish but I want you to be with me always. Please, brother, I know it hurts but fight. You hear me fight this and come back to me."
"He hears you, Son," Murdoch said as he entered the room.
"Sorry," Johnny said, swiping at his watery eyes. "I didn't know you were there."
"So I see. I thought you were gonna call me at two."
"Sorry, Murdoch, I just didn't want to leave him."
Murdoch placed a consoling hand on his youngest son’s shoulder. The simple touch conveyed more than words ever could and Johnny looked at his father gratefully.
"How's he been?" Murdoch asked.
"He's in a lot of pain and his fever’s getting worse."
Murdoch touched Scott's flushed cheeks and felt the heat emanating from him. "Frank should be back with Doc Jenkins anytime," he said.
"I hope so," Johnny said. "Do you think Scott will go back to Boston with Garrett?" he asked after a few minutes.
Murdoch thought over the question before answering. "You know, Son, I've thought about what life would be like if I lost either of you again. I don't like the idea but whether he stays or not has to be Scott's decision. I don't want him to think he has to stay at Lancer for the wrong reasons. I want him to make up his own mind that this is his home, this is where he belongs, not Boston."
"What about Garrett? We both know he'll do anything to make Scott go home with him."
"Then we'll have to convince Scott how much we want him to stay. Now why don't you go get some sleep?"
"I'd rather stay with Scott," Johnny said.
Murdoch knew it was useless to argue with his stubborn son. He walked to the window and pulled the curtain open. The night sky was filled with a majestic carpet of stars. The moon cast shadows wherever it's light touched and Murdoch knew just how much he needed his sons.
Scott lay in the bed, pain fogging his mind so that once again only snatches of the whispered conversation between his father and brother reached his ears. 'Scott... go back to Boston with Garrett,' Johnny's voice. 'I don't want him... to stay at Lancer,' Murdoch's voice. 'What about Garrett... We both... do anything to make Scott go home with him,' Johnny's betraying voice again. Tears filled his eyes as the words filled his mind. Moaning softly he tossed on the bed, "G...go back to B... Boston w... with Grandfather," he mumbled.
Johnny and Murdoch looked at each other confusedly. They'd both heard Scott's words and couldn't believe he meant them. Before they could say anything they heard the sound of a horse hurrying into the yard. Murdoch glanced back out the window in time to see Frank dismount his horse and Doc Jenkins pull up to the house in his buggy.
"The doctor’s here, Johnny," Murdoch said and hurried down the stairs to meet the elderly man. He opened the door and ushered him into the house.
"How is he, Murdoch?" Jenkins asked.
"He's in a lot of pain, Doc, and running a fever," Murdoch answered. He saw Frank close the door and walk towards the kitchen. He didn't have to ask where the man was going. He knew he was going to get water and supplies for the doctor.
"Where is he?' Jenkins asked.
"His room," Murdoch said and hurried up the stairs. Teresa joined them as they entered Scott's room.
"Doc," Johnny said, relief evident in his voice and demeanour.
"Johnny," Jenkins said and moved past the younger Lancer. He placed a soft, yet experienced hand on his patient's head and immediately turned to the others. "You're right, Murdoch, he's running a high fever. I need cold water. Ice too if you have any available. Teresa, can you get me some clean cloths? We need to get his body cooled down to prevent convulsions. Then we can look after the source of the fever." Jenkins said and wasn't surprised to see everyone hurrying to do his bidding.
Scott lay on his side, shivering as Jenkins lifted the blanket from his body. Through the haze of a fevered mind he heard snatches of conversation. He knew the doctor had arrived and that he wanted ice but he didn't know why. He couldn't tell how long this went on but prayed for it to end soon.
"Scott, I don't know if you can hear me, young man, but I want you to know that I'm here to help you. This may feel uncomfortable for a while but we need to get your fever down," Jenkins kept up the continual chatter as he placed cold cloths on Scott's body. He felt his patient’s body tremble with cold but knew he couldn't stop.
"He's freezing, Doc, can't we cover him up?" Johnny asked. They'd been bathing Scott in cold water for nearly two hours and the fever seemed to have diminished slightly.
"Johnny," Jenkins said and reached out a hand to the young man. "I know this is hard for all of you to see but it's for the best. Convulsions can cause a lot more damage to your brother than a cold bath. Why don't you go get some rest? Teresa told me you haven't been to bed since you and Murdoch brought Scott home."
