Barnabas Pike / Posted August 16, 2019
Pulling on his boots had been painful, but he didn’t feel the ripping of any of the stitches, so that was a plus, the Doc had done a good job, good as any that he’d ever had, and there’d been some. He pulled on his coat , noting that the holes, front and back had been mended. As he strapped on his gun belts he noted that for now, everything he did would cause pain, some more than others.
“”Who patched ma coat? You?” He asked.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Posted August 17, 2019
"Can'tcha tell by how crooked it is?" Addy grinned, then nodded, grabbing her hat and plopping it on her head. "Tried cleanin' th' blood as best I could, too, but don't blame me if ya bust a seam!"
Laughing, she headed for the door to walk with him to the boarding house. "Where ya normally board yer horse? Yer welcome ta leave him here, or I can get him where he belongs in th' mornin'." He'd likely want his mount close...she knew she was uncomfortable when her horse wasn't handy...never knew when you'd need it and there wasn't time to go looking for it.
Posted August 18, 2019
Pronto laughed, the quaking of his body from the laughter did not go unnoticed by his shoulder stopping it quickly enough. "Reckon laughing ain't somethin I need to do much of fer a spell." He touched the repair work. "Feels jest fine ta me. Done yerself proud, she's closed up right good."
They moved out of the bar walking slowly toward the street. "Where ya normally board yer horse? Yer welcome ta leave him here, or I can get him where he belongs in th' mornin'."
" I'm paid up at the one on Saint Regis Square, so if yer a mind to take him there I'd be abliged. Doubt I'll be ridin' anywhere any too soon." He responded with a crooked grin. "Dang sure wish'd I'd'a seen the shooter sos I'd know who ta look fer. "spose I cain't have ever'thing. I'm alive, he oughtta be a countin' the days, that is lest he believes me dead."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Adelaide Chappel / Posted August 22, 2019
"Well, with luck, he wasn't shootin' at you specific, but more just a shadow, if that makes sense?" Maybe the shooter was shooting at a figure he'd seen getting too close and didn't have an actual name or fact to him...that would keep Pronto relatively safe.
"I'll get yer horse over in th' mornin', but I won't promise ya that he won't get spoilt an' come wanderin' back here." Addy grinned. "Leastways you'll know where ta look when he ain't where ya expected him ta be!"
Posted August 22, 2019
Pronto laughed at the idea a man shot at a shadow, or at anything but what he aimed at. Even if the aim was faulty, whoever fired the shot meant to kill him. "You jest go on believin' that, Addy. Me, I'll jest sorta keep my eyes peeled." A man couldn't be too safe.
"Now, far as ma horse goes, he'll do what he's a mind to, so go real easy on the oats. Probably do him good to laze about 'til I'm right." He added, knowing he'd be short on getting about for at least a few more days, from experience. At least he had one gun hand he could count on. Like a man once said, 'if you wear two guns, you best be just as good with either.' So far, so good.
"Got to thank ya Addy, not sure whot would'a happened had you not takin' me in." He added as they reached the boarding house.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
Adelaide Chappel / Posted August 25, 2019
"You'd'a laid on th' barn floor, bleedin' an' moanin'," she answered with a straight face, "an' been a huge disconvenience ta step around. Like as not, would'a stunk th' place up after a time, too." She grinned. "No siree, was in my own best interest, an' icin' on th' cake is yer beholdin' ta me!"
Of course, she was teasing, she'd do the same for just about anyone, it was just the right thing to do, helping a body in need, and believe that someone would be there to help you when your time came, and pray it didn't.
Although it wasn't far, going was a bit slow, but the pair made it unscathed to the boarding house, and Addy stopped at the bottom of the steps, tipping her hat to the man. "Stay outta th' path'a bullets, all right? Good evening, Mister Pike." She shot him a teasing grin.
Barnabas Pike / Posted August 27, 2019
"You'd'a laid on th' barn floor, bleedin' an' moanin'," she answered with a straight face, "an' been a huge disconvenience ta step around. Like as not, would'a stunk th' place up after a time, too." She grinned. "No siree, was in my own best interest, an' icin' on th' cake is yer beholdin' ta me!"
Be a sorry end for any man, much less me.” He responded, which forced a wide grin. “An’ there ain’t no bigger truth than Pronto Pike is beholdin’ to ya. An’ glad of it! You been a real friend, Addy.”
Although it wasn't far, going was a bit slow, but the pair made it unscathed to the boarding house, and Addy stopped at the bottom of the steps, tipping her hat to the man. "Stay outta th' path'a bullets, all right? Good evening, Mister Pike." She shot him a teasing grin.
“I’ll be fer doin’ ma best at thet you can surely trust. But then I figger there’s a debt what needs repayin’ and I’ll be seein’ that done here real soon. Got me a couple of ideas on all a this.” He mused. “A good evenin’ to you too, Miss Addy, and you feel free ta call on me any time fer anything, ya hear.”
He waited a long moment watching her walk away, knowing he’d likely as not be dead if it weren’t for her, her and the Doc. He’d need to settle up with the man for the treatment, but that could wait until he was better able to get about.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Linda Everson stood looking at the bedraggled man as he entered the boarding house. She could see that he was clean, but somewhat pale. This arm in the makeshift sling, a hole in the shoulder of his once white canvas coat. The staining has been attacked, yet remained. "Mister Pike, it is good to see you, but not in this condition. Shall I send for the Doctor?"
"No, I've received his services already, thank you just the same." He responded with a smile. "Someone out there don't care much for the likes of me."
"That would be evident Mister Pike. I'll help you up to your room." She offered. "And don't you deny me this opportunity to lend a hand." She stated firmly. "There's something you need to know and we can talk as we go upstairs." she took his elbow and led the way.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~
Posted September 26, 2019
As they started up the stairs Missus Everson gripped his good arm gently, but firmly. "Now I'm not no invalid, Ma'am, though I do appreciate you holdin' me steady."
"Mister Pike, you'll not be the first, nor the last man with a gunshot wound that I tend to." She responded crisply. "I take it you know who did this?"
"Not rightly, Ma'am, but I've a good notion who he works for. Followed Case Steelgrave off the trail some distance, not no where near Whitefish when this jasper up and shot me clean through. Horse brung me back and Miss Addy Chapple been seein' to me since." He paused to catch his breath, "Steelgrave thinks he's got off easy, but far as I'm concerned this is jest a deelay in his comeuppance."
"First thing is to get your full strength back, and I'll see to that." She stated as they reached the landing. "You rest easy," She said as she unlocked his door for him. "Have you eaten? Nevermind, I'll have some broth up here. You get yourself out of those clothes and into fresh, and then into that bed."
Pronto smiled and said "Yes 'um."