Chapter 8
I went all out for the meal I was going to make for the Bannermans. I had decided on smoked Virginia ham, sweet potatoes, and fresh cooked green beans. For dessert, a nice pineapple upside down cake would be perfect.
I would be having ham as leftovers for some time to come. I grinned at the thought. It was probably going to be the best meal ever presented in the town and surrounding camps, since the place started. There was milk for the children, and coffee for the adults, too.
To accomplish all this, I went back to my modern day home, and cooked. I carefully and happily made the meal. While I was not a chef, or anything like that, Mom had made sure I knew how to cook and fend for myself in the kitchen. Bless her.
Everything was perfect. As an item was finished, I found an appropriate cover for it, and placed it in the 'between', ready for use. I had long since found that the 'between' was not only a perfect insulator, but also that no time would pass for any item stored there.
Dinner, Friday evening, was a success. Everyone ooh'd and ahh'd at the ham, and sweet potatoes. The kids turned up their noses at the cut green beans, but their mom and dad were adamant that they eat everything. The biggest hits were the fresh cold milk, and the pineapple upside down cake!
"I have to know how you made this cake. I have never had its like before!" Beth exclaimed once we were finished.
"I have to say, this was definitely one of the best meals I have had in a good long while, Sorry, Beth," Arthur spoke the last to his wife.
"No apology needed, Arthur. It was one of the best meals I have ever had, too! Milk for the kids, this divine cake... and I know you didn't cook the ham or this cake on this little stove, Ben," Beth said, throwing a stern look my way.
I poured refills of coffee for us adults, and asked the kids if they wanted more milk. They nodded. I poured the rest of my milk supply in their glasses and set the now empty container to the side.
"I refuse to divulge my secrets. No chef would willingly compromise his cooking secrets," I told her loftily.
I received a snort in response. I held my hand over my heart, pretending to be wounded. The kids giggled. I got up and started removing the plates, scrapping the remains on them into a can that I would dispose of, later. I placed the plates in the tub I was going to showily use as a washtub. Least it would explain to them how I would clean them. I then poured hot water over the stack of dishes and with a little detergent. They wanted to know what that was. I explained that I had found a product that cleaned very well, but that I had only a very limited supply. Dawn for dishes actually, with grease cutter added.
They left shortly afterwards. I put everything into the 'between', to clean at my future home at my leisure. After I had cleaned the residue of the meal, and my tent was restored to order, I sat and thought.
I had been lucky with saving the guy who had been stabbed. I also resented having to work on him. I decided I was going to have to talk with what passed for the council in this town, and inform them that while I was willing to help out with accident victims, I was not going to help anymore idiots who fought with knives, and stabbed each other. As far as I was concerned, they could kill each other, stab each other, maim each other to their hearts content, with the friends of the loser patching as best they could. I was not a real doctor, after all.
For the next few days, the sky threatened. It finally let go with a snowstorm that went on and on, seemingly never to end! It snowed for four days straight! I had never experienced anything like it in my life.
One pass was now permanently closed, and the other would have to have the trail broken to get through, but would still be navigable. Until it was, we were effectively cut off from the outside world, trapped in our little part of the world.
The day that the storm finally let up, I was actually pleased, as I am sure most others were. With the exception of going out to answer natures call, most people would have been indoors the entire time, and while I had this large tent to myself, others would not be so fortunate. I dressed as warmly as I could, and slogged my way through the deep snow to town. It was an effort to say the least.
People were already out and some paths were already cleared from doors to the closest running water, or where it could be had anyway. The bakery was doing business, as was the saloon, where a crowd was already gathering and drinking locally made beer and whiskey. The good stuff was still on hand, but was being doled out sparingly, or at least until the pass was reopened.
Although it was still overcast, the snow had stopped, and it was ten thirty AM. It looked almost like night outside, what with the heavy clouds blocking out the sun. Lamps were already lit, and people were complaining about the snow, the cold, and whatever else was on their minds.
I had received the round of "Hi, Doc," and "Hey, Doc, see you survived the storm!" greetings.
I waved and made my way to the bar and asked the if the owner was in back. I was waved on through and was soon in the office/saloon storage area. There were a couple people already gathered.
"Hey, Doc. We were just talking about getting a party together, to break a path to the top of the pass from our side. Most likely the railhead camp will already be working their way this way," Frank Towers said as I walked in.
"Well, don't look at me. I will not be blazing a trail through the snow. To damned cold and deep out there for my taste," I said, theatrically shuddering.
There were chuckles and they went back to discussing when to start breaking the trail. They decided to get supplies for the party ready today, and send them out tomorrow as long as the weather remained clear.