Johnny shook his head tiredly, "I can't leave him," he said.
"Then make yourself useful and bathe your brother," Jenkins said and handed Johnny the cold cloth.
Johnny sat on the bed and automatically began bathing his brother battered body.
Jenkins walked to the small table. He found a pitcher of cold juice and some clean glasses. He reached in his bag and pulled out a small packet. Pouring a glass of water he mixed the packet with it and walked back to the bed.
"What's this?" Johnny asked, as Jenkins passed him the glass.
"It's juice, young man, and you look like you could use it," Jenkins said and was rewarded when Johnny downed the glass and turned his attention back to his brother. Jenkins moved away from the bed and stood beside Murdoch.
"What was in the packet?" Murdoch asked softly.
"A mild sleeping powder," Jenkins told him conspiratorially.
"He needs it," Murdoch said simply.
Johnny continued to bathe his brother, yawning tiredly as time dragged on. It wasn't long before he found he was unable to keep his eyes open and he slumped forward on the bed.
"Worked like a charm, Doc," Murdoch grinned. "Teresa, can you pull down the blankets on Johnny's bed, please?"
Teresa hurried from the room just as Murdoch and Jelly lifted Johnny's sleeping body into their arms. They put Johnny in his bed and closed the door. By the time they got back to Scott's room, the doctor was placing a healing salve on Scott's back.
When he finished Jenkins turned to face the others. "The fever has come down some but we're out of the woods yet. Murdoch, you need to get some rest. I'll stay here with Scott."
"I'm not tired," Murdoch told him.
"Sure you're not!" Jenkins laughed. "Go to bed or do I have to mix a powder for you as well."
Murdoch knew his friend was right and he felt his body tremble with the effort it took to stay on his feet. He felt a soft hand on his arm and let Teresa guide him from the room. "Call me if anything changes," Murdoch said.
"I will, Murdoch," Teresa promised as she closed the door.
Harlan Garrett didn't consider himself a coward, he thought of it more as self-preservation. He'd stayed out of the way when the doctor had arrived; making sure no one had the chance to kick him out of the room. He'd sat in a chair by the window watching as the doctor had carefully examined his grandson and begun treatment. He'd developed an unwanted respect for the country doctor after seeing how he treated Scott's injuries. Now, with only Teresa and the doctor in the room he walked to the bed.
"How is my grandson?" he asked.
Teresa and Jenkins looked up from the patient.
"Who are you?" Jenkins asked. He'd been away when Harlan Garrett last visited and was unaware of the hostility between him and Murdoch. He'd glanced at the man earlier but hadn't had a chance to ask about him.
"Harlan Garrett," Teresa said. "He's Scott's grandfather."
"Oh," Jenkins said simply. He'd heard the story from the people in town. He knew Garrett had come west in hopes to get his grandson to move back with him. He'd also heard the man had used some underhanded tactics to get his way. Luckily for Scott and the other Lancers he'd failed.
"I asked you how my grandson is?" Garrett asked indignantly.
"He's holding his own at the moment. As long as we keep the fever down and prevent any further infection I think he'll be fine," Jenkins told him.
"You think! What kind of answer is that? Will he be all right or not?"
"Mr. Garrett, it's too soon to say. The next twenty four to forty eight hours will tell."
Harlan Garrett picked Scott's hand up in his own and began massaging it.
Teresa could see the tears glistening just below the surface of his eyes. She knew the man wanted to take her 'brother' away from her but couldn't help feeling sorry for him. "He'll make it, Mr. Garrett," she said.
"Will he? Look at him. He's so torn up. He should have stayed with me. I should never have let him go."
"Scott's a grown man and he made his decision," Teresa told him.
"It was the wrong decision," Garrett said. "This time I'll make sure he sees how wrong it was."
Teresa felt the anger well up inside. "Just how do you plan on doing that? You gonna hire some more men to shoot him or do you plan on kidnapping him yourself this time?"
"You can't speak to me like that, girl!"
"She just did, Mr. Garrett," Jenkins said. "Now I have a patient to look after and I'd appreciate it if you'd leave so I can do that."
"He's my grandson and I'm not going to leave him."
"Would you like me to get some of the men and have you removed?" Teresa asked.
Garrett rose from his position by the bed and left the room. 'Soon, Scotty, we'll be going home soon,' he thought.
Johnny Lancer opened his eyes and swore sharply. He sat up to fast and immediately regretted the action when daggers of light flared behind his eyes. Slowly he lay back on his pillow, rubbing his eyes gently.
