Ch 16

Buck rode in the next morning with two more doctors. The wagon with supplies also arrived. Ike went and fed the healthy men with Buck's help. Kid gave them all water and blankets. Cody came outside along with Noah. Cody's arm in a sling, he helped Kid as much as he could. Noah limped stiffly over to the tent with Jimmy. He slipped inside and went to sit by his friend. Jimmy had a deathly pallor on his skin. He was sweating and still shaking.

"Jimmy, it's time for you to quit playing and get over this. Look at me, I stopped acting like this yesterday." Noah smiled to himself.

"They ain't giving you much hope buddy. I think you are gonna surprise them all. Hell please surprise us all." Noah touched Jimmy's hand as he wiped his eyes.

"Enough of this, ain't no reason cause I'm gonna be looking into your eyes tomorrow, right?"

"I got to go. Lots to be done here. I just wanted to let you know that what you done here for Lou. There ain't really no words to describe. She loves you Jimmy. Come on back for her sake."

Noah stood up and walked outside to try to help the others.

Lou was taking a break from the hustle of the day. She had been going non-stop. She saw Kid walking in her direction. She looked at her feet cause she sure didn't need his crap right now.

"Lou, can we talk?"

"Are you gonna tell me what I can or can't do?"

"No it's not like that. It's about us."

"Ain't really in the mood for a fight."

"Come on Lou, I don't want to fight."

"What do you want then?"

"You said the other day that we were over. Is that true, are we done?"

"I didn't want it to happen that way but yes."

"What happened to us?"

"I can't change who I am. I want to be me."

"And one of us let's you do that doesn't he?"

"Don't bring him up, he ain't got nothing to do with me ending us. I ended us cause I can't stand the way you treat me anymore."

"I'm sorry you feel that way. I still love you, Lou."

"And I'll always love you just not in that way."

"You want him don't you."

"I don't know what I want or what he will want. But I do know that I don't want to be with you."

Kid looked up at the sky, turned, and walked away. Lou held her head in her hands and cried. She cried over her lost love in Kid. She cried because she hurt him. She cried because of what she had been through the last few weeks. She cried for the men and boys that had died here. She cried for Jimmy. Emma came up and wrapped her arms around her. She held her tight as she let it all out. Finally finished, she stepped back.

"I'm so sorry Emma."

"For what my dear, you are the strongest woman I know and even the strongest need a good cry sometimes. You have been put through hell and you survived."

"I didn't survive on my own. Emma, if it weren't for Jimmy, they would have beat me to death. He stepped in for me."

"Lou, Jimmy would do anything for you even giving up his own life for yours. What he did was his choice to make."

"I just ended things with Kid."

"I see. How do you feel about that?"

"I feel like a burden has gone away. I also feel like I broke his heart."

"Baby, I saw the way he was always trying to hold you back. You ain't a woman to be held down. I never said anything but I didn't think you would be happy."

"Emma, I think I have feelings for Jimmy. It's like we always just fit. Now he won't even know, he will be gone before I get the chance." Lou started crying again.

"Oh Lullabell, let me tell you one thing. That boy over there is headstrong. He could always find trouble in anything. But he has grown into a fine young man, and if you ask me those doctors are wrong. The boy I know will make it through this."

"I feel like he is dying because of me."

"He is not dying. I'll tell you that but also this isn't your fault. If it is anyone's, it's that horrible man that did this to all these poor men. May he rot in hell."

Lou wiped her eyes and smiled.

"Ya really think Jimmy is goin to be ok?"

"I do honey. You know what I think he needs."

"What?"

"A visit from his favorite girl." Emma said as she steered Lou toward the tent.

"I'm scared to see him."

"Go have a chat. I know he will hear you."

Lou entered the tent. Four other men laid near the other side. All seemed to be asleep. She eased up to Jimmy and sat on the ground beside him. He was so dirty. His hair such a mess. The doctors had cleaned him off somewhat in order to tend to the infected cuts on his arms and chest. The gunshot wound on the side of his chest really was just a graze. They had cleaned it and stitched it but they had told her that he would die from the blood loss. He was too weak to handle it. It had been two days since they were set free. It had been a long two days. She reached for his hand. He was cold. She looked for another blanket and put it across him.

