Chapter 262 – Appointments for the Thorntons

The rest of the morning and early afternoon were quiet around town. Not wanting to push her luck, Florence made a quick stop at the mercantile and then headed home. She didn't talk to anyone and decided that she had plenty to do at the house.

Elizabeth Rose headed over to the schoolhouse after the lunch rush to give her niece a chance to go to Jack's appointment and then to her own. After a quick conversation about what the children had left to work on and what was going home, Elizabeth gathered her items and headed to town. She got to the infirmary and took a seat for a moment. She needed to center herself and take a moment before going in. Just as she stood, Jack came out of the jail and walked to her. She smiled at him and they went into the infirmary together.

"Come in." Faith said. "Jack, let's get you going first."

Jack climbed up on the exam table. He unbuttoned his serge and slipped it off. Elizabeth helped him.

"Your henley also, please." Faith said. "I want to check the bruising and ribs."

"Doug wrapped them this morning." Jack said. "It still feels better with them wrapped."

"I can rewrap them if Elizabeth helps me." Faith said.

"I can do that." Elizabeth said.

Jack slipped his henley off. Even though Faith had seen more of him than just his bare chest, but Jack felt embarrassed sitting there and he wasn't even bare chested yet. He tried not to think about those things and controlled his breathing so he didn't raise his blood pressure, but he could feel the heat creep into his cheeks. Faith got a set of vitals and listened to his breathing before unwrapping Jack's torso. The bruising was healing nicely. There were still a couple darker spots, but most of Jack's chest was various shades of yellow with the fading bruises. It was still hard for Elizabeth to see Jack like that. As Faith unwrapped his chest, Jack felt the heat in his cheeks even more. At least Elizabeth and Faith didn't make it worse by pointing it out to him.

"You seem to be healing quite nicely." Faith said. "How does it feel without the wrapping?"

"It is okay." Jack said. "It is more when I move and do things. There are still a few tender spots."

"Where?" Faith asked.

Jack pointed to the three tender spots, they happen to line up with the darker spots. Faith palpated those areas, which brought a hiss of pain from Jack each time.

"I am sorry." Faith said. "I think they will still be tender for a few more weeks. But you are healing about how I would expect. Your breathing sounds good. Are you still getting short of breath a lot?"

"Only if I don't pace myself or push it." Jack said.

"So walking, physical activity going okay?" Faith asked.

"Like I said." Jack said. "As long as I pace myself and don't push it. When I do get short of breath, it still does take me a bit to catch it. I try not to push the limits, I am not a fan of the pain when I do."

"Well." Faith said. "That is what pain is for. It reminds you that you are still healing and need to be careful. So you are working at the office?"

"I am coming in mid morning and usually staying until about the time school gets out." Jack said. "I need to rest, not necessarily nap in the afternoons when I get home. I haven't been riding and have only been doing paperwork."

"Are you walking in and back?" Faith asked.

"Doug and I have been walking in." Jack said. "We started today and that will be the plan for the rest of the week. Jacobs has been giving us a ride home in the afternoons."

"How is it walking in?" Faith asked.

"Not bad." Jack said. "We take it easy and Doug insists that I sit as soon as we get to the jail."

"Very good." Faith said. "Let's stick with that plan then. Starting next week, you can increase activity as tolerated. I would hold off riding until at least next weekend. Even then, I would take it slow and absolutely no galloping allowed. I am not releasing you back to full duty until the bruising is completely healed and you can go all day without the wrappings."

Jack nodded. He wasn't happy, but he understood it was what it was and he knew that Faith would be talking to Jacobs about his restrictions. Elizabeth and Faith were able to get Jack's torso rewrapped. She then had Jack stand and lower his pants enough for her to check his hip.

"This is healing nicely." Faith said. "It is still going to be tender for some time, but it shouldn't scar too badly. Remember to keep stretching the hip area as this heals or the scar tissue might limit your movement later."

"Doug is making sure I am doing that." Jack said. "But I understand what you are saying."

Faith touched the scar and palpated around it. Jack didn't hiss with pain, but he did make a face.

"Did that hurt?" Elizabeth asked. "You made a face."

Jack sighed.

"It is still tender." Jack said. "Especially if you put direct pressure on it like Faith just did."

"I would expect that." Faith said. "How painful it is when I push on it. Because it isn't red or swollen, so it might just be muscle regrowth."

"The pain is enough that it is noticeable when you push on it." Jack said. "I agree that it is muscle regrowth. I have been injured before and dealt with it. It took a few months for the pain to not be there when I would put pressure on it."

