Chapter 36 – Becky
Dee and Charlotte were able to make good time and only pushed the horses as hard as they felt safe. When they reached Buxton, Dee couldn't remember where the doctor's house was, so he headed to the Mountie station. He was able to quickly get directions. They rode the short distance to the doctors. Dee hadn't checked with Charlotte, but just jumped from his horse and ran to the door and started pounding on the door. Mrs Stone answered the door.
"We need help." Dee said pointing to Charlotte and the girl.
"Well get them in here." Mrs Stone said. "I will wake my husband."
Dee turned and went back to Charlotte. As Charlotte eased Becky into Dee's arms, it was the first time that Dee realized that Becky had really gotten worse. He didn't bother to ask Charlotte about it, he just headed toward the house. Charlotte secured both horses and then followed Dee into the house. They were directed to put Becky in the living room. When the doctor saw her, he turned to Dee for more information.
"We rode in from Hope Valley." Dee said. "We didn't think that we had time to get you and bring you back."
"How long has she been like this." Dr Stone said.
"She started getting really bad about an hour ago." Charlotte said. "By the time that we rode into town, she was almost unresponsive. She was feverish when we left Hope Valley, but at least she would response when we talked to her.
"Charlotte!" Dr Stone exclaimed when he heard her voice.
"Dr Stone." Charlotte said. "She has been really sick for a couple of weeks, most likely before she was found. When my son found her in the woods, she had a bad cough and a fever. They sent for a doctor from Union City. He was there the next day and stayed for three days. By the time that he left, her fever had broke, but she was very weak. He thought it was just a really bad cold from staying out in the cold. He did give her something, no sure what."
"What aren't you saying, Charlotte." Dr Stone asked.
"When they were found." Charlotte said. "He brother was also sick. He had a bad cough, but recovered after a couple of days. I am just afraid that the doctor from Union City missed something. From what Jack said, he seemed unconcerned that they were opharns and had spent the better part of two almost three weeks traveling by foot across Canada. From what Jack could learn, they were from an opharnage about an hour north Fort Garry. They were missing for three days before they were even reported missing from the opharnage."
"What other symptoms have they had." Dr Stone asked.
"Not sure." Charlotte said.
"But the boy." Dr Stone said. "He seems to be doing okay?"
"Maybe a little on the small side." Charlotte said. "But from what I saw today, he looked just fine. He was eating and running around with the other boys. From what Mrs Stanton told me, after about two days, he seemed to bounce right back. The doctor from Union City said that he just needed some sleep and a few good hot meals."
While the doctor examed Becky, his wife got some cold compresses to cool her off. The doctor left and went to his home office and came back with something and gave Becky an injection. He then turned to Dee and Charlotte.
"I have done everything, I can for now." Dr Stone said. "I just hope that we caught whatever this in time. I am afraid that you were right about the other doctor missing something. It is some kind of infection. Normally, I would think influenza, but considering that they were out in the wild. We have to consider that she might have picked up a parasite but there are way to many possibilities to even start narrowing it down. Are sure that she hasn't vomited or had anything."
"Now that I think about it," Charlotte said. "She was complaining of stomach cramps yesterday when I brought her soup up to her. She didn't want to eat. Mrs Stanton says it is all she can do to get her to eat more then a couple of spoonfuls of soup."
"We will have to move her to the hospital in Union City at daylight." Dr Stone said. "I am sure that you both are tired. Go put the horses in the stable in the back and then you can sleep here."
"Thank you." Charlotte said. "I want go with you to Union City. Dee here needs to ride back to Hope Valley in the morning."
"I will see to the horses." Dee said.
Dee went to take care of the horses. Sarah Stone took the opportunity to make proper introductions. She then lead Charlotte upstairs so that she could get some sleep. Charlotte was grateful for a warm bed to sleep in. She was more tired then she realized. It didn't take Dee long to make sure that both horses were brushed and watered. When he came back into the house, he apologized for waking them. Sarah just waved it off, and showed Dee where he could sleep. Dr and Mrs Stone took turns during the night sitting with Becky. They were able to get her fever down some, but it didn't break.
Jack woke the next morning with Elizabeth tucked into his side and her head resting on his chest. His arms wrapped around her. His arm was asleep from her sleeping on it, but he didn't want to move and wake her. She shifted slightly and he was able to prop himself up just a little. He was watching her sleep. The sun was just starting to stream through the window and the early morning sunlight made her hair look even more red then normal. He couldn't believe that he was lucky enough to be there with her. He knew that he didn't deserve her, and would spend his lifetime trying to prove to her that he was. He thought about how beautiful she looked with her hair mussed and sleeping their curled into his side. While he watched her, he started to play with her hair and then couldn't help himself, he leaned down and kissed her. Slowly she started to respond to his kisses and then when he pulled back, she opened her eyes.
"Morning Mrs Thornton." Jack said.
He was staring at her with that dimpled grin of his.
"Morning love." Elizabeth said. "Shall I go find us some breakfast, because I am starved."
"Okay." Jack said.
Elizabeth wrapped a robe around her and headed downstairs. Jack found his shirt and pulled that on before wrapping himself in his robe and following his wife. Once they were downstairs, Elizabeth set to getting breakfast ready in the kitchen and Jack went over to stoke the fire in the stove in the corner. Before long, the room was nice and warm. After checking the icebox and the basket from Abigail. Elizabeth decided on eggs, bacon and toast. It didn't take her long to make breakfast and before she knew it, she had both their plates ready. When she turned to set them on the table, Jack was sitting there watching her.
"Why are you watching me?" Elizabeth teased.
"Can't help it." Jack said. "You are just so beautiful."
"Well, lets eat before this gets cold." Elizabeth said.
