Montana
“Hold on, Gavin,” Joshua Beckett shouted over the wind’s howl. “We’re almost there.”
The sky above was a bruised purple, threatening an early winter storm as Joshua Beckett urged his horse faster.
The rugged Montana terrain blurred into a brown and green smear, rocks and scrub brush flying past like the flung toys of an angry child.
In his arms, twelve-year-old Gavin lay curled against Joshua’s chest, his face ashen, his breathing shallow.
“Faster, faster,” Joshua muttered, more to himself than to Gavin, in an attempt to urge his dapple-gray gelding on.
Every jolt and bounce of the horse was a dagger to Joshua’s heart.
He knew the pain Gavin must be in, recalling the broken bone he suffered when he was about the boy’s age.
It wasn’t just the physical hurt gnawing at him.
The fear in the boy’s eyes, the same fear he’d seen in other orphans’ faces knowing they were alone in the world, clawed at Joshua’s heart.
Behind him, Annalee rode hard on her sorrel mare, her usually bright and mischievous eyes now clouded with worry. She was the heart of the Beckett family, always quick with a smile or a kind word, but today, her face was a mask of grim determination.
“Josh!” she called, her voice snatched away by the wind. “How is he?”
He glanced back, slowing enough to let her catch up. “Gavin’s tough. He’ll make it.”
They didn’t slow as they hit the outskirts of Mystic, the small town’s dirt streets nearly empty, save for a few curious onlookers. Annalee bit her lip, her face tightening with each gallop.
Her mare skidded to a halt, almost colliding with Joshua’s gelding as he dismounted with Gavin in his arms.
The bell above the door of Wainwright’s Clinic jingled as Joshua burst inside. Warmth from the wood stove slapped his cold cheeks, and the sudden change in temperature made Gavin stir and whimper.
“Doc!” Joshua yelled. “We need help!”
Doctor Caleb Wainwright emerged from a back room, tying a clean, white apron around his waist. His dark eyes took in the scene with practiced calm. He motioned for Joshua to follow as he walked toward the examination table.
“What happened?” Wainwright asked, already assessing Gavin with a clinical detachment.
“Bucked off his horse. Arm’s broken, and he’s got a gash on his head,” Joshua said, his breath coming in ragged bursts. He gently laid Gavin on the table, then stepped back, running a hand through his disheveled hair.
“Please, Doc,” Joshua said, his voice cracking with desperation. “Do whatever you can for him.”
Annalee burst through the door, her cheeks flushed from the cold and the rush. “I tied up the horses,” she said, then froze as she saw Gavin on the table, unconscious. “Is he—”
“He’s in shock,” Wainwright interrupted, not unkindly. He worked with swift, sure movements, splinting Gavin’s arm with the precision of a carpenter. Annalee moved to stand next to Joshua, her hands wringing together like a washwoman’s.
The room was silent except for the crackle of the wood stove and the occasional rustle of doctor’s tools. Annalee’s eyes were wide, her mouth a thin line of suppressed emotion. Joshua put a hand on her shoulder, and she leaned into him.
Wainwright finished tying the last bandage and stepped back, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “He’ll be all right,” he said, his eyes meeting Joshua’s with quiet reassurance.
“The three of us were up in Diamond Canyon, looking for strays,” Joshua explained. “We thought it’d be an easy ride out and back.”
Annalee sighed. “It was my idea to take Gavin along. He’s been itching to do more around the ranch.”
Wainwright listened as he cleaned his hands, his expression unreadable. “And the arm? Just a fall?”
“The cry of a mountain lion spooked his horse,” Joshua said. “It bucked, and he went flying. We got him here as quick as we could.”
Annalee’s eyes filled with tears. “He was so scared. I thought—” She broke off, unable to finish the thought.
The doctor walked over to them, placing a hand on Annalee’s shoulder. “It’s not your fault,” he said, his tone making clear he spoke from experience.
Joshua stepped out into a brisk wind, the threat of an early winter becoming more real. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the bracing chill, then let it out in a long, weary sigh. The boardwalk creaked beneath his boots as he paced, tugging up his collar to ward off the cold.
“Joshua,” a familiar voice called. He turned to see Faith Goodell, her blonde hair peeking out from beneath a wool hat. She hurried toward him, concern etched on her delicate features. “I heard someone say you brought Gavin in. What happened?”
“He took a bad fall off his horse. Broke his arm.”
Her hand flew to her mouth. “Is he going to be all right?”
“Doc says he’ll be fine, just needs some time to heal.” He rubbed his neck. “Annalee and I feel terrible. He’s like family, you know.”
“You’ve always looked after him. Your family looks after all the boys you’ve taken in.”
“Yeah. He’s one of us, as are all of them.” He felt the weight of his words sink deep into his chest. “We’ve had Gavin for so long, it’s like he’s a Beckett now.”
“Please let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“Thanks, Faith.”
She tilted her head, studying him. “Joshua, you know I care about all of you. The boys included.”
His thoughts flickered to all the times she’d come to the ranch. They always spent a good deal of time talking. He liked those talks, the way she questioned everything, the way she listened.
“These boys,” Joshua continued, shifting uncomfortably. “They come to us with nothing. No family, no prospects. We try to give them a place, teach them the work, send them to school.”
“It’s a lot to take on. I’ve always admired what your family does.”
“We’re doing our best to give them a future.” He glanced back toward the clinic. “Sometimes, life can be pretty rough.”
