The snow continued to pile up outside the cabin, while Chris fought the waves of pain that washed over him since waking just after the others had finished lunch. His leg burned with a ferocity that could no longer be denied and he cried out when Nathan drained the deep puncture wounds before cleaning them with saline and re-wrapping his leg.
"It looks like the snow is stopping," Dunne said from his vantage point at the window. The others rushed toward him, leaving Vin seated in the chair next to Chris.
"It's about time," Wilmington said and watched as Nathan checked his cell phone, but there was still no service in the area.
"The storm must still be interfering," Standish offered after checking his own cell.
"I guess it's up to you and me, Josiah," Wilmington said.
"Not yet, Buck, it's still pretty bad out there. Give it another hour," Jackson ordered.
"Can Chris wait that long?" the worried rogue asked.
"I'm f…fine…don't do any…thing stupid," Larabee ground out through tightly clenched teeth.
"Chris, Josiah and I can take the snowmobiles and be in Red Lodge in a couple of hours," Wilmington told him.
"Not in this s…storm," Larabee stated and tried to sit forward, but Tanner's hands held him down.
"Take it easy, Chris," the Texan said.
"Do…don't let them go y…yet," Larabee said.
"They won't go anywhere until the snow lets up," Tanner vowed and felt Wilmington's cold stare. "As soon as it stops they'll go for help."
"Buck…please," the blond managed.
"All right, Chris, but as soon as it's clear enough we're going," Wilmington vowed. He moved to the stove and poured a cup of coffee before moving back to the window and willing the snow to stop.
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It was another two hours before the snow cleared enough for four men to shovel their way to the shed and get the Snowmobiles out. It would take two of them a couple of hours to reach Red Lodge, unless they found some other way of contacting the emergency services.
Josiah and Buck were dressed in the heavy clothing they'd brought for just such an occasion and were sitting astride the vehicles while Nathan lectured them on not doing anything stupid.
"Look, if the weather takes a change for the worse, head back here," Jackson told them.
"We will, Brother, just take care of Chris and we'll handle the rest," Sanchez said.
"Be careful…those poachers are still out there," Dunne warned and stood back as the two men started the snowmobiles and drove away. He knew they'd be taking the shortcut across the lake and knew it would cut close to forty minutes off the trip, but it was still going to take close to two hours in frigid temperatures.
"Come on, JD, let's go get warm," Jackson said and hurried into the house to find Ezra ladling the chicken soup they'd made earlier into bowls. Standish had helped with the shoveling; they all had except for Chris and Vin, the latter watching over the former while the others worked in the cold.
"How is he?" Jackson asked.
"Not good, he hasn't been resting very well," Standish answered.
"I wish…"
"You are doing everything you can, Nathan," Standish said and handed the man a steaming bowl of soup before carrying one over to the Texan. "Here, My Friend, I know you don't feel like eating, but eat anyway!"
"Yer a bossy cuss," Tanner said.
"Thank you, I learned from the best," the conman said and glanced at the man who was more than his boss…he was a friend and a brother and someone Ezra looked up to.
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Nathan kept a close watch on the injured blond, worried that the Tylenol no longer seemed to be helping keep the fever in check. Larabee's temperature soared at times, hitting the 103 mark before dropping down to 102, but never going below that. He'd removed the heavy blankets, but the man's breathing sounded labored and several times he'd cough harshly before collapsing back against the pillows in a cold sweat.
Jackson knew things were at a dangerous spot, but until they got Chris to the hospital there wasn't much he could do. He pulled out his cell phone and cursed when there was still no service. He glanced at his watch and knew it would be at least another hour before Buck and Josiah reached Red Lodge.
"Nathan, someone's comin'," Tanner said and moved gingerly toward the door with the others moving to join him. He pulled open the door and stepped out into the cold afternoon sunlight.
"I don't hear anything, Vin," Dunne said.
"It sounds like a helicopter," the Texan said, relief evident in his voice as he looked toward the frozen lake and spotted the dark spec that was growing increasingly closer.
"Is that the Medivac chopper?" Standish asked hopefully.
"I sure as hell hope so," Jackson said and turned to look back at the injured blond.
"Could Buck and Josiah have made it to Red Lodge already?" Dunne asked.
"Not unless they flew," Tanner answered as the chopper hovered above the ground, whipping up the snow with its blades.
"Attention-the cabin-can you hear me?"
"Stay put, Vin," Jackson said and grabbed his jacket. He hurried toward the helicopter and waved his arms frantically as a man was lowered toward the ground before the chopper lifted into the air, but stayed within a short distance.
