Chapter 56

Chris had stumble around the edge of the encampment. Although he was in pain and weak, he could not trust that there were no more assailants in the camp that wanted to take a stab at him. He knew in his current condition, there would not be much that he could do.

Unfortunately, his home stood on the other side of the camp and Chris did not know if he was going to make it before he bled to death and he wanted to make it. He had to for Mapiya, for Vin, for his friends, for his future. He had to make it or they would all have no future.

He knew he was closer to home when he passed Ma'emestahke, the medicine man’s tipi. But he knew the holy man was not there. He was with the elders in the tribal tipi discussing his and his friends’ futures.

He groaned as he felt the pain increase. He thought it had subsided, but he figured that was the shock creating a numbing effect on his body and tricking his mind into thinking the pain had lessened. Now that his mind was awake, it felt the excruciating sensation of the wound, pulsing with each step he took. His breath came in shorter gasps now and his head felt as if it was going to float away. The ground tilted suddenly and Chris fell, face first, his breath slammed out of him.

He laid there for what seemed like hours, but was really only a couple of minutes, when he heard footsteps approaching him fast.

He tried to turn on to his back, but found there was no strength left in him to do so. He lay on the warm grass, letting it cool his heated face and body. He was tired and knew that he had failed.

The coldness of it grew in his heart, taking up the little space of hope that he had secured there. He was going to die and so would his friends. He would never be with Mapiya again and the future that they talked about would be gone. He closed his eyes, shutting out the pain and the anguish that was tearing at him. It was a welcome to go into the darkness.

*************

Josiah, Ezra and Young Man had tracked the blood around the edge of the village. It seem that whoever was leaving the trail did not wish to be seen, but they could not fathom why.

As they seemed to be closing on their prey, the blood trail seem to expand. Whoever it was, they were losing a lot of their life giving essence.

They had just about come to the tipi of the medicine man, when they spied someone lying down near beginning of the back of the tipi.

The men ran quickly, but they knew from the blond hair it was their lost friend.

“Oh, my God! Chris!” exclaimed Josiah, kneeling next to the unconscious blond. He lay on his stomach, blood running from underneath him.

He placed his hands gently around him and turned him on to his back. They all gasped at what was before them.

Chris side and buckskin pants was caked in blood, dirt and grass. He had a few scratches on his face and body, but as far as Josiah was concerned they were not dangerous. The one that he considered most life threatening was the wound in his side.

While it was not long, it was deep and the blood was pouring out of it at an enormous rate. He touched the man’s chest and could feel the slight thumping of his heart. He was still alive, thank the Lord.

“Here, Josiah. Use this,” said Ezra handing him a white silk handkerchief.

Josiah quickly took the cloth and held it steadfast over the wound. He knew it was important to put pressure on it, as Nathan had shown him many times. He expected Chris to move or wake as he did so, but the man lay as still as death.

“Ezra, go get Nathan!”

“Immediately, Mr. Sanchez,” said Ezra running back towards the tipi that contained the healer.

“Who would do this?” came Young Man’s question in Cheyenne.

Josiah did not take the time to acknowledge the man’s question. He was too busy trying to keep the blood of his friend within his body and not on the ground.

Young Man then stood silent. He knew who had done this, but until Emo'ôhtavo vo'e could talk to them, he had no proof. He knew the only thing he could do now was to help save his friend.

“I will get some warriors to help us carry him to his home,” said Young Man running towards the middle of the camp.

Josiah again did not acknowledge the man, so engrossed in his task of keeping his friend alive and he prayed that he would stay alive. He pushed back the blond hair that was obscuring the man’s face.

“Chris? Chris, can you hear me?” he asked hoping to see some type of life or movement in his friend. But none came.

“Just hold on. Help’s comin’,” he said, continuing to put pressure on the wound. “You’ll be okay. Just hold on.”

************

Po'êxao'o, Grey Skunk, sat in his tipi and pulled off the ceremonial buffalo mask. He started to wash the blood and dirt from his skin and leggings, making sure there was no evidence left of his deed.

He loved ó'kôhóme like a brother. He saw how the white Cheyenne created such a rift between him and his family and Grey Skunk hated it. He remembered when ó'kôhóme was a happy, how he would love to hunt and fish and live life like it should be lived.

But now, he was angry all the time, hatred was his only companion and the cause had married ó'kôhóme’s sister. Grey Skunk wanted things back the way they were and if it meant taking a more direct action against the white Cheyenne, he would.

