For Better Or For Worse
a story by Dana
© Dana 2000
Chapter 9
Arriving at the doctor's office, Rachel and Teaspoon discovered a weak looking Kid leaning on the porch railing. Rachel could tell he'd gotten sick. His usually bright blue eyes were clouded with fear and anguish, and his shirt was soaked with Louise's blood. She grasped his hand and whispered, "She'll be fine, honey. Any news?"
Kid just shook his head as he followed her back into the claustrophobic waiting area. Teaspoon stayed outside. Like Louise, doctor's offices made him uncomfortable.
Rachel and Kid sat on a narrow bench together, clutching each other's hands, silently praying for the woman they both loved. At long last, the doctor appeared, closing the exam room door behind him. Kid leapt to his feet, desperate for an explanation about his wife's condition.
"I'll begin with the good news first," the doctor calmly stated. "Although she lost quite a bit of blood from her head wound, I was able to stitch it up nicely. It's above her hairline, so once it heals, it will hardly be noticeable. She will be rather weak for a while from the blood loss, of course," he continued. "It also appears that she broke at least three ribs. I don't believe her lungs were punctured, but she will have to be watched closely for that. Breathing will be very painful for some time."
"So can I see her now?" Kid asked with urgency in his voice.
"I'm not quite finished, Kid," the doctor said calmly. "Unfortunately, Louise has lost her baby."
"Baby?!" Kid questioned, confused. He looked to Rachel for some sort of explanation, but she merely shook her head as tears welled in her eyes. Oh, Louise! she thought. Now I understand!
The doctor looked confused as well. "She hadn't told you?"
"No," Kid whispered, barely audible. He sat, crestfallen, on the bench and covered his face with his hands. But she meant to.
"She only found out herself yesterday," the doctor went on. "She didn't seem too excited about the idea."
Because of me, Kid thought. Because of my damned decision! Then he realized the doctor's implication, as if Lou had caused her accident on purpose. He rose, enraged, and yelled, "How dare you imply that! I don't care if you are a damned doctor! You have no right!!"
Rachel grabbed Kid's shoulders to calm him down. She could feel the tension coursing through his body. She softly asked the physician, "May we take her home now?"
"She's still unconscious, but home would probably be best for her, yes," he replied. "I've given her morphine for the pain, and I'll send some laudanum along with you. She'll need to be watched closely for the next week or so," he added.
Kid headed directly for the exam room and pushed open the door. The doctor had cleaned the blood off Louise's face, but the dried blood covered the bodice of her dress. She looked peaceful, but her face was ghostly white. He gently kissed her cheek and whispered, "I'm so sorry, Louise. This is all my fault!" Then he carefully lifted her tiny frame and carried her out of the room.
Rachel held the office door open for him and followed him out of the building. Teaspoon, seeing the frail young woman in her husband's arms, just shook his head in defeat. He and Rachel helped Kid climb into the back of the buckboard while he cradled his precious cargo. He helped Rachel up on to the seat of the buckboard and walked around front to untie the horses, when he noticed Buck galloping towards them at breakneck speed. "We're bringing her home, son," Teaspoon said to the rider.
"No, Teaspoon. It's Emily! Her baby's comin'!" as he dismounted and charged into the doctor's office.
"Then we best get movin'," Teaspoon commented to Rachel, climbing up beside her. What a day this was turning into!
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