Chapter 170 – Painful Afternoon (long)
As Dee and Jacobs helped Jack to bed, Wynn went to his niece. She stood and he wrapped her in a hug. She buried her face in his chest.
"I know." Wynn said. "It was hard for me to watch yesterday. But know that we are doing this to help Jack."
Elizabeth nodded against his chest as she tried to regain control of her emotions.
"It is okay to be upset." Wynn said. "I promise we are doing everything we can to help him. If you need to cry, that is okay. Are Elizabeth and Patty coming after school?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"Good." Wynn said. "We will be back for supper. We have some more work to do."
"Okay." Elizabeth said letting go of her uncle.
"Before I forget." Wynn said. "I heard from Andrew. He said he was sending some paperwork for you. I am not sure what it is, but it will be here later this week."
"We will deal with it when it gets here." Elizabeth said. "Is he coming or just sending paperwork?"
"I think he is just sending it." Wynn said. "Why?"
"I had some questions about the Andrew Russell papers." Elizabeth said. "I know we haven't really said anything, but I know that you know."
"Yes, I know." Wynn said. "But we can talk about that later this week. There is no timeline on it."
"I know." Elizabeth said.
Jacobs and Dee finished picking up the kitchen.
"If you need anything." Jacobs said. "Send one of the guards from outside."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
"Need anything when we come back?" Dee asked.
"Check the mail, please." Elizabeth said. "I didn't do that when I was in town."
"I will make sure to stop and ask." Dee said.
"Then I am going to work on grading until I need to make supper." Elizabeth said.
"We will let you be." Jacobs said. "Jack will probably sleep for at least an hour or so. I am sorry you had to see that, but I promise it will get better."
Elizabeth nodded and the guys left her alone. Elizabeth sat at her desk, but she couldn't focus on what she was doing. She also knew that Jack needed to rest, but she wanted to be close to him so she went to the downstairs bedroom.
Jacobs, Dee and Wynn left the house and it wasn't until they had gotten a short distance that Jacobs spoke.
"I am sorry that I upset Elizabeth." Jacobs said. "Is she going to be okay?"
"She will be." Wynn said. "It was hard for her to see and hear that, but I think her reaction is more due to hormones and being pregnant. She will write it out and be fine."
"Okay." Jacobs said. "I still feel bad, but I think it would be worse if he was in Union City."
"You are right." Dee said. "It would be worse."
The trio walked back to town without saying anything else. Dee went up the stairs to the mercantile while Jacobs and Wynn continued to the office. When they got up the steps, they saw McGinty sitting at the table working on something. They didn't say anything else, but went into the office. Abigail came out of the back room as they walked in.
"Afternoon." Abigail said.
"Afternoon." Wynn said.
"Afternoon." Jacobs said. "McGinty, how long have you been here?"
McGinty looked at the clock.
"About twenty minutes." McGinty said.
Jacobs nodded.
"If you have other things, you can go." Jacobs said.
"I am good for now." McGinty said. "I am working on some paperwork that Bill asked me to do."
Wynn nodded and sat down. He went back to his work and Jacobs did the same. Abigail went back to the work at her desk. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she wasn't going to ask too many questions. They had been working about ten minutes when Will came over and stood between Wynn and Jacobs.
"Was there something that you needed?" Jacobs asked.
"I am bored." Will said. "I want to play with the other boys."
"You still have half an hour." Jacobs said. "Are you done with your homework?"
Will nodded.
"So you have read your chapter in the reader?" McGinty asked.
"Yes." Will said.
"You finished your math worksheet?" McGinty asked.
"Yes." Will said.
"You finished your writing assignment?" McGinty asked.
"Yes." Will said.
"You read some of the history for the test?" McGinty asked.
"That isn't until next week." Will said.
"What are you doing for your science project?" McGinty asked.
"I want to do something with bugs." Will said.
"Okay." Jacobs said. "So if I go over there and check all your work, it will be done."
Will just hung his head and refused to look at them.
"Then I suggest that you finish." Jacobs said. "Remember what I told you when I spoke to you and your mother. This is time for you to do your homework and we would be checking that it was done."
"Not fair." Will huffed.
Wynn and Jacobs looked at each other.
Jacobs stood up and knelt down to Will.
"You are the one that chose to pick on Opal and Maggie." Jacobs said. "You were told to leave them alone and yet you chose to continue to pick on them. This is what happens when you don't listen."
"Still not fair." Will whined.
"I never said it was fair." Jacobs said. "But this is what happens when you don't listen. It is an hour after school for five days. Keep it up and I can make it two hours and all next week. That will be in addition to the extra chores that your mother gave you."
Will huffed, but didn't say anything else. He went back to his seat and pulled out his workbook. Abigail got up and brought some paperwork over to the big table.
"Good job." Abigail whispered to Jacobs.
Jacobs just smiled.
"I am going to go help over at the cafe." Abigail said. "Lock up when you are done. I have the other keys. I will be back in the morning after I make sure they are good."
"If you need Edwards, Harvey or Peters." Jacobs said. "They are in their tent. None of them are on guard duty this evening."
"If they come in to eat." Wynn said. "You tell them that they are ordered to make sure you have wood and water. If you need help with dishes, they are to stay and help."
"Thank you." Abigail said. "Are you coming over for supper?"
"I will be." Jacobs said.
"We are going to Jack and Beth's." Dee said.
Abigail nodded and left the office.
Elizabeth sat on the edge of the bed. Jack turned his head toward her and opened his eyes a tiny bit.
