The Visions of Ransom Lake (10 page)

“
Vaden!” Yvonne scolded. “You’re…you’re…”

“
Oh, come on, Yvonne. Go ahead. Bite into that apple Ransom Lake carried here in his shirt…probably against his bare—”

“
Stop it, Vay! You’re horrid!” Then a twinkle sparked in Yvonne’s eyes, and a mischievous smile donned her face. With Vaden enjoying the sweet taste of Ransom Lake’s crop, Yvonne furiously bit into her apple.

Late that night, two seeds from a golden pear and its stem joined the contents of the boot hidden under Vaden’s bed.

CHAPTER FOUR

If it hadn’t been for the beauty of the season swirling about her, the next several days would have seemed unbearably mundane for Vaden. Fortunately, the autumn flavor in the air, the cool evenings, and the majesty of nature’s colorful fall wardrobe sustained her delight with life. Oh, how the trees did inspire, their leaves of all colors raining down at each gentle breeze. Vaughn Wimber’s pumpkin patch began to fulfill its promise of bounty as the vines began to wither, accentuating the bright orange of the eagerly anticipated squash. And then, on that crisp first day of October, Vaden sensed something rather different in the air—something rather ominous in character.

That day, Vaden went about her work in the mercantile comfortably enough. All the while, however, an impressive, quiet nagging at the back of her mind gave her thoughts a quantity of distraction. She found herself jittery and easily startled.

Jerome Clayton was in and spent nearly half an hour following Vaden around the store while she busily labored over her chores. Strangely, she was almost glad to have him there for a while. He seemed to divert the odd whispers of foreboding in her bosom. When he had gone, a strong sense of insecurity began to wash over Vaden as the day further progressed.

Suddenly, just after lunch, there was excitement in the day when Vaden turned and looked up from the counter to see Ransom Lake enter the store.

“
It’s Mr. Male Anatomy himself,” Yvonne quietly whispered to Vaden, who jabbed her sister in the ribcage with her elbow.

“
Good afternoon, Mr. Lake,” Vaden nervously greeted. Every inch of her body was tingling with elation.

He simply nodded and continued to stand just inside the doorway, looking about the room as if he himself were wondering why he had stepped into the building.

“
Can we help you find something today, Mr. Lake?” Yvonne asked.

Frowning, Ransom Lake only looked at her, his turbulent gray eyes glaring intently.

Vaden was irritated that the man stared so at Yvonne. She did not like his attention being settled on her sister. Soon enough, however, Ransom Lake’s stormy gaze moved to Vaden. He turned and looked back out the door and then back to Vaden, who stood just before the counter and parallel with the open door of the mercantile.

Ransom Lake again briefly looked back. When he finally addressed the two young women, there was an air of confusion in his voice. “I…I, uh…only came in to see if your uncle is here. I…I, uh…wanted to speak with him about…somethin’.”

“
He’s gone down to Mrs. Tilits’s with Aunt Myra. She’s feeling poorly, and with the changes in the weather—”Yvonne started to explain.

“
What’s the matter, Mr. Lake?” Vaden interrupted. She looked beyond him for a moment to see a group of small boys playing in the street in front of the store. “You seem a bit—”

In the very next instant, Ransom Lake glanced back out the mercantile door once more before quickly lunging forward and roughly taking Vaden’s shoulders between his powerful hands.

“
Move, girl!” he shouted a split second before Yvonne screamed as the repeat of a rifle split the calm quiet. Unable to comprehend immediately what had transpired, Vaden could only watch, dazed and helpless, as she saw the face of Ransom Lake wince before he fell forward, his masculine weight knocking her back against the counter. His head hit the corner of the counter with inordinate force as his body crumpled to the floor.

Instantly, a great commotion erupted outside, but Vaden cared nothing for the goings-on in the street. Falling to her knees, she gasped when she saw the bright red, moist stain saturating the back of Ransom Lake’s shirt. Even as she struggled to roll the heavy man to his back, she knew that his head hitting the counter could have caused an even worse injury. Every fiber of her body ached with pain for him as she’d heard the force with which his head collided with the counter. The blood was already matting his hair. She tried to brush it aside to inspect the wound. A large cut was apparent, but she wondered if the impact had damaged him worse inside his head where she could not see.

