Chapter 171 – Quiet Night In
Overall, they had a quiet night. They had a nice supper with light conversation, mostly about the house and the baby. Patty and Elizabeth Rose were cleaning up the supper dishes when Jacobs showed up. He took a cup of tea and a seat while he waited for the water to heat. Once Jack had done the steam treatment, Jacobs started with his routine. Jack ended up getting sick three times before Jacobs stopped. Jack slumped back in the chair, completely spent. While Jacobs and Dee cleaned everything up, the rest sat around and visited.
"We should all go." Wynn said. "We all have a long week ahead."
"Let's get Jack upstairs." Jacobs said. "Don't feel bad about sending one of the guards to get me in the middle of the night if you need it again."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
Jacobs and Dee helped Jack upstairs. Elizabeth said her goodnights to her aunt, uncle and Patty. Jacobs came downstairs, said goodnight and left with Patty and the Delaney's. Elizabeth headed upstairs just as Dee was coming down.
"I will lock up." Dee said. "You rest."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I am going to set the alarm for six. Hopefully we get a full night's sleep. I am sure that we all need it."
"Don't worry about waking me if you need to." Dee said.
Dee continued downstairs and Elizabeth went upstairs to get ready for the night. After she washed up and brushed her hair, she changed into a new nightgown that her aunt had brought. It was a lovely light pink in a silky material. There was plenty of room for her growing midsection. When she turned to face Jack, she saw that he was watching her with a smile on his face.
"I like." Jack rasped.
Elizabeth crawled into bed and gave Jack a kiss.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I like it too. Not only does it have room for me to grow, but I like the color."
"Me too." Jack said.
Elizabeth leaned over and gave Jack another kiss, which he deepened. Jack rubbed his hand across Elizabeth's midsection and around her back, pulling her closer. After a moment, Elizabeth pulled back, she didn't want to push Jack.
"If …." Jack gasped.
"I know." Elizabeth said. "Soon. You need to feel better. I want to be with you as well, but you need to get better first."
Jack nodded and leaned back into the pillows. Elizabeth snuggled into Jack's side as best as she could. Jack stroked her hair a few times. It wasn't long and they were both asleep. As much as Elizabeth wanted to listen for Jack, she fell into a deep sleep because she was so exhausted. Jack didn't sleep as well as he wanted to, but he knew it was because he was hurting so much.
Dee came up to check on both of them before he turned in for the night and saw that they were both asleep, so he pulled the door closed and went back downstairs. After double checking the fires, Dee also turned in for the night as he knew they still had a lot of work to do.
Bill, Jacobs and McGinty also had a quiet night. With so many Mounties in town, no one at the saloon dared to cause trouble. Bill and Jacobs were glad for that. They both needed a quiet night. McGinty showed Captain Cook and Constable Wilson rounds. Neither asked the reason why, but figured he had been ordered to do so. They all realized that they were in a different situation that they normally wouldn't be in. Despite outranking both Jacobs and McGinty, Cook realized that they knew more about what was going on so he deferred to them as he knew that they were working closely with the Deputy Commissioner. They also all knew that even though Bill was retired, he outranked everyone but Wynn.
Morning came early. With the exception of the two on guard duty, McGinty had the other Cadets up at five. Constables Gill and Bennett went to relieve the two at the house so that they could run with the rest of the cadets. Cook and Lane also joined the group running the loop to the mine and then up to the row houses and back to town. On the second loop Jacobs joined the group. McGinty had only planned three loops, but Jacobs started a fourth, so the cadet followed. Cook and Lane headed to get washed up and McGinty headed to the cafe to check in with Abigail.
By six thirty, all the cadets had been on a run, washed up and eaten breakfast. Jacobs had assigned chores to those that wouldn't be on guard duty at the house or school. He told them that when they were done with chores, they were to be in their tent unless they had guard duty. They could spend the time writing to their families or studying the manuals that they would need to know for their final exams. He heard a little grumbling as he handed out assignments.
