The Glenmore's: Caught (18 page)

CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN

The night passed slowly as Justine kept her vigil at Ben’s bedside and continued bathing his face.

It was just after dawn when Ben finally awoke although his fever continued to rage.

“Ben” Justine whispered as she bent to gently kiss his lips.

“Water please?” Ben asked quietly. His throat was dry and scratchy and his lips were now badly cracked thanks to the fever.

Justine poured him some water and lifted his head to help him to drink. Ben drank greedily and quickly emptied the mug
.

“Do ya need somethin’ for pain sweetheart?” Justine asked.

“No, Laudenum makes me too groggy”

Justine sat back down and held tight to Ben’s hand.

“Hot” Ben complained and Justine placed a cool cloth to his forehead.

“I know darlin’. Ya have infection in some of ya wounds; we’re tryin’ to get ya fever down”

Ben weakly nodded his understanding.

“You okay?” he asked. “We’ll talk when well. Stubborn, dangerous”

“We’ll talk later darlin’, I’m fine” Justine assured him.

Virginia came into the room to check on her son and was delighted to find him awake and talking. “Ben; it’s good to see ya awake son” Virginia bent down to kiss his cheek. “How are ya feelin’? You’re still very hot”

“Tired ma” he pointed at Justine. “Stubborn, coulda been hurt”

“Don’t ya worry about that now; Justine’s fine. You just gotta get well” Virginia kissed his cheek again and left the room.

“Can I get ya anythin’ sweetheart” Justine asked.

Ben ran his hand over his bare chest and gave her a puzzled look.
“Clothes?”

“Ya ma and me took ‘em off; they were shredded and dirty. After we cleaned ya up and washed ya we just put drawers on so Doc could look at ya wounds. Ya got quite a few stitches. We didn’t put anythin’ else on ya ‘cause of ya fever”

“You were here?”

“Yes, I helped ya ma”

Ben closed his eye and Justine noticed his frown. “Ben; don’t tell me you’re embarrassed”

He opened his eye again and looked at her. “Not married!”

Justine laughed. “I don’t care; I’m not gonna leave ya and Ben?.....”

Ben looked
into her eyes. “….Ya have a very handsome body” Justine said shyly. Ben groaned.

********

George and Jenny arrived after lunch to find Ben and Justine both sound asleep. Justine was still holding Ben’s hand and she’d fallen asleep with her head on his chest.

George squeezed Jenny’s hand as they looked on. “This reminds me of us when you were hurt darlin’.” He leaned over and kissed her gently.

Justine heard their voices and sat up rubbing her eyes. “George; Jenny”

“Sorry Justine, we didn’t mean to wake ya. Ya look exhausted” Jenny noticed how red and puffy Justine’s eyes were and she knew she’d been crying and hadn’t slept.

“Why don’t ya go and take a bath and get changed while George and I sit with Ben? You’ll feel so much better once ya do” Jenny offered.

“I don’t want to leave him” Justine admitted. “I don’t have a change of clothes here either”

“Yes ya do; Josh brought some things over for ya earlier and said he’ll be here with Millie later. They’re both gonna stay and have supper” Virginia had brought another bowl of cool water.

Justine looked up at Jenny and smiled. She knew she’d feel better after a bath and Ben wasn’t going anywhere. “Okay I think I will if it’s okay with you Ginny?”

“I think it’s a very good idea dear, you have blood and dust all over those clothes so I’m sure you’ll feel much better when you’re cleaned up” Virginia answered.

Justine stood up. “I’ll go and get my clothes and go to the washroom. Thanks Ginny, Jenny”

She left Ben’s care in their capable hands but she couldn’t help worrying. Justine collected her clothes and as she ran her bath; she sprinkled a few drops of rose oil into the running water which caused it to bubble.

She undressed and sank her aching muscles into the warm fragrant water; she felt herself beginning to relax. Using a bar of rose soap she scrubbed her skin until it tingled and then washed her hair. When she was
finished she stood on the rug next to the bath and rubbed her body and hair dry.

