Chapter Ten
Lou crouched down beside Jimmy, her dark eyes worried. His face was flushed and perspiration dotted his forehead. She lay a hand against his brow and his heated flesh nearly burned her palm. She knew fever was a warning sign that meant infection had likely set in his wounded shoulder.
She wet a strip of cloth torn from the extra undershirt Hickok had carried in his saddlebags, with lukewarm water from one of their canteens, and placed it on Jimmy's head. Jimmy's pain filled eyes fluttered open and he gazed up at her.
'Sorry Jimmy. I didn't mean to wake you up." Lou apologized.
"How long have I been out?" He asked.
"For about an hour this time." Lou informed him. "How do you feel?"
"Like I've been shot." He gave her a wry smile.
Lou averted her gaze at his words. She didn't him to see just how worried she was about him. All he needed to be thinking about was staying strong until Kid arrived with help. He didn't need to be worrying about her too.
"Lou?"
"I'm fine Jimmy." Lou forced herself to meet his pain filled eyes. "Want some water?"
Jimmy nodded.
Gently, she slid one arms under his head, and lifted the still open canteen to his parched lips. Jimmy obediently swallowed a mouthful, then another, before Lou removed the canteen from his lips. She lowered Jimmy's head back onto the pillow made out of his coat, and then screwed the cap back onto the canteen.
"Don't worry Lou. I'm sure Kid found someone to help us and is on his way back now." Jimmy told her.
"Sure he is." Lou agreed. "Try and get some more rest."
"I will if you settle down beside me." Jimmy coaxed.
Lou settled on the hard ground of the cave, her back resting against the carved rock wall, and her legs stretched out in front of her. Jimmy lifted his uninjured hand and Lou intertwined her fingers through his. Silence fell between them as Jimmy drifted back to sleep, his breathing more labored than it had been earlier.
Lou closed her eyes against a sudden flood of tears. She had done her best to make Jimmy as comfortable as possible. Now all she had to do was wait and pray that Kid returned soon with someone who could fix their injured friend.