Vancouver (Staunton series). Ch.# XV. " not us. We were in Cleveland"

                             Vancouver—City of adventurers-  Chapter #15

 

                                                 Not us.  We were in Cleveland.

 

         Jim rose early on this early October morning. He had a lot to do. First, he washed out Ian’s wound with carbolic soap. Then, he rebandaged it with fresh gauze.

 

         “ The wound looks pretty clean, Ian.” said Jim. “I don’t see any red rings around the edges of the gash, or other signs of infection. I think you just need to stay off it for a few days and let the wound close up.”

 

           “Aye, Jim.” said Ian. “I think I need to lay up for a bit. Will you be telling Mr. Conners that I fell off me mount?”

 

         “I will, Ian. I will tell him that you will be back at work in a few days,” said Jim. “I will also stop by Lowry’s and ask Laura to bring you lunch and some medical wash after their breakfast rush.”

 

        Ian smiled visibly. “That would be grand, Jim,” he said.

 

       Jim dressed for work and walked over to Lowry’s. It was early enough that the place had not yet opened. Jim waited patiently until Laura Sadler walked up to the place.

 

      “Jim. What are you doing here,” asked Laura. “Where is Ian? Is everything alright?”

 

        “Everything is fine, Laura. Jim just took a tumble from his horse and gashed his leg. He will be right as rain in a few days,” said Jim.

 

        “Is there anything I can do to help?” Laura asked anxiously.

 

         “Well, yes, there is,” said Jim. “If you have time after the breakfast rush, I wonder if you could bring Ian something to eat. That and a bottle of medicinal wash and some gauze would be a help.”

 

         “Oh, no problem,“ said Laura. “I will be glad to take care of him.” She smiled in anticipation of her coming nursing duties.

        “Thanks Laura. That is a big help for us.” said Jim. Then, he waved and set off for work. One story down for the day a few more to go, thought Jim.

 

         At the Vancouver Hotel work site, Jim found Mr. Conners. “Mr. Conners. My apologies. Ian has fallen from his horse and gashed his leg. He will need to be off for a few days to start healing.” said Jim.

 

         “Aye, you Mac Adams lads are a clumsy lot,” said Mr. Conners. “Tell the lad that I hope he heals up fast. We need all of the good men we can find on this project.”

          “Yes, sir. I will do that,” said Jim.

 

          Jim set to work with a will, letting the routine blanch all of the misfortunes from his mind.

 

         At lunch, he looked up Peter Sadler. “Peter, Thank you for your help on Saturday. It was kind of you.”

 

       “Not at all, Jim.” I was glad to do it. I enjoyed the day working with Selkirk,” said Peter.

 

         “I have an awkward request,” said Jim.

 

          “What’s that, Jim?” said Peter. He was figuring how much ready cash he had on hand,  if the request was for money.

 

            “Well on the way home on Saturday, Ian took a tumble from his horse and gashed his leg pretty badly. I was wondering if you could help out again next Saturday. It is a lot to ask, I know. But we are up against it for time.”

 

             Peter thought a second and replied. “It is no problem, Jim. I am always happy to help out the Mac Adams family. At this rate, we may soon become in laws,” he said with a smile.

 

            “Thanks, Peter. Sure, the Lord did us all a favor when your sainted Mother brought you among us.” Said Jim in his lyrical blarney. “I will see you on Saturday.” Two stories down and a few yet to go.

 

             The rest of the day passed quickly enough. Jim’s head spun with the events of Saturday and everything he needed to do, to smooth these things over. The situation could get pretty tricky if the Mounties got involved.

 

          After work, Jim stopped by his place to check on Ian.

“How goes the leg,” Asked Jim.

“It’s oaky, just a little sore,” said Ian. “Laura was by earlier with a sack of food. She also had some medicinal wash and fresh gauze. The woman could serve well as a nurse. It was good to see her. And no, she didn’t even ask about the how and why of the injury,” said Ian.

 

        “Good,” said Jim. “Mr. Conners wished you a quick healing, after commenting how clumsy a family we must be,” said Jim “I told him you would be back at work in a few days. I think I will walk over to Staunton’s for a few beers. I want to hear what rumors are in the wind. I will haul a few pints back for you,” said Jim.

 

       “Thanks, Jim. I will be fine here.”

 

           Jim decided to ride over to Staunton’s. He saddled up his mare and rode over towards the waterfront.