"Your leg?" Elizabeth said.

"My leg." Jack said. "The spot on my back and one on my abdomen."

"You can get dressed." Faith said.

As Jack redressed, she looked at him and wondered if he would answer the question she had.

"So how many times have you been injured?" Faith asked.

"On the job? Or are we talking as a child, too?" Jack asked.

"Tell me all that you know about." Faith said. "I can make some notes in your chart and that way if there is a problem later, we can track things."

"I had measles and chickenpox as a child." Jack said. "I had four stitches because I was cut by a wire on the ranch. As far as work, I have been thrown from a horse and landed in a patch of thistles. I had that incident with the ether in the academy. It started as a cadet dropping his weapon and I got hit by a ricochet. It was a minor cut, but because of where it was, the doc wanted to put a couple of stitches in."

"Where were you hit?" Faith asked. "I heard about the ether and ricochet, but not where you were hit."

"I was hit in the butt." Jack said, blushing and ducking his head.

"Okay." Faith said. "Didn't Doug say something about a bear cub as well."

"Yes." Jack said. "I tangled with a bear cub. I stitched the wound close. That is right above my knee. Counting when I was shot this past January, I have been shot three times. None have been serious and were stitched up each time."

"Anything else?" Faith asked.

"Not that I can think of at this time." Jack said.

"Thank you for being honest with me." Faith said. "Not all guys are willing to admit that they have been injured and you have experienced more than most."

Jack just shrugged.

"If you want to help Elizabeth up, that would be nice." Faith said. "Elizabeth, please remove your skirt and open your blouse, at least enough that I can see your baby bump. I am going to step out and make a couple of notes in Jack's chart. There is a sheet on the table for Elizabeth."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said.

Faith stepped around the curtain, and Elizabeth undressed and Jack helped her up on the table. She covered herself with the sheet and then smiled at Jack.

"We are ready, Faith." Jack said.

"I will be there in a moment." Faith said.

It was a few moments later and Faith stepped back around the curtain. She got a set of vitals on Elizabeth and helped her to lay back. She measured her stomach and felt around the baby bump. Finally, she donned her stethoscope and listened for the baby's heartbeat.

"Looks good." Faith said. "Blood pressure is still a little high, but nothing to be concerned about. Maybe watch the amount of salt you are having. Have you noticed any swelling in your ankles or legs?"

"Not yet." Elizabeth said.

"You might have that as you progress." Faith said. "Especially as the temperature gets warmer. If you are experiencing that, I would suggest that you sit with your feet up, especially in the afternoons. If you have concerns, you can always come see me. I heard a nice strong heartbeat. The baby is sitting very high up, so that might be why you are showing as much as you are. Have you felt the baby move?"

"I haven't felt the strong kicks that other women have talked about." Elizabeth said. "But I felt some soft flutters. It is usually when Jack is talking to the baby."

"You should start to feel more of the kicks and elbows in the next month or so." Faith said. "You are still measuring a little bigger than I thought you would be. Based on what you have told me, I would put you about eighteen to nineteen weeks along. But you are measuring more in the twenty-two to twenty-three weeks."

"Is that a problem?" Jack asked.

"No." Faith said. "It might just be the way that the baby is laying or it might be a bigger baby. We will just keep an eye on things, but I would say that this little one would more than likely come toward the end of September and not into October."

"Okay." Jack said. "So just one heartbeat?"

"As far as I can tell." Faith said. "I am not saying that it isn't twins, because that could be another reason that you are measuring bigger, but I have not heard a clear second heartbeat."

"If it is twins." Jack said. "Would they come early?"

"If it is twins." Faith said. "They could come anytime from the end of August on. The longer that we keep the baby inside the better. Let's aim for the middle to end of September to bet safe. We will just keep an eye on things and may take other precautions later in the summer if Elizabeth continues to measure big or I hear or feel two babies. I don't want you to get worked up about things. We will deal with what we can when we can."

Elizabeth nodded, but she shot Jack a look.

"Do you have any other questions for me?" Faith asked.

"I don't think so." Elizabeth said. "So we can just continue to carry on as we have been."

"Yes." Faith said. "You can do all activities as you feel comfortable."

"Can she ride?" Jack asked.

"At this point." Faith said. "As long as Elizabeth is comfortable, yes she can ride. I would suggest she doesn't go galloping, but I see no problem at this point with her riding. Maybe later this summer as she gets further along, I would advise against it."

