2 Jack brings Adam home
"Hello the house! Hello!" Jack's call rang in the open front yard, as he swung down from Sport and tied him to the hitching rail. Doing the same with his golden colored horse a moment later. Jack turned to face the front door as it opened and three men walked out. Jack moved over next to the litter. "Mr. Cartwright?" Jack extended his hand to the oldest man who shook it. "I brought your son home." Jack gestured at the litter behind him. "Adam!" Ben moved to the litter. "Hi, Pa." Adam blinked sleepily.
"What happened?" Ben brushed the hair back from Adam's forehead and was concerned at the heat coming from his oldest son. Jack turned to Little Joe. "Would you ride for the doctor? And tell him to bring the supplies for a plaster cast." Joe nodded and jogged to the barn to saddle Cochise. Jack motioned Hoss over as he began to unstrap Adam from the litter. "He got grazed by a bullet but it just took some skin off, he also fell and broke his leg. He started getting the fever on the way back here." Jack flipped the top of the bedroll off of Adam revealing his splinted leg. "Hoss, right?" Jack smiled at the biggest of the Cartwrights.
"Yessir." Hoss nodded too concerned about Adam to return the smile.
"Would you carry him inside please?" Without hesitation Hoss scooped Adam up and carried him inside, ignoring Adam's faint protests. While Hoss carried Adam, Jack untied his medical bag and followed Hoss into the house talking to Ben as he did so. "His fever's not bad, and I have something which'll help. I want to seriously clean and bandage that graze before the doctor gets here."
Ben nodded in agreement and glanced at the medical bag in Jack's hand. "Are you a doctor?"
"No sir. I'm a nurse." Jack gave Ben a reassuring smile as they followed Hoss into the house and up the stairs to Adam's room. Once Hoss had laid Adam down on his bed he and Ben began to undress Adam ignoring his protests that he could do it himself. "Here." Jack handed Hoss a small knife. "Slit the side seam of his pants," Jack pointed at the remains of the pants leg above the splint. "It'll make it easier to get his pants off." Jack dug through his bag and removed a small clear glass bottle with a dark brown powder inside. "Mr. Cartwright would you please show me to your kitchen? I need to heat some water."
"I can have Hop Sing, our cook, do that." Ben left Adam to Hoss's care and headed downstairs to call Hop Sing.
"Thank you Mr. Cartwright. Um, do you have alcohol in the house? Any type will do." Jack followed Ben downstairs.
"Uh, yes, I have some brandy." Ben grabbed the decanter, having a good idea why it was needed, as he called for Hop Sing.
"I need to wash my hands, then I'll be right up to clean that graze."
"Of course." Ben had spoken to Hop Sing and was heading back upstairs, brandy in hand. When he abruptly turned back. "I'm sorry, I didn't even ask your name." Ben smiled apologetically.
"That's quite alright given the circumstances." Jack smiled reassuringly. "It's Jack, Jack Crow." Ben nodded and headed back to Adam's room. By the time Jack reentered Adam's room, Hoss had Adam dressed in a nightshirt and propped up on several pillows. Jack crossed the room and put the bottle of powder away in his bag and resheathed the knife Hoss returned to him. Balancing a tray with a clean towel, teapot and tea cup, Hop Sing followed Jack into the room. "Thank you Hop Sing." Jack bowed slightly to the Chinese man. Hop Sing bowed in return and left the room after placing the tray on the dresser. Quickly and deftly Jack poured a cup of tea and carried it over to the side of Adam's bed. "Here." He handed the cup to Adam who took a sip. "Drink all of it." Jack said firmly, as Adam grimaced at the taste. "You can slug it back, you don't have to sip it." Jack couldn't help smiling at the relief on Adam's face as he drank it quickly. "That's almost worse than Pa's tonic." Adam gratefully accepted the glass of water Jack handed to him. When he was done, Jack set the glass on the end table next to the bed, and felt Adam's forehead. "The fever's higher than I'd like. Hopefully the tea will help bring it down." Moving back over to his medical bag Jack removed a roll of bandages, and some cotton batting. As he walked back to the bed he grabbed the decanter of brandy, and the clean towel. "Hoss would you lift his leg please." As Hoss did, Jack slid the clean towel under Adam's thigh, where he had tied the makeshift bandage earlier. Untying the bandanna and removing the cotton batting Jack had placed there earlier was quick and relatively painless. Jack gently poking the graze once Hoss set Adam's leg down, was less so. Adam hissed in pain at Jack's gentle prodding of the injury. "It's inflamed but not infected yet. Hopefully this will stop any infection and eventually ease the inflammation." Jack looked up at Adam. "This is gonna really hurt." Not waiting for a response he continued. "Mr. Cartwright if you would hold his leg still, put your weight here and here on the splints." Jack pointed. "Hoss please hold his shoulders still. Hoss nodded and moved into position. Jack picked up the brandy and removed the stopper from the decanter. Adam closed his eyes and braced himself. The sting of the alcohol made Adam yell in pain and instinctively try to twist away. "Done!" Jack called after a few moments as he pressed clean batting to the graze. Hoss let go of Adam's shoulders and held the batting in place while Jack wound the bandage around it. Adam was breathing hard and felt as if all his energy had been sapped away. "There." Jack finished tying the bandage off, then went to get more tea. Reluctantly Adam accepted the second cup of tea and drank it quickly. Once Jack had put the cup back by the teapot, he turned to Ben. "Nothing else to do until the doctor gets here. We should let him rest."
