Chapter 84 – An Air of Hope (long)
Before calling people for the meeting, Abigail wanted to head to the cafe to check things out. When she walked in, she was surprised to find that it was fairly busy for an afternoon. There were a number of ladies sitting having tea. She greeted them and headed to the kitchen to find Clara and Ann Grady in there with Jack and Elizabeth sitting at the table enjoying some tea.
"Good to see you two downstairs." Abigail said.
"Little hard to sleep." Jack smirked. "Not that I am complaining, it feels good to be up. The ladies here were just catching me up on what has been happening."
"That is good." Abigail said. "How did lunch go? Sorry I didn't come back over here."
"Lunch went fine." Ann said. "I am sorry to take your kitchen over, but I just needed to do something and it looked like Clara here and Mary needed a hand. I sent Mary home, she looked tired and said something about her back hurting. I told her that I would be fine here with Clara and that she needed to rest. Pastor Frank came in and washed dishes for a bit as well."
"Thank you, for everything." Abigail said. "I was just checking how things were going. I was glad that I was able to get through a stack of paperwork that needed attention. So thank you for your help. I guess I should go find Cody and see how he is doing."
"Is that the little blond boy who came bounding in here earlier?" Ann asked.
"Yes." Abigail said. "I hope he wasn't too much trouble."
"No." Ann said. "He was fine. He grabbed a baseball glove and said that he was going to play with the other boys in the field."
"Thank you." Abigail said. "I will leave him for now. What do you have going for supper? It smells wonderful."
"Venison stew." Ann said.
"Never made that before." Abigail said. "How did you come to make that?"
"One of the men came across a small injured deer out near one of the cabins." Jack said. "They had to dispatch the animal and figured that it shouldn't go to waste. McGinty stopped by and asked about what to do. I suggested that they clean the deer and bring it back here."
"I have made venison many times before." Ann said. "Grew up on a farm, so it was common to go hunting. I have added potatoes, carrots, and onions. As well as some spices."
"I am not sure how it will go over, but thank you for cooking." Abigail said.
"I also have a roast in the oven." Ann said. "Many of the men from the settlements I am sure will eat the stew, but just in case I wanted to be ready. Most people will eat it without knowing what it is. Because it was a young deer, it won't have much of a game taste, so those that don't know will eat it without knowing. An older deer might have a bit of a game taste, but still most people wouldn't know if you didn't tell them. I think many of the men will like it, but Mary was the one that suggested the large roast that is in the oven. All else fails, you have roast beef for sandwiches tomorrow. Have you ever thought of making sandwiches for the men to buy to take a box lunch? One of the places that I lived did that and it was wonderful. The men would come in for breakfast and then order a sandwich or two to take for lunch. They would also usually get a cookie and/or a piece of fruit. The lady that ran the cafe got these boxes that she could put them in or most of the men started bringing their own lunch pail and just put it in there since they didn't want to pay the extra couple of pennies for the to-go box."
"Well." Abigail said. "It smells wonderful and I look forward to trying it. If it goes over well, you may have to write out how to make it, so I can try it again at some point. I never thought of doing that for lunch. I have done sandwiches upon special request. I have sent them for the Mounties and such. That might be something that I have to look into."
"I think it would be great." Jack said. "I can see it going over big with single miners and lumberjacks. It would save them worrying about getting in here and then back to work before the end of their lunch break. Just something to think about. It isn't like you have to start tomorrow."
Abigail nodded. She was thinking it sounded like a wonderful idea, but she needed to get through all this other stuff first. She also knew that she wanted to talk to Ann more about it before she considered it more. Abigail poured herself a cup of tea and joined Jack and Elizabeth at the table.
"How are you doing?" Abigail asked Jack.
"I am okay." Jack said. "It feels good to be up. Elizabeth helped me to wash up and get some clean clothes on. I think that the bruising is starting to look better. I mean I would have to check with Faith, but from what I can tell it is better. I am sick of laying around doing nothing. It is also easier to breathe when I am sitting."
"You need to rest." Abigail said. "Speaking of Faith. Have you seen her today?"
"I know." Jack said. "I asked Ma to bring my sketchbook so I can at least do something. I am not used to just doing nothing. No, I think she has been busy. Before you say anything, I promise to send for her if I need it."
"Well, as long as you don't overdo it." Abigail said. "McGinty is going to be here until at least the end of the month covering for you, so no going back until Faith says."
Jack just looked at Abigail.
"He is not going anywhere." Charlotte said coming in the side door. "If I have to stay here and make sure of myself. He will rest and heal."
"Yes, Ma." Jack said smiling. "Abigail I hear that there is a town meeting this afternoon, I think I might come over."
"Absolutely not." Charlotte said. "You are not going to stand outside until Faith clears you. Besides, you can't stand that long."