"Let's pray." Jack said. "Lord we ask that you bless this food to our bodies. Be with us today as we get ready to celebrate your birth. Please watch over our families. Amen."
"Amen." Elizabeth said. "So what do you want to do today?"
"Well that depends on you." Jack said. "I was wondering if you wanted to go get a Christmas tree."
"If you don't mind." Elizabeth said. "I wouldn't mind not having one this year. It is so much work for just a couple of days. I don't even know where the ornaments are."
"As long as you are sure." Jack said. "I wouldn't mind staying her all day with you all to myself."
"Well." Elizabeth said. "We do have the Christmas play tonight."
After breakfast, they did up the few dishes that they had used and then headed back upstairs. Elizabeth hung up her dress. Jack grabbed a couple of hangers and hung his dress uniform and both of his other serges. He found a spot for his suits that he had and then places some of he things in the drawer that Elizabeth had left for him.
"When I build our house." Jack said. "I am going to build a huge master bedroom with a very large wardrobe so that we can hang all of our clothes and not have to worry storing them in a trunk."
"Are you saying that I have a lot of clothes?" Elizabeth teased.
"No, not at all." Jack said. "I am just saying that it will be nice to have lots of space if we want."
"Don't you have rounds." Elizabeth asked.
"Dee took rounds for until Sunday night." Jack said.
"That was nice of him." Elizabeth said. "So what do you want to do."
"I want to kiss my wife." Jack said coming over to Elizabeth.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a kiss. He then pushed her hair to the side and trailed kisses down her neck and across her shoulder. She just leaned into Jack and played with the hair at the nape of his neck.
"Let's go back to bed." Jack whispered.
"Thought you would never ask." Elizabeth sighed as Jack continued to trail kisses up her neck.
Dee was up just before the sun. Despite still being tired, he knew that he needed to find out what he could and head back to Hope Valley as promised. He quickly redressed in his uniform and headed downstairs. He looked into the living room and saw Mrs Stone sitting with Becky. She turned when she heard him walking on the floorboards.
"If you want to sit with her for a moment." Sarah said. "I will get some coffee going."
Dee went over and sat down next to Becky. Sarah got up and went to the kitchen and started coffee before coming back. She saw Dee with his head down, holding Becky's hand and could tell that he was praying over her, so she gave him a minute. When he brought his head back up, Sarah went over and sat next to him.
"Someone important to you." Sarah asked.
"All children are important." Dee said. "But I have only known her a few days. I was in Hope Valley for my cousins wedding. She is however very important to someone that is important to my cousin."
"Well that explains a few things." Sarah said. "I thought that Constable Thornton was in Hope Valley."
"He is." Dee said. "He got married yesterday to my cousin Elizabeth. My father and I had come in for the wedding and Christmas. We didn't want to bother Jack, so my father had me and Charlotte ride out with the girl. Dad thought that Becky would feel more comfortable riding with a woman and Mrs Thornton is a very experienced rider."
"So let me get this straight." Sarah said. "You and Charlotte Thornton rode over three hours with a sick child to get her help and neither of you are related to her."
"Yep." Dee said. "Becky and her little brother Cody, are orphans that have been taken in by a woman, Abigail Stanton, in Hope Valley. The rest of us were just in town for the wedding. Charlotte's son married my cousin."
Dr Stone came in with a tray of coffee and sat with Dee and his wife.
"How is she doing." Dr Stone asked.
"Fever still hasn't broken." Sarah said. "I was just visiting with Dee here and trying to figure why Constable Thornton didn't come or sent word. I also was going to ask you how you know Charlotte."
"Remember when I was called to Hope Valley for an emergency." Dr Stone said.
"Yeah." Sarah said.
"She was the one that had stitched up the leg before I got there." Dr Stone said. "She had been in town visiting her son. So Constable, what happened to Jack."
"That is easy." Dee said. "Jack was busy. He got married yesterday and my father, also a Mountie, didn't want to bother him. When Becky collapsed after the wedding, he knew that she needed medical attention. He made the decision to send me and Charlotte. I promised that I would head back at first light. I know that Mrs Stanton is going to be worried about Becky here and I promised that I would get back as soon as possible. Charlotte can make her way back later, please send word with an update as soon as you can."
"You are not leaving until you have eaten." Sarah said.
"Best not to argue." Dr Stone said. "She will be fine for a little bit. Lets go eat."
Sarah lead the men into the kitchen and quickly had eggs and toast ready for them to eat. Just about that time Charlotte came downstairs. Sarah motioned for her to sit and got her a cup of coffee and made her some eggs and toast as well.
"Before you go." Dr Stone said. "You need to know that she might not make it. You need to prepare Mrs Stanton for that. I am doing everything that I can, but there is a very real possibility that she might not make it. Don't give them false hope, be honest with them. Becky has a serious infection and is not out of danger. The hospital will do everything that the can also, but sometimes that is not enough. Your a Mountie, you understand that."
"I understand." Dee said. "I will do my best to relay the information and make the situation clear. I am going to head back in a little bit. What are your plans, Charlotte."
"I am going to see her to Union City." Charlotte said. "Then I will ride back later. I will send word from Union City. Tell Jack not to worry and can you have your mother empty my room at the saloon hotel. Leave the stuff at Mrs Stanton's. Just in case I don't come back today."
"Thanks Charlotte, will do." Dee said. "Be safe and see you back in Hope Valley. Thank you also Dr and Mrs Stone. Let me know if there is anything that I can do for you."
With that, Dee stood and left. He went and saddled his horse and started his ride back to Hope Valley. He took a much easier pace then he had the night before. He saw no reason to push his horse. He also wanted some time to think and it was a nice Christmas Eve day and it wasn't too cold. It was still early but the sun was coming up and it looked to be a really nice winter day.