Chapter Twelve

Lou stood just outside the entrance to the cave, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, as she softly cried. Seeing Jimmy in so much pain was hard enough, but hearing his painful cries and moans were even worse.

It had taken everything in her not scream at Wise Crow to stop tormenting her friend. The only thing stopping her from doing it was knowing the elder Kiowa was the only one who could help Jimmy. There was no doctors for miles around or else Kid would have brought one back with him.

"Lou?"

"I'm alright Kid."

Her response was automatic and they both knew it. She wasn't fine and they both knew that too. Kid didn't say anything else, he just waited. After only a moment's hesitation, Lou turned into Kid's waiting arms.

Kid held her as she cried. He wouldn't say it aloud, but he was glad that Lou hadn't been shot. Not that he wished Jimmy was. If he had his way, neither of the two people the closest to him, would ever be hurt. He would rather it be him than either of them.

They remained hugging for several moments while Lou got her emotions under control. When she did, she drew out of Kid's arms and used the backs of her hands to wipe the tears from her eyes and face.

"Sorry."

"Don't be. Jimmy's our best friend. We both love him and it's hard to see him in such pain." Kid said softly.

Lou smiled. Wasn't so long ago that Kid might have been a little jealous of her reaction to seeing Jimmy in pain. Not that Kid didn't love Jimmy too; he did. He just would have questioned whether her feelings for Jimmy were stronger than her feelings for him.

Things had changed though. She and Kid were back on an even ground with one another and Kid's friendship with Jimmy seemed to be on one as well. Kid was really trying to show her that her feelings mattered to him, something he hadn't been so good about in the past.

Lou glanced back at the opening to t he cave, to see if Wise Crow or Stone Thrower was watching, before she quickly kissed Kid.

"What was that for?" Kid grinned at her, then added, "Not that I'm complaining."

"For keeping your word about trying." Lou said softly. "It means a lot."

"I meant very word I said Lou." Kid murmured. "I want us to be together, but I know you aren't ready yet. I'm going to prove to you that I can be the man you need me to be."

Lou started to answer when Stone Thrower joined them.

"Wise Crow wants us to build a litter to carry your friend on." Stone Thrower said.

"I'll help you collect wood." Kid volunteered. He looked at Lou." You can help us or go sit with Jimmy."

"I'll go sit with Jimmy." Lou headed for the cave entrance while Kid followed Stone Thrower over the boulders to the flatter land beneath the cave, where they started their search for wood to make the litter.

Lou smiled at Wise Crow as he placed a wet cloth on Jimmy's forehead. She moved around the elder Kiowa, until she reached Jimmy's other side, and settled on the hard ground with her back against the rock wall of the cave. She slipped her hand over Jimmy's and held it, not caring if Wise Crow saw it or not.

Even though Jimmy was still unconscious, she wanted him to know she was close. She watched as Wise Crow tended to her friend as he slept. The older man replaced the cool cloth on Jimmy's forehead often, continued chanting a prayer over him, and occasionally checked his wound to make sure his handiwork held.

After about an hour, Kid and Stone Thrower entered the cave. As Stone Thrower conversed with Wise Crow in their native tongue, Kid crouched down beside Jimmy.

"How's he doing?" Kid asked Lou.

"Don't know." Lou replied. "Wise Crow doesn't seem overly concerned, so I guess Jimmy's doing as well as he expected. Did you get enough wood to make a litter?"

"Yes. It's built and waiting outside for whenever we need to use it." Kid told her.

"When is that going to be?" Lou asked.

"I don't know." Kid said.

"We rest here tonight." Wise Crow told them both. "We move friend tomorrow."

"Aright." Kid said. "I'll get our bedrolls. We can sleep here beside Jimmy."

Lou nodded.

Soon he was back with their bedrolls. Lou stood up and took her bedroll from Kid, lying it out beside the unconscious Jimmy. Kid spread his out next to hers and they both made themselves comfortable. Once she was settled, Lou slipped her hand back over Jimmy's and felt Kid take her other hand in his. She turned her head to look at him and felt him give her hand a gentle squeeze. She returned the squeeze and saw Kid's lips curve into a smile in the darkening cave. Him smiling at her was the last things he remembered before she fell into an exhausted sleep.