Chapter 10

Elizabeth had the buckboard in front of the café within five minutes. Abigail came out with the medicinal supplies and they headed out to the Mill. The crisp September air seemed to seep through Elizabeth's coat as they traveled the winding, uneven road to the mill. Neither woman spoke a word each with her mind on the wellbeing of the men at the mill.

Soon they arrived and Elizabeth pulled the buckboard up in front of Lee's office. She jumped down and ran into the office followed by Abigail. Frank and the others were gathered around a table hovering over a map of the surrounding area. They looked up as the two women entered the office. Elizabeth saw Bill and Rosemary in the corner tending to the three wounded men. Elizabeth hurried over and saw Jack lying on one of the makeshift cots. "What happened?" she asked looking at Bill. "When he shoved the boy out of the way he got a bullet to the shoulder and he fell and hit his head on a rock. Lee was hit when they left. They fired a hail of bullets for cover fire as they took the worker." Bill explained. Elizabeth knelt by Jack's cot. She saw that his wounds were already bandaged. Rosemary was sitting beside Lee's bed. "We brought extra bandages and supplies. We should get them back to town. If they gang comes back you need healthy men and can't worry about the wounded." Abigail said. Pastor Frank nodded. "We can spare a few men to help you. We need to make it quick. The gang could come back once they realize the kid was lying." Bill said.

An hour later they had Lee back at his house and left Rosemary to tend him. Abigail and Elizabeth sent all of the men back after they'd gotten Jack to their homestead and into bed. Abigail went to the stove and started making some tea. Elizabeth sat in the bedroom beside the bed hoping and praying Jack would be ok. Abigail brought the tea from the kitchen and put it into her hands. "He'll be fine. He got through pneumonia and he can get through this." Elizabeth bit her lip and tried to smile. She glanced back over to him and then to Abigail. "You need to get some rest so you can take care of him." Abigail took the cup and set it on the table. Elizabeth wiped her eyes and after adjusting Jack's blankets and checking on him she stood and went into the kitchen. "Thank you." She said giving Abigail a hug. Abigail smiled and nodded. "I'll bring breakfast." She said as she put on her coat. She gave Elizabeth one last reassuring smile and left. Elizabeth took a deep breath and started fixing a second lunch. She put some soup on just in case Jack woke up. Abigail had said that the bullet wound wasn't that serious so Elizabeth held onto that piece of hope. She sat down at the table and sent a prayer up to heaven.

An hour passed and besides a few murmurings Jack still lay unconscious. Elizabeth busied herself in various chores to keep from focusing on him. She grew tired towards evening so she went back inside and started on supper. A few of the women had stopped in and left something so she didn't need to make much. She set out the dishes and stirred the pot of leftover soup she was heating. Suddenly she felt sick and rushed outside to get away from the smell. She took a few deep breaths and then went back inside and took the pot off the stove. She didn't feel like eating anymore so she sat in the living room and tried to focus on the children's submitted tests. Finally she grew hungry and nibbled on some leftover bread. She washed up and then went back to the room. Jack's breathing was still normal so Elizabeth brushed her hair and then carefully lay beside him. Soon she was fast asleep all worries forgotten.