Chapter 354 – Harvest Dance
At one point, Carson came and sat down with Jack and Elizabeth. Faith was dancing with Joe and Carson was fine with it.
"Carson." Jack said. "Do you want to take Andrew so I can grab a drink?"
"Of course." Carson said.
Jack handed the little boy over and Carson got him settled again.
"Thank you." Jack said, before heading to get some drinks for him and Elizabeth.
Elizabeth took the opportunity to tease Carson just a bit.
"You and Faith looked good out there together."
"We are just friends." Carson said, as the tips of his ears turned red.
Elizabeth smiled and nodded her head.
"Sure." She teased. "I have heard that before. I have tried to use that line with Jack and now look at us."
"I am not looking for a wife." Carson said.
"And I wasn't looking for love when I came here to teach." Elizabeth said. "Yet just shy of seventeen months later, I am married and have four children."
"The difference is that I have been married before." Carson said.
"And both Jack and I had sworn that neither of us were interested in marriage." Elizabeth said. "We both had very different reasons. I personally didn't think I would find a man understanding of my desire to teach. For Jack it was a bit of fear and because he didn't think it was fair to ask a woman to give up things because of his Mountie calling."
"But you are making it work." Carson said.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "Only because we realized that we were stronger together then we were apart. We tried to fight our feelings for months and we were both miserable doing so. We realized that we could have it all – marriage, family and careers. It helps that I have money to fall back on, but that is just icing on the cake so to speak."
"Even if I had feelings for Faith." Carson said. "It would be unprofessional of me. What if it didn't work out? Then what would happen. We have to work together."
"I am not saying that you have to get married tomorrow." Elizabeth teased. "Just don't close yourself off."
"Fine." Carson said. "But you don't need to play matchmaker. There are plenty of those around as it is."
"Fine." Elizabeth said. "I won't, but I know what I see."
Suddenly Little Beth came running over.
"Uncle Dr Carson." Little Beth said, tugging his sleeve.
Elizabeth and Carson were both shocked at the greeting, but turned their attention to the little girl.
"Hurry." Little Beth said. "Something is wrong with Jessica."
Carson quickly set Andrew in the pram that was nearby and went over to where the children were playing. Carson moving quickly across the room brought the attention of several others. By the time that Carson reached the girl, Rune, Joe and Faith were not far behind. Once Joe saw who it was that Carson was tending to, he went in search of the girl's parents.
As Carson got to the girl, he immediately saw or rather heard what the problem was. The girl was choking on a piece of hard candy. He immediately scooped her up and laid her over his arm and pounded her back. He could hear the girl wheezing, but the candy didn't come out.
Carson looked around and saw Faith.
"We need to take her to the infirmary." Carson said. "The candy is stuck and I need to remove it. Does anyone know where her parents are."
"Right here, I am Issac, her father."
"Come with us." Carson said, already heading for the door.
"I will run ahead and open it up." Rune said.
"Thank you." Carson called as the boy disappeared out the door.
Carson adjusted the child in his arms and was quickly headed out the door as well. Faith brought the parents with her. She had waited as the wife was heavily pregnant. After the group left, all eyes were on Joe as he stood there in uniform.
"Dr Shepherd and Nurse Carter have things in hand." Joe called. "Please go about your evening and they will update us when they can. But I am confident that the girl will be fine."
People started to go back to their conversations and Cat put a record on. While people carried on, it had put a bit of a damper on the evening. But it was bound to happen with that many people that there would be an accident of some kind. The saloon was packed and there were people on the porch and out to the street as well.
… … … …
Carson got to the infirmary and looked at Rune.
"What do you need?" Rune asked.
"I need to get this candy out of her throat." Carson said. "Can you just talk to her and keep her calm while I wash up and grab a few things?"
"Sure." Rune said.
Carson had laid the girl on the exam table. Rune sat in the chair next to it and since he was tall enough, he could still clearly see the girl. It was only a moment or two and Faith had come in, saying that the parents were outside. Carson grabbed the ether and his surgical forceps. He just hoped that it would work. He knew that it would be tricky, but he didn't have a choice.
When Carson set the tray of instruments down, Rune scooted his chair back a little.
"I can't watch this." Rune said, looking a bit pale.
"Then wait outside." Carson said. "But try to be positive with the parents."
"Okay." Rune said.
Rune left and Carson turned his attention to the girl.
"I am going to give you a little medicine." Carson said. "It is going to make you a little sleepy, but you will be fine. I will remove the candy and when you wake up you will breathe better."
The girl barely, awake, nodded her head.
"I am going to put this over your nose and mouth." Carson said, showing her the ether cone. "All you need to do is breathe and it will make you sleepy."
Carson gave her just enough ether to relax her.
"Help me get her head hanging off the table." Carson said.
Faith helped him move the girl. She then took the girl's vitals. Carson tipped the girl's head back and opened up her mouth. After a few tries, he was able to grab the piece of candy and pull it out. Carson then moved the girl back onto the table. Faith stayed with the girl, watching her breathing while Carson cleaned up.
… … … …
Deb and Frank had come over to make sure that the children were alright. Beth saw Frank and ran to his arms.
"It will be alright." Frank said, trying to calm the little girl.
Jack came over and took his daughter.
"Carson will make her all better." Jack said. "Now can you tell me what happened?"
"Mr Rune and Uncle Joe had gotten us some hard candy." Little Beth said. "Wesley and Andrew came over and wanted some. Mr Rune said I didn't have to share if I didn't want to. Besides, I only had two pieces left and was saving that for Sarah and I for later. Andrew got mad and pushed Jessica. She fell forward and started breathing funny. I ran to get Uncle Dr Carson."