"Yes. Of course." Hoss put a hand on Ben's shoulder.
"You go on downstairs Pa, I'll sit with Adam." Hoss walked to the other side of the bed and sat in the chair by Adam's desk.
"Thank you Hoss." Ben headed downstairs with Jack following behind carrying the decanter. "Oh thank you." Ben accepted the decanter from Jack and put it back in its place.
"Mr. Cartwright could I trouble you for some food?" Just as Jack asked, his stomach let out a huge growl, loud enough to make Ben laugh.
"Yes, yes of course. Forgive my manners."
"Oh no, it's quite understandable Mr. Cartwright." Jack gave Ben a calming smile. A few moments later Hop Sing came in with a plate of sandwiches. "Sandwiches for Mista Caltwlight and Mista Jack." Bowing Hop Sing returned to kitchen. Snatching a sandwich so fast Ben almost didn't see him move, Jack began devouring it in a manner worthy of a starving Hoss. The expression on Ben's face made Jack pause and swallow long enough to sheepishly explain. "I haven't eaten since early this morning."
"I see." Ben nodded in appreciation. "Thank you for taking care of Adam and bringing him home. If there's any way I can repay you…"
Jack paused and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "Actually Mr. Cartwright I could use a job."
"Oh? You know anything about ranching?"
"No sir, but I need to learn if I'm going to find work around here." Jack looked down and shifted uneasily. "Most won't give me a chance, or run me off." Jack looked up at Ben his expression a mix of earnest and desperate. "I'll work hard for you, and I can help with any medical emergency that would come up! I'll earn my keep you'll see if you give me a chance!"
"Unfortunately I need experienced hands right now." Ben said gently. The way Jack's face face fell tugged at Ben's heart.
"I see. Thanks anyway." Jack managed a small smile.
"Now, now wait a minute. Let me think things over and I'll give you a answer in the morning. Provided you stay as my guest of course." The little man's face brightened back up.
"Thank you sir. If it's alright I'd like to take care of my horse now."
"Yes, go right ahead, you'll find everything you need out in the barn."
Nodding his thanks Jack headed out to stable his and Adam's horses. When Jack had finished the doctor had arrived and was in the process of examining Adam. Joe helped Jack bring in his saddlebags, a carpet bag and bedroll, then showed Jack where the guest room was located. Once Jack had put his things in the room, he came back out into the living room and began to look at the collection of books. Joe sat on the settee and shot worried glances towards the upstairs. "He should be fine." Joe started slightly as he realized Jack was watching him. "Are you sure? I mean… Nobody told me how bad it is." Joe couldn't help the worry that crept into his voice.
"As sure as I can be. He broke his leg, has a bullet graze that took off some skin, and a fever. The fever's not bad and the graze has been cleaned out so it shouldn't get infected." Joe nodded still occasionally glancing at the top of the stairs. Just then they heard voices getting louder as they got closer, and Ben and the doctor came in sight at the top of the stairs. As they descended the doctor spotted Jack. "So this is the young man took such good care of my patient." Jack couldn't help the pleased smile that crept across his face. The doctor stopped in front of Jack and extended his hand. "I couldn't have set his leg better myself, and the graze was expertly bandaged." Jack was practically beaming at the doctor's praise. "I didn't actually need to do anything, except apply the plaster cast. You are an excellent nurse son." The doctor turned to Ben "Adam is going to be in a cast for at least 3 months, and at least 4 to 6 weeks with no weight on that leg whatsoever, I expect the fever will break sometime tomorrow. Well, I need to be getting back to town."
Thank you for coming doctor." Ben shook the doctor's hand and walked him out to his buggy. Inside Joe had a relieved grin on his face as he jogged up the stairs to see Adam. Standing and stretching, Jack considered following Joe upstairs to see if he could get Adam to drink more of the tea. His thoughts were interrupted by Ben returning. "Ah Jack." Ben closed the door behind him. "Would you like some coffee?"
