A little ill

[Lovely]

August 24, Year 1


"Somethin' been meanin' t'ask ya Lil... now I know it may sound a little odd, but..."

She looked up from the book she was reading and gave her brother an odd glance. "Sure thing.. Cody.. what did you want to ask me?"

He looked at the binding of the book in her hand as it might well have been written in Chinese. His head tilted to try and make out the lettering. "What?" His attention came back to her and he leaned on the arm of the chair near her. "Lil... some of the boys down at Maggie's... been talkin'. I don't rightly know what all's the jawin's about, none, but some's sayin' they've seen you running around with that Carlisle bulldog."

Her eyebrow arched sharply and she laughed softly. "Well now, isn't that something... Now which Carlisle would that be? There are a few of them.. though I don't think any of them resembles a bull dog.. actually they all are quite handsome.."

He leaned to the spitoon and sneered, throwing a wad of chaw splattering into the metal container. "Handsome, my left foot," he chided. "Only one's worthy of bein' called no better'n a dog and that's that one what Tessa's girls done throwed outta their parlor for good. Now, I'm hopin' they's just jawin' and pullin' my leg, but you ain't been actin' right late, Lil."

"Since I do not frequent Tessa's parlor.. I would not know which if any of those boys actually go there, or which one would have been tossed out.. or what is all whispers and what is truth... now would I?" She gave him a smirking smile and closed her book, setting it in her lap. "And further more.. dear brother.. what exactly do you mean by not acting right? I've been a bit ill.. but I hardly think it's a serious condition and rather directly caused by the dreadful concotions that we are subjected to, that are humbly called meals around here."

"You know which one I mean, Lily," he said coldly moving to look out the window. "That filthy demon-headed snake called Patrick. He's a disgrace to his family and this town."

"In your opinion... I think he'd be quite intriguing, must have all sorts of interesting stories.. perhaps you should suggest he write a novel... oh.. but you'd probably be too drunk when you see him next to remember to tell him."

"Not to drunk to spit in his face. Not one story he's got I wanta hear less'n it's got 'nything to do with you, hm? Novel? You readin' about fancy dress parties and princes? He ain't no prince, Lil. He's barrel-bottom sludge. Cruder'n I'll ever be. Interesting stories... my left foot," he mumbled, spitting another glob.

She chuckled, despite the churning in her tummy. "You really think he'd tell you stories about me.. if there were such stories to tell?" She rolled her eyes and waved her hand. "You're being awefully hateful.. and without good reason. What pray tell has he ever done to you personally to deserve such spite?"

[Lovely]

"Charmed you, didn't he? What's he done to win your talkin' all nice about him?" He turned a piercing gaze on her. "Not bein' spiteful if'n it's the truth. It is, ain't it... yeah, just make me a fool. You been seein' him? Huh?"

"I have seen him plenty of times, Cody... this town is not that big." She stood up, pulling her skirts straight and ignoring his gaze. Her tummy was all tumbling and she was a bit worried that she was going to be ill again. "Make you a fool? Huh? Is that all you care about, what all your buddies think? Best you ask them why they are talking about your sister in the first place..hmm? Now.. you've gone and made me sick again.. You're a terrible, awful brother... and mother is going to have your hide for making me ill and all."

"Not my doin'... you said it was the cookin' n' all," he said, watching her carefully. "What I care about is my little sister getting herself all tied up 'round the wrong man's finger. Don't look right you hangin' out with none of those Carlyle boys... none of 'em. Should oughta bat those pretty eyes at a banker's boy, not... those Irish...," he didn't finish the last, gesturing in air about some insult that he couldn't put into words. The last bit of tobacco was sent into the cannister and he wiped his chin of the spittle. "Point is, Lil... you go off behind me, Daddy's gonna take a lickin' on my backside then your own for not obeyin' him. You know that sure as I do."

"Well then I suggest you don't go repeating those rumors to him, now don't you think?" She took a few steps and moved as if to go past him, but paused, her hand going to her forehead. Suddenly the world pitched and swam, a light sheen of moisture coming to her face and she tried to keep from fainting dead away.

Cody lurched forward and slipped an arm around his sister. "Only thing I'm thinkin' is you takin' a lie-down now. You're not a good color. Don't look like Mama's cookin', neither. You come and lay down here and no more squintin' at those pages. Rest your eyes some."

She didn't protest Cody's help, instead she leaned heavily onto his arm. "Thank you." She whispered softly. Saying nothing about their mother's cooking or her current state, other than to nod at his suggestion and let him help her to rest. "just for a little while.. then I'll be fine.. I'm sure of it.. you're right.. no more reading for a bit, then.."

Cody's concern could have drowned her. He propped her up and pulled the quilt from its rung behind the couch to drape over her. "Damn if the only doctor in town ain't one o' them Carlyles too."

Lily patted his hand and gave a soft sigh. "Cody please... You can not possibly find fault with the doctor as well?" She gave a weak chuckle and looked up at her brother, her face pale and expression going sour as her stomach flip flopped.

