"You know you can't blame yourself for any of this," Jonah commented, although he knew that Leah was smart enough to know that anything her family did was of their own choice, and she wasn't responsible for any of it.
"Yes, Jonah, I understand that it's just, you know, it's just how I feel about it. And I need to get past it." She agreed as she got to her feet and started after him. "I guess everything will work out for the best, I need to see what I can do to help here."
"Ah, Doc, ya got any blankets an' pillows?" Addy asked, "we're workin' on sleepin' arrangements...Miss Alice is gonna watch Speed, me an' Weedy'er stayin', too, so you won't gotta worry." She glanced at Leah. "Ya gonna stay th' night, too? Might hafta sleep on th' floor, but..."
"Yes, yes, of course, this has just been a day, but I'd like that, staying the night." Leah accepted the offer to spend the night, though no one had actually said it, it felt to her like the night was critical to Speed's survival, though probably not. It was just her perception of the situation.
"Oh, yes, of course." Jonah was exhausted, and it was good to know there would be help here for the night. He'd have to really look into getting a nurse! "I think there should be some linens in the cupboard at the top of the stairs. I'm certain Mrs. Armentrout puts them there...oh, and she should be here early in the morning, so please don't shoot her!"
Leah could not help but laugh at the idea they would shoot anyone, perhaps not anyone, but certain people, that would be another story. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Sit down, shut up, don't touch anythin'
"Well, Miss Leah, why don't you an' Weedy go fetch a good passel'a blankets, we can use some fer paddin', an' some pillows," Addy instructed, "an' set us up some bedrolls in th' parlor. An' Doc, you get on up ta bed, we'll letcha know if we need ya fer anything." She was in charge now, and to be listened to, so Jonah just nodded wearily.
"Good night, then, Ladies...Master James." Grinning, Jonah nodded to the group, then headed for the stairs, stopping first to check in on Speed. He knocked on the door to the sick-room, then stepped in. "Miss Alice, how is he doing?"
+++
"Now," Addy continued, looking to Leah and Weedy, "get them bedrolls set up, an' I'll cut us some pie fer dessert!"
"Yes, Ma'am!" Weedy's eyes widened and he grabbed Leah's hand, towing her toward the stairs. "Come on!"
"Oh yes, I can do that with Weedy," Leah agreed, in fact, this just might be fun, she was thinking, though a change of clothes would be much more comfortable. Either she could have one of the boys across the street go fetch them, or she could herself, but all she would need would be trousers and a shirt, one of the boys could surely fetch that without a problem. "Bw fun, huh Weedy?"
Then Jonah was sent to bed, but she watched as he changed course to check on Speed. The man was all tuckered out from the day's excitement, but his patient came first.
"Now," Addy continued, looking to Leah and Weedy, "get them bedrolls set up, an' I'll cut us some pie fer dessert!"
Pie, that was a grand idea, And possibly a perfect ending to a less than perfect day.
"Yes, Ma'am!" Weedy's eyes widened and he grabbed Leah's hand, towing her toward the stairs. "Come on!"
"I'm right behind you Weedy, lead the way! We'll get them blankets and pillows and hurry back downstairs if I don't trip over this confounded dress that is." She chided, knowing that was a possibility.
"Miss Alice, how is he doing?"
She looked up, "Sleeping peacefully, thank God. I know that he needs rest and I'm glad he's sleeping." She said, tired herself, it had been a long trying day for her, but he was not dead as he well could have been. "Now this Laudanum here." She held up the bottle, "One teaspoon? Is that enough? I don't want to get that wrong and, should he wake, I would rather not have to get you up to administer this pain reliever when I'm perfectly capable of doing a simple task like that."
She was concerned about the amount to give, as she had heard of people becoming addicted to the stuff, and the last thing Speed needed was to be addicted to it. as it was readily available at Mercantile and the General Store.
Jonah smiled and nodded to Alice as he went to check on Speed, only gently touching the skin on his forehead to assess his temperature, and noting that he was warm, dry and his color was good. Then Alice asked about the laudanum and he nodded. "Yes, a tablespoon every two hours should be sufficient, but, of course, don't wake him for a dose."
She was smart enough to know that, and hopefully, Speed would sleep through the night. "Don't hesitate to call if you need me." He patted her shoulder. "He's strong, he'll be fine, I'm sure. Good night, Miss Fletcher."
Most everything she might need for the night was here, including a blanket, and a plush chair she could curl up in to sleep. And with Addy and Leah, she had plenty of help if she needed it.
Weedy slowed down a little so Leah could keep up, and at the top of the stairs he opened the double doors of the cabinet, peering inside. "There's all kinds of blankets," he observed, "and what's this?"
He pulled out a white garment that was pristinely pressed. "Oh! It's a nightdress!" Wadding it up, he quickly shoved it back on the shelf, not wanting to be handling anything that might be considered a ladies thing! Instead, he grabbed an armful of blankets. "How many do you reckon we need?"
"Don't hesitate to call if you need me." He patted her shoulder. "He's strong, he'll be fine, I'm sure. Good night, Miss Fletcher."
"Thank you, Jonah. One teaspoon every two hours, or let him sleep. Got it." She repeated. "Good night Jonah and thank you. I'm not sure what I would have done if, well. You know. We'll see how all this is come the morning." She didn't know if she could sleep, even though she felt bone tired. But she should try, knowing that she would be useless come morning with no rest.
She had no idea what the future held for them, how his muscles would react to the wound once it healed. If there would be a fear of walking the streets wearing a badge. Would he continue to be a target? Or would life revert back to normal? Would he remain Town Marshal, or would he give that up in favor of the mines? There was a lot of uncertainty at the moment.
He pulled out a white garment that was pristinely pressed. "Oh! It's a nightdress!" Wadding it up, he quickly shoved it back on the shelf, not wanting to be handling anything that might be considered a ladies thing! Instead, he grabbed an armful of blankets. "How many do you reckon we need?"
"Blankets, well I don't know. There's you and Addy, and me, so-" She paused taking the garment back out of the linen closet, "I'll use this one tonight that way it won't need re-pressing for no reason. He was a boy, if was a ladies garment so she understood, it might have, what was it? Oh yes, cooties!
Arms laden with blankets, Weedy led the way down the stairs, going slowly, mindful that Leah has on a dress, and had an arm-full of blankets and pillows as well. Once in the hallway, he could hear Addy in the kitchen, still messing with the dishes, and decided that it was easier to get the 'beds' ready!
Passing into the parlor, he dropped his burden and looked around the room. They'd likely have to rearrange some furniture. "Maybe you and Ma can sleep over there, and I can stay by the door?" He wanted to be where he could hear if Miss Alice needed his help.
"Perfect, Weedy, that's exactly what we'll do, we can lay these out just like bedrolls the cowboys have, be snug as a bug come bedtime." Leah said, admiring the parlor and its furnishings, though she'd seen them before, she had really not paid much attention. He had selected some fine pieces that complimented each other to perfection.
"And your bed roll will be right by the door, just in case." She added. "Going to be quite the night, don't you think? Maybe come morning the Marshal will feel a bit better, a bit stronger. But he is a tough man, and he won't let this keep him down for long." She attested.