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The Captain said ...He hasn't had any water all day most likely , all he threw up was bile . He needs water if we can get any down him . She said … Get me a half glass of water and the baking soda , there is a small bottle of bismuth in the top box there in that pile . As she pointed . Captain Jack said ...The baking soda might kill him ! She said ...No , not just a bit with plenty of water and the bismuth will help settle the stomach . It was brought and she measured a tiny bit of soda and bismuth into the glass stirring it till it was well dissolved . She said sit him up and make him drink an eighth of this then give him all the water he will swallow then keep him sitting for ten min .

They did what she said and he started belching , after ten min she said ...give him more water . They did and he quit belching then they laid him down . She said ...He should be able to hold the water down , we will give him a bit of the soda and bismuth along and all the water he will drink . Wade said ...We are goin need more strips than the one from yesterday for repacking and such . He started cutting more strips and Zeke pulled the outside threads off like Wade had done . Wade also cut some bandages for when they finished and long strips of colored sack to bind the arm for pressure . They were ready !


Ed said ...Ought to be fun holding him down . He a big ol boy just like his Paw and he's solid muscle !

Captain Jack was getting ready laying out everything putting sacks under Sam's arm hopefully to catch clots and blood if they could get it draining and such .

Ed Rawlings walked over and sat on the seat by her bed . He said ...My name is Ed Rawlings ma'am , I am an old friend of Jack , Sam and Sam's father Big Foot , I also rode much with Wade's father Jacob . I know these are not good conditions to meet under but maybe we can talk later . Jack thinks more than just highly of you and I have heard nothing but good of you . I hope to become better acquainted with you and yours ma'am . The word is that this farm is a special place so I had to see it for myself .

She thanked him and told him he was welcome to stay as long as he would like . That this was a hard time but usually things were very good with everyone . He said ...That's what I hear and I don't usually see much good ma'am , it's why I'm here . Well they are needin me ma'am we will talk later . As he stood up he said ...You sure are nice ...and your pretty too !

Wade heard that and smiled .

Ed went back to the table and said ...She is a nice lady . Captain Jack said ...She is nice as they come ! Ed said ...Yea !...And she didn't tell me she thought I was dead either .

Captain Jack said Ed ...Try and hold his right arm down , Zeke ... hold his shoulders down , Wade ...Hold his left forearm down on the table to the elbow . If he wakes up which he most likely will he's not thinking right anyway so try and keep him still as you can , I don't want to tie him .


Everyone got in position and Captain Jack started cleaning the arm with hot water , The wound had bled a lot when it happened but had sealed up cutting off the drainage . The Captain took his fingers and opened the slit made by the knife after soaking it and tried to put his finger in it to open it up as much as he could to get the butter knife in with a strip to clean it and get clots out and blood flowing to relieve the pressure .


Sam halfway came to and was struggling , he cried out as the captain shoved his finger farther in trying to open it . Ed was struggling to hold his right arm down , Sam was stout as a bull . Captain Jack and Wade were trying to talk to him to be still , She was watching with tears in her eyes . Captain Jack dug some clotted blood out on the sack and kept wiggling his finger in the hole trying to start a flow . He took the round ended butter knife wrapped with a clean strip and worked deep , blood started coming and he wrapped a whole strip around the knife twisting it to clean the clotted blood sticking to the sides and down deep . He laid the knife down , put both hands above wound and pushed down hard . Clots poured out and Sam cried out ! The captain cleaned it out again with a new strip and there were no more clots . Ed said ...You got it out ! Wade agreed . Captain Jack packed the wound snuggly with a long strip to slow the bleeding but allow drainage leaving the end of the strip hanging out to wick the blood and water out . They bound his upper arm and shoulder to reduce the swelling and would tighten it when needed . Every day they would pull a little of the strip out to let it close and heal from the inside out .


Sam had passed out again which was a blessing . Wade started making him a bed on the east wall and she said ...Get two of my quilts against the wall that are folded and spread them to make it softer for him . Wade did and laid Sam's bedding on top with flour sacks to keep the drainage off the bed . They all lifted him to the bed and gently laid him down . Zeke stuffed a sack with a bunch of sacks to make him a pillow . Captain Jack said ...Now we get his fever down . We need a bucket of water and take turns keeping him cool , morning will tell a lot . Zeke fetched a bucket of water from the well and offered to stay with him and her .

