Vin pulled Peso to a stop in front of the house and waited for Jackson to help him with Larabee. The gunslinger was having trouble keeping his head up and was murmuring incoherently as Tanner handed the reins to the gambler.
"Mrs. Wells said to bring him inside her abode," Standish said, rain dripping from the brim of his hat.
"Hand him down to me, Vin!" Jackson shouted as thunder rattled the house.
Tanner placed his mouth next to Larabee's ear and spoke softly. "Chris, I'm gonna hand ya down ta Nathan so's he can help ya inside!"
Larabee used every ounce of strength he had to force his head up, He looked at the man standing beside the horse and felt as if he was looking down from a mountain instead of a horse. He took a deep breath, the cold, wet air burning into his lungs as he tried to stay conscious.
"I...I can ddddooo it," he stammered.
"Yeah, I don't doubt it, Pard, but right now yer needin' our help. Think ya can hold on fer a little longer?" Tanner asked, knowing it would be easier if he dismounted first.
"Ttttry...ccccoollllddd."
"We'll get ya warmed up real soon, Chris," Jackson said as he held the lean man steady while the tracker dismounted. He waited until Vin was ready and shouted over the howling winds.
"Alright now, Chris, can you ease your leg over the side? That's it," the healer said as Tanner made a grab for the ill man.
"We gotcha, Chris," the sharpshooter said, nodding as Standish led the horses towards the barn. He'd help Nathan get Chris inside and then go help the gambler with the animals.
"...okay..." the blond whispered, his body trembling as they made their way into the house.
"Bring him in here!" Nettie called from Casey's room.
"N...no...couch..." Larabee mumbled and tried to force the issue.
"Mr. Larabee, you're not sleeping on the couch when there's a perfectly good bed available!" Nettie told him as she walked out of the bedroom.
"D...don't w...want to put you o...or Casey o...out," he stammered.
"Casey and me have often shared rooms. Now I don't feel up to arguin' so just come along!" the feisty woman ordered. "Besides, I'm a lot stronger than you right now."
Larabee couldn't help but smile at the strong lady standing in front of him with her hands on her hips.
"S...sound just like, Abby," he mumbled unintelligibly as his legs threatened to give out.
"Bring him in here before he falls over," Nettie led them into the room and watched as they settled the gunslinger onto a chair.
"Chris," Jackson said and watched as the wet blond head slowly lifted from the equally soaked chest. "We're gonna get you out of these wet clothes and into bed," he explained as he reached for the black duster covering the shivering body.
"Nnnno, N...Nathan," the gunman said pushing the dark hand away.
"Chris, you're soaked and you're already sick. We need to get you dry and in bed."
Nettie came forward and placed her hand on Larabee's shoulder, smiling as she realized what the problem was.
"Mr. Larabee, I'm gonna make some honey tea for you," she said and turned to the former slave. "Mr. Jackson, is there anything else you need?"
"Yes, Ma'am, if you've got some towels..."
"I have plenty," she said and looked at the three waterlogged men. "For all of you."
Vin watched the woman leave and couldn't help but smile. "Ain't she somethin'?" he asked no one in particular.
"Y...yeah, she is," the blond rasped, his throat hurting with each breath he took.
"Nathan, ya need me ta help?"
"Nah, I can handle him. Go on and help Ezra with the horses," Jackson said, again reaching for the duster.
"I can do it, Na...than," Larabee said, his teeth still chattering uncontrollably.
"Sure ya can. Alright, go ahead and when ya fall on yer face I'll be sure ta git Miss Nettie and Casey to help git ya in bed!"
Larabee glared at the healer, but quickly realized he was right as the small amount of energy he had disappeared and he swayed on the chair.
"Dammit!" the blond swore.
"Ya ready ta let me help?" Jackson asked, concerned about the grey caste of Larabee's skin.
"N...not much choice," the blond answered as the healer helped him out of his wet clothing.
A soft knock sounded on the closed bedroom door and Jackson hurried to answer it. He smiled at the young woman standing there, several towels held out in front of her.
"Aunt Nettie said to bring you these."
"Thank you, Casey," he said, reaching for the warmed towels.
"Aunt Nettie says ta tell you she's got the tea brewing for Mr. Larabee."
"Thank you. Tell her we really appreciate this."
"I will. Is Mr. Larabee okay?"
"He will be," Jackson assured her before closing the door and turning back to his patient. "Dammit, Chris, why've ya gotta be so damned stubborn all the time?" he asked as he moved to help the staggering blond.
