Chapter 221 – Teasing to Lighten the Mood

After Elizabeth left, Doug sat on the edge of the bed. He rubbed Jack's back as he let the pain calm down. After Elizabeth had slipped from the bed, Jack rolled over onto his stomach and was clutching a pillow.

"I know that this is the last thing that you want right now." Doug said. "But we need to get you up and moving. You need to go downstairs and drink the medicated tea before Jacobs and Nurse Carter come back. I was also hoping to see you have a bit of the soup that we made this morning."

"Go away." Jack growled.

"You know that I am not going to do that." Doug said.

Jack growled into the pillow. While Jack was doing that, Dee stepped into the bedroom.

"We both know that you are in pain." Dee said. "We also both know that this is hard, but we need to get you downstairs."

Jack lifted his head and stuck out his tongue at Dee.

"You can do that all you want." Dee said. "It isn't going to change anything. It is just us in the house. Mom, Dad and the rest of them were going to stay in town unless we needed something. So come on, the sooner you stand up, the sooner we can help you downstairs."

Jack rolled over so he was mostly on his back but not flat to keep his hip off the bed.

"Help me sit up." Jack said.

Doug and Dee got Jack sitting. They gave him a minute and helped him stand. The movement caused Jack's knees to buckle in pain. Doug caught him and wrapped Jack's arm around his shoulder. Doug then wrapped his arm across Jack's back. Dee did the same, being careful of Jack's hip. Slowly they moved toward the door.

"How are you doing?" Doug asked.

"Painful." Jack rasped.

"I know." Doug said. "Sorry buddy. You set the pace. We will support you, but there is no other way. We both know that staying in bed all day will do more harm than good. Besides, you need to eat and sitting at the table with us will do you good."

Jack just stuck his tongue out again.

"Be mindful of that one when the baby comes." Doug teased. "You don't want to be the one caught teaching him or her bad behavior."

Dee laughed.

"There are plenty of naughty things he will teach them." Dee said. "With a family of teachers, how could he not."

"True." Doug said. "Very true."

Jack just groaned and kept them moving toward the stairs. When they got downstairs, they guys got Jack settled at the table with a pillow behind him. Once he was seated, Elizabeth set the medicated tea in front of Jack. She then set about putting lunch on the table.

"How is the weather?" Jack asked. "Though I heard thunder earlier."

"It has been raining on and off." Dee said. "Some of the men are getting inside work done. Both the temporary and Lee's new men. Most however have the day off. The leader said the men agreed to stay until Friday so the town gets two full weeks of work."

"How is the ground?" Jack asked.

"Fine." Dee said. "No water pooling here or most places. I mean you are always going to have mud, but no danger of flooding or over saturation. From what I understand the river is still flowing fast, but well within its banks."

"Good." Jack said.

Elizabeth set the food on the table and looked over at Jack. She could tell he was in pain, but was trying to focus on what was in front of him.

"This looks good." Jack said. "But I'm not that hungry."

"I only gave you a small amount." Elizabeth said. "And it is mostly broth. Please just try."

Jack nodded. He reached for Elizabeth's hand and then said a quick prayer.

"Lord God." Jack prayed. "Please be with us this afternoon. Please help me with my pain. Help Faith and Jacobs know what I need. Help Doug, Dee and Elizabeth to know how to help me. Last, but not least, please bless this food to our bodies and bless the hands that prepared it. Amen."

"Amen." The rest of the table echoed.

As Jack let go of Elizabeth's hand, he grimaced in pain.

"How bad is the pain?" Doug asked.

"I have no idea how I am going to do a breathing treatment and dressing change." Jack said. "It is almost killing me to sit here."

"Hopefully the tea kicks in and helps soon." Dee said.

Jack nodded. They ate and changed the subject to other things. Dee talked about morning services. Doug talked about various things from Lethbridge. They tried to keep the subjects light and to keep Jack distracted. They were almost done eating when Jacobs knocked on the door and came in. Faith was right behind him.

"We were just finishing up." Elizabeth said.

"No." Jacobs said. "Take you time. It is good that Jack is eating."

"Not much of an appetite again." Jack said.

"But you are eating something." Faith said.

"Yes." Jack said. "I had a small bowl of soup, mostly broth."

"Good enough." Faith said. "And I see you finished a cup of tea."

"Yes, the medicated tea." Dee said.

Jacobs and Faith both took a seat at the table after Elizabeth indicated for them to sit.

"How was it this morning after we left?" Faith asked.

"I mostly slept." Jack said.

Doug and Dee exchanged a look that didn't go unnoticed by Jacobs.

"Anything else happen?" Jacobs asked.

He might have been talking to the group, but he was eyeing Dee and Doug.

"Jack had a bit of a nightmare not that long ago." Doug said. "Elizabeth and I were able to pull him out of it and he was able to get a bit more rest before we brought him down for lunch."

"I don't really remember." Jack said. "I remember Elizabeth coming back and laying with me, but I didn't realize it was because of a nightmare."

"Right now." Faith said. "We will just keep an eye on things. Morphine can sometimes cause nightmares."

"Okay." Jack said.