As she dressed in a pretty lemon gingham dress her thoughts were with Ben. “Please get well quickly darlin’, I miss ya smilin’ face, ya kisses and the feel of ya arms around me” she muttered to herself.

She brushed her hair as dry as she could and then tied it up with a pretty yellow ribbon. She walked into Ben’s room feeling much better.

“Ya look a lot better” Jenny said from where she sat next to the bed holding Ben’s hand.

“I feel much better too thanks Jenny”

Jenny stood up and sat perched on the end of the bed with George. Justine sat back down in the chair and gathered Ben’s hand back into hers.

“Did he wake?” she asked Jenny and George hopefully.

“No and ma is real worried about his fever” George told her with a frown.

As he finished speaking Virginia walked in with Doc.

“How do his wounds look Ginny?” Doc asked.

“When I applied the salve this mornin’ they looked about the same Charlie”

Doc put his hand to Ben’s forehead
. “We need to get that fever down Ginny. Can we bring a bath in here?”

“I’ll go and get pa and we’ll bring one in ma” George offered as he sprang off the bed and headed out of the door.

Virginia, Justine and Jenny began clearing an area next to the bed so Ben wouldn’t have to be moved so far.

“I want the water as cold as ya can get it Ginny” Doc ordered.

“He’s gonna love this” Ginny muttered. “Ben hates cold water”

Virginia disappeared down to the kitchen as Joseph and George brought in the bath. Within minutes, Virginia, Alice and Nellie
were back with buckets of ice cold water which they poured into the bath. Justine and Jenny went off to help them and before long Ben’s bath was ready.

Justine and Virginia removed Ben’s drawers and then moved aside while Joseph and George lowered Ben into the freezing cold water.

********

Ben almost shot through the roof as he hit the cold water and George and Joseph had to hold him down. “Goddamn it; I’m sick not dead! Ben exploded as he attempted to get out. “Get me out of this goddamn freezin’ water!” He struggled against George and Joseph’s powerful arms but they weren’t letting him out.

“Ben, relax son; we have to do this to get ya fever down” Virginia shouted over the ruckus.

Ben opened his eye and looked around at the people watching. He attempted to settle but he was just too cold. His teeth began chattering and his body began to shake
violently. Ben had never been in so much pain and was thankful when he again passed out. George and Joseph felt him relax and released him.

“He’s passed out ma” George told his mother.

“It’s probably for the best. How long do ya want him in there Charlie?” Virginia asked.

“About another five minutes I think Ginny”

Justine and Jenny changed the bloodied and sweat soaked towels and sheets for clean dry ones.

Doc checked Ben. “His skin is startin’ to get too cold Ginny. Don’t know if it’s enough to break the fever but we cain’t leave him in any longer”

Joseph and George lifted Ben’s limp body from the bath and laid him onto the clean towels on the bed. Justine, Virginia and Jenny began rubbing him dry while the men began emptying the bath so they could remove it from the room.

Once Ben was dried and his clean drawers were on; the ladies changed the wet towels underneath him and replaced them with dry ones. Doc took the opportunity to check his wounds and said he was satisfied.

Justine pulled a sheet up over Ben and everyone left the room to have tea.

********

Justine fell asleep for a couple of hours and was woken by ben rubbing his hand down her arm. She sat up and looked at him through blurry eyes. “Sweetheart; how are ya feelin’?” Justine leaned over to give Ben a kiss and he pulled her close. He captured her lips in a deep, sensuous kiss that shook Justine to her boots. When he finally released her; she sucked in her breath.

“I’m feelin’ a lot better but I have some pain”

Justine giggled. “I think ya kiss told me ya were feelin’ better and ya not quite as hot which is a relief. Do ya want some Laudenum for the pain?”

“No it makes me too sleepy and the pain isn’t that bad. Did I have a bath?”

“Yes, we put ya in a cold bath to get ya fever down”

Ben groaned. “I was hopin’ it was just a dream. I saw all those people lookin’ at me”

“We weren’t lookin’ Ben; we was tryin’ to help ya. Ya didn’t like it very much”

“No I didn’t; that I remember”

Justine giggled again.

