Last Breath (A Gideon Johann Western Book 5)

by Duane Boehm

  The pallbearers carried the coffin to the buckboard wagon and the procession headed to Gideon’s place for the burial. Gideon kept checking the sky. Clouds had formed and looked as if rain could begin at any minute. He figured the heavens would start pouring at the gravesite for one final insult.

  After arriving at the homestead, the coffin was placed beside the hole as everyone crowded inside the wrought iron fence surrounding the family plot. Ethan stood at the head of the grave and waited for the people to get into place.

  “Let us pray. Dear God, we ask that the angel’s guide Tess Barlow to Heaven and look after her. We ask that in the coming days, weeks, and years that you bring healing to her family and that they take comfort in knowing that they will be reunited with Tess in Heaven again someday. We ask these things in your name. Amen,” Ethan prayed.

  As the ropes lowered the coffin into the hole, Joann threw herself onto the grass and started pounding the ground with her fists.

  “No. No. No. You can’t have my baby, God. She’s mine and you can’t have her. This isn’t fair. She never got a chance at life,” Joann screamed.

  Gideon, fearing that his daughter would break her wrists, scooped Joann around the waist and lifted her off the ground. Joann shifted her weight so that her feet touched the ground and broke free of Gideon’s grasp. She spun towards him and began savagely beating his chest.

  “Daddy, my baby is gone. Daddy, for God’s sake help me, please,” she pleaded.

  Wrapping his arms around his daughter, Gideon enveloped her in a bear hug. His pain for her seemed unbearable and he locked his knees for fearing of crumbling to the ground with her. He tried to squeeze the hurt away. “I know. I know. I’m here for you. I’ll always be here for you,” he said as Joann sobbed uncontrollably.

  Doc left his family and walked over to Gideon and Joann. He pulled a bottle of laudanum from his coat and handed it to Gideon.

  “Get her to take a couple of swigs of this. Just keep the bottle, but make sure that it is used judiciously,” Doc said.

  Gideon waited until Joann had cried herself out before handing her the bottle. “Doc says to take a couple of sips of this. It’ll make you feel better,” he said.

  Joann took two sips and made a disgusting face as she swallowed. She never spoke, but walked over and hugged Zack.

  The crowd said their goodbyes to the family and began walking back to their horses and wagons to leave.

  “What now?” Gideon asked Abby.

  “We’ll go back to Zack and Joann’s place. I’m going stay there tonight with Winnie and Chance. You can go home later,” Abby answered.

  Ethan walked over and pulled Gideon to the side.

  “Don’t be a stranger. I’ll be over to visit some. For God’s sake, come to me if you need to talk. Okay?” Ethan said.

  Trying to smile, Gideon said, “Yes, sir.”

  By the time they reached the cabin, Joann sat on the wagon seat half asleep. Zack helped her down and into the cabin. She offered no resistance as he led her to the bedroom.

  Gideon motioned Zack outside upon the young man’s return from the bedroom. They walked out onto the porch and sat in the swing.

  “I feel I’ve ignored you since all this has happened. I’ve been busy taking care of everyone else. I want to know how you’re doing and let you know I’m here for you,” Gideon said.

  “You know, Gideon, I don’t really know how I’m doing. I’ve been so worried about Joann that I haven’t spent much time thinking about things. I’m kind of numb right now,” Zack said.

  “I can understand that, but I know that it won’t last. Losing Tess will hit you when you’re not expecting it. You’re bound to do some grieving. Take it from someone that knows and don’t try to avoid it. It’s like an open wound that festers if you don’t. You know I think of you as a son. Just come to me if you need to talk,” Gideon said and patted Zack on the leg.

  “I will. I think I’ll go rest,” Zack said as he stood.

  Zack held the door for Abby as she walked outside and he went into the cabin. She sat down beside Gideon.

  “Are you going to be okay alone?” she asked.

  “I will. I could use a little alone time anyway. I haven’t had much time to think,” he said.

  “I know you haven’t. There’s going to be a lot of hard days ahead. I’m worried about everybody,” Abby said.

