way.
“Good job. Good boy. How are the puppies?” He pulled himself upright, his leg screaming at him. He panted a second, but he stayed calm. He had to. He had kids.
“Okay. I put their pen in Caro’s bedroom. The rain was coming in the mudroom.” Jakob’s lips quivered. “I been real scared, Dad-O, but I was working.”
“You’re a cowboy, son. Your daddy and I are so damn proud of you. You are amazing.” He held his arms open, and Jakob came right to him for a hug. “Amazing, son. A cowboy, through and through.”
“Thanks, Dad-O.” Jakob sniffed hard. “Nanny goat got a cut on her butt. I put her in with the puppies. I mean, not in the pen, but in Caro’s room, with the babies. Ringo is in the hall. Oh! And Daisy is in here, but she’s okay. She’s just asleep. Is it okay that I put the blanket over her like you do when it’s really hot out in the sun?”
“That rocks. Can you help me find my phone, see if it works?” He was afraid something in his leg was broken, but Jakob had enough worries. “It was in my hand before.”
“I tried to call Daddy. There’s no signal.” Jakob handed him his phone.
“Darn it. Okay. Let’s get my legs uncovered, and we’ll go out to the van together.”
“Okay.” Jakob swallowed, backing off. Mama Cass licked his cheek, and Trace had to laugh.
They started clearing the detritus, and yeah. He had a leg problem.
Jakob stared. “Um.”
He chuckled. “Right? That’s gross as hell, huh? Can you grab me one of those towels? We’re going to splint it and get out to the van and call 911 from OnStar.”
“I helped Daddy do that to Ringo before.” Jakob got a towel and then pulled down the wooden towel bar he pointed to. They just popped right out of the hole on either end at the brackets, and the kids all knew not to hang on them.
“Good deal. Grab another one, son. We need two.” He tore long strips from the towel. “Okay, I’m going to straighten this bad boy out. I might cuss a lot.”
“I cussed a lot today.” Jakob yanked and tugged and finally got the bar free.
“I promise not to tell.” He looked at his leg and tried not to hurl. Broken bones healed. Pain was survivable. “Okay, let’s spread the towel out first, then I’ll put my leg on them.”
Jakob nodded hard, helping him, probably not aware of the little alarmed noises he was making.
“Okay. I love you. Thank you for helping me.” He tensed up and pulled, the pain so bad that the world stopped.
“Dad-O! Dad-O! Please don’t die. Please! I need you!” Jakob had been as grown-up as he could be. He was just a little boy.
“Not dying. Not. I’m here, son. Right here. Help me tie the sticks on my leg.”
Jakob knew his knots, and they made neat, if not quick, work of it.
“Now what?” Jakob asked.
“Now we grab Miss Daisy and go to the hall with the girls.” He wasn’t sure how to do it, but he had to get the kids outside and start the fucking van. He had to.
He tested his motion, and it was hell, but he didn’t pass out. So he dragged over and picked up his baby girl.
Jakob helped him bear some of the weight, and they got to the hall, where Susannah and Caro clung together, crying.
“Okay. Let’s rest a second, okay buddy?” He slumped down along the hallway wall. “Come here, my bravest girls. Thank you for listening to Jakob.”
“He’s the older brother,” Susannah said, coming to him slowly. “You’re all hurt.”
“I am, but I’m not in any bad danger, okay?” He slid one hand around her shoulders. “Jakob and I have to get us all to the van.”
“Do you want Bald Harold’s cane?” Caro asked. “He broked his ankle last year.”
“Do you guys know where it is?”
“I do. I’ll be careful.” Caro trotted off, Ringo following her, nose against her back. Good dog.
“Where is Daddy? Is he in the tornado?”
“He’s at the hospital with Curly and Hal. He’s safe. Don’t worry.” Please, Brent. Please be safe at the hospital.
“Are you going to die, Dad-O?” Susannah was crying harder.
“No. No one is dying.” He must look pretty damn bad. “Oh, Caro, you’re my hero.” Hal’s cane was stout, and in one piece. “Okay, my little chickens. Let’s go together, nice and slow. We’re heading for the car keys.”
And if there was a God, he wouldn’t