Judy Christenberry - Struck By The Texas Matchmakers

The babble of relieved voices and supportive pats on Paul’s shoulders were interesting to Jeff. He’d moved to Cactus for several reasons. One of them was to feel connected again. He was alone, no family. The wealth of emotion this family shared was incredible.

Gabe rejoined them. “How is he?” he asked.

Paul grinned at his brother-in-law. “It’s nothing much. The doc’s being cautious so I won’t sue.” Everyone seemed to notice the slight wobble in the boy’s voice.

Jeff prepared to clean the burn, wishing he didn’t have such a large audience. It was going to be painful for Paul. “Son, this is going to hurt,” he said in a low voice.

Diane overheard him. “Just a minute,” she said softly. “Mom, you and Jack had better get what you need for the night from the house. You, too, Susan. Gabe, can you see if Paul has some clean clothes? And Katie, you’d better help Mom.”

In seconds, only Diane and Paul remained with Jeff.

“Thanks, sis,” Paul muttered. Then he looked at Jeff. “Okay, go ahead.”

Diane helped hold her brother’s arm while Jeff cleaned and covered the wound with salve. Then he began wrapping the arm in gauze. “I’m going to need to see you tomorrow, Paul, to check on this.”

Though the young man was still pale, he’d kept quiet during the process. Now, he cleared his throat and said, “Sure, Doc. I’ll be in tomorrow.”

“I’ll bring him,” Diane added, her hands still comforting her brother.

“Do you want some pills for the pain?” Jeff asked.

Paul said no.

Diane said yes. Before her brother could argue, she added, “Just in case. You’ll feel better if you get a good night’s sleep.”

Jeff took a couple of pills out of his bag and handed them to Diane. “One every four to six hours as needed.” Then he asked, “Where are you going to sleep tonight?”

Diane and Paul looked at each other, but before either could speak, Katie had returned, carrying her daughter, Rachel. “She woke up,” Katie announced. “How’s Paul?”

“All taken care of,” Jeff assured her. “We were just talking about where they would sleep tonight.”

“With us, of course,” Katie said, as if there was no question.

“But you only have one bedroom free, Katie,” Diane said, frowning. “Mom and Jack will take that. I guess we can put Paul on the sofa, and I’ll take the big chair to keep an eye on him, but—”

“I don’t need anyone to watch me,” Paul argued. “And I can sleep here in the barn.”

“We’ll manage,” Katie insisted.

Jeff interrupted. “Look, I’ve got three bedrooms empty. You,” he said, nodding to Diane, “Paul and Susan can stay with me tonight.”

“Oh, no, we can’t—there are other—”

“I’m sure there are,” he said, agreeing with Diane’s protest, “but it’s late. Tomorrow you can make whatever arrangements you want.”

Diane was acting like he wanted them in his home, intruding into his life, which was crazy. He liked living alone. And he wanted no part of Diane in his life. He sure didn’t want to give the local matchmakers any ideas. But this was Cactus and people helped each other here.

“Are you sure you don’t mind, Jeff?” Katie asked. “I’ll admit life is hectic enough since Rachel was born, but if—”

“It will be fine. I’m not a good housekeeper, but the beds are comfortable. And Paul needs to get to bed.”

“I’m fine,” Paul insisted, but Jeff noticed he swayed as he tried to reassure his sisters.

Diane’s arm went around him. “Sure you are, but we’re not going to take any chances. We’ll follow the doctor’s orders to a T.” She started leading Paul to her car.

“I can drive him,” Jeff called.

“No, I’ll drive,” Diane insisted.

He hurriedly gave her directions to his house, since she was determined to get Paul to bed at once.

Gabe, Margaret and Jack joined the group and Katie hastily explained the sleeping arrangements. Jack offered Jeff his hand in gratitude, and Margaret hurried after Diane and Paul to check on her son.

Susan approached with another girl, explaining her friend had invited her to spend the night with her. As soon as Margaret rejoined them and gave her approval, the youngest Peters child rushed away, seemingly unaffected by the night’s events.

“Jeff, are you sure about everyone staying with you?” Katie asked once more.

“I’m sure. The only problem I have is there’s not much food in the house. I usually eat out. But I’ll go shopping in the morning and—”

“Take the food we’ve got here,” Margaret said. “Jack, can you find a sack?”

Jeff started to protest, but Margaret shushed him. “It will go to waste here, and I doubt that Katie needs it. Gabe, can you—”

“Sure, Margaret,” Gabe assured her, turning to follow Jack.

They returned quickly with two grocery bags full. Jack put them in the front of Jeff’s truck. Gabe added another bag of clothes for Paul.

“There’s bacon and eggs and bread, plenty for breakfast, and other stuff,” Jack told Jeff.

“Thanks again. I’d better head on out or Paul and Diane will get there ahead of me.” He shook Gabe and Jack’s hands and nodded to the two ladies. Then he got in and backed out onto the road. Diane had already left, her brother beside her in her car.

When he reached his house, Diane and Paul were waiting in her car. He took his medical bag and unlocked the front door, ushering them in. “We’ll have to make up the beds,” he muttered. He really wasn’t much of a housekeeper. Once a week a lady came in to clean, so it shouldn’t be too bad, but he wasn’t used to guests. “I’ll be right back. I have to bring in the food your mom sent with us so you wouldn’t starve.”

Diane had made Paul sit down at the table. After patting his shoulder, she came after Jeff. “I’ll help.”

“I can get them,” he assured her, but she ignored him and took one of the bags away from him.

Once inside, she said, “I’ll put these away if you’ll find the linens for Paul’s bed.”

He knew she’d already had a long day, but she was emptying the two bags as she spoke. Paul gave him a ragged smile, as if recognizing his confusion. The boy needed to be in bed. With a pain pill, Jeff decided, as he noted the paleness of his face.

Jeff hurried upstairs to locate clean sheets. One bedroom had a king-size bed, like his own. Since he was six foot and Paul already topped him by an inch or two, he chose that bed for the boy. Before he’d gotten half the sheet on, Diane joined him and quickly pulled the other half into place.

“Aren’t you exhausted?” he asked, staring at her.

“I’m fine. Where’s the top sheet?”

He spread it out and Diane tucked in the corners.

“The pillow cases?”

He gave her one and took the other.

“If you’ll find a lightweight blanket, I’ll go down and get Paul.”

Jeff stood there, his hands on his hips as he watched her leave the room. He felt like saluting. Then he shrugged his shoulders. She was doing what had to be done. He shouldn’t complain.

He was spreading out the blanket when Paul and Diane returned. After pulling down the covers, he turned to help them.

Paul’s cheeks flushed, which alarmed him. Was he feverish? “Are you hot, Paul?”

“No, but—but I need to, uh, use the facilities,” the boy said awkwardly.

“Oh, I should’ve thought of that,” Diane exclaimed. “Come on, I’ll—”

“Sis!” Paul protested.

“What?” she asked, staring at him.

“As efficient as you are, Diane, I think Paul can manage on his own,” Jeff said quietly.

“I’m his sister!” she snapped. “I’m afraid he’ll pass out.”