Stepping out of the bedroom, Gabriel headed for the table. Reaching it, he sank into a chair.
"Are you okay, Constable Kinslow," Lucie, who had been behind him, asked.
"I'll be fine," Gabriel tried to assure her. "The rib injury apparently isn't as healed as I thought it was."
"Perhaps Maggie should-"
"No," Gabriel said quickly. "Maggie is where she needs to be. I'll just sit for a bit before I try heading back to the orphanage."
"I'll see he gets back okay," Constable Davor said, stepping back inside the home.
Lucie smiled. "You're looking a bit pekid yourself, Constable."
"My stomach feels a bit funny but it'll pass," Davor assured her.
"First birth you've attended?" Lucie asked.
"Yes," Davor replied.
Lucie smiled. "You did good, Constable," she told him, resting her hand briefly on his arm as she passed him. "Goodnight, gentlemen."
"Goodnight," both Mounties told her.
As Lucie left the house, Gabriel met Davor's gaze.
"Maybe Maggie should take a look at you before we leave," Davor stated.
Gabriel shook his head. "No. She's needed in there right now," he said, nodding his head toward the bedroom.
"Then let me ask Mr. Meadows to use his wagon to take you back. I probably should have never come and got you in the first place."
"Are you saying you would have wanted to try delivering that baby alone?"
"No," Davor admitted. "I'm not sure I would have remembered the training, let alone known what to do for that baby when it did arrive. However, the nurse is with them, and now I need to have your back. I don't think you should get back up on a horse."
"I'm fine," Gabriel protested, getting to his feet. It was a movement his ribs protested and he started feeling lightheaded almost immediately. Even as he went to sit back down, he felt Davor grab his arm to help steady him.
"You were saying?" Davor asked as Gabriel settled back into the chair.
Gabriel closed his eyes. "Okay, maybe getting on the back of a horse again isn't a good idea."
Before Davor had a chance to go knock on the bedroom door, the door opened and John Meadows stepped out. The man pulled the door closed behind him.
"Nurse Parsons suggested that I use the wagon and give you a lift home, Constable Kinslow," John said, his gaze finding Gabriel. "I appreciate you coming though you're still healing."
"It's just part of the job," Gabriel replied. "However, given that it's Maggie's suggestion, I dare not turn it down the offer of the ride. I have a feeling she's already not happy with me."
"I'll get the team hooked up," John said, moving to the cupboard. Taking down a cup, he filled it with water and placed it on the table near Gabriel. "I'll let you know when the wagon is ready."
"Thank-you," Gabriel said, picking up the cup of water and taking a sip of it.
"I'll get our horses ready to go," Davor said. "Are you going to be okay?"
"I'll sit right here until you get back," Gabriel promised.
"Okay," Davor said, following John out of the house.
Gabriel waited for the door to close behind them, before putting the cup off to the side. With his left arm folded across his stomach, Gabriel laid his right arm on the table. Leaning forward he rested his head on his forearm. Though he wasn't about to admit it, his ribs hurt about as much as when he first sustained the injury. This time though, it was just his left side that hurt and not everything else as well.
Chuck paced the porch of the orphanage. He had walked home with Grace and the children and Lillian had told them about Gabriel going to the Meadow's farm. He had been out at the Clay ranch earlier, ultimately having to put down the horse the injured hand had been riding, when Maggie had left for Clearwater. He had known it would be awhile before Maggie would get the message, let alone make it to the Meadows. Chuck couldn't fault Gabriel for the choice he had made. Put in a position like that, it was a choice that he would have made himself.
It didn't mean he wasn't worried, however. Chuck had seen the toll the wagon ride had taken. It was too soon for Gabriel to be up on a horse with his injury, let alone the physical toll of being up and about waiting on this baby.
Chuck paused in his pacing, looking in the direction that Gabriel would be coming when he returned. He had debated going over to the Meadows himself to check on Gabriel, but he held himself in check. Not only would it have just put Gabriel on the defensive, but he also didn't want to get in the way. Delivering foals and other baby animals was one thing, but he didn't think he would be so confident when it came to a human child. He also didn't think his vet jokes would go over in that situation.
As there remained no sign of anyone approaching, Chuck resumed his pacing.
"If you wear a rut in the boards, are you fixing that?"
Chuck stopped and looked over at Grace. His fiance stood just outside the front door. "I think I have quite awhile to go before that becomes and issue," he told her. "However, yes I would fix it. How is Lillian holding up?"
"She's taking her worry out on the dough," Grace replied. "As long as the dough still rises after all of the kneading, we'll have plenty of bread."
"At least she's doing something constructive."
"Would you like some coffee?" Grace asked.
"Not right now, but thank-you for the offer," Chuck told her.
The two stood silently for a few moments, both trying to think of something to say. A distant sound caught their attention before either could think of something. Turning his attention to the direction he had been watching moments before, Chuck looked into the distance. A point of light indicated someone approaching.
Moving off the porch, Chuck looked in that direction. Before long he could make out the silhouette of an approaching wagon. As they got closer, he saw the two horses tied to the back of the wagon as they walked behind it. Chuck wondered what that meant as he waited fo the wagon to reach the yard.
"Should I get Lillian?"
Chuck looked to his right to find Grace standing beside him, a lantern in hand.
"Maybe we should wait until we know what is going on," Chuck suggested. He saw Grace nod in agreement.
As the wagon approached, Chuck recognized John Meadows on the wagon seat.
