Healing Hearts on the Frontier: A Johnny Ringo Story

Healing Hearts on the Frontier

When Johnny Ringo becomes seriously ill, the reader offers to nurse him back to health in the comfort of her home. Although Ringo is riddled with guilt and shame that you see him so weak and vulnerable, he is overwhelmed with gratitude and love.

SHORT STORY:HEALING HEARTS ON THE FRONTIER

Well, it looks like you and Johnny really enjoy each other's company and you spend time together often. Although Johnny wants you to become his girl, he exercises patience, knowing sometimes shyness overwhelms you and you do feel nervous around the deadliest pistoleer since William Bonney. But Johnny's charm, intelligence and fondness of old world literature does intrigue and even comfort you. When you spend time with Ringo, he restrains himself well and although desperately wants to kiss you, he controls his desire.

Even after having a few drinks or several drinks, Johnny would never force himself on you. But with each encounter, he wishes he could kiss your luscious lips. Due to his strong religious upbringing, Johnny Ringo experiences guilt and even shame when he feels tempted to take you in his arms and make passionate love to you. So it shouldn't surprise you that if Johnny becomes ill, the last thing he would want to do is burden you with the task of caring for him.

For Ringo, he simply doesn't want to trouble you and would feel helpless to stop you if his sickness was to the point where he couldn't get out of bed. He may feel embarrassed that you're seeing him like that and of course he would feel too proud to let you spoon feed him.

When you learn of Ringo's sickness, you grow concerned and want to know who's taking care of him. He may sleep off his sickness at the cowboy camp because he wouldn't be able to afford more than a night or two at the hotel and no one in Tombstone is offering one of the Cowboys anything. Curly Bill will inform you of Johnny's malady because Curly knows you care for Ringo.

When you arrive at the cowboy camp, Curly Bill thanks you for your help and leads you to Johnny's small tent. In your arms, you hold a pot of hot broth with vegetables. You also added some additional healing ingredients. You also have a blanket wrapped around you so you wouldn't have to carry it.

"How long has he been sick, Curly Bill?" You ask.

Bill removes his hat. "Well, almost a week. It's tough for him to get real rest in a tent. At night, it can get chilly." You smile at Curly. He puts his hat on, tips it to you and lets you begin your healing of Johnny Ringo.

You touch Johnny's face and he awakens with a start. He looks at you and believes he is dreaming. He rubs his eyes as if seeing a mirage and then falls back on the makeshift pillow.

"YN..." He whispers.

"I'm here, Johnny."

Although Ringo feels unbelievably thankful, he will also feel nervous and apprehensive that you're seeing him in such a weak state. He'll wish the tables were turned and he was the one nursing you back to health. Johnny would hate to be a burden on you and his mind would race with thoughts that focus on how he is undeserving of your generosity.

Too weak to fight you, Ringo will acquiesce you and although he'll feel a tremendous sense of relief and gratitude, a man like Ringo more than likely will experience guilt because he'll feel undeserving of your kindness and shame that you're seeing him this way. He'll fear that you'll find him repulsive in his sickness or that you certainly have better things to do than nurse an undeserving outlaw. Johnny Ringo may fear you'll grow tired and weary of watching him fight his maladies. He would rather be the one taking care of you. However, he's so overcome with gratitude! Your genuine concern is absolutely priceless to men like Johnny Ringo and Curly Bill.