HCTB Chapter 14… Doctor Allyn Wright

When Aaron and Corky got just outside of Seattle, they separated. Corky went to find Big Swede and let him know what was going on with Joshua. He also needed fresh horses.

Aaron rode into town to get Allyn.

"Aaron what brings you here at this hour? Is someone sick?" she asked pulling her robe tighter around her waist.

"I'm sorry about the time Dr. Wright, but Joshua Bolts been shot," Aaron said "your needed at the old Bolt cabin… it's bad," he added.

"Let me get changed and gather supplies" Allyn said without hesitation.

"I need to let the Brides know that Candy is safe. She and Jason are with him now," Aaron said.

"Aaron, where was he shot?" Allyn asked.

"The chest," he said.

Allyn took a deep breath.

"Aaron," Lottie said rushing up. "I heard you ride in, is Candy alright?" she asked looking from him to Dr. Wright.

"No, Candy's fine, she's with the Bolts. Joshua was shot, she found him at the old cabin."

"Oh lord no," she said putting her hand to her mouth. "Is it bad?" she asked.

"Yes, it's bad," he said.

Lottie's eyes grew wide, "Oh god, Aaron, we found out Missy lied about Josh assaulting her."

"What?" Aaron whispered.

"Well it's a long story," Lottie said, "right now we need to focus on Joshua."

"I have to let the ladies know Candy's okay, but I'm not going to say anything about the shooting," he said. "I don't want to scare anyone."

Lottie rushed back to the saloon and started putting a few things together for Allyn to take.

Aaron walked quickly to the Brides dorm and knocked on the door.

"Where's Candy?" Biddie asked as she opened the door. "I've been so worried," she said looking for her past Aaron.

"Now just relax Biddie," he said. "Candy's fine, but there's been an accident and she insisted on staying to help out."

"An accident…what kind of an accident?" she shrieked

"It's nothing for you to worry about, I just need you to let the others know that Candy is just fine, and she'll be back as soon as she can." He said.

"But Aaron, what…" she started but he cut her off

"I can't explain right now, I need to go," he said "Just…let the ladies know that Candy is fine."

Biddie wanted to tell him about Missy's lie, but he rushed away too quickly.

Aaron got back to the doctor's office.

Allyn had changed and was getting supplies gathered. Her black bag was open on her counter. "Aaron was Joshua awake while you were there?" she asked as she went through her cabinet.

"Not while I was there, but he had a bandage wrapped around his head. Candy said there was a gash, and the side of his face was bruised, like he'd been hit." Aaron said. "But she said that he was talking a little earlier."

Allyn grabbed her bottle of chloroform and a funnel, laudanum and morphine, carbolic solution and surgical supplies. She wanted to be prepared since Joshua was so far away.

Lottie opened the door and came in with a bag of basic supplies. "Here's coffee, tin cups, and some food for the morning. I don't know what's at the cabin, but this will get you by until we can send supplies."

"Thank you Lottie," Allyn said.

"Can you ride?" Aaron asked her. "It'll be faster than a buggy.

"Yes, I can ride," Allyn said.

"Corky's bringing fresh horses," he said. "He's going back with you. He knows the way. I'll stay here and put together supplies to bring in the morning."

Allyn went into her supply closet and grabbed towels and bandages. She rolled them up and tied them with twine.

"Do they know who shot him?" she asked

"No. We thought it best not to say too much about it, in case whoever shot him wants to try and finish the job." Aaron said.

Corky knocked on the door. Aaron, Allyn and Lottie came out and helped tie the supplies onto the saddle, before mounting and riding out of town towards the Bolts family cabin.

Allyn and Corky rode steady. Corky tried to hurry but also reminded himself that Allyn was a lady and unaccustomed to hard riding. They stopped to rest once along the way.

"How was he when you saw him?" she asked

"Josh? He wasn't awake while I was there, but Candy said he had been earlier. Why would anyone do that…shoot him? It's all this stuff they're saying and ain't no truth in it, not one bit," Corky said. "I've known him most of my life and there ain't no way he did what that girl said."

"You have to help him Doc," he added.

"I'll do everything I can," she said.

They remounted and continued on towards the cabin.

Jason was relieved when they rode up. It was nearly 2 AM.

"Allyn," he greeted her with worry etched across his face, as he led her towards Joshua.

She sat down and looked him over, finally she unwrapped his wounds. "Jason, bring the lantern closer," she said.

He did, bringing the light closer.

She removed the padding, and Joshua moaned in pain at her touch.

"It's okay Josh," she whispered.

Allyn examined him and knew she needed to remove the bullet, but it would have to wait until his fever was reduced and she had better light.

Allyn cleaned the wound again and applied some carbolic acid to the packing she brought with her. She redressed the wound.

"We need to get his fever down," she told Jason "then I'll need to remove the bullet."

"Is he going to be okay?" Jason asked.

"I'll do everything I can Jason. He's lost a lot of blood."

"Doctor Wright, thank goodness you're here," Candy said coming from the side room.

Corky walked in. "I took care of the horses," he said looking past them at Joshua.

The night seemed to go on forever. Corky slept on the porch in his bedroll after Jason finally gave in from trying to convince him he could take one of the small cots inside. Jason, Allyn and Candy took turns keeping watch over Joshua.

When morning came, Candy made a pot of coffee, and some breakfast from supplies sent by Lottie. The smell of bacon brought Corky in from the porch. The four sat at the table trying to think of who shot Joshua and when he was shot.

