Chapter 3

That night was rough, Diego woke up screaming several times. They calmed him down, but found out that he wouldn't let go of their hands until he went back to sleep. The doctor grew very concerned when Diego's fever reached a dangerously high temperature.

"I pray his fever breaks soon, he will be lucky to survive through the night with a fever this high." A pained expression covered Hernandez's tired face.

They prayed for Diego all night long, and each of them took turns sitting by his sick-bed keeping watch over him.

"Victoria." Diego muttered in his troubled sleep.

Victoria's eyes welled up with tears. "I'm here Diego." She reassured him as calmly as she could.

"I love you Victoria." He said and reached for her hand. Diego was still sleeping and his fever was still high.

"I love you too Diego." She replied through her tears.

The Doctor stood in the doorway watching Victoria closely, " his fever is causing him to have night mares." Hernandez said as he entered the sick room with Alejandro behind him.

Alejandro cleared his throat to get the doctors attention. Hernandez turned around and looked at him with concern.

"I want to move him to the hacienda, so he can be more comfortable." Alejandro spoke up with a shaky tone.

"We need to wait until his fever has gone down before moving him to the hacienda. If we move him too soon, his fever might spike, and then his chances of survival are lessened." The doctor said carefully as he thought about what they should do next. Diego's condition was still shaky, and the short trip home would only make his recovery longer if he survived.

Victoria listened to Alejandro and Hernandez closely. She wanted Diego to be comfortable, but didn't want to risk losing him. "I agree with both of you, but is risking his life worth it?" She questioned them.

Alejandro looked lost in thought. "He can stay here until his fever is down, but then we move him to the hacienda." He spoke quietly so he wouldn't disturb Diego.

Hernandez gently patted Alejandro on the back, "He has a better chance of surviving if he is better rested. We can, however, prepare ahead of time. I have a list of supplies we will need to safely move him to the hacienda." Hernandez looked worried, and pulled a short list out of his medical bag.

"What can I do to help?" Alejandro said quietly, and glanced at Diego with more concern.

"I need a litter made so we can carry him safely without injuring him more than he is already." Hernandez looked at Alejandro carefully.

"I can have some of my ranch hands make one today. Do you need anything else?" Alejandro asked with worry.

"We will need clean sheets and blankets to wrap him around him, so he stays warm and protected from dust." The doctor said as he looked at Victoria.

"I have some in the hallway closet we can use." She replied without hesitation.

"While you are working on this list, I will check our patients vitals and change his bandages." Hernandez pulled his supplies out and laid them down on a white cloth on the end of the bed.

"Please be careful." Hernandez called down to Alejandro as he rushed down the stairs and out the door. Alejandro didn't respond, he jumped up on his horse and rushed home.

Victoria left the room slowly, and gathered the sheets and blankets while the doctor cared for Diego.

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Alejandro returned with Felipe several hours later. The worried teen jumped down from his horse and rushed inside. Alejandro followed behind him after he parked the wagon behind the Tavern. Victoria's Tavern had been closed since yesterday, and she wasn't going to reopen until Diego was safely resting at home.

Alejandro found Felipe standing next to Diego's bed with silent tears running down his cheeks. "He'll be alright." He hoped his words would help the teen believe his father like figure would make a complete recovery.

Felipe sat down slowly and looked sadly at his hero laying so still.

Hernandez was putting his supplies away when Victoria entered the room. "Can I have a word with you please?" She asked from the doorway. Her tone was shaky and her face was covered with a worried expression.

Hernandez quietly left the room. Alejandro and Felipe sat next to Diego's bed keeping watch for any changes in Diego's condition.