Hawken Fury (Giant Wilderness Book One) by Robbins David

Author:Robbins, David
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: frontier adventure, mountain men, frontier america, david thompson, frontier action, david robbins, 1800s frontier life, us wilderness, us frontier, ebook action and adventure
Publisher: Piccadilly Publishing

Chapter Nineteen

The doctor sighed and raised his hand from Nate’s hot forehead. He thoughtfully chewed on his lower lip for a minute, then pivoted and regarded his audience somberly. “I’m afraid there’s nothing more I can do. His life is in the hands of a higher power than mine.”

Winona, seated in a chair between Shakespeare and Blue Water Woman, with Zachary rigid on her lap, averted her eyes and swallowed hard. A peculiar lump obstructed her throat and she experienced difficulty breathing.

“We appreciate all you’ve done, Doc Sawyer,” Shakespeare responded, rising.

“I just wish it could have been more,” Sawyer said, and frowned. “He’s lost more blood than any person can dare afford to lose.”

The mountain man nodded, then stepped over to the bed. “We did the best we could. Rode day and night to get here.”

Sawyer looked at Winona and Blue Water Woman. “The dressings these ladies applied did a world of good. Probably kept him alive until you arrived.” He ran a finger over his drooping black mustache. “Perhaps they would be willing to share their secret sometime. I’m always open to Indian remedies. I’ve found they often work better than the cures touted by my learned colleagues back East.”

“We will write the herbal ingredients down for you and give them to you the next time you visit,” Blue Water Woman said.

“Thank you,” Doctor Sawyer said, and stooped to pick up his large black bag. He stared one last time at Nate King’s terribly lacerated features, grimaced, and walked to the doorway. “If he does by some miracle pull through,” he told Winona, “he’ll be scarred for life. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t care about scars,” Winona said softly. “I only want him to live.”

The physician mustered a wan smile and departed.

For a while no one else uttered a word. It was little Zach who finally broke the silence.

“Is Pa going to die, Ma?”

Tears filled the corners of Winona’s eyes and she pretended to be extraordinarily interested in her moccasins.

“Will he, Ma?”

Blue Water Woman stood. “No one can say, young one.” She leaned down and lifted Zach in her arms, grinning bravely. “Why don’t you come with me and I’ll let you have more of the pudding I made last night?”

“Could I?” Zach asked eagerly.

“Your mother won’t mind,” Blue Water Woman said, moving off.

“Thanks.”

“Thank my husband. He was the one who taught me how to prepare it. Dried-fruit pudding is one of his favorites.”

They were almost out the door when Zachary glanced at the grizzled frontiersman. “Shakespeare can cook?”

Then they were gone.

“Nice kid,” Shakespeare muttered. “Takes after his old man.”

Winona fought to prevent the tears from flowing. The women of her tribe prided themselves on their courage in the face of adversity and their ability to stoically endure any hardship. No warrior in his right mind wanted a wife who was weak in that respect, who whined and cried like a pampered child, and every Shoshone maiden worked hard at cultivating the proper emotional maturity. She had been reared to believe there was a proper time and place to express sorrow, and this was most certainly not it.

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