"I guess in that case." Jack said. "Anything that I need to know?"
"Not really." Abigail said. "I was just going to update people on what is going on. Men are going to be released and heading back to Rock Creek on Friday, we have figured out some housing and then about the funeral at 1pm tomorrow for all those that were lost in Rock Creek. That is pretty much everything. Then I was going to talk to the individual families that we have housing figured out for. We should have things for the apartments on Friday so I was hoping to get people settled over the weekend and at least out of the schoolhouse."
"Depending on how Jack was doing." Elizabeth said. "I might be able to restart school on Monday, especially if people are out of the schoolhouse like Pastor Frank said they would be."
"I was going to talk to you about that." Abigail said. "It was brought to my attention that Charlotte here is a retired teacher and if you didn't feel up to leaving Jack just yet and if she was willing, that Charlotte could take the class for a few days. Or you split it, however you felt it would work best."
Charlotte looked at Elizabeth who just shrugged her shoulders and gave a small nod. Elizabeth also realized that it would help her a lot to have Charlotte there helping.
"I would be more than willing to do that." Charlotte said. "If we get people out of the schoolhouse, then I think that it is important that we get the kids back into the routine of school. Even if Lizzie and I work together to teach the kids. School will start on Monday if the schoolhouse is available."
"I guess we will have school on Monday." Elizabeth said.
"How are the people of Rock Creek doing?" Jack asked. "No one is really telling me much of anything. You remember I was out there a month ago and met a number of the settlers."
Elizabeth, Charlotte and Abigail all exchanged a look that didn't go unnoticed by Jack.
"How bad?" Jack asked. "Please be straight with me. I may be recovering, but I can handle it. I need to know. I had fun working with those kids as I was gathering information."
"Twenty-eight dead." Abigail said flatly.
"Those poor widows." Jack said. "Is there anything that I can do?"
Charlotte walked over and knelt in front of Jack.
"Jack." Charlotte said. "Many of the dead were the women and children from the settlement."
"No." Jack cried. "Why didn't you tell me?"
They all knew that Jack was upset. He let the tears slip down his cheeks. Many of people in the kitchen besides Charlotte had never seen Jack cry.
"We wanted you to recover." Abigail said.
"How many?" Jack asked.
"Fifteen women and seven children." Charlotte said, understanding Jack's question. "Only one woman survived the flash flood and was injured pretty badly, but I believe that she will recover. Faith is a little more optimistic today. But she is not out of the woods."
"Orphans?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Abigail said. "I don't want you to worry about that. We are dealing with things. Right now there are three children that have been orphaned. Wynn is working on something to help all the children. He doesn't want to see any of them go to an orphanage near Calgary."
"Can you get me a list of the dead?" Jack asked.
"Yes." Charlotte said. "But I don't want you obsessing over this, there was nothing that you could have done. From what I saw, they had no warning about the flash flood and were caught off-guard. I was at the settlement with Bill. There was nothing that anyone could have done. I know you and I don't want you to blame yourself. You did everything that you could to have things ready in case something happened. Because you planned ahead, the people here were able to help those at Rock Creek. Do you hear me?"
"Yes Ma." Jack said sadly.
"Good." Charlotte said. "Now, you have been up long enough. Why don't both head back upstairs until supper is ready."
"Sounds good." Elizabeth said.
Jack and Elizabeth stood and headed back upstairs. Abigail watched them disappear up the stairs before turning to Charlotte.
"Is he going to be okay?" Abigail asked.
"In time." Charlotte said. "I am sure that he is wondering what he could have done to save the children, but I am telling you there was nothing. I just hope that he knows that eventually."
"Well." Abigail said. "I am glad that you are here. Thank you also for jumping in and wanting to help with the school. I just know that a huge part of things is going to be getting people back into a routine and I think that starts with work and school."
"I agree." Charlotte said. "Hopefully, Jack and Elizabeth can head back to the row house this weekend and things will be better. I will stay as long as you need me."
"Wynn and Dee said the same." Abigail said.
"Well." Charlotte said. "I will leave you be. I have things to do."
"See you later." Abigail said.
Abigail sat there and finished her tea. It was really the first time that she had been able to relax in a number of days. As Abigail was having her tea, Cody and Pastor Frank came in the side door.
"Come here, Cody." Abigail said.
"What Ms Abigail." Cody said, walking over.
"I just feel like I haven't seen you in days." Abigail said, giving him a hug. "How are you doing today?"
"Good." Cody said. "Pastor Frank was playing catch with us boys. I let one of the other boys use my glove since we didn't have enough. Do you think that we could get him one?"
"We will have to see." Abigail said. "If he stays here, I am sure that it might be able to be arranged. So who did you play with."
"Well." Cody said. "It was Robert and I, then Miles and Timmy joined us. Pastor Frank brought Harper and Will over to play as well. He stayed and played with us."
