“Get your shit together, Frank. I make final decisions.”
“Decisions you’re not capable of!” Frank argued loudly. “Something tells me you aren’t in the right frame of mind.”
“No.” George spun to him. “I’ll tell you who’s not in the right frame of mind. Joe. And if it wasn’t for you and your loud mouth, this community would see how much better it would be without his tyrant ass running things!”
Dean saw it as soon as they emerged. The smile from his face fell when he saw Frank. “Shit.” He took off running when he saw Frank drop his shoulder harness and charge full force to George who was reaching for his own revolver. “Frank no!”
Frank caught sight of a running Dean as his hands reached forward, and George drew his revolver in defense.
“Frank, no!” Dean leaped forward giving it all he had, charging into the wall of strength that nearly grabbed George. “Don’t.”
“Back off, Dean, you don’t know what he said.” Frank pressed ahead.
“Frank.” Dean put his face close to Frank’s speaking lowly. “Don’t, don’t go after him.” He tried with all of his small body’s weight to keep Frank back. “Don’t.”
“Dean . . .”
“No, Frank, listen.” Another inch, Dean managed to get him back another inch. “Don’t give him what he wants. He wants you out. We need you. He’ll shoot you or oust you. You have no solid reason to take him down.” He saw Frank kept staring at George. “If you make this mistake, this will be the last time you see the inside of these walls. Trust me.”
Frank stepped back a foot and took the shoulder harness handed to him by Henry. He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Is it me? Why do I feel like I’m going overboard.”
“No Frank, it’s not you. But this won’t be for long. I promise you, not for long.” Dean finally dropped the hand that pressed against Frank’s chest. “Walk away. It’ll be over soon.”
Frank clenched his jaws and adjusted his harness. His hand swung outward past Dean, pointing to George. “You’re lucky. But let one person in this community get hurt because of your lack of judgment and you’re done.” Frank stepped further back. “You’re done.” With his warning, Frank turned and walked away.
Along with the breath he held, Dean let his shoulders drop in relief. The tension of the moment had ceased. Silence engulfed. The calm before the storm. Dean braced himself. The rising conflict between Frank and George wasn’t over, it was merely on pause.
^^^^
It was an outburst of laughter during their walk on the semi-empty streets of Beginnings. Frank walked behind Ellen, staying almost close enough to touch. His hands were folded behind his back, as he spoke to her and leaned down to her. His face reflected the happiness he felt as he took an evening walk with her.
“Frank, I can’t believe you remembered that.” Ellen shook her head, still laughing.
“Please, that was our first vacation. We had what? Sixty dollars between us, so we hopped in the car and drove, and when we were halfway out of money we came back home.”
“Where did we end up?”
Frank scratched the bridge of his nose thinking. “Wasn’t it Barnesville Ohio or something?” He shrugged. “I don’t know. It was fun.” He noticed they approached Dean’s house. “This was fun.”
“We just talked.” Ellen stopped walking.
“No. You talked me through a bad time. It took hours, but you did it.” Frank leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I just wished you would have told me sooner how hard George was coming down on you. Maybe I wouldn’t have performed sexually favors on him.” She snickered.
With a breath, Frank shook his head. “Can you believe he insinuated that to me? He’ll deny it, you know that.”
“Yeah, but I believe you.” Ellen’s voice softened. “I always believe you.”
“You’re the only one. And . . .” Frank tapped his hand on the iron railing. “Go in. I have to get home. Josh should be back from his little perimeter shift.”
“Tell him I said hello.” Ellen stepped up the first step. “Goodnight, Frank.”
Reaching out, Frank slid two fingers across her cheek as he stepped back with a slight smile and a wink. “Night.”
Ellen stood on the step watching Frank until he disappeared from her view.
Two words came to Dean’s mind as he lay on his bed, pillows propped up behind him, reading a book--She’s back?. He lowered the book to the sound of footsteps walking up his stairs. He peered at the clock. “No way.” His eyes shifted to the bedroom door. “El?”
“Dean?” Ellen smiled, mocking him.
