Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Apple an' cherry's good," Addy confirmed, much to Weedy's delight. "An' yeah, it's a good idea ta just strain th' stew. Gonna need enough fer th' Doc, Miss Leah, Weedy..." She glanced at Leah. "What about them men follow you around? We need some fer them, too?"
Addy wasn't sure how that worked, but the men would need food, too, but then, if Leah wasn't planning to stay at the doctor's house -- and she really had no reason to -- then that would be different.
"Yer plannin' on stayin'?" she asked Leah. "Have us a sleepover?" She chuckled, but then added, "Don't have to, but I'd not object."
"Me neither!" Weedy piped up, grinning.
"Either," Addy corrected.
"Not broth per se but I can siphon most of the solids from the stew and that would make a most tasty broth I believe. And since it's for the marshal, it will be on the house. Least I can do for the man," Clara declared.
"Oh, that sounds wonderful!" Leah exclaimed, and it did. it seemed to her that most broths had little flavor, but siphoned off of a stew would give it real flavor, and it would be a hearty stock. "Thank you, so much, Clara. I believe that it will be perfect."
"Apple an' cherry's good," Addy confirmed, much to Weedy's delight. "An' yeah, it's a good idea ta just strain th' stew. Gonna need enough fer th' Doc, Miss Leah, Weedy..." She glanced at Leah. "What about them men follow you around? We need some fer them, too?"
"They pretty much take care of themselves, but I'll see who's there and send them up one at a time, or together, still early yet." She responded. There was the question of Doc Gilchrest too, she had heard what he had done to help Danforth with Speed.
"Yer plannin' on stayin'?" she asked Leah. "Have us a sleepover?" She chuckled, but then added, "Don't have to, but I'd not object."
"I hadn't, but we could do just that, so long as the men in the house were alright with that. Maybe give comfort to Alice as well." The idea of spending the night at Jonah's home was actually a grand idea. And a great stress reliever for all of them especially Alice and Jonah.
"Me neither!" Weedy piped up, grinning.
"Either," Addy corrected.
"Well then, that's one of the two who would have a say in the matter." She said, making Weedy smile, "And yes, proper English will get a young gentleman, such as yourself, a long way in this world, Mater Weedy. A long way." She paused, "I'll run on home and collect a nightshirt and robe, and I'll join you there as quickly as possible. You can manage all of the food alright?"
"Of course such things catch you by surprise, but so much can...a heart or brain attack, a fall from a horse, a wild animal attack..." Jonah frowned and shook his head...no need to be so morose. "My point being, anything can happen any time to anyone. Granted, a lawman puts himself at greater risk."
"Yes, life out here is sudden, and well, I knew the risk when he asked me to marry him." She stated quietly. "We, Speed, my father, and I, just bought some mining property and my hope was that Speed would spend more time there than in town, though one cannot be the Town Marshal on a mining claim."
Then he realized that Alice hadn't been there, hadn't seen what had happened after. "That deputy...Miss McCrory, was there, Quentin Cantrell, some other men...they are no doubt responsible for Speed's survival...I'm certain their presence prevented further attack, and they kept him from bleeding more than he did."
"Oh, I didn't know about that. Fast reactions to these sorts of things can be the difference... the difference," She stopped, caught up in her emotions which had been just beneath the surface.
The outcome would certainly have been different had Speed been alone. "And they were after the man before we even brought Speed here, so not to worry, he is being hunted."
Alice nodded, unable to speak for the moment, when the front door opened and, Amos Conroy walked in. "Hullo? Doc? You about?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so blunt." He hadn't thought about how Alice would feel, realizing how close Speed had come to death now that he was out of imminent danger. But, at least, it had worked out so far, and he was glad that Alice hadn't had to be there in that initial confusion.
"Hullo? Doc? You about?"
Jonah jumped at the call, reaching for the shotgun that Addy had left, but as he peered into the hallway and saw who was there, he relaxed and smiled.
"Mr. Conroy, isn't it?" He'd seen the man around, had heard about him and knew that he was somehow related to Speed, and maybe Alice as well. "Please, come in, Miss Fletcher is here, with Marshal Guyer, who is sleeping."
