Chapter 20 – Plans and Problems
Jack sat with Mr Harper for a few minutes before Charlotte came out and motioned Mr Harper to come in and talk with the doctor. Charlotte took a seat with Jack.
"Thanks Ma." Jack said.
"Not a problem." Charlotte said.
"Did you see Lee." Jack asked.
"I popped my head in for a moment." Charlotte said. "He is looking better. He was still sleeping, but the doctor doesn't seem as concerned."
"That's good." Jack said. "I was hoping to have a moment with him after he Harpers left."
After the Harpers left the infirmary. Jack knocked on the door and then went in.
"I just wanted to check on Lee, Mr Coulter." Jack said.
"He is doing better." Dr Stone said. "He has more color and he turns his head toward noise, so I was just going to go in and see if he would open his eyes."
"Can I go with you." Jack said.
"A familiar face never hurt." Dr Stone said.
Jack and Dr Stone walked through the doorway to where Lee was laying in bed. Dr Stone went and sat on one said and Jack on the other.
"Mr Coulter." Dr Stone said. "Can you hear me. Open you eyes."
Lee's eyes fluttered a couple of times, but remained shut.
"Can I try." Jack said softly.
"Be my guest." Dr Stone said.
"Lee, Lee." Jack said. "You need to wake up or Rosie is going to kill both of us. Please come on Lee open you eyes. Rosie is worried sick, Hickum is beside himself and I can't do without my new best friend."
Lee's eyes fluttered a couple of more times as Jack was speaking and then they finally opened. He blinked a couple of time to adjust to the light.
"Lee." Jack said. "You are in the infirmary. Dr Stone is here. Do you remember what happened."
Lee closed his eyes again and then opened them and looked at Jack as if remembering.
"The cable came off." Lee said.
"Yes." Jack said. "You were at your new sawmill here in Hope Valley. The cable came off the pullies and caught you in the leg. You were knocked out. Bill and I brought you back to the infirmary. I left Hickum in charge and told the men to continue as normal. We were worried."
"My leg." Lee said.
"It will be fine." Dr Stone said. "You have a number of stitches and you also have some broken ribs. You will sore for a few days, but you should be fine. It will take some time before you are fully on your feet again."
Lee looked over at Jack and concerned crossed his eyes. "Did I miss your awards ceremony."
"No that is tomorrow morning." Jack said. "You have only been out since yesterday."
Lee breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you for everything Jack."
"I have sent for a wheelchair and should arrive on this afternoon's stage or possible tomorrow's" Dr Stone said. "I think that you may need it to get around. I don't want you walking on that leg for at least a week. It needs time to heal. You should also be thanking Mrs Thornton, she is the one that stitched you up so nice. There should only be a faint scar over time."
Lee looked over to Jack with some confusion.
"My mother, Lee" Jack said. "She has been in town since Saturday night. She helped with the schoolhouse. She is also part of the reason that Rosie has been on overdrive this week."
Understanding came to Lee's face.
"Sorry when he said Mrs Thornton, my first thought was Elizabeth." Lee said. "I had forgotten about your mother. Speaking of Rosie, can you let her know I am okay. Also can you please go check on Mike. I know that he can handle things, but I know he will feel better knowing that I am okay. If the doctor says it is okay, I will be back in the office here in town on Monday."
"You can return to work on Monday, if you feel up to it, but you will need to stay off your feet." Dr Stone said.
"That is fine." Lee said. "I own the sawmill. There is plenty for me to do in the office."
"I will go find Rosie and Hickum." Jack said. "I have to check in with Collins and there are other Mounties in town as well. I will try to get back here to see you this afternoon. I will make sure that you are able to at least come outside and sit to watch the ceremony tomorrow."
Jack stood and nodded toward the doctor and Lee and then he left. He first headed toward Abigail's to see if Rosie was there and to let them know. Jack walked into the cafe and there were only a few ladies having tea. He headed back toward the kitchen
"Abigail." Jack called out.
"Back here Jack," Abigail called out.
"Have you seen Rosemary this morning." Jack asked when he got to the kitchen.
"No, but I don't expect to with her staying with Dottie Ramsey." Abigail said.
As they were talking Charlotte and Elizabeth came downstairs.
"Well, I was just going to let you know that Lee is awake and doing fine." Jack said. "I promised to let Rosie and Hickum know. I was looking for Rosie first before I headed over to Lee's office."
"Well, you have enough to do." Charlotte said. "You go tell Lee's men and I will make sure that Rosie knows."
