Chapter 10

Jim ate his breakfast slowly, watching Artie's face as he did so. Finally he asked, "Are you all right?"

Artemus managed a slight grin, "I've been better. Jesus, Jim, you scared me this time."

"I think I scared myself," Jim replied, taking another mouthful, as he chewed Artie continued, "if it hadn't been for Beth turning up I don't know what I'd have done. She was amazing."

"Not really," Beth's cool voice interrupted them both, "I couldn't have done it without American Knife – he was the one who suggested weaning you off the laudanum – it is his medicine you should thank."

"You underestimate your ability," Artemus replied.

"Flatterer," Beth replied, a smile lighting the bright blue eyes.

"Most definitely," Artie replied, the smile reciprocated in his. "But never without cause."

Beth smiled, "You expressed a reluctance to be transported to the Capital," she said slowly.

Jim swallowed again and nodded, "I don't want to go there, Elizabeth, I can't bear the thought-" he broke off and she thought she saw the shine of tears in his eyes. "We can't leave you here," she explained, "your injuries make you vulnerable – and God knows, Jim, you've made your fair share of enemies, if any of them discover your whereabouts-"

He grimaced, "I know, but the Capital-" he broke off

Beth smiled tautly, "finish your breakfast; I need to go and talk with American Knife about redressing those arms."

He smiled wanly and then he and Artemus were alone again, Artie fed him the last mouthful of scrambled egg and then said softly, "She has a point, Jim."

West nodded as Artie held the cup for him to drink, he swallowed and said, "I know, Artie, but the thought of being marooned in Washington D.C.-"

Artemus sighed and said, "I know, Jim, I know, but at present I can't think of another solution."

Meanwhile, Beth was pulling on her gloves when she heard a familiar voice say, "Dr MacKenzie may I speak with you?"

She turned to see the imposing figure of American Knife standing in the doorway to the kitchen, "Of course, American Knife," she replied.

"I do not think it would be in Mr West's best interests to go to the capital," American Knife began, as Beth opened her mouth he held up a hand to forestall her, "I know that you feel that he would receive the best medical care in that place, but it would do his mental state no good. He is a proud man, Miss Elizabeth, it would hurt him to take him there – and I do not believe that I can come with you."

Beth frowned, "Why not?"

"Because I am Cheyenne and my home is the prairie, I would feel like a hunted animal in your city."

Beth nodded, "I know, but where else can I take him, with those injuries he'll need specialist care for a while."

American Knife looked thoughtful, "What about your 'proving ground'?" he asked.

Beth flushed, "How do you know about that?"

"Netis and I have few secrets, so I know about La Casa Rosada," American Knife smiled, "you have a doctor on Staff there and Mr West would be able to recover in peace and quiet."

"It would suit his temperament better," Beth replied, "all right, La Casa it is."

"We should go and tell him," American Knife said quietly, "it would ease his mind."

"Yes," Beth nodded, "what about changing those dressings?"

"Let us go and see our friend," American Knife replied.

Jim was lying against the pillows, his eyes closed. Artemus was sitting next to the bed reading to him. Jim's eyes opened as they entered the room and he managed a painful smile, "I think it would be prudent to change Mr West's dressings now," American Knife said slowly.

"I think that might be wise," Beth said, her gaze never leaving West's face. "I can have everything ready in five minutes."

Jim swallowed and Beth watched the muscles in his throat work, "Will it hurt much?" he asked.

"It should not hurt at all," American Knife said quietly. He looked up, "Miss Elizabeth, I will administer the anaesthetic if you will fetch the materials you need. Are you ready, Mr West?"

"Can Artie stay?" Jim begged, swallowing hard again as he remembered a sensation of being drugged and helpless as the most horrendous nightmares assailed him.

"I would insist upon it," American Knife replied.

"I will go and get the materials," Beth said softly, and then both men were alone again.

"It will be all right, Jim," Artemus said quietly, laying his hand on Jim's shoulder.

Jim nodded again, biting back the tears forming in his throat. Artemus squeezed his shoulder encouragingly just as American Knife re-entered the room, a glass in his hand.

"Drink," he urged, his hand against West's back. Reluctantly, Jim drank the mixture and American Knife allowed him to relax back onto the pillows. "We'll lie you flat when that's taken effect," he explained. "It will make it easier for us to change those dressings."

Jim nodded, wishing that he could stop feeling so sick and miserable, American Knife watched him, "I assure you, my friend, you will be all right."

Jim managed to nod, not trusting himself to speak. Finally he swallowed and said, "You're sure that it won't hurt."

"It won't," American Knife replied, "Close your eyes, Mr West. It will not take long."