Teresa stood outside the door; unsure whether it was safe to go in or not. She knew Johnny was going to be upset over the doctor's use of the sleeping powder. Breathing deeply she opened the door and smiled "Well, I see you're finally awake. I brought you some dinner," she said cheerfully.
Johnny glared at her and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Scott," he said.
"He's sleeping. Doctor Jenkins says he'll be fine as long as he rests and the fever doesn't come back," she told him.
"I'm gonna have a talk with Doctor Jenkins," Johnny said and stood up quickly.
"No you don't, Johnny. You needed to get some rest or you wouldn't have been any good to Scott. Now why don't you eat this and we'll both go see him?"
Johnny looked at the tray she'd brought and realized how hungry he was. He picked up half a sandwich and turned towards the door. "I'll eat in Scott's room," he said.
Teresa knew there was no point in arguing. She picked up the tray and followed Johnny to Scott's room.
Doctor Jenkins looked up as Johnny entered the room. He knew by the look on the younger Lancer's face that he should make himself scarce, instead he looked him in the eye and asked, "How are you feeling, Johnny?"
"I feel I should teach a certain doctor..." Johnny said and was interrupted by a quiet voice.
"That's enough, Johnny, you needed to sleep and that was the only way to make sure you got some," Murdoch said as he entered the room.
Johnny walked to his brother's bed and smiled as he heard the doctor sigh behind him. He reached down and touched his brother's hand, "How's he doin, Doc?" he asked.
"Well, the fever's down some and he's resting as comfortable as possible. His back worries me because of how long it was left untreated. I gave Teresa instructions on how to care for him."
"What do you mean gave Teresa instructions? Aren't you staying?" Johnny asked disbelievingly.
"I have other patients who need me, Johnny."
"Scott needs you," Johnny said.
"Scott has you and the rest of his family. Some of my patients don't have anybody. They depend on me stopping by every few days even if it's only to have someone to talk to," Jenkins said seriously. "Your love and care will do more for Scott's recovery than all my medical knowledge right now. I've done everything I can for him. I'll stop back in a day or two, meanwhile just let him sleep and push the fluids."
"I understand, Doc," Murdoch said, remembering the loneliness he'd felt when he'd first moved west. There'd been many nights he'd have given his right arm just to have someone to break the monotony. Of course that had been many years ago and now he had his two sons and Teresa to keep away the loneliness.
"Thank you, Murdoch. Send someone for me if anything changes. Otherwise I'll stop back in two days," Jenkins said. He picked up his bag, felt Scott's head once more and hurried away from the dark glare of Johnny Lancer.
Johnny knew Jenkins was right and that he was needed by others but his main concern was for the pale, blonde-haired man laying quietly on the bed. "Hey, Boston, you gonna wake up today? We got a lot of things to do. All your chores have been piling up while you were away. Hope you don't think I'm gonna do em for ya."
Murdoch and Teresa stood back and listened to Johnny's one-way conversation. They knew if anyone could get through to Scott it was Johnny.
Scott lay still and listened to what his brother was saying. He felt confused and betrayed and didn't understand why Johnny was talking about chores now after saying he didn't want him living at Lancer. He tried to speak but nothing came out. His body felt as if it belonged to some one else. Some stranger who didn't have the strength to open his eyes. "Jo..." he tried again.
Johnny heard the small sound escape his brother's lips and leaned closer, "Easy, Scott, I'm here. You're gonna be all right."
"A... all right. Gonna go... b... to... Boston."
Johnny listened to the words and had to fight back a retort. He knew Scott was in a lot of pain, but for him to want to move back to Boston hurt Johnny more than he let on. "If that's really what you want, Scott, I won't let anyone stop you," Johnny said sadly.
Murdoch and Teresa joined Johnny by the bed and the three listened to Scott's raspy breathing. Unshed tears glistened in three sets of eyes.
"Do you really think he'll leave?" Teresa asked.
"I don't know," Murdoch said quietly. "If that's what he wants then we have to let him go."
"What if I can't?" Johnny asked.
"Scotty wants to come back to Boston with me. You heard him as well as I did," Harlan Garrett told them. He'd stood in the door listening since Scott had mumbled the word Boston. He'd been unsure of what had been said until he heard Teresa ask if they thought Scott would leave. He seized the opportunity. "As soon as he's able to travel I'll make the arrangements." he told them.
