I shook my head. I was out of ideas. Gazing around, I spotted something on a branch.
“What's that?” I asked Robin.
She shaded her eyes and squinted. “What?”
“Looks like . . . something tied to that bush.” I rose and walked ahead to my left. It was a ribbon. Something was wrapped on the end of it, tied so it wouldn't fall out. I undid the knot and a small turquoise stone fell into my palm. An electric surge of hope shot through my body.
“Natani!” I screamed.
“What?” Robin shouted back, standing.
“I think this was left here by Natani.” I looked farther ahead and saw what was definitely another ribbon.
“C'mon,” I said, hurrying back. “He's showing us the way.”
“Why didn't he just show himself and help us?” Robin asked.
“Maybe he's afraid of what Dr. Foreman would do or say. I don't know. Let's go.”
We got Teal standing again and again took turns helping her walk. She mumbled gibberish, phrases and sentences from memories, about people she knew, things she had done, words she had exchanged with her mother, her father, and her brother. Most of the time, her eyes were closed.
On the ground under the third ribbon, we found a basket. I uncovered it and pulled out leather canteens filled with water, packs of dried food, and a pot with matches in it.
“What's that for?” Robin asked.
I unwrapped another packet and found some more snake weed. “He wants us to boil this and change her bandage, I'm sure.”
“It would help if he would just send for a helicopter.”
“Somehow, I don't think he can do that, Robin. Come on, let's not waste time now. Gather some wood.”
She did and we built a fire quickly. Once again, we boiled the leaves, then I changed Teal's bandage, this time using some tape Natani had left as well. We were able to give Teal a good drink of water, then wipe her down. She seemed to become more comfortable.
It was becoming scorching again. We had a hard time making it to the next hill, but when we got there, following another set of ribbons, we looked out and saw what was clearly the ranch.
“I never thought I'd be glad to see that place again,” Robin said.
“Me neither.”
“I'd like my breakfast now,” Teal declared.
“Oh, sure, miss. What would you like this morning?”
“Just some scrambled eggs, orange juice, cinnamon toast, and coffee.”
“Is that all? We'll have it for you in a jiffy,” Robin told her.
Teal nodded, her eyes still closed.
“Let's take a good rest before this last piece.” It looked like a good mile or so to me. We sat and ate what Natani had left.
“I have no idea what I'm eating,” Robin said, feeding Teal as well. Teal ate as if she were really having what she had ordered.
“Me neither, but it feels good in my stomach.”
Whatever it was, it seemed to renew our energy. After some more water, we fixed our towels on our heads, smeared some more of the sun protection on our skin, and started toward the ranch.
When we were about four or five hundred yards from the corral in which the horses were kept, Wind Song trotted to the railing and whinnied, raising his head. The other horses gathered beside him and looked out at us.
“At least someone is happy to see us,” Robin muttered.
Like three soldiers home from battle, we limped along, Teal still relying on our shoulders and keeping most of her weight off her right leg. As we drew closer, the buddies began to appear, coming around the corner of the horse barn. None of them rushed forward to give us any assistance. They stood watching us limp home until we were close enough to hear them.
Then, they began a silly cheer.
“Come on, girls. You can make it. Keep coming. Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate? Phoebe bird, Phoebe bird.”
They laughed and clapped.
“She was bitten by a rattlesnake,” I said when we were standing right in front of them.
“Did it die?” M'Lady Two asked, and the three of them laughed.
“If she does or gets sicker, you'll be sorry as hell,” Robin said, her eyes blazing at them.
“Whoa,” M'Lady Three cried. “Listen to her. A couple of days in the desert and she thinks she's tough or something. I'll tell you, girls, I'm really impressed. How did you manage to find your way back?”
“How could you leave us out there like that?” I countered.
“It broke our hearts to do it,” M'Lady One said. “But we have to do what we have to do. Go shower up and wait in the bunkhouse for Dr. Foreman,” she followed curtly.
“What about Teal?” Robin asked.
“She'll live, although I can't say the same for the snake.”
“She can't walk on her own,” I said.
“We'll take care of her. Move it.”
Slowly, we lowered Teal to a sitting position.
“I'm sorry, Mother,” Teal said. “It couldn't be helped. Our car broke down.”
“Oh, did it?” M'Lady Two asked. They all laughed again.
“She still has a high fever. She's delirious. She needs medical help,” Robin said.
“She was always delirious,” M'Lady Two said. “Will you two get moving or do we move you?”
“We're not leaving her,” I declared, reaching a firm, quick decision. I reached down to help Teal up. Robin did the same.
“I told you we would take care of her,” M'Lady Two said.
“Like you've been taking care of us?”
She stepped forward threateningly, but I didn't flinch.
“Go on,” I said. “I have just enough strength to fight one more battle.”
“Me, too,” Robin said.
Maybe it was the ordeal in the desert. Maybe it was the wild, determined look on both our faces, or maybe it was just the sight of us, standing fast despite all that we had endured, Teal wavering between us, whatever, but M'Lady Two hesitated, then relaxed and backed up.
“Take her to the house yourselves then,” she ordered, and stepped aside.
We walked on, struggling because Teal was doing less and less to move herself now. Despite
