by Mary Griggs
"Are you okay?" asked Jay, peering into Doris' open eyes. The woman was sobbing silently but made no other moves. "Doris! You've got to snap out of it and help me."
There was no reaction and Jay spared a moment to visually check the other bodies. She softened her voice and told her, "Doris, honey, they can't hurt you anymore."
Wanting to make sure that statement was true, she laboriously climbed to her feet and went around the clearing. Gritting her teeth, she leaned over to check each man for a pulse.
Dizzy with relief and blood loss, she returned to Doris' side. Touching her gently, Jay pleaded with the taller woman. "Please, you're safe now. Come back."
Getting no response, Jay looked up. The sun was well on its journey across the sky. "You've got to wake up. I can't carry you," she muttered. "I can't carry me." Closing her eyes, she tried to calm the frantic beat of her heart.
She didn't know how long she had knelt there when she felt a hand on her leg. Snapping her head up, she was glad to see Doris' dark eyes on her.
"How?"
"They're dead. Come on."
"He was so heavy and it hurt."
"I know, but we need to get out of here."
"I thought I was going to die." There was wonder in her voice.
"But you didn't. You've got to hold onto that now. You're not dead and you need to help me."
Doris focused her attention on Jay. "How did you get free?"
"I broke the arrow off. Can we go now?"
Doris sat up and pulled the tattered remains of her shirt together. She kicked out at the dead man lying across her legs, nearly sobbing until she was free. She flinched when Jay touched her shoulder.
"We really have to get out here."
"Why? They're all dead." Doris looked around the clearing at the carnage. Flies had begun to be drawn to the blood and were buzzing around the wounds and staring eyes. "What do we have to worry about? You've killed them all."
"Maybe." Jay tried to get to her feet and failed. She shook her head and pushed against the ground, almost smiling when her knees locked and she finally stood. "We need to go."
"Why?"
"Look around, Doris. None of them have camping gear or packs."
"So?"
"So, it means their camp is somewhere else, most likely, with folks who are going to come looking for these guys because they heard the shots or because they don't return when they are expected."
Doris surged to her feet and looked around wildly. "How many more?"
"I don't know. We just need to get away from here."
Looking down at herself, Doris started to cry again. "My clothes." She tried to pull the torn pieces of her shirt together. Unsuccessful in her effort to cover up her chest, she turned her brown eyes on Jay.
Jay turned to look at her. She couldn't believe that the state of her attire was a major issue. "Sorry. I thought upper body shots were safest. Take his pants, he's about your size."
"You're kidding me. I can't take his pants."
"Then make do with what you have." Jay sagged against the support of a tree trunk. "Make it quick, though."
Doris scrubbed the heels of her hands over her eyes. "What's the almighty rush?"
"I'm starting to fade. We have to start moving soon."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I'm fucking bleeding here and we need to get out of here before I pass out." Jay had stepped away from the tree when she started speaking. Dizzy, her legs buckled on the last word.
Jumping forward, Doris was able to take most of Jay's weight and ease her to the ground. For a moment, she just stared at the unconscious form in her arms. She panicked and shook Jay, crying, "Wake up! Wake up!"
Jay groaned and tried to pull away from the vise that was squeezing her. When she opened her eyes, she saw Doris' face. "What?"
"Oh, thank goodness. You fainted."
"And you think shaking someone with an arrow through them is a good way to wake them up?" Jay snapped as she cradled her arm against her chest. Glancing over at Doris, she saw her crying in remorse. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Jay gritted her teeth and slowly made her way to her feet. "Let's just try to make it back to the house without killing one another, okay?"
"I'm sorry."
Jay didn't answer. She stood swaying for so long that Doris asked, "Hey, I thought you wanted to go." She lightly grasped Jay's wrist. "Hey?"
Her entire body jerked and Jay pulled away from her. Raising a trembling hand to her forehead, Jay swallowed. "Sorry. I keep phasing out." She shifted slightly and grimaced.
"What can I do?"
"There isn't much that can be done until we get back."
"Isn't there anything?"
"I need some sort of a sling."
"With what?"
"Take one of their belts."
Doris was tentative about touching the bodies but she took another glance at Jay's face. It was a color gray that she didn't think human beings came in. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to roll one of her attackers over. Anticipating his turn at her, his buckle was already undone. She brought belt over and helped Jay move her arm into place.
Once her arm was supported, Jay was able to straighten up. "Okay. Let's get this show on the road." The two women started to retrace their steps back to the path.
Jay had a hard time walking in a direct line. After stumbling over a root, Doris took her arm. She received a flash of smile in thanks.
