The stage from Salt Lake City to Reno only traveled twice a week and was one of the most unpleasant rides on the Wells, Fargo & Co line because it covered nearly a hundred and fifty miles across the Salt Desert of Utah. The salt desert was not a typical desert. While dry and arid much of the time, the salt desert became a salt mud during heavy rains, and wagon and stage wheels easily became embedded in inches of sticky, salty muck. The depth of salt ranged from over five feet near the center of the desert to just a couple of inches near the edges. There was one unpaved road that crossed the desert, but it was often obscured as winds blew the salt across the path. Road bandits were not common along this route, but neither were they unheard of. Those riding horseback had to cross slowly and carry plenty of fresh water, both for the rider and the horse. There was no inkling of shade, no large rocks or boulders to provide refuge or respite. Temperatures were in the nineties on a cool day and nights were often frigid.
On this day, the stage carried three people, Henry Barlow,a businessman and his wife, Clara sat on one side of the coach, while Sister Michael Agnes sat alone on the other. The stage was driven by Harvey Dieks, a twenty year veteran with the company, while Zeke Campbell rode the shotgun position.
"What do you suppose that is?" Zeke asked, casually pointing his riffle to a dark pile of something several hundred yards ahead of the stage. "Looks like a man," he added as they drew closer.
Harvey drew the stage to a stop and Zeke jumped down and cautiously approached what now appeared to be an unconscious or perhaps dead man lying prone in the salts sand.
"What's going on?" Barlow asked, poking his head out of the window. "Why have we stopped?"
"Found a man or a body out here. Stay in the coach, folks," Harvey instructed. "So, which is it?" he shouted to Zeke.
"Breathing, barely," Zeke called back. "Looks burnt bad. Probably been here a couple of days. No shirt, no gun, but he's got an empty holster. Throw me a canteen."
Zeke got down on his knees and rolled the man over onto his back. The man's face and chest were equally badly burned. Zeke caught the canteen and uncorked it. He lifted the man's head and brought the canteen to dry, parched, cracked lips, but the man made no attempt to drink. Zeke poured some water into his hand and splashed it across the man's face, but still, no response.
"Why in tarnation would someone take their shirt off out here in the desert?" Harvey grumbled as he set the brake and climbed down off the stage.
"Well, don't see no horse anywhere, gun's missing, don't feel no wallet in his pants. He was probably held up and left for dead. Probably thought taking his shirt would guarantee death."
"He taking any water?"
"Nope."
"Lets get him in the coach and get him to a doctor in Dugway. That's only a couple of hour's from here."
Zeke and Harvey picked the man up by his arms and legs.
"Someone mind opening the door for us?" Zeke called to the passengers.
Henry opened the door and stepped out of the stage. When they got the man's upper body resting on the floor, Henry walked around to the other side of the stage and climbed in. Again grasping the man under his arms, they were able to maneuver him into the seat and lean him against the seat and the interior side of the stage.
Sister Michael sat down beside him. "Give me the canteen," she said. "I'll try to get him to drink and try to cool him down."
Zeke handed the nun the canteen, while Henry climbed back into the coach and sat next to his wife. Harvey and Zeke scaled the coach and took the seats. "You need anything, or he dies, give us a holler," Henry shouted to the passengers as he snapped the reins to urge the six-horse hitch into motion.
Clara Barlow reached into her pocket and produced a handkerchief that she handed to Sister Michael. The nun poured water from the canteen onto the cloth and began dabbing the man's face. She wet the cloth again and began dabbing his shoulders and chest.
"Looks like pretty bad burns," Henry commented. Sister Michael nodded but made no reply. She wet the cloth a third time and pressed it against the man's lips. For the first time she saw a reaction as the man tried to suck water from the cloth. Sister Michael again wet the cloth, more liberally this time, and again pressed it to the man's lips.
"Let me help," Clara said and slid to her knees on the floor in front of the man. Sister Michael handed Clara the canteen and raised the man's head, while Clara brought the canteen to his mouth. The man drank with desperate hunger and tried to raise his hands to grasp the canteen, but Sister Michael pushed his hands away and nodded to Clara to draw back with the canteen.