"H...head h...hurts...nnneed to l...lie d...down," the blond rasped.
"Yeah, I know and I'm gonna get ya into bed, but we need to get rid of the wet clothes first. Now, just hang on to me and we'll finish gettin' these damn pants off." Jackson tugged at the top of the tight fitting material and grumbled when he had to fight to pull them over the lean hips.
"Wonder ya got any circulation ta yer legs at all!" the healer hissed when the wet material finally slid down the legs. He finished removing the clothes and helped Larabee to the bed. Nettie Wells had already turned the blanket and sheets down and Larabee's nude form was soon stretched out on the narrow bunk.
"T...thanks," the gunslinger mumbled as Jackson eased the blankets up, covering him to his neck.
"You're welcome, Chris," Jackson said and saw the lids drop over the glazed green eyes. "Ya need ta stay awake a little longer, Chris," the healer insisted.
"T...tired, NNNate...cccold."
"I know ya are, but that's why I need ya awake. Miss Nettie's makin' ya some honey tea and it'll help your throat and warm ya up. Come on now open your eyes for just a little longer."
"...try..." the blond rasped as another knock sounded.
"Come in!" Jackson called and smiled at the older woman who entered the room, a cup of tea in her hand.
"How is he?" she asked as she passed the healer the sweet smelling liquid.
"...okay...just..."
"Mr. Larabee, I doubt that you're okay, but I'm glad you can still make the effort to ease our minds. Mr. Jackson, I've got some rocks warmin' on the back of the stove. They should be ready now. I'll help Mr. Larabee drink while you get them."
"Thank ya, Ma'am," the healer said and hurried to grab one of the towels.
Nettie Wells had nursed her share of sick people and one look at Chris Larabee told her he was ailing more than he let on. His body trembled uncontrollably beneath the blankets and she smiled when she reached for an extra pillow. She helped him sit forward a little and placed it under his head before reaching for the cup of tea.
"All right, Mr. Larabee, let's see about getting you to drink this and if you think you can hold this cup I want you to take a look at your hands. See how bad they're shaking right now? Worse than a feather caught in a hurricane."
Chris knew the older woman was right and was forced to acknowledge that he needed help for such a mundane thing as drinking from a cup. He sipped the tea, and soon felt the warmth spreading throughout him. He heard Jackson returning and felt the blanket at the foot of the bed being lifted. The warmed rock added to the heat and as the cold seeped from his body, weariness took over and he gave in to the need for sleep.
"How much did he drink?" Jackson asked.
"Got nearly half a cup in him. He's plum worn out. I'm thinking you all could use some rest," Nettie explained.
"You're probably right, Ma'am, but right now…"
"Not much you can do for him right now, Mr. Jackson. Makes sense that you let me sit with him while you get some sleep," the woman said, folding her arms across her chest.
"But…"
"You boys are all so stubborn, but my late husband could attest to my being about as stubborn as a Missouri mule. Called me that more'n once. Now I'm sure Casey's got the stew warmed up and since I hate seein' food go to waste I'm tellin' you to get on out to the kitchen and eat up. There's plenty for the lot of you!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Wells. I'll see that Vin and Ezra eat and get some sleep."
"See that you do the same," Nettie ordered with a warm smile.
Nathan smiled when the woman turned her attention on the sick man. Somehow he knew Nettie Wells would have no problem making Chris Larabee see things her way. The feisty widow may be small, but there was none so tall in his eyes as she was right now. He turned away and walked out the door just as Vin and Ezra returned. Both men looked like drowned rats and Casey Wells handed them both a towel.
"Thanks, Casey," Tanner said.
"Thank you, Miss Wells," Standish said, removing his hat and placing it on the hook by the door.
"You boys need to get out of those wet clothes," Nettie said from the doorway. "My husband was a fairly big man and I have some of his thing in a trunk in my room. Mr. Larabee is sleeping and I believe you boys need to do the same thing. Casey, make sure the stew is ready while I get the clothes."
"Don't mean ta put ya ta any trouble, Mrs. Nettie," Vin said.
"Nonsense. Ain't no trouble at all, but ya might want to take off that coat and give me a hand with the trunk!" the older woman ordered.
"Yes, Ma'am," the Texan said and followed her into the bedroom.
"Come on, Cowboy, ya need ta drink this," Vin coaxed the shivering man and held the cup to his lips. It was hard getting the blond to eat or drink and the rasping wheeze had them all worried. Ezra would be leaving as soon as the storm stopped in order to relieve Josiah and JD and let them bring back the supplies the healer needed.