“Everything O.K.? I mean, with Frank. You’re back awfully early.”
“He wanted to get home. But . . . he’s doing better.” She sat on the bed and took off her shoes. “What are you reading?” She scooted up on the bed sitting next to him.
“A book on DNA.” He saw the less than impressed look on her face.
Ellen grabbed the book from his hand and began to flip pages. “Dean, this is not light reading.”
“Why are you back? You’ve never come home early when you were with him before.”
“It’s a new me.” She gave him back his book then rolled on her side to face him. “And what did you think? I’d calm him down with sex?” She saw he didn’t answer. “Dean. We’re building. Remember?”
“Ah, yes.” Dean nodded, rolled his body some and opened the night stand. He pulled out Rev. Bob’s book. “Your instruction manual. On . . . friendship.”
Ellen took the book. “And isn’t Frank witty with that, no ‘I’ in friendship.”
“Yeah. A pip. I thought of that you know.”
“You did not.” Ellen laughed hitting Dean with the paperback. “Look at us, Dean. Reading in bed like the old married couple. Aren’t we cute?” Ellen propped the pillow behind her.
“Which one of us sleeps on the couch tonight?” Dean asked.
“You don’t have to. You can sleep right next to me. As long as you don’t try to cuddle and surprise me.” She raised one eyebrow.
Dean started to laugh, but stopped when he heard Frank’s voice.
“El!” he yelled from downstairs.
Ellen faced the door. “Up here.”
Dean sat up. “No, don’t tell him up here. We’re on the bed. He’s gonna get . . . Hey Frank.”
“Dean.” Frank approached Ellen, his face looked different. He looked worried. “Is Josh here?”
“No.” Ellen asked as she slid off the bed walking around to him. “Frank what’s wrong?”
“I had him scheduled to work until ten. I went home. He’s not there. I called John Matoose. He said Josh never showed for his shift.”
“Frank, calm down.” Ellen placed her hands on his arms. “What could have happened to him? This is Beginnings.”
“No. How could I do this?” Frank shook his head. “How could I not check on him all day?”
Ellen closed her eyes. “A lot has happened. When is the last time you saw him?”
“Um.” Frank tried to think. “I saw him right before two. He was stopping to see my dad. I have to find him.” Saying no more, Frank turned and left the bedroom.
Ellen and Dean followed him.
As Ellen reached the last step, she ran forward stopping Frank from going out the door. “Frank, is there any chance he could have left like I did?”
“No El. Especially not today. Things are tightly watched. I have to find him.” Frank looked panicked. “I have a bad feeling El. A really bad feeling. This isn’t like Josh. God!” Frank ran his hand harshly across his face. “I feel like the worst parent. What if he’s hurt, El? What if he’s fallen and he’s laying somewhere hurt? What if he’s been laying there for hours, hoping someone can help him?” He saw Dean through the corner of his eyes, grabbing his coat. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to help you look for him” Dean straightened his jacket collar. “If by
some slim chance he is hurt, you’ll need me. Get some flashlights, Frank. We’ll search for him until we find him. All night if we have to. And I’m not letting you refuse my help.”
“I’m not.” Frank held his hand out to Ellen, placing it on her cheek. “I’ll be back.”
Ellen grabbed his hand holding it to her face. “You guys will find him. He’ll be fine.”
“He has to be El, or I’ll never forgive myself.” He kissed her quickly and headed to the door. “Ready, Dean?”
“Yep.” Dean looked back one more time at Ellen then followed Frank out. He saw it, though she hid it well from Frank. Dean saw the look in Ellen’s eyes. She too was worried.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Frank squinted his tired eyes to the eastern sky. The sky was just starting to grow light as he and Dean finished their climb to the top of the eastern section. “Josh!” Frank called out. His voice was losing its enthusiasm and gaining raspiness from calling out all night.
“You think he’s up here?” Dean asked. A slip of the rocks and his foot slid to his right.
“I don’t know.” Frank looked around. “Josh! . . . Where else can he be? We’ve checked everywhere. We’ve been searching for almost seven hours. This is the last place.”
