They traveled as long and as fast as they dared each day. Buck’s fever spiked once more on the second day of travel, slowing their progress that day. They spent the night at the first creek they encountered, using the water to reduce the boy’s fever once more, and headed out at first light the next morning.

~*~*~

It was well past midnight when the tired group arrived in Rock Creek. They had been traveling close to a week. Cody rode off to fetch the doctor as Teaspoon carried Buck into the bunkhouse. Rachel heard they’re arrival and ran to meet them, entering the bunkhouse as Teaspoon carefully laid Buck onto a bunk.

"What happened?" she asked as she rushed to the boy’s side, lifting the robes enough to see the bandages wrapped around his abdomen. Try as he might, Teaspoon had been unable to completely stop Buck’s bleeding. The wound had continued a slow steady seepage. Buck had still not regained consciousness.

"Cody’s gone for the doctor." Jimmy said to fill the silence.

"What happened?" Rachel demanded again. Kid relayed the story as best they knew it as they heard footsteps approach. Cody burst through the door, the doctor right behind them. The riders were promptly chased from the room, taking up all too familiar stations on the porch.

The sky was turning a faint shade lighter as the doctor emerged, Teaspoon following him.

"Well, is he gonna make it?" Jimmy asked for all of them.

"It’s still too soon to really tell. He’s very sick. You already know he’s been running a fever. I cleaned the wounds and re-bandaged them, gave him a good dose of penicillin. From what I’ve heard of Indian medicine, it’s similar to what you’ve been giving him all along. Everything now depends on him being able to fight the infection and on stopping that wound from bleeding. He’s lost a lot of blood."

~*~*~

Buck had sat next to Ike on one of the top bunks watching the doctor work. He couldn’t really tell what all was being said, most of the voices sounding faint and distant, but occasionally a word could be understood. He saw the doctor leave with Teaspoon, then the rest all come into the bunkhouse where everyone but Teaspoon settled in for a few hours sleep. Rachel curled up in the next bunk while Teaspoon pulled a chair closer to himself. The older man looked tired as he placed cool cloths on Buck’s forehead.

"Why haven’t I woke up yet?" Buck asked.

"Still fighting an infection I guess," Ike replied. "Besides, you’ve lost a lot of blood. You need the rest to gain your strength back."

"Its not so bad being dead is it? What if I…"

Ike cut him off. "No. You still have things to do with your life."

"What’s it like? Being dead?" Buck asked after a few moments of silence.

"There’s no pain. And I haven’t met anyone that wasn’t kind to each other. The weather is always nice. No one is ever hungry. It’s not bad at all. I’ve found my family here."

Buck looked at his friend. His immediate thoughts went to his own mother.

"I’ve found her too." Ike answered the unspoken question. Buck studied his friend’s face as a smile spread across it. "Look over by the fire."

Buck’s head snapped in that direction.

"Hello my son. My Running Buck. You have grown into a fine young man." Without moving, Buck found himself next to his mother. He gathered her into his embrace. "I can’t stay long my son. I have only a few seconds. But I had to see you. You’re friend is right. Your life is not yet finished. You have to make me a grandmother yet!"

"Mother, I have so many things to tell you."

"I know it all Running Buck. I have seen everything that has happened to you, all the trials, all the happiness, all the sorrows."

"Red Bear!" Buck exclaimed, realizing that he did not know if his brother were alive or not.

"He is well. You need not worry about him. But now I must go. You need to rest and you can’t do that with your spirit floating around."

"But I…"

"No, it is time for us to go. Rest my son, rest." Her presence faded. Buck turned back to the bunk. Ike, too, was gone.

~*~*~

Buck’s head moved just slightly, his hand trying to lift from the blankets.

"Mother?" he said weakly in Kiowa. "Ike?"

Teaspoon couldn’t make out the words the boy muttered. He continued to bathe his face and chest in cool water, hoping to relieve the low temperature that would not leave him.

"Son, you’ve got to come back to us. You’ve got to. We need you here with us."

On to Chapter Fourteen