Chapter 174 – Work Continues
Elizabeth had been grading about twenty minutes when Jacobs, Dee and Wynn showed up. She was concerned at first when her uncle showed up. He saw the concern and immediately went to her.
"I just want to see how Jack is doing?" Wynn said. "Please don't be alarmed."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "But I am worried about how tired Jack is. He also told me that he is so sore. He basically said everything hurts."
"I kind of expected that." Jacobs said. "That is why I suggested he use some of the tea that Dee has. I was happy that his lungs sounded better this morning. I think we are past the worst of it and it is just going to take time for him to heal. Rest is the best thing for him, as long as he is staying hydrated I want him to rest as much as possible."
"He ate a small bowl of mostly broth and had half a cup of peppermint tea for lunch." Elizabeth said. "I left a glass of water next to the bed for him. I have been working on grading after feeding Jack. He said he wasn't sure he had enough energy to eat, so I fed him to make sure he got something."
"Good." Jacobs said. "Fluids are more important than anything. His appetite will come."
Elizabeth nodded.
"I have water on for you." Elizabeth said. "I have grading to do and then I am going to lay down for a bit myself."
"Why don't you lay down." Wynn said. "We will clean everything up. I will stop by the school and let my wife know."
"I would like her to stop by." Elizabeth said. "She was going to drop off more grading."
"I will let her know." Wynn said. "You should rest. The grading can wait."
Elizabeth nodded, finished clearing the table and then went upstairs. Once Jacobs was set up, he went to get Jack and saw what Elizabeth was talking about. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. Jacobs sat in front of Jack.
"How are you feeling?" Jacobs asked.
"Better." Jack said. "Not as sore. Just tired."
"Then we will be quick." Jacobs said. "Let's get you going with the steam."
They got Jack situated. Dee sat there helping hold the towel. They guys talked a little about what was going on in town, about sending McGinty to Buxton for a couple of days to do research. Before they knew it, fifteen minutes had passed. Jack groaned as he leaned forward over the bucket between his legs.
"Just remember this is helping you get better." Wynn said.
Jack nodded as Jacobs went to work. Jack was sick twice before Jacobs quit. He quickly grabbed the stethoscope and listened to Jack's lungs as he continued to lean forward, spent. As Jacobs put the stethoscope down, he had a small smile on his face.
"Much better this afternoon." Jacobs said.
"Good." Jack rasped.
"I am glad to hear that." Wynn said. "Beth went up to lay down as well."
"Can you help me up there?" Jack asked.
"We can do that." Dee said.
Wynn grabbed the extra pillows from the bedroom while Dee and Jacobs helped Jack up the steps. When they got there, Elizabeth was sound asleep, but they were able to get Jack situated. Before they left the room, they saw Elizabeth snuggle into Jack and he put his hand on her shoulder. Wynn smiled at the two of them. After getting the nod from Jack, they pulled the door shut and left. Dee made sure that the kitchen was cleaned up while Jacobs had a word with the two on guard duty. Ten minutes after getting Jack settled upstairs, they were headed back to town to work for several more hours.
The guys got back to town and Dee went to check the messages while the other two headed to the office. When they got there, Abigail was still hard at work. She looked up when they walked in.
"I am on my last ledger." Abigail said. "I marked what I could from the 1909 one, but with the other missing, I don't feel as comfortable with that one."
"Hopefully we find that one soon." Wynn said. "Good job on getting through them. We will work to tackle them this afternoon and evening. Are you caught up on other stuff?"
"Yes." Abigail said. "I have a few things I need to do, but they don't have a deadline. Once I finish with this one, I am heading to the cafe. Hopefully, I can spend most of tomorrow and Thursday there as I have to catch up on those books."
"My offer still stands if you need anything." Wynn said.
"Thank you." Abigail said. "Let me look at the books."
Wynn nodded and took his seat at the table. First he wanted to look at the paperwork they had been working on. Jacobs grabbed the stack of ledgers and started on those. Dee was back a few minutes later with several messages.
"McGinty is staying in Buxton." Dee said. "He said he found a lot of information, but it is going to take him the rest of today and tomorrow morning to get through everything."
"You might want to mention that to Bill." Wynn said.
"I will." Jacobs said.
They went to the work in front of them. Abigail finished the ledger that she was working on and gave the entire stack of papers to Jacobs with the last ledger. She then left the office and headed to the cafe. Dee kept an eye on the clock as they worked. Just before school got out, he headed to get Will and talk to his mother for a moment.
After speaking to his mother and letting her know that Elizabeth wanted her to stop by, but she was sleeping when they left, he got Will and headed back to the office. When they got back there, Dee set Will up at the side table, not far from him. He then went back to work himself. Jacobs only had to correct Will once to keep him on task.
After picking up the classroom, Charlotte headed to the jail to set up her tent back there. Elizabeth Rose and Patty headed to the cafe to have a cup of tea before heading to talk to Elizabeth. They wanted to make sure that she got a good nap if she was tired. When they got to the cafe, Abigail invited them to sit in the kitchen since there were a number of ladies in the dining room. When Elizabeth Rose and Patty headed to the kitchen, Becky was at the table working on something.
"What are you working on?" Patty asked.
"My science project." Becky said. "I have two ideas and I want to see which is going to be easier to do."
"Let us know if you need help." Patty said.
"I will." Becky said.