"Hey." He rasped.
"Sorry." Elizabeth said. "I didn't mean to wake you. I just wanted to be close for a moment."
"Not … really … sleep … ing." Jack said.
"Shh." Elizabeth said. "You just rest."
Jack nodded his head and then leaned back against the pillows. Elizabeth moved closer to Jack's head. She ran her fingers through his hair a few times. Jack let out a sigh. As Elizabeth was sitting there with Jack, she was watching him breathe while running her fingers through his hair. Jack took his hand and placed it on her tiny bump. Jack's hand still pretty much covered her midsection.
"I don't think it will be much longer and you will be able to feel this little one moving." Elizabeth said.
"Have … you?" Jack asked.
Elizabeth knew what Jack was asking.
"I am not sure." Elizabeth said. "I think so, but I don't know for sure."
"Can't wait." Jack said.
Elizabeth smiled at Jack. She leaned down and kissed him.
"Rest, now." Elizabeth said. "I need to go back to grading and then get supper together. I am sure Aunt Elizabeth will be here soon as well."
Jack nodded. Elizabeth sat there for another second, then got up and went about her plan. Elizabeth was right, it wasn't long and her Aunt Elizabeth knocked on the door and came in.
"Where is Patty?" Elizabeth asked.
"She walked me here." Elizabeth Rose said. "Then she was going back into town. Her trunks were supposed to come on the stage today."
"I told the guys supper at six thirty." Elizabeth said.
"What do you need?" Elizabeth Rose asked.
"I got the stock going for supper." Elizabeth said. "But I still have to brown the meat, chop the vegetables and make our supper."
"I can do that." Elizabeth Rose said.
"Tell me about the afternoon." Elizabeth said.
"Come sit at the table and I will tell you as I work." Elizabeth Rose said.
"I feel bad having to work while you are here." Elizabeth said.
"I would rather be here helping then sitting around the house alone in Hamilton." Elizabeth Rose said.
"True." Elizabeth said. "I still feel bad."
"Don't." Elizabeth Rose said.
Elizabeth brought her grading over to the table. Elizabeth Rose washed her hands and got busy in the kitchen, including putting the kettle on for tea. It wasn't long as she told her niece all about the afternoon and what they had done. She also got everything ready for the soup and the chops seared and in the oven to finish. Once supper was in the oven, she sat down with a cup of tea.
"So how are you doing?" Elizabeth Rose asked.
"I don't know." Elizabeth said. "It was hard to see how bruised Jack is and then to see him struggling like that when Jacobs was pounding on his back."
"You know that it may look brutal, but it is helping." Elizabeth Rose said.
"I know." Elizabeth said. "It is just hard to see."
"How do you think Jack is going to feel seeing you in labor?" Elizabeth Rose said.
"Hadn't really thought about that." Elizabeth said. "I have been so excited to be pregnant, I haven't thought about the pain that is going to come."
"Yes, it is painful." Elizabeth Rose said. "But it is worth it."
"Jack said he wants to be there with me." Elizabeth said.
"How do you feel about that?" Elizabeth Rose asked.
"I don't think I could do it without him." Elizabeth said. "Depending on what happens, he might be delivering this little one."
Elizabeth rubbed her stomach.
"And I am sure that he wouldn't mind one bit." Elizabeth Rose said.
"I was going to ask you a question." Elizabeth said. "What does it feel like when the baby moves?"
"Why are you asking?" Elizabeth Rose asked.
"Twice now." Elizabeth said. "I have felt, like, this light touch. I described it as someone lightly running their hand across my stomach."
"It might be the first movements of the baby." Elizabeth Rose said. "Everyone is a little different. Sophie described it as a flutter. I think I missed the early movements, but was sure when I got a full on kick from Dee. With Sophie, I described it as butterflies in my stomach."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I still think it is a little early to feel anything. However, the way that I am growing, I don't know."
"Well." Elizabeth Rose said. "You are pretty small. You just might show early. I remember one of the women where Wynn was stationed once. This was shortly after we were married. She was pretty small like you and was showing by the time that she was four months along. They had barely learned that she was pregnant and she had a growing bump."
"Then I don't feel so bad." Elizabeth said.
"Have you heard anything from your mother?" Elizabeth Rose asked.
"No." Elizabeth said. "I did write a note to her and Aunt Agatha and told both of them about the baby."
They were still visiting when Patty came back. She poured a cup for herself and joined them at the table. They continued to talk about school and what needed to be done that week as they waited for supper to cook. Jack came and sat at the table a little after four.
"Want me to heat some water for you?" Elizabeth asked.
Jack nodded.
"I got it." Elizabeth Rose said.
She jumped up and got a pot of water heating for Jack. She also stirred the soup that was cooking on the back of the stove.
"We didn't wake you did we?" Patty asked.
"No." Jack rasped. "Not … really … sleeping. Hard … to … keep."
"Slow down." Elizabeth said. "He is tired, but not sleepy. Jacobs said it was normal, and he just needs to rest."
Jack nodded. It didn't take long and Jack did another steam treatment. He coughed a few times, but didn't get sick like before. Patty helped him back to bed and they let him rest until supper. The ladies had a nice visit. They talked about various things including the baby, the house that Jack was building and things for the schoolhouse. Wynn and Dee came back just after six. They washed their hands and took a seat at the table. They ladies were finishing up supper. As Elizabeth set the table, Dee got Jack up. After a second steam treatment and more rest, he was looking better when he sat down for supper.
