Chapter 18 – End of a long day
Jack grabbed a regular jacket and a lantern. He knew that he wasn't going far, but it never hurt. He opened the door to the jail, just in time to see an automobile pull onto the main street. It looked like it was headed for the jail. The only person that he knew that had an automobile was Henry Gowen and he doubted that it was him coming. Jack stood at the top of the steps with his lantern waiting for the person. When the car stopped, an older gentleman stepped out and approached Jack.
"I am looking for Constable McGinty." The man said.
"I am Corporal Thornton," Jack said. "May I ask who you are."
"Sorry." The man said. "I am Dr Thomas Stone. I was told to come here, that someone had been injured in a sawmill accident. Sorry that I couldn't get here sooner. I left as soon as I could."
"Yes," Jack said. "I had a visiting Constable send word. I will take you to Mr Coulter."
Jack came down off the steps and the doctor reached into the car and grabbed his bag. The two men walked the short distance to the infirmary.
"Pacific Northwest Mining Company use to have a doctor come through here." Jack said. "I brought Mr Coulter to the old infirmary. With the help of my mother and a couple Mounties, we were able to clean and stitch both wounds. The one on his head wasn't that bad, but Inspector Avery felt two stitches were needed. I helped my mother with his leg. She put in seventeen stitches. I also found that he had at least two broken ribs which we wrapped. He has been in and out of consciousness, mostly out. We used alcohol to clean the wounds, but none was given directly to Mr Coulter. My mother said that the gash on his leg was ragged, but not deep. She was sure that it didn't hit bone."
"Your mother a nurse." Dr Stone asked.
"No." Jack said. "Just handy with a needle."
The doctor entered the door that Jack held open. There were two lanterns in the room that were turned down. He saw Mr Coulter laying on the bed and a woman sitting by him.
"Ma." Jack said. "This is Dr Stone. Dr Stone, my mother Charlotte Thornton."
"Glad you come." Charlotte said. "Has Jack here filled you in."
"Some." Dr Stone said. "How and when did this happen?"
"The when is easier." Jack said. "About twenty-five minutes before you were wired. So about five and half hours ago now. The how is still a little sketchy. From what I could see on scene, it appeared that a cable came off and hit Mr Coulter in the left leg knocking him into a pile of timber. I would guess that is how he hit his head and broke his ribs. There was a good amount of blood loss at the scene, but easily controlled. There was little blood loss once we got him here."
"Fever." Dr Stone asked.
"No sign of a fever." Charlotte said.
"Breathing." Dr Stone asked.
"Strong and steady." Charlotte said.
"Alright, give me a few minutes to examine him." Dr Stone said.
Jack and Charlotte left Dr Stone with Lee and stepped outside. They didn't say much to each other, but just waited. It was about ten minutes later that Dr Stone opened the door and let them back in.
"Well," Dr Stone said. "You seemed to have done everything you could. Excellent stitching there Mrs Thornton. Where did you learn to go down and cross over on the way back. There are few doctors that I know that stitch that well."
"My late husband was a Mountie." Charlotte said. "After he passed, I raised my two boys, and help raise five nephews and three nieces on a working cattle ranch, which we still run. I have seen my share of mishaps and done enough stitching to learn what works."
"I would feel better if he were to wake up." Dr Stone said. "But at least he responds to pain, so I will let him be for the night. I am going to stay here and will check on him through the night. We will have to see what the morning brings."
"There are two other Mounties in town that said that they would take shifts staying with him if you want otherwise, I will let them know that they won't be needed." Jack said. "They are staying at the saloon and I am just over at the jail. Feel free to come get any of us if you need. I was going to wait until morning to talk to you, but might as well.
When I was out on rounds this evening. I checked on a farmer who had a homestead a short ride from here. He was afraid that the his daughter had measles. I check the child and told him that it was poison oak and that her fever was most likely from falling in the cold river water. When I mentioned that you were coming to town, he seemed to feel better if you came and checked on her. My mother, Constable McGinty and I were going to ride over there in the morning. We can bring the child back here, or arrange for a wagon to bring you out."
