Did some interesting research on the first ACL surgeries during the 1870s and 1880s. The surgeon's words are a direct quote from a document of this time. Journal of Arthroscopic Surgery and Sports Medicine. FV Sciarretta

Chapter Ninety-Seven 97/100

The young surgeon met Nick in Chip's room.

"Don't want to worry Maris. Her hands are full, how's Jarrod?"

"Doing better than we expected. Up walked to the door and back."

Nick grinned ear to ear, "That's damn good news. Now fix me up so I can get over there and see myself."

He carefully unwrapped the bandage. There was fresh blood on the linen.

"Ouch," as the young surgeon prodded the bullet hole which was now gaping open.

"I think I want to clean this out and stitch it up again. No Infection thankfully."

"Good news," Nick grumbled.

"I want to see something else. I think when you got shot, you somehow fell and tore something in your thigh or knee."

"I heard a pop, now that I think on it."

"Yes, that's what I suspected observing,"

He manipulated his knee around, "Just as I thought watching you walk."

"What are you looking for?" Nick asked.

"In 1875, in the thesis entitled "Entorse du genou," written by the Greek doctor Georgios K. Noulis, the author explained how to evaluate the anterior cruciate ligament rupture on the knee near to full extension. He wrote "fix the thigh with one hand, while with the other hand hold the lower leg just below the knee with the thumb in front and the fingers behind. Then, try to shift the tibia forward and backward. When only it is transected, this forward movement is seen when the knee is barely flexed, whereas a backward movement is noted when the posterior cruciate ligament is transected."

"Speak plainly, man."

"Your ligament is hurt. I would like to try to fix it. Afterwards, I will stitch you up. In the past, they would cast your leg and wear a brace. It was never the same. I want to use the simple surgery procedure I have seen. Work through the pain with only crutches."

Nick laid down on the bed and allowed the young surgeon to shift his tibia. He bit his lip now to not show his pain.

"I can do a surgery: a direct suture of both cruciate made by applying sutures at their original femoral anchor sites."

Nick raised his eyebrow, "Done it before?"

"No, but I watched it in New York and Baltimore. Got to scrub in. But it will give ya a chance to get your knee back—almost good as new. If we let it heal on its own, you will not have full use of it. It could cripple you or impair your ability to work on the ranch."

"When would I need to do this?"

"Today I want to stitch up the gunshot wound. That is a necessity first. Let it heal better. Next week I would like to suture your ligament up. Under chloroform."

"I would like to sleep on it. How long recovery?"

"Depends—-crutches and bandages with a splint. A month?"

"Any chance this will heal up on its own."

"It will some but your leg will never be the same again."

What's the name again?"

"Anterior cruciate ligament."

Nick sighed, "I will just call it an antelope or an antler crucifixion."

The serious young doctor laughed for the first time all week, "I may use that too."

"Let me ponder. Maybe talk to Heath 'cause he will be the one to take on more work."

"I understand. Take this whiskey. Two shots at least and let me stitch up the wound proper.

Nick took three.

—-&—

Esther and Hannah took a walk in the rose garden for the first time. She was wearing one of Sally's dresses. Hannah's were much too tight in the bust.

"I can't believe I tried this on last night and I woke up with it altered and hemmed. Your mother is an angel."

"We think so and I know Papa does too."

"I never knew anywhere like this existed."

Hannah squeezed her hand, "You have friends and family here for life. I promise"

Vicki called out for Hannah to come and get the kitten out of the grain bin. She was stuck and meowing loudly. Vicki wasn't tall enough to reach down.

"I will be just a moment. Meet you back at the bench. That kitten of hers gets in the worst places."

Esther walked around smelling the roses and sweet olive bushes. She stopped by the greenhouse and peeked in.

A handsome young hand startled her and came up behind her.

She jerked away in fear.

"Didn't mean to scare ya. Just saying Howdy. You sure look pretty in that dress."

"Thank you," She looked at him directly. His words were friendly but his eyes were glued to her chest."

She backed away from him. He blocked her path.

"Heard the whole story. I was in the wagons with the Pinkerton telling Mista Heath how the little girl saved those spoilt rich boys."

"It wasn't that way. They are good people."

"Yeah, that's what they want us to think. People like you and me gotta look out for themselves. If you scratch my back, I would be mighty proud to scratch your —-need." he laughed with a dirty sneer.

"I am not what I was. Life changed," remembering Sally's words.

"Yeah right, whore. How much will a tussle cost me?"

"I am not for sale."

He wrenched her injured arm and twisted it, "Everybody got a price."

"And this is yours," as Hannah slapped him with all her might. She had come up and heard the whole discourse.

He instinctively pushed her down and immediately realized his error, touching Heath Barkley's daughter.

"Hey, that was an accident."

"No, it wasn't. I heard the whole thing and when I tell my Pa, you won't have a job." Hannah bravely stood between him and Esther dusting herself off.

The hand took off for the bunkhouse hoping to outrun the news that might cost him his life at the hands of Heath Barkley. He hopefully would be cleared out before the angry father heard the news.

"Come on Esther. Let's wash his touch off us both."

"There's not enough water for me."

"Yes, there is," Sally replied around the corner. She had only heard the last two lines but knew something had happened.

"Girls, let's go in the house."

—-&—

Sally sent word immediately to Heath out at the north pasture of what had happened. She had McColl check the bunkhouse but the man was gone.

"Good riddance. Took only what he came with too or I would string him up for theft. Wasn't a good worker—-dirty hound! Touching the ladies."

Esther cocked her head with the plural use of ladies, "He pushed Hannah, a Barkley. Just twisted my arm."

McColl looked at her with kindness, "You is a fine lady Miz Esther too. Wouldn't want to be that boy iff'n Mista Heath catches up with him."

Sally poured the girls some watered wine, "Drink this. It will help your nerves."

"Esther, all are precious in God's eyes."

"You don't know what I have done."

"You don't know what others have done. Myself included. Mista Heath. Mista Nick all of us. All of us had bad seasons. You have been given a new life and don't you dare let anyone take it from you."

Hannah put her arm around Esther and they shared a good cry. Sally looked at her daughter with pride and the girl-child in front of her accepting love for the first time.

They were interrupted by Heath bounding in, "Where the hell is he?"

"McColl says cleared out. I say good riddance."

"Not yet." and Heath stormed out toward town.