"I think you're jumping the gun, Garrett," Johnny said. "Scott's not thinking clearly right now. I know he'll change his mind when he comes to his senses."
"I don't think so! Scotty will be better off coming home to Boston." Garrett said.
"Boston may be your home but it's not Scott's. He belongs at Lancer with his family," Teresa told him.
"I suppose you consider yourself his family?"
"If she doesn't, I do," Johnny said, his voice dangerously low.
"She's more family than you'll ever be," Murdoch answered in the same low voice Johnny had used.
Scott listened to the voices but didn't understand who or what they were talking about. The heated exchange didn't mean anything to him. All he could think of was the earlier conversations he'd overheard. Between the pain and the medication the two seemed to blend as one and the only thing he could focus on was that his father and brother didn't want him but his grandfather did. He closed his eyes and shut out everyone around him. It wasn't long before he slept.
The days seemed to be an endless turmoil of pain, both emotional and physical for Scott. He managed to eat the simple broths and juices Teresa brought him but had little interest in talking to anyone.
If Johnny or Murdoch came to see him he pretended he was sleepy and would close his eyes and wait for them to leave. Each day brought him closer to his decision to leave with his grandfather. His memories of the conversations between his father and brother were foremost in his mind. He knew he couldn't hurt them anymore by staying where he wasn't wanted. He would leave so they wouldn't have to tell him to go. In this way he could think of it as his own decision.
"Scotty."
Scott opened his eyes and looked at Garrett. He struggled to sit up in the bed. "Grandfather," he said weakly.
"Can I get you anything, Scotty?" Garrett asked.
"N... no, thank you, Gr... Grandfather," Scott's voice hitched on a spasm of pain.
Garrett leaned down and fixed the pillows behind his grandson's back. "Feel like talking, Scotty?" he asked.
"Sure, Grandfather, what do you want to talk about?"
Garrett pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed. "I want you to come home with me, Scott," he said.
Teresa stood outside the door listening to Harlan Garrett. She wanted to stop this conversation until Murdoch and Johnny were here. The two men had left to check on some cattle earlier and hadn't come back yet. She stood with her back to the door unsure what she should do.
Scott lay on the bed, fidgeting with the blankets; unable to speak the words he knew he must say. Tears for what should have been his home and family filled his eyes as he finally found his voice. "I... I'll come with you Grandfather."
Harlan Garrett's face shone with happiness as he looked into the anguished face of his grandson. He saw Scott grimace and put it down to pain from his physical wounds. "That's wonderful, Scotty. I'll make the arrangements right away. How soon do you want to leave?" he asked anxiously.
Teresa couldn't believe what she'd just heard and a small sob escaped her lips. She was about to enter the room and beg Scott to wait for his father and brother before making any decisions but stopped in her tracks at his next words.
"As soon as possible. I can't stay where I'm not wanted," Scott said sadly.
Garrett fought back the grin that threatened to explode on his face. He'd waited a long time to hear Scott tell him he wanted to come back to Boston. He wasn't about to give anyone the chance to change his mind. "That's right, Scotty, they never wanted you here," he said.
He was interrupted by the door swinging open loudly, a dark haired beauty with fire in her eyes stood before him. "How can you say that?"
"How dare you interrupt me," Garrett shouted angrily.
"How dare you tell Scott that we don't want him here," Teresa shouted back.
"Teresa."
Teresa looked at Scott as she knelt by his bed. "You can't believe him, Scott. Murdoch and Johnny love you. They would never want you to leave."
"They do. I heard them," Scott told her as he reached out to take her hand in his.
She looked down at his hand holding hers and felt a slight tightening of his fist. "You can't believe that, Scott," she repeated softly.
"I heard them say they wanted me to leave. They said I belonged in Boston," he told her.
She saw the light reflect off his eyes and could tell he was fighting back his own tears. "Talk to them, Scott. You'll see you're wrong."
"Scotty has already made up his mind. He's coming back to Boston with me. We'll be leaving as soon as the doctor says he's able to travel."
"I wouldn't make those plans just yet, Mr. Garrett. Murdoch and Johnny will fix everything when they get back," Teresa said with more confidence than she felt.
"I'm sorry, Teresa," Scott said and she followed a single tear down his gaunt cheek.
"Scott, what exactly did you hear?" Teresa asked, turning her back on the elderly man sitting next to the bed.
