By Suzy
Copyright 1999
Jimmy grabbed the hands that flailed against his chest, and pulled her struggling into his tight embrace. Until to voice the words that would comfort his dearest friend in the world he pulled her into his embrace and hugged her as if she were his lifeline to the world they all remembered uncaring of the fact that he was staining her clothes with her husbands blood. He held her that way until she gave into the fear that had been driving her anger and collapsed against him sobbing fitfully.
'I'm so sorry Lou. Its all my fault,' Jimmy tried to sooth her, but at those words she pulled out of his embrace and regained if only a small part of her composure.
"Is somebody going to tell me what happened?' she asked her voice finishing on a sob.
'Lou, A wagon ran out of control down the main street, Jimmy was directly in the path of it but he couldn't hear it because he was struggling with our horses who for some ungodly reason were fighting the buckboard. Kid must have seen it from across the road, and realised that Jimmy was directly in the path of the runaways, because he came flying across the street and knocked Jimmy out of the way. As far as I can tell, one of the wagon wheel hub pins must have caught him on the back, because he's been cut very badly.' Rachel explained 'Jimmy had nothing to do with it Lou' she finished.
Lou turned chagrined tear filled eyes on her best friend. "I'm sorry Jimmy, theres no excuse for the way I treated you.' she apologised.
'After the way I have been treating the two of you, you have every right in the world' Jimmy smiled at her sadly. They all turned when Doc Barnes poked his head back out the door.
'Louise, good would you like to come in here please.' he spoke briskly but warmly Lou, an almost fearful look in her eye followed him into the room, not sure of what she should expect, but desperate to see her husband.
As the doctor closed the door behind her, her eyes quickly searched for her husband. Seeing him in the centre of the room, laying on his side, his face so pale his skin appeared almost papery in texture the only colour his slight beard stubble. His eyes still closed she turned back to the doctor her eyes full of questions.
'If he can survive the amount of blood he has lost, I'm sure he will be fine. I won't lie to you it is a serious wound, but he's young and strong if we can keep him infection free, he will be fine.' he placed a fatherly hand on the young girls shoulder. He had watched the transformation of this lovely young lady from what the entire town believed to be a young male into the beautiful self assured young woman that stood before him, almost like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. Like many of the townsfolk, he had long admired her courage and determination and as such hated the torment that she was currently facing. That admiration would force him to ease her pain and torment in any way he could.
'Louise, you can sit with him for a time if you like, we have to make sure that he doesn't roll onto his back. I have stitched the wound as best as I could, he will have a large scar, but I'm sure you won't mind that.' he took a kitchen chair from the side of the room and placed it beside the bed.
'I have given him laudanum for the pain, that's about all I can do for him, the rest is up to him.' he paused watched the tears in her eyes swell and trickle from her eyes 'He will recover Louise' he spoke in his most fatherly tone 'He will not give up he has to come back to his beautiful new bride.' he smiled thinking of the day that Lou visited his surgery last week and swore him to secrecy.
She smiled at him weakly acknowledging the fact that he was doing his best to help her through her pain.
'I'll leave you alone with him now.' Doc Barnes spoke before turning and leaving the room, closing it softly behind him.
Lou walked slowly right to the side of the bed, resting a hand on his normally strong shoulder, she leaned forward and placed a loving kiss on his cold, pale lips. With trembling fingers she brushed the hair that had fallen forward across his forehead back from his face. she perched on the edge of the chair that had been placed there for her and resting her chin on the edge of the bed, she took his hand in hers and broke down sobbing, her tears leaving a damp patch on the sheet beneath him.
'Kid, why do you have to be so damned honourable' she spoke as she watched the gentle rise and fall of his chest, heavily swathed in bandaging.
Doc Barnes leaned against the wall outside the door as he saw the small crowd gathered in his waiting room. His gaze sweeping around the room he realised just how well loved the young man in his surgery was, apart from the remaining three express riders, Teaspoon and Rachel, Storekeeper Thompkins and Deputy Barnett also waited just inside the door their faces heavy with worry.
'He'll be fine folks, he'll be a sick young man for a while but he'll be fine.' the Doc watched the relief cross the faces of most of the rooms inhabitants then continued to speak, looking directly at Barnett and Thompkins.
'I'd like to speak to the people from the express station in private if I may.' he stated 'Certainly Doctor' Thompkins answered as he walked from the room content to know that Kid would live.
'Marshall Hunter, I'll go and do some of that paperwork back at the office' Barnett spoke watching Teaspoon's face and at his nod followed Thompkins. Teaspoon waited until the door closed behind Barnett.
'What is it Doctor?' he asked his face full of concern.
'Actually it's about Louise.' Jimmy and Buck had resigned themselves to hearing that another of their friends would be taken from them and were stoically looking at their boots trying to keep some sort of composure, but at his words their eyes flew to his face.
'What's wrong with Lou?' Jimmy asked his voice hoarse.
'Nothing is wrong with her, what I am about to tell you is in the strictest confidence, she asked me to tell noone, but I am concerned with all the emotional turmoil that she will become ill.' he tried to explain gently, not sure that he was doing the right thing but sure that if anyone could protect her from herself it would be these people.
'What are you saying Doctor?' Teaspoon asked his face creased in a frown.
'Louise, is expecting a baby' he stated bluntly and watched the looks of incredulation on the people scattered around his waiting room.
On to Chapter Three
