Chapter 1 – Immediate Aftermath
The party continued until someone drove right through the barricade that had been set up, spewing gravel and sending people running, screaming. Once the car came to a stop, Lucas stumbled out. His suit rumbled and his hair mussed. Nathan and Bill headed toward him and as they got closer they realized that Lucas reeked of alcohol and was in no shape to be driving.
"Where is she!" Lucas demanded loudly. "Where is that whore, she is going to pay for this."
"Lucas Bouchard." Nathan said.
He didn't get anything else out, before Lucas took a wild swing at Nathan. Lucas was so drunk that he missed and fell to the ground. Nathan quickly handcuffed him. Then Bill and Nathan jerked him to his feet and dragged him off to jail. After Nathan and Bill took Lucas away, both Jack and Elizabeth looked around and saw that most people had seen what happened, but what upset Jack was that he saw Emily and Opal off to the side, crying. Jack dropped Elizabeth's hand and ran to them. She quickly followed.
"Are you girls okay?" Jack asked, kneeling in front of them looking for obvious injuries.
"I got hit by some flying wood and gravel." Emily said. "So did Opal."
"Let me see girls." Faith said, coming over.
When the girls turned, you could see marks on their hands and face. Emily had a large splinter in her face, by her jaw line. She also had a larger one sticking out of the sleeve of her dress.
"Let's get you both to the infirmary." Faith said.
"Right behind you." Molly called out.
"I am coming as well." Minnie said.
The ladies lead the girls away to deal with their injuries. Jack stood up and looked around.
"Is anyone else hurt?" Jack called out.
People checked themselves and found that they were okay. Some had been hit by the flying gravel, but they were okay. As Elizabeth was looking around she didn't see Little Jack until she turned toward where the barrier had been.
"Jack!" Elizabeth screamed and started running toward something.
Hearing Elizabeth screamed, he looked and saw her running toward something, he looked and saw something laying on the ground and immediately ran in that direction as well. With his longer strides, he got there before Elizabeth and found Little Jack lying on the ground, with a huge gash on his head, off to the side above his eyebrow. He wasn't moving. Elizabeth arrived a moment later. Jack had to hold Elizabeth back, he wasn't sure how injured Little Jack was.
"FAITH!" Jack yelled. "I need you. Bring the stretcher."
Hearing Jack yelling, Faith and Bill both came running. Bill stopped short when he saw Little Jack laying there.
"Elizabeth." Jack said. "Need to help Faith."
Jack felt her nodding against his chest, so he left her and moved over to help. Jack and Faith carefully moved Little Jack onto the stretcher and carried it to the infirmary. Bill gathered a sobbing Elizabeth into his arms. He walked her to the bench.
Lee started to send people home, then he went and told Nathan that he was needed in the infirmary and he would stay at the jail with Bouchard. Nathan had put Bouchard in a cell, where the man had passed out on the bunk. Lee just looked at him and shook his head.
Lee went and sat down at the desk. He pulled out some paper and started writing out what he saw. He knew the drill and figured that he might as well save Nathan and Bill having to track him down to ask. Lee didn't envy Nathan and Bill having to do this investigation. It wasn't going to be hard to prove Lucas was guilty, but the fact that Little Jack had been injured was going to hang heavy over the case. Lee had to stop writing and take a moment to pray for his friends and their child. As a new father, it hit Lee differently than it might have in the past. He had always loved Little Jack, but for probably the first time ever Lee thought about if it had been Goldie.
…. …. …. ….
Nathan walked out of the jail and saw a sobbing Elizabeth in Bill's arms, but was not prepared for what greeted him when he walked into the infirmary. Molly and Minnie were tending to Opal and Emily. Minnie motioned to behind the curtain. Nathan walked around the curtain and saw Little Jack lying motionless on the bed.
"Jack." Faith said, firmly. "I need you to step back."
"I am not leaving my son." Jack said. "Tell me what to do. I need to be able to help."
