Chapter 15 Reunited

"Ow", Jim hissed, twisting sideways away from the prodding fingers of his partner. "That's sore but it must be healing. It isn't as bad as it was," he said, through clenched teeth.

"The bandage has dried on," Artie said, leaning closer to examine the swollen red skin above and below the filthy strips of cloth. "I bet the blade nicked a rib too, may have a piece of bone floating around in there irritating the skin inside." Jim groaned, "the doctor will have a look at that. He should be here any time." Artie took a pair of shears from the dressing kit and began cutting away the loose cloth. Soon only the section stiff with old blood remained.

Jim tried to straighten his back and winced again. He was sitting sideways on the straight-backed wooden chair in the small bathroom on the varnish car. He had peeled off his filthy clothes and the stench of old sweat mingled with the smell of the bath soaps and shaving creams. The soiled bandage that had been wrapped around his waist had been painful to remove but were not lying on the floor at his feet; except for the one end firmly attached to the dried blood of the knife wound. "The doctor will have to tear that old thing off," Jim murmured tiredly.

Artie snapped his fingers, "I know what you need," he announced. He slapped a hand on his friend's shoulder as he squeezed past him in the small room and moved to the bath faucets. "You need a bath, a good hot soak. Then that section of old bandage would come off easily without damaging the wound. And while you relax you can tell me how it all happened." He turned on the faucets and held a hand under the water, checking the temperature. "Never a shortage for hot water on a train."

"Unless there is a shortage of water," Jim said, smiling tiredly at their old but well-loved joke. "You'll have to pull me out if you put me in there." He closed his eyes and listened to the sound of the water running.

"Don't fall asleep yet," Artie said, gently slipping his arm under Jim's arm on his good side. "Come on, move," he prodded, as Jim stood slowly. He held a steadying hand as Jim stepped over the side of the tub and lowered himself into the water. Bits of sand and plant material immediately began floating on the water's surface.

"Ah," Jim sighed, closing his eyes. He leaned his sore back against the tub's side and winced again but finally relaxed. "This is exactly what I needed. Good idea," he whispered. "I hope Lori doesn't get back too soon and interrupt me. In fact, we could just leave without her and she could catch up later."

Artie pulled the chair closer and sat near the tub, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "And I thought you two would have had some quality bonding time during that romp across the desert." He paused as Jim let out a loud snort. "So, tell me what happened."

"We tracked that bastard all over the damned sand," Jim growled. "We wandered all day and, just before dark, we decided to make camp and lure him in." He stopped to rub handfuls of water onto his face, dislodging more grime. "I didn't think he could have run that far away from the tracks but he seemed to be trying to walk back to his house. He must have known it was near the tracks and angled toward the mountains."

"Maybe he was trying to lose you," Artie suggested.

Jim humphed and pointed toward the washcloths hanging on a nearby wall hook. Artie pulled one off and tossed it to him. Jim picked up a piece of soap off a nearby dish and began rubbing it on his bare chest. "Anyway, I knew he would be hungry since we were. No one had eaten all day because he ran off just before lunch. You had packed a can of beans in the bag which I figured would smell good and draw him in." He shook his head, "I thought he would go for the horses so we tied her's up securely. Of course, he couldn't ride Blackjack anyway," he said, as Artie nodded in agreement. "So I sat up on a bank in the woods and watched over the horses. Lori was by the fire pretending to sleep and my blankets were nearby, making it look like I was sleeping too."

"And," Artie said, "then he came?"

Jim rubbed the washcloth over his face and then around behind his neck, lowering his head down as he washed. "Ya," he said quietly, "Quiet bastard. I never saw him until he was next to her. She had a knife in her hand, under the blankets. She jumped up and surprised him. He reached for the shotgun and she stabbed him in the arm." He dropped his hands into the water, watching the dirt swirl away. "They were in a massive fight by the time I made it down. I grabbed him and pulled him off her but he stabbed me. We all fell back into the fire with me in the coals." He peaked an eye at Artie, through wet eyelashes. "I'll tell you, partner, that hurt."