"He should drink slowly. Otherwise he won't be able to hold it down," Sister Michael explained.
The man groaned and tried to open his eyes. Even his eyes lids were badly burned and he could only raise his eyes lids enough to see light.
"Shh, son. You're safe now," Sister Michael said and again nodded to Clara to offer water. "One or two swallows, that's all," Sister Michael instructed.
The man again tried gulping up the water, filling his mouth so full that water streamed down his chin to his chest. Clara quickly pulled the canteen away as the man swallowed, then coughed and choked.
"Enough for now," Sister Michael said and Clara climbed back into her seat beside her husband.
"Where...?" the man panted.
"Shh. You're on a stage, one your way to Dugway to see a doctor. You're safe now," the nun explained.
"What happened?" he panted.
"We don't know. We found you unconscious in the salt desert. Can you tell us your name?" Sister Michael asked.
"Thad...Thaddeus," he whispered.
"Well, Thaddeus, you need to rest. We'll be in Dugway soon and we'll get you to a doctor."
"Water,"
Sister Michael held her hand out to Clara who handed her the canteen. She held it to the man's mouth and again he took a large gulp and tried in vain to grasp the canteen."
"That's enough for now, son. We don't want you getting sick on water."
As the nun pulled the canteen away, Kid's head dropped back and Sister Michael gently lowered him back against the seat as he drifted back into unconsciousness.
Two hours later the stage pulled into Dugway, Utah. Zeke quickly climbed down and grabbed the shoulder of the first person he saw, a young boy of ten. "Son, go get the Sheriff and the Doctor, and be quick about it."
The boy nodded and darted off toward the Sheriff's office.
Clara and Sister Michael climbed out of the stage through the street side door. Henry moved to the other seat and helped Zeke and Harvey extract the still unconscious man from the coach.
"What happened?" the Sheriff asked as he grabbed one of Kid's shoulders and helped carry Kid across the street to the doctor's office, just as the doctor was coming out the door.
"Found him unconscious in the desert," Zeke replied.
"Like this? No shirt?"
"Yep."
The doctor held the door open and the four men carried Kid to the back room and laid him supine on the table.
"Was he robbed?"
"Think so. Didn't find no wallet on him, no horse, no gun."
The Sheriff glanced at Kid's empty holster. "Ties it down, uh?"
Kid moaned and the doctor brushed the other men aside to examine his patient.
"His body temperature is very high. Would someone get a couple of buckets of water from the trough outside. "I've got to cool him down."
Zeke picked up two wooden buckets from the corner of the room and headed outside while the doctor went to a closet and gathered two cotton sheets.
When Zeke returned, the doctor plunged one of the sheets into a bucket of water, then lifted the dripping cloth from the bucket and handed one end to the Sheriff. "Help me spread this over him. "
The doctor then plunged the second sheet into the bucket and lifted it from the water.
"I need his turned on his side so I can get this under him."
Zeke and the Sheriff moved Kid so the doctor could spread the cold, wet sheet beneath him. Then they rolled him back as he had been.
"Stage will be leaving soon," Zeke said. "I'm sorry but I have to go."
"Nothing more to tell me?" the sheriff asked.
"Nothing," Zeke replied.
"No name?"
"He said his name is Thaddeus. He didn't give a last name," Henry said. "He wasn't conscious for very long."
The Sheriff nodded. "Alright, you can go," he told Zeke.
The doctor removed the top sheet and again plunged it into the water. Again the Sheriff helped him spread it across Kid's upper body.
"He must have been out there a while. Those are mostly second degree burns. Already starting to peel in some places. He's going to be hurting pretty bad when he wakes up. I'll get some pain powders mixed up for him," the doctor said.
Kid began to moan and his breathing quickened.
"Can you hear me, son?" the Sheriff asked.
"Hurts," Kid whispered.
"Doc's getting you something for that. You got a name?"
