Part 33 (1/2)
stairs. Greg ran to Winn to be lifted into strong arms.”Did you get any candy in town?” asked the boy, giving Winn a hug.”You bet. Can you help me unload the wagon?”
Greg slid to the floor and puffed out his chest. ”Yeah,” he said, takingWinn's hand and walking out the door.”Where's Mama? Why's the wagon so far from the house?”Winn decided to take one question at a time.
”Help me move the wagon closer.”
After the run from Dempsey's place, moving the wagon in the yard didn't seem like too big a problem, especially with Greg to tell him when to stop. When the wagon was close to the back door, Winn climbed down.
”You'll have to help me decide what goes in here and what needs to go to the
bunkhouse.”
”Sure,” Greg said, climbing into the wagon bed. ”You 'member what Mama wanted?”
”Louie told the storekeeper to put your candy in your mama's box.”
When the box was sit ting on the kitchen table, Winn and Greg climbed onto the wagon and drove it into the barn.
”We'll take the things to the bunkhouse later. Now you'll have to help me
rub down the horse,” Winn said as he climbed down.
”Where's Peter?”
Winn took a deep breath. He had been putting this off and it wasn't getting
any easier.
”He went for a doctor, Greg. Louie's hurt. Your mama's with him in thebunkhouse.””Oh.” Greg climbed out of the wagon and slipped his hand into Winn's.”How did he get hurt?”Winn knelt to Greg's level and the boy climbed onto his knee.”He was shot, Greg.””Like Billy?”Winn wished to G.o.d he could see the child's face. How would he know when he had said enough and
when he was saying too much?
”Yes, but Louie isn't dead.” He didn't want to add that Louie could be deadin a very short time, possibly was already.Greg didn't speak or move.”Do you understand what I said?” Winn asked.Greg squirmed a little.”I want Mama so I can cry,” he said in a small choked voice.”Son, your mama's doing all she can for Louie and Doc Gordon should be here soon. You know how Peter can ride. But when Peter gets here with thedoctor, he'll be tired and we need to help him by taking care of the horse.He had a run, too, and needs to be fed and watered and rubbed down.
Do you think you can help me? ”Greg slid off his knee and took his hand. They were unhitching the horsewhen they heard Peter ride in with the doctor. Winn wanted to go to thebunkhouse to hear what the doctor said, to be with Cynthie whether the newswas good or bad. He knew he needed to stay with Greg instead. In a few minutes, Peter came to the barn. He took care of his own horse and thedoctor's then helped Winn.When they were done Peter went to saddle a fresh horse.”I'm to bring Betts in,” was all he said.Winn took Greg's hand and they walked to the bunkhouse. They sat on the bench there and waited for word.
”I'm hungry,” Greg said after a while.
Winn wasn't sure what to do. Maybe he should take the boy to the house and
see if he could find something to eat. The thought almost made him panic.
”Your mama won't be much longer,” he said.
”I want Mama,” Greg insisted and Winn realized
that the child was probably scared as well as hungry. He wished he could a.s.sure him that Louie would be all right but he knew that wouldn't be fair.
”I'll see if your mama can come out. You wait here.” He patted the boy's
leg and stood, ma king his way to the bunkhouse door.Inside he stopped and listened for a moment. He could hear voices across theroom at Louie's bed. If Gordon was removing the bullet and needed Cynthie'shelp, he didn't want to interrupt. In a moment he heard Cynthie say his name.
' ”I didn't mean to bother you but your son is asking for you,” he said.
”Go ahead,” Gordon told her.
”I'm about done here.”
Winn could hear the splash of water as Cynthie washed. In a moment he heard
her shoes tapping across the room. She paused beside him before leaving the
bunkhouse without a word. Winn wanted to go with her but he knew she didn't want him to. He shouldn't have gone to Dempsey's. She had every right to be furious with him. It was his fault Louie was shot and probably dying. He had made her more upset byblaming Dempsey.
He heard the splash of water again.”How is he?” he asked.Doc Gordon sighed.”He's bad, I won't pretend he isn't, but he might live.I've done what I can. ””Thank you.” Winn listened to the doctor as he gathered up his instruments.
He wanted to ask how he could help but knew there was no thing he could do.
”Would you send the sheriff out when you get back to town?”
he asked, and Doc agreed.
The door behind Winn opened. He could hear Betts's voice but knew there were two people who entered. Peter, he guessed. Betts hung back near Winnbut Peter crossed the room quickly.
Betts tapped Winn's arm and they left the bunkhouse as the doctor began totell Peter how to care for Louie.
Chapter Fourteen.