“
Don’t stand there with your mouth gaping open, Yvonne!” Vaden shouted to her sister, who stood staring at her in horror. “Run get the doctor!”

“
But…but there’s gunfire out there, Vaden!” Yvonne was rattled. She stood nervously wringing her hands.

“
Go! Look at all the people in the street! Do you think they’d be out there if it weren’t safe now? Hurry up!” Yvonne dashed from the store. Vaden felt tears escape her eyes and begin to travel down her cheeks. She dabbed at Mr. Lake’s wounded head with her apron.

“
What happened in here?” a man asked as he burst into the store. It was Pete Davis, who owned a farm just west of town. His gaze was immediately drawn to the man lying on the floor. “I saw Miss Valmont in the street and—”

“
Someone has shot Mr. Lake!” Vaden cried out. “Help me! I don’t know what to do.”

Mr. Davis hunkered down beside the girl and looked at Ransom Lake. “Well, he’s breathing. Those kids oughta be shot themselves for playin’ with guns.”

“
What do you mean?” Vaden asked.

“
Well, looks like a couple of young boys was playin’ with a rifle ’cross the street in the alley. It must’ve gone off before they knowed what hit ’em. Though they’re denyin’ it like sin.”

“
It would’ve hit
me
,” Vaden whispered. “I was standing there against the counter. Suddenly, Mr. Lake moved toward me and told me to move. The bullet hit him instead of me.”

“
Well, child, I don’t mean to sound heartless…but a tough old bear like Ransom Lake will survive it a lot easier than you would’ve.”

“
Mr. Davis!” Vaden exclaimed, wiping the tears from her face with the back of her hand. “How can you say that?”

“
Because it’s true. I’m more worried about that cut on his head. Did he hit himself fallin’ or what? The bullet wound ain’t deep in him. But it ain’t a good sign that he’s still out cold.”

Again, Vaden looked down to the wounded man who lay before her. She shook her head as the tears increased. “No,” she whispered out loud. It couldn’t be! Surely it couldn’t be her fault that he was hurt. Taking one of his large hands in her own, she stroked the back of it gently. “He’ll be fine. He’ll be fine. It was as if…as if he knew it was going to happen,” she mumbled to herself as she replayed the incident in her mind. Yes, it was just as if he knew. He had acted so confused and uncertain when he first entered the store. And he kept looking back out the door as if expecting to see something there. A cold shiver quickly traveled through her as she stared down at the unconscious man—at the closed, still eyes hiding the stormy gray her heart so adored.



“
The bullet wound is not my concern, Dan,” Doctor Sullivan said. Vaden stood in the doorway of the spare bedroom in the Valmont home intently listening. “He obviously has a severe head injury, else he’d be conscious by now. As I said before, I don’t want to move him. And with so many in the county down with illness…I can’t be here. You’re certain your girls don’t mind tending to Ransom until he wakes up or…or…” Dr. Sullivan looked to Vaden’s frightened eyes. “Until he wakes up?”

“
Of course they don’t mind, John. We’ll all help the boy. I just can’t believe this. Shot and wounded in my own store.” Dan wore an unfamiliar frown across his weathered face. He and Myra had understandably been horrified when they arrived home to find Yvonne and Vaden both in tears and Ransom Lake, shot and unconscious, in their spare room. Dan looked at Vaden then and, nodding, reaffirmed, “He’s a good man to step in front of ya like that, sweet pea.”

Vaden’s voice was lost in her emotions. She only nodded and wiped a tear that had traveled to her chin.

“
Come to bed, Vay,” Yvonne said quietly from the doorway late that evening. Vaden continued to sit in the chair at Ransom Lake’s bedside, staring down at him.

“
It’s my fault, Vonnie,” Vaden replied softly.

“
No. It’s not.” Yvonne quietly glided into the room, reached down, and affectionately hugged her sister. “It’s the fault of those silly children who were playing with a weapon. And I’m sure Mr. Lake will be fine. He’ll be up and about in no time, and you can resume your endless curiosities about him. Now, come along to bed. You need your rest. You don’t want him waking up and seeing you all baggy-eyed and pale, now do you?”

