Heyes would swear he had never felt more relieved than when they rode into the small town of Copper Creek. He had been keeping a close eye on the man riding beside him uncertain as to how much longer he would stay on his horse.
Stopping in front of the only hotel in town Heyes dismounted, wrapping the reins around the hitching rail before turning to look at his friend who remained slouched in the saddle, his eyes half closed. Giving his horse a little push so that he could walk between the two animals, he tipped his hat back on his head before putting his hands on his hips and gazing quizzically up at his partner.
"You plannin' on gettin' off that horse any time soon?" he asked.
The Kid glanced down and Heyes could see the complete exhaustion evident on his friend.
"Just waitin' to make sure I ain't gonna have to get back on cos I don't think I could," he admitted.
"C'mon, we'll get a room and then we'll find the town's doctor."
The Kid slid out of the saddle standing with his back to his partner as he tried to summon the ambition to move.
"Whiskey first," he said hoarsely, finally turning and tossing his reins around the hitching rail as well.
"I swear you are the most stubborn man I have ever known," Heyes huffed, shaking his head in frustration. "Fine the saloon for one drink but then the doc…and no arguments," he added, sternly pointing a finger at the Kids' chest to emphasize his point.
The Kid smiled slightly at his partners' familiar mother hen routine, but knowing he was right nodded his head once in agreement.
Only the mercantile separated the saloon from the hotel so they left their horses where they were and walked slowly, Heyes hearing the Kid labour for breath as they reached the saloon. They stood for a few moments outside the building, Heyes waiting somewhat patiently until his partner indicated that he was able to continue.
They entered, and out of habit both men paused just inside the door scanning the room for trouble, relaxing when they saw no sign of any. As they made their way through the crowd to the bar, Heyes looked longingly at the poker tables before turning his attention to the approaching bartender.
"Two whiskeys," he said leaning his arms on the bar.
"That'll be four bits."
Heyes sighed, but really couldn't blame the man since they were covered in trail dust. He dug the coins out of his pocket and slapped them on the bartop.
As the bartender poured he eyed the Kid who swayed as he reached unsteadily for the glass.
"Now look here mister, your friend looks like he's already had more than enough to drink and I don't abide no trouble in my saloon."
"What're ya talkin' about, that's his first drink," he said as he shot a quick look at his partner seeing him lean crookedly against the bar blinking and shaking his head as if to clear it.
"But he has been feelin' a mite poorly," Heyes added frowning worriedly as he grabbed his friends' elbow.
"Hey you all right?" he asked ducking his head so he could peer more closely at him, the Kid acting like he hadn't even heard him.
"Where's your doctor's office?" he asked glancing at the bartender again.
"Two doors down other side of the street," he answered jerking his head in the direction they needed to go.
Heyes tossed back his whiskey in one gulp, not letting go of his partners' arm. Setting the glass back on the bar, he tugged at the Kid.
"Let's go Thaddeus."
The Kid turned his head toward Heyes, blinking fuzzily at him.
"Wha…?"
"C'mon, time to go see the doc."
With Heyes firmly pulling him along, they made their way out of the saloon and as Heyes looked across the street he spotted the doctor's office …right beside the jail.
'Of course,' Heyes thought, thankful that at least he didn't recognize the sheriff's name displayed on the sign. He started to steer his friend toward the doctors', but the Kid suddenly stopped, looking around in seeming confusion. Heyes saw movement out of the corner of his eye, groaning when he saw the sheriff and his deputy coming out of their office.
'Great,' he said silently as he turned looking into his cousin's unfocused eyes as he grabbed both shoulders.
"Kid, we're in the middle of the street," he hissed, giving him a little shake. "Now c'mon, the doc's is right there and the sheriff is watchin' us."
He turned his head in the direction Heyes was pointing but things began to spin, black spots appearing as his vision began to fade.
Heyes felt him starting to go and quickly wrapped his arms around his shoulders as he collapsed, easing him gently to the ground, the sheriff and his deputy came running to see what the problem was.
"He needin' to sleep it off?"
"He ain't drunk sheriff he's sick. We was goin' to the docs," he replied as he slapped the Kids' cheek, getting no response.
"Well let's get him there then, he can't stay in the middle of the street."
Between the three of them they got him safely to the doctor who had been alerted to what was going on and was waiting with the door open, steering them to a room where he could examine him. Once they had deposited the unconscious man on the bed the sheriff turned to the doctor.
"We gotta get back to work Will, but you know where we are if you need us."
"Thanks Joe," he said not looking up from the man lying on the cot, turning his face so he could see his features more closely.
"I don't believe it," he mumbled softly.
"You say somethin' doc?" Heyes asked as he set his hat on the nearby table.