"Thaddeus," Kid replied in a voice barely audible.
"That much I know. How about a last name?" the Sheriff asked.
"Jones," Kid panted.
"Where did you come from?"
"Ogdon."
"Got family there? People you know?"
"No."
"Where were you headed?"
"Reno," Kid panted and winced.
"Got people there?"
"Partner."
"What's your partner's name?"
"Smith."
"Lot of Smiths in most towns, son. Your partner got a first name?"
"Josh... Joshua."
"Mind if I send him a telegram? Let him know where you are?"
"Thank you,"
The doctor returned with a glass of water laced with pain powders. He lifted Kid's head and Kid winced from the pain of the hand against his burned neck. "Drink this, boy. It'll help the pain."
Kid drank the liquid and the doctor eased Kid's head back down."
"Can you tell me what happened to you out there?" the Sheriff asked.
"Um... No."
"Can't remember?"
"No."
"Well, we'll let the doctor work on you a while. Maybe once you're feeling better, you'll be able to remember," the Sheriff said. "Doc, he starts feeling any better, you let me know."
"Of course."
Sister Michael walked in to the doctor's office just as the Sheriff was leaving.
"Doctor, I've decided to stay in town for a few days. I thought you might be able to use some help with this young man."
The doctor smiled. "Very grateful, sister. He's going to need round the clock monitoring, at least until his body temperature comes down," the doctor replied as he slid a thermometer under Kid's tongue.
"I'm Sister Michael."
"Doctor Wesley," the doctor replied and withdrew the thermometer. "This man's a hundred and four degrees."
Dr. Wesley removed the sheet and again plunged it into the bucket of water. Sister Michael helped him spread it out over Kid's torso.
"I think we'd better get some of these clothes off him. They're just holding in the heat. We can get a fresh cold sheet under him, too.
Sister Michael set to work helping the doctor remove Kid's boots and pants, leaving the long johns on for modesty.
"These will get wet from the sheets, but that's not a bad thing," the doctor said, referring to the long johns. "With those burns, we won't get him to a normal temperature for a while, but I'd like to see him no higher than a hundred degrees. If we can't get the fever down soon, we may have to start using ice. Have to do that with caution, though. Don't want to drop the temperature too fast as that can bring on seizures."
"I'll keep changing out the top sheet every fifteen minutes or so," Sister Michael said.
"I'm going to pull him over on his side, now. You pull out the sheet that's under him, and get it good and wet. Then we'll get it back under him again."
The doctor rolled Kid to his side and Kid cried out as skin beneath the doctor's hand cracked open from the pressure and streaks of blood began to ooze beneath the doctor's hand.
Sister Michael worked quickly and the doctor eased Kid back down again. He grabbed a jar of balm from the shelf and applied it liberally to the wound on Kid's arm. Then he dipped his fingers in the balm again and began applying it to all the burned areas. Sister Michael dipped her hand in the balm and assisted the doctor. Kid repeatedly moaned from the pain of even the light pressure of their fingers.
Sister Michael and Dr. Wesley worked diligently throughout the day. By late afternoon, Kid's temperature was down to 102 degrees and Kid was more cognizant. He was drinking water well and keeping it down. The pain medication did little to ease the pain of the burns, but the balm did offer some soothing relief from the pain and the fast developing itching.
"Tomorrow morning we'll have to wash you. It'll help get rid of the peeling skin, but it's will hurt... a lot. I'll give you something stronger for the pain before we do that," Dr. Wesley explained to both Kid and Sister Michael. "You feel up to talking to the Sheriff again, son? He asked to talk to you again where you were more alert."
"Okay," Kid said. "Though I ain't got much to tell him."
Dr. Wesley nodded. "I'll go get him, and I'll pick up something for you to eat for supper. I'll get you something, too, Sister."
"Thank you. That's most kind," Sister Michael replied.
Dr. Wesley left and a few minutes later the Sheriff arrived.
"Feeling a bit better, son?" the Sheriff asked.
"A bit," Kid replied.
