Chapter 182 – Jack Struggles with Pain

Wynn helped Jack take his henley off and then he and Dee helped Jack to stand, holding his outstretched arms. Jacobs worked swiftly to unwrap Jack's torso. While Jack's chest was unwrapped, Jacobs listened to Jack's lungs. He then checked the bruising. He noted that there were several deeper purple bruises, but nothing that he didn't expect. Jacobs covered Jack's chest and back with a thick layer of Vicks and then with the help of Patty, wrapped Jack's torso back up. Wynn and Dee sat Jack back in the chair, his face again pinched in pain. Elizabeth Rose immediately set the medicated tea in front of Jack. They could all tell that Jack was spent and in a considerable amount of pain. They wished that there was more that they could do to help him, but they all knew the dangers of taking the pain killers. Jacobs also knew that morphine suppresses breathing, which they didn't need at that moment, but he was willing to concede if Jack needed relief.

"Come on Jack." Elizabeth Rose said. "Drink the tea, it will help."

Without opening his eyes, Jack reached for the tea. Dee immediately put it in Jack's hand. He took several sips before he opened his eyes. Jacobs was sitting there watching Jack.

"How are you doing now?" Jacobs asked.

"Better and worse if that makes sense." Jack rasped.

"What is better?" Jacobs asked.

"Breathing." Jack rasped.

"Okay." Jacobs said. "I take it the pain is worse?"

Jack nodded.

"I feel …." Jack rasped.

"Slow down." Dee said. "Is it your ribs?"

Jack nodded.

"Finish the tea." Dee said. "It will help."

"Listen to him." Jacobs said. "If you are still in a lot of pain in an hour, maybe take a pill so you can sleep. I would prefer it if you didn't take it at all, but I will understand if you feel the pain is too great. I told you about being laid up. Both Dee and I understand about controlling the pain and not taking too much. You are the only one that knows your limits. I will let you rest now. I will see you in the morning."

Jack nodded.

"We are going to go as well." Wynn said. "Dee, if you need help getting Jack upstairs, get one of the guards."

Dee nodded. Wynn, Elizabeth Rose, Patty and Jacobs said their goodnights and left. Elizabeth sat at the table with Jack for a few moments. She was talking softly to Jack to try and help him relax. Finally, Elizabeth saw Jack's face relax some. Dee had finished cleaning up things and then sat down at the table.

"Whenever you are ready." Dee said. "I will help you upstairs."

"Give me a few." Jack said.

"No problem." Dee said. "Take you time, let the tea work. I know that it can be more painful to move at times."

Jack nodded. The three sat there for a bit longer. Dee and Elizabeth talked a little and Jack listened trying to relax a bit more. After about ten minutes, Elizabeth noticed that Jack was having a hard time keeping his eyes open.

"Dee." Elizabeth said. "I think we need to get Jack upstairs."

Dee looked over and saw the same things as Elizabeth.

"Let's get you upstairs and to bed." Dee said.

Jack didn't even resist, he allowed Dee to help him stand and they went upstairs. Elizabeth waited a couple minutes and then followed them up. She helped get Jack settled.

"I will lock up." Dee said. "Unless you need something."

"No, I am good." Elizabeth said. "Thank you. I am going to set the alarm for six thirty."

"Okay." Dee said.

Dee pulled the door closed and headed back downstairs. Elizabeth changed into her nightgown, washed up and brushed her hair and braided it. When she crawled into bed, she could tell that Jack was asleep. She was glad that he had been able to relax some. She could tell that the pain had subsided some. She could see that his face was much more relaxed. She was glad that the tea had worked and Jack didn't need another pain pill. When Elizabeth snuggled up to Jack, he immediately reached for her. Elizabeth put her hand on Jack's leg to let him know that she was there. She felt Jack relax more into the pillows. Elizabeth was tired and quickly fell asleep like that with her hand on Jack's leg and his hand on her arm.

Dee got back downstairs, locked the front door and checked the fires. He then picked up the Bible that Jack had set on one of the end tables. He flipped it open and it fell to a page Jack had marked. It had flipped open to Proverbs chapters three and four, so Dee read through them. He could see why Jack had marked those pages and was reading them.

After reading through those chapters twice, Dee set the Bible back down on the settee. He leaned forward and dropped his head to his hands that were perched on his knees. Dee prayed for Jack and Elizabeth. He prayed for their little one. He prayed for his family and the Mounties trying to keep everyone safe. He prayed for McGinty as he followed a lead. Dee sat there for a long time praying. Finally feeling spent, Dee turned down the lights and crawled in bed. Dee was so tired that he immediately fell asleep.

Dee woke up with his alarm at six feeling refreshed. Dee realized that he liked being in Hope Valley. He also realized that he had been sleeping better and not using as much tea while he had been there. He was also finding a deeper faith than he had in the city. Dee made a mental note to sit down and talk more to Frank. As Dee got dressed for the day, he prayed again. Once he was ready, he went to the kitchen and stoked the fire to get the pot of water going as well as the kettle for tea. It wasn't long after Dee had sat down with a cup of coffee that Elizabeth came downstairs. She smiled at Dee, checked the fire and then went outside. When she came back in, she went to the kitchen to start breakfast.

"Jack, still sleeping?" Dee asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I was going to let him sleep a little longer. He was in a lot of pain last night and it took a lot out of him."

"That is fine." Dee said. "I will stay here until Jacobs comes anyway."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said.

"What are you making?" Dee asked.

"French toast with bacon." Elizabeth said. "It just sounded good when I was getting ready."

Elizabeth was making breakfast when Jack called out.

"I got him." Dee said.