"I... I heard Johnny say, 'Scott should go back to Boston.'" Scott told her painfully. "And Murdoch said, 'I don't want him to stay at Lancer,'" he continued painfully.
"Are you sure you heard those words?" Teresa asked. "Maybe you just dreamed them," she suggested.
"I... I know what I heard. There's more. Murdoch said, 'do anything to make him go home with him,'" Scott told her.
The words sounded familiar to both Garrett and Teresa. Teresa knew they'd been spoken in this very room when Scott had first been brought home. She could tell Garrett knew it as well. "Tell him the truth, Mr. Garrett," she ordered.
Garrett saw his chances of having Scott go home with him slipping away and made a last, desperate attempt to convince him he was making the right decision. "You will leave this room at once, girl. I don't like the way you're upsetting Scotty," he said.
"She's not upsetting me, Grandfather," Scott said as he tried to focus on the conversation he'd heard and what Teresa was telling him.
"Upsetting him? I'll have you know that you're the one upsetting him and everyone else in this house," she yelled at him and turned back to Scott. "Listen to me, Scott, Murdoch and Johnny did have that conversation but you were delirious and didn't hear it all."
Garret reached over and took hold of Teresa's arm, " I said leave!"
"No!" she said, once again turning back to the man in the bed, "Scott, please, think about it? Why would Murdoch and Johnny want you to leave now?"
Garrett began to pull her away from the bed but was halted by a strong hand on his shoulder. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Johnny's voice mirrored the anger in his eyes.
"She's... she's upsetting m... my Grandson," Garrett stammered.
Johnny glanced from Garrett to Teresa and finally came to rest on his brother, "That right, Boston?" he asked.
Scott's only answer was a simple shake of his head. Slowly he tried to turn away from the group but the movement tore a sharp hiss of pain from him.
Johnny released Garrett and rushed to his brother's side, "You all right, Scott?"
"I'm fine. Just leave me alone."
"I think it's time we had a talk, brother," Johnny said softly.
"What's there to talk about? I'm leaving with grandfather as soon as the doctor says it's ok." Scott said, keeping his back to his brother so Johnny wouldn't see the stricken look on his face.
"Now that's one of the things we need to talk about. All of a sudden you want to leave Lancer and go back to Boston without any kind of explanation. That's not like you, Scott."
"I don't have a choice," Scott said sadly.
"What does that mean?" Johnny asked, confused and angered by Scott's answer.
"It means I don't stay where I'm not wanted. Now can you just leave me alone and let me get some sleep?"
Johnny couldn't believe what he'd just heard. Shaking his head he turned to Harlan Garrett. "What have you been filling his head with?"
For the first time Harlan Garrett actually felt afraid of the young man before him. "I didn't fill his head with anything. If you must know Scotty heard everything you said and has decided to come back home where he belongs," he said shakily.
"Is there a problem here?" Murdoch asked as he entered the room and took in the small group clustered around Scott's bed. Dr. Jenkins immediately followed him in.
"Scott says he wants to go back to Boston," Johnny explained.
"Is that right, Scott?" Murdoch asked, quickly masking the disappointment he felt.
"Yes," Scott answered keeping his face turned away from the group.
Jenkins hurried to his patient and began ushering the others out of the room. "Well you won't be leaving anytime soon," he said.
"When?" Scott asked simply.
"Not until we have a chance to talk, Son," Murdoch said and ignored the doctor. He took the chair vacated by Harlan Garrett and placed his hand on Scott's shoulder. "What's going on, Scott? Why the sudden urge to leave?"
Scott tried to turn to face his father. He felt angered that they would blame him when they were the ones who wanted him to leave. With Jenkins help he was finally sitting and able to look Murdoch in the eyes. "Why don't you tell everyone the truth? You and Johnny are the ones that want me to leave," he said as strongly as his weakened body would allow.
"We what?" Johnny asked incredulously.
"That's what we were talking about when you came in Johnny," Teresa said quickly. "Remember the day you brought Scott home?" at the affirmative nods she continued. "Well he overheard snatches of conversation. He thinks you two don't want him here."
"How can you think that, Scott?" Murdoch asked. "I know I've done you and Johnny wrong by not finding you sooner but now that you're here I don't want to lose you. I want to build the relationship we should have had. Please, Son, give us that chance."
"Don't believe him, Scott, I was here too and I know what I heard. I heard them both say you belonged in Boston," Garrett said, ignoring the irate looks he received from everyone in the room except his grandson.
