Lucas stood at the door of the small farmhouse, watching Samuel ride away. Breathing a prayer that his father-in-law would get back with the medicine soon enough, he returned to the bedroom. Margaret lay under the covers. "Has Pa gone?"

Lucas nodded. "Yes, I gave him the money for your tonic and put him up on my black. He might ride Buck into the ground, but he'll be back with the medicine by tomorrow morning." The big man resumed his seat beside his wife and she reached for his hand. He took it gently between his much larger ones and raised it to his lips. Margaret managed a smile, and asked, "How's Mark? Any sign of…" Her voice trailed off, and Lucas was glad he could give her the reassurance she needed.

"The boy's fine, love. Missing his Ma but there's no sign of fever."

Margaret sighed and relaxed. "My poor boy, my little Mark." She looked up at Lucas anxiously. "When I'm better and he's back home, do you think he'll recognize me? I know my face will be scarred from the lesions. Will I look so different…will I be so ugly he'll be afraid of me?"

Lucas wrapped his arms around her and hugged her up. "You're the most beautiful woman I ever saw, Margaret. Our boy won't be afraid of you. He'll know you as the Ma he's loved all his life." He laid her back on the pillow. "I'll get you some of the broth that Anne made."

She caught his hand as he stood up. "Anne - she's so dear. How is Hal?"

Lucas swallowed before answering. "He's fine, Margaret. He's just fine." He turned away towards the stove, fighting back tears. He'd never lied to his wife, but he didn't have the heart to tell her Anne's sad news. Anne Dodd, Margaret's best friend, had come that morning, bringing food for Lucas and broth for Margaret. Lucas had gone out to meet her, taking the basket of food from her. "How's Hal?"

Just as Anne was Margaret's best friend, Hal Dodd was Lucas's. The couples had courted together, stood up for each other at their weddings, and Margaret and Anne had helped deliver each other's babies. Margaret and Lucas were godparents to Hal and Anne's boy, Peter, and Hal and Anne were godfather and godmother to Mark.

Anne had looked up at Lucas with tears in her eyes. "Hal's gone, Lucas, early this morning. He just went to sleep. He was so…peaceful." A sob caught in her throat and Lucas put his arm around her. She cried into his shoulder for a moment, and then straightened up, wiping her tears away with her fingers. "How is Margaret?"

"She's holding her own for now. The Doc is coming by later. I hope he'll have something to make her a little easier."

They walked into the house, and Lucas put the basket on the table while Anne went over to her friend. Margaret was asleep so Anne went to the table and began unpacking the basket. "I can stay with Margaret if you'd like to go visit Mark, maybe go out on the range for a bit." She paused and took a deep breath. Letting it out slowly, she said, "I left Hal in our bed…I just sewed the sheet up around him for a shroud." Her voice broke, and she turned away.

"I'll take care of things, Anne," Lucas said. "I'll put Hal next to Peter, and the bed linens…"

Anne nodded. "They have to be burned, I know.""I'll take care of that, too." He paused, "I'm so sorry, Anne."

Anne kept her back to him, unwilling for him to see more of her grief. She nodded, and he left her.

"He'd gone over to the Dodd's small farm. There was a stillness about it, as if the very air grieved for this young family. Lucas went into the house first. Hal lay on the bed wrapped in the sheet that had become his shroud. Lucas lifted the body in his arms, feeling how thin his friend had grown in his illness. He carried Hal outside and laid him on the porch before going back inside and stripping the bed. Once that was done, he checked the small room that had been Peter's. It was empty. Even the bed was gone.

He went outside and started a fire away from the house. As it grew, Lucas began adding the bedclothes. He watched them burn for a few minutes before going to the barn for a shovel. When he came out, he checked the fire again, and, satisfied that it was safe for a time, he walked up to the top of the hill. Peter's small grave was there, and Lucas stared down at it. You won't be alone here, son, he thought. Your Pa will be beside you. He began to dig.

Margaret stirred. "Lucas?" As softly as she spoke, Anne heard her and hurried to reassure her friend, a cup of warm chicken broth in her hand. "It's all right, Margaret, I'm here. Lucas has stepped away for a few minutes, but he'll be back soon. Would you like some broth?" Even as she asked the question, she piled another pillow behind her friend and helped her sit up. Margaret was weak, and Anne held the cup to her lips. Margaret sipped a little before making a pushing motion with her hand. Anne moved the cup away.

"How is Hal doing?" Margaret asked.