"I got a reply from the telegram I sent to your partner. Says he'll be here as quick as he can. That's likely late tomorrow at the earliest, maybe the day after."
"Thanks."
"Remember anything about what happened to you?"
"What day is it?" Kid asked.
"Thursday."
"I left Ogdon on Monday."
"Well, judging from where they said they found you, you probably only traveled little over half a day."
"So I laid out there almost three days?"
"Looks that way. Judging from how bad those burns are, I'd say that was about right. Did somebody rob you?"
Kid thought hard, trying to recall what had happened.
"Three... no, four men."
"Did you get a look at them?"
"They all had their faces covered."
"Notice any brands on any of the horses?"
Kid shook his head.
"What did they take from you?"
"My horse, saddle bags, gun and I'm told my wallet is missing."
"Have much money in it?"
"Uh, two hundred dollars."
"That's quite a bit of money for a cowboy to be carrying around, ain't it?"
"I'd just finished a job, been paid."
"What kind of job?"
"Transporting nitro to a mine."
"Dangerous work."
"I've done it before. Just got to be careful."
"Where did you take it?"
"North Logan."
"So a lot of minors knew you had money?"
Kid shook his head. "I didn't get paid till I got back to Ogdon."
"So, spend time in the saloon that night?"
"I did a little gambling, among other things."
"Maybe somebody there discovered you had money?"
Kid shook his head. "Left most of it in the hotel that night."
"Didn't notice anybody following you out of town when you left?"
"No."
"Your horse got a brand on it?"
"A Ponderosa Pine tree."
"Why do you suppose they took your shirt?"
"Probably wanted this to happen, or worse."
The Sheriff nodded. "Probably. You're lucky that stage came along."
Kid nodded.
"Well, there's plenty of road bandits out there. I suspect that's what you encountered. But, son, if you think of anything that might be helpful, you get word to me."
"I will, Sheriff."
Dr. Wesley returned with supper for them.
"Just finishing up, Doc. He does seem a might better."
"Doctor, if you have a cot you can bring in here, I can sleep here for the night and listen for him. I'll call you if he needs you," Sister Michael offered during supper.
"I think we can manage that, Sister. Thank you."
That evening Sister Michael and the doctor changed out the damp sheets, but decided to place a dry sheet under Kid's back so as not to over saturate the skin during the night. They put another damp sheet on top, telling Kid he could remove it during the night if he thought he would be more comfortable.
After the doctor retired to his living quarters in the back of the office, Sister Michael settled into the cot with her Bible and an oil lamp burning on the nearby table, just bright enough to enable her to read. When she glanced up to see if Kid was sleeping, she saw him smiling.
"What is it?"
"Just that my partner likes to read in bed. I'm not much of a reader, so he reads too me, sometimes."
"Would you like me to read to you?" she asked.
"That would be nice, Sister. If you don't mind."
Sister Michael smiled. "I never mind sharing the word of God," she said and and turned the pages to the psalms. "Psalms one hundred is my personal favorite," she said and began reading the psalm aloud.
Kid sighed and closed his eyes, listening intently.
When she had finished she looked over at Kid.
"Would you like to hear another one?" she asked.
Kid nodded, but said nothing.
Sister Michael read another one, then again glanced at Kid and saw that he was fast asleep. Sister Michael smiled, turned the lamp down low enough to just cast a few shadows in the room, said her night prayers, and settled in for the night.
But Kid had a restless night, fraught with distressful dreams, devastating memories of his youth. He tossed and spoke in snippets, calling out for Han and cursing soldiers. Sister Michael stood beside the bed, gently stroking Kid's hair and whispering words of comfort until the dark dreams faded.
The next morning presented an hour of pure agony as Dr. Wesley and Sister Michael bathed Kid. Gently scraping dead, peeling skin from his torso and arms. Despite the extra pain medication the doctor had given Kid, he repeatedly moaned, whimpered, and tried in vein to arch his torso away from the hands that worked so diligently. The liberal application of the balm did provide some soothing relief.