Vaden smiled at her sister and shook her head. “Is there never any other concern to you than your appearance?”

“
Never,” Yvonne giggled.

And so Vaden did take to her bed. However, she awoke every hour or so all through the night, tiptoeing quietly into the spare room to check on Ransom Lake. To make sure he did not have fever. To make sure he was there—that he was there and still alive.



Vaden was fidgety the next morning as she tended the mercantile. She wanted only to be with Ransom Lake, to sit next to him in case he should wake and need something. She was preoccupied when customers entered and needed help. When Jerome Clayton came in, however, she was so irritated that the emotion replaced her constant concern for a moment. He set a small box on the counter and greeted, “How are ya doin’ today, Miss Vaden?”

“
How am I doing? Didn’t you hear? It’s my fault,” she whispered with emotion, putting a hand to her bosom to stop her heart’s ache.

“
What? Ya mean what happened to Ransom Lake?” Jerome grabbed Vaden’s shoulders with his hands and looked steadily into her eyes. She shivered at his touch—not a pleasant shiver like she experienced whenever Ransom Lake appeared. Rather it was a disagreeable experience. “It was no fault of yours, Miss Vaden. None of it. Accidents happen, and this was just that…an accident.” Vaden shook her head in disagreement. “How is he, anyway?” Jerome asked.

“
He’s still unconscious. The doctor says he can’t tell how badly he may be hurt from striking his head on the counter. I just feel so responsible, Mr. Clayton. The bullet would’ve hit me. He protected me, and if he’s terribly wounded…I’ll…I’ll just…”

Suddenly Jerome pulled Vaden into his arms, embracing her tenderly as tears escaped her eyes. He stroked her hair softly and spoke quietly as he said, “Now, this wasn’t your fault, Vaden. Not at all. He’ll be fine. He’s as tough as horse meat.” Vaden pushed away immediately, wiping at her tears.

“
Look here,” Jerome began as he reached for the small box he’d set on the countertop. “Look what I brung you. This oughta cheer ya up right nice.” Handing her the box, he smiled and waited for her to open it. Vaden didn’t feel much like receiving a gift and having to thank anyone graciously for it. She opened the small box to find it filled with pieces of molasses taffy. “My mama pulled taffy yesterday, and I thought ya might like to try some. The sweetness will cheer ya a bit,” Jerome said.

Vaden smiled, for it was a thoughtful gift. “Thank you, Mr. Clayton. And thank your mother. I’m certain this will help to take my mind off the fact that Mr. Lake is lying in our spare room near to death and all because of me.” She brushed another tear from her eye.

“
Now, you call me Jerome, first of all, Miss Vaden. And quit blaming yourself for—”

“
Well, you
should
feel very thankful that he wasn’t killed on your behalf,” Belva Tibbits snapped as she entered the mercantile, obviously having overheard the last bits of conversation. Raylin was with her and immediately went to Vaden’s defense.

“
Really, Belva. Ya know it was no fault of Vaden’s.” Raylin smiled reassuringly at Vaden. “Besides, Doctor Sullivan said the bullet might have been fatal for Vaden if it had hit her. Mr. Lake will be all right. I’m certain of it.” Vaden smiled at Raylin in thanks for her encouragement.

“
I certainly hope so. I wouldn’t want to be the one to walk around with his death on my head for the rest of my life,” Belva mumbled as she glared hatefully at Vaden.

“
Belva,” Jerome began. Vaden looked to him and could tell he was angry. The whites of his eyes were reddened, and his hands clutched into fists at his sides. “First of all, the bullet wouldn’t have killed Vaden. She’s…she’s too strong a woman for that. And anyway, I, for one, think it would be an honor to take a bullet for her. I certainly wouldn’t think the same of the likes of you,” he growled.

Belva gasped indignantly, glared once more at Vaden, and said, “I won’t stand here and be insulted! I’ll just tell mother she can come into the mercantile and fill her own list.” She turned to leave, snapping at Raylin. “Come along, Raylin. I’ve been utterly insulted in this establishment, and I won’t stay another moment.”

“
You did the insulting, Belva. Go on home by yourself,” Raylin told her.

Belva’s bosom rose and fell dramatically with her angry breathing, and, shooting another hateful look at Vaden, she took her leave.