They all went outside to put up the stock and show Ed where to put his bed except Zeke . He took her a damp cloth to hold on her eyes , they were all red and tears still slowly running . He sat down and said ...Sam will be alright , we are going to take care of him . The Captain did the best he could , he did a good job . Everything is going to be alright ! She said ...I love all of them and it hurts to see Sam have to go through that ! Zeke said ...He would say the same thing about you ! It killed us to see you have to go through what you did yesterday but like you Sam will get better ! You and me will pray together later but why don't you pray now for Sam . I got to feed these men ...they did a good job and now there is Ed . She said ...What did he mean that I didn't think he was dead ? Zeke laughed out loud and said I'll tell you later and you will think it's funny !


She prayed while Zeke finished lunch which was going to be an early supper now .

Zeke finished the meal while checking on Sam and freshening the damp sacks on his upper body to reduce the fever . His wound was dripping a lot of water which was good getting the swollen arm and shoulder down in size . They would have to rebind it before night . He checked her wound also and it was draining very little and that was good but they didn't want the outside to scab and stop the draining . He gently cleaned and worked the two holes to keep them from sealing up . He knew it hurt her but had to be done , he replace the old bandage with clean and thought ...I need to get to the river and wash the white bandages and dirty clothes without telling her or she will have a fit about me doing the laundry . . And if I wash the dress she got shot in then she would have a small job she could do laying down to patch the two holes in it .


He hollered supper was ready and they all came from back of the shed and sat down at the table . Zeke had scrubbed it after working on Sam . Wade got dishes and poured everyone a glass of tea . Zeke made her a plate and cut up her ham so she wouldn't have to do it laying down , taking it to a seat by her bed where he would eat with her . They all sat and Wade trying to make Ed feel at home asked ...Ed would you give thanks before we eat ? Ed hesitated and said ...I don't pray ! I don't believe in GOD anymore . If ya'll want to pray that's fine with me ! Everyone was quiet then Wade said ...I think it's strange to be sitting here hearing you say that because not but a little time ago I sat exactly where you are sitting and said the exact same thing . GOD is working here . I'll give the thanks and Ed we are glad you are with us , GOD has blessed us with you today .

Heavenly father thank you for all you have given today . All comes from you Lord . Thank you for bringing Sam home to us , please bless him with your healing and give us how to help him . Thank you that she is improving through your healing also Lord and please give us guidance to help her also . We love them both , please speed their recovery . Thank you for Ed Rawlings being with us today Lord , he has been another blessing . Thank you for all you do for us which is everything good in our lives . Amen

Ed looked uncomfortable after prayer but everyone started talking and eating . Zeke said ...Where were you heading Ed when you stopped here ? Ed said ...I'm going to Indian Territory east of Fort Sill and kill two outlaws that have robbed , bushwhacked and killed two families in the panhandle .

It had cooled off a bit and Captain Jack said ...Lets work on her garden some ...I got a good start on it but the ground is dang hard ! Wade went and got two more shovels then started using a pick axe breaking ground ahead of the Captain and Ed who broke it up . Ed said ...I ain't made a garden since I can't remember ! Captain Jack said ...She wants one real bad . I'm afraid it's not going to do too well in the heat but she wants to figure out when to plant . She is from Iowa and the seasons are plumb different than there plus she just wants to plant something . Ed said ...I remember when I was the same way but that was a long time ago ...Now I just kill people . I wake up every day to track down and kill .


Wade heard them talking while he was slinging the pick axe prying out chunks for them to break up . He said ...When I was in the war I woke up to plan and kill as many as I could . I regret much of that and it soured me . Seeing the men die in my mind over and over but when I came here things changed and I found GOD again . Yesterday I killed several but they were out to kill my family and GOD doesn't want that to happen . Her and Zeke are the reason we are here for some reason . GOD is working here .


Captain Jack agreed and Ed just started breaking clods faster saying nothing .

Wade said to Ed ...Do you realize everyone here has killed someone ? Captain Jack told him the story of her and Zeke killing the outlaws . She couldn't hardly stand from the heat sickness , Zeke gave her the old black powder rifle and went out unarmed to face them .

