Chapter 159 – Setback with Jack
After Wynn and Jacobs were seated at their game again, they looked at Patty.
"I want you to be honest with me." Jacobs said. "How bad were they?"
"If they were my brothers." Patty said. "I would have turned them all over my knee and then had them splitting wood and doing laundry all week."
"Laundry is another thing that needs to get done." Abigail said.
"I will send the cadets over to do it." Jacobs said. "They can do it after the breakfast dishes are done and before lunch."
"Are you sure?" Abigail asked. "I could just pay Laurel Miller or Caroline Walker to do it."
"I am sure." Jacobs said.
"As long as Elizabeth doesn't mind." Patty said. "We can come over and supervise before we go help at the schoolhouse."
"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth Rose asked, coming back in with Becky.
"Helping over here in the mornings and supervising the cadets while they do laundry." Patty said.
"Absolutely." Elizabeth Rose said. "I don't like just sitting in the room at the saloon. Might as well keep busy."
"Then it is settled." Jacobs said. "See Abigail. No problem. You have plenty of help."
"I still don't know how I am going to pay Ann." Abigail said. "Business may be better, but I was already paying Clara and Mary."
"How long has she been working here?" Wynn asked.
"No." Abigail said. "I will figure something out. But she has been here all week. Monday wasn't bad, but as Lee opened back up and the others came it got busier. Charlotte was a great help as well, but she refuses to be paid."
Wynn and Elizabeth Rose exchanged a glance.
"I saw that." Abigail said. "I said I would figure something out. I know I should also be drawing a salary as the mayor, but the books have been so bad, I haven't paid myself."
"Well." Jacobs said. "With the sale of the mine, you should pay yourself. If I have to step up and help then I will. I will also get the cadets to help as much as I can."
"That is great." Abigail said. "But it is only a short term solution."
Frank came over hearing some of the conversation.
"Abigail." Frank said. "It will work out. It is not always going to be like this. Clara said that she wants to go over to Dottie's full-time as soon as she can. That is why she moved over to the apartment over the shop. You guys are going to get things figured out and it will slow down and you will be able to be over here more. I also know that Mary is going to be taking time off soon. If Clara can help you get through this week, great. Then let her go work for Dottie. There are plenty of people willing to step up and help for a bit, myself included."
"Okay." Abigail said. "I still don't want you paying my employees."
"I won't promise anything." Wynn said.
"Our offer from Christmas still stands." Elizabeth Rose said. "All you have to do is ask."
"I am expecting you to bill the Mounties for every meal that the Mounties and Cadets eat here." Wynn said.
"If she doesn't." Jacobs said. "I will figure it out and send the bill in myself."
"I am not going to win that argument am I?" Abigail asked.
"Nope." Wynn and Jacobs said at the same time.
"So who won, Frank?" Abigail asked changing the subject.
"She did." Frank said. "She is good."
"Well." Jacobs said. "I almost have Wynn beat, so about Cody and Mrs Delaney and then Becky and I will play. I don't think that those two over there are going to give in anytime soon."
The group looked at Jack and Dee and laughed. They were on their second game of Reversi because Dee had won the first and Jack wanted a rematch.
"Sounds good to me." Abigail said. "I am going to grab some needlepoint. Feel free to stay here and hang out, I like having you all here."
"I have some handiwork as well." Patty said.
So Becky and Jacobs set up a checker board for themselves. Cody reset the one for him and Elizabeth Rose. Elizabeth was watching her husband and cousin. She was enjoying watching as much as they were playing. She was trying not to distract Jack as he claimed that was why he lost the first game.
At one point while they were playing, Jack started coughing real bad. Jacobs was immediately on his feet and over to Jack. He pulled his chair back and turned Jack to face him.
"Slow down, Jack." Jacobs said. "I know that you want to gasp for air, but that will make it worse. Try to take slow, even breaths. I don't care if they are deep, I am more worried about slow and even. Think about the figure eight drills, count out the beat in your head, that is how your breathing should be. Can you do that?"
Jack nodded.
"Good." Jacobs said. "Keep doing that. I will be right back."
Jacobs stood up and stepped away from Jack. Wynn, Dee, Abigail and the others were right there.