"Yes sir, that'd be me. How's the Marshal doin'? Heard it was bad," Amos asked, looking at the gaunt face of the sleeping man. "Thank ya fer whot cha done for him."
"Daughter? How ya holdin' up?" He asked Alice.
"I'm fine Pa, a bit worn down, but otherwise I'm okay. And James? How's he?" Alice responded, and the strain was beginning to show. "He and I had words between us, and Addy and Leah. Case Steelgrave was here, told Speed he didn't do it, and I believe him, even if he's a no-account. The man come to Speed at some risk I suppose, wasn't it Doc?" She knew he was bad,it all she had ever heard connected to Case Steelgrave. He impressed her, but she could also see the evil in the man, it just shone through.
"Wall, if thet don't beat all! I'll not be stayin', man needs his rest an' you could use some yer own self. You need anything?" He asked, "Figger you'll be stayin'. Oh, an' young James, he's alright, I reckon."
"I'll be fine Pa. Not to worry. He'll be fine too, just gonna take time." She replied, "Right Jonah?"
"I have every reason to believe Speed will be fine," Jonah assured the man, "especially with such a wonderful nurse, and something to look forward to." He smiled, knowing that if the will of a man's loved ones had anything to do with it, all would be well.
"Miss Chappel will be staying the night as well," he continued, "so that there will be another female here, and Mrs. Armentrout is here early."
There would be plenty of help so that everyone could get some decent sleep, and, God forbid, should an emergency require his attention during the night, he could leave without worrying. He really needed a couple of nurses!
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Well then, that's one of the two who would have a say in the matter." She said, making Weedy smile, "And yes, proper English will get a young gentleman, such as yourself, a long way in this world, Mater Weedy. A long way." She paused, "I'll run on home and collect a nightshirt and robe, and I'll join you there as quickly as possible. You can manage all of the food alright?"
"Yes'm." Addy nodded and gave Weedy a playful nudge. "Got this little scamp ta carry th' pies! So long's he don't fall face-first inta one!"
Weedy rolled his eyes and sighed. "I'm not going to fall." Although...it would be a good way to get a pie all to himself, if he did it right!
"We'll be fine," Addy gave Leah a quick hug, "see ya back at th' doc's place." She then glanced at Clara. "Ya need any help?"
Clara let them discuss their plans for the evening, she had it down pat what they wanted to take along as far as food supplies. She did have one suggestion though.
"What about coffee? I could bring along a pot of coffee if you wish?"
"I will go get everything prepared then. I honestly could use somebody helping me getting it there though if one of you wouldn't mind?' she had a request too.
"You see Pa, everything is going to be just fine. Speed is healing, and I intend to get some sleep as well, you needn't worry." Alice said, perhaps a bit firmer that she might have otherwise. "My Pa and Speed go back to the war. Speed saved his life, so he is more concerned than one would think."
"Wall yeah, 'spose I am, but I figger you an' the Doc here got ever'thing under control. I'll be hedin' out to the ranch, be in sometime tammra see how things 'er goin'." Amos announced. "Doc, a pleasure." He extended his hand. Alice smiled, it was how the man was and he was genuine, for all his faults.
"I'll walk you out," Alice said putting her arm through his and starting him for the door. They stepped onto the porch where she said, suddenly, "I almost lost him, Pa."
"But'cha didn't, girl. That's whot ya need ta be thinkin', ain't no almost about it. The Good Lord was awatchin' over him. He'll pull through jest fine, don' chew worry none!" Amos told her. "I'll be goin' now. You git chur'self some rest. It'll all work out." They unhooked arms and he stepped off the porch, took up the reins of his ground hitched horse, and stepped aboard. Without another word, he turned the animal and rode off.
"I can most certainly help. I can manage to carry the stew if you like. It's not that far, really. There's no need to leave your business, Clara, you'll have customers for supper. I'm sure we can manage." Leah said. Though it certainly was not her place to say anything about the woman leaving the cafe. As far as the coffee went, she would leave that to Addy to comment on.
In fact, she and Addy could switch off carrying what was sure to be a heavy pot, if necessary. Leah liked to think she was not weak, which was not always the case for her. But she was stubborn. which should count for something, or, at least she thought so.