~Chapter Four: Part III~

                                    

                                          


                          
My mouth opened and closed, but I could find no words.
                          
"Can you not do it yourself?" I asked hopefully, after a pregnant pause, my voice several octaves higher than usual.
                          
His face pouted. "I am hurt Winnie, will you not help me? My friend?"
                          
My heartstrings tugged, despite the fact I knew he was playing with me. Darn it all! I could not resist someone in need, even if they were being obnoxious. He did not need my help to clean... there, but I did not want to back down from his challenge. And a part of me I didn't want to acknowledge was not at all repelled by the idea.
                          
I opened my mouth to speak, but Red Thunder interrupted, his lips quirking into a daringsmile."Or would it be too... hard for you?"
                          
I gasped as I looked down to see a prominent bulge under the blanket, still being cradled by his dark hand. The audacity of him! Was he mad with fever? I was not totally naïve, I had seen animals mate, had even heard the married ladies talk, and so I knew what his innuendo meant.
                          
Still. He had challenged me, and my stubborn streak rose up full force, as well as my curiosity to see this play out. He was probably thinking he'd get the better of me, even in his damaged state, enjoying the power play no doubt. 
                          
Wait! The medicine! This must be the "loopiness" I had been told about, lowering my hapless patient's inhibitions. Well, I would just give him some leeway until the effects had passed. And perhaps we would be trying a smaller dose later on...
                          
I smiled sweetly at my warrior, unable to stop myself from teasing him back. "Of course not Red Thunder, why, I think it will be quite simple. A small task really." 
                          
His smile dropped and we stared into each other's eyes, no one saying anything. Then he started laughing. "Alright, alright. Let's see you do so, then." 
                          
My eyes widened once again and I looked down at his groin, then quickly up to his grinning face. What had I gotten myself into?
                          
My warrior was injured though, I told myself. It wasn't like he was going to ravish me on the spot. No matter how much I might want him to...
                          
No!Don't think such despicable things!
                          
"Fine!" I sniffed primly instead.
                          
Dropping the cloth into the water with a splash and then wrung out the cloth. Reaching underneath the sheet, I remained impassive as I stuck the wet, soapy cloth underneath and briskly wiped down the firm flesh there, thankfully not feeling anything too suggestive but the bunched up towel. Much to my amusement, he gave a yelp at the sudden coldness and pushed my hand away, glaring at me slightly.
                          
"What?" I asked innocently, even though I was flustered inside. I just touched this beautiful man's privates! Through a cloth of course, so it didn't really count, I had done it before for some of my very ill patients, but none of them had been, well, so...excited about it! He wasn't very excited anymore however, I could tell...
                          
 "Well, that wasn't hard at all!" I teased breathlessly, feeling positively scandalous. Looking away from his frowning face, down to the wilting rise in the sheet, I blushed hotly, and then burst into laughter. I laughed so hard tears came to my eyes, and my sides cramped up. Goodness this was so completely immoral! Red Thunder was still pouting, but his mouth gradually began to twitch and then he was chuckling along with me.
                          
Eventually, when we had calmed down, I shook my head in bemusement and started throwing the dirty cloths and his breechclout into a pile to be taken down and washed. I left the bucket by his bedside in case he needed to relieve himself, although with the little he had eaten and drank today, that probably wouldn't be for a while.
                          
"You are taking my clout?" He asked me, an unidentifiable tone in his voice.
                          
I looked up and nodded. "Yes, I will wash it and bring it back to you tomorrow morning, is that alright?" I asked.
                          
He nodded but shifted so he was rubbing himself against the sheets. "Yes, it is fine, only this cloth feels strange. Soft as a woman's skin."
                          
I shot him a warning look; I did not want to hear about any woman's skin he may have touched.
                          
Red Thunder grinned."But surely not as soft as your woman's skin."
                          
I blushed and wagged a finger at him with a scowl. "You are a hopeless flirt, do you know that?"
                          
He shook his head. "I know not. What is a 'hopeless flirt'?"
                          
I sighed; I cannot believe we were having this conversation! It was hard to keep in mind he was under the influence of a strong herbal concoction.
                          
 "Precisely what you are Red Thunder! Sweet talking any female you come across, with your manly charms." I harrumphed in annoyance. "But I'll have you know I won't be, seduced, quite so easily."
                          
Red Thunder nodded, a serious look coming across his face. "Winnie, you are the only woman I, what you say, 'flirt' with. I do not make playthings of women's hearts. I am an honorable man."
                          
I flushed and put my cool hands against my cheeks, turning away. I could not believe that this beautiful warrior was talking to me in this way! I was flustered and did not know what to do. Looking around for some sort of rescue, I noticed how the light had faded significantly. 
                          
That would do, time to go.
                          
"I- it's late, I have to go now or my family will wonder where I am." I told him awkwardly, coming up beside him, "Lie on your stomach again and I'll tuck you in. The water thermos is on the nightstand, and the privy bucket right beside you. Try and get some sleep, your body needs it. You should be fine for the night, but I will come check on you later just to be sure."
                          
He nodded and turned over. I took the covers and gently pulled them over my patient, smoothing them in place just below his strong neck. Racing butterflies leaped and rolled within my belly, the feeling not entirely unpleasant. With care, I pulled his long, thick braid out from under his chin and over his left shoulder.
                          
As I gathered my things and prepared to leave, I heard Red Thunder's husky voice call softly, "Winnie?"
                          
I turned and smiled at him hesitantly. "Yes?"
                          
"You are truly wíŋyaŋ wašté. Beautiful in your heart, and outside. I thank you once again. May you have a good sleep," he said this with an empathetic gesture of a hand over his breast.
                          
I smiled widely, blushing at the compliment; he was such a charming, sweet man. Even with his teasing. Everything my father had told me about his people, my warrior was proving to be false. I was so glad I found him, even if he did push my buttons.
                          
"Thank you, Red Thunder. That's probably the nicest thing anyone has ever told me. May you have a good sleep too."
                          
He smiled back and nodded in understanding, his weary eyes already struggling to stay open. Good, another effect of the pain remedy, and of course, his ordeal, the poor thing. I turned and walked down a few of the stairs, looking back to gaze at him once more. His dark eyes were already shut, and his expression had smoothed over to that of peaceful slumber. I impulsively blew him a kiss like my mother often did for me, and then quietly walked down the rest of the stairs.  I said a quick prayer to whomever may be listening, that this dear Indian man make a full recovery, and not be discovered in the mean time.