Sunday morning the men took care of the chores, while Delilah attended Sunday service.
When the church bell announced the end of the sermon, Jack gingerly wrapped Billy in a warm blanket and lifted him up on his horse. "We're gonna fetch Billy's ma and go see the doctor. Thaddeus, are you comin', too?"
"Nah, it's way better today."
"Of course, he will," Heyes chimed in. "I can look after the camp alone. Go get a new dressing and some sympathy from his nice assistant, Penny. She likes you."
"Really?"
"Sure."
"Well, the bandage does feel a mite too lose today..." Kid Curry thoughtfully picked at the edge of the fabric with a little smile on his lips.
So, it was a threesome which slowly made their way into town. It was a beautiful day, and only a short distance to the newly built church, its pure white exterior shimmering in the bright sunlight.
Several groups of people stood in front of it, talking, laughing and shaking hands. The preacher had just left a small gathering of women with Delilah, clad in her best dress, amongst them. The women were relaxed and involved in a lively conversation. When they noticed the newcomers, they greeted them with a smile and appreciative glances.
Both men took off their hats and nodded in return. As they waited for a pause in the conversation, the Kid showed his usual self-confidence. Jack was more subdued but sporting a winning smile.
Doctor Miller passed them by and stopped as he recognized them. "You wanna see me?"
Jack nodded. "Yeah, right. We were just stoppin' by to fetch Billy's ma first."
"It seems that she's pretty well occupied at the moment. Why don't you come with me, and I'll check on you guys, first? Give the ladies some more time for chit-chat. Don't ask me why, but they need it once in a while."
The men agreed and followed the old man to his office.
"Come on in. Let's see how you are today." Quickly he replaced Kid Curry's bandage. "Yeah, that's how it's supposed to be. Keep it slow for a few more days and your hand will be as good as new."
But when the doctor examined the boy, his contentment faded. Slowly he shook his head. "Not one bit better."
"Nope, not a bit," Jack confirmed.
"And the temperature is even higher. Did he get his treatment?"
"Of course, he did!" Jack's voice was polite, but his eyes took on a hard glint. "His mother did all you told her. Stayed up all night, keepin' him warm and all."
Doc Miller sighed. "I see. There's not much else one can do. I'll give you more of the medicine and she's to continue the treatment. Time will help to break the fever if he stays warm and rests."
"But we've got to get movin'," Jack pointed out, gently. "We didn't mean to stay here that long."
"Billy's not to be moved."
"But we have to!" the young man insisted, somewhat urgent now.
"Look, he needs all his strength to fight the disease. Moving around in a jiggling wagon won't do him any good. The dust will add to the already affected lung and aggravate the infection. Take him out on the road and he's not likely to see another Sunday."
Jack's face paled and turned into stone, his eyes hard and relentless. "We need to get goin' as soon as possible. There must be somethin' else you can do! Give him stronger medicine or somethin'."
"Yes, I could. There are stronger remedies. But he's only a child, and he's fragile. Those treatments could affect him as bad as the disease. I'd like to hold back with those for an emergency."
"But this is an emergency!" Jack's stony facade started crumbling and desperation shaded his voice.
"No, it's not! We'll keep up what we started, add inhalations when you've got the means for it. Hot water with salt or chamomile will support the healing process. That's all we can do for now."
Jack's eyes were throwing thunderbolts, his energy level increased in a blink and suddenly he radiated imminent violence.
Waiting at the door, Kid Curry watched the exchange. A spark of recognition flashed up in his eyes, but was hidden as fast as it had appeared. Casually, he adjusted his stance, prepared for intervention.
The doctor stayed unimpressed though. "You've got to calm down, son. It's hard, I know, but impatience is not going to help you. You can't force a miracle. Care in a real house would be helpful. How about you leave him with me for a few days? Take care of whatever business there is that's so important for you and pick him up again."
