A/N: Thank you to everyone who's reviewed so far! As you may know, I'm still in the process of writing this - I would have chapters up sooner, but as I was writing chapter four, I realized it would be better suited as chapter five, so I then had to write this chapter to fill the gap between the two chapters I'd written. So chapter five IS already written, and I'll post it this coming week with enough encouragement! :)


Chapter Four

Slim took a long draw from his tin mug of coffee, wincing as the strong, bitter liquid filled his mouth. "Strong this morning," he commented quietly, more to himself than to Jonesy in the kitchen. He took another swallow before setting the cup on the table and seating himself. "Morning," he greeted Andy, across the table from him. "How're the biscuits and ham?"

Andy nodded, swallowing a large mouthful of food. "Great, Slim." He grabbed a second biscuit from the plate in the center of the table, slathering it with butter and jam. He looked up from his food for a brief moment to cast and anxious glance at the open bedroom door. "How's Jess?" he asked solemnly.

"He's still resting. I don't want him on his feet for a few more days at least." Slim offered his brother an encouraging smile. It had been three days since the accident, and between Jess's being continually sedated and Andy's chores, the boy hadn't had a chance to talk to his friend much.

"Will he be okay?"

"His burns are healing nicely," Slim replied, avoiding the answer he knew Andy was looking for. Instead he answered vaguely, "It's too soon to tell anything else."

Andy nodded slowly, his eyes wandering to the bedroom door again. "Can I talk to him when he wakes up?"

"This afternoon," Slim promised. "You've got to go into town after breakfast with Jonesy and get more fencing, remember?"

The younger Sherman looked disappointed, scowling at his brother. "Do I have to, Slim? Jess will be awake soon, and-"

"And you can talk to him this afternoon. Now hurry up and help Jonesy with the horses." Slim pointed out the window to the old family friend, hitching up the buckboard by the barn.

Andy shoved the rest of his biscuit in his mouth, mumbled a food-muffled "See ya, Slim", and hurried outside to help Jonesy with the team. Slim took another sip of his coffee, winced at the taste, and poured another tin cupful of bitter black liquid for Jess.

Slim stood, stretched, and stepped quietly into the bedroom to check on his friend.

Jess lay still and quiet, propped up against his pillows. Slim might have thought he was asleep, except for the way his hands rubbed each other restlessly, as if seeking something to occupy them.

"Howdy, pard."

The voice startled Slim, even though he had seen for himself that Jess was awake. In his stocking feet, he had entered the room soundlessly – or so he thought. "Well, look who finally finished their beauty sleep." Slim caught the slight upward turn of Jess's mouth at that comment, relieved to see that Jess was in a good mood. His friend had been stone-faced and solemn for the few days since the explosion, and it was good to see him smile again, even if it was only a small one. "You didn't call me when you woke."

"I heard Andy talkin', and I figured he'd never leave with Jonesy if he knew I was up." Jess's head raised slightly, and he shifted beneath the blankets. "Is that coffee? It smells good."

Slim glanced down at the warm cup in his hand. "Yeah, Jonesy just made a pot. You want any breakfast with it?"

Jess shook his head, stretching an expectant hand in Slim's direction. "Just the coffee, thanks."

Slim crossed the room in a few long strides and touched the cup to Jess's hand, waiting until the smaller man's fingers had securely curled around the tin handle before letting go. "Did you sleep well?" he asked conversationally, sitting on the edge of his bed to watch Jess.

"Like a baby." Jess lifted the cup to his lips, taking a careful mouthful of the dark liquid. He swallowed hard, lips tightly pursed, and shook his head. "Doggone it, a spoon could stand up in that stuff!"

Slim grinned widely, taking the cup his friend thrust in his direction and setting it on the bedside table. "Jonesy was making you some more salve at the same time as he was making the coffee – Doc Hansen gave him a recipe so he wouldn't have to ride into town for more every week – and I guess he was distracted and put in an extra scoop of coffee beans."

Jess frowned, sucking on his tongue in an effort to rid himself of the bitter aftertaste of the strong drink. "You sure he didn't get a little salve in there, too? It tastes worse'n just strong coffee."

Slim took a small sip from Jess's discarded mug. His eyebrows raised. "Darned if he didn't! It has a bit of that medicine smell, Jess!"

Jess smiled, but it was a tight-lipped expression that led Slim to believe it wasn't genuine. "I don't blame him for bein' distracted and all. He's been doin' my chores, hasn't he?"

"We both have," Slim answered quickly, seeing Jess's face harden. "Don't worry about it."

"I'm sorry," Jess grated, his voice taking on a light rasp. "I'll make it all up when I heal, Slim, honest."

"You have nothing to be sorry about!" Slim reproached him, laying a firm hand on Jess's shoulder. "None of us planned on this happening. No one is to blame, and you have nothing at all to apologize for."

Jess's hands resumed their anxious fidgeting. "If you say so," he replied tensely. "But Slim, I can't stand the feelin' of not bein' able to pull my own weight. Give me a chore, somethin' I can handle, at least until I get my sight back."

Slim dropped his gaze to the floorboards thoughtfully. "What do you think you can do?"

"I could clean a gun in my sleep, Slim. I don't need my eyes for that."

"Okay." Slim nodded, even though he knew Jess couldn't see. "You can clean the pistols and rifles, if you're really itching for something to do. But I want you in bed for a few more days, understood?"

Jess scowled. "Sure, Slim. I can't stand this bed much longer, though."

"You'll be up and at 'em before you know it." Slim waited for some response from Jess, but when his friend only grunted in reply, Slim stood and laid a hand on Jess's shoulder. "Let's change your bandage, then we'll get some food in you before you rest more, alright?"

Jess nodded. He sat up straight as Slim gently unwound the bandage around his head, and took a deep breath before cautiously opening his bright blue eyes, despite the irritation it caused the burned skin around them. He let his eyelids close after a moment, laying back into the pillows with a huff of frustration. "Nothin'."

"It's been three days. Give it time." Slim gingerly touched a wet cloth to Jess's face, washing the tender burns. "Does that hurt?"

"No." Jess's tone was easy enough, but the way his jaw clenched when the cloth touched his skin told Slim otherwise.

Slim dabbed salve around Jess's eyes and over the rest of his face before painstakingly rewrapping the bandage, careful not to make it too loose or too tight. "Does that feel alright?"

Jess nodded, relaxing into the pillows behind him. "That salve feels real good, Slim. The doc was right, it works wonders."

Slim gave Jess's shoulder a squeeze before rising to his feet. "I'll get you some food, okay?"

"Sounds good." Jess inhaled deeply, letting the breath out slow. Slim's light, socked footsteps faded quickly, and a moment later Jess heard the clink of tin dishes. He'd often heard that when a person loses one of their senses, the others are strengthened. He'd quickly found it was true. Every sound seemed amplified, as he relied on his hearing more than ever before to survey his surroundings.

It had been too much to expect his vision to be restored that quickly, he knew. Still, as he slowly opened his eyes minutes before, he hadn't been able to shake the hope that maybe, just maybe, today would be the day. It would probably be weeks before he could see again. In the weeks his burns healed, it would still be a possibility. Once the bandage came off, however, his chances looked slim.

Jess pounded his fist into the sheets in frustration. Day three, and already he was anxious for the whole thing to be over with. He wanted to know for sure if he would see again, or if he'd be blind the rest of his life. All he could do was wait for now, as much as it pained him. It was just too soon to tell.


Hope you enjoyed it! Let me know by reviewing! XD