On the narrow deer path, they had to walk closely together. Doris found herself taking more of the other woman's weight. "Can you do this?" she asked before they attempted the steep incline back to the road.
The throbbing of her shoulder made it hard for Jay to concentrate. Her voice breathy, she answered, "It's not like I've got much of a choice."
They were both sweating and panting when they reached the top. Jay was also shivering and mumbling to herself. At the top, her legs buckled and they both went crashing to their knees.
Looking into the glazed eyes, Doris began to feel real fear. "Should I leave you here and bring back help?" Doris asked.
"No. Don't leave me." Jay made the effort to regain her footing. With the other woman's help, she was able to stand. "I can do this."
"You're going to kill yourself."
"Nonsense. I'm fine."
"I don't believe you."
"Just watch me." Digging into her reserves, Jay lifted one leg and then the other. Slowly but surely, she lurched the remaining distance to the mountain hideaway.
Doris nearly wept in relief when she saw the house. "Oh, thank you, Jesus," she said. She supported the almost dead weight of the other woman across the clearing. "Hang on, it's just a little farther."
At the pond, she called out. "Help! Hey, we need some help out here." She was surprised that no one came to meet them, not even the dogs.
Using their last remains of strength, they made it into the house. "Hello? Anyone here? I could use a little help," she shouted. There was no response and she stood there, holding Jay upright and dithered about what to do.
"Put me down," whispered Jay.
"Where?"
"Table."
"I can't get you up on the table by myself."
"No. Sit in chair. Lean on table."
The two of them made their slow way to the dining table. Freeing one hand, Doris pulled out a seat and eased the other woman down.
"Now what?"
"Lay down."
Doris assisted the semiconscious woman in leaning one arm on the table. Gently, she helped lower her head to rest on her bent forearm. Not knowing what to do about the other arm, she left it hanging from the sling.
"Are you going to be okay?" she asked. Not waiting for an answer, she patted the dark head and turned toward the French doors. "I've got to find help, Jay."
"Go. I'll be here."
A nervous smile ghosted across her face. "You be sure to do that." Doris came out of the back door at a dead run and scanned the clearing. She
didn't see anyone and felt an icy weight in her bowels. She had no idea what she would do if she couldn't find anyone.
In anguish, she headed to the top of the cliff and nearly sobbed in relief when she spied her friends and family. They were all down spreading compost and turning the soil under. For the first time, she felt truly grateful for their presence.
"Hey!" she shouted.
Martha looked up. "Hey, yourself. We didn't expect you back so soon."
"You need to help me," she called down to them.
Shading her eyes Susan studied the agitated women. "What's the problem?"
"Get up here and help me."
"What's up?" Martha asked, setting her hoe down. "Are you all right?"
"It's Jay. She's hurt." When the other women just stare up her, she added desperately. "Really bad. Come quickly."
Martha and Piper reacted immediately to the panic in her voice and led the race up the stone steps. Doris waited only long enough to see that they're responding before she turned and headed back to the house.
Catching up to her, Martha grabbed her arm. "What's wrong?"
Doris shook off the hand. "Let me go. Jay needs you."
"What happened?" Piper demanded.
"Are you hurt?"
Doris looked down at the bloodstains on her clothes and hands. "No. It's not mine."
"Where is she?"
"In the house. At the table."
"Mama," Eva cried. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine now, baby." She glared at Martha. "Please, go help her." Doris stopped walking, enfolded Eva in her arms and began sobbing.
Exchanging glances at the uncharacteristic plea and emotional outburst, Piper and Martha delayed no longer. They sprinted to the house and into the kitchen. They came to a stop over the huddled form in the dining room. The back of her shirt was almost entirely crimson and the feathered haft of the arrow vibrated slightly as Jay drew breath.
"I'm going to be sick."
Martha looked at the white faces of Cody and Carol. She knew that the best thing for everyone was to give them something to do. "Okay, you two start some water boiling. I need some scissors and for someone to go downstairs and bring up some bandages from the first aid closet."
She went down on one knee and felt for a pulse on Jay's neck. She swallowed in relief as the woman moaned softly in response to her touch.
Piper took the scissors from Cody and gently cut away the bloody shirt, starting at the collar. Exposing Jay's back, she could hardly see skin for all the blood. Biting her lip, she pressed on the area surrounding the entrance of the arrow. She felt the bone give beneath her fingers as Jay shifted in agony. "Her shoulder is in at least two pieces," she said, wincing in sympathetic pain. Looking at Martha, she asked, "Are you ready to check out her front?"
"Yeah. We'll need to turn her slightly and support her head."
