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Nancy was trying to figure out the best way to transport Jack Townsend to town. At the minimum he needed Dr. Rosio, but she was afraid the local hospital would be a better solution. Unfortunately, he had been on one of the vintage tractors not widely used any longer and rolled it that morning. The 56-year-old man had grown up on the machinery, but something about the ground this morning being wet and uneven caused the tractor to roll. Fortunately, no one was around at the time of the injury that could have been hurt by the giant machinery rolling on them. Jack had jumped in time, and other than a protruding compound fracture in his right leg, he had escaped alive.
Noah had already told him that by the time he got back to work, all the machinery not fit to be used would be turned into scrap. Nancy watched the Ranch Manager, who she only knew as the steadiest, quiet force on the ranch visibly shaken by Jack’s injuries. Once Belle appeared to check on her father and Marissa appeared from the B & B, the situation had gotten even more chaotic. She was trying to keep a steady eye on him, as she discussed options with Brendan on the phone.
Finally, she moved toward the crowd in her exam room.
“Okay, we need to lay him flat, and we should call an ambulance,” she started.
“No ambulance.”
“We need to take you to the hospital,” she stated in her calm voice, hoping to convince those around her despite this being her first major injury handled on her own.
“I tell you what. Noah can put me in his truck and take me to see Dr. Rosio,” Jack said, despite the wince; he elicited trying to sit up.
“I don’t think that is the best plan for your treatment,” Nancy said, relaying the information into the phone.
Dr. Rosio advised her if he seemed stable to follow his wishes. After some maneuvering, they got him comfortable laid out in the bed of the truck, Marissa and Belle, alongside him. She climbed into the cab with Noah, and off they went. From time to time, as the bumpy road caused her to cringe thinking about Jack, she would turn to check on him. He was alert and talking the entire way. She couldn’t help but think this was not a typical day at the clinic that she had once claimed bored her. This was salt of the earth, roughing it with people who didn’t like to get hurt or rely on others. She was going to make sure he was well taken care of, though.
She let out a tiny breath when the clinic in town came into view. A stretcher and two other nurses she recognized, along with Brendan, all stood at the ready. As the truck came to a halt, they all leaped into action, and soon she was walking behind them into the first exam room. She responded to questions and listened as Brendan cut open Jack’s pants.
Belle gasped, as the compound fracture damage came into the light.
“Hey, let’s step into the waiting room,” Noah said, putting an arm around her. “Marissa, how about we let them do their job,” he said, gently.
Marissa and Belle followed Noah, as Nancy raised her eyes in thanks to him. The tiny nod back was all she needed to be sure he understood.
As the mobile x-ray machine was brought in and began its work, she couldn’t help watching Brendan. He was efficient as ever but subdued and quiet in a way that she was not used to seeing him. Something was wrong; she could feel it rolling off his person. A tension that she couldn’t place, but hoped it wasn’t anything as severe as the vibes she was getting.
Shuddering, she put her head down and did as instructed for the next two hours. Finally, Jack’s family was allowed in, and she headed to the back of the clinic to wash up. Taking up one of the finger brushes, she worked to get her hands clean, when the door behind her opened.
“You handled that well,” Brendan said, causing her to turn slightly to take a look at his face.
“Thanks. I will admit I panicked when he was at the ranch and didn’t want an ambulance or hospital.”
“These are tough people who don’t like to be cooped up. I think Jack, despite several big injuries, once told me he had never spent a day in a hospital. They just patch me up and let me get back to it people. That is why we have you so close, so you can help a bit more in real-time and ensure that some who would have never sought treatment previously, will now.”
“I’m glad we got to him, and he will be able to be home and comfortable in his own bed. Sorry, it’s just new for me to try and minimize procedures and hospitals; as most of my career, it has been the go-to course for treatment.”
“No worries, you are doing great.”
“Thanks. How about you?” She said, remembering his facial features being so pinched earlier.
He just turned and looked at her for a long moment. “I’m good. I have been doing this a long time and know what they need,” he said casually.
“I meant, how are you doing? You seemed distracted and off somehow earlier when we got here,” she responded.
He didn’t say anything for a long time, causing her to worry that she crossed a line. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I know it is none of my business.”
“I just don’t know how I am,” he finally acknowledged. “The man, Carl Swifett, who killed my wife – he is here in Little Bend.”
Nancy couldn’t hold back the gasp that issued from her lips. “How did this happen? Did he try to talk to you?” Her mind was whirling in a million different directions.
She couldn’t even imagine what she would have done in his shoes if she had come face to face with someone who had killed a person so dear to her. She was pretty laid back, but that would not be her reaction to such a stressor. She figured choice words would be said if she ever found herself in that exact situation.
“I don’t know the specifics, but he showed up at the diner when I was finishing breakfast. He did try to talk to me.”
“Brendan, I’m so sorry. What would possess him to do such a thing? I mean, leave you in peace. After what he did, man, that is pretty gutsy.”
He just nodded his head, staring off into the distance. The odd look on his face was gnawing at her, and she wasn’t sure it was even her place to get involved. He didn’t seem completely mad or angry, though, but contemplative in an odd manner she couldn’t put her finger on.
“I know it is none of my business, and you can tell me so, but you seem – almost calmly contemplative – are you considering talking to him?”
Brendan turned to her slowly, meeting her eyes. The furrows around his eyes and head were making her want to reach out and hug the poor man. He seemed in distress like she hadn’t witnessed before in him.
“I miss Caty every day, you know,” he started staring at the ground.
Nancy just nodded and waited for him to go on.
“The girls, though, they deserve for them and me to move on. Never forget her; allow the memories to be happy times we can all talk about. They deserve to get over their trauma, and I think Belle will help them.”
He stopped shuffling his foot on the ground for a minute.
“I deserve to have someday a moment where the anger isn’t this tough, and I was getting there. Then I found out they were releasing him, and I’ve been in this anger riddled fog since that moment.”
He inhaled. Still staring at his feet.
“That man, though,” he turned to her with this heavy expression. “He looked just as broken. I just don’t understand what I was expecting, but it wasn’t the man I saw in the diner.”
Nancy wasn’t sure how to respond. She had never experienced any loss like this and couldn’t put herself in his shoes.
“I’m sure you are struggling,” was all she could manage. “I know Jake, Margaret, and Belle are doing everything they can to help, but know I’m always around if you need a listening ear.”
“Thanks. I will say that my little crisis is proving to me more than ever that I made the right choice to come to Little Bend. In the city, I had friends, but it felt so much more distant in some way. Here everyone knows each other’s business but responds in loving and supporting ways to each other.”
“Building a community. You know the old expression about how it takes a village. Your girls are pretty lucky; they found their village here,” Nancy said with a smile.
“No disagreements from me. I don’t know what I would do if I had to handle all this alone, and try to be there for them,” he rounded his lips and blew out a deep breath.
“Thank you,” he said after a pregnant pause.
“Anytime,” she said, throwing out the paper towel she had used to wipe her hands dry. “You always know where to find me,” she said, with one last smile as she headed to the door.
As she walked down the hallway, she kept going over the conversation. She still had no idea how she would have handled the situation if the roles were reversed and hoped that her words had helped in some small manner. Words always seemed so ineffective with these big life moments. She did hope Brendan found peace soon, and that he didn’t have to continue living with this cloud over his head.