"I can just imagine, considering the red blisters on your shoulder blades," Artie said, grimacing. "And then? We are working toward the end, here, right?"

"Sorry," Jim grinned. "Somehow she pulled him off me but he punched her in the mouth. She fell back onto her gun. He grabbed the knife again and was coming at her as I was trying to get up to grab him. Then I saw those two barrels come up and I dropped back just as she let them both go. BOOM." He shook his head. "It blasted him back ten feet; right in the gut."

"Yikes," Artie said, "she is something else, all right." He shook his head in disbelief.

"She was damn good too," Jim said slowly. "She never complained about the heat or the dirt. She was a little suspicious of the cactus water and eating the flowers," he chuckled. "But she just wanted to get him." He looked again at Artie, "and she kept thinking I was going to die and you would be mad at her."

Artie raised an eyebrow, "I might have been a little displeased."

Jim grabbed the soap again and twisted a foot closer, rubbing the bar against the bottom of his heel. "So we camped overnight, then rode this morning. We stopped in the shade when it got really hot and started again this evening." He traded feet and soaped the other one, pushing his washcloth between his toes. "I have sand everywhere," he growled. "Where was I?"

"I don't know," Artie laughed, "tell me about the body. She had to bring it back?"

Jim dropped his foot with a splash and looked at his partner, eyes wide with disbelief. "Now she says she's a bounty hunter and she gets money for his body! She isn't a secret service agent any more than your Aunt Maud!" He began scrubbing his arms, irritated.

"Except that Richmond said she was," Artie said, "or they are", rubbing his chin, thinking out loud. "But they get paid for bounties?" He shook his head, "I have no way to guess, we'll just have to ask him when we get back."

"At least you had a quiet time while I was gone," Jim said, "and the train is fixed and we are leaving soon. No more stopping. Straight to Washington!"

Artie sat back, laughing quietly, "well the train is fixed and we are heading back to Washington but we didn't have a quiet time of it. I had a couple of bodies stacked here myself. Christian didn't mention getting money for them though. Maybe she was too upset."

Jim stopped mid stroke, a soapy arm raised out of the water, "what? Bodies? What happened?" His eyes bore into Artie's. "You should have mentioned this earlier."

"Oh, I was going to tell you my sordid tale, but I wanted to hear yours first." He took a deep breath and started, "We had been traveling for a few hours without issue, the open door didn't seem to be bothering the horses, when suddenly, the train stopped. It was dark out by then and I couldn't see well outside. But there was a bright flickering light in front of the train," he paused as Jim growled low in his throat, familiar with the 'fire on the tracks trick'. Artie nodded in agreement, "I could see men outside, near the train's engine, on horseback, all shooting pistols into the air. As they approached the varnish car I could see it was John's men from the alley, where I found Christian and Mary in the city. One was the leader, coming toward the door. So I scooped Mary up and just managed to hide her before he came on board." He nodded toward the hall, "He came in with two other guys. There were two additional men who stayed outside with guns on Cobb. But one real young kid who came in was one of the fellows in the alley that I gassed with the whiskey flask. He didn't recognize me, of course."

"Of course," Jim interrupted, grinning, enjoying the story. He had stopped in his washing to listen, enthralled by his partner's tale of yet another fight on the train.

"I had told Christian to hide," Artie snorted, "The one time she should have disappeared but of course she didn't. The leader and the second guy were itching to shoot me and take her hostage. And they were going to set the train on fire to flush Mary out. Christian tried to convince them that John had taken her with him when he ran but they didn't believe us. So I managed to get to the controls by the couch for the two revolvers. I shot the leader." He paused, looking at Jim. "I wish you had seen what Christian did. I wish I had seen it better."

"What," Jim growled, his eyebrows twisting with suspicion.

