"The law is the law."
"Mining's not everyone's choice of hobbies, it just happens to be mine."
Soup, well, it would be what he needed, for a while anyway. However, what he realized, having been a boy, young Weedy was in the market for an ally in the desert before, or instead of supper fight. One Speed knew they could not win.
"Now, as I remember I too liked the idea of dessert before supper, or even instead of supper. But you know we're up against a couple really tough women, and if Miss Steelgrave is along, well, we'll be outnumbered. But it surely ain't a bad idea." He agreed. "But my Ma always said that it just was not how things were done.
"Speed Guyer! Don't you be filling that boy's head with that nonsense!" Alice said as she came through the door carrying a bowl of steaming beef broth. "Maybe there won't be any dessert for either of you if you don't eat your supper. We'll eat the pie." That was a hollow threat, but Weedy didn't know that.
"Oh, they wouldn't do that, with them watching their figures and all, nah, they won't." Speed stated.
"Well then, we'll just see about that, won't we!" Alice retorted. Of course, all of this exchange was in good-natured fun.
"I'm not gonna ever get married anyway," Weedy declared firmly, but then looked up, startled, as Alice returned. "I, um..." He shrugged and glanced at Speed. Women! Always spoiling everything!
For a moment, he watched Alice, then looked at Speed again. "They wouldn't really, would they?" And then to Alice. "Mr. Speed said I could have his pieces, until he's feeling better!" Well, not really, but why let a good opportunity pass or good pie go to waste?
"I can help if you'd like," he offered. Never hurt to stay in good favor!
"I'm not gonna ever get married anyway," Weedy declared firmly, but then looked up, startled, as Alice returned. "I, um..." He shrugged and glanced at Speed. Women! Always spoiling everything!
"That would be your choice Weedy, Yes siree, that would be up to you." Speed said.
"And that would mean that you would have to do all your own cooking, and washing, and house cleaning, all of those things," Alice stated with a wry smile
For a moment, he watched Alice, then looked at Speed again. "They wouldn't really, would they?" And then to Alice. "Mr. Speed said I could have his pieces, until he's feeling better!" Well, not really, but why let a good opportunity pass or good pie go to waste?
"I did." Speed acknowledged even though he had not actually said as much. "Of course, that would be contingent on a clean supper plate, or would that be a bowl?"
"I can help if you'd like," he offered. Never hurt to stay in good favor!
"Well then, once the supper bowl is cleaned we'll see about those extra pieces, if that is alright with Miss Addy, of course," Alice responded, knowing that was not what Weedy wanted to hear, but there was just no way to leave Addy out of the equation.
Weedy's nose wrinkled up as he sighed. Sometimes Addy acted too much like a Ma, and was strict about some things, and finishing supper before dessert was one of them. On the other hand, she might be in a charitable mood, what with all that had happened that afternoon. He'd give it a try when the time was right.
Just then, Addy came into the room, carrying a tray that had a couple bowls of stew, and a plate of biscuits, with butter. "Thought you an' Weedy might want ta join th' marshal fer supper. I'll make sure th' doc gets his meal, an' like as not, he'll put in for th' night, he looks pretty wore out."
They'd all had a long afternoon, and a good meal would be just the thing to get them all drowsy.
"If he does, can I have his pie?" Weedy blurted out, realizing a bit late that this wasn't the right time!
Jonah was exhausted, more mentally than physically -- Speed's wounds had been horrific, at least from the standpoint of having to be properly treated, and Jonah was relieved that he'd managed to do what was necessary without causing more harm. But the whole time, he'd been nauseated and anxious, uncertain to any of this -- why he was bent on continuing the ruse, or staying here in Kalispell, or pursuing the hospital along with Miss Steelegrave...
Leah...
Shaking his head, he settled on the front porch with his bowl of stew, slowly working on it as he watched the pink-orange tinge on the horizon change to darkening blue.
Speed looked at everyone, Weedy, Alice, and of course, Addy. "Now, I'm a mind to surrender my piece of pie to young Weedy here, after he's had his bowl of stew. Otherwise, we'll both be in trouble young man, and I'm in no shape to take a lickin' from Alice or Addy!" Exhaustion was beginning to get him, but a bowl of broth might just be the ticket, he was thinking.