"N…no," Larabee groaned and turned away from the herbal brew.
"Problems, Mr. Tanner?" Nettie Wells asked.
"Heard tell of a cantankerous mule headed…"
"Not…" the blond tried, but was overcome with pain as a series of wet harsh coughs left him breathless and weak.
"Let me see if I can get him to take it, Mr. Tanner," Wells suggested and sat in the chair the younger man vacated. "Mr. Larabee, this will help."
Chris fought to open his eyes and tried to focus on the vague image of a woman seated beside the bed. Lifting his right arm he reached out to touch her cheek as a name formed on his lips.
"A…Abby."
"Chris, it ain't Abby," Tanner explained when his friend's fever glazed eyes turned in his direction.
"Abby?"
"If it makes him drink this then I can pretend to be Abby," Nettie whispered and held the cup in front of the sick man. "Drink this, Mr. Larabee."
"Chris, Abby, c…call me C…Chris," Larabee stammered and pulled the blanket closer around his body.
"Chris, drink this," Nettie ordered and was relieved when the gunman sipped the warm liquid. "That's it. Come on…all of it."
"T…throat hurts," Larabee wheezed and suddenly looked around the room through a haze of pain and weakness. "Burke…bas…bastard."
"Sorry, ma'am," Tanner apologized for his friend knowing Larabee would be angry with himself for using the word in front of this woman.
"Ain't nothing to be sorry for, Mr. Tanner. Can't blame a man for what he says when the fever's got hold of him."
"Burke…Abby…hide Abby. He'll kill you." Chris twisted beneath the sheets as images flashed through his mind. His chest heaved as he tried to draw in enough air to satisfy his oxygen-starved lungs, his body burned with fever and tiny beads of sweat formed on his brow.
"Who is Abby?"
"Long story, Miss Nettie, she saved Chris' life when a man named Burke tried ta hang 'im."
"Is that where you boys were coming from?"
"Yes, Ma'am," the Texan said and watched as the older woman coaxed the sick man into taking several more sips of the drink.
"So why did Burke want to hang Mr. Larabee."
"Ain't fer sure on that. I know Burke and his deputies had this thing goin' where they robbed people and then found someone ta take the blame. Chris was ridin' purty close ta their town and got caught in it. He's hurtin' purty bad when we got there. Woman named Abby saved his life, but after she died he didn't wanna stay there any more."
"Abby…hide…s…stay s…safe…" Larabee whispered, shivering under the blankets in spite of the fine sheen of perspiration that covered his body.
"I'm fine, Chris, now you just stop worryin' about me and go to sleep. I'm safe and so are you."
"Burke's dead, Chris," Tanner tried as he moved closer to the bed.
Chris' eyes narrowed as he caught sight of the man standing near Abby and he blinked rapidly in an effort to clear the blurry images. He shifted and tried to sit up as his fever baked mind told him Abigail Newman was in danger.
"D…don't tou…touch her…bas…bastard!" Larabee cursed and continued to struggle even as aged hands tried to hold him down.
"Chris, that's Vin Tanner…you know him."
"No! God no…don't touch her…don't h…hurt her…"
"I'm gonna get Nathan. Ya be okay with him fer a minute…"
"No need, Vin, I'm right here. What happened?" Jackson asked.
"I don't think he knows where he is," Nettie answered. "Chris, look at me."
"So ccc…cold, Abby…Bastard's hurt you?"
"No, they didn't. I'm fine," Nettie said and easily kept the weak man on the bed. "Burke's dead, Chris and your friends are here. They are gonna help you feel better."
"F…friends?" Larabee asked, eyes glazed and unfocused as he looked around the room. His gaze settled on the man standing beside his guardian angel and he smiled in spite of the pain. "V…Vin?"
"That's right, Cowboy," Tanner said and knelt beside the bed. Even from this distance he could feel the heat emanating from the blond and prayed they could get it down. "Nate's here too and Ezra…Buck just got here. He saw the horses while out on patrol and figured somethin' was up…"
"Tell Nate f…feel like s…shit," Larabee rasped and began to cough. He groaned as pain cut through his throat and burned into his lungs. He felt strong arms lift him forward and tried to speak, but there was no strength left as he felt darkness reach for him and gave into it.
"All right, Vin, lean him back on the pillows," Jackson ordered. He listened to the sick man's lungs and knew they had to get the liquid off his lungs before he drowned in it.
TBC