“I remember the wonderful garden you and Lily used to have.”
“She still has one. She’ll have to can by herself this year.” She wondered how her sister was doing without help.
Cindy smiled at her. “I imagine she misses you as much or more than you miss her.”
Dusty and Chico each carried a plate and a cup of coffee.
Dusty set his near Mina. “We come bearing a late breakfast and to check on the boss.”
Mina inhaled the scent of ham, eggs, fried potatoes, and coffee. “Thank you for delivering our food.”
Chico stopped to stare at Austin. “He looks like he’s just sleeping normally.” He set his breakfast plate and cup for Cindy.
Dusty took cutlery from his shirt pocket. Chico carried a couple of napkins.
Chico shook his head. “Don’t seem right. You let us know if there’s anything we can do to help and we’ll do it.”
Mina smiled at the two men. “If you can keep Spuds from overworking, that would help. I don’t think he slept any last night.”
Dusty nodded. “He looks pretty rough at that. You know he thinks of Austin as the son he never had. While it’s hard for us to see him like this, it must be worse for him. And for you, of course.”
“Seeing him helpless is horrid. I’m not leaving this room until Austin is awake and out of danger.”
“We’ll get busy with the ranch chores. We should hear from Buck soon about the posse’s results.”
Mina ate her breakfast. “I didn’t think I could eat anything until I saw and smelled the plate of food. The coffee might help make me alert.”
Cindy swallowed a bite of her biscuit. “This is a good meal and I was hungry. Everyone is off schedule today, even Spuds.”
When they’d finished eating, Cindy stacked their plates to take to the kitchen. “I’ll make Spuds rest or know the reason why not.”
Cindy returned a half hour later accompanied by Bert and Spuds. Bert—who had always looked neat and well dressed—was covered in dust. His shirt hung partially out from his waistband. His pants were torn at the knee.
Bert said, “I asked Spuds to come with me so I only have to tell this one time.”
Mina asked, “What happened?”
Bert shook his head. “Both the miners are dead. They used that monitor at full blast but they didn’t know anything about mining. They were inside the cave and it collapsed on them. Don’t know how long they’d been trapped. We dug them out but they were both dead.”
Mina tried to take in the news. “I’m stunned by the outcome. I expected a gunfight. I’m glad that was avoided.”
“Sheriff Cornelius telegraphed the sheriff in Houston to arrest Bailey for fraud and anything else he can think of. He’d like to add manslaughter but isn’t sure it would stick. Frankly, I don’t think it would.”
Cindy gestured toward Austin. “But it’s over except for Austin recovering?”
Bert put his arm around her waist. “He may need to testify if Bailey goes to trial. Sheriff Cornelius plans to go to Houston and bring him back here.”
Mina frowned. “I thought Mr. Bailey was an elderly man.”
“Not as old as he pretended. He thought he had a way to have someone pay for him to take a permanent vacation. I expect Huntsville prison will take care of that now.”
Spuds put his hands on his hips. “All this trouble because Bailey is a lazy polecat and those two miners were greedy. In my opinion they got what they deserved. I’d like to get my hands on Bailey. I’d teach him a thing or two.”
Bert clapped Spuds on the shoulder. “Sheriff Cornelius will take care of those lessons. He’s pretty mad at Bailey. Hey, the reason I came was to check on Austin and my wife. I see that both are being cared for and I’m not needed here. Since I’m tired and filthy, I’m heading home.”
Cindy took him by the hand. “I’ll walk you to the door.
Chapter Fifteen
Mina worried about their cook. He looked ready to pass out. “Spuds, if you’ll take a nap on this bunkhouse bed, I give you my word I’ll wake you if there’s a change either way in Austin.”
“I have things I need to do.”
Mina shook her head. “Nothing simply has to get done today. Lay down on that bed and sleep if you can. If you can’t sleep, at least you can rest. Consider how the ranch would suffer if you make yourself ill. We depend on you for a lot of things.”
He looked at the bed but didn’t move.
She gestured to the bed. “Go on, stretch out on that bed.”
He flexed his shoulders. “I might rest a bit. Muscle spasm in my back’s bothering me.”
“Aha! Get on that bed right now.”
He surprised her by stretching out on the mattress. “If I was to drop off to sleep, you promise to wake me up if there’s a change?”
She put her hand over her heart. “I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to it. And I’m not taking off my boots.”
Soon soft snores came from Spuds. Cindy peeked in the door then withdrew quietly. She must have warned Dr. Ross because he entered quietly some time later.
The doctor checked Austin’s wounds and temperature. Dr. Ross motioned for Mina’s help with a fresh bandage. At least today she could help without crying.
She followed the doctor to the hall but didn’t leave Austin’s room.
Dr. Ross gave her an encouraging smile and spoke quietly, “He’s sleeping naturally now. I expect he’ll wake in a few hours. He’s a strong man, but I told you he needs to stay in bed for several weeks. Let me know if there’s a change for the worse.