He knew they would be searching the tipis for Emo'ôhtavo vo'e’s attacker. He would have to destroy the buffalo skin mask quickly.

After he figured he was clean enough and had changed his buckskins, he put the mask into a bag and left the tipi to get rid of it.

************

Mapiya was still sitting next to Vin, talking about their common interest, when Ezra came bursting into the tipi.

“Nathan! You…have to…come quickly,” said Ezra, out of breath from running. Ezra then walked back outside of the tipi.

Nathan, Buck, and JD followed him to the outside.

Mapiya looked at Vin and knew he wanted to follow the others, but if he did, it would break his and Chris’ promise to her father.

“Go on, Mapiya. I’ll wait here until ya get back,” said Vin who knew he did not have a choice in the matter.

“I will be back. I…promise.” She then took the same path as the others did and exited the tipi.

When she got outside, she found all the men looking grim and starting to walk quickly away.

“Wait! What is wrong?” she asked, grabbing Nathan’s arm before he could go with the others.

Nathan turned to face Mapiya and knew they had forgotten that she was there. “Oh! I am so sorry, Mapiya. Something bad has happened and we gotta go.”

“My husband?” questioned Mapiya with fear shining in her eyes.

Nathan hesitated. He did not want to frighten the young woman, as he still did not know how bad Chris’ injury was. But he would not lie to her either. “Yes, Mapiya. I’m going there now.”

“Then I will come with you,” stated Mapiya starting to walk in the direction the others had taken.

“Mapiya, you should stay here with Vin,” said Nathan, catching her gently by the arm to stop her.

“No. I go to my husband!”

“Mapiya, listen. I promise to bring him back here. Please stay with Vin. He’s goin’ to be real upset since he can’t leave the tipi and go to him. I am askin’ ya this as a favor to help me. Please,” begged Nathan.

Mapiya looked at him and knew he was right. Emo'ôhtavo vo'e would never forgive her if she left his brother alone and in fear.

She nodded and started back for the tipi as she watched the healer run to catch up with the others.

*******************************************************************************************************

Chapter 57

Nathan had just reached the others as they surrounded the body on the ground that Josiah was holding in his arms.

He saw the pool of blood that covered the grassy ground and held a breath anticipating the worst. His instincts to save lives kicked in and he quickly pushed the others out of the way and knelt next to the Josiah.

“Is he…?” asked Nathan hesitantly, staring at the white cloth that had now turned deep red with seeping blood.

“He’s still alive.” He heard Josiah say, but did not look at the man, only the one who lay in his arms. He reached over and removed the cloth to see what lay underneath. The jagged cut ran down just underneath the rib cage to his hip. It was still bleeding and Nathan placed the cloth back on it, applying pressure.

“You did good, Josiah,” stated Nathan.

“Here,” said Young Man handing him more cloth to put over the wound.

Nathan had not heard him come up behind them and saw that he had three Cheyenne warriors with him and a travois.

“Help…to carry him,” said Young Man, looking at Nathan with pleading eyes.

Nathan knew he was asking him if Chris was going to live. Nathan could only lower his eyes since he did not know the answer. Instead, he said, “Thank you.” And took the cloth from the young Cheyenne’s hand to place it over the wound.

“Who could of done this, Nathan?” questioned JD, sick by what he saw of the wound and the blood.

“I know! That thievin’ no good…” started Buck angrily.

“Buck. Calm down, brother,” said Josiah raising his head from his sitting position and then his eyes glanced over to the four Cheyenne men who stood around them.

Buck understood Josiah’s silent message and took a deep breath, exhaling it to let his rage go. They were unsure of the other Cheyennes’ loyalty to Chris and did not wish to start something that they could not finish at that moment.

“Okay. So what do we do now?” Buck asked, looking at Nathan for input.

“Let’s get him on the travois. I can’t do anything here,” said Nathan, trying to keep his head. He was worried about the amount of blood that Chris had lost.

Young Man motioned for the three Cheyenne men to help them put the injured man on to the travois.

While they were busy doing that, Nathan turned to JD and said, “Run back to the tipi and tell Mapiya that we’re going to need a lot of boiling water.”

JD did not move at first, still shocked by what had happened to the man he admired so much. But then he realized that Chris depended on him and he ran back towards Chris’ home.

As the men were moving Chris, Nathan noticed that he said not a word. It did not bode well. He should have made some kind of sound and Nathan feared the worst.