Sister Michael and the doctor continued to change out the wet sheets every half hour of so. Each time the doctor rolled Kid to his side, Kid moaned or whimpered. That evening, they bathed Kid again which caused Kid significant discomfort. But the application of the balm that followed was soothing on his sore, tender skin.
"Am I gonna be scarred?" Kid asked when they had finally finished.
"Hopefully the balm will minimize any scarring," Dr. Wesley replied. "But I can't promise you there won't be any. We'll let you rest for a while, now. Perhaps tomorrow you'd like to sit up for a while. It will help take that pressure off your back."
Kid nodded."Might like some clothes, though. At least my pants when I get up,"
"Of course, Mr. Jones."
"Sheriff said my partner might be arriving soon, maybe tomorrow. I might like to be sitting up when he gets here. He won't worry so much if he sees me sitting up."
"We'll try to arrange that," the doctor promised.
Kid slept through much of the night with only a brief episode of unpleasant dreaming. When he did waken, Dr. Wesley and Sister Michael put him through another painful bathing, then applied more balm. Dr. Wesley helped Kid get his pants on, as Kid was adamant about Sister Michael not being in the room while he dressed. Once the pants were on, Sister Michael returned and she and the doctor helped Kid into an upholster chair. Kid sat upright, preferring not to lean back against the rough cloth of the chair.
Heyes arrive just as they were finishing breakfast. Dr. Wesley met Heyes in the outer office to update him.
"He sustained second degree burns from the sun over most of his upper body. He's healing slowly but well so far, although there's always a chance for an infection to develop when the skin is burned so badly. I know your first reaction will be to reach out and touch him. Please refrain from doing so because it is both painful to him and increases the risk of infection."
Heyes nodded his understanding, eager to see his partner.
"Kid, you look like a ripe tomato," Heyes said, smiling as her entered the room, hoping his true concern was not evident on his face.
Kid smiled as much as the burned skin on his face would permit.
Heyes nodded to the Nun and pulled a chair up near Kid. "Don't let me keep you from eating your breakfast," Heyes said to everyone in the room. "How you really feeling, Kid?"
"Sore, but the doctor and Sister Michael are doing a good job."
"I stopped by the Sheriff's office when I got here. He told me what happened. They got your money and your horse?"
"And my gun."
"You got no money?"
"No."
"Guess I'll be playing some poker, then. We'll need to buy you a horse when you're ready to leave."
"And pay a doctor bill, too."
"Yep."
"That's probably gonna be a lot of poker, Joshua."
Heyes laughed. "I think I'm up to it. Kid."
Kid took a bite of his eggs. He chewed slowly so as not to stretch the facial muscles to the point of pain.
"How soon do you think he'll be able to move over to the hotel?" Heyes asked the doctor.
"Probably a day or two. It's very important to keep the skin clean and remove the dead skin. We're bathing him twice a day to accomplish that"
"And damn, that hurts like hell...Oh, excuse me Sister," Kid said, realizing he had cursed.
Sister Michael smiled. "You're forgiven, Thaddeus. Your skin probably has felt like fire and brimstone."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"No idea who robbed you and left you out there?"
Kid shook his head.
"Probably too late to go looking for anyone."
"I s'pect so."
"Glad you're going to be alright," Heyes said, then turned to Sister Michael. "Sister I can stay with him if you'd like," Heyes offered.
"That's not necessary. Dr. Wesley and Kid and I have the routine down pat. It's not a bother."
"Well, if you'd like a break anytime, I'm more than willing. I'll be spending most of my time here anyway."
"Thank you. Mr. Smith. I'll remember that."
"Joshua?"
"Yea?"
"If you've got a nickle to spare, I'd like some peppermints."
Heyes smiled and reached into his pocket for a small bag. "Already thought of that," he said, handing Kid the bag.
"Sister, would you like a peppermint?" Kid asked, holding the bag out to her.
Sister Michael smiled. "I would, thank you, Kid."
"Doc?"
"No, none for me, thanks."
Kid held the bag out toward his partner but Heyes declined, so Kid reached into the bag and drew out a peppermint that he quickly popped into his mouth.
