Guilt shot through Lou. This was her fault. He had come out to save her and now he was really hurt. The bunkhouse door swung open and Rachel and the doctor walked in.
"Out" Rachel told Teaspoon. "Lou get back in that bed" She continued in her mother hen tone.
Rachel saw the guilt in Lou's eyes as she helped her back onto the bunk. "Now don't you worry, Buck will be fine," she said as she laid Lou down.
Lou looked like her spirit was broken. Rachel's heart broke for the girl.
The doctor examined Buck as Rachel looked on. He shook his head and looked at her. "He is in a coma, the head injury must have caused his brain to swell," the doctor looked at the floor then back at his patient. "I just can't be sure. Talk to him. Keep his temperature down. I'll be back in a couple days to check on him." The doctor got up, replaced his hat, bid both ladies a goodbye and left the bunkhouse.
Ike approached the doctor with questioning eyes. The Doctor placed a hand on Ike's shoulder. "Just talk to him." The doctor walked away. Ike pushed the bunkhouse door open and sat down on the edge of Buck's bed. The other rider's gathered close but knew Ike needed to be closer. Ike stared at his friend. His brother. He grabbed Buck's hand with tears in his eyes. Jimmy put a hand on Ike's shaking shoulder "He's gonna be fine, Ike." He said trying to sound convincing.
Dinner was a quiet event, Ike stirred his food around on his plate and constantly glanced over at Buck. Lou couldn't sit up for too long because of the pain in her ribs. Teaspoon watched the two with concern. Cody, Jimmy and Kid seemed to be eating fine, but even Cody was quiet and that in itself was cause for concern. "Alright boys, What is goin on around here. It's too quiet." Teaspoon asked
Cody looked over at Buck then back at the table and said what everyone was thinking. "It happened so fast, One minute he was talking then we all go do chores and he….." Cody stopped when Ike pushed his plate away and stood up. They all watched as Ike sat down beside Buck's bed.
Ike was upset that he couldn't talk to his friend. Buck couldn't hear him talk so all he could was sit beside him and hold his hand. Ike didn't care who saw the tears. Lou watched from her bunk and the guilt was weighing heavy on her heart. Her heart broke for Ike, that he couldn't talk to his friend. As she watched the other boys eat their dinner in uncomfortable silence. She tried to get up. Rachel saw her trying to move and told her "Get back in that bed"
"I need to get up, I am fine." Lou lied. She pushed herself up and stood a bit dizzy. Jimmy watched her and stood to help her. He led her over to Buck's bed where she sat on the edge of the bed. She smiled back at Jimmy "Thanks, Go finish eating" Lou sat and watched her friends shallow breathing. It only made her guilt worse.
The night seemed to pass slowly as they all got ready for bed. Jimmy had to pry Lou and Ike away from Buck's bed one at a time. Lou laid a wake and watched Buck all night. She could see Ike tossing and turning on his bunk and knew how hard this was for him. She never closed her eyes as the morning sun peeked through the window and woke her sleeping bunkmates, they all started to stir and begin their day. Ike was the last one to slide off his bunk he slid down beside Buck and took a deep breath. Lou needed to apologize to Ike, she felt it was nessesary for her to do this. "Ike," she spoke to her friend startling him a bit. He turned to look at her. Her smile led him to her bunk where he sat quietly on the edge of it.
She placed a hand over his hand and saw so much worry in his eyes. "I am sorry Ike." She said softly. Ike looked confused at her "For what?" he signed.
"For what happened to Buck, if he hadn't come after me, he wouldn't be hurt." She spoke full of conviction and belief that this was all her fault.
Ike shook his head, placed a reassuring hand on her arm and smiled a small smile at her. "Buck would have done it for anybody, but especially for you. I don't blame you and I know he wouldn't either." He signed slowly so she could understand. Lou nodded at him and he rose to go get ready for his morning chores. Lou watched as Ike left the bunkhouse. His words echoing in her head 'but especially for you.' What exactly did that mean? Had Buck risked his life for her?