American Knife was correct, thirty minutes later, Jim's eyes were closed and his head was lolling unpleasantly. Together, Artemus and American Knife carefully removed the pillows until Jim was lying flat on the bed, his eyes half-opened as they did so, "Whassa' matter?" he mumbled.

"Nothing is the matter," American Knife assured him, his hand warm on West's shoulder, "rest now, my friend"

Jim's eyes slid shut and American Knife looked up at Artemus, "I should like you to sit at his head," he said quietly, "it will reassure him that all is well."

Artemus watched as American Knife and Elizabeth took their positions, either side of the bed, Netis standing next to Beth the jar of honey in her hands, and then Elizabeth began to remove the bandages, but he had to look away as she opened the wax paper to reveal the burn. When American Knife did the same for Jim's other arm he was almost sick. "Now we apply more honey," Beth said, smiling at Netis who dipped the ladle into her jar of honey and began pouring honey over Jim's entire arm and hand. "Now if you would do the same for American Knife," she said, smiling at Netis.

"Are you sure this will work?" Artemus asked, looking at them both.

"I have high hopes," American Knife replied.

Jim stirred and his eyes half-opened, "Artie," he mumbled.

Artemus laid his hand on his friend's shoulder, "It's all right, Jim," he said gently, "go back to sleep."

"Not really 'sleep," he murmured, "just floaty. No pain though."

"That's good, Jim," American Knife said softly, "rest now."

Artemus watched as they carefully re-applied honey to his hands and arms and then carefully rewrapped each digit separately, finally re-bandaging the entire arm.

"In two days we perform the whole procedure again," Beth said as she washed her hands. "How's he doing?"

"He'll be all right," Artemus replied, he looked up at her, "Beth, you're amazing."

"Flatterer," she replied, bending down to kiss his cheek. To her surprise he moved his head so that their lips ended up touching. She jerked back shocked by his response.

"I have wanted to do that since the first time I saw you," Artemus replied.

"In Topeka?" she raised a perfect dark eyebrow and rising to his feet he put his arms around her and hugged her, "since Topeka," he confirmed.

She shook her head, "Silver tongued cavalier."

Artemus released her and she thought that she'd said something wrong but he returned to sit at Jim's head, finally he spoke, "I wanted Lily to marry me, and I asked her, or rather-" he smiled shyly, "I was so tongue-tied that Jim finally had to ask her, and she said no. Said that she couldn't marry me because she'd never know who the real Artemus was."

"Was that why you asked her to take me shopping in New York?" Beth asked slowly.

"Partly," Artemus smiled sheepishly, "I hoped that if I proposed to her again, she might accept. She still said no."

"I am sorry," Beth said slowly, "you liked her very much."

"Ye-es," Artemus gave her a soft smile, "but maybe we both made the right decision."

"What about the train?" she asked, changing the subject.

"As I explained," Artemus replied, "I've had another carriage coupled between the stable car and the varnish car."

"Good," she turned to American Knife, "do you think we should move Mr West to the train while he is resting?"

"Indeed Dr MacKenzie I think that a most prudent thought. Netis and I shall accompany you of course."

"Still heading for the capital?" Artemus asked.

"No-oh," Beth replied, flicking a quick look at American Knife, "I have been persuaded that it would not be in Mr West's best interests, we are going to head for Persephone."

"You're taking him to La Casa," Artemus said slowly.

"I think that would be the best course of action," Beth replied.

Artemus put an arm around her and hugged her, "Beth I'll be honest, I wasn't keen on you taking Jim to the capital, I think that the Pink House will be perfect."

"So I have your support?" she asked as he pulled her to him and kissed her. Artie released her and then said, "I'll go and fetch the wagon."

The door opened again and Netis slipped into the room, "I've prepared all the medicines and dressings we'll need for the journey."

Beth hugged her friend, "Thanks, Netis, I appreciate this."

"My pleasure, Beth. He's well liked. We were glad to come." She smiled, "I take it Mr Gordon has gone for the wagon."

Beth nodded, "Yes. I'm a bit concerned about how we'll get Mr West out."

"You needn't worry about that," a new voice interrupted them. Matthew Whelan had entered the room, "I understand that you're leaving us."

"We think that Mr West will recover better in different surroundings," Beth explained, "but we're also concerned that if any of his enemies discover his whereabouts it could put everyone in danger."

Matthew nodded, "I understand, Dr MacKenzie."

Beth nodded, "Thanks, Mr Whelan."

"Come and find me when you need my assistance." He said slowly.

"We will," Netis assured him.

Beth reseated herself beside West's sleeping form and regarded his sleeping face thoughtfully, "He doesn't know about La Casa yet, I didn't get the chance to tell him."

"Do you think he'll be pleased?"

"Relieved might be a better word," Beth replied, looking across at Netis.

Netis nodded, "Yes, I can understand that."