DISCLAIMER: The Young Riders is the creation of Ed Spielman, and the property of Ogiens/Kane productions in association with MGM/UA television. This Story is created for entertainment purposes only, no infringement intended. Not to be copied without permission from the author.
They looked at each with stunned incredulation and joy and almost as one ran for the door, fighting to be the first in. Noah raced and leapt onto his horse which still stood at the hitching rail to bring the doctor back as quickly as he could. Rachel began issuing orders like a drill sergeant, the boys gladly retrieving the cot and bedding, even making up the bed as Lou and Rachel tenderly bathed the worst of the abrasions, and washed the dirt and dried blood from his skin and hair, stripping him down to his longjohns before they moved him onto the more comfortable cot. Still unbelieving, Lou sat with her hand resting lightly on his chest still not believing that he was really alive, not unless she could feel the slight expansion of his shattered chest as he drew the tiniest of breaths. Hearing a commotion on the porch Jimmy walked out to find Noah and the Doctor on their way into the house and Teaspoon and the undertaker arriving in the undertakers wagon.
'Teaspoon, we don't need the undertaker' Jimmy spoke with a smile
'Now Jimmy, he needs to be put to rest properly' Teaspoon smiled tearily
'Yes but only when he dies' Jimmy's smile grew wider
'Jimmy, I'm not in the mood for this son. This is hard enough with Lou grieving so bad, please don't do this to me.' he shook his head sadly
'Teaspoon he's not dead' Jimmy smiled
'Hickock, please don't do this' fresh tears welled in Teaspoon's eyes 'I carried him back here myself' Teaspoon spoke
'Teaspoon I'm not joking' Jimmy spoke "He's breathing'
Teaspoon almost fell from the wagon in his haste to get into the house. He stood at the edge of the room with the others watching as the doctor checked him out. He was amazed at the change in the people that he had left mere minutes before. Lou and Kid, were as close to the cot as they could get, Lou held in his embrace, both watching the doctor closely. Ike stood at the other end of the cot, holding Rachel's hand tightly in his, Jimmy, Cody and Noah all stood closer to the doorway, not sure if they should be in the room as the doctor carried out his examination but loathe to leave the room. All of them now had colour in their cheeks and although their faces were tear ravaged, there was new hope in their eyes.
It seemed like hours later when the Doctor had finished bathing, checking, medicating and bandaging and stood indicating to the others to follow him onto the porch.
'I don't think I want to know what happened to that young man.' he spoke as he looked into Teaspoon's eyes
'He bravely and selflessly almost gave his life for mine' Kid stated, not proud of the fact that he felt that he was the reason Buck was near death
'There's still no guarantee that he won't give his life.' the doctor spoke almost angrily that human beings could do that to one another.
'What do you mean?' Teaspoon asked
'I mean that he is hanging onto life by a tiny thread, I would guess that his chest is almost shattered, His hands and arms are so badly bruised I can't tell what is broken. I have no way to tell, He can hardly breath. He has lost so much blood. My God any one of those things is enough to kill him, but he has managed to hold on. I don't know how, I have never seen a person so badly beaten who has actually lived past the beating.' he shook his head at the young mans tenacity knowing that the hard work was ahead of all of them 'I have done all I can for him, all we can do now is wait and pray. I would suggest that he is never left alone for long, I am worried that if he chokes he will need to be moved, because if he doesn't he will die, I don't think that he will be able to move on his own. Can I trust you all to keep watch on him or should I have him moved to the surgery. ' he paused 'I would prefer it if he isn't moved very much, to let his bones have time to heal.'
'We will look after him' Rachel spoke with seven heads nodding in agreement. The doctor handed Rachel several bottles of remedies to keep Buck as pain free and still as possible before he spoke again 'I am sure that he will have a lot of infection, that will cause him to become fevered and probably move around a lot, these remedies will help him to sleep and keep him still to allow him to heal.' he looked into their faces one by one 'There is nothing else I can do for him, if there is a change please come and get me, I'll do what I can but it is really up to him.
They watched the doctor leave the porch all sinking into a new pit of worry. As he walked away Lou pulled herself up to her full height and spoke forcefully 'I've already grieved for him once.' she paused 'I'll be damned if I am going to grieve again.' her chin jutted determinedly as she slipped out of Kid's loose embrace and walked into the house.
Rachel and Teaspoon watched her, amazed at the transformation in the girl that could be their daughter. It seemed that all she needed was to have a small grain of hope to give her something to fight for and to help her gain control of her emotions.
'What can we do?' Kid spoke
'Somebody needs to find Red Bear.' Teaspoon spoke almost thinking to himself determined that now that they had him back they wouldn't lose him again 'We'll get some fill in riders to take most of the runs, Buck is the important thing now. I will draw up an around the clock roster.' he paused looking into the hopeful faces of his riders 'He will get well boys' he smiled almost believing his own words.
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