  “What about you?” Gideon asked.

  “I’ll be okay as long as you, Zack, and Joann are okay. I think as long as I pour my hurting into making sure Joann gets back on her feet, then I’ll be fine,” she said.

  Tears welled up in Gideon’s eyes. “You know, I really fell for that little girl – easier than I ever imagined. This is going to hurt for a long, long time and I’m never going to forget that smile,” he said.

  Abby wiped her eyes and leaned against Gideon. “I know you did. I loved seeing you hold Tess. You looked good with a little girl in your arms,” she said.

  Rubbing his scar, Gideon took a big breath and blew out slowly. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore today,” he said.

  “Go on home. You can come for us in the wagon tomorrow evening,” Abby said.

  Gideon gave Abby a hug and kiss before climbing up on the wagon and heading home. The slow monotonous pace made thinking way too easy. His mind raced over all that had happened in the last two days and he worried about each member of the family. By the time that he reached home, his nerves were on edge.

  He unhitched the wagon and turned the horses out before walking to his saddle. Rummaging through his saddlebag, he pulled out the whiskey bottle and took a long swig. He threw the saddle onto Buck and rode out. The horse hadn’t been ridden for two days and Gideon let him run to his heart’s content towards a ridge. Gideon pulled Buck to stop when they reached the top and climbed down. He looked out to the west, watching the sinking sun. Words tried to bubble to the surface and he stood there until they were ready to explode out of him.

  “God, did you take Tess to make my family suffer the way I made that poor family suffer back in the war? Is that what this is all about? Weren’t all the years of my life that I wasted enough? And I asked for forgiveness with all my heart and turned my life around. Wasn’t that enough? I begged you to take me instead of Tess. Surely a merciful God wouldn’t take the life of a baby to cause a family to suffer. If my sin is not paid in full, what more do you want? Make me suffer, but please leave my family be. What more do you want?” Gideon shouted towards the sky.

  Chapter 21

  Waking before light, Gideon got up and dressed. He wasn’t sure if sleeping alone or the funeral had caused his poor night of rest, but either way he’d done a lot of tossing and turning. His limbs felt as if they had weights attached to them as he moved sluggishly through the cabin.

  Riding into town, he beat Finnie to the jail and had the coffee ready by the time the Irishman walked into the office.

  “How are you doing?” Finnie asked as he poured himself a cup.

  “I didn’t sleep worth a damn and I’m too foggy to think about much of anything yet. Just waiting for the coffee to kick in,” Gideon answered.

  “You know if there’s anything I can do, just holler,” Finnie said.

  A tired smile crossed Gideon’s face. “I know and I appreciate it,” he said.

  About mid–morning, Marcus Hanson, Carter Mason, Andrew Stallings, and Lewis Wise walked into the jail. All four men were ranchers with big spreads in the area and carried a lot of weight in the community. Gideon leaned back in his chair and rubbed his scar. He had no doubts that the ranchers were upset about something and not merely visiting the jail to offer their condolences.

  “Gentlemen, what do I owe this pleasure?” Gideon asked as they surrounded his desk. Finnie had left the jail and Gideon felt a bit overmatched by the ranchers.

  Andrew Stallings took a step forward and cleared his throat. “Sheriff, on behalf of the rancher’s association, we want to offer our condolences over the
loss of your granddaughter,” he said in a halting voice.

  “Thank you. But that’s not why you came here. What’s up?” Gideon asked.

  “I’ve had some cattle rustled, and as you know, it’s been a problem lately. Us ranchers are growing concerned that you’re not doing enough to catch the men responsible. We’re here to make our concerns known,” Andrew said.

  Gideon ran his hand through his mop of hair and let out a sigh. He was exhausted, grieving, and in no mood to put up with a bunch of high and mighty ranchers questioning is competency. “Let me guess – the missing herd hadn’t been checked on for a few days,” Gideon said with a touch of sarcasm.

  “That’s true, but that doesn’t mean you should just let rustlers run around stealing our cattle willy–nilly,” Andrew said.