"I never saw anyone who liked peppermints as much as you do," Heyes teased.
With a mouthful of candy, Kid just nodded.
Heyes spent another hour with Kid before Kid began showing signs of fatigue.
"I'm afraid we should get him back into bed and let him sleep," Dr. Wesley said.
Heyes and Kid shared their good byes and Heyes promised to return later in the day.
Heyes arrived late in the afternoon while Dr. Wesley and Sister Michael were in the middle of bathing Kid. Heyes stayed in the outer office and winced with each moan and groan Kid uttered. When the noises stopped, Heyes made his way into the room and saw them applying the balm to Kid's skin.
"Sounded like you handled that well, Kid," Heyes said, standing at the foot of the bed to stay out of the way while they finished applying the balm.
"I think it's getting a little easier," Kid replied. "You win?"
Heyes smiled. "Enough for a horse, now I'll start working on the doctor's bill," Heyes replied.
"Up in the chair for a while?" the doctor asked and Kid nodded.
"Here, I can at least help with that, Sister," Heyes said, scooting between Kid and the Nun. As he helped Kid into the chair, Heyes noticed the amount of heat still generating from Kid's burns.
"Still no signs of infection," the doctor announced once Kid was seated in the chair.
"He feels awful warm, Doc," Heyes said with obvious concern.
"Temperature is hovering around a hundred degrees. That's to be expected."
"Sister, if there's anything you'd like to do...?
"I think some fresh air would be nice, Mr. Smith. Thank you," she said and left to take a walk through town.
"You really think you're doing better, Kid?" Heyes asked.
Kid nodded."It don't hurt as much as it did, Heyes. Mostly it's my neck and elbows that hurt, you know, when I move em."
"I wish there was some way to go after those bandits," Heyes mused.
"Well, there ain't. So, forget about it. They're long gone by now."
"Looks like most of the dead skin is peeled off," Heyes said.
Kid nodded. "I might be able to tolerate a shirt pretty soon. That will be nice. I don't like being half nekked around a Nun and all."
Heyes smiled, well aware of Kid's modesty."
"She's been real kind, Heyes. Even read to me at night, you know, like you do, only not the kind of books you read. She just reads the Bible."
"Some pretty good stories in the Bible."
"Yep. Some I remember Ma reading to us before Katie and I went to bed."
Heyes smiled. It wasn't often Kid spoke about family memories."
"Heyes, I was thinking maybe we should head to Mineral Springs when we leave here."
"Think that might be good for your skin healing?"
Kid nodded.
"Let's ask the doctor to be sure, but if it's okay with him, it's fine by me. Kid."
"Kay."
"You're looking kind of tired."
"Yeah. I'll go back to bed after supper. Can you find something to keep you busy?"
Heyes laughed."There's always more poker, Kid."
"Heyes, I'm going to need to buy a gun, too."
"We'll manage that."
Kid grew quiet for a time. "Heyes," he finally said.
"Yea?"
"I thought I was gonna die out there. If that stage hadn't come along, I would have."
"Maybe."
"No maybe about it. I don't know where the others on the stage are now, but I'd like to do something nice for Sister Michael. I mean, she didn't have to stay to take care of me, but she did... I'd like to do something nice for her."
"Any ideas?"
"No. "I'll ask her what her plans are when she leaves here. Maybe that'll give us an idea."
"That sounds like a good plan, Kid."
Sister Michael returned with sandwiches for everyone. Then after supper, Heyes and the doctor helped Kid back into bed.
"I'll be back in the morning," Heyes announced once Kid was safely back in bed.
"Okay. Good luck tonight."
Heyes left and Sister Michael sat in the chair near Kid's bed. Kid was very tired but he wanted to talk to Sister Michael before he fell asleep.
"Sister?"
"Do you need something, Kid?"
"Ah...Some water would be nice."
Sister Michael poured Kid a glass of water that Kid was able to hold and drink independently. When he was finished, he handed her the glass. "Thank you."
