One day Rusty, Tanner, and the black man Shanty brought him a pair of long sticks carved from limbs of an oak tree. Each had cloth wrapped as padding around a fork at its tops. Rusty placed the sticks beneath his own arms, demonstrating their use. He said, “These are crutches, so you can start gettin’ around a little.”

Badger Boy did not know the word crutch, but he realized the purpose of the sticks.

Len Tanner declared, “It ain’t good to lay on your back too long. You’ll petrify.”

The old black man carefully lifted Badger Boy to a sitting position. Rusty and Tanner then positioned themselves on either side of him and brought him to his feet. Badger Boy felt weak, the room swaying around him, his leg hurting. But the two men’s strength gave him confidence to remain on his feet and place the crutches beneath his armpits.

Rusty said, “Now take ahold,” showing him how to grip the handles firmly attached by rawhide at arm’s length. “All right, now, walk. We’ll hold on to you. We won’t let you fall.”

Badger Boy understood the meaning and most of the words. “I walk,” he said. He took a step and would have fallen had the two men not had a firm grip.

Rusty said, “Try again. You’ll get the hang of it.”

This time Badger Boy took a step without feeling that he was about to fall. Gaining confidence, he took another and another. The two men relaxed their holds, though they did not relinquish them altogether.

Shanty declared enthusiastically, “You’re doin’ fine, boy. The Lord is lookin’ down and smilin’ on you.”

Badger Boy reasoned that the Lord must be one of the Texans’ gods. He had heard Preacher Webb talking to Him from time to time, though he had never heard a reply. The Comanches’ spirits often spoke to them in the voices of birds and animals. He reasoned that the Texans’ gods must dwell farther away, though if that were the case he did not understand how they could hear Webb speak.

They were a strange lot, these Texans.

After a few steps the men released their hold entirely, though Rusty remained near enough to catch him if he fell. Badger Boy ventured out onto the dog run and felt the coolness of the breeze. The bright sun made his eyes pinch at first, though he found the light pleasant once they had accommodated to it. He had spent too many days in the room’s close confinement.

Tanner said, “Beats hell out of stayin’ indoors, don’t it?”

Not sure of the proper reply, Badger Boy said, “Beats hell.”

Rusty grinned at Tanner. “Good thing Preacher Webb has gone away to sermonize. He’d scorch you good for corruptin’ an innocent boy.”

Tanner said, “First things I ever learned as a young’un was the cuss-words. A few damns here and there don’t hurt anything. Sometimes they’re like a tonic.”

Badger Boy understood only the general meaning of what they were saying, but he sensed that it was in good humor. He allowed himself a faint smile. It had been awhile since he had felt like smiling about anything.