“You don’t object to my going, then?”
“Would it matter if I did?”
“No.”
“That’s what I figured. I’m not up to taking on two with Wills blood. I’m going to go tell Tige about our plans. He will ramrod the rest of the drive. Do you want your horses to go to the Lucky Five for now? Plenty of grass and water until you are ready to move them back to your place.”
“I haven’t talked to Grandpa Jack, but he had made the offer early on. And I think I will take him up on it. I’ll need to hire some of your wranglers to get them home.”
“Jack wouldn’t expect otherwise, and he wouldn’t have you hiring anybody. And it has nothing to do with you being kin. That’s Jack, too.”
Chapter Forty-Six
The Comanches and Lucky Five wranglers reached Horsehead Crossing midafternoon of the third day out. They took the horses across the Pecos in groups of eight to ten to avoid injuries that might result from the crowded mass and to allow time and space for each bunch to drink their fill from the river. It was dark by the time the horse crossings were completed, and Jordy decided that the chuckwagon and Studebakers should wait till morning sunlight to make the river trek.
Jordy had spoken to Tige about taking over horse division and herding Sierra’s horses to the Lucky Five if Jack took off like he insisted he would. Thor’s dog cart had been finished late the previous night and tested before camp broke that morning. It had taken some ingenuity, but Jack and Swede had ended up with a creation that, attached by rope lines about a horse’s shoulders, trailed the animal quite well. Jordy still had reservations, however, about what would happen at full gallop. He feared that poor Thor might be tossed from the cart or dumped on the trail.
He was sitting by the dying embers of the campfire when Sierra walked up and let herself down on the ground beside him. He turned and looked at her questioningly, glad to have her company but surprised at her joining him at the fire. She seemed to dodge those moments when they might be alone together.
Sierra was silent for some moments, staring at the soft glow of the fire’s remnants. “We’ve got a serious problem,” she said.
“Now what?”
“Jael’s putting a new poultice on Grandpa Jack’s wound, but she agrees with me. We were working in the lamplight and couldn’t see as well as we would like, but the entire thigh is swollen, and there is a lot of pus and discharge coming from the wound. It stinks so bad I almost lost my supper. He’s burning up with fever.”
Jordy’s stomach tightened, and he felt his heart racing. “What do you suggest we do?”
“Jael says we should get him to Fort Stockton. They would have a surgeon there. I talked to Tige a few minutes ago. He says that it would be a long day’s ride, but with the wagon double-teamed and the light load, we could make it by tomorrow night if we started early in the morning.”
“Don’t sugarcoat it. What could a surgeon do?”
“He would likely amputate the leg. Tige was cynical. He said that is the first option for the Army’s surgeons, not the last. But Jael thought there would be no other choice, and I am inclined to agree.”
Jordy had not thought his stomach could feel any worse, but it did. “You won’t sell that to Jack. Have you discussed going to Stockton with him?”
“No, I will, but I thought you might want to be with me.”
“I don’t want to do it, but you shouldn’t have to deal with this alone.” He got up, reached down and grasped Sierra’s hand and pulled her to her feet. It was then in the moonlight he saw that her face was wet and glossy with tears. He tugged her to him and took her in his arms. He held her while she sobbed softly but could think of nothing to say that might comfort her, not when he could not even console himself, subdue his fear of losing the man who was his hero and surrogate father.
Sierra pulled away when she began to regain her composure. Instinctively, Jordy took her hand and walked with her to the wagon where Jack and Thor rested. She Who Speaks waited not more than a dozen feet from the wagon.
“I wish I could help more,” She Who Speaks said in a near whisper. “He is a good man with a powerful spirit, capable of surprises. I will pray that whatever god watches over him intervenes.”
“Thank you, Jael, for everything. You are a dear friend. I will talk to you in the morning,” Sierra said.
Jordy walked with Sierra over to the wagon, which he noticed had the canvas top peeled back halfway, probably to give the fever-stricken patient some breeze. He saw that Jack was still awake, his eyes fixed on the star-spangled sky. He did not acknowledge their presence, but Jordy knew Jack was aware of their arrival. After waiting a few moments, Jordy said, “Jack, we think you should go to Fort Stockton tomorrow. You can see a surgeon there. Maybe he can help.”
“You think?”
“I think it’s worth a try.”
“I respect your opinion, Jordy. I’m proud of the man you are. Your folks would be proud, too. It’s odd how things work out. Your loss became my blessing.”
“Fate blessed me,