He followed the travois and the others back to Chris’ home and he just prayed that they were not too late.

*************

JD ran as fast as he could to the tipi that held his friend Vin and Mapiya.

As he crawled quickly in, he found Mapiya sitting by the fire, her hands folded in front of her and waiting for word of our husband’s fate. Vin was sitting still where they had left him, his eyes showing the worry still there since the others had vacated the tipi.

“Mapiya! Nathan needs you to have water boiling fast!” JD exclaimed hurriedly.

Vin and Mapiya both looked at him in fear.

“My…husband?”

“They’re bringin’ ‘im here now. We have to hurry,” he said, grabbing her by the hand and leading her out of the tipi.

Vin could only watch them go, his heart beating a mile a minute. His thoughts were on Chris and the uneasiness he felt eating his soul. He wanted to go with them. To run to his friend and be with him, but he could not. He would have to wait until they brought him. It was the only choice he had.

************

It was only a few minutes later when three young Cheyenne and Josiah came in carrying Chris. Vin started to stand immediately to walk over to him. He needed to see him.

From where he half-stood, he could Chris’ body. Chris looked like he had bathed in his own blood. It covered his leggings on the right side and both of his moccasins. His face and hair was speckled with grass and dirt and there was a bruise starting to form on his face on the left side. Vin knew he was definitely in a fight. With whom was the question on Vin’s mind and probably the others as well.

Vin fought his way closer through the men towards Chris as the Cheyenne warriors placed the blond upon his pallet within the tipi. Young Man then nodded to the other three Cheyenne warriors and they exited the tipi quickly.

“Nathan, what happened?” asked Vin softly, his hand touching the unconscious face of his friend.

“He’s been stabbed. We don’t know who did it, though,” Nathan replied as he knelt down next to the blond and started to administer to his wound.

Vin watched intently, his blue eyes scanning the body of his unmoving friend. “Nathan, that’s a lot of blood.”

“I know,” was all that Nathan said as he continued to try to stem the bleeding.

Just then Buck, Josiah and Ezra came into the tipi.

Buck took one look at his friend and dropped to his knees next to him. It terrified him to see how much blood his long time friend had lost. It was not enough that he had lost Sarah and Adam, but now it looked like he was going to loose Chris as well.

“Nathan, how is he?” asked Buck.

Nathan could hear the fear that was seeping into Buck’s voice. “I don’t know yet. He’s lost a lot of blood and I’m worried about shock. Hand me my bag over there.”

Buck crawled to where the bag lay by the fire grabbing it and handing it over to the healer.

“What ya gon’na do?” asked Vin worriedly.

“I’m gon’na have to stitch up that wound so I can stop the bleedin’.”

At that moment, Mapiya and JD came bursting into the tipi, carrying several water skins. When Mapiya saw the condition of her husband, she almost fell to her knees, but she found the strength of Vin’s eyes and knew that she had to be strong to save him. With her heart beating fiercely in her chest, she hurriedly started to prepare the hot water she knew that the brown skinned healer would need to help her husband.

As Nathan, Mapiya and JD scurried around the tipi, trying to save the blond Cheyenne’s life, the others stood around, worry and frustration their only companion.

Of them all, Vin sat next to his friend, stoically still, not moving or saying anything. He kept his hand on his friend’s shoulder trying to show him that they were there with him. Vin felt it was the best way to keep Chris from giving up his life.

The water had finished boiling and Mapiya motioned to Nathan that it was ready. Nathan took what he needed over to the boiling pot.

“Take these, ” explained Nathan, handing her some bandages. “Put these in the pot of boiling water.”

“Why you do?” asked Mapiya curious.

“I need to make sure they’re sterile.”

Mapiya looked at him confused.

“Clean, so that he don’t get infection, sick,” he continued to explain. “I have some bandages that are clean, but I might need more.”

Mapiya nodded, her mind still set in the worry and fear for her husband, but determined to follow through with what needed to be done to save him.

Nathan was about to give instructions to the others, when the flap of the tipi flew open and Chief Aenohe came in.

“I…I heard what has happened. How is he?” he asked tentatively, afraid of hearing bad news.

“Not good right now,” answered Nathan. “He’s lost a lot of blood and the wound was pretty deep. I’m hopin’ it ain’t hit anythin’ important.” Nathan then returned to the task of trying to save his friends’ life.

