Chapter Thirty-Five
Hannah returned just then. Smiling she said, "You only get that look when you misbehave."
She looked at her husband and said "I checked on Cam and Mike while I was upstairs. They're both sound asleep. The bed is ready. If you're going to move Jess I suggest you do it now before one of them rouses for some reason."
"Gordon, I'll need your help. We need to be as gentle as possible and that means the two of us who aren't limping." Seeing Slim's upset expression Dr, McAllister said, "Hannah and Daisy will walk in front of us. Slim will walk behind us in case we need help."
The foursome left the kitchen and went to David's office. Jess was lying down again. His somewhat labored breathing was an indication of the pain he was in. Slim cringed when he saw his partner bandaged up and the bruises on his face. The gash was raw and nasty looking.
"Daisy would you bring the laudanum, please? We'll give him a dose once we get him upstairs and into bed. I'm afraid it will take effect too quickly if we give it to him now. He needs to be awake so he can sit up. The stretcher would be absolutely too difficult to maneuver up the stairs and around the corner into the hallway."
He and Gordon positioned themselves on either side of the injured man and gently eased him into a sitting position and off the table. Slim was right there to help Jess into their arms. As they proceeded to move into the hall, the tall rancher was no more than a few inches behind his friend ensuring that he didn't suddenly fall backward. They walked silently down the hall. Any communication was done in a whisper.
It didn't take long to get Jess settled in bed. Slim removed his one boot and his pants. The two mothers pulled the covers up and made sure he was well covered against any chills. Hannah went downstairs for water and a small towel in case it was needed later on.
David took the spoon and the laudanum from Daisy and poured a dose for his patient. He held out the spoon and fixed his recalcitrant patient with a steely gaze.
"Open up, Jess and no arguments. The ribs alone are painful but your ankle must be pretty painful as well."
Amazingly Jess did as he was told, then closed his eyes again. Within a couple of minutes he was sound asleep.
"Hopefully he'll sleep through the night," the doctor said. "I think we should all go to bed. If he's feverish during the night Hannah can take care of him or she and Daisy can take turns sitting up with him."
Somewhat reluctantly they all went to bed but David McAllister was called out, before he got there, to check on Mart Riley's wrist at the request of their sheriff. Upon examination it was found to be badly sprained, but not broken. He got no sympathy from either the doctor or the sheriff as it was wrapped.
Sunday morning dawned clear and cold. Hannah was the first to awaken. Grabbing her robe, she quickly donned it and quietly went across the hall to check on Jess.
The patient was sleeping fairly comfortably, thanks to the laudanum he'd been given. His face was pale and bruised but there was no sign of fever. Later on she'd clean the gash again and this time apply some of her salve to help speed the healing.
Quietly, for it was still early, she went downstairs to start a fire in the kitchen. When she was satisfied that it was well started she went back upstairs to dress.
In the upstairs hall she met up with Daisy, who was already dressed and headed for Jess' room.
"Good morning, Daisy," Hannah smiled. "Did you sleep well?"
"When I wasn't fussing over Jess," Daisy replied. "How is he this morning?"
"See for yourself."
The two women, careful not to rouse the sleeping man, entered the sick room. Jess was just as he had been when Hannah had made her way downstairs and showed no signs of waking up just yet.
"Why don't you sit with him while I get dressed?" the doctor's wife suggested.
The other woman smiled and went to sit by the patient's bedside.
Mrs. McAllister went to her room and found her husband in the process of getting dressed himself.
"How's my patient?" he asked.
"Still sleeping. Daisy's with him now."
"Best thing for him," David said, "after the beating he took last night Between the ribs and that ankle it's going to be a few days before he's up and around. I'm confining him to bed until that ankle heals up some. It was pretty badly swollen last night."
"From what Daisy says we'd better plan on someone keeping him company when he's not sleeping. He's not one for staying put when he's hurt."
So she told me last night," David laughed. "I think there's enough of us to make sure he behaves himself." He smiled. "Cam did a pretty good job of keeping him entertained the first time he was my patient. This time she'll have six others to see that he behaves himself including Slim and Mike."
Hannah had finished dressing by now and headed out the door.
"I'm going to break the news to Cam now - before she comes downstairs. She's going to be upset - she's so fond of him. This will give her a chance to compose herself before she comes downstairs."