 

            The bar traffic was slow this early in the evening. He slid into his corner stool and waved at Barney Finnegan. ”Do you think  I might get a beer and a dram of whiskey, Barney,” asked Jim with a smile.

 

            Barney poured the drinks and set them down in front if Jim. “Where is brother Ian,” asked Barney?

 

            “He is off spooning with Laura Sadler,” said Jim with a smile. “Sure, the lad is besotted with her.”

 

           “Good for him,” said Barney. “They are a good pair.”

 

             Then, he leaned in close and said quietly. “One of the loggers has turned up missing,” He said. “The Camp manager was in earlier asking if anyone had seen him. I told him no, the man had not been in here in weeks.”

 

             “Well, those lads head out in different directions frequently. I am sure he will turn up soon,” said Jim

 

             Barney waited a second and then added. “I don’t think so, Jim. The man’s horse turned up at the logging camp this morning. They already have a search party out looking for him. He said they were going to ask the RCMP to get involved.”

 

              “That does sound serous,” said Jim. “Who was the lad?”

 

             “It was Donald Stevenson, the big ugly fucker that Ian knocked out in here, a few weeks ago,” said Barney. “The manager was asking if you or Ian knew anything about his disappearance.”

 

               “And why would we know anything, Barney?” asked Jim. “We stay away from those lads on purpose. We don’t need that kind of grief in our lives. Those bastards never give up on a grudge.”

 

                “Aye, that’s what I  told the man,” said Barney. “Maybe a Grizzlie Bear took him.”

 

                 “Aye, that or a fall in the Fraser,” said Jim “Well, may the good Lord look after the lad. Should any of the Mounties have questions of us, the Misters Mac Adams will be in residence from seven A.M to five P.M. every day of the week, at the Hotel Vancouver work site on West Georgia Street. Now, how about another beer? And I will need two pints to go for Ian when he returns from his spooning,” Jim said with a smile. Then he thought, three stories down and a few more yet to go.

 

                When Jim came home, he rubbed down the mare and hung up his tack. He put oats and water out for the horse. It had been a day of telling tales.

 

                  In his place, he checked on Ian. The wound looked raw but not infected. They might be in luck. He handed Ian the two pints.

                  “Here, Ian. This ought to help the pain.” said Jim.

                   “Thanks, Jim. Sure, I had a taste for one. What did you hear at Staunton’s?”

 

                     “Well, the story and rumors are in the wind, Ian,” said Jim. “The man’s horse came back to the logger’s camp today. They have men out looking for the lad right now. Their boss stopped at Staunton’s earlier, asking questions.”

                    “I hope they chase their tails all across British Columbia looking for him,” said ian grimly.

 

                      “Aye, I don’t think they will ever find where we planted him, Ian,” said Jim. “If we stick to our story, about you falling from your mount and gashing your leg, we will be just fine. They can think what they want. They can’t prove anything,” said Jim.

                         “Barney Finnegan said that the RCMP might become involved. I left word that anyone asking questions could find us every day at the Hotel construction site,” said Jim.  “Those lads can go pound salt, as far as I am concerned.”

 

                          “My leg is feeling a little better,” said Ian. “Maybe I will try and make it int work tomorrow.”

 

                             “No, I think you need at least another day, maybe two, to rest up, Ian. I think I can ask Laura to stop by and tend to you,” asked Jim.

                             Ian smiled at the thought. “The woman is an angel, Jim. I think maybe she is the one that I will ask to spend her life with me,” said Ian dreamily.

                               “Well, may the good lord look after you both,” said Jim. “She is as fine a woman as I could imagine to take as your wife.”

                                 “Also, I asked Peter if he could help us out next Saturday. I told him you had fallen off your horse and gashed your leg.  We have the roof trusses and shingles being delivered for installation,” said Jim.

                                  “That is decent of Peter,” said Ian. “Sure, the whole family has their hands out offering us help.”

                                   “Aye they do,” said  Jim “A grand family of really decent people. We are lucky to have met up with them.”

                                    “And now I am off to bed. One of us has to work in the morning while the other lolls around at his leisure,”  said Jim with a grin.

                                     Ian scoffed and said. “Go on with you, Jim. Sure, even injured I can lay bricks faster and neater than you can.”

                                       The Macadams brothers retired. It had been a full and eventful day.

 

                                                                                        -30-

                                                                                 (1,693 words)

                                                                          Joseph Xavier Martin