"How is Mrs. Meadows?" Chuck asked approaching the wagon as John brought the horses to a stop.
"She's fine. Nurse Parsons is with her and our daughter. The baby is doing okay, thanks to Constable Kinslow. However, the constable is having a rough time of it."
"Congratulations," Chuck told him even as he made his way to the back of the wagon.
Staying at his side, Grace held the lantern up to give them some light. In the light of the lantern, Chuck noticed Constable Davor was kneeling in the back of the wagon. He had Gabriel resting against him, in a reclined position.
"We thought him laying down for the trip would be best, but when he tried to lie down, he said he felt like he couldn't breathe," Davor said before Chuck had a chance to ask any questions. "This position was more comfortable for him."
Listening to Gabriel's shallow breathing, Chuck had a feeling the Mountie had aggravated the injured ribs even more. "How are you feeling now, Gabriel?" Chuck asked, standing next to the wagon.
"As long as I don't take a deep breath or move, the pain isn't too bad," Gabriel commented, opening his eyes.
"Unfortunately, we're going to have to move you. Do you think you can walk with some support?"
"Yeah," Gabriel replied, moving to sit up. That simple action was a struggle, even with Davor's help. "Please don't lecture me about what a bad idea doing what I did was. I'm quite aware of that fact."
Chuck smiled despite the situation. "Let's just get you settled in the cottage and we'll go from there."
Slowly, and with help from both Davor and Chuck, Gabriel managed to get out of the back of the wagon. Chuck could tell Gabriel was leaning heavily on them as he stood.
"Can I be of any assistance?" John asked, having climbed down from the wagon seat.
"If you could just tie the horses at the porch railing for us, you can head home, sir," Davor replied. "I thank-you for you assistance."
"I'm the one that should be thanking the two of you for your assistance," John replied.
"Just doing our jobs," Davor replied even as he and Chuck started helping Gabriel toward the cottage.
"Here take this," Grace said, handing the lantern to Davor, whom she was closer to. "None of the lamps are lit in there."
"Thank-you," Davor said, taking the lantern from Grace who then turned and headed into the house.
"She's going to get Lillian isn't she?" Gabriel asked softly.
"You can count on it," Chuck replied. "Or you could think of it as going to rescue the dough," he added.
"What?" Gabriel asked, clearly confused by the statement.
"Don't worry about it. I'll explain it some other time," Chuck told him.
The trio made their way slowly toward the cottage. As the three of them wouldn't fit through the door together, Chuck had Davor get the door while he supported Gabriel. With Davor lighting the way with the lantern, Chuck got Gabriel to the bed, having him sit down on the side. An arm across Gabriel's back helping to support the Mountie as he sat there.
Seeing that the pillows he had used to prop Gabriel up in bed the other night were in a nearby chair, Chuck directed Davor to move them onto the bed. Meanwhile, he helped Gabriel remove his shirt so that he could undo the wrap around Gabriel's ribs, wanting to examine the injury better.
"So what's the verdict, doc?" Gabriel asked. He winced as Chuck gently probed the area with his fingers. "Will I live?"
"Right now, yes," Chuck replied. "When Lillian gets a hold of you, I'm not so sure."
"Ain't that the truth," Gabriel commented, knowing that Lillian was going to be happy. However, he was also fairly sure she'd cut him some slack, at least until he was feeling better.
"However," Chuck continued, growing more serious, "there is inflamation present. You've definitely aggravated the injury. Let's get you laying down, and then I'm going into town to get some ice from my uncle."
"I could do it," Davor volunteered.
"It'll be better if I deal with my uncle," Chuck told him. "You can help me get him lying down, though."
Davor nodded. The two of them got Gabriel situated against the pillows in a reclined position. The Mountie's breathing was still shallow as he laid there, his eyes closed once again.
"Do you have any of the pain medicine that Dr. Carson gave you?" Chuck asked.
"Yes," Gabriel replied. "It's on top of that cabinet over there. I didn't want any of the children to accidently get a hold of it."
Chuck nodded and got to his feet, acknowledging that Davor had left the cottage. He retrieved the bottle with the medicine in it. Chuck was shaking out a couple of pills when Davor came back in, his canteen now in his hand.
"Good thinking," Chuck commented, reaching for the canteen that Davor was holding toward him.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Chuck helped Gabriel take the pain medicine. "Now you stay put," Chuck instructed, as Gabriel rested back against the pillows again. Chuck reached down and pulled the blanket up. "I'll be back soon with the ice."
"I think I can do that," Gabriel replied. Opening his eyes, he looked toward Davor he added. "You don't need to hang around. It's been a long day for you as well. Head into town and get something to eat and rest."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"I'll keep him company," a soft voice added.
All three men looked toward the door to see Lillian standing there.
Davor nodded. "Okay. I'll take care of Apollo as well as Clover. I'll check in with you tomorrow."
"Chances are I'll be right here," Gabriel replied.
"I think that is a very good possibility," Chuck said. "I have a feeling Dr. Carson will back me up. He said he was coming to check on the Meadows baby. I'm going to make sure he checks in with you as well."
"I'm in no shape to protest."
"Well, at least you realize that much," Chuck commented. "I'll be back soon," he said again. "Lillian, makes sure he stays right there," he added, looking at the young woman who had pulled the chair close to the bedside.
"I will," Lillian assured him, reaching out and taking Gabriel's hand.
Satisfied that Gabriel was in good hands for the time being, Chuck headed out of the cottage, Davor close behind him.