  “When in the hell did you decide that I let rustlers run free? I would think by now that you ranchers would figure out to check your herds once a day. It’s not like the rustlers can just make cattle disappear unless of course they have a three day head start at it,” Gideon said testily.

  “I tried keeping a ranch hand with the herd and it got him killed,” Marcus reminded the sheriff.

  “I know you did. I wasn’t recommending that, but most of you can have someone check a herd once a day. If it’s too far of a distance, have a cowboy make camp somewhere in between your herds. And another thing – tell your ranch hands not to be talking about your cattle in the saloon. I still think that’s how this is all happening,” Gideon said.

  “Regardless, we expect you to get this resolved. Come election time you wouldn’t want all us ranchers thinking you weren’t fit for reelection,” Andrew said.

  Gideon shut his eyes and rubbed his chin. Every fiber of his being wanted to explode in rage at the rancher and he knew no good would come from the outburst and he didn’t have the energy for it anyway. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Andrew, I think it best that you leave right now,” he said.

  Andrew and Carter exchanged glances.

  “Come on, we’ve made our point,” Carter said.

  All of the men walked out of the jail except for Marcus. He sat down on the edge of a chair. “Gideon, I want you to know how sorry I am over the loss of the baby. I never made it out there to see her while she was still alive and I can’t tell you how much I regret my tardiness. It’s weighed heavily on me the last couple of days,” he said.

  “I appreciate your thoughts. I know that when Joann gets to feeling better that she’ll take comfort in knowing that you were at the funeral,” Gideon said.

  “Is Joann going to be alright?” Marcus asked.

  “I don’t know, Marcus. I really don’t know. She’s taking it mighty hard,” Gideon said.

  Marcus sat rubbing his forehead and didn’t speak for a moment. “Okay. I best be going. And Gideon, I know that you’ll catch the rustlers. We haven’t been much help to you. You take care,” he said as he slowly made his way to the door.

  “You take care too,” Gideon said as a farewell.

  Finnie walked back into the jail a short time later. “John Hamilton and his family are about to leave. Mary already said her goodbyes. I expect we should do the same,” he said.

  “Yes, we should,” Gideon said as he stood and put on his hat. “We’ve had some more cattle stolen. I know I haven’t been any use the last few days, but have you heard anything at the saloon?”

  “No, I would’ve already told you if I had. Cowboys talk all the time. I don’t know how I can figure out which one is up to no good,” Finnie said as he followed Gideon out the door.

  Doc and the family stood at the spot where the stagecoach would be arriving. Gideon noted the dour expressions on their faces. For a family from back east that was thousands of miles from their home and out of their element, and an old doctor that had spent his life alone, nobody seemed thrilled with the parting. Gideon smiled at their apparel. All of them were dressed in clothes bought in Last Stand and suited for the west. Even Kate had taken to wearing dresses more practical for a rancher’s wife than that of a banker’s.

  Gideon and Finnie walked up and Gideon shook John and Henry’s hands.

  “I hate to see you leaving again. You all look like you belong here,” Gideon said to John.

  “We have to get back home, but we’re going to miss this place. I think I could make a ranch family out of them,” John said.

  “I’d say so. The way Henry shoots a gun, I’m sure I could find a use for him. I don’t know if Last Stand could tolerate another bossy woman like Kate though,” Gideon teased.

  Kate stepped up and kissed Gideon on the cheek. “I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ll be praying for you and your family. I’m glad I got to meet you,” she said.

  “Thank you, Kate,” Gideon said.

  Finnie shook hands with the father and son. “We’re all going to miss you. You’ve made our grumpy old doctor almost tolerable these last few weeks. I shudder to think what things will be like now with you gone,” he said.

  Kate gave Finnie a kiss. “I wish we could have stayed for the birth of your baby. I want a good long letter from you and Mary telling me all about that child. Promise?” she said.

  “On my Irish honor,” Finnie said and put his hand to his heart.

  “Let’s let the good doctor have some time alone with his family before they leave,” Gideon said and the two men departed.

