“You are my friend, Carlos and you are injured. It is not a matter of ‘having’ to but wanting you not to be in more pain than you have to be. I am strong enough. Hold onto me and we can cross the river.”
In spite of Carlos’ gut reaction, he really couldn’t argue with that. He held onto his bag with one hand, trying to keep the strap up closer to his neck so that his injured shoulder didn’t get too much of the weight on it. With his other hand he reached out to grip Standing Bear’s offered arm.
“I feel like an old woman,” Carlos joked with a slight smile on his face.
The Perfect Scientist 