Jimmy Swann #16 - ECLIPSED

#93- Jimmy’s world went black.

Welcome to Before I Forget . .

- I’m glad you are here.

Our story: A joyous and grateful Christmas led the Swann family into the new year.

Prev.Chap.#15 - Chap.#1 – Contents

ECLIPSED

Robert found part-time work doing framework with a construction company in Robles Junction.

Having finished his work on Fred Loomey’s driveway, he was now working on expanding Fred’s corral to house more horses. He was still tending the four already there.

Fred was enjoying his time doing little but supervising a lot. He was restless. He was thinking about doing some traveling while he still could.

Robert’s spare time was spent on his “house on wheels.” It was coming along. Robert was a good carpenter. His “finish“ work showed talent. He had a knack for it.

Barbara and little Jimmy were fine. A second child was expected in late summer, and of course, they were all excited about it.

Carrie has started her mobile veterinary service.

She’d found a place to stay at Three Points, a dude ranch on the outskirts of west Tucson. She towed Ben’s trailer over there and was all set up.

She worked there a couple days a week with the ranch’s vet to pay for her boarding. “It's great experience,” she said.

She was better located now for her business. She works on-call and has a growing client list.

Her relationship with Ben continues long distance. They miss each other.

He was still undecided as to whether he would be able to finish the full course. Final tests for the semester were about to begin. His teachers knew he was not fully invested in his studies and urged him to do some serious soul searching before continuing.

Jimmy bet that Ben would come back for Carrie.

Carla’s health was improving. Her cancer had gone into remission with no explanation of why. Her doctors could only say, “This happens sometimes.” She was gaining back the weight she had lost.

She and Jimmy talked often. If she continued to improve, she would come back to CLR. Jimmy encouraged her to be patient, but he wanted her back. She would stay with him.

The spring eclipse marked Jimmy’s first year at the Caballo Loco Ranch.

The months and seasons had passed smoothly from one to the next. Spring was glorious, Summer was hotter than expected, Fall held a special beauty, and Winter was mild but cold at times. Snow fell on occasion but didn’t last long.

From not knowing what direction his life would take, to having settled in at the Ranch with reunited family members he had assumed were long gone, Jimmy was indeed a happy camper. He considered the Ranch his home.

On the morning of the eclipse, Owner Jim pulled into Jimmy’s driveway. Jimmy was at the table enjoying his morning cup of joe.

“I have something you might be interested in,” said Jim.

“Ok. Have a seat. Want some coffee?”

“Sounds good. Thanks,” he said, sitting at the table.

Jimmy remembered the last time he had said that. This could be good.

“Would you be interested in buying this campsite?”

Jimmy jumped at the thought. He would love to. The view alone was worth a million dollars.

“Why?” Jimmy asked.

“I want to set up more campsites over on the south side. My money is tied up elsewhere and this sale would fit the bill. It would make things easy.

“This site is just over three acres. Yes, it’s mostly steep slope but up here on top it’s leveled off and rolling down to the road. It’s over an acre.”

Owner Jim paused.

“What do you think?”

Jimmy wanted to do it. He had no idea what it might cost but would get it if he could.

"How much?”

“I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Let’s talk,” Jimmy said.

They signed a bill of sale. Both were happy.

Jimmy got the three acres for the price of two. He walked down the road to the property line and looked back up to his airstream. How had all this good fortune happened to him? It was the likes of which he hardly believed.

“What to name my place?” Jimmy thought, about to bust at the seams. “I want to put up a ranch gate. And build a house.” His mind raced with what he could do.

He called Carla with the news.

The eclipse began. Campers throughout the ranch were at the ready with their solar glasses and the observatory was open with views through its telescope.

Folks were gathered for the show. It would last over two hours.

Jimmy was still going into town for groceries and supplies. He made his rounds to take orders from his regulars. He would have a full load on the return.

By noon, near the peak of the eclipse, he stopped to watch. He was almost at Robles Junction where the shortcut trail joined Highway 286 for the last mile. He got out of his side-by-side for the clear view overhead.

The daylight lessened by considerable degrees. It was like being in the shade. The temperature dropped. The day was cool enough as it was. He was glad he had a jacket.

While gazing at the partial eclipse, wanting to catch its peak, he had the sudden sense of someone nearby.

He looked down and refocusing his eyes, he saw two young men a few yards in front of him.

“Hola, Amigo!” they said, smiling.

Surprised and alarmed that they had appeared out of nowhere, he cautiously answered, “Hola, amigos?”

Jimmy’s world went black.

Jimmy should have been back at the Ranch by midafternoon.

Robert was worried as he hadn’t heard from him. He called his cell repeatedly but there was no answer.

At 4 o’clock, he was concerned enough to call the Feed and Supply store. They had not seen him.

He and Fred hopped in Fred’s side-by-side to go look for him.

Fred knew the trails that Jimmy had taken to town. As they neared the junction at the highway, they saw Jimmy lying sprawled out in the dust. His side-by-side nowhere in sight.

They pulled up alongside.

His wallet lay at his feet, his Stetson off to the side.

He was face down in the dust, with now dried blood having run down his neck and pooled on the ground. A nasty gash on top of a goose egg sized bump on the back of his head was its source.

Jimmy had been bushwhacked. They feared the worst.

He was alive, but they couldn’t wake him.

Loading him into the side-by-side they continued to Robles Junction.

Robert called Barbara as they sped the last mile into town. She, in turn, called Carrie and Owner Jim with the news.

Carrie called Carla. Carla said, “I’ll be there as soon as I can!”

In Robles Junction, the fire department rescue team did what they could, and decided they had best get him to the hospital in Tucson. With the siren blasting, the ambulance raced up Highway 86.

Robert called Owner Jim and Barbara with an update. He was with Jimmy in the rescue vehicle. Jimmy was still unconscious.

Owner Jim jumped in his pickup and tore through the Ranch down the road throwing rock and raising a roiling plume of dust on his way to the hospital.

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