Joshua stirred, "Jason," he called out and they all were quick to rush over.

"I'm here Josh," Jason said. "You're going to be fine."

"Joshua, when did this happen, do you remember?" Allyn asked him.

"I don't …Friday?" he struggled, his mind still foggy. "Jason, the books…on Bess's pack," he said.

"Don't you worry about that. You just rest and let us take care of you." Jason said.

Allyn sat down next to him. "Joshua, it looks like you have a bullet lodged in your right chest. I'm going to have to remove it. But do you remember how you hit your head?"

"I'm not sure, I think …Bess," he said "My head hurts," he said.

"You have a pretty good concussion," Allyn told him.

Allyn prepped everything for Joshua's surgery. "Candy I'll need you to assist me, if that's okay," she asked.

"What do you need me to do Allyn?" Jason asked.

"I need you to go outside and get from underfoot Jason," she said pointedly.

Jason sat on the porch. The tension was heavy between him and Corky.

"Did you tell Big Swede about Josh?" he asked.

"Yes, he wanted to come too. But I told him he needed to stay and keep an eye out at camp," Corky said.

"You remember that big dog Joshua had; the one that looked like a wolf?" Corky asked trying to distract Jason from worrying.

Jason smiled at the memory. "Pepper," he said "those two were inseparable. That mutt went everywhere Joshua went."

"You couldn't let Josh hear you call him a mutt!" Corky said.

Jason smiled. "Yes, he loved that dog."

"I remember that time he tried to prove Pepper was the best hunting dog in Seattle. He was running after him, like he was on the trail of something, I couldn't keep up. All Josh had was a slingshot," Corky laughed, "Pepper and Josh jumped over a big log holding up that sligshot, and all I heard was Pepper yelp and Josh calling him…" Corky was laughing "they were face to face with a skunk and they both got sprayed!"

Jason laughed. "All I remember was scrubbing him and Pepper down with mama's lye soap. I thought he was going to have to sleep in the barn."

"I had to smell them all the way home," Corky laughed, "they stunk so bad."

"Yea I think mama ended up burning his shirt. She was so upset. She tried everything and just couldn't get the smell out of it," Jason said. "She tried boiling it, soaking it...nothing worked."

They got silent again.

"You think the Doc's doing okay?" Corky asked nodding towards the cabin door.

"I trust Allyn," Jason said.

Jason felt like it was taking forever. Finally, Allyn stepped onto the porch.

"I got the bullet. All we can do now is wait and see."

"Can I see him?" Jason asked

"He's not awake yet, but yes," she said.

Jason rushed inside. Candy was sitting next to him. She looked up when Jason approached. "He's not awake yet," she said. "Allyn said it went well though."

"Can I have a minute?" he asked her.

Candy wanted to give him time with his brother, so she stepped outside and sat down next to Corky and Allyn.

"You're going to be alright Josh," he whispered. He took Joshuas hand in his. Jason was a strong man, but looking at Joshua lying there pale and weak nearly broke him. He needed Jeremy to be here. They were stronger when the three of them were together. Things didn't feel right with him being away and not knowing what was happening. He wanted to see Josh smile again, something he hadn't done in a long time. Jason closed his eyes and said a silent prayer.

Allyn came in after she had given Jason some time. She needed to monitor Joshua.

"When will he wake up?" Jason asked.

"He'll be out for a while," she said. "I'll get you when he wakes up."

"Corky came in poured a cup of coffee and sat at the table. Jason stepped outside with Candy.

Jason looked at Candy and her concern for Joshua, and how much she'd done for him since Missy's accusations.

"Can you come with me, there's something I want to show you," Jason said.

Candy stood and followed Jason.

She followed him up the hill to a shady spot, an old dogwood tree was shadowing a small cross. The area had been cleared; the stones surrounding it were recently rearranged. Jason knew Josh had taken the time to do it.

Candy saw the cross, and could tell it was the grave of a child.

"You asked about Jenny," Jason said. "Jenny was our sister. She only lived a couple months. Joshua was always asking our parents about her. She would have been two years older than him."

"He said I was like Jenny," Candy said softly.

"I think he looks on you like the sister he always longed for," Jason said. "A sister he could talk to, give him advice, like he imagined a sister would do."

Jason turned and took her hands in his. "I want you to know how much it means to me…to all of us Candy, for standing by him like you have," he said. "I hate to think what may have happened if you hadn't come all the way up here when you did."

Candy had tears pooling in her eyes. "It's so unfair, what else is he going to have to go through?" she asked.

"I don't know," Jason said pulling her in for a comforting hug.

They started back down the hill. "Corky said Aaron was bringing supplies, and I'll expect you'll be going back with him," Jason said.

"I can stay on if you need me, but I hate to keep putting Molly and Christopher off on Biddie," she said "and I would like to change out of this dress."

"No I think you should go back. Jeremy's supposed to be getting home Tuesday, and I'm sure he'll want to come and see Joshua," Jason said.

"Jason," Corky shouted...He raced towards Jason and Candy. "Jason, he's awake!" Corky shouted with a grin.

Jason raced towards the cabin, but paused and waited for Candy to catch up. Corky on their heels.

They rushed into the cabin and Allyn stood aside so Jason could see Joshua. He had the slightest smile on his face. "Josh," Jason whispered."Welcome back," he said as he knelt down next to him. "You're going to be alright."