Oh, the cleverness of me!
Adelaide Chappel / Posted July 22, 2020
He was up so suddenly that it startled her, and Addy skittered back, although when Jay stood and wobbled, she moved in to support him, but then it quickly became evident that he had a mission that she didn't want to be part of!
Standing back, she kept an eye on him until he was outside, and even then, she just turned her back so he could have his privacy but she would hear if he fell. And when it was evident that he was done with his business, she turned and stepped out to stand beside him.
"Ya all right?" she asked, giving him a chance to gather his wits and decide how he was feeling. "How's that wound feelin'? I'll take a look at it in a minute. Got some stew keepin' warm if you've a mind ta eat, too." For now, she'd let him sit in the snow, unless he started shivering.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted July 26, 2020
He had his chin on his knees and his bottom was soaking wet from sitting in the snow. The coolness felt good though.
Jay turned his head a little to see her but never lifted it off his knees because he didn't have the energy. He was feverish and sick and all from a tiny little bullet. "Like a pile of horse shit." He commented because at this stage he wasn't sure any more whether he'd actually recover. His mind was foggy to blend out the pain.
Her offer of food was generous and Jay would have jumped on it any other time. Right no he was not hungry, nor would anything stay down.
He probably deserved what was coming to him now. Making the acquaintance of a lovely lady and then dying before he could actually enjoy any of it. What else did a bank robber deserve?
His thoughts became dark and he closed his eyes.
About 10 minutes later he had passed out and was sprawled out in the snow like he was some load, that had fallen of one of Abbys carriages.
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Adelaide Chappel / Posted July 26, 2020
For the moment, she let him be, he still had a fever, and if he wasn't going to be taking any tea, the snow at least would cool him down. But only a few minutes...
When she went to fetch him in , he was unconscious, and she sighed, shaking her head. "Why do men gotta be so stubborn?"
Buster, who had come out to help, along with his new girlfriend, mewed, and she laughed. "Got that right!"
Crouching down, she grabbed Jay under the arms and started towing him toward the door. It was slow going, and it didn't help none that the cats decided to go along for the ride and climbed up on Jay's legs.
"Worthless critters!" Addy shook her head, crouching down for more leverage, but that wasn't working. "Stay here, big fella." She patted Jay on the arm, then went inside to get a blanket. Kneeling beside the man, she shooed the cats away, then shoved him over to the side, pushed the blanket under him, rolled him toward her and pulled half of the blanket out the other side, so he was now laying on it. That would give her more to hold onto, and she could stand a bit straighter as she dragged him.
After that, it wasn't long before she had him back in her room, although for now, on the blanket on the floor would have to do...she didn't think she could get him on the bed!
"So, lemme look at that." She knelt beside him again and moved him so she could check on the wound, redress it and change the bandage.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted August 2, 2020
He was in and out of consciousness during that wild bumpy ride back but as soon as he was inside Jay passed out again.
The whole time the fever caused him to babble seemingly stupid stuff about 'an old lady', some job....somebody called Thomas and a girl named Ida.
It wasn't until late that evening that Jay stirred, groaned and then opened his eyes.
He groaned loudly and had a hard time focusing but when he turned his eyes on the fire in the oven, he could see her outline.
"You're still here?" He croaked, finally able to actually talk sense again.
With a bit of effort he sat up but instantly regretted it. Most of his body was bruised in one way or another and had little scrapes and the wound in his side hurt much more than it had two days ago...or however long it had been. Placing both hands on the bedframe, he asked. "How long have I been out? And where's my shirt?"
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Adelaide Chappel / Posted August 3, 2020
"You're still here?"
With chores finished for now, Addy was putzing in her room, making some coffee before she headed to the Lickskillet to grab some stew for supper. She'd occasionally checked on Jay, happy to see he was still breathing, and it seemed that his fever was improving, so hopefully rest would aid his healing...then she would have to force feed him, if she had to, because his body needed nutrition.
When she heard him mutter at her, she turned to face him, smiling. "Well, I live her, so I reckon I'm gonna be here a time."
Moving closer, she crouched beside him and reached to feel his forehead.
"How long have I been out? And where's my shirt?"
"Shirt is in th' peg over there," she explained, "all cleaned up. An' ya been sleepin' most th' day. Cats don't mind, they like ta sleep, an' decided yer nice an' soft." She laughed, then asked, "So, ya feelin' Human again?"
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted August 8, 2020
His body protested in every possible way when he sat up. It instantly made him dizzy but he needed to wake up and move a bit. His whole body was sore from laying around but the wound was the worst. It was inflamed and he had to press his hand against it in order to scoot to the corner of the bed and let his bare feet hang over the edge.
