Chapter 67 – More Injured
As Gabe got closer, Wynn walked to meet him.
"Everything okay?" Wynn asked.
"I was on my way back." Gabe said. "Came across this wagon. The man said he had been told by Bill Avery to bring them to Hope Valley."
"Them?" Wynn asked.
"Injured." Gabe said. "Talk to the man, he said his name was Cardinal."
"I will handle it." Wynn said. "Take care of Balder and then your mother said you had homework, so I would head home."
"Yes, Sir." Gabe said. "I will talk to you after I speak with my mother. But everything went well."
"I will be in town." Wynn said.
Wynn waited a moment and watched Gabe head for the livery, then turned to greet the wagon that was pulling to a stop in front of the saloon.
"Can I help you?" Wynn said to the man.
"Yes." He replied. "I have injured. A Bill Avery told me to bring them to Hope Valley. They are from the Rock Creek settlement."
"How many?" Dee asked, stepping up next to his father.
"Four, Constable." The man said. "Three children and a woman."
"Dee." Wynn said. "Find Faith, now!"
About that time, Mona Weaver came out of the saloon. She saw the wagon and was surprised when two little heads popped up. She immediately turned around and went back into the saloon to get help. Charlotte, Wilma Larson and Sara Anderson all followed her out. Charlotte jumped right into action. Wynn was surprised to see Charlotte, but didn't say anything. Wynn also noticed that she had changed her clothes and her hair was pulled back.
"Wilma, Sara." Charlotte said. "Take those kids, check them over and make sure they have something to eat. Mona, help me with the woman."
Wynn walked over, helped Charlotte and Mona lift the woman out of the back of the wagon and take her into the saloon. Wynn then returned to talk to the man.
"Thank you." Wynn said. "I am sorry, I didn't catch your name."
"People just call me Cardinal." He said.
"Wynn Delaney, Sr. RNWMP."
"Good to meet you." Cardinal said.
"Can I ask you a couple of questions?" Wynn said.
"Sure." Cardinal said. "But you mind if we find a cup of coffee first."
"Not a problem." Wynn said. "I have coffee on in the jail."
"What about the wagon?" Cardinal asked.
"Just secure the horses and it will be fine." Wynn said.
After securing the horses, Wynn and Cardinal walked to the jail. Wynn poured him a cup of coffee and they sat down on the porch away from Mr Mullins.
"What do you want to know?" Cardinal asked.
"Besides those four." Wynn said. "Anyone else found?"
"Unfortunately." Cardinal said. "There were four women and two small children. Before you ask. The dead were taken back to Rock Creek. A Christopher Blackman was working on trying to get the names of those found dead. I also don't have the names of the women and children I brought. We tried to get the children to talk, but they were scared."
"Don't worry about it." Wynn said. "I am sure that the women here will be able to take care of the children. All else fails, I will try to get some of the men that were brought here to help."
The two men sat there for a bit. Wynn was going to give the man time to speak if he wanted. The last thing that he was going to do was overwhelm him with questions.
"Thank you for the coffee." Cardinal said. "I should head back. Mr Avery doesn't want to stop until he is sure no one else is still out there. Honestly, I don't think that anyone else is alive. I am surprised that we found the children. If the little one had not been crying, I don't think we would have. They were covered in debris as it was."
"Thank you for your help." Wynn said. "If you learn of the identities of the six dead, would you please have those names wired to me. I will be here."
"I will." Cardinal said. "I will also let Mr Avery know."
"Thank you again." Wynn said.
Wynn then walked the man back to his wagon and watched him pull out of town. Wynn didn't know what was going to happen. He knew that Cardinal was probably right. The chances of finding anyone else was getting smaller by the hour. Wynn stopped and prayed for Bill and the other men that were out there looking. He knew that it wasn't an easy job. Wynn also prayed for the people that had lost a family member. He knew that it would take some time to learn of the people that had died, but he prayed that those left behind would find comfort.
Before heading to the saloon, Wynn looked around the town. He wondered just how much more could the town handle. He wished that there was more that he could do, but he knew that they were all doing their best. As Wynn looked around, he saw Charlotte leave the saloon and step around to the side away from public view. He knew that he needed to go to her. He slowly made his way over there. He was also wondering what she was doing back in town since he had ordered her to rest.
"Everything okay, Charlotte?" Wynn asked.
He saw Charlotte wipe away a few tears before turning to face him.
"Just needed some air." Charlotte said.
"You know it is okay to show emotions." Wynn said. "This is hard on everyone. I imagine that it would be incredibly hard as a mother to see those helpless children. As a father, it breaks my heart."
"Tears accomplish nothing." Charlotte said with a stubborn determination.
Wynn wanted to pull her into a hug, but he wasn't sure how she would react. Instead, he reached out and squeezed her arm. He wanted to try and give her some measure of comfort, but wasn't sure she wanted it. He remembered her that way at her husband's funeral as well. He knew that she was stubborn and knew that was where Jack got it. Wynn was also used to dealing with stubbornness, he married a Thatcher after all.
"How is the woman?" Wynn asked.
"Probably not going to make it." Charlotte said. "Faith says she has pneumonia and is suffering from exposure. She probably won't make it through the night."
"The children?" Wynn asked.
"Cold, hungry." Charlotte said. "They have some cuts, but Faith thinks that they will heal with some time. The biggest thing is going to be keeping them warm and fed."
"Take as much time as you need." Wynn said. "I am going to head in."
He watched Charlotte nod her head and turn away from him again. He walked back out to the boardwalk and headed toward the saloon doors. Once inside, he found Faith with the unconscious woman. He headed that way.
