Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Thank ya, Miz Clara." Addy found it a bit odd that the (very) young woman was married and with child, but she knew that Clara was very serious and responsible. "There's coffee already made, an' I think we c'n carry everything. I'll send Weedy back with th' dishes in th' mornin', if that's agreeable?"
She agreed with Leah that there was no need for Clara to leave the business. "There's no need ta leave yer customers, Miz Clara, we c'n manage, unless yer wantin' ta see Speed, but he's sleepin' now." She smiled. "I heard ya helped there at th' Marshal's office. That was real good of ya."
"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."
"Mister Conroy." Jonah shook the man's hand firmly, finding yet more reasons to be astounded at the quality of people in the region here, how most were genuine and hard-working, and annoyingly good! "I assure you, Alice will be safe here, and we'll get Speed back on his feet as quickly as possible."
As the man and his daughter walked out, Jonah set about cleaning up the room, just a matter of gathering some bandages and wiping up some of the mess, until Mrs. Armentrout could do a more thorough job in the morning.
Alice walked in, seeing Jonah cleaning up, "Oh I can help with that, you should get yourself another cup of coffee." She suggested. "I expect the girls will be back shortly and we can all eat." She said. "My Pa and Speed go back a long way like I said before. He'll worry a lot, but try not to show it. Hard having him laying there like this, something I never thought I'd see."
She fell silent, he had come so close to death, and she, a widow before they ever married. Though realistically, she would not be a widow, just a grieving fiance. But he was not dead, and he was not going to die either. They had plans, a lot of plans for their future, what with the mines and all, which included his business, and the Town Marshal's job. That gave her pause.
"So, about that coffee Jonah, better get it while it's hot, instead of cold like it is." She offered suddenly.
"There's no need ta leave yer customers, Miz Clara, we c'n manage, unless yer wantin' ta see Speed, but he's sleepin' now." She smiled. "I heard ya helped there at th' Marshal's office. That was real good of ya."
"Here Clara," Leah said as she reached into her reticule and took out a half eagle, which she handed to Clara, "Should cover five suppers, the stew juice, and a little extra." Then she hoisted the pot of stew which was manageable and smelled delightful. This should fill the bill for them and the liquid for Speed.
"Thank ya, Miz Clara," said Addy, "There's coffee already made, an' I think we c'n carry everything. I'll send Weedy back with th' dishes in th' mornin', if that's agreeable?"
"Very well then, if you can handle it. No hurry on the return of the dishes either," Clara nodded.
"There's no need ta leave yer customers, Miz Clara, we c'n manage, unless yer wantin' ta see Speed, but he's sleepin' now." She smiled. "I heard ya helped there at th' Marshal's office. That was real good of ya."
"It was the least I could do, this town needs law and order and the marshal is a good man," Clara replied.
"Here Clara," Leah said as she reached into her reticule and took out a half eagle, which she handed to Clara, "Should cover five suppers, the stew juice, and a little extra."
"It more than covers it, especially since I had made the offer of the broth being on the house," Clara pointed out but pocketed the coin as long as it was already given.
"Yes, yes, of course." Jonah wasn't going to argue with Alice, although, as much as he didn't like cleaning up, he didn't want to leave it all to her. But he suspected she needed the work as a distraction from all that was going on, so he relented.
"I'll be in the kitchen, if you need anything. I'll see that there's hot water if you need it, and I can set things out for supper." 'Women's' work, but it wouldn't kill him to do it, and he was famished, as, likely, everyone was, and this would expedite things. And, if Miss Leah should come back with Addy, he didn't want her to think...well, something!
"There's not much of a mess on the floor, but a wet rag would be of help." Alice said as she began picking up the things discarded on the floor. And blood was relegated to just under where Speed's wounds were, and that would make it easier for her to clean up.
Her man's blood.
She exhaled and then went about what needed to be done. The girls, if Leah came back with Addy and Weedy, should be back shortly as well, so she wanted to have this cleaned up before that happened.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Well, now, Miz Clara, that is kind of ya," Addy said with a nod, "but ya oughta be paid fer yer fine eats, an' I reckon th' city'll be coverin' it anyway." She chuckled, then added, "Use it ta do a good turn for someone that needs it, if ya want." She suspected that Clare did that anyway, on occasion, so it was good for her to be compensated for her kindness.
"This'll surely help Speed get back on his feet, we thank ya." She really was famished, now that she had a chance to think about it, and the wonderful aromas made her stomach growl. "Best be gettin' this back while this is hot. Thank ya, Miz Clara. Come on by if ya want." She grinned. "I delivered a baby just taday, so I know 'bout such things!"
With a chuckle, she started leading the little group, laden with the food, back to the doctor's place.
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Oh, now, don't be goin' gettin' any notions!" Stopping, Addy turned to look back at Clara with a grin. "Was Mrs. Sullivan, she was workin' on her latest young'n at th' Doc's place when he was summoned ta help Speed...I stayed on ta help...watch, more like! Easy as pie!"
After all, childbirth was a natural thing, women had been doing it since the beginning of time, so as long as nothing went wrong, it was a piece of cake, right?
"I'd recommend goin' to th' Doc when th' time comes, or findin' onna them older ladies that has plenty'a little ones an' lot's'a practice! Hopefully, Miz Emeline'll be back by then." She grinned. "'Couse, I do have some experience deliverin' mules'n such!"