The Book;

Chapter 7

Rye Willis and Jed Monroe sat on the porch of the little cabin talking.

"So what are we going to do about the old man?"

"Right now Zander needs his doctorin', there isn't much we can do about him."

"Supposing someone comes looking for him. Someone who knows about the stage, then we're gonna be in trouble."

"Tell you what Jed – if anyone comes near this place, I'll deal with the old man – you take care of anyone riding in. Right now he is not giving us any trouble and it's easier this way."

All right" Jed nodded. " I guess one of us better go find some supper like the old man said."

He took his rifle and left the porch.

O0O0O

Doc set his book aside, got up and turned to check on his patient. He took the young man's wrist and felt for his pulse. It was getting weaker by the hour, and feeling his forehead he could detect the beginnings of a fever. He took the cloth from the bowl of water he had set up by the bedside and wiped his patients forehead, somehow he had to keep the man alive at least for a couple of days. He figured the two boys who had interrupted his time alone, would eventually realize they didn't need him if Zander died.

He sat back in his chair and returned to his book. He knew there was nothing he could do right now except try to help Zander, - but then he would do that anyway.

About an hour passed and he heard the boys - he could not help but think of them as that- returning.

The cabin door opened and he heard voices in the front room. In a few minutes Rye appeared at the door. "How's my brother doing, Doc?"

"It's a bit early to tell," he replied wiping his hand across his mustache, "did you boys get something for supper."

It turned out they had managed to shoot a couple of rabbits and Jed was already preparing to put them over the fire. Doc cut the hindquarters off of one of the carcasses and dropped it in the remainder of the pot of water that was sitting on the stove. After he had added some of the dried beans he brought with him he left it sitting there to simmer and returned to the bedroom to check on Zander. Finding his fever had risen a little more he took a small envelope from his bag and stirred the contents into a cup of water. Rye followed him as he returned to his patient. He looked at the young man,

"Here," he said, seeing the concern in the young man's eyes, "come and help me get your brother to take this." He handed the cup to Rye and went to help Zander sit up enough to swallow the medicine. He watched as the brothers shared a look and he under stood the love between them. Two young boys raised up in a very tough environment, probably by the sound of things with a somewhat abusive father, the only security they got was from sticking together. They had a unique bond that made it even more important that he keep the injured man alive.

Doc returned to his chair at the bedside and picked up his book once more, to resume his reading of the underwater travels of M. Aronnax and Captain Nemo. Like Aronnax he was a prisoner, able to move freely within the confines of submarine, but not allowed the freedom to return to his homeland. Aronnax was not unduly inconvenienced by his imprisonment. His interest in the living creatures of the seas was satisfied since he had an opportunity to observe and catalog the plant and animal life of the ocean. Doc likewise had not been too inconvenienced thus far because he was taking care of Zander, something he would be doing anyway. Like Aronnax, though, he was not sure he would ever be allowed to return to his homeland, Dodge City.

He was walking with Nemo and Aronnax through the underwater forest of Crespo when he felt a hand on his shoulder, turning his head he saw Rye standing there. "I'll sit with him Doc if you want to go get something to eat. Jed did a pretty good job on those rabbits."

Doc set his book aside and went into the main room. There were several pieces of meat left on a stick placed over the fire and he helped himself to one, he was not particularly hungry but wanted to interact with the two boys as much as possible. He looked hard at Jed as he sat down at the small table.

"Tell me Jed, what part do you play in all this."

"Wha'd'ya want to know for?"

"Nothing special, just making conversation. How do you know the Willis brothers anyway?"

The young man stared at him with cold brown eyes, but gave no answer. Doc thought he was a year or two older than the others, and certainly had a tougher look about him. He felt that he might be able to talk some sense into Rye, but this one would be harder to work with.

He went to check on the pot he had simmering on the stove, strained a little of the broth off and took it towards the bedroom.

Rye was talking to his brother although Doc wasn't sure how much Zander was understanding.

"Let's see if we can get a little broth down him." As before Rye was only too willing to help.

"You know, he would have a much better chance if we could get him to Dodge. I have an office there and could take care of him better."

Rye appeared to hesitate. He wanted to do the right thing but was scared of what might happen if the law caught up with his brother. Doc's plan now was to get these two boys away from Jed. He knew he could handle them but was not sure about that one.

TBC