"I don't know what to say."

"I just don't want you to die." Lou sobbed.

She stopped and wiped her eyes.

"You did this all for me. To save me from them. I told you I wasn't worth it but you did it anyway. I told you."

She paused again.

"Now I've lost you. They tell me you are dying. They tell me to have my goodbyes but I can't. I can't let you go. Please don't go. I love you."

Lou cried silent tears as she sat holding his hand. She sat there in silence for about an hour.

"I can't sit here and watch you leave me."

Jimmy opened his mouth and sucked in a deep breath. Lou jumped startled.

"Jimmy?"

He turned his head and she felt him squeeze her hand. She smiled crying again. She ran for Emma. Emma ran in behind a short while later.

"He opened his mouth and moved! He squeezed my hand!" Said Lou.

"Jimmy? Jimmy honey?" Said Emma holding his hand. Lou sat opposite him holding the other.

He moved his head again. Emma looked to Lou.

"Lou." Jimmy whispered.

"I'm here Jimmy! We are free! We are safe!"

" Lou."

"Jimmy? Please come back to me!"

Emma ran for the first doctor that she could find. He ran in behind her.

"Lou."

"Mr. Hickok, can you open your eyes?"

Jimmy tried to open his eyes. He heard Lou's voice. He heard another man's voice he didn't know. He heard Emma. He tried again. Why was it so hard? He cracked them open and could see blurry blobs that were people.

"There you are. Come on open them a little further for us if you can." Said the doctor.

Jimmy tried to shift his body on the ground. Pain seized him all over. He gasped. He felt himself falling again. Blackness started to edge its way in.

"Try not to move. Mr. Hickok, don't let go, open your eyes for us."

"Jimmy! Please Jimmy don't leave me now!" Cried Lou.

Jimmy could hear her. She sounded so far away. He needed to let the pain go. He needed to let himself go. He heard her cry for him again. He had to stay for her. He had to bare it for her. She loves me. He forced himself to fight the darkness. He could see the light in the crack of his eyelid.

"Lou."

"Yes it's me, please don't go. I am so sorry! I am so sorry!"

"Lou."

"Yes, Jimmy. Please stay with us."

" I'm tired."

"I know you are but don't let go."

"Tired."

"Come on Jimmy!"

"Love you."

"I love you too."

Jimmy's eyes closed. Lou and Emma looked to the doctor. He felt Jimmy's chest and watched his breathing.

"He just fell back asleep. We got to get him conscious. We need to treat him better. He needs nourishment."

"He has a chance?" Asked Emma.

"I am surprised after what he has been through but yes, I think he does."

Emma and Lou hugged each other then ran to tell the others. Two more days went by with the same routine. Jimmy would try to wake, say a word or two then go back out. Finally on the fourth day, he was able to open his eyes. Lou smiled back at him. He looked around and everyone was there. He tried to smile back. The next day, he ate half a biscuit with some water. The doctors have him some medicine and Buck gathered some herbs for him. He had lost so much weight. The day after, he spoke better.

"Teaspoon, what happened. To the other men."

"Most did have family looking for them. They came and got em. The others, the sheriff helped get them some horses. They rode off when they felt well enough. They all made it."

"What bout Eric?"

"He left with a clean bill of health. He came to tell you bye but you know."

"I heard someone say something over me. Something weird. I felt... Like I had to live."

"He seemed to be a special man."

"He. Helped us."

"He is free now."

"Good." Jimmy was getting sleepy.

"Why don't you take a nap? I'll send Lou over."

Jimmy nodded slightly. Lou came in and pulled his blanket over him. He looked kinda like her Jimmy again. His wounds were looking better. Emma had Teaspoon help wash him. His hair was brushed and straight, all the dirt and odor gone. She bent and kissed his cheek.

"Another few days, and we will try to get you home. Thank you for everything Jimmy. For loving me for me, and for saving me."

Jimmy smiled. Lou thought he was asleep.

"I told you, that you...Were worth it."

Lou bent and kissed his lips as he fell asleep.

"Sleep Jimmy. We will be going home soon. I love you."