"She had crossed her arms as she spoke to them about Mary. I thought she was just standing awkwardly because she was scared," he said, crossing his arms, mimicking her, "but she pulled out two of those knives and threw them right into the man's throat." He pointed his fingers into his neck. "Either side of the windpipe. And it felt like the spine was broken. Killed him instantly." Jim's mouth dropped open and his eyes widened. "He just dropped. And the guy I shot was dead. And the poor third fellow just stood there shaking. He dropped the revolver and immediately starting apologizing."

"What?" Jim said. "This is the craziest Artie story I have heard for years."

"I know," Artie said, "but you haven't heard the end yet." Jim rolled his eyes and leaned forward to dunk his head in the water He swished around and picked it back up again, his hair soaked to his skull. "If you can stay above water for another minute? So, this fellow started talking and he hasn't stopped yet. His name is Tim, he has told me his life's story and his future dreams. And Cobb has adopted him."

Jim stared, the water dripping down his face and off his nose. "His name is Tim and Cobb has adopted him? And at what point has he been put in a jail cell?"

Artie leaned forward, "I thought you might find him useful so I have kept him on the train. He is traveling back to Washington with us." Jim's eyes narrowed and his mouth opened to protest…"And he can decode that ledger book you brought back. I thought he might be more believable when discussing this with Richmond than Mary would be."

Jim nodded, "he can read the ledger?" Artie nodded slowly. "We need to talk to him more. He is with Cobb in the engine?" Artie nodded again. "Well, I guess he can stay but we don't need to keep him," Jim growled. "And when I …"

They both jumped as a fist was pounded on the bathroom door hard enough to rattle the hinges. "Hey, my turn in there! Hurry your ass up or I am going to roll my stinking body on Artie's bed!"

"Well, speak of the devil," Jim sighed, wiping his sore face. "I'll be out in a minute," he hollered back at the door "Go burn your clothes and get in my bed. I'll be there soon."

"Ya, bite me," Lori growled and heavy footsteps were heard moving away.

Artie sighed, "lovely girl. I'm so glad that romp in the desert sun has brought you two closer together," he caught Jim's grin and noticed his partner rubbing his black eye. "so the black eye wasn't from the fight with John?"

Jim laughed, "let's just say she punches harder than you do."

Artie rose from the chair and slapped Jim's shoulder, "I'll go throw food at her but I can only stall her for so long. You better get dressed. Besides the doctor should be here any minute now." He slowly opened the bathroom door and peaked down the hall in both directions. "Cost is clear so…" He jumped as Sophie darted between his boots and into the bathroom. The kitten ran straight to the tub and leaped onto the edge.

"Artie," Jim said, holding a hand out to steady the tiny animal, "I don't have any clothes in here. Go grab something from my room, would ya. If it isn't occupied with crazy women." He patted a wet hand on the kitten, getting the fur samp, "Sophie, you're the only crazy female allowed on my train." The kitten meowed and licked at the water on his fingers.

Artie returned quickly with a deep burgundy robe. He hung it from a hook on the back of the door and leaned over to look at Jim's side. "Is that damned thing still stuck to you? I'd hate to yank it off…"

"Ya, I'd hate that too," Jim growled. He turned, twisting to look at the bloody cloth soaking in the soapy water. He tugged on it gently and his skinned pulled. "Oh to hell with it, here goes," he said, clenching his teeth. "Ow," he said, yanking. The cloth came loose and blood seeped into the water. "Ow," Jim said again, tossing the cloth onto the floor. "That smarts. Maybe I should have soaked it longer."

"No, its fine," Artie said, stepping away. "Water is good to clean it and besides," he said, picking up a towel, "Lori is about done eating and she smells. Bad. She needs to get in here."

"Are you going to help her too?" Jim grinned up as his partner handed him a towel.

"No," Artie said, "she isn't injured." He grinned and shook his head. "I'd help Christian though." He gave his partner a wink as he held out a hand to support him. "Lori is your trouble, not mine."