"Are you Jackson?" the man asked.
"Yes, did Buck and Josiah send you?"
"No, actually we got a call from a man named Kojay. He told us there was an injured man in need of urgent medical attention," the man said as a basket style stretcher was lowered along with several other pieces of equipment.
"Thank God," Jackson said and grabbed one side of the stretcher as they trudged through the snow and into the cabin.
"I'm Tyler…Kojay said you're a fully trained paramedic?" the man asked.
"Yes, I am," Jackson said as the man knelt in front of the couch. He pulled off his gloves and began attaching the mobile equipment while Nathan ran through the treatment he'd been given so far.
"Is any one else hurt?"
"No…well, Vin's back was injured before we got here, and I know he carried Chris for a spell so I'd rather he go back with you and get checked out," Jackson said and hoped the Texan wouldn't argue.
"His temperature's pretty high…how long ago did you give him the Tylenol?" Tyler asked.
"Two hours," Jackson answered.
Chris heard the unfamiliar voice and fought to open his eyes. His chest and throat hurt and he coughed harshly before gasping as the pain shot through his leg.
"Easy, Chris, help's here and we're going to get you out of here," Jackson said.
"Was he sick before this happened?"
"No, the coughing started during the night," Jackson answered and hoped he was wrong about the possibility of pneumonia setting in.
"Any allergies?" Tyler asked.
"Hornet stings," Jackson answered as the man secured the leads and stood up.
"All right, you've done about all that can be done. Let's get him into the Stokes and out of here. Chris, I've just given you some Morphine so just stay still and we'll get you out of here."
"O…okay," Larabee said and closed his eyes. He soon felt hands touching him and cried out when he was moved from the couch to the Stokes. He gripped the edges as they strapped him in and then covered him with warm blankets.
"Vin, grab your jacket, but don't try to help," Jackson ordered and took an end while, Standish, Dunne, and Tyler took the others. They carried Larabee out of the cabin and soon had the basket carrier hooked up and watched as it was raised up and into the helicopter.
"Who's Vin?" Tyler asked.
"He is," Jackson pointed to the Texan.
"All right…let's get you on board," Tyler said.
Nathan and the others watched as Vin, and then Tyler was lifted into the chopper and it took off toward Billings. Saint Vincents would be ready for the injured man and he silently prayed the injured leg had not festered too badly. He sighed heavily and followed the others back into the cabin just as his cell phone beeped and he looked at the screen to see full service had been restored.
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Buck silently cursed as the snow began to fall, small flakes at first, but it grew thicker as the wind picked up and ice pellets formed. He snuggled deeper into his jacket, doing his best to protect exposed skin from the needle like stings. He could barely hear Josiah's snowmobile, but he knew the man was right behind him as they pulled into the gas station and turned off their engines. It had taken longer than expected to make it, but now that they were here he could only hope that the Medivac chopper would be able to fly before the weather turned even more dangerous.
He hurried to the door, but found it locked and began to pound on it in hopes that the Newmans actually lived at the garage. He used his gloved right hand to wipe at the ice that crusted the window, but it did no good as he leaned closer and his warm breath steamed it up even more.
"Buck, I'm going around back!" Sanchez shouted.
"I'll check the windows!" Wilmington said, startled when the door opened and Hank Newman motioned them both inside.
"What the hell brought you two out in this storm?" Newman bristled and shoved the door closed behind the newcomers.
"We need to call for help," Wilmington said as he pulled off his scarf and hat.
"The phones are on the frits," Newman said and led the way toward a door that bordered on his home. "We haven't been able to get through to anyone since this nor'easter blew in."
"Hank, who is it?"
"That fella that was here the other day," Hank answered.
"Well bring them into the kitchen," Marge called.
"You heard her, let's go," Newman said.
"Look, Hank, we need to get word to emergency services. Chris was hurt and he needs a hospital," Sanchez explained.
"You can try the phone," Hank told him and watched as Wilmington lifted the receiver and dialed the number for emergency services. He breathed a sigh of relief when the call went through and quickly explained what was happening. "Are you sure?"
"What's wrong, Buck?" Sanchez asked and waited until his friend hung up the phone.
"Well I'll be damned," Wilmington said.
"What?" Sanchez repeated.
"Seems Kojay called for help. Medivac picked up Chris and Vin about forty minutes ago," Wilmington answered.
"Vin?"
"Probably because his back's bothering him…bet he didn't argue because it got one of them on the chopper with Chris," Wilmington said and ran his fingers through his hair. He stared down at his snow-covered boots and realized the snow was melting onto the carpet. "Ah, hell, I'm sorry, Marge."