I told them I would throw in a sack of meal I had in my warehouse, as my contribution to the party effort. That was appreciated. This meant part of the food supply would be taken care of, anyway. I was informed it usually took anywhere from two to four days to break a trail through snow this deep. It was going to be tiring work, and the men would take it slowly. Everyone who went should be familiar with what the trail looked like in normal conditions, and landmarks should guide them most of the way to the summit.
"Hey, any of you fellas ever been out to Doc's camp? He has this huge roomy tent that would be perfect for the men we send out to break trail. What about it, Doc? You can bunk down in my little cave with me, and let the boys have some comfort on the trail?" Pete Lauder asked to the accompaniment of laughter.
"Don't even think about it, Pete," I responded sourly.
After the men stopped laughing, I waited till they cleared with the exception of the two who were sort of council members.
"I wanted to clear something up about knife wounds and emergencies," I began somewhat hesitantly.
"What's on your mind about them?" Joe Elock asked curiously. He was part owner in a couple concerns that were doing well. Silent partner in the saloon, and investor in three mines and god knew how many people he was grub staking for a possible return on his money.
"Well, I am not a real doctor. I resent being called in to work on someone who got knifed because he thought he was Billy badass, or got into an argument over something stupid. I want it going around that while I will help where I can with accidents, I really could care less if two or more idiots got into a knife fight and get hurt from it. I have limited supplies, and I personally think it a waste to expend them on stupidity!" I finished with rising of anger and frustration in my voice.
"Take it easy, Doc. Sure, we can spread the word. Might even help a bit with the fighting. But while you might not be a real doctor, you know more than any of us! Look at it from our point of view. You're the next best thing to having a real doc, here with us," Joe stated.
"Besides, I am worried that I will screw up, and someone will die under my ministrations," I said, shuddering for real this time.
"Hell, they know that, least most do. Don't worry about it. We'll pass the word and let the people know," the saloon owner responded finally.
"Well, I will help out with accidents, no problem. Like I said, I just worry about someone dieing while under my care. I don't want to be responsible for killing people by accident," I emphasized.
After that was cleared up, I went to my food warehouse and unlocked the door and entered. Stocks were down, but I still had a goodly amount left. I fetched a few more crates of corn and a couple more of potatoes. I then spent some time separating the potatoes into ten-pound sacks, which I'd had on hand, ready for filling. While I was doing this, I sold some supplies to some miners who beat a path to my door, and sold quit a few crates of corn, some flour, and vegetables.
By the end of my business day, I had sold a lot more of my stock, and collected quite a few nuggets and ounce after ounce of gold dust. I was making my way back to my tent and was almost there, when something slugged me hard on the back of the head.
I fell forward into the snow, and struggled to get up. I felt hands on me. My coat was stripped from me, my gold was taken, and someone kicked me in the stomach. As I was fading, I heard gunshots, and shouting, then nothing.
I woke up feeling a lot of pain in my head, and it hurt to breath. It took me a few moments to realize I was not in my tent, but somewhere else. My vision was blurry, and I had an overwhelming urge to throw up. I tried to speak, but only a croak came out.
"Shhh, don't try to talk. We found you a couple hours ago. Do you remember what happened? Just whisper your answer as yes or no," I heard a voice say.
"No," I whispered.
"You were robbed. Your guards interrupted them. One of your guards, Neal Sulty, was killed. The other one took a bullet in the side, but will be ok. They killed two of the robbers between them, but that still left the two who got away," I now recognized the voice as Arthur's.
"Arthur Bannerman, you need to leave that poor man alone to get some rest. Don't you worry yourself, Ben. We are going to take good care of you. We set a couple more men watching your tent for you," I heard Beth say as I drifted out of consciousness, again.
The next couple of days were extremely painful, as my head felt like it was going to burst open at any moment. I could not keep anything down, and sometimes I vomited blood. My throat felt raw from the throwing up, and I felt as though I was getting weaker. Worst of all, I could not move myself to the future, or even connect with the 'between.'
I waited as patiently as I could, hoping my connection to the 'between' or my ability to move through the future was only temporarily blocked. I was starting to worry that the portion of my brain that controlled this ability had been damaged beyond repair.
To be stuck in the year 1900, was not my idea of 'living the good life'. True, I knew what would happen, and could make myself fairly comfortable, but I would much rather live in my own time.
To say I was a little panicky would be putting it mildly. Was I forever cut off? I could not access the med kit I had stashed in the 'between', nor any of my other supplies. I could get at nothing. Every time I tried, my headache returned fiercely, and I became very nauseated.
Since it had been searched for and not found, it was presumed that the two who got away with the money I had on me, also took my medical kit. I sighed at the loss. I would never be able to use it here, again, even if I did get my abilities restored.
Edited by TeNderLoin