She smiled and put the empty glass on the table.
"Sister, where are you going when you leave here?"
"My final destination is a convent near Virginia City, Nevada."
"That's pretty country," Kid said. "Not Virginia City itself. It's a mining town. But the land and mountains around it are pretty."
"Is it? I've never been that far west. The church is building a small hospital there."
"Are you a nurse?"
She smiled. "Well, I wasn't but I feel like I am now," she said and Kid smiled.
"Actually I'll be working in the administrative department. But this experience has certainly enlightened me to the responsibilities of the nurses."
"I suppose so."
"You've been an ideal patient, I might add."
Kid smiled. "Not so sure about that. I've done my share of complaining."
"All warranted,"
"I don't know how to repay you for all you've done for me, Sister."
"There's no need for that, son. I only do what God asks of me."
"Well, I'm grateful He sent you to me, Sister."
Sister Michael smiled. "You should try to sleep now," she said. "You need the rest."
Kid closed his eyes and was fast asleep in minutes.
Kid was still sleeping when Heyes returned the next morning. Heyes stood at the foot of the bed for several minutes, just watching his partner sleep.
"You worry about him, don't you?" Sister Michael asked.
Heyes carried a straight back chair over to the bed and sat down, facing Sister Michael.
"We're cousins. We grew up together. Been partners forever. We tend to worry about each other, I think."
"The day we found him, he was quite concerned that someone get in touch with you. He knew you'd be worried."
"He thinks a lot of you, sister. The doctor told me you changed your travel plans just to stay and help Kid. We both appreciate that, Sister."
"He told me you read to him."
Heyes smiled. "I enjoy books. Kid enjoys hearing them, he don't much like reading them. He told me you've been reading to him."
"It seems to sooth him. He..."
"What, Sister?"
"It's just that I get the feeling he...something troubles him, deeply. He had a troublesome night, talked a lot of something very unpleasant."
"He's had some hard knocks in life... Somethings a person just...never really gets over."
"And you as well?"
Heyes smiled. "You're very good at what you do, Sister. You chose the right profession."
"I didn't choose this profession. God made that decision, just as he does for everyone."
"Ah."
"You don't believe that?"
Heyes found himself fumbling for words. "Let's just say I'm not sure everyone always follows the path God chooses for them."
"Meaning you?"
Heyes nodded. "Me and Kid both."
"Have you ever stopped to consider that God may have chosen a difficult path for you, for you both, so that you'll have a better understanding, a better appreciation of where you end up?"
"I will certainly give thought to that, Sister. You may be on to something."
"Heyes?" Kid said groggily and Heyes was immediately up and standing beside Kid's bed.
"No, Kid, it's me, Joshua. How you feeling?"
Kid thought a moment. "Better, I think. It don't hurt as much."
"If you two will excuse me, I think I'll take another walk," the Nun said and left the room.
"I wired Lom and told him what happened to you."
"Nothing he can do."
"He said he'd notify Sheriffs in the area to be on the look for your horse and your gun. I had told him where you've got you initials etched into your gun."
"I'm not holding out much hope of finding either of those things."
Heyes shrugged. "Worth a try, Kid."
"S'pose. Thanks."
Heyes suddenly realized he and Kid were the only two in the office. "Where's the doctor?"
"He got called out to a ranch in the middle of the night. Ought to be back, soon."
"Well, when Sister Michael gets back, I'll go get us all some breakfast... She said you were talking in your sleep the other night."
"Did I tell her who we are?"
Heyes shook his head. "I don't think so. I think it was mostly the stuff you usually talk about in your sleep. Besides, her being a Nun, I think she has to keep all that stuff confidential."
"I think that's only stuff you might say in confession, Heyes. And then it would be to a priest, not a Nun...Heyes, I thought maybe we could get her a new Bible and write a nice inscription in the front of it."
Heyes smiled. "I think that's a fine idea, Kid
"A nice one, Heyes. Might have to mail order for it."
"I'll look in to that."
Sister Michael and Dr. Wesley returned at the same time, and Heyes told them he would go get everyone breakfast.