Alice went to him and touched his brow, "A bit warm, Speed, you need to get some of that broth down and rest. Of all of us, you've had the hardest day. And I can feed it to you. No bravado Mister Guyer, let me fluff those pillows and get you upright a bit more. This broth will surely make you feel better, and it's good for the blood you've lost. Don't worry about the pie, Addy will see to it, I'm sure."
Leah looked in on the group with Speed and smiled, "If you'll excuse me, I need to speak with Jonah." She said politely excusing herself, the room was small, to begin with.
She went through the house and out onto the porch where Jonah was eating his bowl of stew. "Mind if I join you? Crowded in there, and Aice said Speed's bow was a bit warm, doubt that's any call for worry at the moment. I thought we could chat."
She seated herself and began to eat the stew, which was, as expected, really good. Clara was doing a great job in Emeline's absence. When they would return remained a mystery. "I'm just not satified with the progress of the hospital, I mean, it seems as though it should be farther along, and yes I realize it's barely been two months, but they started with such a bang, I just thought. Oh, I don't know, I suppose I just expect too much."
She went through the house and out onto the porch where Jonah was eating his bowl of stew. "Mind if I join you? Crowded in there, and Aice said Speed's bow was a bit warm, doubt that's any call for worry at the moment. I thought we could chat."
"Of course." Sitting straighter, Jonah nodded to a free chair. He'd check on Speed before he retired for the night, although he was finding that he was feeling rejuvenated with Leah's arrival. "Did you get some stew?"
She seated herself and began to eat the stew, which was, as expected, really good. Clara was doing a great job in Emeline's absence. When they would return remained a mystery. "I'm just not satisfied with the progress of the hospital, I mean, it seems as though it should be farther along, and yes I realize it's barely been two months, but they started with such a bang, I just thought. Oh, I don't know, I suppose I just expect too much."
"Well, I have no idea how long it would take to build something that extensive," Jonah commented, "and I don't know who would, besides the men doing the work." He thought for a moment. "Maybe you could go out to the Pike place, I know the house isn't nearly as large as the hospital, but I'd think that those men could at least give you an idea on how long it would take, and could be trusted." After all, they had nothing to do with the hospital, and Pronto Pike wasn't an idiot, he'd hire reliable men. "I could ride out there with you in the morning, if you'd like."
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"The nice thing about pie," Addy chuckled, "is that there's always more where this came from!"
"Not if I eat it all!" Weedy laughed, but then started to dutifully eat his stew, almost as good as the pie!
"Speed, don't you fret none on that pie, once yer up an' around again, we'll get ya yer own pie!" She grinned, but noted that Speed was running out of speed quickly! "C'mon, Weedy, help me clean up in th' kitchen, an we'll get that pie."
"Yes, ma'am!" Weedy jumped up, looking at the marshal. "Don't forget about fishing!" he called before running after Addy.
"Pie just ain't what I need right now, but you can bet there'll come a time right soon when I'll be lookin' forward to that pie! Count on it." He said with a pained smile. "And Weedy, we'll be on the river before you know it and that's a promise!" He called after the boy, then slumped back.
"Here Speed, let's see how much of this you eat," Alice said. "That boy is surely looking forward to going fishing with you, be good for you too."
"Broth's good, none too hot or too cold, sounds like some sort of nursery rhyme. But it is just right." He said as she spoon-fed the beef broth to him.
It would be a while before Speed Guyer had his blood and his strength built back up again. It would be some time before he would be able to get back to the job, or up to the mine consistently. Those were the simple facts, and she was hoping that the Pikes would be back soon.
With the bowl empty and Speed almost asleep, Alice left the bedside and went to the kitchen where Addy and Weedy were eating their pie. "I want to get him out to the ranch as soon as Jonah says he can travel, and I'm hoping maybe we could put him in your wagon, or maybe I could rent a backboard, I don't know, but he needs to be away from all the distractions here in town."