<i>Sweet man</i>, Lex thought, supporting Forest's weight as best he could as they slowly shuffled back upstairs to the farmer's bedroom.<i>Poor lad's run ragged and still doesn't want to take a break. Wallis was right, he's been doing this alone far too long.</i><br/><br/>“I'm gonna take care of you, Forest. Don't you worry. Wallis and Mason are good with their hands, they can get the fence right again.” Lex's typical cheeky tone was replaced with a more sympathetic whisper as he and Wallis carefully set Forest down on the edge of the bed. The farmer's words were weak and raspy, but Lex made it out well enough. He waved his hand to the rifle. “Go on, do as he says,” he instructed Mason, firmly but not unkindly.<br/><br/>“Come along, love, lay back now. You need to relax.” He pressed his palm against Forest's chest, feeling the dampness beneath his shirt. The young man was covered with sweat. “Come on, there you go,” he whispered, easing Forest down and placing a pillow underneath his heavy, feverish head. He placed the damp cloth across Forest's forehead before fiddling with the buttons of his shirt, opening them up and exposing the farmer's broad chest.<br/><br/>“Before you go tinkering with that fence, can one of you boys get me a bucket of water from the well?” Lex asked, spreading the shirt flaps wide before moving down Forest's legs so he could begin unlacing the man's boots. “As we don't have any meds around, I'm going to try sponging him to cool him down. The quicker this fever breaks the better.”<br/><br/>After Forest's boots had been untied and discarded, Lex returned to the young man's side. He took Forest's hand into his own and smiled. “What a right mess you are, darling. Invite us into your home and then get ropey on us. What kind of host are you, eh? This how you treat all your guests?” he chuckled, trying to elicit a smile from the man who could barely sit up on his own.