Chapter 13 "Ruby's Injury" (Part 2)

When Bess reached Ruby, she knelt down next to her. Upon further inspection, she suspected that Ruby broke her arm. Ruby's forearm was twisted in a way that it shouldn't have been twisted. Ruby was still crying, and Bess was trying to soothe her.

"It's okay, sweetie," Bess said, trying to calm Ruby down.

"My arm hurts," Ruby cried.

"I know it does," said Bess, carefully rolling Ruby over.

Bess didn't want to tell Ruby that her arm was broken. She feared that might really upset the little girl. Bess took off her apron and covered Ruby's arm. She also felt it was best if Ruby didn't see her arm. Once she had Ruby calmed down, Bess called for her husband. He was working in the barn.

"Will! Will!" she yelled.

Will came out of the barn and saw Ruby on the ground with Bess kneeling down next to her. He put down the pitchfork and hurried over to them. He could see something was wrong, but didn't know for sure what.

"What happened?" Will asked. He too crouched down next to Ruby. He noticed that Bess covered Ruby's arm with her apron.

"She hurt her arm," Bess answered.

Will noticed that Bess didn't say broke, but didn't say anything. "How did it happen?" he asked.

Bess realized she never asked the other kids how it happened. She looked at the kids and asked. "How did this happen?'

"We were playing tag, and Ruby tripped and fell," Mary answered.

"Will, I think we should go and bring Doc Adams out here," said Bess.

"I want my daddy and momma," said Ruby, tears streaming down her face.

"I know, sweetie. Uncle Will is going to go and get Doc Adams. He'll know how to make your arm better," said Bess.

After hearing Ruby say she wanted her parents, Bess realized she didn't know exactly where Matt and Kitty were. All she knew was that they went on a picnic at Willow Creek. The creek flowed north and south, and she didn't know if they went north or south. There was really no point in looking for them. She would have to wait until they returned.

Will had gone back to the barn to saddle a horse. Horse saddled, Will mounted the horse and took off for Dodge. Riding faster than he normally would, Will made it into town in less than ten minutes. Arriving in town, Will could see Doc heading towards the Long Branch. He rode his horse towards Doc.

"Doc! Doc!" he called, getting Doc's attention.

Hearing his name, Doc turned around. He saw Will Roginer waving him down. Doc knew that Bess wasn't due to have a baby or was even pregnant, so that couldn't be why Will was getting his attention. He figured one of the kids had to be sick or injured.

"Illness or injury?" asked Doc.

"Injury," Will answered. "It's Ruby Dillon. She..."

"Ruby?" Doc interrupted. "What happened? Where are Matt and Kitty?" He was now very concerned. He was not expecting Will to tell him that his granddaughter was injured.

"Ruby is over to our house while Matt and Kitty are on a picnic for their anniversary. She was outside playing with the girls and tripped and fell. Bess said Ruby hurt her arm. I'm pretty sure Bess meant that Ruby broke her arm," Will responded.

"I'll get my bag and meet you at your place," said Doc. He was already headed towards his office. He wanted to get to Ruby as soon as he could.

Will arrived back home first. He could see that Bess and Ruby were no longer outside. He put up his horse and walked into the house. Walking inside the house, he saw Bess and Ruby sitting on the couch. Will had been home for several minutes, when Doc's buggy pulled up to the house. Doc got down from his buggy, grabbed his bag, and walked into the house. He saw Ruby sitting on the couch with Bess.

"Grandpa Doc, my arm reawy hurts," Ruby's little voice said.

Doc could hear the pain in Ruby's voice and it broke his heart. "I know, sweet pea. Grandpa Doc is going to make you feel better. Can I see your arm?"

Ruby nodded her head, and Doc lifted the apron so he could look at Ruby's arm. Once he saw the arm, he knew it was broken. He also knew the arm would have to be set. Doc didn't want to do it there. He wanted to bring Ruby back to his office where he could give her something to put her to sleep while he set it. Doc knew it would be too painful for Ruby to handle if she were awake, and he wanted to spare from any extra pain that he could.

"I want to take Ruby back to my office," Doc told Will and Bess. As he was talking, he used Bess' apron to make a sling for Ruby's arm. "I need Matt and Kitty to come to the office. Do you know where they are?"

"They went on a picnic on Willow Creek, but we're not sure exactly where," said Bess.

Doc swiped his hand over his mustache and tugged on his ear. "As soon as they come back, send them to my office. Will, could you please carry Ruby to my buggy?"

"Sure thing, Doc," said Will as he carefully lifted Ruby off the couch, being mindful of her arm.

Will walked outside with Ruby and put her in Doc's buggy. Doc carefully got in the buggy next to Ruby. Ruby leaned against Doc. Doc could see the paleness on Ruby's face. He wanted to quickly get her back to his office, but also knew he had to be mindful of Ruby's arm. He had to make sure the ride back to town was a smooth one. Doc didn't want to jar Ruby's arm.

It took almost thirty minutes to get back into town. By the time they arrived into town, Ruby was fast asleep. Doc carefully exited the buggy but when he did, Ruby woke up. At that time, Festus saw the two of them pull up to Doc's office. He walked up to them.

"Howdy, Doc and Miss Ruby," he said. He then noticed Ruby's arm in a sling. "What's going on?"

"Ruby was playing with the Roginer children and hurt her arm," Doc answered. "Do you think you could gently carry her up to my office?"

"Golly bill, I sure can," replied Festus. As instructed, Festus gently carried Ruby up to Doc's office.

"Put her on the exam table," Doc instructed. Festus did just that.

"Whatcha gonna do, Doc?" Festus asked.

"I'm going to make Ruby's arm feel better," said Doc. He then turned to Ruby. "Honey, Grandpa is going to give you something to help you sleep so I can fix your arm."

Normally Doc would make sure he had permission from the child's parents before giving the child medication to put him or her to sleep, but in this case he knew Matt and Kitty wouldn't mind. Doc didn't know how long Matt and Kitty would be, and didn't want Ruby to continue being in pain.

"Ruby, lay down and I'm going to help you go to dreamland," said Doc. Ruby did as she was told. Doc then put a mask on Ruby's face. "This mask is going to help you sleep. I need you to take some nice deep breaths."

Again, Ruby followed directions. Doc put a few drops of ether into the mask and waited for Ruby to fall asleep. After making sure Ruby was asleep, Doc removed the makeshift sling and fully examined Ruby's arm. He was relieved to discover that even though the arm was broken, it wouldn't require any surgery. He would just have to set it. Doc strategically moved and straightened Ruby's arm until he was confident that it was properly set. He then made a splint for Ruby's arm. He would have to wait to make a plaster cast after the swelling went down. Festus silently stood off to the side, watching.

TBC (Conclusion in part 3)