"About what?" the woman asked as Wilmington and Sanchez moved back toward the garage area.
"Tracking snow on your carpet," Sanchez answered for the ladies' man.
"Are you kidding? Hank's a mechanic and he's always tracking grease or dirt through here…course I make damn sure he cleans it up," Marge said with a grin. "Take off your coat and boots and come into the kitchen. We were just fixing to have a late lunch and there's plenty of soup and coffee. Might even be a shot of something to warm your insides if Hank didn't drink it all."
"Wouldn't want to put you out, Ma'am," Sanchez said.
"There's plenty…now come on," Marge said.
"Damn, I forgot you haven't met. Marge and Hank Newman this is Josiah Sanchez," Wilmington said by way of introductions as they made it to the cozy kitchen at the back of the home.
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Kojay had gone to the hospital when the Medivac chopper had been given the order to go to the mountains and waited in the doctor's lounge for their arrival. Dr. Harrison Woodridge was a new resident working the ER, and this was only his third rotation so Kojay had not met the man face to face yet. Woodridge told everyone he was the best, but Kojay had no idea whether the man was as good as he told everyone he was.
"This lounge is for medical staff only. There's a waiting room for visitors at the end of the hall," a man snapped as he entered.
"I am Kojay…"
"I don't give a damn who you are..."
"I believe you must be the new resident," Kojay said, amused by the man's brass attitude and smiled at the nurse who entered the room.
"Excuse me…sorry, Dr. Woodridge, I didn't know you were here," Sandy said and turned to Kojay. "The Medivac chopper has arrived."
"Thank you, Sandy, I will be right there."
"Just who in the hell do you think you are? This is my ER…"
"I do not believe the ER belongs to anyone, Dr. Woodridge. As I said I am Kojay and I have been practicing medicine for longer than you have been alive," Kojay said and exited the room with the resident close behind him.
"I don't care about tribal medicine…"
"Dr. Woodridge, Kojay is fully licensed to practice medicine and has been affiliated with this hospital for over ten years. He knows the two men who are being brought in and has treated them on several occasions. You really should be glad he is available for them today," Sandy said and knew the man was angry when he turned and glared at her.
"Don't ever tell me what to do, Nurse! I'll have you brought up before the board," Woodridge vowed.
"You would do well to show respect for the nursing staff for they are the ones who treat the patients before and after you diagnose them, Doctor," Kojay said and hurried out of the main doors, relieved that he'd grabbed his jacket as the wind whipped the snow off the ground. The chopper landed on the roof helipad and he hurried toward it as the gurney was lifted from inside and two orderlies grabbed hold and helped the paramedic carry it toward the hospital where a gurney waited just inside the doors. He listened as the medic relayed pertinent information and the treatment Larabee had received so far.
"His temperature is elevated and there are signs of infection around the puncture wounds," the medic explained before turning the injured man over to Saint Vincent's medical staff.
"Trauma One is ready for him, Kojay," Sandy said as Larabee was wheeled toward the main desk with Dr. Woodridge glaring at the back of the older man's head.
Vin followed the others inside and moved to the main desk even as Kojay turned toward the nurse.
"Sandy, see that Vin changes into a gown and resting until I can see him," Kojay ordered.
"Yes, Kojay."
"Now, see here! I don't give a damn who you are, but today this is my ER…"
"Yer a pain in the ass," Tanner interrupted and heard Sandy muffle her laughter as he looked at the obnoxious man wearing the white lab coat.
"Who the hell do you think…"
"Dr. Woodridge, the patient in treatment room one wants to see you," Sandy said and was relieved when the man strode away. "Come on, Vin, let's get you settled."
"Who the hell is he?" Tanner asked.
"He's new. This is his third rotation, but if the complaints from both patients and staff keep coming in. I hope the board will decide not to keep him on," Sandy explained and motioned for the Texan to follow her into a closed off cubical. "Take off everything from the waist up and put on the gown."
"Damn, I was hoping Kojay would forget about my back," Tanner said.
"Not when you're hunched over like that," Sandy observed. "I'll be back in a few minutes to get a set of vitals on you."
"I'm fine," the Texan said, but the nurse had already left him alone. He sat down on the bed and rubbed at his lower back as the pain he'd been trying to ignore came back with a vengeance. He'd managed to keep it from Nathan and the others, but the simple task of supporting Larabee, even for those few feet in the snow, had brought back the agony caused by the run in with Pritchard. He managed to get out of his shirt and pulled on the gown, but couldn't lift his arms to tie up the strings.
TBC