CHAPTER NINE

With help from Miss Maudie, the only spectator brave enough to step in and help, I managed to haul Dill inside. He was out cold and bleeding profusely from his head, bruises on his shoulders and back and several gashes on his face and arms, as well as a puffy eye. I stripped his shirt and did my best to staunch the blood until the doctor arrived.

"Good Lord, Jean Louise, was he attacked?" Dr Reynolds exclaimed as I showed him in.

I remembered Marcus's face after he'd punched Dill and shook my head.

"No, it was...an argument. It got somewhat out of control."

Dr Reynolds sewed up the back of Dill's head (I couldn't bear to watch) and prescribed some antibiotics for when Dill woke up.

"Plenty of rest and he'll be right as rain in a week or so. No more than eight of those pills a day. Two with every meal should do fine. He'll have a beauty of a black eye in the mornin'."

He explained where I should bandage up and pointed out to me certain injuries that would need regular cleansing.

"Now, I really must be off – Julie Farthing's due any day now..."

"Thank you doctor," I smiled and showed him out, before returning to the bedroom to continue Dill's mummification.

I'd just lifted his arm and reached for the bandages, when he opened one eye.

"Dr Reynolds gone?" he hissed. I frowned at him.

"Dill! Don't tell me you were awake the whole time?"

Dill grinned, "Not the whole time, just as soon as he washed my face – that water ain't half cold!"

"Hmph," I raised an eyebrow at him, "How's your head?"

Dill felt beneath his hair gingerly and winced. "Nice scar I'll get from these stitches."

I snorted, "You'll have to shave your head 'fore anyone'll see it. Now hold still."

I wound a length of bandage around his arm, careful not to pull it too tightly. I cut the end with some scissors and tied it neatly.

"There. How does that feel?"

"It feels mighty nice with you holdin' my hand like that."

I glanced down and realised that, in an effort to keep his arm still, I was in fact gripping his hand – and quite tightly too. I scowled at his smug face and snatched up the ointment Dr Reynolds had left.

"This may sting." I said, matter-of-factly, before applying it on one of the gashes on his chest. I felt him gasp and stiffen beneath my fingers and I immediately pulled back, concerned.

On his face was a perfect expression of masked pain – until he began sniggering, which kind of ruined it.

"Charles Baker Harris!" I yelled furiously, slapping him on the shoulder. He grinned apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Jeanie, 's just I don't half mind havin' you fuss over me like this. I'd get myself beaten up every day if you would look at me like that once in a while."

I frowned sternly at him, "Still haven't forgiven you for startin' that fight with Marcus. It was stupid an' childish. Don't you even think 'bout doin' it again!"

The cheekiness dropped from Dill's face in a second.

"I was fightin' for you, Jeanie, you know that? You don't wanna marry that stuck up Marcus, do ya?"

I lowered my eyes and tried to concentrate on bandaging Dill's shoulder.

"It would be the right thing to do." I replied softly. I could feel Dill's eyes on me. He pursed his lips.

"What, stay here forever and be a good lil housewife? You told me you wanted to see the world!"

I dropped the roll of gauze, exasperated and confused.

"I don't know, Dill, I just don't know! If I marry Marcus I can stay here in Maycomb with Atticus and Aunty! Aunty thinks I should and Marcus is a good man!"

"But you don't love him." Dill said quietly, catching my hand. Tears formed in my eyes. I wanted to scream!

"I don't know! It's – it's too much! Gah!" I rubbed my eyes with the balls of my hands then set about methodically rolling and cutting strips of bandage. Dill watched me, a thoughtful look on his face. Finally, he said.

"I'm sorry if I'm rushin' you into this." He mumbled as I pressed the white linen gently against his chest. His skin was soft and pink, but I could feel the firm muscles beneath.

I worked silently and carefully across his chest and shoulders, dabbing away the blood and applying bandages where needed. Finally, I got to his face. He was still watching me.

I picked up an ice pack from the bedside table and touched it to his eye. He winced, but did not draw back.

"It was very brave of you to pick a fight with Marcus. He's at least a head taller than you."

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Yeah, well I did it for you."

I raised my eyebrows. "Thank you, but don't go gettin' yourself beat up next time, ok?"

There was a strange look on his face now; he wasn't grinning, he was smiling shyly at me.

"Jeanie, has Marcus ever kissed you?"

"Kissed me?" I raised my eyebrows at him, trying to anticipate what he was going to do next. "No, he hasn't."

"Good." Dill said, leaning in, "Cuz I wouldn't want that jerk's spit in my mouth."