Chapter 19
BUD FACES FACTSNew Year came and passed and won nothing in the way of
celebration from the three in Nelson's cabin. Bud's bones ached,
his head ached, the flesh on his body ached. He could take no
comfort anywhere, under any circumstances. He craved clean white
beds and soft-footed attendance and soothing silence and cool
drinks—and he could have none of those things. His bedclothes were
heavy upon his aching limbs; he had to wait upon his own wants; the
fretful crying of Lovin Child or the racking cough of Cash was
always in his ears, and as for cool drinks, there was ice water in
plenty, to be sure, but nothing else. Fair weather came, and
storms, and cold: more storms and cold than fair weather. Neither
man ever mentioned taking Lovin Child to Alpine. At first, be
