Charles hollered for help before they even made it to the camp hitching post.
"What the hell happened?" Javier asked frantically looking at Arthur who draped uselessly across Charles back, limp and feverish.
"Just help him down." Charles quipped.
Javier slung the rifle from guard duty over his shoulder to assisted Arthur down from the horse. Tho Arthur had lost several pounds, his dead weight flopped heavily into Javier and the smaller man struggled to hold him up.
"Charles?" Hosea asked, his voice sharp and demanding. The lantern he held, casting long shadows on his face making him look much older than he was.
"It's." Charles didn't feel it was his place to tell the others about Arthur's diagnosis but as Dutch and Miss Grimshaw neared, he realized there would be no way around it.
"Arthur has TB." he said simply. The weight of those words had a unanimous effect on those around camp. Tilly gasped sitting up from where she lay on her bedroll. Hosea's impatient expression swiftly morphed into the stricken face of a father focused solely on his son.
Dutch's stride hitched momentarily as he crossed the camp before speeding up. A look of utter shock contorted his features. Miss Grimshaw abruptly halted before turning back to, presumably to retrieve some medical supplies from the wagon.
Hosea and Dutch reached Arthur and carefully pulled him away from Javier. Each grabbing an arm to carry their son to his bed. Charles hung back, watching the toes of Arthurs boots drag two parallel trails behind them.
Arthur groaned weekly as they hauled him onto his cot. A choked cough followed by a moist crackling wheez before he settled again. He murmured something in his sleep, tho he never regained consciousness.
"Are you sure it's TB?" Hosea asked placing the lantern on the bedside table, not looking away from Arthur.
"He's been coughing and vomiting up blood." Charles informed them.
"How long?" Dutch demanded.
"I'm not sure. I think the blood is a new development. He, he found out about it a month ago, I believe."
When Dutch spoke again it was a low whisper, something not intended to be said aloud but managed to slip out anyway. "a month?"
"Excuse the interruption but I believe I may be of some assistance." They all turned to find Koch entering the tent.
"And who is this?' Dutch asked looking to Charles.
"I am Doctor Robert Koch, worlds leading authority on Tuberculosis. And I bring with me, a cure." He said triumphantly.
"Cure?" Hosea scoffed dryly but Dutch perked up optimistically and Charles cringed.
"Charles, is this true?"
"It's... possible." Charles felt whatever chance he had to caution against Koch slipping away as Dutch eagerly extended a hand. "Dutch, the treatment may not be very effective. It could kill him."
"He would die anyway." The Doctor interrupted confidently. "His only chance is with my cure. My cure is, after all, why you decided to abduct me after my medical demonstration, correct?"
"Well yes, but-"
Hosea and Dutch turned on him, twin looks of surprise.
"I admire your devotion." the doctor went on. "but had you ever considered simply asking me for help? I am a healer after all. It is my life's work. I assure you sir, If I had known about the plight of this young man, I would have offered my services most readily." he continued turning back to Dutch. "I am a doctor of the highest caliber, trained at the best institutes in Europe. I have several clinics of my own. Tho I disagree with the method in bringing me here, it is unconscionable for me not to offer aid in this gravest of circumstances."
"Dutch, there is something-"
"I thank you, Mr. Smith, for all that you have done. Tho I assure you, doctor, it was done without my knowledge and I apologize for any mistreatment at this mans hand. You have my word, he will be dealt with accordingly."
"It is of no consequence, I completely understand. The desperate do terrible things."
"That is very generous of you Mr. Koch." Hosea said. Voice level and cautions.
"Doctor actually." The pompous man corrected.
Charles internally seethed watching the exchange. He should have known better! He was so focused on getting the doctor to cure Arthur, he didn't pay attention to the fact that Dutch was the perfect mark for Koch. Curse Dutch and his perpetual tendency to latch onto the pretty words of anyone who told him what he most wanted to hear. And Like Micah before him, he would become deaf to any deviation from that idealistic goal. To tunnel-visioned to consider any sort of tempered voice.
As Charles was dismissed from the tent he glared back at the Doctor. His victorious smile directed at Dutch as they chatted amicably. A part of Charles feared he had inadvertently delivered Arthur into the hands of the devil.
Miss Grimshaw entered with a cool basin of water and some soaking clothes. She set the bowl down on the nightstand and began folding a wrung out cloth to lay gently across Arthur's burning forehead.
"Unfortunately" the Doctor began. "I only have a few samples of Tibriculin with me. If he is to recover at all, he will require a strict regimen lasting several months. It is imperative he does not miss a single dose."
"sounds expensive." Dutch frowned.
"It is, but I invented it and my name carries a lot of weight in the medical community. I could go into town and request the samples be sent over immediately. News of my capture has certainly not reached the sanatorium up north I've been working with. I could have them send it to the nearest city and arrange to have one of your men pick it up?"
"And if you try to report us for your kidnapping?" Dutch asked, tho he was clearly considering what the doctor was presenting.
"You have my word I will not attempt to escape. My primary concern is for my patient."
Hosea couldn't help but notice that this doctor had only casually looked at his 'patient' since entering the tent. Hardly acceptable practice for a dotting doctor.
"And this medicine will cure him?"
"I have complete confidence in my Tuberculin."
"Very well, my youngest is in Valentine right now. He deserves to hear about his brother from me."
"Excellent." Koch readily agreed.
"Miss Grimshaw, Why don't you help our Dr. Koch here get settled in and have Mr. Pearson draw up a list of supplies we will need from Valintine. We leave tomorrow morning."
"Alright, this way sir." She said hastily, obviously not in favor of leaving Arthurs side.
Hosea watched them leave, made sure they were out of earshot before turning to Dutch but Dutch spoke first.
"That man will never be alone with Arthur." His voice trembled with well-disguised rage and Hosea was left staring up in awe at the sudden transformation. Dutch was a real conman. One who had evidently learned from his time as Micah's puppet.
"Dutch, are you sure we can trust him?"
"No, but we have no other choice." He sighed heavily.
"Alright Dutch." Hosea said brushing Arthur's hair back gently, "Tho when you get the chance you should apologize to Charles."
"I will." He said turning to leave. "You keep an eye on our boy, I'm going to find Charles."