Page 67 (1/2)

“Do you reckon you two ladies can hold Woolie dohile I straighten his leg?” Rusty le much with the two of you lookin’ on He’d want to show you how brave he is”

Lorna glanced uncertainly at Mary “I guess so”

“You just set the leg, Rusty,” Mary stated “Lorna and I will see that he doesn’t give you any trouble”

Rusty uncorked the bottle and filled a tin cup with the liquor He carried it over and handed it to Benteen, who crouched beside the injured cowboy While Rusty returned to the wagon to get some rawhide strips and pry off a board, Benteen helped Woolie partially sit up Woolie gulped down half of it, choked on a cough, then finished it

“My God, Rusty,” he declared hoarsely as Benteen lowered hiround “You sure that stuff ain’t to kill snakes?”

“Maybe that’s what the label said” Rusty paused to break the board slat in half with his knee “Never could read too good” He waved Lorna and Mary toward the prone cowboy “Each of you grab an arm”

As Lorna knelt beside hirit his teeth against the pain and smile at the same time

“Look at ot a lady on each arm Bet you’re wishin’ you was me”

Lorna had never seen anyone in physical pain before It was i in syround beside Woolie’s left leg, holding the rawhide strings between his teeth

“Hold on tight,” he said through them, and took hold of the left boot

“I’ll try not to swear, ladies,” Woolie said, trying again to s slips out”

“We will,” Lorna whispered as her hands gripped his arm and shoulder to hold him flat

Her gaze stayed riveted to his white face She couldn’t bring herself to look to see what Rusty was doing Beads of perspiration started popping out all over his face as Woolie clamped his teeth shut His features were contorted with pain Lorna wished he’d cry out His body jerked froroan and went limp

“Passed out,” Rusty declared “You can let go of him now”

As Lorna sat back on her heels, she felt weak inside Benteen’s hands closed on her shoulders to help her to her feet She half-turned to hilance seemed to run over her with disinterest