Chapter 165 – A Night Interrupted

It was late when Elizabeth woke up. It took her a moment to realize what was going on and why she woke up. When she looked over at Jack, she could tell that he was struggling but he wasn't awake. When she tried to wake him, he just moaned and refused to open his eyes. Elizabeth quickly grabbed her robe and hurried downstairs. She knocked on Dee's door.

"What?" Dee said, coming to the door.

"It is Jack." Elizabeth said. "He is struggling to breathe and I can't wake him up."

"Okay." Dee said. "Pull that pot forward and get it heated. Then send one of the cadets to get Dad and Jacobs. I will get Jack."

Elizabeth did as Dee asked. She stoked the fire and got the pot of water heating. She then pulled her robe tighter around her and opened the back door.

"Yes, ma'am." The cadet said.

"I am sorry." Elizabeth said. "I don't remember your name. But Constable Delaney told me to have one of you go wake his father and Sergeant Jacobs and come back here quickly."

"On it." The cadet said. "I just have to tell my partner in the front."

Elizabeth nodded and closed the door. After closing the back door, Elizabeth went to the front door and unbolted it. She then headed up to her room. She saw Dee struggling to get Jack to come around. Elizabeth walked over to Jack and stood near him.

"Jackson Alexander Thornton." Elizabeth said in her sternest voice. "Wake up right now!"

Jack's eyes fluttered and then opened half way.

"Come on Jack." Dee said. "We need to go downstairs."

"Just … want … to … sleep." Jack rasped.

"No can do." Dee said. "You need to wake up. Come on. Your breathing is off again."

Jack came around a little more, but wasn't fully awake.

"Help get him standing." Dee said.

Elizabeth helped Dee get Jack on his feet. With Dee taking most of Jack's weight, he was able to get him in the hallway and moving toward the stairs.

"I will be down in a minute." Elizabeth said.

"Okay." Dee called back.

Elizabeth quickly put her skirt and blouse back on. She left her hair in a braid and didn't bother with socks. She was quickly downstairs after Dee and Jack. Dee had gotten Jack downstairs and seated at the table. Jack was still having a hard time staying awake.

"Get me a couple of waste buckets." Dee said.

Elizabeth went back up and grabbed the two from her room and brought them down.

"What else do you need?" Elizabeth asked.

"A large towel." Dee said.

Elizabeth was back upstairs to get a towel and as she was coming back down, she heard the door open.

"Jacobs." Dee said. "Elizabeth woke me. I got Jack down here, but we can't get him to wake up."

"Okay." Jacobs said. "Do you have water ready?"

"Almost." Elizabeth said. "It shouldn't be more than a few more minutes.

Wynn walked over and took the towel from Elizabeth. He handed it to Dee and then looked at his niece.

"This is going to be hard to watch." Wynn said. "But I will let you stay downstairs if you think you can handle it."

"I think I will go back to my room." Elizabeth said.

"I think that is a good idea." Wynn said. "I will talk to you when we are done."

Elizabeth headed upstairs. Wynn heard her shut the bedroom door. Once Wynn turned around and looked at the group at the kitchen table, Jacobs pulled out some smelling salts. He cracked the package and held it under Jack's nose. It caused Jack to cough and sputter, but he helped wake him up. As Jack became more aware of his surroundings, he looked at Jacobs with a cross look.

"Was … that …." Jack rasped. "Really needed."

"Yes." Jacobs said. "And I will do it again if I have to."

"I have no doubt." Jack said.

Wynn sat down facing Jack.

"You weren't coming around." Wynn said. "Beth woke to you struggling to breathe. She woke Dee and he sent a cadet to come get us."

Jack just nodded.

"What …." Jack started, but ended up coughing.

"Slow down." Wynn said. "It is late. Close to midnight."

"You were sleeping when I got back." Dee said. "So I left you be."

Jack nodded. While Wynn and Dee talked to Jack, Jacobs got a bowl of steaming water ready. He added the eucalyptus oil that he had gotten from Cat Montgomery. When he brought it over to the table, Jack scrunched up his nose.

"It is either eucalyptus or I will chop onions." Jacobs said.

Jack stuck out his tongue at Jacobs, but leaned forward as he placed the bowl in front of him. Wynn draped the towel over Jack's head. As Jack breathed the eucalyptus water, he started coughing, but Jacobs kept the towel over Jack's head making him breathe the steam that he needed to loosen up the mucus in his lungs.

Elizabeth sat in her room with the door shut, but she could hear what was going on downstairs. She picked up Jack's pillow and hugged it to herself. She then cried. As she laid on the bed crying she tried to block out what was going on downstairs and instead she tried to think about all the good things that her and Jack had to look forward to. Elizabeth was laying there crying, she felt the need to pray. She sat up and grabbed her Bible and it opened to Jeremiah 30. As Elizabeth read through Jeremiah, she calmed down. She knew that Jack had a long road ahead to healing, but she also knew that he would be alright. She had to hold on to that or she wouldn't haven't been able to function. As she sat there and read through the Bible chapter, she not only calmed down, but a peace came over her and she let out a breath.