"That's not fair," Jim said, "Christian is nicer." He picked Sophie up and gently put her on the floor by the tub's claw foot. "Stay out of the way, fuzzy. I'm coming out." He reached out and grasped Artie's forearm and let himself be pulled to his feet. His head spun and he started to stumble.

"Hold still, Jim," Artie said, throwing the towel over Jim's shoulders. "Just stand still for a minute. I should have given you some water to drink while you were sitting in water. We'll put you in your room for a while, the girls will have to share…" a splash sound happened behind Jim's legs and both men turned to look at the water. "I guess someone else wanted to have a bath too!"

"Sophie," Jim said worried, "are you alright?" The kitten paddled around the tub, tiny dark eyes wide with terror. "Artie, you better save her. She could drown."

"She's fine," Artie laughed. He held his partner's slippery arm as Jim stepped over the edge of the tub and sat heavily in the chair again. "Ok, girl," he laughed, turning quickly to scoop the desperate animal out of the water. "You ok," he cooed, holding her to his vest. He patted her wet fur and she sneezed on him. "Oh, don't catch a cold now. Hold on," he said, grabbing a soft hand towel. He slowly gathered the cloth around her and held her to his face. "You ok, sweetheart? You're the only girl that really needs us, you know. We have to take special care of you." The kitten meowed and twisted inside the folds of the towel, trying to chew on his fingers. "Ouch," he cried out, "you have sharp teeth."

"Women," Jim said, as he wiped his face, "pains in the ass, weaklings…" They jumped again as the unseen fist pounded on the door.

"The doctor is here for mister injury," Lori's voice said through the door. "And I am out of food and out of patient. Move your butt and get out of the bathroom!"

Jim sighed and shook his head tiredly. "Artie, tell me we will be in Washington by morning."

Artie handed him the dark red robe, "not tomorrow but soon. I don't see any other difficulties now. Maybe I should have asked for emergency track clearance all the way East."

Jim stood on shaking legs and pulled the long robe around him, gingerly tying the cloth belt around his stomach, wincing as he moved. Artie held out a pair of soft, cotton pants but Jim shook his head no. "Enough clothes, going to bed." He took a step and swayed.

Artie reached out and grabbed his elbow, while still holding Sophie, and walked him to the door. "Lori, could you open the door please? We are all coming out." He waited as the door slowly opened and looked around the edge to see Lori in the hallway. Behind her was an older a man in a dark suit carrying a bag. Lori kept the door open to give Jim privacy as he walked slowly to his bedroom. As they entered, Lori moved quickly into the bathroom, closing the door behind her, and the doctor stepped down the hall to Jim's bedroom doorway.

"Is this the patient?" The man asked while standing in the hall. He smiled and nodded and Artie looked back at him. "I have been told what happened by that delightful young girl. She was certainly full of stories about that encounter in the desert."

Jim sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed. "Some of them might even be true." He slowly lay down as Artie grabbed his feet and moved them onto the bed. Then he gently put the towel holding Sophie on the mattress near Jim's side. The kitten peaked her nose out, the dark eyes seeing Jim, and darted out of the towel to jump against his robe. He patted her wet fur as she curled into a ball, leaning against his chest.

"She said that you two are some sort of Federal police," the doctor said, "Secret police even?" The doctor raised an eyebrow at them. "You won't kidnap me, will you, to prevent me from talking?"

Artie stepped closer to the doctor, "No, sir, not at all," he smiled, holding his hand out to shake hands with the doctor. "I'm Artemus Gordon. This," he said, pointing his thumb over his shoulder, "is your patient, James West. He was stabbed in the side fighting a criminal last evening."

"I am Doctor LaMar," the doctor said, stepping to the bed. "Stabbed last night? So it's been almost twenty-four hours." He put the bag down on the foot of the bed and dug out a square of white cloth. "Cleaning it was an excellent idea. Had the wound been covered with anything while you were in the desert?" He leaned over Jim's side and moved the robe opened. He slowly pulled it off his shoulder and looked at the wound and then leaned over to examine his back, wiping the cloth on the blisters.

