Z. is for The Mountain Girl (Chapt. 10)

The Mountain Girl
Chapter (10)
The Doctor

Jay hurried back to camp, tied Gabby beside of old Gal, and ran to the
wagon. He pulled the canvas back, and asked, how "Angel" was doing?
Jess replied, "she" has been talking out of her, head about the cat. He
asked, "pa" what was it, a cougar?

Jay said, "no" a panther. "Beth" you, did some fine shooting honey.
But, I have one question, "how did you manage to load the gun so quick
after you, shot it in the leg? Beth replied, "pa" it, was already
loaded! When the panther, attack mama, it knocked the gun out of mama's
hands. I grabbed the gun, and shot it.

Jay scratched his head, and thought, "Angel" must have shot it, the
first time. He reached over, and rubbed her, head well, at least you,
scared it off honey.

Jay took the bandage off Angels arm, and thought, "boy I, did a poor
job of stitching her up. But I think it will be all right."

Beth said, "pa" I'm hungry! He told "Jess" get the flour, and meal mix
it together. We will fry the frog legs!

Jess did just that, and dropped them one by one into the hot grease.
They ate in silence! "Pa, you go see to mama. Beth, and I will clean up
the dishes," Jess responded.

Jay climbed into the back of the wagon. Angel was still sleeping. He
put his hand to her, forehead she was burning up with fever. He slid
out of the wagon, and reached down, and got a bowl of water. Jay
rummaged around until he found a washcloth. He gently started washing
Angel down, with the cool water. It didn't do any good as soon as she,
was cool to the touch she was hot again.

Jay tried to wake her, but she only moaned, and tried to push his hand
away. He stepped outside, and checked on the children.

They were sound asleep by the fire. He tossed another log on the fire,
and glanced back at the wagon.

Jay knew he, had to get her help. She wasn't getting any better. Jay
climbed back into the wagon, and lay down beside of her she, was
chilling. He could feel her body jerk.

Jay said to her, "honey you, got to pull yourself out of this." I don't
know what we, would do without you. You are my, whole life as he, cried
softly to himself.

Jay awoke to voices he, peered out through the canvas. Jess was talking
to an old fellow with long gray hair, and a shaggy beard. He thought
it's the trapper! He looked back at Angel, and once again felt of her
forehead. She was still burning up with fever. Jay covered her, up with
all the quilts that he, could find, and quietly slid out of the
wagon.

The old fellow walked over to Jay, and said, "howdy my, names Will!"
"Glad to meet you, I'm Jay Crabb," Jay, responded.

The old fellow asked, "you" be Jay Crabb from Spout Holler? Jay
replied, "yep, the only one!" Well nice to meet you Jay, my brother has
told me, "all about you, and Miss Angel!" Jay said correction, "Mrs."!
Will muttered, "Well, well!"

Jess broke in, and asked, how's, "mama" this morning pa? Jay replied,
"she" isn't any better!

"You all had a run in with a panther the boy tells me," said, Will. Jay
nodded "yes", and Angel, got mulled pretty back. I can't seem to break
the fever.

"Do you mind if I, take a look at her," Will, asked? "Not at all, if
you think you, can do something for her," Jay, replied.

The old fellow crawled into the wagon he, told, "Jess" to bring him his
black bag on his horse. Jess did as he, was told, and handed it to
him.
Will took out a glass bottle, and pinched Angel's nose. She opened her
mouth, and he, counted out 4 drops of the liquid. He replaced the lid,
and set the medicine on the cabinet.

Will took out a small round green can, and handed it to Jay. You rub
this on her wounds, and give her, that medicine again tonight. She
should be ok in a couple of days.

Jay asked, "you a doctor?" Will replied, "Well" I guess you could call
me that. I just practice it when someone is in dear need of one!" Jay
looked at him sort of puzzled. He patted Jay; on the back, and told,
"him" it was a long story!

Will said, to "Jess what happen to your hand sonny?" Jess mumbled, "I
got bite by a copperhead a couple of months ago." "I see, said, Will!"
You use some of that cream on your hand. It is medicated, and I think
it, will help you. "I sure will, thank you sir," Jess, stated! Will
nodded, and smiled.

Jay asked, "Will," how much do I owe you? Will said, "nothing", I'm
just glad I, happen to be passing through!

Jay told Jess, "put some coffee on to boil!" "Will", Jay asked, "you
can stay for breakfast can't you?" "Sure! I'll take you up on that",
Will, replied. Will rattled on, my brother, really liked that gal, in
there! She was always kind to him when he, came up into this area
trapping.

Jay asked, how is the "old fellow?" Will replied, "he" died three years
ago he got pneumonia, and didn't live long. I was over seas at the
time!

Jay said, when I first saw "you I, thought you were him." What was his
name? We were never properly introduced. We mostly talked when we, ran
up on each other hunting or when I, would stop by his, shop to buy
stuff.

"Sal Reed!" Sal, and I were the last of the Reed family Will said,
looking down at his coffee cup. He was my twin brother.

Jess broke the silence by asking, you want some more coffee "Mr. Reed?"
"No, sonny, I best be getting back to my place" Will, responded.

Jay said, "Well, I guess we will head back home, since Mr. Reed gone
there's no use going on!" Will asked, is that where "you folks" were
going to see my brother?

Jay replied, "I was hoping to buy some leather goods off of him." I
sure hate to hear he's passed on Will. Will said, "yea, me too." I'm a
going a miss him, and he turned his, head away.

Jay shifted his weight from one foot to the other. He was lost for
words!

Will said, "Jay", you all pack up, and come with me. You can have all
the leather goods! I have no use for them!

Jay asked, you think "Angel" is well enough to travel? Will replied,
"sure!" Besides it's only a day's ride from here. We should get there
by dark if we, get a move on.

Will looked at "Beth, who might you be little one?" Beth smiled dropped
her head, and looked at the ground. Will told her, "I bet your, name is
smiley!"

"No, Beth", she stated, and proceeded to tell him, about shooting the
panther.

(To be continued)

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