"Get out of my home, Harlan," Murdoch said angrily.
"No, please don't make him leave, Murdoch," Scott said, his voice filled with pain as his eyes met his fathers. "I understand why you want me to leave. I'm not much help out here."
"Scott, please believe me when I say you never heard what you think you did. I just wish there were some way to prove it to you. To prove once and for all that your grandfather is lying," Murdoch said.
"There may be a way," Teresa said, a smile glowing brightly on her face.
"How?" Scott asked, hope evident in that one word.
"Johnny, come with me," she said.
"Why?" Johnny asked curiously.
"I want to prove something to Scott," she said as she held the door for him. "I want you to close your eyes, Scott, and listen carefully."
"What will that prove?" Scott asked.
"Just do it, Scott. I want you to listen to what's being said but I don't want you to see what's going on. Murdoch, make sure he keeps his eyes closed."
"Ok, Teresa," he said bewilderedly. "You heard the girl, Scott, close your eyes."
Dr. Jenkins stood back with Harlan Garrett, wondering what Teresa had in mind. It wasn't long before they knew what she was up to. Garrett made a move to interfere until he felt Murdoch's eyes on him. Silence filled the room as they waited for Teresa to put her plan into action.
Teresa closed the door and turned to Johnny. Quickly she explained what she wanted him to do. She held the door, opening and closing it during their conversation.
"Johnny, do you want Scott to go back to Boston?" she asked.
Inside the room Scott heard only pieces of her sentence. 'Scott ... back to Boston.'
"Hell, no, I don't want Scott to go back to Boston. I want him to stay here at Lancer where he belongs."
Once again Scott only heard small bits, 'I... want Scott...to... back to Boston... where he belongs.' Understanding suddenly dawned on Scott's face and he smiled warmly. "Teresa, I've heard enough," he said.
Teresa and Johnny stepped back into the room and walked over to the bed. "Does that mean what I hope it means, Brother?" Johnny asked.
"I feel kinda foolish," Scott said sheepishly.
"And well you should, Scott Lancer," Teresa laughed. "Imagine thinking your family don't want you."
"Scotty."
"Grandfather," Scott said as the elderly man walked up to the bed.
"Does this mean you'll be staying?"
"I'm afraid so, Grandfather," Scott said, feeling sorry for the man in spite of what he'd done.
"Then I'll be leaving in the morning," Harlan Garrett said, turning to leave.
"Don't go," Scott said simply. "Please tell him he can stay, Murdoch," he pleaded.
"Against my better judgement and because my son loves you I'm willing to let bygones be bygones, Harlan. You can stay as long as you promise not to interfere with Scott's decision."
Garrett looked at the handsome young man in the bed. He could see that he'd hurt him by lying about what he heard and he knew he'd have to fight to win back any kind of trust. He loved his grandson and wanted him home but for now that seemed to be beyond his reach. "I'd like to stay. At least till I know you'll be all right," Garrett said softly.
"Since that's all straightened out I'd like to examine my patient. So if everyone but Teresa would leave I'd be much obliged," Jenkins told them and was relieved to see the three men do as he'd ordered.
Johnny stopped at the door and turned and walked back to the bed. He looked Scott straight in the eyes and spoke so only he could hear. "Don't ever think of leaving me again, Brother."
"You either, Brother," Scott whispered back.
Johnny nodded his head and left the room.
"Now let's see how you're doin, shall we?" Jenkins asked.
Two weeks later Scott Lancer stood and watched as his grandfather's Buggy left the ranch. He watched as it progressed through the gates and disappeared over the hills. A sigh escaped his lips as he turned back to the house. Dr. Jenkins had refused to let him accompany his grandfather because of his weakened condition.
"You ok, Boston?"
"I think so, Johnny. I was just thinking about Grandfather. I kept hoping he would apologize for lying to me," Scott said as he sat in a chair Johnny nudged under him.
Johnny looked at the horizon where Harlan Garrett had disappeared. "You know I'm not to fond of your grandfather, Scott, but he does love you. Even if he has a funny way of showing it sometimes."
"That's grandfather all right. He'll do anything to get what he wants. I just hope he doesn't feel too disappointed."
"The only way he wouldn't have been disappointed is if you'd gone with him. Then I would have been disappointed," Johnny said as Murdoch, Teresa, and Jelly joined them.
"Thanks, Johnny," Scott said as he took in his surroundings. He knew he was home and that nothing or nobody could ever take it away from him.
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