  With the stagecoach due to arrive in minutes, Doc hugged his three grandchildren and told each that he loved them. He had already steeled himself for the moment and quickly swiped the moisture from his eyes with the sleeve of his coat. Looking at the three, he still marveled at the depth of love and affection he felt towards them. His body actually ached thinking about their departure.

  “We’re going to miss you, Grandpa. I wish we could stay forever,” Rose said.

  “Me too, dear. Me too,” Doc said as he brushed his hand down Rose’s cheek.

  Kate embraced the old doctor. “Meeting you and seeing Last Stand has exceeded all of my expectations by a good bit. I love you and I think it’s time that you bring a young doctor into your practice so that you can get away. I know a place back east that would love to have you visit. You better take care of yourself because I plan on seeing you many more times,” she said.

  “I should have known that you’d have an opinion on what I need to do,” Doc said and chuckled. “I love you too. John chose well. Take care of my family.”

  The doctor hugged his son as the stagecoach came to a stop.

  “Father, I really hope you come for a visit. We’re already talking about coming back next year, but we’d love to have you come to Boston. Please stay well. We still have a lot of time to make up,” John said.

  A smile came to Doc’s face as he held John at arm’s length and looked at him. “We’ll see what happens. Take care. I love you,” he said.

  The driver hoisted the baggage up top to the shotgun rider and the family climbed into the coach. Doc stood on the sidewalk and gazed through the window trying to memorize each of their faces as the stage pulled out. Rose hung her head out the opening and waved until the stagecoach disappeared out of sight.

  Doc remained standing in the same spot well after the stage had gone as if expecting it to turnaround and return. A sense of melancholy washed over him and he didn’t fight the feeling. He already missed them terribly and he wondered if he’d live long enough to ever see them again. Grandchildren had turned him into one of those old sappy fools that he had always despised listening to brag about their grandkids. Not wishing to be alone, he started ambling towards the jail.

  Chapter 22

  The previous night, Mary had retired to their upstairs bedroom and as she lifted her arms to pull off her dress, she suddenly found her undergarments drenched. She quickly changed into her nightgown and went to bed. The contractions had started a couple of days prior, but all of them had been mild. Finnie remained downstairs in the saloon helping Delta close up and Mary did not intend
to tell him that her water had broken. She felt sure she had at least another day before going into labor and she didn’t want him driving her crazy with worry for her and the baby.

  She made it through the morning with the contractions only feeling slightly harder than the night before and had managed to tell Doc’s family goodbye without betraying any discomfort. As the lunch crowd drifted into the saloon, she served drinks behind the bar while Delta ran around delivering food. She watched as Finnie, Gideon, and Doc walked through the door. Doc shuffled in slowly, hunched over and looking old and frail as if his family’s leaving weighed him down. The sight broke her heart and she realized how badly he missed them.

  After they sat down, Mary walked over with a tray of drinks and joined them. “How are my three favorite men in the whole world?” she asked.

  Doc attempted a broad smile, but failed to conceal his sadness. “I’m busy keeping these two jug heads in line,” he said.

  “Well, good luck with that. Are you going to be okay? You need to come have dinner with Finnie and me tonight,” she said.

  The doctor waved his hand through the air. “I’ll be fine. I just need a day or two to get my feet back under me. Their leaving has taken the wind out of my sail – I can’t deny that. That’s some fine children if I do say so myself,” he said, smiling at the bragging he’d always detested in others.

  Delta sat plates of roast beef, beans, and sourdough bread in front of the men. Gideon and Finnie attacked the meat, but the doctor picked at his meal.

  Stopping in mid–bite, Finnie looked at his wife and asked, “How comes you’re not eating with us?”

  “I’m not hungry. This baby has me feeling plenty full. Oh…,” Mary said as she experienced her first hard contraction. She placed her hand to her stomach and winced.

  “Did the baby kick you?” Finnie asked.

  Mary looked at her husband, trying to decide whether to fib or tell the truth. She felt guilty for not sharing the excitement and decided she wanted to break the news. “My water broke last night and that was my first hard contraction,” she said.