Posted February 21, 2019
Hannah got Addy a cup of coffee, nodding as both she and Speed filled her in on what. She also poured herself a fresh cup and settled in the chair behind the larger of the two desks. She needed a few details and then would fill them in on what she knew. Grabbing paper and pencil from the desk, she wrote the date and time at the top. Later, she would put it on the incident forms that the Marshal preferred they use.
"That is unusual behavior even for an old or sick animal," Hannah said as she wrote out their names on the paper. "Okay, let me get some basic information from you both..."
"About how far were you from Kalispell when the attack happened?"
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted February 22, 2019
"Was the main road to Whitefish," Addy explained, "'bout two, two an' a half miles out, just past where old Carver had his mill. Still have my wagon out there with some supplies fer th' Doc...Ill head back out in th' mornin'." With luck, she might catch a couple hours sleep, but it wasn't too likely.
Sighing, she glanced at Speed, then back to Hannah. "Should git him over to th' Doc anyway, got knocked in th' head pretty good." She didn't mention that her own ribs were aching, she'd had worse, and was as eager to see a doctor as Speed was!
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted February 22, 2019
The coffee was hot and good, though his head did throb some, at least it wasn’t a bloody mess. “The Doc can wait if you want to head on back for your wagon. I mean no sense letting it set out there for whoever to have their way with it.” There were scavengers of all kinds, white, animal, Indian, whoever might stumble upon it. “Finish this coffee I’m ready to go.”
Posted February 24, 2019
Hannah finished writing up the information and leaned back. One long, slender finger tapped her coffee cup for a moment. "Head injuries shouldn't be messed with, Mr. Guyer. If Addy will wait for shift change, I can go back with her. That way she can get some sleep."
She smiled a bit then, "Truthfully, although it might be an useless gesture, I'd like to see if there's any tracks. Maybe compare them to those at some other places the bear has raided."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted March 1, 2019
"Best ta wait until daylight," Addy muttered wearily, then took a sip of the coffee. "That'd give ya time ta have th' Doc look ya over," she addressed Speed, "an' give that bear plenty'a time ta nibble on my horse an' be on his way."
While this might be a good opportunity to actually confront the creature, doing that in the dark of night just wasn't wise.
Then she looked at Hannah. "An' maybe you can wrap my ribs for me...they're a mite sore."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted March 1, 2019
"Best ta wait until daylight," Addy muttered wearily, then took a sip of the coffee. "That'd give ya time ta have th' Doc look ya over," she addressed Speed, "an' give that bear plenty'a time ta nibble on my horse an' be on his way."
“I’m okay, nothing that’s any too serious. Had worse during the war and making my way west after.” Gus responded. It was sore, but it was just a whack to the head, though he’d yield to Addy’s suggestion, and, maybe the Doc would find something after all, though he doubted it. “I’ll go if it puts you at ease. Be a chance to meet the man at any rate.”
While this might be a good opportunity to actually confront the creature, doing that in the dark of night just wasn't wise.
Then she looked at Hannah. "An' maybe you can wrap my ribs for me...they're a mite sore."
Posted March 3, 2019
"Absolutely, if Mr. Guyer would be so kind as to watch the desk for a bit?" Hannah asked with a raised eyebrow.
Hannah then escorted Addy to the backroom and let her seat herself on the bunk. Once she had disrobed as far as was necessary, the deputy made short work of binding up the sore ribs. Hannah was no stranger to having to tape up cracked, broken, and bruised ribcages. Kalispell was not as rough as it had been even five years previously, but it still saw its share of fights.
Once she had done as much as she could for Addy, she led the way back to the main room. Crossing to a cabinet near the stove, she pulled down a small box and dumped part of its contents onto a handkerchief which she then knotted. "Addy, this is willow bark. Make yourself a cup of tea with it. It will help a little with the pain or so I've been told."
Hannah then looked from Addy to Guyer, "Wouldn't hurt your sore head none either," she stated. "Do you want me to fetch the doc while you both rest here for a little bit?"
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted March 3, 2019
"Much obliged," Addy said to Hannah once her ribs were bound. Likely a couple were cracked, but nothing that was going to cause trouble, and certainly nothing that needed more than wrapping. Still, she wouldn't be surprised if Speed double-crossed her once the doctor got here.
"Willow tea sounds good," she added, heading toward the stove. "Not as good as coffee, but it'll most likely help with th' aches an' pains." Could be so much worse, though, in so many ways.
"Do you want me to fetch the doc while you both rest here for a little bit?"
"May as well." Addy glanced at Speed and shrugged, then she turned her attention back to Hannah. "Got ta let him know his shipment's gonna be late anyway."
"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Posted March 4, 2019
"Absolutely, if Mr. Guyer would be so kind as to watch the desk for a bit?" Hannah asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Be my pleasure Deputy. I believe I can do that.” Speed responded with a grin. Not that he expected anyone else o come in, or anything else happening at this hour that would require the law.
Hannah then escorted Addy to the backroom and let her seat herself on the bunk. Once she had disrobed as far as was necessary, the deputy made short work of binding up the sore ribs. Hannah was no stranger to having to tape up cracked, broken, and bruised ribcages. Kalispell was not as rough as it had been even five years previously, but it still saw its share of fights.
Once she had done as much as she could for Addy, she led the way back to the main room. Crossing to a cabinet near the stove, she pulled down a small box and dumped part of its contents onto a handkerchief which she then knotted. "Addy, this is willow bark. Make yourself a cup of tea with it. It will help a little with the pain or so I've been told."
Hannah then looked from Addy to Guyer, "Wouldn't hurt your sore head none either," she stated. "Do you want me to fetch the doc while you both rest here for a little bit?"
“Anything that would help, not that it’s all that sore for the moment, anyway.” Well, it did smart some, but some of that pain had ebbed away as he thought it might, so he was less concerned. “If I might ask, how is it I don’t see the Marshal? Is there a problem?” He was not opposed to a female wearing the badge, no, not at all, he was genuinely curious about the situation.
Posted March 5, 2019
"We trade the night shift between the two of us," Hannah replied as she reached for her hat and gunbelt. "It's my week for nights. I'll be back with the doc in just a little bit."
With those words, Hannah headed out the door to fetch the doctor. It would not hurt for him to look at both Mr. Guyer and Addy. Hannah was pretty competent with basic first aid and she had not felt any indication of actual broken ribs on the other woman. However, better safe than sorry as most would say.
"Lock the door behind me," Hannah added as she headed out into the night.
=== A Little While Later ===
Despite the hour, it had not taken long for the doctor to respond to her request for help. Only a few minutes had passed when Hannah rapped on the door to the marshal's office, "Mr. Guyer, Addy - it's Hannah with the doc. Let us in please."