Chief Aenohe could only nod in understanding. He then looked over to where Mapiya sat near the fire. She glanced up at him and in that moment, Chief Aenohe saw the anguish in his daughter’s eyes. His heart went out to her and in that one brief look, he saw that she knew it did.

He then looked to White Eagle, anger and rage in his eyes and said, “I will speak with the tribal council about this. The Dog Men are searching the tipis as we speak. They will find the snake that has done this! He will be punished.”

Vin nodded, understanding that Chief Aenohe felt the attack was a betrayal to his family and tribe. “And will the tribal council hold off on their decision until Chris is better?” Vin questioned.

“Not for long. It must be made, with Emo'ôhtavo vo'e or not. If he is not well enough to stand in front of them, then you must do it alone,” said Chief Aenohe with finality.

Vin knew that without Chris it was going to hard to convince them of his innocence. It felt like Texas and Eli Jo all over again. “When will ya know?”

“Before the falling of the sun. I will come, once it is done,” replied Chief Aenohe. He then turned to look at Nathan and said, “Keep my son safe. His visions are strong and I believe he is the one.”

The others stared at him, not understanding what he was talking about. Chief Aenohe did not elaborate. Instead he turned and walked out of the tipi.

“That was weird,” commented Buck, glancing sideways at Vin.

“Yeah,” inputted JD. “I don’t understand a thing he said.”

But Vin kept silent, his eyes were firmly kept on the unconscious blond lying in front of him. He had some idea what Chief Aenohe was talking about, but if he wanted to know more, he had to wait until Chris was conscious.

“Listen, I need you boys to help me hold him down while I stitich ‘im up. Don’t want ‘im movin’ any,” explained Nathan, reaching into his bag for a needle and medical thread.

Buck, Josiah and Ezra all moved in closer to help the healer with the blond.

“Buck, you take his shoulders, Josiah the feet and Ezra his arms. And whatever ya do you hold ‘im still, understand? I can’t have ‘im movin’ all around while I’m stitchin’ this close.”

The three nodded that they understood and took their places around Nathan and the blond.

“Vin, I need ya to move out of the way,” commanded Nathan.

Vin almost protested at the comment, but knew Nathan needed the space to save his friend’s life. He moved back to his spot near the tipi wall, but his eyes never left the blond’s face.

“Please, Chris, don’t give up,” was his silent plea.

As Nathan and the others went to work, Chris lay still, not feeling any pain or the bite of the needle as it went through his skin. Nathan felt some relief at this, but he also had his concerns. The man had not moved since they found him and that worried the brown-skinned healer.

JD watched with trepidation and horror at the sight that was before him. He winced each time the needle broke Chris’ skin and could almost feel the pain himself.

Once the stitching was done, Nathan then grabbed the clean bandage from his bag. “Buck, you and Josiah hold ‘im up while I wrap this around ‘im.”

Buck and Josiah gently raised the blond Cheyenne to a sitting position as Nathan carefully wrapped the bandages around the wound.

Buck could feel the heat that was coming off his long time friend as he held him and fear took its grasp on his heart. “Nathan, he’s awfully hot,” said Buck anxiety cloying to his tone.

“I know, Buck! But until this is done, there ain’t nothin’ I can do,” retorted Nathan. He then turned sorrowful eyes to the tall lawman. “I’m sorry, Buck. It’s just that…”

“I know, Nathan. I know,” replied Buck accepting his apology. He knew the healer was under pressure at trying to save their friend’s life.

“Ezra, you and Mapiya go down to the creek and bring some cool water, then soak some of the bandages in them. We’ll use them to cool him down once I’m finished and we have ‘im settled.”

“Expediently, Mr. Jackson,” answered Ezra and he motioned Mapiya to follow him outside of the tipi.

Mapiya walked to the flap, passing by Chris limp form in the arms of his friends. She knelt down near him, her mouth close to his ear and whispered in Cheyenne, “I will return, my love.” She then kissed him on the forehead and ran out of the tipi.

“That filly sure does love ‘im,” came Buck’s comment once she was gone.

“Yeah,” said Vin from his corner. “And I’m glad cause Chris is surely gon’na need it.”

The others turned to look at him bewildered, but in their heart they knew he had said the right thing.

***********************************************************************************************************

Chapter 57

Josiah decided he needed some air. He felt frustrated at the fact of what had happened. If he had got the girl to talk, then maybe none of this would not happened. The guilt ate at him, telling him that he had failed his friends. He had taken several breaths, breathing deeply in the afternoon air, trying to calm his anger.