"Jack." Nathan said. "Go to Elizabeth. I will help Faith."
Jack looked at Nathan, closed his eyes for a moment, stood up and walked over to Nathan.
"I got him." Nathan said. "Elizabeth needs you more. Lee is at the jailhouse."
Jack patted Nathan on the back, walked out and took Elizabeth into his arms.
"He is breathing." Jack said. "Beyond that, Faith is checking him with the help of Nathan."
Jack and Elizabeth sat in each other's arms, crying. There was nothing else that they could do. Bill left them and went back to the jail, he needed to make some calls and there was going to be a ton of paperwork. He was also worried sick about Little Jack.
…. …. …. ….
Faith handed a damp cloth to Nathan and had him clean up the head wound. Faith carefully looked for other injuries. She found gravel marks on his pants, but no other apparent injuries. She had checked the head wound, put in two stitches, and wrapped it, she stood up.
"Go check on the girls." Nathan said. "I will stay here. Once the girls are taken care of, talk to Jack and Elizabeth. Then I will go do paperwork."
"Are you sure?" Faith asked.
"I have got the little guy." Nathan said. "I need to focus on this right now and not my anger."
Faith went to the other side of the curtain, she understood what Nathan was saying. Helping Little Jack was going to give him a chance to think before he acted with Bouchard.
"Is Little Jack okay?" Opal asked.
"Hopefully he will be fine." Faith said. "Do you know what happened?"
"I think he was hit by a flying board when Mr Bouchard crashed through the barricade" Opal said. "I didn't see exactly. I just saw the car and told everyone to move. I thought Little Jack was right behind us, but I think he went back toward the hay bale to hide."
"Be sure to tell Mountie Nathan that when he asks." Faith said. "He needs to know everything that you remember, no matter how small."
"Is Mr Bouchard in trouble?" Emily asked.
"That is for Mountie Nathan and Judge Avery to decide." Faith said. "Either way, it is not your concern. Let's just get you fixed up."
"I just need you to look at Opal's arm and cheek." Molly said.
Faith went over and checked Opal. She then helped Molly wrap Opal's arm.
"Nothing too bad." Faith said. "It is just like when you fell off the bike. It will take a few days to heal. Remember to keep it clean and if you need you come back."
"I will take her to her parents." Molly said.
"Thank Dr Faith." Opal said.
"You are welcome." Faith said. "I am sorry you were hurt."
Faith then went over to Emily.
"Mostly rash from the gravel." Minnie said. "However, this splinter is pretty deep. I didn't feel comfortable taking it out."
"How was the one in her cheek?" Faith asked.
"Looked worse than it was." Minnie said. "Barely broke the skin. This one in her arm is another story."
"Emily, can you move your fingers?" Faith asked. "Flex them out and then make a fist."
Emily did as asked.
"Does that hurt?" Faith asked.
"Only a little when I made a fist." Emily said.
"Okay." Faith said. "I am going to numb that area up a little with some medicine and then remove the splinter and then clean it out really well. Even with the medication it might still hurt."
"I will be okay." Emily said. "Just do what you need. I don't want to watch or see."
"Then how about you lay back and we prop your arm up on an extra pillow." Faith said. "I need to quickly talk to Mrs Thornton and Mountie Jack."
Faith walked to the door and took a deep breath.
…. …. …. ….
Jack and Elizabeth were worried about Little Jack, but Jack was also seething with anger. If Bouchard had not been locked in a jail cell at the moment, he would have killed him. As much as Jack wanted to go over there and yell at Bouchard, he knew it would accomplish nothing. He also knew he needed to be there for his wife and son. For once, Jack was glad he wasn't technically on duty. He could leave the paperwork and dealing with Bouchard to Nathan and Bill.
Jack looked up when the door opened. It was Opal and Molly.
"Are you okay, Opal?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Opal said.
She then walked over and gave Jack a hug. He hugged her back and he squeezed him tight.
