Teaspoon stood and moved into the larger cavern, all the riders but Lou following him. Red Bear emerged a moment later, but his eyes kept moving back to the smaller cave containing his brother. They all heard chanting come from the cave as Morning Dove began to pray for Buck’s recovery.

"Kid, do you think you can act as interpreter for us?" Teaspoon asked.

"I’ll try."

"Okay. Ask him what happened." Kid did and waited for the reply.

"The Army attacked their village while Buck was at the sweat lodge ceremony. Ike came to him and warned him, but it was too late. They were captured and taken to a place with a high wall. They were starved and beaten. Buck was whipped for preventing the rape of a girl."

"A holding area. They would have been split up and sent to reservations from there." Teaspoon muttered. "Ask him what Buck’s chances are."

"Morning Dove can not find any signs of internal damage. Buck is strong willed. If the bleeding stops he has a chance. They are worried about infection though. He says Buck already had a fever from infected cuts."

"Morning Dove is brewing a tea that should bring down his fever and help with the infection. He regrets that she did not have the herbs to help him with that sooner."

"Well, they had no control over that. Why don’t you boys go get your bedrolls? We could all do with some sleep. Work out a guard schedule. I’m gonna go sit with the boy." Teaspoon reentered the smaller cave, Red Bear following him.

"Lou honey, go get some sleep. I’ll stay with him." Lou looked like she would refuse, but seeing the look on Teaspoon’s face she just nodded and left the cave. Teaspoon sat down near Buck, letting Red Bear sit at Buck’s head, his hand resting protectively against the boy’s chest. Red Bear joined Morning Dove’s chanting as Teaspoon reached over to lift the warm, heavy buffalo robe, checking the bandages for bleeding. Blood had once more leaked through the bandages, but hadn’t soaked them to the degree they had before. Maybe the bleeding was slowing after all.

Teaspoon leaned against the cave wall. The room was comfortably warm, the chants soothing, and before he realized it, his chin dropped to his chest and he dozed.

~*~*~

Red Bear watched his brother as his prayers joined those of Morning Dove. The young man didn’t move. Red Bear could barely tell he was breathing, his chest rising and falling shallowly. His coloring was pale, yet flushed, his skin felt warm to the touch. He motioned to Morning Dove, who moved over and applied cool compresses to his forehead. Turning back to the fire, she poured a cup of tea, pressing the cup to Buck’s lips and poured the healing liquid into his mouth. Then she resumed her prayers.

~*~*~

Lou couldn’t sleep. As quietly as she could she rose from her bedroll and moved to the cave entrance where Jimmy sat, watching the early morning vista below him for signs of soldiers. She slid down along the cave wall opposite her friend.

"He’s gonna make it ya know," he said quietly.

"I hope so." She replied, her voice breaking just slightly. "He’s just bleeding so much. Jimmy we can’t lose him too! We just can’t."

"We won’t Lou. He’s…" Jimmy stopped talking, motioning Lou down on the ground as a line of soldiers appeared in the distance. They were heading to the east but were much further south than the trail the riders had used. Still, Jimmy was cautious. He remained motionless and silent until they had moved a good distance off. Then he resumed their conversation. "He’s too damn stubborn to die Lou. It will be okay."

They sat in silence. After a time Lou crawled back into her bedroll and finally slept. But Jimmy still wasn’t tired, and he stayed up through the next scheduled change of watch. When he finally felt tired enough to sleep, he woke Cody and turned in, the sound of chanting still coming from the smaller cave where his friend fought for his life.

On to Chapter Eleven