"I would advise you all to shut your mouths." Jacobs said. "You are here to learn. You are learning to work as a team. You are also learning what it means to sacrifice for another Mountie. I can find a whole list of other chores that need to be done. There are at least sixteen new latrines that need to be dug."
The cadets quickly quieted down. Jacobs dismissed them and then sat down with a cup of coffee as he waited for Wynn to come in for breakfast.
When the alarm went off, Elizabeth quickly silenced it. She laid there for a moment, not only to make sure her stomach was okay, but to listen to Jack's breathing. As she listened, she heard the rattle that she had heard before, but it wasn't as bad. She tried to wake Jack and he opened his eyes a bit and smiled at her.
"Get … ready … first." Jack rasped.
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Just wanted to check on you first."
Elizabeth got ready for the day, then helped Jack to wash up and change clothes. Just as they were finishing, there was a knock on the bedroom door.
"I was wondering if Jack needed help." Dee called out.
Jack looked at Elizabeth.
"Come in." Elizabeth said.
Dee opened the door.
"I have the water on for him." Dee said. "I also have the kettle on for tea."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "We were just about ready, if you want to help him downstairs. I will go start breakfast."
"Okay." Dee said.
Elizabeth headed downstairs and Dee came in closer to the bed. He looked at Jack and wondered what was going on.
"What do you need?" Dee asked.
"I need to go outside." Jack said.
"Okay let's get you going." Dee said.
They got downstairs and Dee helped Jack out and back in. Elizabeth almost had breakfast of oatmeal ready when they washed up. Jack wasn't really hungry, but he took a few bites of Elizabeth's oatmeal to make her happy.
Wynn, Elizabeth Rose and Patty came in shortly after Jacobs had dismissed the cadets. Both ladies immediately grabbed a cup of coffee before jumping in and helping as the lumberjacks were starting to come in. Wynn sat and waited for his breakfast.
"I want you to go help Jack." Wynn said. "I will get McGinty going and then be in the office unless you need me."
"Sounds like a plan." Jacobs said. "He said he was ready to leave anytime. He sent Wilson on rounds while we all went running. I have given all the cadets chores and informed them that unless they are on guard duty or doing chores they are to be in their tent studying. There was still a little grumbling this morning."
"Then I have an idea for tomorrow." Wynn said. "Let's see how today goes. We have a lot to do. I saw that there were two bundles of information that came on the stage yesterday. I have yet to open them. I figured that we could go through those today as we wait to see what McGinty finds in Buxton. I also think we need to get through those ledgers before the auditors get here. I expect them Thursday or Friday."
"Sounds like a plan." Jacobs said. "Morin and Kane are on guard duty at the house. Townson and Scott should be heading out to get Elizabeth and will at the school until she leaves. Jones and Harris have guard duty this afternoon."
"Are Peters and Harvey still helping here?" Wynn asked.
"Yes." Jacobs said. "I have assigned others to haul water for the widows in the row houses and make sure that they have enough firewood. I have also assigned them each an hour helping the injured at Gowen's house. I have also assigned them to see that all the businesses in town have enough firewood."
"That should keep them busy." Wynn said.
"That was the point." Jacobs said. "We also got word from Calgary. We are still observing only, but there should be further news by tomorrow night. They didn't say any more and I haven't inquired further. Ned just gave me a message when he saw me running with the others."
"I say we wait and see what happens." Wynn said. "From what Bill said, he isn't causing trouble, spending most of his time in the saloon."
Wynn finished his breakfast and then headed to find McGinty. Jacobs headed to Jack and Elizabeth's house.
Elizabeth was looking at Jack as they sat and drank their tea.
"What is wrong?" Elizabeth asked.
"What do you mean?" Jack asked.
"I can tell something is wrong." Elizabeth said. "You are being too quiet. I know that it is hard to talk, but it is more than that."
"I am just really sore." Jack said.
Elizabeth looked at him and thought it was more, but she wasn't going to push him too much at the moment.