"I hope Little Jack is okay." Opal said. "But I am really glad you are back. I know that Mrs Thornton missed you. Before I forget again, I need to thank you for rescuing me from the fire in the church five years ago. I never got a chance to say that."
"You are so welcome." Jack said. "Thank you for remembering that. I am sorry that you got hurt again."
"Just a little scrape." Opal said. "I got worse falling off the bike a few months ago."
"You take care and I will see you soon." Jack said.
"Will you let me know about Little Jack?" Opal asked.
"Of course sweetheart." Elizabeth said. "I told you that Mountie Jack knew you were thankful for what he did and was just glad you were alright."
"Mrs Thornton is correct." Jack said. 'But it was still nice of you to remember and to say thank you."
Opal gave each Jack and Elizabeth a hug before Molly took her over to her parents who were waiting at the hotel. After they had walked away, Jack looked at Elizabeth.
"After the funeral and before I went back to teaching." Elizabeth said. "Rosemary came to me and told me that Opal was unusually quiet and only spoke one or two word answers when asked direct questions. I wasn't in a place to be able to go to the school yet, so Rosemary brought her to the dress shop. I finally got it out of Opal what was going on and she felt so bad for never thanking you for rescuing her and she was beside herself that you died upset at her for it. I told her you knew she was grateful and would be happy that she was alright. I then told her that we share being rescued by you. I told her about the time in the mine when you rescued me from the falling timbers. She felt better and it took about a week and the old Opal was back."
"I am so sorry you went through that." Jack said. "I guess I didn't even think about how the children would have reacted to my death."
"You can't keep blaming yourself." Elizabeth said. "You did what you thought was right. You are here now and all we can do is move forward."
"I still feel bad." Jack said.
Elizabeth leaned over and gave Jack a quick kiss. They turned when they heard the door open again. This time it was Faith. Jack was on his feet and standing in front of Faith before Elizabeth could even stand up.
"He is still out." Faith said. "Nathan is sitting with him. There are no other apparent injuries other than the cut on his temple. It appears he was hit with a piece of flying debris and it knocked him out. I checked him over and didn't find any other injuries. I put two stitches in just because it is in that weird spot. When he wakes up I will check him again. I am pretty sure with some rest, cuddles and ice cream he will be running around in no time. But we won't know for sure until he wakes up."
"How long are you leaving the stitches in?" Jack asked.
"At least a week." Faith said. "I am sure you will be able to remove them if he lets you, otherwise bring him back. For now, you can go sit with him. Even when he wakes up, I want to keep him here tonight if you want to go change and then come back."
"I need to see him first." Elizabeth said.
Jack nodded as he had his arm wrapped around Elizabeth. She instinctively went to his side when she stood up and he tucked her under his arm like had always had.
"Understandable." Faith said.
They went back in and Faith led them over to the bed. Little Jack looked. so small in the big bed. Elizabeth immediately sat down on the edge of the bed and brushed his cheek. Nathan stood up and walked over to Jack.
"Two stitches." Nathan said. "Honestly not that bad. No debris in the wound when cleaned. He should be fine. Bad bump to the head. He should be up soon, as he stirred with the opening and closing of the door. Maybe you guys can get him to open his eyes. Kids are resilient. Bill and I will deal with the paperwork and Bouchard. Probably best to stay away at the moment. I understand your anger and I would be thinking the same thing if it was Allie. But blowing up at Bouchard won't do anyone any good."
"I want him charged." Jack said. "Call O'Reilly and Collins. Let them know what happened. Tell them I will update them when possible. I also suggest getting Bouchard out of here as soon as possible. I don't know how long I can stay away."
"Message received." Nathan said. "I will leave you to your family. Let us know if you need anything. We are here for you and I agree about moving Bouchard. As word spreads that Little Jack is injured as well as the girls, the anger in town will only grow."
Nathan walked away and Jack went to the chair that Nathan had been in. Jack picked up his son's hand and started talking to him softly. The sound of Jack's voice caused the boy to stir.
…. …. …. ….