"Shouldn't we go get Faith." Abigail said.
"There is nothing that she can do that I am not already doing." Jacobs said.
"What do you need?" Wynn asked.
"I need boiling water and a couple of towels." Jacobs said.
"I got that." Patty said.
"What else?" Wynn asked.
"Elizabeth." Jacobs said. "Are Jack's ribs wrapped."
"Not anymore." Elizabeth said. "He took them off before we went home."
"I have the bandages we used." Abigail said. "I washed and boiled them. They are upstairs."
"Good." Jacobs said. "When you wrapped him before, did you go around once or twice?"
"Faith went around once." Abigail said. "She overlapped them, but only once."
"Okay." Jacobs said. "Then I need more. Wide ones. Enough to wrap him from armpits to hips."
"Anything else?" Wynn asked.
"Vicks rub and that advanced bag that Jack has at the jail." Jacobs said.
"I will go get the bag and grab more bandages from storage." Dee said.
"Also see if Faith is around." Wynn said.
"I'm okay with it." Jacobs said. "She is going to say the same thing."
"If Faith doesn't have any Vicks rub." Abigail said. "I know that Ned has some in the mercantile."
"Got it." Dee said. "I will be back shortly."
"I will go with him." Frank said.
As Dee and Frank left, Jack started coughing again. Wynn and Jacobs went over to him while Abigail and Elizabeth Rose took the children into the kitchen.
"Jack." Jacobs said. "I don't want you to talk, but I need some questions answered. Either nod or use one finger for yes. Shake your head or two fingers for no. Do you understand?"
Jack nodded his head yes.
"Is this like it was before?" Jacobs asked.
Jack nodded.
"Is the pain sharp?" Jacobs asked.
Jack shook his head no.
"Does it feel like something is stuck in your throat?" Jacobs asked.
Jack nodded his head.
"Slow your breaths down." Jacobs said. "You are going to pass out if you keep it up. Slow."
"Beth dear." Wynn said. "Will you go get him a glass of water?"
Elizabeth looked at her uncle.
"Go." Wynn said.
Elizabeth got up and walked into the kitchen, despite her desire to stay with Jack. She saw the look on Wynn's face and knew that he wasn't asking. Jacobs and Wynn turned their attention back to Jack.
"Jack, there is no other way to do this." Jacobs said. "If there was, I would."
"Just … tell … me." Jack gasped.
"I am almost positive that you have a mucus build up in your lungs." Jacobs said. "I know how to loosen it up, so you will cough it up. You might end up getting sick to your stomach, but if we don't do this it will get worse."
"Hurt." Jack said.
"Yes, it will hurt." Jacobs said. "But only for a bit."
"Do … it." Jack said.
"I will." Jacobs said. "But we need a few things first."
"Here is the water." Elizabeth said coming back in.
"Jack." Jacobs said. "Small sips and focus on your breathing. I need to grab a few things."
Jack nodded. Jacobs walked into the kitchen. Wynn stood there watching Jack and Elizabeth.
"Abigail." Jacobs said.
"What." Abigail asked.
"Will you please take Elizabeth and the children and go for a walk for a bit." Jacobs said.
"How about I take Elizabeth back over to the saloon." Elizabeth Rose said. "We have to go through those clothes I brought with me for her."
"Can I go?" Becky asked.
"Sure." Patty said. "I can help you up the stairs."
"I will go as well." Abigail said.
"Cody when Pastor Frank gets back." Jacobs said. "Do you think that you two can go for a little walk?"
Cody looked at Jacobs like he was going to cry. Jacobs picked him up and gave him a hug.
"I promise that I won't let anything happen to Mountie Jack." Jacobs said. "But you don't need to see and hear this. Okay."
"Okay." Cody said.
"Good." Jacobs said. "We will finish the games later."
"It will be okay." Becky said. "I trust him."
"Abigail before you go." Jacobs said. "Please gather the other bandages. I will also need a couple of rags that you don't mind if they get ruined."
"Got it." Abigail said. "Anything else?"
"After you leave." Jacobs said. "Give us about an hour."
"Okay." Abigail said.
