Chapter 36

In the guest room that the men, and boy, from Laramie had been sharing young Mike Williams was being told the news by Slim.

"Is he hurt really bad?" the boy asked.

"Yes, Mike. He's hurt pretty bad."

"Is he gonna die like my parents did?:

"No, Mike," Slim hastened to reassure him. He's going to have to stay in bed for a few days because of his ankle but he'll be up and around soon."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure I'm sure." Seeing David in the doorway where he had stopped when he heard their voices, he added, "Why don't you ask Dr. McAllister?"

David entered the room and sat down on the other side of Mike who was seated on his bed.

Putting an arm around the youngster's shoulders he gave him a squeeze.

"He's going to be fine, Mike. He'll be very sore for a while but he'll be better by Christmas or shortly after."

The boy looked at the two adults and heaved a sigh of relief. Slim might tease him sometimes. He might even scold him but he had never lied to him. Mike sensed the same honesty in Dr. McAllister.

"Can I see him?"

"After breakfast - or church. It depends on when he's awake." David tousled the boy's hair. You finish getting dressed and come down for breakfast.

"Ok."

Dr. McAllister turned to his other patient

"How's the ankle this morning?"

"A little sore but not bad."

"Let's have a look at it before you get your boots on."

A quick examination showed that the ankle was only slightly swollen.

"Just take it easy for a few days and it'll be fine," McAllister told him. "Come on down to breakfast as soon as you're dressed. Daisy's sitting with Jess right now."

"We'll be down in a few minutes," Slim told him.

As David started out the door Slim stopped him with a question.

"Hey Doc? Does Cam know?"

"Hannah's telling her now."

"Hannah has already told her and she's taking it pretty well. That may change when she sees him though." Hannah McAllister heard their question and answered it. "I took her to see him for a minute. She's gone downstairs to start breakfast.

A few minutes later, after Hannah and David had gone downstairs Slim and Mike walked into the kitchen. Or ,rather, Mike walked and Slim limped. It didn't escape the girl's attention that her friend was limping. Neither her aunt, uncle or Daisy had thought to tell her of Slim's twisted ankle.

"What happened to you Mr. Sherman?" she asked with raised eyebrows. "Did Karen kick you for being fresh?"

"No. I just twisted it a little is all," the rancher told her.

"On the dance floor? Get our boot heel caught in a crack?"

"No."

"I know - Gordy kicked you for coming on to Vicky."

"No." Cam's teasing was getting to him.

"I've got it! You tripped over your big feet!" She couldn't stop giggling at the thought.

"You might as well tell her, Slim," David laughed. "She's going to get it out of you sooner or later. She always does."

"Yeah. You might as well tell me 'cause I'm going to get it out of you eventually," Cam told him.

"I tripped over a tree root," Slim replied. "There! Now you know! Are you happy?"

"Very," the teenager told him with a grin. "Now I've got something on you and Jess - you're both clumsy!"

"Now you just wait a minute!" Sherman was tired of being needled.

"Mike? Do you know what we call grown men who trip over tree roots?" She nudged him with her elbow and winked at him - eliciting a giggle and a big grin from the boy.

"No. What do you call grown men who trip over tree roots Cam?"

"Clumsy," she answered and the two youngsters burst out laughing while Slim scowled at them. His sense of humor always suffered when Cam was in this mood. This time it was his pride as well.

Breakfast was eaten and the dishes done. There was a brief discussion as to who would stay home with the patient. In the end it was Daisy who won the argument. Knowing David to be the only doctor in town which could mean sleepless nights and missed church services and social functions as well as quiet nights with his family, she insisted that he go and she would stay with Jess.

Upon their return from the morning services the two youngest members of the household, plus the puppy, went to the invalid's room to visit. He'd awoken in the bed made up with sheets that smelled of fresh air and lavender about half an hour after the others had left.

Daisy had checked him over and found no fever but that he was in a bit of pain from the cracked ribs. Dr. McAllister had ordered laudanum as needed. Against Jess' protests he'd been given half of what he'd had the night before. It made him more comfortable and up to having company for a couple of hours. When his eyelids began to droop, Cam wisely suggested to Mike that they take Duncan for a long walk and then they could fix Jess a supper tray and sit with him while he ate.

For the next four days Jess was confined to bed. It gave his ankle a chance to heal as well as starting the healing process on his ribs. Slim limped for a couple of days but, his ankle not being as badly injured, healed quicker than his partner's did.

