Chapter 192 – Nighttime Treatment
As the guys were walking, Dee looked at his father.
"Are things really that bad?" Dee asked.
"Yes and no." Wynn said. "The sale of the mine helped and so did Andy Yeager paying the town back, but it is not enough to justify building a new schoolhouse when there are other buildings that could get used, especially if the town will be taking over Beth's salary and having to pay another teacher. Also, Abigail hasn't drawn a salary since taking over, because things were rough."
"I told her to pay herself, but I know that she won't until everyone else is taken care of ." Jacobs said.
"I agree." Wynn said. "Which is why I have no intention of letting her pay for expanding the cafe. Like Dee said, even if I have to talk to Lee myself."
"I can help also." Jacobs said. "I am perfectly capable of living off my salary as a Mountie. I don't need to use my trust fund, so I can help as well."
"Okay." Wynn said. "Let her talk to Lee and then we will go talk to him."
"Sounds like it will be a busy summer of construction in Hope Valley." Dee said.
"I bet we could even find a bunch of people willing to help Abigail." Jacobs said.
"I am sure." Wynn said.
The guys walked in silence the rest of the way to the house. When they got there, they saw the guard out front. He immediately snapped to attention.
"I believe they may still be sleeping." Lewis said. "The last shift said the backdoor was open for you to get in."
"Thank you." Jacobs said.
The three went around the back. Dee knocked on the door, but the house looked dark. He went in and saw that it was quiet downstairs.
"I will get the fires going and water on." Wynn said.
"I will go knock on their door upstairs." Dee said.
"I am going to grab some more wood." Jacobs said. "Looks like they could use it."
Wynn nodded. The men set about their tasks. When Dee got upstairs, he knocked on Jack and Elizabeth's bedroom door and there was no answer, so he knocked a little louder. He thought he heard someone moving around.
"Jack." Dee said. "Dad and Jacobs are here. They are getting the water ready, we are late getting here."
"Give me a moment." Jack called out.
Dee didn't like the sound of Jack's voice, he sounded very congested again. While Dee waited, Jack made sure that Elizabeth was covered and pulled his pajama pants back on. He then put his slippers on and went to the door. Jack slipped into the hallway and Dee looked at him.
"Elizabeth and I had an early supper." Jack said. "Then we fell asleep. Sorry, I forgot to set the alarm."
Dee just smiled and nodded his head.
"Let's get you downstairs." Dee said. "Dad and Jacobs are waiting."
Dee and Jack walked downstairs together. When they got downstairs, Wynn looked at Jack and raised his eyebrow.
"Sorry." Jack said. "Elizabeth and I had an early supper and then we both fell asleep. I forgot to set the alarm to get up. Let's just get this down. Elizabeth is still sleeping. She has been so tired."
Jack sat down at the table and Wynn put the bowl of hot water in front of him. Jack leaned forward and Jacobs draped the towel over Jack's head.
"So tell me how the rest of the afternoon went." Jack asked.
Jack listened as Wynn and Jacobs told him about the afternoon and what had gone on. No one mentioned that Jack had come downstairs in just pajama pants and no shirt or that Elizabeth was still sleeping. They figured that there was no need to embarrass Jack, but the other three guys at the kitchen table all had a good idea of what had happened at the Thornton's that afternoon.
Once Jack was done with the steam, Jacobs started right away with the cupping motions on Jack's back. He coughed and sputtered a few times, while only getting sick to his stomach once. When he was done, Jacobs grabbed the stethoscope and listened to Jack's lungs while he was still leaning forward. His lungs definitely sounded better. Jack sat back and looked at Jacobs.
"How does it sound?" Jack asked.
"Definitely better." Jacobs said. "I would like to continue to do treatments twice a day through the weekend and then we will see. Continue to do the steam several other times, but I think we are past the worst of the breathing."
"How is the pain?" Wynn asked.
"Comes and goes." Jack said. "I know that I have to take it easy. I have moved wrong a couple of times and been reminded that my ribs are definitely sore."
"Ready for me to check the bruising?" Jacobs asked.
Jack nodded. Wynn and Dee helped Jack as he stood up. Jacobs and Dee swiftly unwrapped Jack's chest. Jacobs looked at the bruising. He even had Jack turn around to check his back. Jack even ventured to look at his chest to see how bad it was. To Jack it looked like one giant bruise in various stages of healing.
"Not as bad as I thought." Jacobs said. "There are some darker spots, but overall, they are fading and healing. Don't be surprised if you see a few more dark spots on the surface, but as long as they are not red around the edges or warm to the touch, I wouldn't worry."
"Okay." Jack said. "It definitely hurts more to breathe without the wrapping."
