Page 4 of Westbound Awakening

A soldier burst into the room, his uniform askew and hat in hand. He stopped just inside the doorway, eyes darted to each of them before snapping first to his captain before focusing on the injured leg. The young man turned a light shade of green, yet he maintained a strong unwavering voice. "W-What happened to the Captain?" Without moving from the doorway, he looked to Miss Lady as if she held the answer to all his questions.

The slight woman guided him out to the hallway, and he didn't fight her. "I need you to go into town. Looks like the Captain was shot days ago, and it's infected. Tell the doc to come out here, and make sure you tell him it's for Captain McClain. He may not hurry if he thinks it's one of our girls ailing." The hallway became silent as both the soldier and Miss Lady left to complete the tasks at hand.

John moaned but did not open his eyes, still unconscious, and Mae took the now heated cloth from his brow plunging it back into the cool water. She placed it back on his brow and took his hand in hers. "John can you hear me? You'll be all right, don't fret, please just try to rest." His brow crinkled and she smiled. "I'll take that frown as a sign you can hear me. You don't like me to call you by your first name for some reason. Sometimes I wonder why that is. Never considered asking you. Perhaps once you wake up, I will. I will ask you John."

With a loud groan, he arched from the bed, his back bowing high above the mattress. Mae swallowed hard not liking how much pain he was in while caressing his clenched jaw. "Oh God, I'm so sorry, I wish there was something I could do. "Shhh, shhh," she whispered in his ear while continuing to stroke his face. She repeated the shushing noises until, finally, he lowered back to the bed and seemed to calm. Either that or he passed out from the pain.

Moments later, the door opened and Miss Lady bustled in with a container of hot water. The woman bent to place the pot on the floor next to the bed, her worried eyes on the unconscious man.

Mae brushed the back of her free hand across the tops of her cheeks, surprised to find them wet.

Miss Lady missed nothing. "What's the matter honey?"

"I -- I feel so bad to see him in so much pain. I think he passed out."

She was grateful when Miss Lady did not make an issue of her tears. "Well it’s a good thing he's out right now. I can get the wound cleaned out good without him feeling too much of it then. Just in case, be ready to hold him down." After a firm nod to ensure Mae understood, Miss Lady began to dip cloths into the hot water and cleaned the wound.

* * *

A little over an hour later, even with the kitchen door open that allowed for the breeze to blow in, Mae fanned her overheated face while pacing around the sizeable kitchen table.

One of the two soldiers who'd fallen asleep slumped over the table, snored and adjusted his head on folded arms.

Mae moved away from the table and closer to Miss Lady so not to wake them and whispered. "I don't understand why we can't remain in the room while the doctor examines him." She picked up her glass of water and drank it all down before replacing it. "What if the doctor has questions, needs someone to hand him items? Or what if John takes a turn for the worse? Shouldn't we be in there to help?" Mae placed her hands on her hips and looked down at the older woman who sat in a chair with a serene expression, looking out the doorway into the darkness. "Honestly, I don't understand how you can be so calm right now Miss Lady?"

The chair creaked as Miss Lady stood and took one of Mae's hands then led her to the doorway. They stood side by side in the narrow entry. Mae not sure what Miss Lady intended, waited without a word. "Look up there," Miss Lady instructed pointing at the sky. "Do you see all 'em stars?"

Still unsure of where Miss Lady was going with this, Mae looked up to the sky and nodded. "Yes Miss Lady, it's a starry night."

"Well you see, God knows each one of 'em, made them and placed them. And now us being his children, well he knows each of us even more. Right now, he is watching over the captain. There ain't nothin' any of us can do for him that the Lord isn't already takin' care of. Frettin' surely won't help, but prayin' and askin' for his help does. That's what I've been doin'."

Eyes cast downward, Mae leaned against the slight woman. "You're right Miss Lady. I don't know why I'm acting up like this. You've taught me better. It's just that seeing him so weak, it's so dreadful. He's always been such a strong healthy man."

"Still is," Miss Lady smiled up at her. "Its why he will be all right." Her eyes twinkled. "'Sides, I know the real reason you're frettin' so is because you're sweet on him. I understand that. Captain McClain is a very handsome man, and you can't help yourself." She chuckled at Mae's gasp. "Honey it shows every time he comes around. Your face lights up."

"Oh!" Mae's mouth fell open. "You are mistaken, I am not 'sweet' on him or anybody." She drew away and went back to the kitchen just as two of the working girls walked in, both giggling loudly. They went to sit down when Miss Lady shook her head at them. "Oh no you don't. Both of you are in serious need of fresh air. Looks like you've been taking a drink or two of the hard stuff." Both of the women's eyes widened and flew to Mae before they attempted to hurry through the kitchen.

Mae stuck her arm out and blocked the now subdued women as they tried to hurry past her. "Stop right there." They froze and faced her.

She glared at each of the girls for a moment. "You cannot provide good services to the gentlemen if you are drunk, therefore they will not pay. If they don't pay, we don't eat. Simple. As. That. If you dare take but another sip of alcohol, you will pack your things and go." She met each of their now scared stares for a beat. "Am I understood?" Both girls nodded, heads bobbing with alarming speed. "Now go and get fresh air for a few minutes and then come back in here and drink some strong coffee." Mae slid her eyes to the soldiers who somehow managed to sleep through it all. Funny what exhaustion did to a person.

Just as the girls hustled outside, the doctor walked in and stood just inside the kitchen entryway.

Mae studied his face hoping she could read by his expressions how John fared. Miss Lady roused the closest soldier, who rubbed his face and straightened immediately upon seeing the doctor. He then shook the other soldier awake.

Miss Lady regarded the physician. "Well Doc, how is Captain McClain? Can he be taken back to his post? These soldiers are waitin' to hear."

Doctor Martin pressed his lips together and reached out to accept a cup of coffee Mae poured for him. His kind eyes met hers for a beat. Even though his temples had wisps of gray, the doctor was not an old man. While he only stepped into the brothel if one of the working girls was sick, he'd always treated them with respect and kindness. "Captain McClain is very sick" The doctor began and then regarded the men in the room. "You can go on back to the post and let your commander know he should not be moved right now." He regarded Mae next. "In my opinion, the Captain can't be moved for a while yet, at least a couple of weeks." He wrote a note and gave it to one of the soldiers. "Give that to the doc, and he can decide what he wants to do."

The man sipped his coffee as Miss Lady fussed with the soldiers, walking them outside.

"Miss Mae, how are you tonight?" Doctor Martin asked giving her a quizzical look. "Are you unwell?"

"I'm fine thank you. Just tired. Is Jo -- Captain McClain's life in danger?" Her voice trembled at the last word, and she lifted her chin, attempting a look of indifference.

"Well I gave him some drops for the pain. Miss Lady did a good job of cleaning the wounds. He came to long enough to disagree with what I told him may have to be done if the infection continues to get worse. So to answer your question Miss Mae, his life is in danger if the infection in his wounds keeps progressing. All you can do for now is keep it clean and dry." The doctor yawned and put the cup down. He placed his hat on his head and picked up the worn medical bag he'd dropped beside him. "Continue with the cool compresses and cleanings. I will be back in a couple of days. If he gets worse, send someone to fetch me."

Silver dollars sparkled in the light when Mae held them out to the doctor who accepted the payment and left. The infection would not get worse, and John would recover fully. She'd see to for herself. With a cup of coffee in hand, Mae hustled down the hall to check on the patient.