On the sworn promise from Slim, Gordon, Cam and Mike, that they wouldn't let Jess overdo it, they were allowed to take the proposed, and promised, fishing trip. Hannah supplied the picnic lunch and included matches and some newspaper so they could have a fire on which to heat coffee and cocoa. Being late October at this point, hot drinks would be welcome. Gordon hitched the team to the borrowed wagon which was cushioned in back with a pair of mattresses, quilts and pillows, to make the ride as comfortable for Jess as possible.

The five friends spent the day at Cam's favorite fishing spot before calling it quits around two o'clock in the afternoon. Jess fell asleep in the back of the wagon before they were a quarter of a mile down the road. He was allowed to sit at the table for supper but was immediately sent to bed with a small dose of painkiller to help him sleep. He was down to less than a quarter of his original dose now. David McAllister was taking no chances on his needing it for long but wouldn't let Jess tough it out either.

Two days later Slim and Gordon packed the family's luggage and gifts and such into the back of the wagon. Once again it was well padded so the injured man could ride more comfortably.

"There! I think that's everything," Slim said as they loaded the last two bags in the back.

"I hope so," Gordon said with a laugh. "I think you're taking home more than you brought."

"That's because Daisy spent the last three days shopping," Slim joked.

"I heard that Slim Sherman," the lady in question said. "You'll be glad I bought all that wool and flannel when the cold weather sets in to stay in a month or so. The socks and mufflers and shirts will keep you boys nice and warm."

"Yes ma'am," he responded with a smile as he helped her climb up when she and Hannah had exchanged good-bye hugs.

"You do as I tell you and you'll be fine by Christmas if not sooner," David was telling Jess as he escorted his patient out to the wagon.

Jess moved slowly holding his side and trying to keep his arm still. Gordon and Slim helped him into the back of the wagon. Hannah made sure he was well covered against the chill.

Cam came out with a big box full of sandwiches and cold fried chicken, bread, pickles, sliced roast beef as well as cookies and anything else she could think of that they might like during the two day journey they had ahead of them. She and Hannah had insisted on making sure there was enough food for everyone - especially with a recuperating Jess being noted for his voracious appetite. Slim had wired ahead to Laramie for reservations at the hotel figuring that Jess would need to rest overnight after the train trip from Red Bluff.

After she had tucked the box under the front seat, out of reach of the ever hungry Harper boy, she gave Daisy a hug and a kiss. Then she went around to the back to give Jess a good-bye kiss on his cheek. Slim was next. She gave him a big hug to make up for not being able to hug Jess.

'Mike? Where are you? We're ready to go!" Slim called.

"Coming!" the boy answered from inside the house.

"What's he doing?" Slim asked Cam. The last he'd seen Mike he'd been "helping" pack the food.

"Getting Jess' trophy. We put it on the mantle to save it from Duncan remember?" Cam responded. "That puppy of mine has a sweet tooth. I haven't been able to get it through that thick skull of his that the sweets in this house are not for him. He's forever begging for pieces of cookie and stuff."

Just then Mike came running out of the house carrying the marzipan trophy Jess had won in the pie eating contest. Duncan was underfoot looking for attention and trying to get at the trophy which he could smell and knew it was edible. He completely ignored his mistress' command to sit and got in Mike's way one too many times. The boy ended up tripping over him and the trophy flew into the air.

Several people tried to catch it before it hit the ground. They all failed. It landed on one of the flagstones on the path to the house and shattered.

"Oh Duncan! You're a bad boy!" Cam cried out in dismay as her puppy started devouring the trophy before she could get hold of him.

She turned to Jess with a sad expression.

"I'm sorry Jess. I should have tied him in the back yard or something. Your beautiful trophy is ruined."

"Don't worry about it Cam," the Texan said. "It wasn't your fault - or yours either," he said to his ward who was equally upset.

"Let's get going before something else happens," Slim said as he boosted Mike into the wagon before giving Hannah a fast hug and shaking hands with David.

"Have a safe trip and don't forget to let us know when you get home and..."

"And how Jess is doing," Slim finished her admonition for her.

Into the wagon he climbed followed by Gordon who had just finished tying Rocky and Galway to the back of the wagon.

A light slap of the reins and a 'hup" they were on their way to Red Bluff to catch the train that would take them home to Laramie.