"Faith." Wynn said softly. "That bad?"
"Hi there." Faith said. "Yeah. She had severe pneumonia and prolonged exposure. I would send her to Union City, but I don't even think that she would make it. I am actually surprised she is still breathing."
"Have you figured out her name?" Wynn asked.
"No." Faith said.
"There was an older boy who came in with the group earlier." Wynn said. "I was wondering if I could bring him over here to see if he knows the woman."
"If you think he can handle it." Faith said.
"I will talk to him first." Wynn said.
Wynn left Faith and headed for the group of children. He saw some of the other mothers over there with them. He pulled one of the mothers aside and asked for the oldest boy that came in with the first group. Mona looked around and saw Alec sitting in the corner. She pointed to him. Wynn nodded and went to talk to the boy. Once he got close to the boy, he sat down at the table to talk to him. He knew that he had to take it slow.
"Hi, my name is Wynn." He said. "What is yours?"
"Alec Smolin."
"I am a Mountie." Wynn said. "Do you know what that is?"
"Yes." Alec said. "Do you work with Mountie Jack?"
"Yes, I do." Wynn said. "I was wondering if you could help me?"
"I will try." Alec said.
"I was wondering if you saw the other kids that came in a little bit ago." Wynn said. "They are scared and they won't talk to anyone. We are trying to figure out their names. Do you know them?"
"Yes." Alec said. "The little one is Omar, he is with his brother Odell. The little girl is Rose. She doesn't talk."
"Thank you for your help." Wynn said. "I am sure that it helped to see someone they knew. This has to be scary for all of you. You are very brave, maybe you could be Mountie when you grow up. I have one more thing to ask you. I was wondering if you saw the woman that was brought in with them?"
"No." Alec said. "The women were working to help her. I went to be with the little ones. I thought that they would be better with someone that they knew. Thank you, but I don't think I am brave. I am just doing what needs to be done."
"If you feel up to it." Wynn said. "I was wondering if you would go with me to see the woman. We want to know who she is."
"I can try." Alec said.
"Before we go." Wynn said. "I want to let you know that the woman is sick, but you don't need to worry about catching anything. It will look like she is sleeping and she may be very pale. I just need you to take a quick look and tell me if you know who she is."
"Okay." Alec said. "Will you go with me?"
"Of course." Wynn said.
Wynn held out his hand and Alec took it. They walked over to where the woman was. Wynn stopped just out of view, he looked at Alec and Alec looked back and nodded. Wynn led him around the corner. The minute Alec saw the woman, he ran to her.
"Mama." Alec cried. "Mama, wake up. I was good, I promise. Please wake up."
Faith looked at Wynn and then she went around to the boy. She wrapped her arm around the boy and sat next to him. Wynn turned around and left. He wanted to find Frank. He knew that the boy needed someone with him. He found Frank in one of the tents and told him that he was needed at the saloon. Frank hurried to see what was going on. Wynn stopped for a moment to look around, there were five men in the tent. None of them looked seriously injured. He went to the first man and asked if there was a Mr Smolin in the tent. The man pointed to another man. Wynn went to him.
"Mr Smolin?" Wynn asked.
"Yes." He said. "Please call me Anton."
"Anton." Wynn said. "Can you come with me, please? Your son is up at the saloon."
"Alec." Anton said. "I thought I saw him when we were back at the mine, but I wasn't sure. I heard that there was a flash flood at the settlement. Has my wife, Eva, been found?"
"Come with me." Wynn said.
Anton got up and followed Wynn. They got to the saloon and found Pastor Frank sitting with Eva, trying to console Alec. Anton went to his son and wife. Pastor Frank explained that Eva wasn't going to make it, but he would stay there with them. Anton sat on the edge of the cot and picked up his wife's hand. He leaned down to kiss it. Wynn left the family with Pastor Frank. He knew that there was nothing else that could be done for them. Wynn walked out of the saloon and headed to the cafe to see Abigail before the town council meeting. He also felt bad that there wasn't much else that could be done to help the family at the moment. He felt bad for the father and son as they sat there with their loved one. It wasn't something that he had ever had to do. He had been with others that had passed away, but he was fortunate that it had never been family. Granted it was hard to sit with another Mountie or their family, it wasn't the same as someone's own family. Wynn remembered how he felt when they lost their first born, but even that was different. To sit with someone when there is nothing that can be done has to be the hardest thing in the world.
Wynn couldn't imagine what those children were going through. They were separated from their parents, not knowing what was going on. He knew that the younger ones would fare better, but still they had to know that something was wrong. Wynn didn't envy the women that were taking care of the children. As he was standing there, the thought crossed his mind – what was going to happen to the children. He knew that was one more thing that he had to add to the list of things that needed to be addressed. He was even more glad that he had recalled Jacobs. Wynn knew if anyone knew how to handle that, it would be Jacobs.
Again, Wynn stopped and looked around. He wondered how much a small town could handle. He was glad that they were willing to help others, but he also knew that it was hard for them. He was also glad that Pastor Frank and Nurse Carter were there to help with the people's spiritual and physical needs at the moment. He knew that there wasn't much more that he could do other than be there to be a shoulder to lean on. Wynn also knew that he needed to keep a level head and be the voice of reason as the town and those from the mines/settlements moved forward. He also knew that he was going to be in Hope Valley for at least a couple of weeks. He figured that he needed to let his wife know, but then remembered that Dee had already wired her and let her know. He also knew that he was going to have a double check.