The ladies had a nice time visiting. Ann wanted to know how Adrik was adjusting. Elizabeth Rose assured her that he was doing really well and as long as he continued to work, she had no doubt that he would be caught up to his peers by the time school started again in the fall. Ann was glad and let them know that her mother loved working with him on homework in the evenings.
As the ladies were pouring a second cup of tea, Charlotte joined them. Abigail was glad that she was back. As Charlotte sat down, she told them about going to Benson Hills the day before. No one asked why she left, as they understood that Charlotte didn't want to talk about what she had seen at Rock Creek. Elizabeth Rose finished her second cup of tea and looked at Patty.
"We need to run out to the house." Patty said. "Then we will be back to help with supper."
"You don't need to do that." Abigail said. "I have gotten ahead at the mayor's office, so I will be here more the next couple of days."
"We are here." Elizabeth Rose said. "Besides, the guys are working, we might as well be doing something as well."
"Fine." Abigail said. "I am not going to argue, because I don't think I am going to win."
"Good plan." Elizabeth Rose said with a smile.
"Are you eating at the house?" Charlotte asked.
"No." Elizabeth Rose said. "Jack doesn't have much of an appetite right now with his breathing. We made soup for him yesterday and there is plenty left for today as well."
"What is wrong with Jack's breathing?" Charlotte asked. "He was doing better on Saturday."
"I will explain." Abigail said. "You go run out there. Please take the bread that you made."
"Thank you." Elizabeth Rose said.
She picked up the loaf of bread and put it in the basket she had borrowed from Elizabeth. Patty put their cups in the sink and followed Elizabeth Rose out the back door.
After Patty and Elizabeth Rose left, Abigail sat down for a few minutes to explain everything to Charlotte. As Abigail was explaining things, she saw the change in Charlotte's face.
"Slow down." Abigail said.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Charlotte asked.
"First." Abigail said. "We didn't know where you were. Second, the only ones that knew were Jacobs, Pastor Frank and the Delaneys. We were trying to keep it quiet. Jacobs is doing everything that he can and from what I understand, he feels that Jack has turned a corner and is doing much better this afternoon other than being tired."
"I should go check on him." Charlotte said.
"No." Dee said coming in. "Jacobs told him he needed to rest until supper. He was so tired after his treatment that he could barely walk. You are not going to bother him. I am staying at the house to help him with things. He is getting better, but it is going to take time. If you want to come out after supper with Jacobs, then that is one thing, but you are not going to bother him this afternoon. Also you are not going to upset Beth, she is dealing with a lot and doesn't need you hovering."
Charlotte looked between Dee and Abigail.
"I agree." Abigail said. "If he was supposed to rest, then it is best that we let him rest. Go out with Jacobs this evening. I also agree with not upsetting Elizabeth. I don't know what is going on, but she doesn't need added stress right now."
Charlotte huffed.
"He is still my child." Charlotte said.
"And he is an adult who is married with a child of his own on the way." Ann said.
"I know how hard it is to be hands off with a grown child." Abigail said. "But please just leave him alone this afternoon. If you are invited to sit with him tomorrow morning or whatever, that is different."
"Fine." Charlotte said. "But I am going out there this evening."
"I will tell Jacobs to find you." Dee said.
"Was there something that you needed?" Ann asked.
"Just some cookies or something to snack on." Dee said. "For some reason, I am hungry today."
"I will send some scones and jam back with you." Abigail said.
Dee smiled. Abigail got up and made a small basket with a half dozen scones and a small jar of jam. She handed it to Dee and he quickly left again.
When Elizabeth Rose and Patty got to the house, they knocked but there was no answer, so they went around the back and went in. They saw that everything was turned down. Elizabeth Rose went upstairs and saw the Jack was sort of awake, but Elizabeth was still sleeping. Jack motioned her to come in. Elizabeth Rose came in and grabbed the chair from the vanity. She sat near Jack.
"How are you doing?" Elizabeth Rose asked.
"Better." Jack rasped.
"I wanted to let you know that your mother is back." Elizabeth Rose said.
"I thought Elizabeth had an appointment this afternoon." Jack said.
"I moved it to tomorrow." Elizabeth said, opening her eyes.
"I didn't mean to wake you." Elizabeth Rose said.
"Faith said she needed to see you tomorrow." Elizabeth said. "So I moved my appointment so you could be there. It is okay. I need to get up."
"Can you help me downstairs?" Jack asked.
"Let me get Patty." Elizabeth Rose said.
Jack nodded and Elizabeth Rose headed to get Patty to help Jack. Elizabeth grabbed the pillows while Patty and her aunt helped Jack downstairs. They got him situated in the bedroom downstairs. Patty made Jack some tea while Elizabeth Rose explained a few things to Elizabeth about the afternoon at school.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I will work on grading. I am looking forward to a quiet night here."
"I am not sure if Dee is coming back." Elizabeth Rose said. "But I am sure that Charlotte will be around later. Abigail was going to explain to her what was going on after we left."
"If possible." Elizabeth said. "See if she can wait until after supper when Jacobs comes out or tomorrow morning. I just want to work on things and not worry about her hovering and wanting to talk."
"I will try." Elizabeth Rose said.
Elizabeth Rose and Patty left Jack and Elizabeth alone and headed back to town. Elizabeth was glad that Charlotte was back, but she still didn't want her there hovering over Jack when there was nothing that she could do to make it better. She knew Jack needed to rest and hoped that Charlotte understood that as well.
