Paradise Valley (Virgin River #7)(107)

“Jack?” Preacher asked. Jack looked up. “Aw, did you do it again? Did you wash the bar sink with that disinfectant and then touch your eyes? Christ, you are the slowest learner I know. Come on, come on over here and we’ll rinse ’em. Flush ’em out.”

“They’re rinsed,” Jack said quietly. “It’ll be fine.”

“You gotta watch that, man! You’re gonna go blind, for God’s sake.”

“I got it. I need a rack of glasses,” Jack said, sniffing.

“I just put a rack out there not five minutes ago,” Preacher said.

Jack ground his teeth. Inside he felt as if he’d just been born. But he said, “Gimme a rack of goddamn glasses, all right?”

“Sure,” Preacher said. “If you drink a little of that disinfectant, might kill the bug up your ass.”

Sixteen

By the end of June, Rick and Liz had met with Jerry “the Spaceman” Powell several times. It had been a hectic month for both of them. Rick was still going to physical therapy twice a week, but now he was driving himself. He’d found himself a Toyota truck with an extended cab that would keep him in wheels for a few years; his monthly disability check covered the payments. And Liz was working two jobs, leaving only her mornings and Friday and Saturday nights free. They didn’t have a lot of time together, but the time they did have was sweet.

There was something to be said for growing up with your mate, learning from each other as experimental kids, taking that knowledge to the next level. That guy from rehab in San Diego was right—the prosthesis leaned right up against the wall while Rick and Liz made love. Tender, wonderful, sometimes a little wild, always satisfying love. The missing leg didn’t seem to matter at all.

“You sure this is enough for you, Liz?” Rick asked her. “A guy with one leg?”

“Rick, we have a lot of years ahead. There are going to be times I’ll come up short, I just know it. I expect you to love me the same even in those times. Is that too much to expect out of you?”

“Nah. You’re more than I can deserve in a million years.”

“To answer your question, I never even notice that the leg is gone. Really. The only time I notice is when you complain about the stump hurting. The truth is, I find you stronger. Braver. Smarter. I’d say I love you even more, but that’s just impossible.”

After Liz and Rick had their Friday-afternoon appointment with Jerry, Rick would follow her back to Virgin River. They’d go to the bar together where Liz would get her large cola to go on her way to work at her aunt’s store and Rick would stay on for a while, visit with the neighbors, have dinner and meet Liz on his gram’s front porch after the corner store closed.

So much had changed for both of them in just a few weeks. Rick was no longer the quiet and morose young man who kept his friends and neighbors at bay with unfriendliness. He looked forward to having that one beer a week with the guys, and even turned up at the bar more often, just to visit. And far from being embarrassed by his amputee status, he wore long shorts and laced boots, his prosthesis visible. And while his gait might be a little slow and at times unsteady, he no longer used a cane.

On just such a typical Friday afternoon, Rick and Liz walked into Jack’s, holding hands. They jumped up on bar stools and met with his grin. “Hey, kids, what’s up?”

“Large cola to go,” Liz said.

“You got it, sweetheart. Rick?”

He laughed. “Oh, you know what I want. Cold draft, please.”

“Coming up.” Jack put it in front of him and asked Rick, “You starting to work out a little bit?”

Rick took a sip and draped his arm around Liz’s shoulders. “Some light weights. But I’ve gained about ten pounds since I’ve been home.” He gave Liz a squeeze.

“I’m going over to Connie’s,” she said, giving Rick a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you later.”

“Later, baby,” he said.

When she was gone, Jack lifted an eyebrow. “Looks like things are going better for you and Liz these days.”

“Better and better. I have some plans for the rest of the summer, starting with, I’m going to help Paul part-time. I talked it over with him—neither one of us knows how much help I’ll be, but I’m sure I can stay upright and hold a paintbrush. He said he might put Dan in charge of me.”

“Brady,” Jack laughed, shaking his head. “Who would have guessed he’d work out?”

“I’m still trying to figure out how he got up that hill so fast back when we were looking for Paige. I didn’t see him do it, but remember? Before we knew it, he was up the hill and bonked that guy on the head, knocked him cold.” Rick took a drink of his beer. “He said when I get a little more confident, he’ll show me some one-legged tricks.” Jack laughed.

“I signed up for Redwoods—I’m going to school in the fall. I’ll go with Liz.”

Jack took a breath. “Kid, you don’t know how good it makes me feel that you’re making plans.”

“I don’t think I’m going to be at Redwoods long,” Rick said. “I think I’m going to be forced to leave the area.”

“That so?”

“Not like I won’t be around,” Rick said. “You’re here. Gram’s here. And who knows, I might be getting ahead of myself here, but I’m interested in architecture. And there’s no bachelor’s program around here. Humboldt U doesn’t have one in that major.”