"He's fine, just fine," Anne lied. She helped her friend drink more of the broth. When the cup was empty, Margaret seemed tired. Anne removed the pillow, and tucked Margaret in. She sat in a chair near the bed, and picked up the McCain's family Bible. As she began to flip through the pages looking for comfort, the book opened to Psalm 23. She studied the page and noticed a few places where it was puckered as if a tear had fallen on it. Anne began to read it to herself at first, and then aloud as if she were praying.

"There was a slight movement on the bed, and Anne looked up to see that Margaret was awake. "Read it again," the sick woman murmured, and Anne did. When she finished, she asked, "Would you like me to pray?"

Margaret nodded, and Anne knelt beside the bed. Taking Margaret's hand in her own, she bowed her head. "Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve my dear sister, Margaret, and give your power of healing to those who minister to her needs, that she may be strengthened in her weakness and have confidence in your loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

Margaret echoed, "Amen," and when Anne opened her eyes, Margaret squeezed her hand in thanks.

Lucas rode into Enid and stopped at the parsonage. Before he could dismount, the door opened and a small figure ran towards him, shouting,"Pa! Pa!" Lucas swung down and opened his arms as his son ran into them. Lucas straightened up, holding the boy. Mark's arms were locked tight around his neck, and, for a minute, Lucas couldn't speak.

"Are you here to take me home? Is Ma better?" The questions spilled out of the little boy. Lucas put the child down and took his hand as they walked towards the house. Rachel Greer stood in the open door. She smiled, "Come in, Lucas, I have a fresh pot of coffee on."

"Thank you, Rachel. Has Mark been behaving himself?"

Mark looked up at Mrs. Greer with a worried expression. She smiled down at him and ruffled his hair. "He's been as good as gold, Lucas. He keeps the wood box filled, collects the eggs for me, and helps me bake." As she spoke, she led them into her kitchen and indicated a seat at the table.. Lucas sat, and Mark climbed onto his knee. "You help Mrs. Greer bake, Mark?"

The little boy smiled. "Yes, Pa, she needs me to help her stir and then I get to lick the spoon clean." His smile grew as Mrs. Greer placed a plate of cookies on the table. She gave Mark a glass of milk before pouring cups of coffee for Lucas and herself. For a few minutes Lucas let himself enjoy the warmth and comfort surrounding him. Mark chattered on about his lessons, and Lucas responded with "mmm's", loving the sound of his boy's voice. Suddenly he heard Mrs. Greer suggest to Mark that he show his father the pictures he'd drawn. Mark climbed down and ran to his room.

When the boy was out of hearing, Mrs. Greer asked, "How is Margaret?"

"The doc is going to come by this afternoon with medicine for her. She's so very weak. Can you keep Mark a little longer?"

"Of course, you don't even have to ask. You and Margaret are like family."

"Thank you, Rachel. I don't know what we'd have done without your help and Will's during this terrible time." He sighed, and then said, "I've just come from the Dodd's place. Hal died early this morning, and I buried him next to Peter."

"Oh, Lucas," Rachel put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Where's Anne?"

"She's with Margaret. She came over today with a basket for us, and stayed to sit with Margaret so I could…take care of things." The big man's voice broke and he covered his face with his hands.

Rachel sat quietly and let him weep. A noise in the hall roused them both, and Lucas quickly wiped the tears away. Mark came into the room, a paper in his hand. He laid it on the table in front of his father, and clambered back into his lap. "Looky, Pa, here's a picture of Ma and me and you." Lucas stared down at the three figures holding hands in front of a house. "What do you think, Pa?"

"I think it's wonderful, son. Your Ma will be so pleased to see it if you'll let me take it to her."

Mark looked up at his father. "You're not here to take me home?" The disappointment in his voice was palpable. Lucas shook his head. "I''m sorry, boy. Your Ma is very sick, and it's better if you're here with Reverend and Mrs. Greer a little longer."

Mark's face crumpled and he buried his face in his father's shoulder, sobbing. Lucas held him, rocking him a little. When he grew quiet except for the occasional hiccup, Lucas put a finger under his chin and set the boy to face him. "Mark, your Ma and I love you more than anything in this world. This illness is nothing we want to chance you catching."

Mark nodded. "It's why school is closed, but I'm lonesome for Ma and you, Pa."

Lucas hugged the boy close. "We're lonesome for you, son, but home just isn't safe for you right now." He stood up, and shifted Mark to his hip. Rachel stood and followed them outside. Lucas hugged Mark again before putting him down. Rachel took the child's hand and they watched as Lucas mounted and rode away.

