The steady blaze from the fireplace sent a warm glow throughout the small room. Doc was wrapped securely in the blankets she had taken earlier, and the wound on his neck had been cleaned with warm water and dressed in strips she had torn from her petticoat. But his stillness and pallor continued to worry her. Kitty sat down on the edge of the bed and brushed her fingers through his hair.
"Oh Doc I wish you'd wake up and tell me how to help you." She sighed heavily. "I'm so worried about you..."
A scratchy groan uttered from his pale lips. She began to pat his cheek.
"Doc? Come on, Doc. Please wake up for me."
Slowly his eyes fluttered open and he swallowed several times, hard. "Water..."
Kitty wasted no time pouring him some cool water, and holding his head with her hand, she gently poured a small amount between his lips.
"That a little better?"
He nodded slightly, but it was weak. Kitty took his hand gently in hers.
"What should I do, Doc?"
"Bleeding..."
"It stopped."
"Sterilize the wound."
"How?"
"Any alcohol works."
"Whiskey?"
He nodded, and she pat his hand. "You just sit tight for a minute."
Kitty left him for a moment, and he could hear agitated voices, but then she returned with a bottle in hand. She removed the makeshift bandage she had put on his throat, and the cut was bright red.
"The wound's really red now, Doc."
"Early sign of infection."
She poured some whiskey into a cloth and grimaced before setting it down on the cut. Doc cried out with pain, but Kitty gently held the cloth to the infected area. After a few minutes, when it seemed he might pass out, she removed it, and redressed the wound with a fresh bandage. Adams appeared worn out from the effort. She picked up the whiskey bottle and held his head with her hand.
"Here, take a hit of this..." He took a small sip of whiskey, and she gently lay his head back down on the pillow. "Are you gonna be all right, Doc?"
"Don't know." He swallowed hard again. "How much blood did I lose?"
"A lot."
He closed his eyes for a moment. "That's why I feel so weak..."
"I'm just thankful you're still here."
The pale blue eyes opened again in time to see the bright blue rain. "Now don't you do that."
"Can't help it, Doc." He swallowed again painfully and she softly ran her fingers through the errant strands on his forehead. "You just rest for now." He nodded, but didn't close his eyes. For a long time she looked deeply into the sea of pale blue, all the while stroking his head with her hand. "I wish I could take the pain away."
His voice was scratchy, "Ain't that bad, honey."
"Don't fib to me, Galen Adams. I know better."
"I'm not--"
She placed two gentle fingers over his lips. "Shush. Any time you let me fuss over you, I know you feel pretty lousy."
He swallowed hard again. "It don't feel none too good I guess."
"Then stop talking, and get some sleep."
"Who's the doctor here?"
"You are: but I'm the nurse."
"Oh."
She leaned down and kissed him sweetly on the forehead. "Go to sleep."
As his eyes wearily closed, he muttered, "Don't you leave me now..."
She brushed the backs of her fingers across his pale cheek. "Don't you worry."