"Heavenly Father." Elizabeth prayed. "I trust in You and lean on You. However right now, I come before You as a scared child. I know that you brought Jack and I together, but we have had one struggle after another. I don't understand why it has to be so hard. You have given us unbelievable joy in this life that I am carrying. I don't understand why Jack is so sick, but I am begging you to return my husband to me so that we can prepare for this little one that You gave us. I also know that it was You who brought the Russell girls into our lives. I don't believe that You would do that only to take Jack from me before we get a chance to live the life I know that You meant for us. Please be with Jack and heal him. Also be with Jacobs, Wynn and Dee as they help Jack. Amen."

After Elizabeth finished praying, she closed the Bible, put it back on her nightstand and curled back in the bed with Jack's pillow.

As Jack breathed in the eucalyptus steam. Wynn, Jacobs and Dee all exchanged looks. They knew that it wasn't a good thing that they had to use smelling salts to get Jack to come around. Also none of them like the way that Jack sounded. They didn't have to use a stethoscope to know that Jack's breathing was not right. They could hear the rattle in as he breathed. They also could hear it in his voice. They saw it in the way that Jack struggled to speak short sentences to them.

"When you are ready Jack." Jacobs said. "We can move onto the next part. I know that it is uncomfortable and it hurts, but we need to do this. The alternative is taking you to Union City and they try to do the same thing. I honestly think you will be better here."

Jack flipped the towel back. He took one last breath of the steam and looked Wynn in the eye.

"I … want … you … to … promise … me." Jack rasped.

After a short coughing fit, Jack locked eyes with Wynn again.

"No … Union … City." Jack finally rasped.

"Jack." Wynn said. "I am not going to make you that promise. What I will promise is that we will keep here as long as I feel it is safe. If I feel you need further treatment, I will take you to Union City."

Jack just looked at Wynn and finally nodded. Jack then turned to Jacobs and nodded. Jacobs stood up as Jack leaned forward. Again, Jacobs cupped his hands and pounded on Jack's back until he coughed up the mucus and was sick several times. Completely spent, Jack slumped forward. Jacobs and Dee helped Jack sit back. While Jacobs and Wynn cleaned up the kitchen, Dee went up to get Elizabeth.

"Beth." Dee called as he knocked on the door.

"Yes." Elizabeth said, opening the door.

"We're done." Dee said. "Can you come downstairs?"

Elizabeth wiped her eyes and followed Dee downstairs. When she got downstairs, Jack was leaning back on the settee and looked very pale. Elizabeth looked at her uncle with pleading eyes.

"Beth." Wynn said. "Come sit down."

Elizabeth went and sat down by Wynn. He wrapped his arm around her.

"I promise." Wynn said. "We are doing everything we can to help Jack. I know that was hard to hear, but I know that it was needed. He is breathing better."

"I will be back in six hours." Jacobs said. "As much as Jack doesn't want to admit it, he needs this to happen several times a day. Right now, I am aiming for every six hours, but can do it as much as every four."

Jack opened his eyes and stuck out his tongue at Jacobs.

"It is for your own good." Dee said.

Elizabeth got up and walked over to Jack. She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

"You will do this as often as they tell you." Elizabeth said. "You will listen and you will rest. I told you that I am not doing this alone (putting her hands on her stomach) and I mean it. If I have to set the alarm and bring him here myself, you are going to do as he says."

"Yes, ma'am." Jack rasped.

"And you are going to limit your talking." Elizabeth said.

Jack opened his mouth, but then closed it and nodded his head.

"Good, I thought so." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth turned with her hands still on her hips.

"What do I need to know?" Elizabeth said.

"I will leave the eucalyptus oil here." Jacobs said. "He can use it in the hot water every couple of hours. Three or four drops in half of the bowl (holding up the bowl he used)."

"Got it." Elizabeth said. "And you will come do the rest?"

"Yes." Jacobs said.

"And someone will be sitting with him while I am at school?" Elizabeth asked.

"We will arrange something." Wynn said. "We had only planned on guards outside."

"How about one outside and one inside." Elizabeth said. "Jack can rest down here and they can check on him. They will be free to read a book or draw."

"I think that will be acceptable." Wynn said. "They can read or study from their manual."

"I agree." Jacobs said. "We need to talk about who will be inside and who will be outside."

"Two hours inside." Elizabeth said. "Two hours outside and if I find that one of them stepped one foot upstairs, I will bar them from this house completely."

"Bella." Jack rasped.

Elizabeth turned and glared at Jack.

"No." Elizabeth said. "You said we could trust Mounties, but look what happened with Price. My house, my rules."

"Yes Beth." Wynn said. "They are to remain downstairs and will switch every two hours. I will even send Bill out here at random to check."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "Now, can you help Jack upstairs so we can get a couple more hours of sleep before I have to go teach?"

"Of course." Wynn said.

"I will set the cot up for myself and Jack can rest in my bed while you are gone." Dee said.

"Good idea." Wynn said.

Jacobs and Wynn helped Jack upstairs. Elizabeth followed and helped get Jack settled. Wynn and Jacobs bid farewell to Elizabeth. Elizabeth changed back into her nightgown and laid down with Jack.

Wynn and Jacobs downstairs and talked to Dee for a few minutes before he saw them out. Jacobs talked to the two guards and then they headed back to town to get a few more hours of sleep as well.