'I would like to help you take care of your friend.'
'There isn't anything you can do.' He looked haggard and sounded
defeated. It was as though he had already accepted Cooper's death and
was mourning him. She wanted to tell him to have hope, but she didn't
think anything that she said would change his attitude.
'You're exhausted, ' she said. 'Why don't you get some sleep? I'll
sit with Marshal Cooper. You still haven't recovered from the
influenza.'
'Don't fuss over me, ' he growled.
She gave up trying to talk sense to the obstinate man and turned her
attention to Cooper. He was sleeping on his back in the double bed
with just a sheet covering him to his waist. He was as still as
death.
A thick bandage was wrapped around his middle, and there were spots of
bright red blood seeping through the white packing. His complexion was
a chalky gray, and in the dim light from the two lanterns on the
bedside tables, Cooper looked as though his next breath would be his
last.
'The doctor couldn't get him to wake up and drink the medicine? '
'No.
He kept choking.' She got down to business, unbuttoned the cuffs of
her sleeves and rolled them up to her elbows. Then she went to the
basin and washed her hands.
'What do you think you're going to do? ' 'Daniel, try not to take your
anger out on me. All right? I know how upset you are about your
friend, but being hostile isn't going to help.
To answer your question, ' she continued. 'I'm going to try to bring
his fever down.'
'What makes you think you can do what the doctor couldn't? ' 'I'm
going to try. That's all. I have had some experience nursing the
sick. My grandmother was ill for a very long time.'
'What happened to her? ' 'She died.'
'So much for your nursing expertise.' She lost her temper. 'Will you
stop being so sarcastic? I simply don't have the time or inclination
to deal with it. Come over here and help me. One way or another,
Marshal Cooper is going to swallow the medicine.'