"Well, I am glad that you had a good day." Abigail said. "I am proud of you for sharing and including the new boys. Have you done your homework?"
"No." Cody said quietly. "I wanted to play with the other boys."
"Well." Abigail said. "School is going to start again on Monday. So unless you want to be inside all weekend, I suggest that you start getting stuff done. Don't forget we have Easter Sunday dinner this weekend."
"Yes, Ms Abigail." Cody said.
"Cody." Frank said. "How about you work on your homework before supper and if you get some things done, I will come over and play a game of checkers with you tonight."
"Okay." Cody said excitedly. "I will go right now."
Cody took off up the steps to his room. Abigail waited until he had disappeared before turning to Frank.
"Thank you." Abigail said.
"No thanks needed." Frank said. "I remember what it was like to be a young boy. School was not high on the list of things that I wanted to do either. My grandfather used to bribe me with checkers and fishing once and awhile. Did you get some things done today?"
"Yes, I did." Abigail said. "Again, thank you for your help. I was able to get through a bunch of paperwork and also work on things with Wynn and Bill. I think that we have a clearer plan moving forward. There will still be hard days ahead, but I think we are moving in the right direction. I may be busy for a bit after the meeting this afternoon, so do you mind keeping an eye on Cody again."
"No, not at all." Frank said. "It sounds like we may have a date for checkers."
As Frank and Abigail were talking, Bill and McGinty came into the cafe. When Bill came into the kitchen and saw Abigail and Frank sitting there, he walked over. As much as Bill still had feelings for Abigail, the thing he wanted was for her to be happy and if that was with Frank. Well then Bill would accept it. Frank had proven that he had changed so he was going to drop the anger that he had toward him.
"Can McGinty and I join you?" Bill asked.
Abigail nodded, so Bill and Joe took a seat at the table with Frank and Abigail.
"I was just taking a moment before going and getting ready for the meeting." Abigail said.
"About that." Bill said. "We have moved the last of the people out of the saloon and into the tents since the group that came in had another large tent. They insisted that the women and children get it. So I was going to let you know that we can meet in the saloon if you want. I have already talked to Sam. He plans on getting some of the women to help him clean the place top to bottom tomorrow. He was also wondering about opening up this weekend. He doesn't want trouble, but with people out of there, he was curious."
"I don't see a problem with him opening." Abigail said. "As long as you and McGinty feel that you can handle things. Granted Wynn and Dee are also in town. We had talked about lifting the dry order after the funeral tomorrow or Friday after the men head back to Rock Creek. Is there room for everyone to meet in the saloon?"
"It might be tight, but I think that we will be okay." Bill said. "Charlotte has arranged to have the children over at the field so they are not underfoot."
"I think I will check with Charlotte to see if she needs help." Frank said. "Don't worry about Cody, if you are busy. I will keep an eye on him tonight until you are done or bed time."
"Good." Abigail said. "That will help, I have no idea how long the meeting is going to be. Then Wynn, Andy and I need to talk to several of the families individually afterwards to give them their options on housing. What else has been done this afternoon?"
"Some of the men have been moved into Gowen's old house." McGinty said. "I believe that the four apartments are ready, just waiting on furnishings coming on Friday. The shelves and frame for the storeroom are done. I am sure they will have it enclosed tomorrow. Men have also been working on the cabins. I am not sure what all has been done. It would be best to check with Lee on that. I also saw a number of men clearing the land over by the row houses to get ready to build there. It looked like they tried to salvage anything that was usable from the row houses that had been started.
As you heard, I rode rounds. The men came back with everything that they could find from the settlement. Some of it was salvageable, most wasn't. We have set about burning the things that were destroyed. Also, Lee agreed to have the men chop all the wood from the downed trees. It will be split between the schoolhouse, jail, infirmary, Gowen's house and here. I am not sure when it will be brought here, but the men know to stack it separate from what is already here. I know that Dee said he would chop wood for you, but please let me know if you need more. He is busy helping his dad. I am also going to make sure that all the widows have wood, since we have men to do the work.
All in all, people got a lot of stuff done. The women were busy with laundry and other chores. I am not all sure what they got done, but I saw several of them over at the row houses doing laundry together. Carver and I also strung up some temporary clotheslines over there for the women. They will be removed once people are settled. Also the cemetery and all the coffins are ready for tomorrow. They are currently marked and laid out behind the barn. We covered them with a few tarps. We will move them over tomorrow morning."
"Thank you Joe." Abigail said. "I appreciate all that you have done to help."
"I didn't really do anything." McGinty said. "Now if you will excuse me, I want to run up and check on Jack before the meeting. I wanted to check on something with him."
"Anything that I need to know?" Bill asked.
"Nope." McGinty said.