As he stepped further out into the encampment, he felt someone standing by his side. He turned to find Nathan, standing silently next to him, scruntizing him.

“Nate.”

“Josiah. Ya ran out of there pretty fast,” said Nathan without accusation.

“Ya know I ain’t particular when it comes to blood,” replied Josiah matter-of-factly.

“But I don’t think that’s it, is it?”

Josiah did not answer. He kept his eyes out towards the busy village.

“Well, Josiah, all I gotta say is that Chris knows we’ve done the best that we can and blame ain’t gon’na help no one.”

Josiah turned to face his friend and saw the brown eyes stare at him in sympathy. Nathan knew was he was feeling and he knew he was right in saying that blame would avail them anything.

Josiah nodded that he understood the message and walked slowly through the throngs of Cheyenne traversing the encampment going about their daily lifes feeling like a pebble in the sands of time.

************

ó'kôhóme sat in his tipi contemplating what had happened. Someone had usurped this authority and went behind his back to commit such a crime.

They had ruined his plans to be rid of the white Cheyenne in the best way he could think of. Now, his father was in an uproar and the people moved about suspiciously each in his own mind wondering who might the attacker be.

ó'kôhóme’s plan was one of cunning and discretion. His plan was now forfeited by the inept actions of the person, who tried to kill Emo'ôhtavo vo'e. ó'kôhóme, liked everyone else, wondered who had taken the responsibility to remove the white Cheyenne. He hoped that the victim would not survive, but he knew that it was chancy at best. Emo'ôhtavo vo'e seemed to survive everytime. It was very hard to be rid of this tsêhésevé'ho'e.

A big smile came across his face. But his plan to be rid of the others was still alive. And ó'kôhóme was going to make sure it would not fail.

************

Chris slowly came to consciousness amid heat and pain. He did not know where he was, but was contented to lay quietly until the pain could subside somewhat. But time, however, did nothing to abate the heat that he felt in his body. It was almost as if he was on fire and burning up from inside.

He tried to turn slowly onto his side, when he felt two pairs of restraining hands on his upper shoulders.

“Keep still, Chris. Ya gonna hurt yourself.” Chris knew that to be the voice of Vin Tanner.

“I am here, my love,” said a woman’s voice in Cheyenne.

It came to Chris that had to be Mapiya.

Chris decided after feeling the pain that it was best that he kept still as they requested. His vision was currently obscured by someone’s shoulder, which was covered and buckskin and Chris tried to remove it from his field of sight.

“Now, stop that, Chris! We only tryin’ to help ya,” admonished Vin.

“V…in?”

“Yeah, it’s me, Cowboy. Just hold on a sec. Nate wants to take a look at ya, okay?”

Chris nodded slightly. His throat was parched as the desert and he felt the fire that blazed there.

Suddenly, Vin moved and Nathan came into view. Chris saw his brown eyes crinkle up in concentration.

“Chris, I’m gon’na take a look at ya bandages. I need ya to keep still, okay?”

Chris did not answer, but Nathan could see by his eyes that he understood. Chris felt a hand in his and turned to see Mapiya next to him. She smiled ever so softly, but he could see that her eyes were red from crying. Crying about what? What could have happened that would make his wife so sad?

Then it came to him. He had been fighting off a demon in disguise and it seemed that the demon had won. It was all in a fog in his head, but he knew that the pain was real and so was the sorrow in his wife’s face.

He tried to speak to her, but instead a cough erupted from his mouth that he could not contain. While trying to catch his breath, he watched as Vin, Mapiya and Nathan eyes came to bear on him. He raised a hand weakly and waved them off, trying to convey that he was fine.

Of course, it did not work and they immediately started to converge on the blond.

Vin took a cloth and wiped the sweat from his forehead, while Mapiya put a cup of cold water to his lips, holding up his head so that he could quench his great thirst and Nathan carefully examined his bandages to determine the seepage of blood from the wound. In all this, Chris only lay there, taking in the tired and worn look of the faces of his friends and wife.

“You…all…don’t look good,” said Chris with much difficulty and broke out into another coughing fit.

Mapiya put the cup to his mouth again, while she held his head up to take a drink. Chris tasted the cool life giving liquid as it put out the fire that was in his throat.

“Neither do you, Chris,” said Nathan. “But I think you’re gonna get better.”

Vin saw the sureness of it in Nathan’s eyes and smiled. At least that was some good news.

Chris then grabbed Mapiya’s hand gently and said, “And…and how have…?”