"If you are sure that it isn't measles." Dr Stone. "And the girl can travel, it would probably be easier for her to be brought in here."
"Positive it is not measles." Jack said. "Measles swept through our area growing up. I was twelve when I came down with it. It claimed the lives of two of my cousins. After seeing it up close, it is not something one tends to forget. Besides, the girl was fine this morning when I check and she said that she felt fine until she fell in the river and then climbed out. By the time she got home, she said that she was covered in a rash and felt hot. I think that she got chilled from the river and the poison oak is causing the rash, but I feel that there is something else, but I can't figure it out."
"Very well." Dr Stone said. "Arrange to have her brought here in the morning."
"I will." Jack said. "If you don't need anything else. I will leave you be. I will also let the other two Mounties know that you are here and don't need to sit with Lee here if you are fine. Otherwise, Captain Rushman was set to come over about 11pm."
"I will be fine." Dr Stone said. "As you said, you are just right next door."
Jack and Charlotte left Dr Stone and stepped out into the cool night air. Jack saw Elizabeth heading toward them.
"I will let Scott and Joe know that the doctor is here." Charlotte said. "You talk to Elizabeth. Don't stay up to late. It has been a long day and tomorrow is going to be another long one."
"Thanks Ma." Jack said.
Charlotte started walking toward the saloon and Jack waited for Elizabeth to join him on the boardwalk. Together they went to the jail to talk. He wasn't sure if they would work everything out that night, but they had to start somewhere. Both were seated, yet neither spoke for a moment. Finally, Jack looked at her, he needed to know if what she wrote was true.
"Did you mean what you wrote." Jack asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth said.
"Do you really love me?" Jack said.
"Yes, with all my heart." Elizabeth said. "I know you haven't said it, but I could see it in your eyes the day up on the ridge. I felt it when you kissed me. You must have felt it too."
Jack sat there for a moment and didn't talk. He then stood up, walked around Elizabeth and into the back room. He grabbed something and came back out. Elizabeth was worried when he didn't say anything and her heart fell when he went into the back room. She wanted to talk to him more, but Jack seemed focused on something, so she just watched him.
"This is not how I planned to do this." Jack said standing in front of her. "I know that there is still so much that we need to talk about and figure out."
Elizabeth sensed what was happening. She leaned forward and put her hands on Jack's chest.
"Please don't." Elizabeth said. "Let's talk and work things out. I don't want you to say those words because you are afraid that you will lose me. I want you do say those words when you are ready."
Jack slipped the box back into his pocket and they both sat back down.
"I do love you Elizabeth." Jack said. "I don't want to lose you. Walking away from you that day in the train station was one of the hardest things that I ever did. When we were in Hamilton, you felt like a different person, it felt like you were slipping away. I couldn't stay there and watch this Elizabeth that I didn't know. I hoped and prayed that you would come back to me."
Elizabeth leaned forward toward Jack and he reached around and pulled her into a hug, standing both of them up. He then looked into the blues eyes that had stolen his heart. He moved toward her and when she didn't pull away, he closed the distance between their mouths. At first the kiss was soft and sweet. Then it turned deeper and more passionate.
Finally, they pulled apart gasping for air. Again not wanting to break the connection, Jack pressed his forehead to hers and gazed into her eyes. He knew that this felt right. That they were right together. He wanted to ask her, but instead chose to plan so that it would be a special memory for both of them. He just knew that he didn't want to wait too long.
"Good night Jack." Elizabeth finally said.
"Good night Elizabeth." Jack said.
Elizabeth grabbed her shawl and left the jail. She knew that if she stayed any longer, that she wouldn't be able to say no. She still was so afraid, she loved him and he loved her. She had hoped when he said those words that the fear would melt away and when it didn't, she had to pull away. Jack was left standing there confused. She had said that she loved him, he knew that he loved her, yet there was still something holding her back. Maybe there was some truth to what her father said. Maybe she didn't really know what she wanted. He wanted to go after her, but it was like he couldn't move. Finally, Jack turned town the lanterns and crawled into bed. He knew that morning would come soon enough. He wanted answers and was only left with more questions.