Chapter 232 – Doug Spends Time in Town
Doug had a nice afternoon in town. Not only was he able to see a few places, he picked up a few things at the mercantile and ordered a few others. Ned insisted on putting it on Jack and Elizabeth's account, saying that he could figure it out with them. After the mercantile, Doug made a stop at the jailhouse to see Joe and talk to the cadets. He also was able to officially meet the other constables that were in town. He was even able to take Pegasus on a short ride before he thought he should return to the house. A few people stopped and asked him who he was since they had seen him speaking to the other constables. When he let them know that he was a Mountie as well and he was staying to take care of Jack, they asked how he was. Doug let people know that Jack was on the mend and if they wanted to help, they could continue to pray for all of them and saw that things were getting done as normal. They understood what the young man was saying and were glad for the little update on Jack.
Doug was almost back to the house, when a group of young boys came running up to him.
"Are you staying with Mountie Jack?" One of the boys asked.
"I am." Doug said. "I am Constable Doug Burke. Mountie Jack and I have been friends for years."
"Is he going to be okay?" Another boy asked.
"Yes, he is." Doug said. "How about you tell me your names, since I will be sticking around for a while."
The boys each told him their name and where they lived.
"It is nice to meet all of you." Doug said. "But I have been gone from the house for a few hours, so I think I should get back. But I promise to spend more time with you as Mountie Jack gets better."
"He promised to play baseball with us." Cody said.
"Well." Doug said. "Since I am a better ball player then Mountie Jack, how about I plan to play with you soon."
"That sounds great." Albert said. "Do you have a glove?"
"I will soon." Doug said. "I am having my stuff sent here from my previous posting for now. So give me a week or so and we will play. School must have just gotten out."
"About ten minutes ago." Robert said.
"Then I suggest that you finish your homework and get to chores." Doug said. "I don't want your parents getting mad. I also know that you have a spelling test in the morning and a science fair tomorrow afternoon. Don't say anything, but I plan to try and sneak away to come see."
"Okay." Miles said.
The boys all waved goodbye and took off toward various houses. Doug watched them and then watched the few head back to town. Once the boys had scattered, he finished heading the house, not that far behind the group of boys. As Doug walked back to the house, he thought about all that Jack had told him about the town and all that he had learned. He realized that the people of Hope Valley were remarkable people and he could see why Jack would feel guilty about them making them food. It wasn't that Doug had a lot of money, but he had been able to save most of his paychecks even with helping his mother. He sent half of each paycheck to his mother and from her letters she put half of that into the bank to save it for him. Doug wondered if it would be better for his mother if he was closer. She was well beyond the age when most women had handed a majority of the housework to those younger, but she didn't have anyone to help her. Doug wished that he was around to help his mother more, but he would take what he could get and do what he could. And what he could do at the moment was send her money to try and make things easier for her. Thinking about his mother, Doug was glad that he had sent a telegram to her to let her know that he was in Hope Valley and he would try to visit when he got a chance.
When Doug walked into the house, he saw Elizabeth sitting at her desk writing something. He didn't want to disturb her, but she immediately looked up when she heard his boots on the floorboard.
"How was your afternoon?" Elizabeth asked.
"It was nice." Doug said. "I got to see the town, talk to a few people and even take Pegasus for a short ride. Did you get a nap?"
"Yes, a short one." Elizabeth said. "Jack is still resting. We talked for a while and I think I slept about an hour and have been downstairs here for about twenty minutes."
"Good." Doug said. "I charged a few things to the account. I ordered a couple more shirts and some more socks."
"That is fine." Elizabeth said.
"I will pay you back." Doug said.
"Don't worry about it." Elizabeth said. "Just make sure that you have what you need."
"Okay, thank you." Doug said.
Elizabeth could sense the uneasiness about Doug when she had just spoken, so she put her pen down and went over to the settee where Doug was taking his boots off.
"Doug." Elizabeth said. "I mean it when I say money is not an issue. You realize who my family is right?"
"Sort of." Doug said.
"My father is William Thatcher of Hamilton Shipping." Elizabeth said. "I have very generous trust funds from not only my father, but my grandfather. I don't have to worry about money, ever. I teach because I want to teach. I don't teach because I need to make money. I have been living on my salary combined with Jack's for months. We don't touch my family money unless we need something like furniture or stuff for the new house. I have also used it to bless other people, but have done it in a way to keep my name out of it. Yes, some people know who my family is, but we don't advertise it. Unless people lived back east, they probably don't realize exactly who my family is and the amount of money that we are talking about."
"Okay." Doug said. "I mean I know Thatcher and Hamilton Shipping because of notices I have seen as a Mountie. I just feel bad. I have always made my own way, as well as supported my mother. I know that you want to help, but it is hard for me because I grew up even less than Jack."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "But things change. I don't want you to feel bad if you need to order something while you are here. Jack and I are going to insist on supporting you while you are here taking care of him. I don't want to hear any argument and I won't take no for an answer."
"I would listen to her." Jack said from the stairs. "She is more stubborn than I am."
"Hey, you are not supposed to do the stairs without help." Elizabeth said.
"She is right." Doug said. "But are you sure she is the stubborn one, I have seen you when you dig your heels in."
"I am fine." Jack said. "I took the stairs slowly and didn't even get lightheaded. And yes, she is definitely more stubborn."
"I might have to agree with him." Elizabeth said. "I am pretty stubborn if I want to be. When I have my mind made up, there is little that you can do to talk me out of something."
"I won't argue there." Jack said, with a dimpled grin.