"Yes please, with cream and sugar or honey if you have it." Ben nodded and stepped over to the table where Hop Sing had set the pot and cups out earlier. "My Ma liked it that way and she got me to liking it too." Jack accepted the cup. "Thank you."
"Where are you from?" Ben moved back into the living room and sat in the red chair while Jack settled on the settee.
"Indiana." Jack took a sip of coffee.
"You're a long way from home."
"Don't have a home any more. Ma died last spring and Pa didn't make it through the winter. Once spring hit I sold the farm and everything, and I started west."
"I'm sorry for your loss. You have relatives out west?"
"No, Pa's folks are buried up in canada somewhere, the rest of them are in france, and Ma's tribe, Cherokee, wouldn't have me. Mostly I was hoping for a new start." Jack drank the rest of his coffee. "I'm gonna go up and get Adam to drink more of that tea."
"Please send Hoss and Little Joe down when you do?"
"Sure." Jack called over his shoulders as he headed up the stairs.
When he entered Adam's room Joe looked up from where he was sitting on the edge of the bed. "Your Pa wants to see you." He glanced at Adam who shivered once his brothers weren't looking. As the boys left the room Jack tapped Hoss on the shoulder. "Would you send Hop Sing up with an extra blanket and hot water bottle? Oh, and an extra pillow?" "Sure thing." Hoss headed downstairs. Turning back to Adam, Jack saw him pushing the covers so they were down around his waist. "Let me guess, feet and hands are freezing but the rest of you feels hot?" Jack moved over to the teapot and poured Adam another cup. "Yeah." Adam grimaced at the prospect of more tea. Jack waited until Adam was done with the tea before feeling his forehead again. "Will I live?" Adam couldn't keep the annoyance and sarcasm out of his voice. Jack smirked faintly. "If you listen to your doctor and your nurse you just might." His sarcasm matched Adam's as he crossed the room to put the teacup back.
"Sorry." Adam sighed. "I'm just…"
"Sick and miserable." Jack gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Yeah." Adam leaned his head back against the pillow and closed his eyes.
"Think you can try to sleep?"
Adam shook his head not opening his eyes.
"Too miserable."
"Want me to read to you?" After considering it for a moment Adam nodded.
"Any particular book?"
Adam waved a hand at the one on his nightstand. Before Jack picked it up Hop Sing came in with the items Jack had requested. After thanking Hop Sing, who helped him put the second blanket over Adam, and putting the hot water bottle down by Adam's feet, Jack picked up the book and began to read. Pitching his voice to be soothing, Jack read in almost a monotone and about 30 minutes later Adam was asleep.
While Jack tended to Adam, Ben, Hoss and Little Joe were having a serious discussion about the spring roundup.
"Unfortunately Adam's injury couldn't have come at a worse time. We were planning on leaving tomorrow for the roundup, but that's going to have to wait for a few days. He's going to need constant care and help, and I can't spare either one of you to look after him, and I had planned to have Hop Sing drive the chuck wagon. Not to mention we can't put it off any later than the end of the week." Ben sighed and tapped his pipe against his lower lip.
"Well, we can't take him with us." Little Joe piped up.
"I reckon we'll hafta hire someone to look after 'im."
"I was thinking of something similar, as a matter of fact, I was considering hiring Jack Crow to look after him. Jack's already told me he needs a job, and he's inexperienced as a ranch hand, but hiring him to look after Adam should work." Ben nodded decisively, looking at each of his 2 youngest in turn.
"Sounds good Pa, I like the little feller."
"Yeah Pa it sounds like a good plan."
"Alright then, you two go on up to bed and I'll tell Jack." Both boys nodded and started towards the stair, Joe going up first. Halfway up the stairs Hoss paused and snapped his fingers.
"Dadgummit, I almost forgot. Here Pa." Hoss came back down the stairs pulling a black leather wallet out of his vest pocket as he went. He handed the wallet to Ben.
"This is Adam's wallet." Ben looked up at Hoss puzzled.
"Oh Adam wanted you to put that money in the safe fer 'im. He said that Jack fella knew about the money he was carryin' and never even looked fer it." Hoss gave Ben a firm nod and headed back upstairs.
Ben smiled at the money, confident in his decision to let Jack care for Adam in their absence. After locking the money in the safe by the desk Ben headed upstairs back to Adam's room. On seeing that Adam was asleep, Ben spoke to Jack in the quietest voice he could manage.
"You should rest. I can sit with him."
Jack shook his head. "He's my patient, I'll stay up with him. I promise I'll call you if anything changes."