The door of the clinic swung open, and Annalee stepped out onto the boardwalk. “Josh, the doc wants to talk to you.”
He started toward the door, then paused and looked back at Faith. “Thanks again.”
He entered the clinic, leaving them on the boardwalk. Annalee regarded Faith with a curious tilt of her head. “So,” she said, dragging out the word. “I see you and Josh talking a lot these days.”
Faith shrugged, noncommittal. “We’re friends.”
“Friends,” Annalee repeated, a sly smile creeping onto her lips. “That’s nice.”
The door opened, and Joshua reappeared. “Doc’s giving Gavin something for the pain.”
As if on cue, a weak voice called from inside the clinic. “Joshua?”
They peeked through the doorway to see Gavin, pale and groggy, cradling his newly cast arm. “Does this mean I don’t have to go to school for a while?”
Annalee laughed. “You’re not getting out of your numbers that easy.”
“He’s a tough boy,” Faith said. “He’s going to be fine.”
Annalee gave a slow shake of her head. “Gavin was in so much pain.”
Faith’s eyes flickered with understanding. “Accidents happen to all of us, Annie. It wasn’t anyone’s fault.”
Joshua studied Faith. He knew her kind words to his sister meant more than Faith realized.
“Is Gavin staying here in town?” Faith asked.
Joshua shook his head. “We’ll take him back to the ranch. Doc says he’ll be fine, as long as he takes it easy for a bit.”
He lingered, looking back at Faith, his mind a tangle of thoughts and unspoken words.
“Faith,” Joshua said, causing Annalee to stop from entering the clinic. “Thanks. Your support means a lot right now.”
Faith took a step toward him. “Just remember, you don’t have to do everything alone.”
Annalee glanced between Faith and Joshua, noting the unspoken connection, the subtle shift in their dynamic. She raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“Come on,” Joshua said to Annalee. “Let’s get back to Gavin.”
The warmth of the wood stove cut through their layers of clothing. Outside, a small crowd had begun to gather, drawn by the news of the accident.
Joshua glanced through the window, casting a look at the gathering crowd, his thoughts already miles away in the mountains where the accident occurred.
Inside the clinic, the tension returned, settling over Joshua and Annalee like an unwelcome guest. They took seats near the examination table where Gavin lay, his chest rising and falling in a drugged sleep.
Annalee broke the silence. “Do you remember when you broke your arm? It was after church, and you were trying to climb old man Johnson’s white oak tree?”
Joshua smiled. “I cried like a baby. Gavin’s handling this a lot better than I did.”
“You were six,” Annalee reminded him, a touch of fondness in her voice. “And Ma made everything better with a kiss and an apple pie. Who’s going to kiss Gavin’s broken arm and bake him a pie?”
“Ma will. The same as always.”
Annalee leaned her head on Joshua’s shoulder.
Doctor Wainwright returned from the office. He checked the bump on Gavin’s head, adjusted the sling, and made a few notes. Joshua and Annalee watched in silence, their eyes tracking the doctor’s every move.
He turned to them, his expression softening. “Gavin’s stable now. The splint and cast will hold until the bone starts to knit. Make sure he doesn’t use the arm for anything strenuous.”
“We need to get him back to the ranch,” Joshua said. “I’ll get a wagon from Josiah.”
“Take it slow and keep him propped up, he should be fine,” Wainwright said. “No chores for a few days. And he’ll need plenty of rest. The pain will be worse before it gets better.”
Annalee bit her lip. “What about school? He and a couple other boys ride into town each day.”
The doctor sighed, considering. “He can go, but only if he’s up to it. I know Lilian schools them when the weather’s bad. Perhaps she can take over for the first week. Afterward, he should be fine riding to school.”
“That’ll work. Thank you,” Joshua said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. “We owe you.” He reached out to grasp the doctor’s outstretched hand.
“We really appreciate everything you’ve done. You’re always here when we need you,” Annalee said.
Wainwright waved a hand dismissively, but a trace of a smile tugged at his lips. “It’s my job. Just take good care of him.”
“We will,” Joshua promised. “He’s in good hands.”
They prepared to leave, bundling up in their coats and scarves. The warmth of the clinic had seeped into their bones, giving them a brief respite from the harsh wind waiting outside.
Annalee touched Joshua’s arm. “I’ll wait with Gavin. You tell Josiah at the livery to ready a wagon.”
The siblings looked at each other, and he gave a reluctant nod.
By the time he returned with the wagon, Gavin was ready to get back to the ranch. Annalee helped Gavin into the back of the wagon, covering him with a blanket before climbing out to mount her horse.
Joshua tied his horse to the back of the wagon before climbing onto the seat.
Gavin’s eyes fluttered open and he glanced around. “Where’s my horse?”
“I took him to the livery. Josiah will take real good care of him until I can come back and get him.”
“Okay.”
“Just rest, Gav,” Annalee said. “We’ll get you back to the ranch in no time.”
Joshua shifted to look back at him. “Remember when you first came to the ranch, scared and silent? Look at you now, causing all this ruckus.”
Gavin tried to smile but drifted back into a restless slumber. Joshua glanced over his shoulder every few minutes to check on him. He was already considering who would pick up Gavin’s chores for the next few weeks. The important matter was ensuring Gavin healed properly.
As if reading her brother’s mind, Annalee reined her horse closer to the wagon. “We’ll get through this. We always do.”
Joshua nodded, knowing she was right. The Beckett family had faced numerous challenges over the years, and they’d met each one with the same resolve. This was just another hurdle, he told himself.