"Oh sorry, no…just talking to myself."
The doctor spent several minutes carefully checking the sick man over before straightening up.
"It's definitely pneumonia, but we've got to get this fever down, it's dangerously high."
As the two of them worked together to get the clothes stripped from the Kid, Heyes was shocked at the heat emanating from his friend.
"I knew he was sick, but bein' the stubborn cuss he is, kept sayin' he was fine. I had no idea he was this bad off," he said running his hands through his hair.
"It always amazes me that people, particularly men, are so reticent about seeing a doctor, when they could often avoid becoming this ill."
"Well doc we're drifters and sometimes real far from any towns or doctors," he paused before adding: "He's gonna be all right isn't he?"
"I'll certainly do my best Mr…" he said looking questioningly at Heyes.
"Smith, Joshua Smith, and your patient there is Thaddeus Jones…and call me Joshua."
"And I'm Doctor Sims…William Sims, everyone calls me Will."
The man turned his attention back to the Kid, but he had looked at Heyes in a way that had immediately put him on edge. He figured the doc to be about the same age as they were but was sure he had never seen the man before.
Heyes stayed at his friends' side, refusing to leave when the doc suggested that he should get cleaned up and try to get some rest. There was something about this man that definitely made him uneasy, so much so that he wasn't about to leave the Kid alone with him.
The doctor had managed to get the better part of a full cup of willowbark tea into the prone man. Then he and Heyes took turns sitting beside the cot wiping the Kid's face, neck and chest with cool cloths. For the better part of an hour they tried to bring the fever down, the doctor finally sighing in frustration before getting to his feet and leaving the room. He returned within minutes dragging a tub into the room which he then proceeded to fill just over half full with cold water, Heyes watching and wondering what the hell he was up to.
The Kid started mumbling incoherently as he began to get restless. Heyes continued to put cool cloths on his forehead but when the restlessness became more violent he had his hands full trying to keep him on the small cot. The Kids' head was rolling back and forth, his mumbling becoming clearer and Heyes could now clearly hear the words "no…can't shoot you…why…please Heyes don't…Heyes stop! "
Heyes clenched his eyes closed feeling his stomach drop because with the doctor almost directly behind him he knew there was no way he hadn't heard his partner's words. He sighed when he heard him leave the room, sure that he was heading for the sheriff, but before he could think of what to do he returned to pour some hot water in the tub. He took a deep breath.
"Whatcha got in mind doc?"
"Call me Will…Joshua. We're going to put him in that bath…we have to lower his fever quickly."
He looked at Heyes seriously.
"It needs to be done, but it won't be a very pleasant experience for him and he'll fight it, so you need to prepare yourself."
Heyes frowned thoughtfully at him for a moment. He was already damp with sweat from holding the Kid down and although he wasn't exactly sure about this, he was willing to try anything at this point.
"All right," he said softly.
When they gently lowered him into the water, the Kid stiffened, his eyes flying open as he cried out beginning to struggle against the two men holding him. As the water slowly cooled him, he began to settle down. When his teeth began to chatter a few minutes later, Will signaled that it was time to take him out.
Once dry he was placed back in bed and covered, his teeth still chattering. Heyes looked across the bed at the doctor who was staring at him.
"He's very important to you isn't he?"
"He's all the family I got left," he answered wearily, looking back down at his best friend, reaching out to touch his cheek fondly relieved to find it still cool.
"I'll leave the tub in here…there's a chance we might have to do that again."
Heyes hung his head, swallowing as he closed his eyes still hearing the Kid's heart wrenching cries when they had lowered him into the water.
"God, I hope not," he whispered running a hand across his face.
He didn't see the doctor watching him, not opening his eyes until he was startled by a touch on his shoulder.
"He'll be all right while we have something to eat. My housekeeper left a pot of stew and fresh cornbread. It would be a shame for it to go to waste…she's an excellent cook."
Heyes eyed him, hesitating as he looked down at his partner once more.
"He'll rest comfortably for now. Let's eat while we have the chance."
Heyes finally nodded, following the man into the kitchen helping to carry the food to the table before they sat. Glancing up at the clock in the corner he was shocked to see that it was almost four in the morning. They ate in silence, Heyes finishing his meal quickly…he hadn't realized how hungry he was. He leaned tiredly back in the chair, his hands wrapped around his coffee cup as he wondered about the man sitting across from him.
"I appreciate all you're doin' doc…"
"It's Will."
"Will…I'd best get back to him. Thanks for supper, guess I was hungry after all."
He stood after setting his cup down, leaving the doctor at the table thinking about the two men in the other room, smiling at a distant memory. He was jerked back to the present when he heard Joshua calling for him rather urgently.