"Fine." Elizabeth said. "But I know that there is something going on. If you don't want to talk to me then you need to talk to Dee or Jacobs. Because when I get home this afternoon, I expect my husband to either be in the mood to talk or tell me what is going on."
"Beth." Dee said.
"No." Elizabeth said. "Either there is something going or he is getting in his own head and needs to talk it out. If he won't talk to me then he needs to talk to one of you."
"Fine." Jack said. "But it is just because I don't feel good."
Elizabeth gave him a kiss on the temple.
"Keep telling yourself that." Elizabeth said. "But I know differently."
Elizabeth gathered her stuff.
"Jack." Elizabeth said. "I should be home shortly after lunch time. I was thinking of heating up the soup I made last night. Anything else?"
"No sounds good." Jack said.
"There are plenty of leftovers for the three of us." Dee said. "We could have that tonight and then you could make something for all of us tomorrow. I am sure that Mom and Dad wouldn't mind eating in town."
"Sounds good." Elizabeth said. "If that changes let me know and I can pick up something before I come home."
"I will let Mom know before she heads to the schoolhouse." Dee said.
"Bella." Jack said. "Your escort isn't here."
"Can one of the ones out there walk with me?" Elizabeth asked. "I want to be able to head in and work on stuff, but it is all at the schoolhouse."
"I don't see why not." Dee said. "I will be here and Jacobs should be here soon."
Just as Dee was going to talk to the cadets there was a knock at the door.
Elizabeth answered it after she saw that it was Jacobs.
"I will leave you be." Elizabeth said.
"Morin." Jacobs called.
"Yes, Sir." He replied.
"Please walk with Mrs Thornton and stay until you are relieved." Jacobs said. "You then come back here."
"Yes, Sir." Morin said.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "We were just going to talk to them about walking me."
"No problem." Jacobs said.
Jacobs stayed on the porch and watched them head to the schoolhouse. Dee sent the guard from the back to the front, with instructions to send the other two to the schoolhouse. Once Elizabeth and Morin had disappeared in the grove and around the bend, Jacobs went inside. He saw Jack sitting at the table with Dee.
"Good to see you up." Jacobs said.
"We have a problem." Jack said.
Jacobs sat down facing Jack.
"You have my full attention." Jacobs said.
"Elizabeth was helping me change my shirt this morning." Jack said.
Jack had to stop and catch his breath.
"Slow down." Jacobs said. "What happened?"
"I felt a pop in my shoulder." Jack rasped.
"Can you move it?" Jacobs asked.
"With pain." Jack said.
Jacobs got up and started feeling around Jack's shoulder. He saw him wince a few times.
"It is not dislocated." Jacobs said. "I think it is from the bruising, but we will keep an eye on it. Dee, can you make him one of your medicated teas."
"Are you sure?" Jack asked, looking at Dee.
"We already talked about this." Dee said. "I have plenty as Mom brought me another jar. I also ordered more of the supplies to make it. I will be fine. I have only used one since I came. I brought a dozen and Mom brought another two dozen."
"As long as you are sure." Jack said.
"I am." Dee said.
"So am I." Jacobs said. "Dee, how often can you have that?"
"Every eight hours." Dee said.
"Then as long as you have enough." Jacobs said. "I would like Jack to do that today and tomorrow."
"No problem." Dee said. "The stuff will be here tomorrow or Thursday at the latest from Union City."
"Thank you." Jack rasped.
Dee smiled and went about getting Jack hot water so he could start the steam. He also got the water going for more tea.
"What kind did you have this morning?" Jacobs asked.
"We all had peppermint." Dee said.
"Okay." Jacobs said.
As Dee got the water, Jacobs listened to Jack's lungs. He knew that Jack had a long road ahead of him, but he tried to be encouraging. As Jack did the steam treatment, Dee and Jacobs talked about a few things. They tried to talk about what was going on around town, they didn't want Jack to feel like he was missing everything. But they also were sure how much to tell him about the problems that they had encountered.
