As Jonah sat up, she lifted his splinted leg and helped him turn to rest it on the floor. He gripped the walking sticks to pull himself to standing.
"Let me help." Naomi's voice sounded from behind her as she hurried from the bed chamber.
Dinah sent her raised brows. "I thought you were resting." Naomi had spent a great deal of time with Jonah these past days, enough that they could be forming an attachment.
But in Naomi's condition, that didn't seem wise. Dinah had tried to hint at that the other night when she told her sister about Jericho's affections. Naomi hadn't seemed to catch on.
Now, she positioned herself on Jonah's left side. "You need an extra set of hands for this."
Dinah took up his right, and as Jonah rose to standing, she gave instructions. "Make sure you keep all your weight on your good leg." She helped position the walking sticks under his arms. "These are a better height, but I might add one more extension. See if you can position them forward, then swing your body to catch up with them."
With his first try, he did what she asked, but the movement jerked. His second step was smoother.
"Look at you, Uncle Jonah. You'll be on a horse again soon." Lillian grinned as she dried plates.
"Plannin' to do that tomorrow." He flashed a cheeky smile.
Dinah stayed by his side as he moved, though he seemed to be gaining good balance. "Two laps around the inside of the cabin, then we'll stop for the day."
"That's not enough. I'm strong now, see?" Jonah sent her a look that was probably supposed to charm her into agreeing.
She shook her head. "I don't want to jostle the bone while it's still healing. You need to spend most of your time in bed."
"Can I at least sit in a chair?"
"You can sit up in bed for one hour, as long as you keep your leg straight. Then we need to attach the traction again."
He grumbled under his breath, but nothing he said would change her decision on this. Too much could go wrong if he didn't adhere to her instructions.
Once she had Jonah back in bed and Naomi fussing to make him comfortable, she turned to Mr. Chalmers. He'd been quiet these past three days he'd laid on the pallet on the floor. She'd asked if he wanted a mattress, but he waved the offer away. Said he was used to bedding down on the ground.
He still slept a lot, and when awake, he lay and watched the happenings within the cabin. The laudanum she'd been giving him might have something to do with his silence, but that would change soon. Now was the time to wean him.
She carried her medical kit to his side and knelt. "How are you feeling today?"
"Fine." He regarded her in his usual quiet manner.
She reached for his arm. "Let's see how you're healing."
Beneath the bandage, the first hints of new flesh were growing in his wound. Relief eased through her. No sign of excessive festering. There was definitely red tinging the edges of the skin, but not more than she would expect from a bear claw. The salve she'd been applying should stop that in time.
He would need to use the cream for several weeks to keep the wound healing correctly. It would be helpful to have extra tins of the stuff that she could send with patients.
She needed a great many supplies actually. She would have to talk to Jericho about how to send an order. Maybe some materials could be purchased in Fort Benton, but most would have to be shipped up the Missouri River.
Once she wrapped a fresh bandage securely around the arm, she gathered the soiled cloth and started to rise.
"What about the medicine?” Mr. Chalmers scowled. “Still hurts a powerful lot."
She crouched down to his level again and gentled her voice. "I can't give you that anymore, but your arm is healing nicely. The pain should get better every day."
He frowned. "It hurts like hades. Do you got spirits or somethin' to take the edge off?"
"I'm sorry, Mr. Chalmers. All we can do is let it heal." She stood again and placed her case against the wall, then carried the used bandage to the wash bucket.
Naomi stepped from the chamber, her cloak in hand. "I need some fresh air. Will you girls take a walk with me?"
"Apple and I will come." Lillian dried her hands on a cloth.