Ben thought for a moment. His fatherly instincts said he needed to be there for Adam, but he was planning to place his son in Jack's care anyways, so why not start now? Eventually he decided since Adam seemed to be sleeping peacefully to leave him in Jack's care. On sensing the conflict in Ben Jack spoke softly and kindly. "I don't need another patient." Jack smiled at Ben.
"Alright then." Ben smiled back. "But you'll let me know…"
"The minute anything changes. Go on, try to get some sleep." Jack made shooing motions towards the door, gently herding Ben out of the room. Once Ben had gone into his own room, Jack slipped down to the guest room and brought his bedroll up to Adam's room. After spreading out the bedroll on the floor Jack laid down on top and tried to get some sleep. About two in the morning Ben woke up, he listened trying to figure out what woke him. There it was again, quiet noises from Adam's room. Ben decided he should check on Adam. Quietly he got up and padded softly to Adam's open door. As he approached the door he realized he could hear a woman's voice. This confused Ben since there were no women in the house. As he peered into the room he could see Adam was shifting and moaning, his head rolling side to side in a restless dream. Jack was perched on the bed holding Adam's hand and gently stroking Adam's black hair in an effort to soothe him. Jack was also singing a quiet haunting song with beautiful, sweet tones. When Ben realized it was Jack who was singing his eyes widened in surprise. Jack was a girl! As much as Ben wanted to confront her immediately, her song was calming Adam down and he settled into a more restful sleep as she continued to sing. Once she finished singing, she gently placed Adam's hand back on his chest, stood up, and stretched. Seeing that Adam was calm, Ben entered the room. "Well, it seems we have a few things to talk about." Ben voice was quiet but firm. Jack started and her eyes grew wide. "Mr. Cartwright…"
"Don't bother dropping your voice. I heard you singing." Ben tried to keep his voice as kind as possible, since Jack looked like she might bolt from the room, and possibly even from the house.
"I-I can explain…" she sounded terrified.
"It's alright." Ben gestured for her to sit back on the bed while he settled into the chair. "I can guess why you dress and act like a man, it gives you some extra measure of protection, am I right? Especially, since you're traveling alone?" She nodded slowly. Ben gently took and patted her hand. "I want you to know you have nothing to fear from either me or my sons."
"Please don't tell them." Her face and voice was a mixture of fear and desperation. Ben hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "It's not my secret to tell. I hope you feel you can tell them eventually though."
"Eventually?"
"I'd like you to stay on as a nurse and help Adam recover. Then once he's recovered we'll revisit the idea of you learning ranching. Does that sound alright?"
"That sounds wonderful!" Jack smiled and it lit up her whole face.
"Good. Now that that's settled. How's Adam?"
"The fever isn't any higher. He's having fever dreams though. Mostly he's been quiet and I've been able to soothe him pretty quickly. I didn't mean to wake you."
"Oh, that's quite alright. It gave us a chance to talk, and a chance to hear you sing. You have a beautiful voice by the way."
"Thank you."
"What were you singing? I didn't recognize the language."
"A Cherokee lullaby my Ma used to sing."
"She taught you some of the language then?"
"Yes, she taught Cherokee and my Pa taught me French."
"Impressive." Ben and Jack continued to talk softly. Ben told her about the ranch and his sons. She told him about her parents, their farm, and being forced to sell. After a while Adam began to stir from another fever dream. "Pa…" Adam moaned. "Paiute…. Ma!" Adam cried arching his back in distress. "Shhhh… it's alright, you're alright." Jack had turned back to Adam gently stroking his hair and speaking softly to him again. Ben had moved to Adam's other side. "It's alright son I'm here." Softly Jack began to sing the lullaby again and after a few moments Adam relaxed back into his pillows. As she sang Jack felt Adam's forehead. "His temperature's continuing to go down." She looked at Ben, and her smile changed to concern. "Are you alright? You look pale."
"I'm alright, it's just… I think I know what he was dreaming about"
Jack tilted her head, listening as Ben told her about Inger and the paiutes. "I thought he had stopped having nightmares about it. That he had dealt with it."
"He probably has. I've seen fevers dredge up men's worst memories, things they haven't thought about in years. I've also seen men wake up screaming, terrified and not be able to tell me why, all because of a fever. Fevers mess with men's dreams Mr. Cartwright, don't read to much into it." Ben gave Jack a grateful smile.
"Thank you."
"You should try to get some more sleep. You won't do Adam any good if you're sick too."
"You're right, you're right." Ben nodded in acknowledgment and headed back to his room. Surprisingly, he slept well until sunup, when Jack gently shook his shoulder to wake him.
"Adam's fever broke." Jack was smiling from ear to ear.