"That's not an option! I'm not goin' to leave him alone!" Jack shot back, baring his teeth in a snarl. He snatched the boy and took him up in his arms.
"It's up to you. Do what you have to do. I'll be here. You know where to find me."
Jack stared at him for a moment. Then he forced a curt nod and stomped outside, still seething with barely contained anger.
Kid Curry threw a questioning glance at the doctor, who nodded in response and waved him away. When he left the building, he saw Jack gently lifting Billy in the saddle of his horse and pulling the blanket tighter around the boy's slim shoulders.
The next second Jack spun around and exploded. His fist impacted into the nearest wall. "NO!" he shouted; his face contorted with anger. The wall took two further blows before Jack's shoulders slumped down. His hands flat against the wall, he leaned his forehead against it and dragged in a deep breath. When he turned around his face was calm and well-composed again.
He threw a quick glace towards Kid Curry, who lifted his brow and asked, "You alright?"
Jack nodded in return. Then he noticed Billy watching him with wide eyes.
"It's alright, Billy," Jack told the boy softly. "No need to be scared. We'll go fetch your ma and go back to camp. You'd like to ride the horse on your own, wouldn't you?"
A shy smile lit up the boy's feverish face as he nodded.
"That's what I thought. Go on, you know what to do. I'll be here in case you need me, alright?"
A clap on the horse's hindquarter set it into movement, the boy on its back, both men walking on either side of him.
Delilah was already coming their way and fell into step beside Jack, who slowed down his stride to meet her pace. With every minute the distance between them and the boy and man in front of them grew.
"You've been at the doctor's already?" she asked, keeping her voice low.
"Yeah, Billy's not better. He said to keep up the treatment and start with inhalations. He'd like you to bring Billy into town. Maybe leave him with the doc."
"But I'm not going to do that?"
Jack shook his head. "I don't reckon it's a good idea. He needs you." Then he glanced over at her. "You look happy, Delilah."
"It's been wonderful," she told him, and her eyes started to shine. "Reverent Baker's a wonderful preacher, and the people here are very kind. I got to know some of them, like Ida Manson the seamstress, and Beth, whose husband owns the general store. They invited us to the picnic next weekend."
"You know we can't stay that long, Delilah." Jack's voice was gentle but determined. "We should get movin' as soon as Billy's fever breaks."
"Do we really have to go? The constant moving does Billy no good, neither his condition nor his upbringing. He needs stability and friends; a place where he belongs and can grow roots. This is a good place."
"Nope. No way. We can't stay here." Jack was twitching uncomfortably, fidgeting like a skittish horse.
"I don't want to move on. People are nice here. They've been building a school. Maybe I could be a teacher."
"You think they would hire you – havin' a kid and all?"
"They've been desperately searching for one, but to no avail so far. I'd be good at it. We can settle down, build a home. It would be good for Billy. And I want him to carry your name. Finally. Isn't it good news? The best?"
A shade of sorrow darkened Jack's eyes. "You know that's not goin' to happen. My name will only bring trouble and shame on him. There's no end to it. Folks don't forgive, don't let you forget. Never. Never..."
Delilah stopped dead in her tracks. "You're judging yourself too seriously. People are different here. Righteous. Christian."
Jack threw a short glance towards Kid Curry and Billy moving on, before he stood and turned to face her. "Yeah, they pray for forgiveness, but they have a hard time practicin' it," he said bitterly. "It's all talk and no action. We've seen it in the past. We'll see it in the future."
"Please, give them time to convince you, time to show their good nature." Her eyes were big and pleading with him.
Jack Odium stared down at her, the tension in his stance clearly visible, his jaw clenching. "We've got no time to let them show their true face. We have to move on. And soon."
"But why? And why are you in such a hurry? Is there something you're not telling me?"
Jack merely averted his eyes.
"Tell me! I've got a right to know," Delilah demanded.
"No, nothin'. Nothin' to worry about," he told her, his voice softer with every repetition. "There's nothin' you've got to know."
