By Lyn
Copyright 1999
Sam took the stairs to Emma's room two at a time. her scream had startled him out of a light sleep in the rocking chair downstairs.
Teaspoon was already awake, sitting at Buck's side as the young man tossed and turned in his sleep, moaning occasionally in the grip of dreams.
It appeared Buck wasn't the only one having bad dreams.
It was a tired foursome that greeted the other riders as they came into the house for breakfast. Emma and Sam had come down an hour before. Emma had tried to sleep but woke up so often from bad dreams that she finally gave up and she and Sam had spent the rest of the night talking.
Buck had gotten more sleep, only waking occasionally, during which time Teaspoon had given him broth or water, and then falling back into a fitful sleep involving very little rest.
Teaspoon had been awake all night trying to figure out who the stranger had been, and why he had wanted to hurt these people as an act of revenge. He had come up with no answers.
They kept Buck in bed that day only by removing the crutches.
By the following day they had all had more rest and they allowed him up, moving around the room only, against Emma's better judgment. Only Teaspoon realized that they had very little choice in the matter. Buck was getting up no matter what.
The third day he was outside sitting on the back of the wagon in the shade of the barn as the other riders played a game of kick the ball nearby.
"Over here!"
"Get it, get it, get it!"
"Ouch!"
"It's mine!"
"Look out Jimmy!"
"Get away! I got it!"
The riders were boisterous, involved in the game. Emma and Teaspoon sat on the porch watching. Buck had his left leg propped in the wagon bed, but his right leg dangled over the edge of the wagon tail, crutches at hand.
A wild kick sent the ball rolling toward Buck. He batted it back into the game with his crutch. It took him a second to realize that he had been able to see the ball, sitting in the shade as he was. It was another second before it sank in that he could judge the distance and depth of the ball. A smile slowly spread across his face.
The change in his vision had been so gradual he hadn't even noticed it. Things were still blurry, but for the most part he could tell where exactly they were and, for the most part, what they were!
Kid noticed the ease with which Buck had struck the ball and the smile passing over his friend's face. At the next opportunity he kicked the ball back toward Buck. With the same accuracy Buck hit the ball back into the game.
Teaspoon was standing on the porch watching. He had alerted Emma after the first return of the ball and he stood now with his arm around her shoulders. The other players stopped their game after they realized what had happened. Emma winced in fear as the riders all ran at Buck, surrounding him, pounding him on the back and even lifting him in the air in their excitement. Next thing they all knew, he was in the middle of the game, using his crutches to bat the ball around. Emma couldn't bear to watch. She retreated into the house.
Buck moved back into the bunkhouse the next day.
"We shouldn't be doing this. Emma and Teaspoon ain't gonna like this!"
"Quit worrying Lou. Nothing's going to go wrong." Jimmy replied.
Jimmy, Ike and Cody had saddled Buck's horse and were in the process of helping him mount.
"I'll be fine Lou," came Buck's answer.
"We shouldn't be doing this," she repeated.
Buck grasped the pommel of the saddle from the right side of the horse and with a slight hop got his right foot in the stirrup. The horse shied a little, being mounted from the wrong side, but Buck stayed with him, then swung his left leg over the animal's back.
It took him just moments to feel the rhythm of the horse. He'd been riding before he could walk. He gave a tug on the reins and walked the horse around the corral, his splinted leg hanging uncomfortably along the animals side.
"How's it feel?" Jimmy asked.
"The leg's a little ackward. I think it's the splint. It's pushing my leg away from the horse. I don't think he likes it either."
"We'd better not mess with it."
"He'll get used to it. So will I." Buck kicked the horse into a trot, following the edge of the corral. His vision had improved greatly. The only thing that was difficult was reading, and he felt that would improve with just a e more time.
He moved the horse into a lope. It felt good.
"What the hell's going on?" The four on the ground turned as Buck slowed the horse. Emma was standing behind them, arms across her chest.
"Just exercising my horse, Emma" Buck answered.
She stared at him for moment, then at the other riders, who sheepishly looked at the ground.
"Supper will be ready in an hour. I trust your chores will be done by then." She turned and walked away. The boys heard her mutter "fool" as she walked off
The young men looked at each other and burst out laughing.
"Teaspoon, I want to start riding again." Buck approached the subject two days later as they were eating dessert. That was usually the time of day Teaspoon was most agreeable.
"Ride again? Buck, your leg is still mending."
"He's been up on a horse already." Emma inserted, disapproval in her voice. They were all amazed she hadn't already told Teaspoon after catching them.
"That's right Teaspoon, and he's riding almost as good as before." Jimmy added in Buck's defense
"It's the almost that has me concerned." Teaspoon leaned back in his chair, hooking his thumbs in his suspenders. "Hmmm. Fine supper Emma."
"Thank you Mr. Spoon."
"Tell you what Buck. Once these dishes are cleared we'll get a horse saddled up. I'll be the judge of how well you're riding."
"Mr. Spoon...." Emma started to say as Buck smiled.
"Emma, I guess the boy's gotta try. If it don't look like he can handle it, he won't be riding yet. Why are you in such a hurry to get back in the saddle?"
"It's been over five weeks Teaspoon. Besides, I've got a lot of doctor bills to pay off."
"Well don't rush into this because of the doctor bills. There ain't any."
"What do you mean? The doc's been out here more times than I can count."
"I know, but your bill's are all taken care of."
"How? I haven't paid him anything."
"Well, Russell, Majors and Waddell have a fund set aside for medical bills. Between that and the town folk taking up a collection, the bills have been paid."
"Collection?"
"Yep. Well, the sun's going down soon. Let's see what you can do." Buck sat in shock for a moment, then followed Teaspoon and the others out to the corral. Ike ran after Buck's horse and quickly saddled it, checking the cinch over and over. This would not be a good time for the saddle to slip. He led the horse out of the corral, handing Buck the reins. Buck handed the crutches to his friend and mounted from the right side. He had learned to redistribute his weight to accommodate the lack of control he had with his left leg.
He rode a distance out, then headed back. As he rode past Teaspoon and the boys he slid to his right side, supporting his weight in the stirrups and effectively hiding himself from the left side. His left leg was the only part of him that could be seen.
He righted himself in the saddle, then turned his horse, riding back toward the house. Holding onto the pommel, he slid his right leg over the saddle and did a bounce mount, only his good foot touching the ground long enough to bounce him back into the saddle.
He pulled the horse up in front of Teaspoon and Emma. He slid off, standing on one foot until Ike came up with his crutches.
Teaspoon stood, running his hand over the stubble on his chin.
"I'll talk to the doctor in the morning. See about narrowing that splint so you can use it for balance." he said and walked off to help Emma with the dishes.
True to his word, when Teaspoon returned from town, he had permission from the doctor to alter the splint. Buck reluctantly spent the rest of the day on his bunk while Teaspoon went to work.
The result wasn't a thing of beauty, but would successfully give Buck some control of his upper leg while holding the leg immobile mid thigh down to the calf. It was angled so that he could even slip his foot in the stirrup if he needed for added balance. It was mildly uncomfortable when not in the saddle, but Buck didn't care. He was useful again.
The next morning Buck left on the first of many more trips. Teaspoon gave him short runs at first until he was sure he could manage the trade offs and switching of horses. Within the next month the splint came off for good.
But that first run was the most rewarding for Buck--and for Emma. They had been through a lot together, fear and frustration. The first run was the end of a very long journey for them both. And the beginning of many new ones.
The End