“But what would he be doing up here?”
Frank shrugged. “Maybe hiding. He does that once in a while, but he always comes when I call. Josh!”
“I can’t believe no one has seen him since yesterday afternoon. He has to be somewhere for crying out loud, this is . . . ” With the sound of shuffling feet, Dean cried out as the rocky hillside began to give away and he slipped right along with the rocks that let loose. It all happened so fast. Feeling the terrifying helplessness of air beneath his feet, Dean, in a desperate attempt to stop his fall, reached up. His fingers clenched immediately to the ground above him gripping with a hold he did not have completely.
“I have you.” Frank’s strong hand wrapped immediately around his wrist. “I told you it was dangerous.”
“You aren’t kidding. I could have been killed.”
“Nah, it’s only fifteen feet. Just crippled.” Frank began to pull him up.
“That’s good to know.” Feeling brave enough, Dean looked down see how far he was from the ground. “Oh my God. Stop.”
“Stop?”
“Lower me Frank.” Dean’s spoke with a drop to his voice.
“Why would I . . .”
“Lower me down there.”
No. No! Frank’s heart raced. It pounded so loudly in his ears that every other sound around him became lost in a distance. It couldn’t be. As he slid his stomach forward on the ground to lower Dean, his eyes peered over the small cliff and he saw what Dean saw. There close to the edge, at the bottom of the rocky hillside, buried partially under dust and small rocks, was Josh. Josh lay on his side, one arm above his head, his eyes closed. “No!” Frank released Dean. “No.” Lifting himself to a kneel, Frank pounded his fist to the ground. He dropped his head in sadness, his forehead pressing against the cold hard earth.
Dean stumbled as he picked himself up running over to Josh. A sickening feeling hit him as he knelt, brushing away the rocks and dirt from Josh’s bruised and bloodied face. “Frank!”
“Don’t tell me. Please don’t tell me.”
“Frank, I need you down here. He’s alive!”
Frank peered over the cliff. Dean looked back up at him, a smile on his face as he lifted Josh’s head. Frank immediately slid his body over and dropped down. In a tripping, yet excited manner, he raced over to Dean. His trembling hand reached down and touched Josh’s face.
“He’s alive, Frank. He’s alive!”
^^^^
It was so loud in the early morning silence of Beginnings. Henry could hear her. He knew it was Ellen. The thumping sound. Soles of her shoes hitting against the pavement. Steady, moving fast, growing louder, and then he saw her. Ellen was running, running faster than he had ever seen her. He moved from the front of the clinic to meet her in the street. “El . . .”
“Henry, where is he?” She asked in a panic.
“They’re on their way with him.”
“Oh, my God.” She held up her bangs looking out into the empty street. “What happened?”
“El.” Henry pulled her into him. “Let’s go inside.”
“I can’t.” She moved tighter into him, trying to stop her body from shaking. “I knew when they didn’t come back something was wrong. Henry, what did they tell you?”
“The same thing I told you. They found him and were bringing him to the clinic.” He pulled her back slightly. “Let’s go in and wait.” He slid his hand down to hers, grabbing it.
Ellen knew as soon as they stepped into the clinic doors and saw Andrea and Jason waiting, wearing scrubs, that it was bad. “Andrea.” She released Henry’s hand. “What did they tell you? Please tell me.”
“Ellen, Dean said he’s been hurt bad. He’s unconscious and they were bringing him in.”
“Oh no.” Ellen covered her face.
“Calm down we don’t . . .” The crashing of the clinic doors drew both of their attention. Frank came pummeling in, Josh in his arms.
Ellen ran up to him, panic hit her as she saw Josh’s arms dangling over Frank’s. “Frank, Frank is he . . .”
Frank shook his head, laying Josh on the cart.
Andrea immediately, penlight in hand began to examine Josh. “Dean, what do we have?”
“Pulse and respiration are weak. Major fall, Andrea.” Dean took off his coat and stood next to her. “Three, maybe four broken ribs. Left lung punctured. Head injury and definite sign of internal bleeding.”