"So, how are you feeling?" Dr. Wesley asked Kid.
"Better."
Dr. Wesley pulled the sheet down and examined Kid's torso and arms. "Looks like the peeling is about done. Perhaps tomorrow afternoon you could move over to the hotel."
Kid smiled gratefully. Then he realized that by doing that, Sister Michael would be likely to leave for Virginia City. Reluctantly, he decided he had to ask her.
"Does that mean you'll be leaving?"
Sister Michael smiled. "I think so, in a couple of days. You have your partner to keep an eye on you now."
"I'll miss you, Sister."
"If you are ever in Virginia City, you be sure to stop by the hospital."
"Joshua and I have been in that area a couple of times. I'm sure we will be again. Be sure to visit Lake Bigler. It's beautiful there. I've always called that God's Country."
"Every place is God's Country. But I'll be sure to visit there one day."
While Heyes was out getting breakfast, Kid endured another episode of the bathing, but found is much less painful than previous days. Dr. Wesley explained to Kid that the skin was beginning to heal and the pain would likely lessen every day.
The rest of the day passed pretty much as the previous day, with Kid napping often, but sitting in a chair for meals. After supper Dr. Wesley suggested Heyes assist with the bath so he would have a better idea what the process entailed when Kid moved to the hotel. Heyes helped, but Dr. Wesley noticed that Heyes winced almost as often as Kid.
The following afternoon, Kid moved into the hotel with Heyes. Dr. Wesley instructed Heyes on the importance of washing his hands before applying the balm, so as to help prevent infection. The doctor also said the bathing could be reduced to once a day and promised to stop by late each afternoon to help Heyes with the process.
Late in the evening, when they were alone, Heyes pulled a paper bag out from under his pillow. Reaching in the bag, he withdrew a handsome leather bound Bible with a lock clasp and a satin bookmark.
"Like this one, Kid?" Heyes asked, handing Kid the Bible.
Kid smiled. "Yea, this is nice, Heyes and you didn't have to order it."
"And it's got a blank page right in the front where you can write an inscription."
Kid ran his hand over the leather and admired the feel of the book. "Got something I can write with?" he asked.
"I figured you might want those things so I bought some ink and a pen for you," Heyes said and handed both to Kid.
Kid opened the book to the blank page, but wasn't quick to write. He wanted to say just the right thing, so he gave some thought to his words before picking up the pen and dipping it into the ink. Then he very carefully wrote his inscription. He set the book down with the page still open to let the ink dry. Once the ink had dried, Kid closed the Bible and secured the clasp before setting the book on the nightstand.
The next morning, Sister Michael paid them a visit.
"I'm leaving on the noon stage, but I wanted to stop in a see you before I left," she explained.
"Sister, I don't think I can ever repay you for you kindness, but this is for you," Kid said, handing her the Bible.
"Oh, this is lovely. Such a handsome book. I will treasure this always, Kid."
"It doesn't come close to what I owe you, but..."
"Kid, you've given me the word of God. What better gift could there possibly be?"
Kid smiled. "I will miss you, Sister."
"And I, you," she said and leaned over and kissed Kid gently on his forehead. "I hope you both find that peace you are looking for."
With that she was gone. From the hotel window, Kid watched the noon stage pull out.
Inside the stage, Sister Michael opened her new Bible and smiled when she read the inscription.
May God always walk beside you, giving you comfort and faith, just as you have done for me -Jedadiah Curry, alias Thaddeus Jones
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I've always found religion, all religions, interesting and consider them as a whole, to be a form of meditation. While some discount religious beliefs, others find them to be a means through which to navigate their lives. My personal philosophy is simply "whatever rows your boat," and I will never understand why some feel the need to ridicule someone else's beliefs or philosophy simply because such beliefs can't be proven or are not the same as another's. In a way it compares to all of our fondness of AS&J. Writing stories, reading stories, watching reruns all tend to ease our own trials and tribulations (though I am not comparing AS&J to religion here, so please do not misinterpret my comments).