Ben attempted to sit up and grimaced. “I feel like I’ve been run over by a herd of buffalo. I sure do hurt” He managed to pull himself into a sitting position and Justine put more pillows in place behind him.

Ben’s stomach grumbled loudly and Justine chuckled. “Would ya like somethin’ to eat darlin’?” she offered.

“Yeah, I cain’t remember when I last ate and I’m feelin’ mighty hungry. Coffee would be good too”

“I’ll go get it” Justine kissed Ben before she headed for the kitchen.

“Justine” Alice said when she saw her. “Can I get ya somethin’?”

“Ben’s awake and feelin’ better; he said he’s very hungry’ she told Alice as she poured Ben some coffee from the pot on the stove.

“That’s such good news” Virginia exclaimed. “I’ll go and see him; would ya like me to take his coffee?”

“Yes thank you Ginny; I’ll get him somethin’ to eat” Justine handed the freshly poured mug of coffee to Virginia. “He’s still very hot but I think he’s a little cooler”

“There’s some left over beef stew from lunch ya can heat up and there are some fresh biscuits too” Alice informed Justine.

Justine pulled out a pot and began heating the stew.

“I’m glad he’s doin’ better darlin’; they sure can give ya a real scare sometimes” Nellie said as Justine stirred the pot.

“I was terrified Nellie; I don’t know what I would have done if anythin’ real bad had happened. Justine refused to think of what she would do without Ben.

When the stew was ready she placed it on a tray with two biscuits and another mug of coffee.

********

“Ben; Justine said ya feelin’ a bit better” Virginia said as she walked in with his coffee.

“Yeah; I still feel pretty hot ma but not as bad as before. Ma, I cain’t believe ya let me be naked in front of everyone”

Virginia chuckled at her sons’ embarrassment. “Ben, we was more interested in gettin’ ya well than with ya being naked”

“I’m still not happy about it” he grumbled as he took his coffee and sipped.

Justine arrived with the tray of food in her hands and Ben’s mouth began to water when he smelled the tantalising aromas.

Virginia rose and kissed Ben’s forehead. “I’ll see ya in a while son”

“Mmmm that sure smells good” Ben licked his lips in anticipation as Justine lifted the bowl and helped him to eat. “Mmmm it tastes good too”

Ben ate his meal and sank back against the pillows. Just as he closed his eyes Millie and Josh arrived. Josh and Millie kissed Justine’s cheek and then Millie, seeing Ben was awake, gave him a kiss on his cheek before she sat on the edge of the bed.

“How are ya darlin’?” Millie asked.

“I’m doin’ much better thanks Millie. Josh what were ya thinkin’ lettin’ Justine come after me like that?”

“I didn’t; she slipped out without us knowin’. Millie and I searched the house but we realised she gone off alone”

Ben looked at Justine. “I should paddle ya backside. What were ya doin’ puttin’ yerself in danger? Ya knew the men would come after me”

“Get in line Ben. I threatened the same thing when we found she was gone; then ya pa, when he found out what she’d done and then George, when he was told” Josh told him.

Tears began to fill Justine’s eyes. “The note said to come alone Ben and I was so scared for ya; I couldn’t lose ya” She began to cry hard and Ben reached out his arm.

“Come here” As she moved closer he dragged her into a hug and kissed the top of her head. “I love ya so much Justine but I hate the thought ya put yerself in danger for me”

“I’d do it again Ben” she sobbed.

“Yeah, I’m afraid ya would” Ben admitted.

“We’re gonna go visit with ya ma and pa Ben. We’ll see ya before we leave”

“Okay Josh, Millie; thanks”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ben recovered well over the next few days and Justine remained by his side. The day finally arrived when Doc removed all the stitches and told him he could get out of bed. Ben was relieved; he was fed up with being stuck indoors and in bed but Justine’s dedication to him warmed his heart.