“I am well my husband. Your brothers take good care of me.”

“They…d…did? That…that’s good,” said Chris trying to ignore the pain that was slowly making itself known in his side.

Nathan saw the pain that was in Chris face and eyes and quickly brought over a cup that was off to the side and placed it to Chris’ lips.

“What…?”

“It’ll help with the pain, Chris. Drink it,” said Nathan.

“Horse…piss?”

Vin snickered at this comment and Mapiya only looked on confused.

“Yeah, guess ya might call that. Drink it anyway.”

Chris was too tired to argue and too weak to fight about it. He sipped the lukewarm liquid and once he swallowed it, grimaced at the taste. “Horse piss,” was all he said softly.

“I don’t care what ya call it. Drink it all,” demanded Nathan.

Chris obliged although his stomach was saying otherwise. He drank it down until at least half the cup was empty and when he could drink no more, he tried weakly to swat the cup away.

Nathan figured the man had as much as he was going to take in, so he pulled the cup back and set it back down next to him.

“V…V…in?”

Vin moved closer to the blond, his head full of brown curly hair, almost falling over his friend’s face.

“Yeah, Chris?”

“The council? What…happ…happened?”

Vin lifted his head from the position and looked into Mapiya’s eyes. She had heard the conversation and did not know what to advise Vin to do. She knew he did not want to tell Chris that the council will still have the trial, whether he is well or not, nor did he want to tell Chris that he would have to do this alone. He knew his friend would not let it happen and Vin was afraid for his life. He could not lie to Chris, but he could leave certain things out.

“The Chief is going to talk to ‘em. He’ll be back later.”

Chris eyed Vin doubtfully. He could see there was something he was not telling him. “Vin? What ain’t ya tellin’ me?”

Vin sighed and said as gently as he could, “Listen, Cowboy. Ya need to get well if’n ya gonna help me out of this pardicament.”

Chris eyes widened in amazement. It was the first time he ever heard Vin use big words. He figured he was hanging Ezra for too long. Chris was going to try again, but his eyes felt heavy and he knew he would be sleep again soon.

“Vin, ya…cough…ya been hanging around, Ezra…cough…too much,” replied Chris, a slight smirk coming to his face.

“Ya know ya don’t need to insult me.”

Chris started to laugh heartily now and felt his chest constrict as he did. The coughing became worst and Chris felt as if he could not breath.

“Nathan?” exclaimed Vin, easing his friend slightly up into his arms trying to help his friend breath.

Nathan examined Chris quickly to try and find the cause so that he could administer comfort to ease his pain. “He’s too cold. Mapiya, bring over another buffalo hide.”

“Nathan, what is it?” asked Vin as he helped Chris get through another bout of coughing.

“Blood loss. He’s lost too much,” answered Nathan as he started to bundle a blanket into a pillow and place it under his friend’s feet.

Mapiya came over to them carrying another buffalo hide which Nathan took from her and wrapped the blond Cheyenne in it over the other hide. He then took another blanket and rolled it into a pillow of sorts. “Vin, place this under his head. We need to get the blood flowing in the right places,” instructed Nathan.

Vin did as he was requested and layed his friend’s head onto the makeshift pillow.

As the coughing settled, Chris felt exhausted. He thought he would never be able to breath again. He slowly took in each sweet breath of air and his body calmed, although the pain still remained. He looked up at Vin and Mapiya with half-closed lids. “ What…you hiding from me…Tanner?”

“Uh, oh,” thought Vin. “He’s usin’ my last name.” But instead he said, “Ya need ya rest, Pard. We can talk about it later when ya got ya strength back.”

Chris knew this was a decoy to get him off the subject, but he was too tired to argue about it. He decided the next time he woke up, he and the young Texan was going to have a long talk. “For now,” was all Chris said to Vin. He then closed his eyes completely and fell into a deep sleep.

The sudden ending of the conversation frightened Vin and he thought something was wrong with his friend. He looked to Nathan for guidance.

The young brown-skinned healer face held a gentle smile and said, “He’s alright, Vin. He just needs some rest. We just got to keep ‘im warm. Mapiya, next time he wakes up, make sure he gets plenty of water to drink.”

“I will, Nathan,” answered Mapiya walking back to the food she had prepared for their meal.

Vin sat a while longer, still staring at the face of the blond, watching him sleep. He would not let anyone or anything hurt Chris Larabee. It would be over his dead body first.

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