They had Buck lying on his back, hoping the pressure there would help stop the bleeding from the entry wound. And an extra pad of bandages had been placed over the exit wound. But even at that, the bandages had quickly become soaked with blood. And Teaspoon had no further ideas as to how to stop it. He had tried everything he knew and none of it had worked. He left unvoiced the concern that Buck would likely bleed to death before their eyes.

They were all too aware of the similarities of Buck’s wound to the one that killed Ike.

His boys had set about making camp, their movements wooden and automatic. They had fixed a simple meal, but even Cody didn’t seem to have an appetite. Teaspoon knew that Buck needed water, the day had been hot and from the looks of him, Buck had been out in many hot days without sufficient food and water. But Teaspoon was afraid to give him water or broth, knowing what it would do to him if he had truly been gut shot. For once the confidant Marshall was at a loss as to what to do.

None of them slept. Some of the boys lay on their bedrolls, but they were wide-awake. Lou had sat down and gathered Buck’s head into her lap and was unconsciously stroking his hair. Without realizing it, a tear occasionally rolled down her cheek. They were all caught up in memories. None were prepared to lose yet another member of their family, so soon after losing Ike.

Shortly before dawn they all heard a twig snap nearby. Six guns were immediately trained in the direction of the sound as a tall Kiowa warrior emerged from the darkness. His eyes glanced over the other inhabitants of the clearing, but it was Buck that kept his attention. He studied the young man until he saw his chest gently rise and fall. The look of relief on his face was obvious.

"That’s Buck’s brother." Kid said quietly.

"Does he speak English?" Teaspoon asked calmly. He holstered his gun and motioned the man forward. The others hesitated before following suit, Jimmy keeping his hand close to his, just in case. Red Bear walked into the clearing and knelt beside his brother, his hand reaching out stroke his face.

"I don’t think so." Kid replied.

Everyone went for their guns again when Red Bear turned suddenly and motioned at the darkness beyond their camp. A young Kiowa woman emerged carrying a hide pouch. She looked nervously at the white men in the camp, then hurried to Buck’s side, examining the work Teaspoon had done. She leaned her head close to Buck’s chest, then said something to Red Bear, who nodded. The tall man reached down and began to lift his brother up. Six guns were trained at him once more.

"Follow me." Red Bear said in Kiowa.

"Kid, tell him in sign that he shouldn’t move him." Teaspoon said quietly. Kid did. It was Morning Dove that answered him, again in sign.

"The blue coats are nearby. We have found a safer camp. Follow." Kid translated.

Teaspoon hesitated just a moment, then motioned for his riders to break camp. Morning Dove moved into the trees and came back with two horses. Then she led the way out of camp, Red Bear, with Buck in his arms, right behind her. The others followed single file.

Morning Dove took them about a mile away, heading up into the hills. When she entered a cave, still leading the horses, Teaspoon hesitated briefly, then followed. The cave was huge inside. Morning Dove continued walking toward the back while Red Bear moved off to the left and entered another cavern. Teaspoon followed Morning Dove with the horses. Toward the back of the cave, it widened even further. Teaspoon could feel a cool breeze coming from somewhere and looked up. A small opening would let in fresh air and some natural light during the day. He could hear water running nearby and realized that a stream ran along the back of this cavern, providing water for the horses.

The others led their horses into the natural corral formed by the cavern and followed Morning Dove back to the front. They all entered the side cavern Red Bear had carried Buck into. They found their friend lying on a pile of robes, a fire already lit and waiting. Red Bear was leaning over Buck, speaking to the young man in Kiowa. Morning Dove knelt next to him and opened the leather pouch. They exchanged a few words and Red Bear stood, leaving the caves.

Morning Dove took out sage and other herbs then began to undo the blood soaked bandages. Teaspoon moved to her side to help where he could. She worked with confidence, and Teaspoon trusted her immediately. He thought it strange when she leaned over and appeared to smell the wound and bandages, but Teaspoon realized what she was doing and wondered why he hadn’t thought of it himself. There would have been a distinctive odor if the boy had been gut shot. He felt a great deal of relief when the woman nodded, satisfied, and turned for a skin of water. He helped to hold Buck’s head up as she placed the skin to his lips.

Teaspoon watched as the young woman worked. She examined the wounds, packing them with moss, and applied a poultice she made using another type of moss, some fern, and herbs from her bag. Red Bear came back in to the cavern as she worked and Teaspoon realized that the man had been out hiding their tracks.

He studied his riders as they stood to one side and tried to read their faces. If anything, their faces were blank as they watched their friend, their brother. Buck still had made no sounds, no sign of waking, and thankfully, no sounds of pain. As much as he wanted the boy to awaken, to talk to them again, he also didn’t want to see him suffer.

As Morning Dove finished her work Cody left the cavern, returning shortly with a clean shirt. He handed it to the woman and she said something in Kiowa before ripping it into clean bandages. When she stood and moved away to prepare a tea, they all realized that she had done all that she could. It was now up to Buck.

On to Chapter Ten