Doc Burrage finished tying the bandage on Luke's arm. "How does that feel?"
"Better." The big man took a deep breath. "What happens now?"
The doctor understood. "I'm going to wire a friend of mine in Denver. He runs an asylum."
"What's an asylum?" asked Mark.
"It's a kind of hospital," Burrage answered. "They have...facilities...for...errr…" He faltered, then went on more strongly. "They'll be able to take care of your father and make him comfortable until the end."
The boy's eyes filled with tears. "Doc, when I got bit by that pony with anthrax, you had a serum that cured me! And I read that Louis Pastuer found a cure for rabies too!"
"There is a cure, Mark," said the doctor sadly, "but I don't have it. If this happened back East, New York or Philadelphia…"
"Then I'll take Pa back East!"
"We'd never get there in time, son." Luke's voice was very quiet. "Doc, can you send that telegram now? And ask Micah to come over here."
"I'll do that, Lucas." Burrage hurried from the room.
Left alone, Mark and Luke stared at each other, their faces mirroring each other's despair. Neither wanted to be the first to speak, but Luke steeled himself. He still had a duty to this boy whom he loved more than anything in the world and when he spoke, he sounded confident and reassuring. "Son, I need you to go home and get some things. I want to show you how to do the books. It's not hard, but if you need help, you can go to John Hamilton. Get the ledger and the deed to the ranch, and my traveling gear. The stage leaves the day after tomorrow and I need to be on it."
"Anything else?" Mark asked bleakly.
"Your mother's picture." Luke swallowed hard. "I'll have the doctor send it back to you."
"The doctor won't have to send it. I'm going with you."
"No, you're not!" For the first time since the tragedy struck, Luke sounded like himself. "You're staying here and getting on with your life."
Mark said stubbornly, "If you don't let me travel with you, I'll ride Blue Boy behind the stage all the way to Denver. I mean it, Pa. What if it was me that got bit? Would you put me on the stage and let me go all alone?"
"That's different, son."
"No, it's not!" The boy's jaw tightened. "I'm going to be on my own now, so I guess that makes me a man. And you always taught me that a man has to make his own decisions. Well, I'm making this decision. One way or the other, I'm going with you."
Luke was torn. He had never been so afraid in his life. It wasn't the thought of death that terrified him but the way he was going to die. He had seen enough rabies to know what was in store for him. He didn't want to face it alone, and he desperately wanted the little time he had left with Mark. He put out his arms and pulled his boy close and they held onto each other as if their love was a wall against what was coming.
Luke finally sat back and said very seriously, "Mark, you can come with me if you promise me something."
The boy looked wary. "What is it?"
"Promise me that you'll go home when it...when it starts. I don't want you to see me like that."
"But Pa…"
"Please, son. I've never asked you for anything. I'm asking for this. I want you to remember me the way I am now, not…" Luke's voice broke.
"All right, Pa," said the boy quickly. "I promise."