"Yeah....and not in a good way."
His face was still too warm and his body covered in old sweat. Why Addy was so kind to get close he didn't know but he enjoyed the touch of her hand.
Briefly he reached for it and squeezed it
"Thank you, Addy. For taking care of me...I'm a stranger to you."
Jay blinked a few times, briefly looked at the bandage that was smeared with something....not blood though, which was calming.
"The cats?" He wiped his hand over his face. "Oh...the little kitten...where is she? Have you named her?"
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Adelaide Chappel / Posted August 9, 2020
"Thank you, Addy. For taking care of me...I'm a stranger to you."
Addy shrugged and chuckled. "We're all strangers when we meet." The Tao of Addy, what she lived by, or tried to when she could. "One day you can do th' same fer someone."
"The cats?" He wiped his hand over his face. "Oh...the little kitten...where is she? Have you named her?"
Cats was all snuggled up with ya just a time ago," Addy explained, "out in th' barn huntin', no doubt. That little kitten thinks Buster's her big brother." She laughed. "Been callin' her 'Skeeter', just 'cause she seems like a little mosquiteer, flittin' around an' into everything. Are ya feelin' up ta some food?"
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted August 12, 2020
"Skeeter?" He asked immitating her American accent. That sounded alright. A bit strange maybe but the cat found her name. "Skeeter!" He called for the kitten but nothing happened.
"I'm not sure if I can eat anything but I'm thirsty."
At least he was awake now and not in a heated feaver dream anymore.....oh thinking of that.
"Did I say anything in my sleep?" He asked and realised how weird that sounded. "I've been told I talk in my sleep. And don't make much sense...just some wild imagination."
Hopefully he hadn't babbled out the truth.
Slowly he tried to get to his feet holding on to the bed frame and shelf next to it. But he felt so weak that he couldn't stand there long. His gaze darkened. This wasn't good. Especially not if he needed to make a fast get away. Suddenly the kitten and the older cat purred around his feet and the walked to Addy. It was a cute sight.
Oh, the cleverness of me!
Adelaide Chappel / Posted August 13, 2020
Addy poured Jay some water, keeping a close eye on him as he wobbled a little. Hopefully, water and food would help with that after some time, but she wasn't going to force him to eat.
"Yeah, Skeeter, 'cause when she gets goin', she flits all over just like a skeeter." Addy grinned, handing him the cup of water. "He an' Buster are out skeetin' right now!"
"Did I say anything in my sleep?" He asked and realised how weird that sounded. "I've been told I talk in my sleep. And don't make much sense...just some wild imagination."
'Well, ya were mumblin' on somethin'...'bout a job?" She hadn't much paid attention to the exact ramblings, figuring they were caused by the fever. "Ya mentioned some folks...a old lady an' Thomas, an'...another gal...Irene, somethin' like that?" She shrugged. "Somethin' 'bout shootin' an' not..."
It really hadn't made much sense, what she recalled, anyway.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
Posted August 14, 2020
His own words repeated by Addy made him tense up a great deal. Shootin...Thomas...job. If she was a regular newspaper reader these words would be enough to raise suspicion....and then if she started digging...oh boy.
Right now Addy didn't seem concerned though.
So he drank her water with a dark scowl on his face about his own transgressions while feverish.
"No food just yet....gotta move a little."
He was worried now though. Was the sheriff already on the way, maybe?
"I must have been habing a wild dream....probably because of that darn bullet. But it's getting better, I think. That stinky stuff you smeared on the bandage seems to be helping."
He motioned to the gooey salve.
"Secret recipe?"
Any distraction would be good now.
"If it gets better like this, I'll be on my way tomorrow or the day after. No need to take up your bed and hospitality for too long."
He looked at her wondering whether he's see worry or relief in her eyes.
Posted August 15, 2020
His own words repeated by Addy made him tense up a great deal. Shootin...Thomas...job. If she was a regular newspaper reader these words would be enough to raise suspicion....and then if she started digging...oh boy.
Right now Addy didn't seem concerned though.
So he drank her water with a dark scowl on his face about his own transgressions while feverish.
"No food just yet....gotta move a little."
He was worried now though. Was the sheriff already on the way, maybe?
"I must have been habing a wild dream....probably because of that darn bullet. But it's getting better, I think. That stinky stuff you smeared on the bandage seems to be helping."
He motioned to the gooey salve.
"Secret recipe?"
Any distraction would be good now.
"If it gets better like this, I'll be on my way tomorrow or the day after. No need to take up your bed and hospitality for too long."
He looked at her wondering whether he's see worry or relief in her eyes.