Andrea placed her stethoscope to his chest. “You’re right about the lung. Left one is gone. Let’s get him down to O.R. Stat. Get cleaned up, Doctor. Jason and I will begin.”
“Right away.” Dean began to follow, but was stopped by Frank.
“Dean. Thank you.”
“No problem, Frank.”
“Dean, take care of my kid. Please.”
With a closed mouth, Dean nodded and backed up.
Ellen could barely breathe as she watched Dean run down toward the operating rooms. There wasn’t a part of her body that didn’t shake, inside or out. Seeing Josh, so helpless, so motionless, broke Ellen’s heart. As her head dropped, she felt Frank’s hand lay firm on her shoulder. Silently, she turned to him, and fell into his arms.
With so much worry, Frank and Ellen did the only thing they could do . . . wait.
^^^^
“Here’s where we stand.” Dean, still wearing his operating room garb, approached an anxious and waiting Ellen and Frank. “Josh is stable but he’s far from out of the woods. We controlled the internal bleeding. But our main concern right now is the head injury. He has a fractured skull and now there is some swelling around the brain. We’ve relieved some of the pressure, but right now it’s just a wait and pray situation. I’m sorry.”
Frank raised his eyes. “Will he die, Dean?”
Dean didn’t answer.
Ellen did. “No Frank. They did everything they could. He’s gonna be fine. I believe that. I really believe that.” She clung tightly to his arm.
“Right now . . .” Dean continued. “They’re bringing him to a room. You can see him, but I think you, Frank, should go home and get some sleep.” He saw Frank shake his head. “Don’t argue with me. While everything is stable, you rest. You still have this community to protect and you aren’t going to be any good walking around like a zombie.”
Frank took a deep breath. “Maybe you’re right. But how could this much happen to him? It wasn’t that far of a drop.”
“I was hoping you could answer that.” Dean said. “You know the area. Is there anywhere up there he could have gotten hurt, then when he was trying to make it back to us, he fell down the hill?”
“Possibly.” Frank answered. “I uh, I can’t think now. But why do you ask that?”
“The fractu
red skull, broken ribs, hip injury, they all are on the left side. Indicating he fell on that side. I mean, that’s the side he was laying on. So . . .” Dean paused with question in his eyes. “Where did the injuries from the right come from? He has a lot of them. We think he fell up there somewhere and stumbled over that hillside.”
Frank raised his hands. He didn’t have an answer or a comment for Dean. At that moment he couldn’t think. His mind was too filled up with how Josh was right there and then.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Finding Josh the day before. Joe’s lack of recovery. Frank’s lack of sleep and inability to concentrate on his work. All things that made George smile. He held his loaded revolver as he took his position. He peered at the second hand of his watch as it moved in a clicking motion to the twelve. George was ready. It was perfect. It was time.
^^^^
Dean stopped in his stride as he walked into Josh’s room. Frank stood at the foot of the bed, holding on to the edge, watching the young boy. “Frank, you look like shit.”
Frank shifted his eyes, eyes that were usually dark, were even darker. “Thanks.”
“Have you been sleeping at all?”
“Yeah.” Frank reached forward grabbing Josh’s foot. “No change?”
“I wouldn’t say that. The swelling on the brain has gone down. It’s a good sign.” Dean closed one eye and nodded. “I really think he’ll come to in another day or so.”
Frank’s face finally smiled. “Really?”
Dean held up two crossed fingers. “Let’s hope.” He stepped back. “I’ll leave you alone . . . oh.” He snapped his finger. “I apologize. I do have good news. I think, no, I know, Joe is starting to get feeling in his right little finger. I was touching him with the lance and it twitched.”
“You think he’s coming back?”
“Yes I do. I’ve been checking his blood levels. That . . . virus seems to be decreasing in strength.”
“You aren’t giving up on that, are you? I mean, even if my dad beats it, someone else may not be strong enough to.”
The Big Ten: The First Ten Books of the Beginnings Series Page 149