"We will keep an eye on that." Jacobs said.
"When I was hurt." Dee said. "It took six to eight weeks for my chest to not hurt without wrapping."
"I agree." Jacobs said. "We are only a couple of weeks out, I would give it until at least the middle of May before I would be worried about it. I am going to be here for a bit yet. We will continue this at night. Even when I am gone, you can arrange for Faith to change the wrapping, depending on how long Wynn and Dee are here. I could even teach McGinty to do it, since he will be staying until you are back to work full-time."
"Honestly." Jack said. "I would prefer you teach McGinty and/or Elizabeth. Not that I don't like Faith, I just don't want to have to rely on getting into town all the time."
"We will figure something out before I leave." Jacobs said.
Jacobs put a layer of Vicks on Jack and then grabbed the clean bandages and rewrapped Jack from his shoulders down to his hips. When he was done, Jack sat down and leaned his head back.
"Want some tea?" Dee asked.
"Peppermint." Jack said. "I had a medicated one this afternoon after supper."
Wynn made Jack a cup of tea as Jacobs and Dee cleaned up everything else. Once everything was cleaned up, Wynn and Jacobs said goodnight and headed back to town. Dee made himself a cup of tea and sat with Jack for a bit.
"Honestly." Dee said. "How is the pain?"
"I am definitely feeling it right now." Jack said. "But within a couple of hours of him doing that, it calms back down. I am being careful otherwise. Elizabeth is also making sure that I don't do too much. I am also realizing that it is going to be longer than I thought before I am back at work. Just the thought of trying to ride Sergeant right now is painful."
"Hopefully," Dee said. "Another week or two and you will be able to go and spend part of the day in the office. There will be plenty of reports and paperwork for you to catch up on."
"Goodie." Jack said. "Paperwork."
"Hey." Dee said. "It could be worse."
"I know." Jack said. "There is just so much that needs to get done."
"I know." Dee said. "Lee's men staked out the foundations yesterday. They are going to get the foundation for the house set next week, then for the cottage and stable. Lee said that between the men that he is hiring and the building crew that he has coming from Union City that they should have the house up and framed out by the end of May, as long as the weather cooperates."
"Good." Jack said. "I hadn't wanted to hire the crew for that long, but I realize that I don't have a choice. At least I will be able to do some of the finishing work later this summer. I already told Lee that once the house is framed in and wired that the crew can move on to other things."
"He said as much." Dee said. "Just remember that there will be plenty of people to help you do the finish work and you can always hire other people. Oh, I have Lee a check to cover getting the men working. I will draw up some papers and send them back with Andrew so the amount can be transferred from Beth's account to mine. Also talked to him for a moment and he has paperwork for you guys. Some of that paperwork is allowing him to set up the account in Union City on his way back."
"Andrew is here?" Jack said.
"Yes." Dee said. "I thought we mentioned that. His brother David was personally asked by Sr Deputy Conner to come do the audit. David asked Andrew to come with him, especially after David talked to Sophie and learned that Andrew had paperwork for you guys as well as for Abigail. Andrew is drawing up the paperwork for Abigail to adopt Becky and Cody. He has also gathered several high profile signatures in support of it since the worker at the hospital was so against it."
"Good." Jack said. "Talk to David and Andrew tomorrow. Then talk to your mother and probably Patty. Maybe we can have a nice family dinner here on Saturday with everyone. I know that it might be a little tight, but I think we can do it."
"I will do that." Dee said. "I am sure that Patty would help Mom cook, but then head back into town to give us family time like she did before."
"Either way." Jack said. "I just don't want Elizabeth stressing about making a large meal."
"Got it." Dee said. "What should I suggest that Mom make?"
"I don't care." Jack said.
"Got it." Dee said. "It has been a long day. Let's get you back up to bed and then I am going to turn in as well."
"I think that is a good idea." Jack said. "Morning will come early, since I know that Elizabeth's alarm is set to get up for school."
"True." Dee said. "I will take care of everything for Saturday night. I will even make sure we have enough chairs, even if I have to borrow a few."
"As Lee next door." Jack said. "I know for a fact that he has a dining room table that sits eight."
"Good to know." Dee said. "Also as a reminder, you might have visitors tomorrow. McGinty was going to try and stop back out, you were sleeping when he stopped before and Pastor Frank said something about stopping out to see you as well."
"I look forward to it." Jack said.
Dee helped Jack upstairs. Knowing the state that Elizabeth was in, Jack insisted that he was fine to walk to bed himself. Dee hesitated, but then Jack looked at him with a raised eyebrow and motioned toward the room. Dee blushed a bit and nodded. Once Jack slipped into his room, Dee headed back downstairs to finish cleaning up before turning in for the night."