"You did very good." Jack said. "I am glad you shared with the girls and were thinking of your sister. Did you thank Uncle Joe and Rune?"
"We all did." Little Beth said. "Why do the boys have to be mean?"
"I don't know." Jack said. "Can you point out the two boys, so I know exactly who they are."
Beth pointed to Wesley Weaver and Andrew Blakely. Jack was not surprised that it was those boys causing trouble.
"You go back and play now." Jack said. "Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Wynn are going to take you home soon. But for now, you can play with the other girls."
"Thank you, Daddy." Little Beth said.
She pulled the small bag out of her pocket and gave it to Jack.
"Thank you." Jack said. "I will keep this safe for now."
Little Beth nodded and went back to Opal, Maggie and the other girls. Jack went back to Elizabeth.
"Who was it?"
"The girl was one of the new families." Jack said. "I don't know them, but the girl is Jessica. From what Beth said it was Wesley Weaver and Andrew Blakely who caused trouble. Apparently Joe and Rune had gotten a bag of hard candies for Beth to share with her friends. She wanted to save a piece for her and Sarah for later. The boys were mad they couldn't have any candy and pushed Jessica. It sounded like the candy got stuck in her throat. I am sure that Carson can handle it, but I am not happy with the boys."
Elizabeth motioned for Deb to come over. Abigail joined the group as well.
"Which of my troublemakers was it?" Deb asked, sitting down.
"Wesley Weaver and Andrew Blakely." Jack said.
"Not the two I would have pegged as the problem tonight." Deb said. "But it appears that Andrew is taking lessons from his brother."
Dan joined the group, since his wife was sitting for a bit.
"Speaking of troublemakers." Jack said. "Anyone seen Paul Blakely and Will Walker?"
"Not since they were running around earlier." Abigail said. "We are going to let the children be for another half an hour or so since it is only seven thirty. Then we are going to announce that parents need to take the children home. If parents have made arrangements, I have no problem with the parents staying. But we don't need children running around all night."
The adults sat and talked as the dance continued. It was only a few minutes later that Wynn came up and tapped Jack on the shoulder.
"Come with me." Wynn said.
"What is going on?" Jack said.
"I will explain on the way." Wynn said.
Jack immediately stood up and followed Wynn. Abigail looked at Frank who had just sat back down.
"Do you know what is going on?" Abigail asked.
"Not really." Frank said. "I was making sure that the kids were okay. I was going to head over to the infirmary, but when I stepped out, I saw Rune over there with them, so I was going to wait a bit. Why?"
"Wynn just came and got Jack." Abigail said.
"Oh." Frank said.
The group continued to talk and visit. It was about five minutes later that Cody came up and waited a moment as Abigail was speaking.
"Mom." Cody said.
"Yes." Abigail said, turning to face her son.
"Uncle Wynn and Jack want you to join them out back." Cody said.
"Do you know why?" Abigail asked.
"Dee and Sheriff Avery caught a bunch of boys smoking out back." Cody said. "I wasn't with them, I promise. I had just gone looking for Robert as I knew some of the boys were playing out back."
"Thank you for being honest." Frank said. "But if Robert is hanging with the wrong boys, we are going to have to rethink your friendship with him. Or at least spending time alone with him."
"Yes, Sir." Cody said. "Can I go home? Most of the boys are leaving because of this?"
"No." Frank said. "You can sit here for a little bit."
"Yes, Sir." Cody said, plopping down in a chair along the wall.
It didn't take long and Cody pulled a yo-yo from his pocket and started playing with it. Frank was going to say something when Deb shook her head.
"He is sitting here, quietly." Deb whispered.
"She is right." Dan said. "Pick your battles and this is not one."
Frank nodded.
… … … …
Wynn and Jack got to the back of the saloon and found Dee and Bill with more than a dozen boys lined up against the outer wall. It wasn't long and Joe had joined Wynn, Dee, Jack and Bill. Jack walked up and down the line of boys. He recognized many of them, but didn't know all their names. He also knew that some were older than school age and were working in the mine. Jack stopped and looked at two boys.
"Gabriel Montgomery." Jack said. "I am disappointed to find you in this group. James Roberts, the same goes for you. You both were taught better than this. What do you have to say for yourselves?"
"I wasn't smoking." Gabe said. "Honest, I wasn't. I was just talking to some of the guys."
"He wasn't." James said. "I mean it."
Jack looked between James and Gabe.
"Are you saying that just to not get in trouble?" Jack asked.
"Mountie Jack." James said. "He truly wasn't smoking. He has never joined us. I have offered and he has turned it down every time, saying he didn't want to get in trouble with his Ma."
"Gabe?" Jack said.
"I swear I wasn't smoking." Gabe said. "If I was, I would tell you. I promised I would never lie to you again and I meant it."
"Then I want you to go in and sit along the wall where Mrs Thornton is." Jack said. "You are to stay there until I get there and you don't talk to anyone. I mean it."
"Yes, Sir." Gabe said.
It was just as Gabe was walking toward the door that Abigail came out. She took one look around and shook her head.
"You deal with this." Abigail said. "I don't have the energy."
"That is fine." Bill said. "Just wanted you to be aware."
"I am aware." Abigail said.
Gabe slowly walked into the saloon with his head down. He knew that he was in trouble and didn't want to get into any more. As Gabe walked away, Jack turned to his fellow law enforcement. Abigail followed Gabe inside, not knowing the details and not caring at the moment. She knew that she would have to address it, but she didn't want to deal with it at the moment.
… … … …