Jay's other hand scrabbled across the surface of the table as she felt herself falling back. She blinked into Martha's startled eyes. "Whoa," she whispered.
"Whoa, yourself. You been awake long?"
"Don't think so."
"How are you feeling?"
"Dizzy." Jay tried to stifle a cough. "Hurts to breathe."
Martha and Piper cut the rest of her shirt away from the broken end of the arrow. "What happened?" asked Martha.
"These guys. They came out of the woods. It was horrible." Doris was standing in the doorway, her arms tight around her midriff. She began to cry and was taken into Susan's arms. "Oh, dear Lord. This is all my fault."
"Shh," soothed Susan. "You didn't make them shoot her. It's not your fault."
"She wouldn't have been out there if it hadn't been for me."
"Hey, neither of you would have been anywhere near there if I hadn't made you run." Piper's voice was filled with self-loathing.
"We can assign blame later," Martha said. "We've got a few more important things on our hands right now." She watched as Doris pulled out of Susan's arms and went out the back door. Knowing she couldn't deal with her sister right then, she stiffened her back. "Have you ever dealt with something like this?" she asked the room.
"Not without knowing an ambulance was screaming to my location." Piper's voice shook. "I don't know where to start."
"There's always the ABC's."
Both of the women turned their attention to Susan. Piper asked, "What?"
"You know, airway, breathing and circulation."
"Yeah but what about after that?" Piper was still very frightened.
"Maybe Jay can help." Martha leaned forward. She lightly tapped Jay's cheek and waited for the eyes to focus on her. "Jay, I need your help."
"What?"
"I need to you stay awake and tell me what to do."
"Why now…all of a sudden?"
Martha was about to respond sharply when she saw the slight smile on Jay's lips. "I know that asking for help is out of character," she responded. "But this is a little out of my league." She took the cloth that Carol gave her and gently wiped at the dirt and sweat soaked face.
"It's gotta come out."
"Yeah. I kind of figured that. Why didn't you take it out when it happened?"
"Thought I'd bleed to death if I did." Jay blinked slowly.
"You were probably right about that." Martha touched the broken end sticking inches out of her chest. "Just pull?"
"Your guess as good as mine."
"All right. What about afterwards? You're going to do all that bleeding now. And infection, too."
"Should cauterize it."
"How are we supposed to do that?"
"A screw and pruning shears. Cut haft close…to skin…and…put in the screw. Heat it, red hot."
"Pull it out the back or front?"
"Pull it out the back," Jay panted, coughing weakly. When she tried to speak again, they could see blood on her teeth.
Concerned, Martha pulled out a stethoscope from the medics bag. She closed her eyes when she heard the wet crackling from the injured woman's lungs. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself down.
"What?" His voice cracked on the word. Cody was close to tears and his mother enfolded him in her arms.
"Diminished breath sounds on the left." Martha's face was grave as she met Jay's eyes. "That's not good."
Jay nodded and winced. "Yeah, think it nicked my lung."
"This is going to be bad."
"I…know…Might crash…"
"Crash?"
"Her heart might stop," Martha spoke over her shoulder. "We can do CPR."
"Don't," Jay murmured, her head lolling against Piper's supporting hands. "No extraordinary measures."
"We're not going to just let you die."
"Good to hear. Just don't…kill yourselves." Jay's eyes fluttered closed and she sagged sideways.
Chapter Sixteen - There is a Balm in Gilead
There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin sick soul.
Words & Music: Unknown
"Jay!" Martha shouted.
Piper moved one of her hands and felt for a pulse. "She's still with us."
Martha stood up and shook out her hands. Taking a deep breath, she dried her suddenly damp hands on her slacks and began to issue orders. "Okay, we've got to collect things." She pointed at Cody. "Run down to the garden and get a set of pruning shears. You know what they look like?" At his nod, she turned to Susan. "I don't know how much blood there will be. We'll need towels and a lot more bandages if we're going to perform an operation."
"What about me?" Piper asked. She continued to hold Jay upright against the back of the chair. Her hands tightened as Jay coughed again and shifted in pain.
"Keep her still. I'm going to go downstairs and get a screw and the propane torch. I'll come back and wash my hands and then I'll relieve you and you can do the same."
"What can we do?" Carol asked, indicating her and Eva.
"Clea
r off the table. We'll move her there after we get the arrow out. Then get her bed cleared off upstairs."
Everyone dispersed to their tasks. Susan leaned out the back door and looked for Doris. She was sitting on one of the lounge chairs with her head in her hands. Unsure of whether she should go out and comfort her, Susan decided to wait until the operation was over.