Chapter 27

Teaspoon woke to someone gently shaking his shoulder. He pulled his hat up to find Lou, Kid, and Cody staring wordlessly at their friend. Teaspoon stood and stretched.

"Y'all ok?"

"It looks worse than we thought." Said Cody.

"He's gonna be fine. It will just take time." Reassured Teaspoon.

"What's that then?" Asked Kid.

"It's to draw stuff out his lung."

"Ain't never seen anything like that. Does it hurt?" Asked Cody looking now as well.

"Yeah, son. It's gonna hurt."

Lou just stood silent staring down at him. Teaspoon walked over and pulled her in a hug.

"Breakfast is ready. Y'all go eat while I check in on him." Mason said from behind them.

Teaspoon pulled Lou along while the others followed. Mason closed the door behind them to check Jimmy. The man others walked into the small kitchen.

"Everyone have a seat. Breakfast is ready." Said Barbara.

"Smells delicious." Said Cody.

"You shouldn't have gone through all this trouble. You've already done enough." Said Teaspoon.

"I don't mind. You seem to watch over him so someone needs to watch over y'all. Sides, a hot meal always makes you feel just a smite better." She said as she started putting plates in front of them.

The group started eating in silence as Mason made his way back in. She handed him a plate as he pulled up a chair. Lou kept looking at him but he hadn't offered any news. She started fidgeting.

"Well?" She asked impatiently.

Mason looked over at her.

"It can wait until after we eat."

"Like hell it can." Said Lou.

"Louise, that's enough. We eat first." Said Teaspoon.

"I ain't hungry." She said tossing her fork down.

Barbara walked over and touched her shoulder. Lou looked at her.

"Come. Let's go have a visit while they finish eating."

"I don't know if I can."

"Sure you can, I'll be with you. I won't leave you alone."

Lou stood as Barbara put her arm around round her shoulders leading her into the room and closing the door. Teaspoon looked at Mason.

"Sorry bout that. It's a lot of feelings involved."

"You know that you don't have to apologize. It didn't rattle me one bit. I have put up with a hell of a lot worse."

"Don't I know it. Came out still swinging." Smiled Teaspoon.

"Yeah just not as high anymore."

The four left at the table started making idle talk whole they finished eating.

Lou stood just inside the door as Barbara made her way over to the bed to pull a quilt up higher on him. She again was careful around the needle. Lou stood staring and shaking.

"You can come over here. He's doing just fine for now."

"I can't."

"He's more than a friend?" Barbara said turning back to Lou.

"Not really."

"Ah, but you want him to be more but he's complicated." Barbara said pulling the chair over to the bed. She patted the seat for Lou to sit.

Lou did a faint nod before slipping over to sit. She looked around nervously.

"Care to talk about it?"

"I don't know. It's a long story."

"Well that kitchen can wait and I rather think I would like to rest my feet for a while."

Lou smiled at the old woman. She started talking and before she knew it, she had told her everything. Barbara sat back and listened not once saying anything. When Lou finished, she looked over at the woman.

"That, my dear, is gonna be a great story to tell those little ones. Action, adventure, love, loss, despair. Y'all have had quite the life to be so young."

Lou smiled and looked at her hands.

"Words of wisdom."

Lou looked intently at her waiting.

"Only you can save him from himself. All those years ago when, we'll just call it, it, happened, you secretly wanted it to happen. That's why you stopped fighting. Then you felt dirty for letting him have you. I understand. There ain't nothing wrong in that. You can make it right but it ain't gonna be easy. He feels like he killed you years ago and can't seem to kill himself. Just from your story, I can tell that he's a very caring man."

"He didn't care to come back and make it right."

"Neither did you care to find him. But honey, if over the course of two years, he still lets that one mistake eat at him then he cares for you too much."

Lou sat to watch him as Barbara stood. She went to leave her alone for a few. She walked back out into the kitchen.

Lou sat in the room for an hour before Teaspoon made his way in. He walked over to stand beside her. Lou wiped her eyes.

"He hasn't moved. He just lays there. Trying to breathe."

"He will get there but it's gonna take a while. Mason says he has a hard road ahead of him."

"I know."

"Now. Kid's gonna sit a while. You need to eat. I won't take no for an answer."

Kid was waiting outside the door as Teaspoon ushered Lou outside. He walked in and took her seat. He leaned back and crossed his arms. He had been sitting for a few hours and had just closed his eyes when he heard a noise. He opened his eyes expecting to see Mason checking in again but instead he saw Jimmy's eyes barely open. He rubbed his eyes and leaned forward.

"Jimmy?"

Eyes turned to look at him as he started breathing heavier. Kid watched as sweat broke out on his face. He jumped to his feet and ran out for Mason. Barbara rushed in along with her husband. Kid right behind. Teaspoon and Cody had decided to take Lou for a walk.

"Is he alright?"

"Don't know." Mason said.

Barbara placed a cool cloth on his face trying to soothe him.

"Can I help?" Asked Kid pleading.

"Yes, talk to him. Try to get him to relax while I see to this lung."

Kid got beside Jimmy's face.

"Jimmy, slow down. Can you hear me?"

"Yes." He gasped out.

"Good. Just take deep breaths. Try to relax."

"I can't. Can't."

"Hold still. Try for us."

"I'm not dead."

"No, we got you. You're gonna be fine."

"Don't help. Let me die."

"Jimmy, we aren't gonna do that. You will be fine."

Jimmy shook his head as he used his hands to try to grab Mason. Kid got his wrists and held them down. Barbara watched. Jimmy laid still as Kid held him down. He turned his head to look right into Kid's eyes.

"Please." He pleaded.

Barbara felt her eyes water as the boy pleaded with his friend to let him die. She felt her own heart being ripped in two. Mason soon used a large glass cylinder to draw blood and fluid from Jimmy's chest. He groaned out in agony as he panted letting his head fall back on the pillow. He closed his eyes. Kid let go of his wrists.

"Was that supposed to happen?" Asked Kid.

"That will happen for quite a few days until his lung heals and it won't get any easier for him."

"Can you give him something for pain?"

"If I had something son, I would. I don't practice anymore. I'm sorry but I'm working with what I got."

Kid nodded as he watched Barbara wipe Jimmy's face. He left to go find the others.