[He nods twice but there's a brief smile on his face as if making light of this situation were possible. Could be the way that thumb is working its magic. Who knew it would come to this. If Freddy had any idea he might have said something--or done something--to Lawrence Dimick the way he wanted to. Wants to. Too late now.]
I know. [He couldn't believe it turned out like this. An apology starts forming on his lips, but it isn't his fault or the kids. The plan was perfect, perfect. Not some hair-brained train robbery.] You're real fucking tough.
[As if he didn't have an idea when he saw him. Something about how he approached in that leather he was wearing. Well, he got his wish in spending more time with him.]
[Oh God why'd he have to go and say that? The kid grimaces then coughs.]
No I'm not, Larry.
[He shakes his head, ready to start spinning again. Being tough is about more than just taking a bullet like a trooper. Freddy's not tough. Tough guys don't shot innocent women and lie through their teeth to men who give him their names.]
[He grips that hand tighter shakes it a little as though it'll affirm something. Now is not the time for modesty. That's got to be the pain starting. Or was that his first kill? Oh fuck. Green through and through, this shouldn't be happening.]
Tough guys go down but they're not out. You, my friend are not out.
[He groans like he's out of breath, sick from all that bloodloss and perhaps close to passing out. Freddy doesn't want to pass out. What if he doesn't wake up? The shaking to his hand helps in that respect, it reminds the kid he's still alive.
Yeah, well, we're on our way. We'll get to the rendezvous and it'll all get sorted out. No dying today, not you.
[Since when the fuck did he get so sure of that? It's a blow to the gut. Where the hell is Joe or that shit for brains son of his? Shit, shit, shit. For all this cool, calm talk he's got going on White's palms are getting sweaty. The kid needs him more than before, no backing down or ducking out.]
So...uh... [think think think] you don't even need to sing that lone prairie song.
[Again he's shaking his head like it's such a disappointment to them both but at least the kid's quieting down. A decent distraction, this song business.]
Somethin'...roll on, roll on, roll on little doggies...
[Good God Freddy sounds terrible trying to sing while shot but who wouldn't right? It fucking hurt just to get that much out.]
[Dimick is no doctor by anyone's measure. If he can get some hot metal or something to cauterize the wound though he'd stop bleeding from the outside. Hell, could do good until they were able to get him some help. For now he'll offer up songs and bullshit to keep him awake, thinking less on expiring.]
You said you didn't know any. Know the one that starts out like I lay on the prairie and looked at the stars in the sky? Heard that one sometime ago.
[Fuck. He's having a hard time thinking of the exact words. The man is in agony, there's nothing he can do but get them there as fast as he can with that horse that's already getting tuckered out. There must be a bad moon rising.
The old man puts his lips together and whistles out the tune, light and none as enthusiastically as it is called for. He feels like an idiot, but it's better than allowing the squirming to continue uninterrupted. Letting go of Mr. Orange's hand is not an option.
For a second he thinks to haul him up beside him but then anyone riding past too closely would get suspicious.]
[He swallows and rolls tightly towards the back of Larry's seat. Freddy tries to keep his groans down so as not to drown out the whistling. He's making an effort to listen, to memorize that melody, as if it's really gonna save him. If anything it's almost comforting...comforting enough that the kid tries to whistle it back, but his mouth is too parched and his body too weak.
Melody first and--[he swallows watching words like if or any other indicator that the end to this day is uncertain] we'll work on the words later.
[Like they're important at all. The old man hauls at the reins to pull the horse to a stop so he can turn completely to try and get him more comfortable. Even though he's seen blood before it still is a shock. So much of it and all coming out of that body. And a shame. Larry was hoping they'd get closer but not like this. No how.]
[A little frustration creeps in for Larry's insistence. Why is he being so kind? Doesn't he know what Freddy is? Regardless, he does lick his lips, but it's more than just for wetting them. It's his anxiety.]
[The walk home's been uneventful so far because Freddy here has been quiet thanks to their ordeal. While it was a cursed one it was a none too pleasant reminder of that sordid experience. Worse yet, he's left the curse in a cold sweat, stinking of the prairie, feeling sore from all that writhing, and fucking exhausted.]
[Silence is perfectly agreeable to the old man. Larry is working on is second cigarette. There's no blood on him, though he feels dirty. All the ground covered from where they've been, that fucking day came back somehow. Just as fresh.
He side glances at the kid, not yet saying anything.]
[For whatever reason Freddy's got no cigarettes on him, but instead of asking for the one Larry's working on he just holds his hand out to the old man, expecting him to understand the point of the gesture.]
[Huh? Oh. Larry pulls the cigarette from his mouth--hey, it's alright lit and started. And it isn't the most intimate contact they've had. In fact, they've come along way.]
Take it. It's yours.
[Already he is fishing for another Chesterfield for himself.]
[The kid gives a slight nod of thanks before taking a drag off that stick. The filter on this is something he'll never get used to and it shows in the way his eyes kind of narrow and his mouth purses, but the taste is good. It reminds him of Larry. Finally the silent wonder speaks.]
[For the cigarette. For taking care of him in the back seat of a car, or in the most roomy part of a covered wagon, well, I guess that would apply too.]
Sure different.
[That too. The curse, how far they've come or not so much.]
[Except maybe his pride. It's not a total lie because the kid doesn't hurt so much as feel sore as hell, like he went through a gauntlet instead of nearly bled to death. He brushes not-so-floppy sweat-dried hair from his forehead.]
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