Spuds walked around the bed and eased between the other two men to reach for the roll of bandage. “It’ll take more than once around to hold them in place. I’ve seen how it’s done.”
He handed her the roll and they repeated wrapping him again and then once over his shoulder and around again.
Spuds stood back and watched as the two cowboys gently released Austin. Spuds laid a clean spoon beside a bottle he’d set on the bedside table. “This here’s laudanum. He won’t want to take it but he’ll need it for sure. He’s sure gonna hurt like a sonofagun when he comes to.”
Mina nodded. “Thank you. He likely hit his head on the ground pretty hard. I mean, I checked and he didn’t hit a rock but he sure fell hard.” She made a gesture with her arm of a fall. “Just toppled off Thunder with a loud thump.”
Chico stepped back from the bed. “He has a powerful build. He would not float to the ground like a feather.”
Dusty picked up the door. “Guess we’ll re-hang this. You need us to spell you watching him, let us know.”
Mina held Austin’s hand. “Thank you for all you’ve done. I’ll take care of him with Spuds’ help. I know Austin can depend on you two and Buck to keep the ranch running properly.”
Dusty nodded. “We’ll do our best, you can count on that.”
The two cowboys left with the door.
Spuds picked up the basin of blood-stained water she’d used to sponge off Austin’s wounds. “I’ll bring some fresh water then reckon I’d better rustle up some grub or we’ll all be ailing.”
She moved the chair so it was touching the bed and sat in it. “Surely there’s something left over or dried you can prepare quickly and easily. I’m sure you’re bound to be as worn out and drained emotionally as I am.”
He nodded slowly. “I’ll see what I can find. Need to put some beef on to boil for broth.”
Later, Spuds returned with clean water and fresh towels. “He’ll likely have a fever soon. You’ll have to bathe him.”
“I’ll be watching. I’ve taken care of my sister and her children when they had a fever. My niece gets a high fever from the slightest thing, poor little girl.” She missed seeing Darla, Billy, and Danny. She missed Lily and even Will.
“You did real good sewing up his wounds.” Spuds left the room.
His praise brought tears to her eyes. She hadn’t known enough without his help. What if she’d been alone? That didn’t bear thinking about. Life on a ranch could be isolated. She gave thanks Spuds stayed at the house with her.
After feeling Austin’s forehead, she wrung water from the clean towel and smoothed it over his exposed skin, especially his head and neck. He was a nice looking man, ruggedly handsome. His skin was too pale, though. He’d lost a lot of blood. How long would it take him to recover? He’d hate being a patient.
Spuds brought in a plate and a cup of coffee. “You have to eat or you can’t take care of him. This isn’t much but it’ll stick to your ribs.” The plate contained a steak and cottage fried potatoes.
“Looks and smells good, Spuds. Thank you. I hope you had the same meal. Everyone depends on you.”
She wasn’t interested in food with Austin laying there unable to eat or speak. But Spuds was right so she ate everything on her plate and drank the coffee. Knowing the doctor was headed this way sometime, she changed into a dress and folded Spuds’ pants on a trunk. She hadn’t been finished long before she heard voices.
A man she remembered from Cindy’s party came into the room carrying a doctor’s bag. “You probably don’t remember me but I’m Dr. Ross. The man who came for me told me to tell you he was riding with the posse if there was one.”
“I remember meeting you and your wife at the Kennedy home, Doctor Ross. I had hoped there was a posse. We were on Austin’s ranch property at the time that miner Ferguson shot Austin.”
He loosened the bandage and looked at the front injury. “Looks like you did a nice job. Spuds said you mixed flour and gunpowder and then topped it off with ointment.”
“That’s right. I didn’t know what to do but Spuds told me. Two of the cowboys helped get Austin in here and then held him while I sewed.”
“You hold him like this while I check his back.”
Mina did as Dr. Ross asked.
He pressed around the stitches. “Looks as if it hit the top of his lung. That means he’ll require longer for recovery.
That sent her stomach crashing to her feet. “How long does healing from this sort of wound take?”
“Knowing Austin, I’d be surprised if you can keep him down as long as he needs to be. He should lie around the house for at least three weeks. Shouldn’t lift anything with that arm for longer.”
“I’ll try to keep him inactive. I have a feeling to accomplish that I’d have to tie him to the bed. Spuds might be able to help press him to take it easy.”
The doctor took an envelope from his bag. “When he wakes make a tea of this packet and give it to him three times a day. Make sure he drinks beef broth and water as soon as he can take liquids. Need to make sure he drinks a lot of