"Thank you Ma." Jack said. "See you all later."
Jack turned and walked out. Charlotte went to grab her coat and left shortly there after. Abigail turned to Elizabeth and just looked at her.
"So what happened." Abigail finally said.
"I don't know." Elizabeth said. "He told me that he loved me last night and I thought that he was going to propose, so I stopped him. I didn't want it to be like that. I didn't want him to propose because he thought that he might lose me. There is just so much we still need to talk about. I am also hoping that with a little time, Father will come around."
"Do you love him." Abigail asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth said.
"Are you willing to move forward even without your father's approval." Abigail asked.
"I thought I was." Elizabeth said. "But then when I thought he was going to ask me, I wasn't so sure. I panicked."
"Well if you are unsure." Abigail said. "You need to think about what you really want and until you do, you are not being fair to either of you."
"I think that I want to spend the day taking things over to the new school." Elizabeth said. "I need to do something, I just can't sit here."
"That sounds like a good plan." Abigail said. "I will be here if you need."
Abigail turned back to the cookies that she was making for after Jack's ceremony the following day. Elizabeth grabbed her shawl and basket and headed for the saloon. Elizabeth also knew that she would have to have someone bring over the trunk of things that was up in her room, but that could wait. She want to start sorting what she had and make a list of other things she wanted to order still. Elizabeth wanted to talk, but she needed to think first. She knew that Charlotte was right that she was letting her fears control her. She was also right, the is was better to love and lost then to not love at all. Abigail was also right, the Elizabeth wasn't being fair to either herself or o Jack.
Elizabeth spent most of the morning between the saloon and her room. She organized the school supplies and made a list of things that she wanted to order for the new schoolhouse. She had checked with some of the men working to put the finishing touches on the schoolhouse and learned that she should be able to get in the building that afternoon. They had finished the benches and were just finishing the book shelves for the storage room. She learned that Jack had increased the size of the storage room and then split it in half, so that Pastor Hogan could have an office. She was so excited that Jack would donate his reward money and then spend time building her a wonderful schoolhouse and a church for the community.
Jack had a busy morning as well. After leaving the cafe, he went over to Lee's office and no one was there. So he went to get Sergeant to ride out to the sawmill. When he arrived, he found men laying around and not listening to Hickum. He let out two sharp whistles like his mother had and the men laying around quickly stood and before they could scatter, he ordered them to line up. They could tell by his tone that he was serious. Hickum came out of the office when he heard Jack whistle. He shot him a look of thanks.
"Hickum," Jack said. "Take down each of these men's names and make note that they will each be docked a half a day's pay. Then they will return to work and if they don't, they can and probably will be replaced."
Hickum went back inside and grabbed a clipboard and paper. Jack turned to the men gathered.
"I thought that we made it very clear last night." Jack said. "You were to carry on as normal and for those that didn't there would be consequences. I am not in the mood to be challenged, so I wouldn't cross me. You are being paid to do a job and if you can't be trusted to do that job without the boss standing right here, then maybe you need to move along. This town pulls together and helps each other. I am sure that Mr Coulter could find men that he can trust. Just so you know, I will be checking in out here at random until Mr Coulter is back on his feet. Trust me when I say a repeat of today better not happen."
After Hickum took down all the names and had the men sign by their names, Jack dismissed the men to work. Jack then dismounted and headed into the onsite office to talk with Hickum for a moment.
"I came out here to let you know that Lee is awake." Jack said. "He will need to be off his feet for at least a week, but should be back in the office in town on Monday. He will need to be careful coming out here until his leg is healed. He wants to you to keep up the good work and let him know if you need anything."
"I will stop to see him later." Hickum said. "Thank you again for your help out there. They came, said that they work for Mr Coulter and not me."
"Well, let me know if you need anything else." Jack said. "How many on that list of names?"
"Twelve." Hickum said.
"Can I see it." Jack asked.
Hickum handed him the clipboard and Jack quickly read through the names. Only two were former miners and they weren't the best workers even back then.
"Write up an ad for help wanted." Jack said. "Wait until we have both talked to Lee before doing anything with it. These men to realize that you are Lee's second in command and that what you say goes. It shouldn't matter if he is here, in the office in town or at home. He still is in charge and you are his choice in second in command."
Jack and Hickum shook hands and Jack left to head back to town. He didn't want to burden Lee with what was going on, but he needed to know. So he headed back to town with the intent of going to the infirmary. He rode up and tied Sergeant up and knocked on the door. The doctor let him in.
