<< Go Back

Christmas in Stoney Brook

By Joi Copeland

Order Now!

CHAPTER ONE


He'd been shot. Of course, he'd been shot. Pain sliced through the left side of his body, making it difficult to breathe. Austin Birch's eyes scanned the horizon. What kind of coward would shoot a man in the back? Of course, Austin was glad the weasel wasn't in front of him or else he would’ve fallen off his horse. Trees decorated both sides of the road. Taller trees than he'd ever seen in Texas. Heavy snow covered the trees and ground in the woods.
Traveling for months on end, Austin was hot on the trail of the man who stole more from him than any other. Sure as shootin', the coward who shot him just now was the same man he was after.
Austin gripped the reins in his hands as his head spun. He needed to get to a town and quick. If not, he'd bleed to death for sure. With one hand on the reins, Austin fumbled in his bag for something to hold against the gunshot wound. Finding a cloth, he pressed it against his side. Because he grew up in the home of a doctor, he knew a thing or two about stopping blood flow. But the cloth wouldn't last long, and the bullet still stuck in his side. If he didn't get to a town soon, he'd be in big trouble.
"Come on, boy." Austin pressed his legs against the sides of his trusted steed. Shadow had been his faithful companion most of his adulthood. The horse knew Austin's temperament better than his own family, which shocked him. He and his family were pretty close. His ma would be upset if she knew he'd been shot. She'd scold him and tell him to give up on this vendetta. But he couldn't. Austin shook his head. No. He wouldn't. Big difference between the two. He could very well give up his desire to get revenge against the man who took what mattered most to his family. Yet, Austin wouldn't do it. The man had to pay.
Local law enforcement wouldn't do anything about it. They'd given up the search a year ago. Not Austin. He'd made it his life's goal to find the man and either bring him to justice or kill him himself. Whichever came first, Austin didn't care. One life in exchange for another. That seemed right. That seemed just.
Another wave of dizziness washed over Austin. He urged Shadow forward. "We've got to find someone to help, old boy. If not, we've come all this way for nothing."
Minutes passed as Austin clung to the reins of his horse. Sweat trickled across his forehead. He’d known this to happen to patients of his pa’s when they were shot. Sweating due to pain. He’d just never experienced it before. December in Colorado proved colder than he’d anticipated. He shivered in his jacket, gripping his side.
Even though the sun shone bright through the trees, it gave no warmth. The temperatures had to be below freezing. There must be a town somewhere, he hoped. The brook next to the road encouraged him to keep moving forward. Temptation rose to get off his horse to drink the cool water. Yet, if he did, he knew he wouldn't be able to hoist himself back up, no matter how hard he tried.
Austin tried to swallow. His tongue clung to the roof of his mouth. Water sounded good right about now. With his right hand, he grabbed his canteen. Only a few drops to wet his whistle, but it would have to do.
Blood soaked through the cloth and his shirt, oozing through his fingers. Austin groaned. He was losing too much blood. Where was his father when he needed him most? A man of twenty-eight shouldn't need his pa. That's what he'd told himself over the last year. It didn't erase the fact that he did need his pa, more today than ever before. Because if he didn't get this hole in his side patched up, he'd be meeting his Maker sooner rather than later.
No matter what, Austin was not ready for that. He had a job to do. Once that job was finished, God could do to him whatever He wanted.
"Shadow, this isn't lookin' so good." Austin slumped over and rested his head on the horse. "You've got to find us some help, boy. I can't hang on much longer."
Shadow neighed, as if understanding the words Austin whispered, and picked up his speed. Austin grunted. "Not so fast," he whispered.
The horse didn't slow down, only increased his speed. Austin bounced along, gritting his teeth with every movement. He needed to hang on. He couldn't die now. It wasn't his time. It couldn't be his time. "Please, God, get me some help."
Off in the distance, movement to the right caught his attention.
"Shadow, almost there, buddy."
Austin squinted. If his eyes didn't deceive him, a house with a white fence came into view. Laundry hung on the line inside the yard. Shadow inched closer. A woman was hanging laundry on a line. A boy sat nearby, whittling a stick.
Shadow trotted up to the fence and snorted. The woman's head snapped up, a gasp escaping her lips. "Oh my!"
"Ma'am," Austin croaked, another bout of dizziness coursing through him. "Help me, please."
He slipped off Shadow, his knees buckling underneath him.
Hands gripped under his arms.
"Colt, help me."
Austin's eyes drifted closed. Another set of hands lifted his feet. He felt himself being lifted and carried up steps.
"Mister, what's your name?" The woman grunted under his weight.
"Austin."
His eyes fluttered open. He had to stay conscious. He wouldn't do the lady or her son any good if he weren't able to tell them what was wrong with him.
"Colt, we need to put him in the room near the kitchen."
"Yes, ma'am. Though, do you think..."
"Shush," the woman cut the boy off. "No time for questions. We must act now."
With rough movements, Austin finally landed on a soft bed. "Thank you," he whispered. "Shot." He removed his left hand, revealing a pool of blood.
The woman gasped again. "Oh, goodness!"
The woman's blue eyes clouded with worry. Austin blinked, trying to keep her in focus. Finally, he surrendered to the darkness.

Order Now!

<< Go Back