"Forget about it. I talked you into this."
Again with the guilt. Barrett sighed. "I'm a grown man, Uncle Dell. I can make my own decisions and I can take the consequences for them."
Uncle Del was silent for a few minutes. "You're feeling pretty bad, aren't you? Maybe I should just take you home."
Barrett opened both eyes and looked at him. "Yes, I'm feeling pretty rough, but not as bad as I was this morning. I'll be fine. I want to get that gun out of there before someone discovers it…if they haven't already done so." He gave his uncle a wry smile. "Anyway, I'm looking forward to a private room with electricity and plumbing. I can't imagine how those people live like that."
"Well, it wouldn't be as bad if you felt better."
The car slowed as they approached a dirt side road where a tow truck was waiting. From here on in, Barrett would have to keep his eyes open and his mind clear so he could remember how to direct them to the location of the Car.
A thunderstorm was building in the northwest as Mary Jo saddled Ol' Ned again. He'd had enough exercise that morning, but she wanted to check on Monroe's vehicle and make sure the windows were up. She tossed some rope over the saddle horn. She might want to tie the vehicle to the tree so water didn't wash it over the edge.
Ma came out and watched her for a few minutes. "I reckon he'll take care of that car. I don't see no reason for you to go down there."
Mary Jo mounted the mule and looked down at her mother. "The way he was feeling when I left him, I reckon he won't be up here for a while."
Ma studied her face for a moment. "He was feelin' poorly, for sure. Why'd you take him acrost the mountain like that?"
Mary Jo looked away and bit her lower lip. She'd been asking herself that all evening. Oh, she knew why she did it all right. The better question was; what made her think she had the right to torture him that way? She should at least have stayed to see what the doctor said. She was ashamed of the way she acted. He'd been on her mind all day.
She shrugged. "I don't rightly know, but I think I should at least check on his car for him."
Ma watched her for a few minutes before shaking her head in dismay. "Mary Jo, I think you met your match."