FAITH
FAITH (after an idea by Nesciri)
When Lou woke the next morning, she could see that they had all drifted off to sleep inside the prayer circle. They were filthy and when Lou wiped her hand across her face, some charcoal came off where, at Buck's insistence, they had each painted a line on their face.
Lou exchanged glances with Kid who was also awake
and smiled. Maybe now Buck would see that they had survived the past night and
he would feel better. She looked over at Buck who had not yet stirred. He lay
curled on his side with his back to the others. Lou crawled over and put a hand
on his shoulder to give him a little shake. She was stunned when she could feel
the heat of fever through his blanket. She motioned for Kid to come over and
the two looked down at Buck. He was sleeping heavily but he was shaking with
cold.
"What's up?" Jimmy asked. He had woken
up and also crawled over to see what had Lou and Kid so worried.
"It's Buck. He has a fever." Jimmy put
his hand on Buck's neck and could feel him shivering under his touch.
"I'll get some water." Jimmy left to find
his canteen. There was no other nearby water and they had been forced to make
a dry camp the night before. He unplugged his canteen and poured some water
onto a bandana. There wasn't much left but at least it was cold. He walked back
to Buck and gently pressed the cloth to his forehead. He was surprised when
Buck threw his hand off him and yelled something in Kiowa. "What's he saying?"
Jimmy was puzzled by Buck's almost violent reaction.
Lou shook her head. "I'll get Cody and Ike
up." She left to wake the two sleeping boys up and when she told them about
Buck, Ike immediately ran over to his friend, knelt beside him and tried to
get Buck to speak to him. He tapped him on the arm to get his attention.
<Buck, are you OK?> There was no response
from Buck who wouldn't even open his eyes. Ike tried to shake Buck harder and
Buck angrily shoved Ike in the chest so hard he fell backwards onto his hands.
Ike sat stunned for a few seconds staring at Buck before he looked at the others.
<We need to get him to a doctor. Something's not right with him. It's more
than the fever too>
"He's not going to be able to ride in this
condition. I'll ride home and get the wagon. I'll be fast." Cody was about
to turn and leave when Jimmy grabbed his arm.
"I'll go with you. I don't think anyone should be by themselves." Jimmy looked at Buck laying on the ground and mumbling in Kiowa. "Especially now."