When Lucas reached his home, he saw Samuel Gibbs waiting for him on the porch. He sighed. He knew what his father-in-law wanted, knew, too, that if Margaret were well, she would find it difficult to deny him. The man was a drunk, and had kept his family in poverty because of it.

"Hello, Samuel. What brings you here?" His tone was a little less than gracious and the older man bristled. "Why, I just came to see how my daughter was faring, Lucas. I know she's been very ill with the smallpox, and I've been worried about her."

So worried you've managed to stay away since she fell sick, Lucas thought. He managed to keep quiet for Margaret's sake, and invited Samuel inside. He went straight to the bedroom and found both Margaret and Anne fast asleep, Margaret in bed and Anne in the chair, the Bible open on her lap. Lucas closed the Bible and placed it on the table. He went to Mark's room, and took a blanket from the child's bed. He returned to the sleeping women and covered Anne with the blanket before going back out to join Samuel.

Samuel was seated at the table, a cup of coffee in front of him. Lucas sat down opposite him and waited. He didn't have to wait long. Samuel opened his mouth and then closed it, seeming to think better of what he had to say. Finally he began, "You know, Lucas, with the sickness all around, I haven't been able to find steady work." He stopped, waiting for Lucas to say something, but Lucas was quiet. Samuel cleared his throat, and went on, "Anyway, with no work there's no pay, and I need some money. I wondered if you and Margaret could see your way to loan me a bit, just enough to tide me over until things get better. I'll pay you back - you have my word on it."

There it was - Samuel had made his ask. Lucas leaned back in his chair, longing to hit the man opposite. But for Margaret…he couldn't. He forced himself to keep a civil tongue. "We don't have money to loan you, Samuel. Margaret's illness has taken almost all our savings. If you need a place to stay, we can offer you a cot."

Samuel sighed in disappointment. Before he could say anything else, Lucas heard the sound of hoofbeats outside, and hurried to the door. Dr. Baker was dismounting as Lucas opened the door. "Hello, Lucas, how is Margaret?" Dr. Baker asked as he came inside. "Hello, Samuel." The doctor didn't stop but made his way back to the bedroom. Lucas followed him. Anne had waked and was standing away from the bed, the blanket neatly folded over her arm.

Margaret opened her eyes as the doctor placed his fingers on her pulse. "Hello, Doc."

Doc Baker smiled down at her, and, pulling the chair closer to the bed, said, "Well, young lady, let's see how you're doing." He began his examination and finished sooner than Lucas expected.

"How am I doing?" Margaret asked him.

"Just fine. You'll outlive us all," he assured her as he motioned to Lucas. The two men started to leave the room, but Margaret called to them. "Stay in here, please. I want to hear what you have to say."

Dr. Baker looked at Lucas. Lucas studied his wife's face, and then nodded to the doctor. "I'm all out of medicine, Margaret. I've wired every town in two day's ride to see if there's any available. There's some in Oklahoma City, and it's over ninety miles hard riding."

"I can make the ride, Doc," Lucas said.

"I'll put some food up for you, Lucas," Anne said and she hurried from the room.

"Lucas, the medicine isn't cheap," Dr. Baker warned, but Lucas shrugged. "We have enough money for it, and, if we don't, we have the farm." He left the room with Dr. Baker following him.

Left alone, Margaret pushed the covers back. She tried to stand, but she was dizzy and weak. She tried again, and by holding on to the chair and then the wall, she managed to stagger to the bedroom door. Anne was at the table packing a saddlebag with food. Dr. Baker was writing something down for Lucas, and Lucas…he was getting his coat and hat. And Pa…she blinked…Pa. Her father was sitting at the table, and she wondered if he were sober. "Lucas," she called. "Lucas…" She clutched at the door, and Lucas ran to her. He caught her up before she could fall, and cradled her to him.

"Lucas, stay with me, and let Pa go. He can make the ride. He can get the medicine for me. Stay with me. Pa, you'll go to Oklahoma City and get the medicine for me, won't you?"

Samuel Gibbs stood up and stared at his daughter. Margaret had been so beautiful, but now her face was covered with lesions. How could Lucas stand it? How could she? Somehow he found his voice. "I'll go for the medicine. I can ride hard and have it here by tomorrow night. I'll ride my horse into the ground if I have to."

Lucas was torn. He didn't trust Samuel, but Margaret wanted him with her. Then Anne was handing the filled saddlebag to Samuel, and Dr. Baker was giving him the written prescription. Lucas made a decision. He carried Margaret back to their bed, before joining the others. He gave Samuel their money in a leather envelope. Samuel took it and stuffed it inside his jacket. "I'll ride hard, boy," he said to Lucas and he left.