He gave Elizabeth a quick kiss before he took a seat in the armchair. Elizabeth went back to her desk and what she had been working on. Doug grabbed his book and continued to read. Jack took a few moments before he got up and grabbed his sketchbook. The three of them took it easy, since Elizabeth had already put the roast in the oven for supper.
Doug, Jack and Elizabeth had a quiet evening. Dee had come home and joined them for supper. Dee let them know about some of the updates of what was going on in town. Dee was determined that since Jack was feeling better that he be brought up to speed and also kept in the loop. When asked about Wynn, Elizabeth Rose and them, Dee let them know that the guys were having a nice supper at the cafe and the ladies were helping in the kitchen after insisting that Abigail spend some time with the kids.
"How is the adoption coming?" Jack asked.
"Andrew had filed the paperwork." Dee said. "It was sent by a rider to Buxton yesterday. Along with the letters from Mom and Dad. Apparently there are also letters coming from Jacobs grandfather and uncle. Bill and Frank also each wrote one. Andrew thinks that is pretty much a slam dunk, especially since the reports from you and the Mounties in Fort Garry were included in the application. The one from Fort Garry is hard to read. The conditions that they found at the orphanage were horrible. No child should have had to endure what they went through there. I am just glad that the three adults that were running the place are behind bars and will most likely never see the light of day again."
"Speaking of the orphanage." Jack said. "Becky mentioned something about her personal belongings that were taken."
"I don't know anything about it." Dee said. "But I will follow up with the guys in Fort Garry. I know that an investigator from Hamilton had come in and was taking over the investigation into the place. From what I understand, the records were a mess."
"I will ask Jacobs about it." Jack said.
"What are you talking about?" Doug asked.
"Remember when I wrote to you and said we found two orphans in the woods." Jack said. "Abigail took them and she wants to adopt them."
"Okay." Doug said. "I remember something about that. Isn't she one of the widows?"
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "She lost her husband who was the superintendent and also her only son. We all agree that Abigail needs those kids as much as they need here. There are many single mothers in this town and they all help each other."
"I have noticed that." Doug said. "It truly does take a village to raise kids and this place is the perfect example of that. The little that I have interacted with people when I have been out, I see that. I mean neighbors helped each other in Lethbridge, but not like this. Maybe because it is a bigger town and they only help the people closest to them."
"Maybe." Jack said. "People didn't help each other like this when I was in Fort Garry and that is about the same size as Lethbridge if not a bit bigger."
"Well." Doug said. "I hope that they get to stay. Sounds like this is the perfect place for them to find family."
"Our thoughts exactly." Dee said.
They talked about a few other things before Faith and Jacobs arrived for Jack's treatments. Elizabeth excused herself to go upstairs, as she couldn't see Jack struggling even though she knew it helped him. Dee and Doug exchanged a look before Jack spoke up.
"She is struggling with seeing me in pain again." Jack said. "Let her be. If she needs to know something we will talk to her, but at this point, it is easier for her to just not be here."
"If that is what she needs." Faith said. "We will let it be."
After Elizabeth went upstairs, Jack had his treatments. He refused the chloroform, but did take a half dose of morphine so he would be able to sleep. Jacobs was pleased with how he sounded and readily agreed that his breathing was much better. Faith was happy with the process with Jack's hip. She also agreed that he sounded much better and now that he didn't have a fever, she was confident that he had turned the corner. They still needed to be careful as he still had a small open wound, but it was well on its way to healing, leaving only a scar. It was agreed that they would continue to check the wound twice a day until it was no longer open. They also decided to continue the breathing treatments twice a day and for Jack to continue to exercise under the watchful eye of Doug. Painkillers and chloroform would be available if Jack needed them, but at this point, Faith was satisfied that Jack could make that decision with a clear head. Doug thanked both Jacobs and Faith and then saw them out. He promised to get Jack settled upstairs.
After Jacobs and Faith left, Dee and Doug worked on cleaning up the kitchen/dining area while Jack rested in the armchair. Jack felt bad about them doing the cleaning, but he also knew that he wouldn't have been able to stand and help at that moment and it was unfair to think that Elizabeth would do it. Besides, from what Jack could see, it wasn't like those two didn't know their way around the kitchen. Jack thought they probably knew his kitchen better than he did at that point. It was also nice to hear the banter between the two men. He remembered that Dee had said he had trouble making friends, especially with who his father was and also because of his memory. Jack didn't fully understand how his memory made it hard to make friends, but he didn't understand the whole family thing.
When Doug and Dee were done in the kitchen, they pulled out paperwork and sat at the table. Jack joined them with his sketchbook, but quickly became interested in what they were doing.
"What are you looking at?" Jack asked.
"Copies of paperwork from Pacific Northwest Mining office from when they were here in Hope Valley." Dee said. "It is part of what Inspector Williams brought last week. We have been through it, but I still have the feeling that something is off with it and I can't place my finger on it. I don't know enough about the mining process to figure out what is off."
"Here." Jack said. "Let me look. I read that Science of Mining book cover to cover twice when I was looking into the mine explosion when I first came here. It was how I knew that the explosion wasn't an accident. Come to think about it, the book should still be in the back room of the office. I had put it on one of the shelves that I built. Ask Bill about it. If it isn't there, he would know where he put it."
"I will do that tomorrow." Dee said.
As the guys were going over paperwork and Jack was explaining what some of the numbers meant, Elizabeth came downstairs. She saw the three huddled together over paperwork and shook her head. She just put the kettle on for some tea and then went to her desk and started writing again. It wasn't until the kettle whistled that even realized that Elizabeth had come back downstairs.