"Okay." Jack said. "And I can ride slowly for a short distance as I feel up to it."

"Yes." Faith said. "You might find your hip and ribs are a bit more sore as you add in more riding, but you have the medicated tea."

"Yes." Jack said. "I have only been using it at night, but I know that I can have it every eight hours. Dee promised to leave me plenty of doses and what we need to make more."

"Very well." Faith said. "If it is working for you, I will encourage you to use it. I know that not all doctors are okay with the Native ways, but if it works it works."

"Thank you." Jack said.

"Jack, I will see you in two weeks." Faith said. "Elizabeth, I will see you in a month."

"Of course." Elizabeth said.

Faith stepped back around the curtain to make some notes in Elizabeth's chart while she got dressed. Jack helped her and once they were both ready, Jack opened the curtain.

"Thank you again, Faith." Jack said. "I am glad you are here."

"I am as well." Faith said. "Jack, the traveling doctor will be here or should be here next time you come in, so he might examine you. Please don't fight me on this. You need him to sign off for you to return to full duty. That was per DC Delaney."

Jack just nodded. He wasn't happy about it, but it was what it was. They left and when Jack and Elizabeth stepped on to the porch, they found Jacobs waiting for them.

"I thought you both could use a ride back." Jacobs said. "Doug already headed to the house and he took your messenger bag."

Jack nodded and helped Elizabeth into the back seat of the car and then got into the front.

"So what is the plan?" Jacobs asked. "Or do I need to ask Faith."

"I can increase activity as tolerated starting next week." Jack said. "I can start riding next weekend if I am up to it. No galloping and only for short rides. I am still tired easily so other than trying to increase my walking and add in short rides next week, I don't want to push it. She wants to see me again in two weeks."

"Very well." Jacobs said. "I plan on staying until Monday. I was going to ask if you want me to leave the car for you. I have my horse here and that would be fine for me to start in Benson Hills. I could take the stage back and get the car next weekend or the week after."

"Are you sure?" Jack said.

"I have thought about it." Jacobs said. "I have spoken to Wynn. He agrees, especially if you are not up to walking both ways."

"Thank you." Jack said. "I was hoping to sit down and try and see about ordering at least one car sooner rather than later."

"I can help you with that." Jacobs said. "But for now, why don't you use this one? I have arranged for regular deliveries of fuel, so don't worry about that. When I get the car, they will change to Benson Hills."

"Thank you." Jack said. "I hadn't even thought about that."

"It is fine." Jacobs said. "Not my first time having a car at a posting. But you will need to do that if you get a car."

"I think we need to get one." Jack said. "I was going to wait until we were in the new house, but I think we need it sooner."

"I can send a wire and have my grandfather get in touch with Andrew." Jacobs said. "They could arrange for one to be sent out here and grandfather can set up the fuel delivery with Andrew. As long as you are not picky and don't mind having someone else pick out the car."

"I wouldn't mind one like this." Jack said. "It is nice and roomy, it appears to be easy to use and the important thing is having it."

"Elizabeth?" Jacobs said.

"I would prefer one that is fully enclosed like this." Elizabeth said. "I mean the ones with the top that can go up and down are nice, but harder to keep warm in the winter and with kids, I want it to be able to be warmer."

"Got it." Jacobs said. "Anything else?"

"No." Elizabeth said. "But I want one with a front and back like this as well."

"Got it." Jacobs said. "Any preference on maker?"

"Andrew and Uncle Henry know what I like." Elizabeth said.

Jack just shook his head.

"Whatever the lady wants." Jack said.

"Wise man." Jacobs said. "I will send a wire to my grandfather and have him get in contact with your Uncle Henry or cousin Andrew."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "Have them ship it here as soon as possible."

"I will." Jacobs said.

Jacobs dropped Jack and Elizabeth off before heading back to town to work a little more.

They weren't home fifteen minutes when Aunt Elizabeth stopped by to drop off the basket from school.

"They were good this afternoon." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I know you don't want to think about it, but this is our last night in town for a while."

"Supper is already in the oven." Doug said. "I got a large roast for us all. I added carrots and potatoes. There is enough for all of us, including your Aunt, Uncle and cousin."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said.

"I am going to head back into town for a bit." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I will bring the boys back about six."

"Sounds good." Elizabeth said.

Aunt Elizabeth left and Elizabeth went to her writing desk to grade the papers in the basket. Jack went up to lay down for a bit and Doug sat at the table to work on something.

… … … …