Chapter 26

Teaspoon pushed the horses as fast as he could to his friend's homestead. He pulled them to a stop in the yard. He ran up and knocked on the door. He waited but no one answered. He knocked again when he heard someone call out.

"Can I help you?" A small older woman asked.

Teaspoon turned and took off his hat.

"Is Mason at home?"

"He went over to the neighbors. Should be back any minute?" The old lady said as she walked closer.

"Well, well, Teaspoon Hunter." She said smiling.

"Barbara? That you?"

"Who the hell else would it be? You think he done went and got himself another young thing? You know he couldn't handle it." She laughed.

Teaspoon walked over and gave her a hug.

"Been a long time. What brings you out here?"

"I got trouble. One of my boys. It's bad. I was hoping Mason could let us hide here for a few days and see what he could do for him."

"He in the wagon?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Why the hell you jabber jawin for. Get that boy inside. Put your wagon in the barn. I'll get his things ready." She said as she rushed inside.

Teaspoon went over to the wagon when he saw Mason riding up. He got down and went straight over.

"Teaspoon?! My God, it's been awhile."

The man neared the wagon and saw Jimmy inside. He lost his smile.

"Let's get that boy inside now."

They picked Jimmy up and carried him through the open front door into a small room in the back. Teaspoon helped lay him out as Mason went to work.

"How long ago?"

"Few hours. Dodge City. I need him out of sight for a few. If he makes it."

"You know me. I'll do what I have to. You were smart to leave the knife."

Barbara came in with a basin of water and some other supplies. She didn't even blink as she went to help her husband. Teaspoon eased out and closed the door behind him. He found Lou standing in the front parlor staring at her feet.

"Have a seat, Lou. It could be a while."

"He's gonna die, ain't he?"

"Mason is the best doctor I know. He saved so many during our war days. He saved men that would have died if it weren't for him. He's done things that I have never seen. There will never be another like him."

"I finally was able to say it but now it doesn't matter."

"It does. He might be in a bad way but he had to hear you. You'll get your chance to tell him later."

"I was scared to touch him. But as soon as he tried to look at me, I lost it all. I just let it go. It's like once I said the words that my body felt better. I don't know. I just couldn't get my head right to know what I wanted to do. Now I have come to know that I was meant to be with him, no matter what happened that day. I was meant to have his child. A part of him. I was meant to stop riding before something bad happened out there. It was meant to be and I should have looked for him. Found him sooner. I let it go too far once again."

"You were hurt and confused. You are only only human. No one could have known how far he was going down. We didn't know where he was. If it's anyone's fault, this is mine. I should have never yelled at him that way. I should have got by his side and helped both of y'all work past it. I failed him."

"Now we won't get the chance to make it right."

"Yes, we will." Teaspoon said grabbing her shoulders.

They both turned when they heard horses coming up. They looked out to see Kid and Cody.

"Oh thank God." Lou said opening the door.

She ran out and hugged each one. Teaspoon walked up and looked at their bruised faces.

"Y'all ok?"

"Fine. Had to get in the middle of it to get Kid. Was interesting." Said Cody.

"Kid?"

"I'm gonna feel it tomorrow but I'm ok. Jimmy?"

"In the back. Go inside and take a break. I'm going to clean the blood out that wagon and get rid of it in case anyone comes here looking. I'll get your horses." Said Teaspoon.

"I'll go help. Ain't much for sitting." Said Cody.

The two walked off as Lou helped Kid inside. They sat in two of the small chairs in the front room. Kid leaned his head back. Lou watched as he closed his eyes. She was proud of him. Proud of him for forgiving Jimmy and for doing what he did to help him. She was happy that he had found love with Savannah. She let her thoughts drift when Teaspoon and Cody walked inside. Teaspoon pulled a chair from the kitchen as Cody sat on the floor to lean back against the wall. He pulled his hat over his eyes.

The group sat in silence for almost an hour when they heard Jimmy scream out. They all jumped to their feet as the door burst open. Barbara rushed into the kitchen and ran back in the room slamming the door behind her. Lou looked worriedly in Teaspoon's direction.

"She knows what she's doing. She was the best nurse that he could ask for. That's how they met."

Lou and the others slowly sank back down as the room grew quiet once again. Lou rocked back forth as the others tried to relax. Another hour or so passed when the door opened. Teaspoon sat up. The others including Lou had fallen asleep. Barbara motioned him inside. He walked lightly into the room as she eased the door shut behind him. He walked over and noticed all the blood on Barbara and Mason. He looked at Jimmy. His skin looked blue. He saw all the bruises and the stitches across his chest. He noticed a large needle sticking out from below the wound. He got his voice together.

"Is he?"

"He's bad, Teaspoon."

"I know you, Mason. You make miracles happen."

"I have never been a miracle worker nor do I claim to be one. I just do what I think is best and I take chances. I'm telling you that I'm taking one with him. It may or may not work."

"Give it to me."

"Broken nose, ribs. Stab wound pierced his lung but luckily not all the way through. I had to insert that needle to draw out fluid so he could breathe. It will have to stay there for several weeks to allow the lung to heal. It's gonna be very painful to keep drawing it out but it has to be done for him to live. I've done this before. Sometimes it worked, others not. Infection will be the worse fear to watch for. We will have to wait and see."

"He can't be moved then?"

"No. Will be several weeks. If then."

Teaspoon watched as Barbara started washing him off and wrapping the wound careful of the needle. Mason was still washing his hands off.

"What kind of trouble?" Asked Mason.

"It's a long story but he wanted this to happen. He has a past with a man named Gordon in Dodge City. You know anything about him?"

"Not that I can say. But we mostly stay to ourselves."

"Runs the whore house there. Make the story short, he was seeing a girl there. She got pregnant. He got her out but he killed his son during all of it. Gordon found and killed the girl. There's more but the jest of it is, he went back knowing that man would kill him."

"We'll watch him close then."

"Will he wake any?"

"He should. Maybe some time tomorrow. We had to put him out earlier. I'm sorry for that."

"It's ok. He's still with us for now and that's all that matters. I'm gonna sit in here with him tonight if that's alright."

"Anything you need old friend. Barbara is just finishing up. We'll leave you to it."

Mason went and helped his wife carry out the bloody sheets. Teaspoon pulled a chair from the corner and placed it by the bed. He sat back and watched Jimmy struggle to breathe for a few hours before he drifted off into sleep.