He said ...Think about that Ed ! There is much strength here ! What were the odds they killed those killers ? Yesterday we defeated twenty four armed Comanche , we were four men and a woman with a baby . You might think on that !

Ed kept busting clods of dirt . In a bit he said ...I don't see Zeke or her killing anyone . They seem peaceful , he has only helped everyone and encouraged . She seems too sweet and caring . She cried all the time we doctored Sam . Ed said ...Your a preacher Wade ! Why do good people die to those that are evil killers !

Wade stopped using the pick axe and said looking at Ed ...Job one , Six and seven !
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, From where do you come?
So Satan answered the Lord and said, From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.


Wade continued ...Ed we live in a fallen world of uncertainty and evil , GOD is our salvation and the rock we cling to . Without him we are lost , he is the giver of all life and everything that is good and beautiful . He never changes ...he is constant and without him we are adrift in this fallen world .


Wade stood up straight and said ...After the war I was defeated ! Most of the men I lead were dead .I felt responsible ! I still remember hacking men to death or maimed in battle for nothing ! After the war I shunned people , I had lost my family and my friends . I bought land up on the prairie to stay away from people . I spent nearly two years alone in a shack watching my cattle being stolen or just drifting away . I went insane there but I came here after I had nothing ! Zeke and her literally saved my life , gave me back my sanity and they lead me back to GOD .

Zeke kept changing the damp sacks on Sam , he had not moved . Zeke roused him enough to drink a bit of the stomach medicine she had made and to sip some water . Zeke sure hoped he didn't get an infection in his arm . The wick hanging out of his wound was dripping regularly hopefully reducing the swelling . She was quiet and worried for Sam .


Zeke said ...Show me how to make the hard fudge ma'am ! He was trying to distract her by getting her to help him . He said is it hard ? She said no but you have to get it off the fire before it burns , I'll show you !

Ed stood up . He said ...If GOD is so merciful why did I come home long ago to find my wife raped and killed in an inhuman way ! Why did I find my three children tortured and killed ! Why for more years than I remember has this happened over and over again to others !

I have tried to stop it but the evil is bigger than me ! I CAN'T STOP IT ! I have tried and failed !

Wade dropped the pick axe and walked to Ed . He said gently ...Ed would you talk with me in the shade of the trees at the lot ?Ed glared at him and said ...Do you have an answer ! Can you explain ! Can you tell me anything I haven't heard !


Wade said ...I don't know brother but I know your hurting and like she did while Sam was being doctored I am hurting with you . Lets talk in the shade . Captain Jack left without a word to the cabin as Wade and Ed walked to the trees by the horse pen sitting on the ground .

Captain Jack went in the cabin and immediately checked Sam asking Zeke how he was doing . Zeke said ...He hasn't moved Captain . I got a little stomach medicine down him with some water and that's all . Just trying to keep cool sacks on him . We have been praying for him .

Captain Jack thought a min then walked over and sat with her at the bed . He told Zeke ...Come and sit Zeke . Zeke drug up a seat and the Captain explained what was happening with Ed and Wade . He said lets pray for them both right now while this is happening . And they did , in there own way and own words each prayed .

Ed and Wade sat on the grass in the shade . Ed was shaking and angry , Wade started talking . He told Ed how sorry he was that he had lost his family . He explained that GOD did not kill them . He talked about bad things happening to good people are not the work of GOD , that we are surrounded by evil in this world . He assured Ed that his family was with their Lord and that there was still good here but you have to seek it .

Wade told him that everyone here would want to share his pain to lessen his . He told of her losing her parents , being alone while Hosea went to war , him being changed when he returned . He told of her losing Jenny on the trail here , of losing Hosea to a murderer buried down by the cornfield .

He told of Zeke being a slave for half a century and finding a home here . Wade talked a long time about loss .

He told Ed he was welcome here and that they all worked together in many ways . They supported one another each seeking to better their relationship with GOD . He talked a long time and Ed had nothing to say . Ed got up and said ...I'm leaving . Then went to ready his horse .

Ed was determined to hold onto his hate and hear no reason ! This place was a danger to the life he had led though he had been drawn here like the others . Ed thought he had an investment in the life he had lived for so long . He blinded himself to his future . Trial had strengthened these people in their lives and faith . Their example scared Ed .