Elizabeth cleared Jack's dishes and got his water ready for his breathing treatment. Dee got up and added the eucalyptus oil. They set it in front of Jack and draped him with a towel. While Jack was doing that. Jacobs and Faith talked about how it was busy in town with so many people. The saloon was busy. Jacobs let them know that their families and Frank were all over at the cafe. Elizabeth was glad that her family was spending time with Abigail and each other. She was also glad to see that they knew enough to give her and Jack some space that day.

"What is the plan for the week?" Faith asked.

"I will be going back to the classroom tomorrow." Elizabeth said. "I don't know if I will stay all day. We have the science fair on Friday, so I will be there all day that day. Beyond that, I am going to take it day by day."

"I will be here with Jack unless ordered to do something else." Doug said.

"Good." Jacobs said. "For now, that will be your job. Dee will be needed in the office with his father and I tomorrow."

"I will be here." Doug said. "There are plenty of books to keep me busy. I also saw Jack's guitar. I also know my way around the kitchen so I will make sure that Jack is fed."

"I am not a child." Jack hissed.

"I know that." Doug said, giving Jack a pat on the back. "I also know left to your own devices, you probably wouldn't remember to eat."

"We all know that to be true." Elizabeth said. "I don't know how many times he has gotten involved in something and forgot to eat. Even with Abigail's amazing cooking."

"Speaking of which." Dee said. "You are going to have to eat at the cafe at least once. Abigail and Mom make the best scones and biscuits."

"I love scones." Doug said.

"Then maybe I will stop over and get some tomorrow before coming out." Jacobs said.

"I would have one of those." Jack said.

"Of course." Dee teased.

The group continued to talk while Jack finished up his breathing treatment. When he was done, Jacobs went right into doing the cupping motion. Dee had positioned the bucket at Jack's feet. He coughed and sputtered several times, but didn't get sick to his stomach. When Jacobs was done, both Jacobs and Faith listened to Jack's lungs.

"Better." Faith said.

"I agree." Jacobs said.

"While you catch your breath, Jack." Faith said. "I want to get a quick temperature."

Jack sat back and Faith slipped the thermometer under Jack's tongue. He tried to focus on his breathing and slow it down as he knew he was breathing too hard. While they were waiting for Jack's temperature to register, Dee and Doug cleaned up the water and buckets. Elizabeth sat at the table and rubbed her baby belly. Jack gave her a dimpled grin as best as he could. As soon as Faith slipped the thermometer from Jack's mouth. He gave Elizabeth a full dimpled smile. He reached out for her and she moved over closer to her. He put his hand on her baby bump and rubbed it a bit. Jack leaned down and kissed the baby belly.

"Love you, little one." Jack said.

"Jack." Faith said.

Jack sat back and she took his blood pressure, then his pulse and respiration.

"Given you pain." Faith said. "Your vitals are good. I mean they aren't great, but they are about what I expected."

"What was his temperature?" Elizabeth asked.

"It is still over ninety-nine." Faith said. "At least it hasn't gotten worse. If you want, you can put some cool clothes on Jack's forehead as he rests this afternoon."

"I might do that." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth stood up and Jack had a hold of her skirt, so it was tight across her stomach.

"I don't mean to sound rude, Beth." Dee said. "But you are definitely bigger than you were the other day."

"I am not surprised." Elizabeth said. "I am already starting to feel huge. There is no way that I can hide this much longer. Even the loose clothing is showing my bump."

"Maybe I am right and it is twins." Jack whispered.

"Bite your tongue." Elizabeth hissed.

"What are you two talking about?" Faith asked.

"Nothing." Jack and Elizabeth said together.

They then looked at each other and started laughing.

"Jack." Jacobs said. "Let's get you taken care of. Then you can rest this afternoon."

"Okay." Jack said. "This is going to be painful, no matter how we do it."

Doug helped Jack stand and walk over to the bedroom. Everyone could see the pain on Jack's face as he stood and walked. Doug helped Jack lay down on the cot and hug the pillow. He then adjusted Jack's pajama pants so the dressing was exposed, but Jack was still mostly covered. He then opened the door and let the others in.

"I will let it go right now." Faith said. "But tonight, I am going to want to check the bruising on your torso as well as the front of your hip."

"I agree." Jacobs said.

Jack just groaned.

"I will help." Doug said. "I have you Jack."

Jack nodded. Doug and Dee took up their positions and held Jack down. Doug was talking to Jack, but Jack had his face buried in the pillow knowing that he wasn't going to get painkillers. Faith and Jacobs set about working. They removed the dressing and exposed the area. Faith washed it with hot water, which wasn't bad for Jack. When she used the alcohol, Jack cried out in pain. It was only slightly muffled by the pillow. He also bucked against Doug and Dee. The second time she poured the alcohol, Jack passed out from the pain. Doug moved Jack's head so he could breathe better.

"He is out." Doug said.

"Okay." Faith said.

They finished up and Jacobs picked up Jack and took him upstairs. He got him situated. While he was doing that, Doug was helping Faith clean up and Dee was comforting Elizabeth. Hearing Jack scream got to her.