"Yes," Artie said, "we carry bandages. It was dried into the wound though so we soaked it for a while and then pulled it off. It's still bleeding some." He nodded toward Jim, "and the blisters were from a fall into the camp fire."

The doctor leaned over, humming to himself as he wiped at the bleeding wound. Suddenly a loud hissing sound was heard and a tiny paw full of sharp claws lashed out at the man's wrist. "Ouch," the doctor said, stepping back, holding a hand over his arm. "A guard cat?" He smiled, chuckling at the kitten. Sophie was standing on the mattress with her back arched, hissing up at him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir," Artie said, scooping Sophie up and stepping back. The kitten twisted in his hands, yowling and biting. "Stop, Sophie, be good." He put a hand gently on her head to calm her. "I forgot she tends to guard Jim."

The doctor looked at his wrist with red scratch marks. "I may need a few bandages of my own." He shook his arm and returned to looking at Jim's wound. He muttered, "I have been assaulted by pets before but a kitten guarding a man who lives on a private train is a new one." He chuckled again.

Jim chuckled as he lay on the pillow, a slow smile creeping to his face. "Doctor," he whispered.

"Yes, young man," the doctor said, pausing.

Jim took a deep breath and whispered, "did the young lady need any medical help? I think she was injured in the face. Don't let her scare you away if she needs something done."

The doctor chuckled again, "she did seem to be an usual young lady, and not just in the clothing. And I did attempt to treat her injury, which was a split lip. She only let me look at it but I gave her a cream to apply after she is cleaner." He sighed, moving back to his bag, "I have never seen a woman be that filthy and that beautiful at the same time. She reminded me of a wild mustang."

Artie and Jim exchanged a tired look. "Yes, I guess she is," Jim said slowly. "Gorgeous but still bites and kicks. She cleans up well though."

"You should see Christian," Artie said, "I actually talked her into wearing a dress." Jim grinned, his eyes shutting tiredly.

Dr LaMar stepped back to Jim's side and shook a jar over the wound, covering the skin with a white powder. He leaned farther over to dust more onto Jim's back and shoulders. He turned to Artie, "I will leave you this bottle. Put this on the skin three times a day and cover with a clean bandage. You have more bandages?" Artie nodded. The doctor placed a clean square over the wound and then wrapped another length around Jim's waist, holding the bandage firmly in place. He laid a second larger square bandage over Jim's shoulders and pulled the robe back up. He placed a gentle hand on Jim's wrist, leaning closer to watch him for a moment. "I won't tell you to rest, young man, since you are almost asleep now." He moved back to the bag, closing it, and picked it up.

"Thank you," Jim whispered, his eyes still shut.

"You're welcome," Dr. LaMar said, moving to the hallway. Artie quickly placed Sophie on the bed again and followed the doctor out.

Jim patted Sophie's fur as she moved to her usual spot against his chest, rolling into a ball and purring contentedly. "You're my favorite girl," Jim said quietly, his eyes still shut.

The bedroom door opened slowly and Lori walked in, quietly moving to the bed. She was dressed in one of Jim's blue button-up shirts and a pair of his cotton pants. Her wet hair was wrapped in a bath towel. "Are you awake?" She asked softly.

"No," Jim said, not moving. "Why?"

"Because I'm sleeping here too and I didn't want to wake you up," she whispered, pulling back the blankets. She laid on top of the bed sheet and pulled the blanket up, lying on the pillow behind his back.

Jim twisted around and looked at the sheet tucked underneath her. "You think that bed sheet is a protective shield?" He grinned at her tiredly. "You can get under the sheet too. I'm not going to bother you. One black eye is enough for this trip."

"I'm fine," Lori said, her voice slowly with sleep. "And I wouldn't want Artie to get the wrong idea about us. So you just stay over there and I won't bother you either."

Jim turned back to the kitten, muttering, "I'm stuck in here with a crazy woman." Sophie cuddled closer, not interested in his observation, but behind his back, Lori smiled.

tbc