By Suzy
Copyright 1999
Halfway to Sweetwater, the stress of the last few days was too much for Lou and she curled up at Jimmy's side, falling asleep. He put his arm around her and pulled her closer to him, content to let her rest. He wasn't sure how he was going to cope with the task that he had taken on but he would be damned if he would betray the man who had almost given up everything for him. Caressing Lou's hair gently as he clicked the reins to make the horses move a little faster, wanting to make her as comfortable as possible and yet still arrive there quickly so she could get the rest she really needed.
Buck had spent a considerable amount of his free time closeted in the barn, nobody knew exactly what he was doing and he was grateful for the time alone, but like Jimmy he was determined that he was going to do everything in his power to get his friends back together.
Cody had managed to get some time off from his army regiement and had been a god send. There was only a few mail runs to be made, and knowing the state of everyone at the station, Cody had taken every run, as well as trying to complete the lion's share of the chores. Buck knew that he was slacking off around the wtation but he was spending as much time as he could with Kid. Teaspoon and Racheel were also spending a lot of time with Kid, but it seemed that the only person he really responded to was Buck, maybe because he was not afraid to give him the story straight and bully him into helping himself.
The days at the old Sweetwater station were spent with Jimmy trying to get the dusty house back in order, he cleaned, washed, dusted and cooked refusing to let Lou lift a finger to help. It nearly broke his heart to see her sitting on the porch swing staring blankly into the horizon an occaisiional fat tear sliding down her pallid cheeks. She ate only when he put food in front of her and in the main only spokd when he spoke to her. He watched her for days, but trying to draw her back from her sorrow he knelt in front of her.
'Honey, he will get well and we will go back' Jimmy took her hands in his.
'Don't lie to me Jimmy. You didn't see his face when he said he didn't love me' she spoke.
'He would never heurt you deliberately' Jimmy tried to reasoon with her.
'What if he was telling the truth Jimmy?' she looked into his eyes.
Uncomfortable with her probing questions, he stood and moved to lean against the porch railing.
'You have not doubted his feelings for a long time Lou. Why now?' he asked bluntly 'You didn't see the look in his eye, the tone of his voice.'
Jimmy knelt at her feet again and turned her face towards him. 'I'm only going to say this once, and I want you to listen to me and listen good. I don't know what you saw but I know what I saw when hwe told me to look after you, it almost killed him, but still her did what he thought he had to do to look after you because he loves you so much.' Jimmy spoke gently, 'so while he is getting well, yu are going to look after yourself and your baby' Jimmy spoke.
Lou nodded and aswallowed her tears. 'What if he doesn't want to see his baby?' she mumbeled.
'Lou the child will be part of you, how could he not love it' Jimmy turned his teary eyes to hers 'Come on inside' he stood and extended his hand to her. Lou stood and took his hand following him into the house.
'Can't you just leave me alone?' Kid yelled at Buck
'Nope Today we are going to leave the house, Doc Barnes wants to see you in his office.'
'I'm not going, he can come here' Kid stated adamanatly
'Sorry no can do buddy until you can walk out of this room on your own you going whereever I carry you' Buck spoke calmly knowing that losing his temper would only make the situation more volatile. He slid his arms under Kid's knees and behind his back lifting him from the bed. Kid lay passively in Buck's arms his face a sullen mask Kid's indifference with his the world around him tore at Buck's fragile composure, but he refused to give in, he carried Kid to Doc Barnes surgery, he laid his closest friend on the examination table and stepped back to wait beside the door. Kid laid there silently a few moments later, the noise the objects he was carrying forcing Kid to turn his head and investigate the sounds he heard.
'I am not wearing them!!' Kid stated angrily as he rolled to face the other side of the room.
'You will not walk again without them' the doctor spoke calmly knowing that the words he spoke were the truth as he placed the braces on the side of the bed.
'Then I won't walk again will I, because I am not wearing them' Kid spoke to the wall.
On to Chapter Eleven