Dee headed upstairs to get Jack. He helped him change into clean clothes and then downstairs. Dee got Jack settled at the table and then made him some medicated tea. He set the tea in front of Jack and then took a seat again.

"How are you feeling this morning?" Dee asked.

"A little better." Jack said. "My breathing feels better, but I feel like I have been kicked in the chest again."

"Hopefully it will pass soon." Dee said. "I remember when I broke ribs in the attack. I would start to feel better and then do something and it would set me back days with pain. Just remember, slow movements and even breathing."

"Thanks." Jack said. "I didn't look when Jacobs was checking last night, but it felt like the bruising was worse."

"Yes, there were several deep purple bruises." Dee said. "I wouldn't be surprised if you injured or re-injured your ribs with all the coughing. Jacobs didn't seem concerned and your breathing is getting better so that is the important part. The rest of the healing will come with time."

"Thanks again." Jack said.

"Is the wrapping helping?" Dee asked. "I know it helped me."

Jack nodded. They didn't talk anymore. Elizabeth finished making breakfast and set it in front of them. She sat down. Jack reached for Elizabeth's hand. She took it and then reached for Dee's. She said a quick prayer for their meal. They ate without much conversation. When they were done, Dee cleared the dishes while Elizabeth got her stuff ready for school. She was ready just as there was a knock on the door. Dee opened it and saw that it was the guards for Elizabeth.

"Beth." Dee said. "Whenever you are ready."

"One minute." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth picked up her basket, gave Jack a kiss. Jack took a moment to kiss her belly and tell the little one to be good. Elizabeth smiled at Jack and then after one last kiss left for school. Dee closed the door and looked at Jack.

"Jacobs should be here soon." Dee said.

"Help me to the couch." Jack said.

Dee helped Jack to the couch and got him settled. After twenty minutes when Jacobs hadn't shown yet, Dee looked concerned.

Wynn and Jacobs were woken by Bill shortly before sunrise. When Wynn opened his door, he saw Jacobs and a very upset Bill. After taking a moment to get dressed and speak to his wife, Wynn left with Jacobs and Bill to find out why he was so upset.

As soon as Bill, Jacobs and Wynn were in the lobby of the saloon, Bill stopped them.

"Cook and I arrested Bernardi this morning." Bill said.

"Slow down." Wynn said. "Tell me what is going on."

Wynn could see that Bill was worked up and knew he needed him to be level headed to figure out what was going on.

"Cook had come in to get ready to leave for rounds." Bill said. "Bernardi pushed into the jail after him. He was drunk and demanding to be allowed access to the prisoner. Cook and I handcuffed him, searched him and put him in a cell after he took a swing at Cook."

"Okay." Wynn said. "That changes things and you did the right thing. Get a statement from Cook and then have him go on rounds."

"I will get the cadets going." Jacobs said.

"Bill." Wynn said. "Head back to the jail and try to keep both prisoners from escalating things. I will be there shortly after I speak to my wife."

Bill and Jacobs headed out to do as Wynn had asked. Wynn watched them walk out of the saloon. He immediately headed back upstairs and spoke with his wife. When he got back to the room, he found both his wife and Patty dressed and in the room.

"Since we are up." Elizabeth Rose said. "We figured that we would head over to the cafe and help Abigail."

"Thank you." Wynn said. "We will eventually need breakfast for two prisoners. It can wait until the cadets are back from running."

"I will take care of it." Patty said.

"Thank you." Wynn said. "I will be in for breakfast at some point. I will be at the jail or the office for the time being."

Patty and Elizabeth Rose nodded. Elizabeth Rose got up and gave her husband a kiss.

"Be safe." Elizabeth Rose said.

"You know I will." Wynn replied.

Wynn left the room and headed to the jail.

Jack looked at the clock and looked back at Dee.

"Go." Jack said. "Find out what is going on. I am going to try and rest."

"Here or in the bed?" Dee asked.

"Bed." Jack said.

Dee helped Jack to the bedroom downstairs and made sure that he was settled. Dee then grabbed his messenger bag and headed out. He spoke to the guards for a moment and then headed to town. Both guards stayed outside for the time being and watched Dee walk away. They had told him what they knew which wasn't much, just that Captain Cook and Sheriff Avery had arrested someone that morning. They didn't know who and had been ordered to stay out of the jail house. They had told Dee that Sergeant Jacobs had taken them on a run and then they had breakfast before coming to guard duty. They didn't know what was going on in town and were doing what they had been ordered to do.

Once Dee got into the trees, he hurried his steps. He wasn't sure what was going on, but felt that he needed to get back to town to help. He knew that Jack was safe at the house and Elizabeth was safe at school. He figured that his father would need his help, but hadn't had time to send for him. That concerned him a bit, but maybe his father had wanted him to stay with Jack.

Wynn got to the jail and found both prisoners sitting on their bunks staring at each other. Neither was speaking, but staring intently at each other. Wynn looked at Bill who handed him some paperwork. Wynn looked at what he had been handed. It was Cook's statement as well as Bill's. Wynn scanned the documents and then looked at Bill.

"You okay here?" Wynn asked.

"I am fine." Bill said.

Bill stood up and walked around the desk and looked at the two sitting in the cells.

"If these two know what is good for them." Bill said in a raised voice. "They won't test me further."

"Okay." Wynn said. "I need to head to the other office and check some things."

Bill nodded and then went back to his desk.

"Hopefully I will have answers for you soon." Wynn said. "If you need me, send someone over to the office and get me. Jacobs is dealing with cadets."

"Okay." Bill said. "Want me to send someone to get Dee?"

"When Jacobs doesn't show." Wynn said. "I have a feeling he will be along shortly."

"Then I will be here." Bill said.