"I didn't think you would be back so soon." Dr Stone said.
"I need to speak to Lee." Jack said. "It is important. I know he needs his rest, but this he needs to know."
"It is okay." Dr Stone said. "Your mother just brought him some food, so he should be up."
Jack walked back to Lee's room and knocked on the doorframe. He could see that he was up, but wanted to announce his presence.
"Jack." Lee said. "Oh no what happened."
"I didn't want to bother you, but." Jack said. "I was just out at the mill and some of the men are giving Hickum a hard time. They refused to listen to him. I ordered him to get all the men's names and I told them that they would be docked a full half's pay. I also told them that if they can't be trusted to do their job without you standing there, then maybe they would replaced. I also had Hickum start to write up a help wanted ad, to show the men that I was serious. I also told them that I would be randomly showing up and they wouldn't want a repeat of today, especially when I am in no mood to crossed."
Lee let out a big sigh and closed his eyes for a moment. He reopened them and looked at Jack.
"Who and how many." Lee asked.
"Twelve." Jack said. "Hickum said, he would try to get in later with the list."
"Well, thank you." Lee said. "I have been looking for a foremen, but have been unable to find the right one. This just shows that I need someone. Hickum is great in the office, but the men feel they can push him when I am not around."
"No thanks needed." Jack said. "It is in the town's best interest to keep our main employer up and running. Besides, it shouldn't matter that you aren't there, the men should be trusted to do their jobs. I think that I got their attention. I am sorry if I overstepped, but with everything going on, I just wanted to try and help Hickum. Besides, I seriously dislike the attitude of some of those men."
"Thanks again. I know that you were just looking out for me." Lee said. "Now why are you in such a cross mood. I heard that the schoolhouse is almost done and Elizabeth is back. So what is the problem."
"Yes, both of those things are good." Jack said. "But things with Elizabeth are not."
"If you don't mind," Lee said. "Sit and talk while I eat."
"Well." Jack said. "I don't even know where to start."
"How about with what happened in Hamilton." Lee said. "I know you love her, anyone can see that, so what happened."
Jack took a deep breath before speaking.
"When we were in Hamilton, Elizabeth was a different person." Jack said. "She fit so well into the money and fancy things. I started to doubt if she would really be happy with me, especially knowing that I would not be able to provide for her like she was use to. Then her father was pushing this other guy on to her right in front of me. They grew up together and he works for her father. His family is also rich and they seem to get along.
When I left, Elizabeth was furious with her father for the way that he treated me, she said that she was an adult and that he needed to respect her choices. He told her that if she came back her and then continued to see me, he would cut her off. She said that she didn't care and she came back here. I just think she is going to regret her decision. He father also told me that she doesn't know what she wants and they she is going to wake up one day and regret giving up everything."
"Okay" Lee said. "That is a lot. I haven't meet Elizabeth, but I don't think that anyone who is willing to come out to a frontier town to teach is really concerned with material wealth. From everything I have heard about Elizabeth, she loves you as much as you love her. It shouldn't matter what other people think. Does she love this other guy?"
"She says that she doesn't, but when you see them together, I don't know." Jack said. "They are so comfortable together. They seem to have a good time together. Like I said, I just don't know anymore. I could see in his eyes that he really like Elizabeth. I don't think for a second that he would hesitate to make his feelings known if I was out of the picture. I do know that her father would be much happier if Elizabeth chose this other guy over me."
"Could what you be seeing is something else." Lee said. "You said that they grew up together. Maybe what you are mistaking romantic love for what is more like a brotherly love. She probably views him more like a brother and enjoys spending time with someone who she had shared memories with. Yes, it is a little weird, but you said yourself, that they grew up together. I am sure that you know what it is like to have a friend that is more like a brother or sister to you. There is a love there, but not what you are thinking. Think about it and you really need to talk to her."
"You are not the first person to say that." Jack said. "I tried to talk to her last night, but it didn't go well. It feels like she is holding me at arms length. I went to kiss her when she first got back and she pulled away from me and then last night, it was completely different. I just wish I knew what she was thinking and why she is acting the way that she is. Why is this so hard?"
"I think it sounds like she is hiding behind some fears. There has to be more to it then you are seeing. Give it a couple days." Lee said. "A lot has happened, so give her a little space to think and then you both need to sit down and talk."
"Thanks Lee." Jack said. "I will let you rest. I have plenty to do."