"If he don't know what's wrong with you, I will, " he said honestly, moving to roll the spitoon nearer to her if she sicked up. The odor of the damp and rotten leaves that close to her now probably did her no favors, but it was something. "You ain't been sick one day in I don't know how long. I bring up all this about his brother... and you get all swoonie. Ain't right Lily. You sweet on him?" His own face turned as sour as hers at the thought.

"Cody.." She began, then suddenly pushed him aside. "move!" She lurched forward and tossed up the meal she'd eaten earlier into the spitoon. Sobbing a little as she finished vomiting, leaving nothing in her stomach. She lay back, fumbling for a hankerchief to wipe her mouth.

[Lovely]

He'd stepped out of the way quick as lightning, feeling the gagging pull at his throat in sympathy. He took a deep breath and stepped nearer to the window, opening it a little for the air. Grimacing as she lost everything she had, he watched her lay back down. Persistent to know, he asked again. "You didn't answer my question, Lilian. So help me... or you... you're sweet on that snake?"

"Goodness Cody.. I'm here being sick and all.. and that is what you are concerned about.. whether or not I fancy some boy?"

"I'll go get Doc Ca... Sam," he said, rocking the name out of his mouth as he stood from the window before he could utter 'carlyle' again. He moved around to the door and stopped. "Only concerned if I got reason to be and your not tellin' me straight's givin' me reason enough."

"And your pestering me about ridiculous stories that other drunk men told you, is not only making me sick, but making me not wish to discuss anything with you." She glared lightly at him.

"They wasn't drunk," he murmured in protest. "But maybe I oughta be." He slipped out the door and headed to get the doctor.

Lily sank back against the cushions, half angry with Cody, half pouted as a spoiled child would.. and just a bit miserable at how ill she was feeling. She wiped at her mouth with one corner of the hankerchief and then at her eyes, which teared up a bit.

Samuel sat on the bench outside his office, enjoying a quiet cup of tea. His office was still and empty at the moment, having been clear of patients for a couple days. Only his brothers had come by to 'trouble' him for various things in that time.

Alex came out of the office at entirely the wrong time, seeing the dust clouds kicked up by the stomping hooves of his least favorite townsman. Cody was on foot sending stones ahead of himself in angry scatters and obviously mumbling aloud based on his expression and gestures as he came closer. Alex nudged his brother as he offered more water for his tea. "Company, lad," he nodded.

"Westgate.." He said softly, giving his brother a glance, knowing well the animosity between the two. "He looks.. less than pleased... perhaps you should find excuse to leave quickly? You could go by the store and check on that pretty lass.. see how she's feeling today.. make sure she has no cause to come see me, hmm?" He half teased, watching Cody approach and calling out once he came closer.
"Mister Westgate..."

"And miss the show? Not likely," he smirked, stepping back inside to set the kettle down and return as Sam made his greetings.

"Don't 'mister' me anything, doc... need you to come check on Lily. She's all sick like for no reason near as I can tell."

Sam gazed at Cody quizzically and then took a sip of his tea. "There's always a reason for being sick.. what are her symptoms?"

"She's... sick," he said, confused, trying to describe what he knew. "First thing she said it was ma's cookin' then says its my fault windin' her up so.Then she sicked up all she's had to eat today, which ain't much."

[Lovely]

"Vomiting.." He mumrured, still sipping at his tea. "Anything else? A fever? Chills? Rash? Fainting? Coughing? Sneezing? Congestion?" He listed off a few symptoms to try and get a bit more information from Cody.

He shook his head. "Not nothin' else I can see. Well, maybe faintin'.. near faintin'. Caught her though. Her color's all off. Real white-like."

He nodded and sighed, taking another sip from his mug. "Alex.. fetch my bag, lad.. looks like I have an ill young lady to call on." He rose up, setting his cup to the ground beside the bench and smoothing out his jacket. "Has she been ill like this before? More than just today? and if so.. how long has she been ill?"

He counted days that she'd seemed not right. "Near on three weeks now, but first time I seen her sick up all over."

"Three weeks?" His eyebrow arched and he nodded again, turning as he expected Alex to come with his bag. "Has she been terribly worked up about anything? Nerves sometimes will cause a woman to be ill... Has your mother been cooking anything differently? Trying something new perhaps?" He asked standard questions, attempting to asertain what might be causing the girl's 'prolonged' illness.

Alex had been content to stay inside the doorway and watch, but went for the bag as asked. He slipped out the door, carefully staying arm's length from Cody and nodding as polite a greeting as he could manage which still held a stand-offish sneer that couldn't be helped. "Sam...," he muttered to get his attention, handing him the bag.

"Thank you.. will you make sure things are locked up, if I have not returned when you leave?" He gave his brother a slight grin and took the bag from his grasp.

"Didn't pay it no mind. That fool girl gets herself in a mad half the time no one knows why and storms off. Didn't think nothin' of it much. Figured it was some sick woman thing they get," Cody shrugged. He gave a blank look at Alex. He wasn't here to fight today and couldn't care less that he was there. "So you think it ain't some cold or somethin'?"

Sam knew well enough what his rounds were these days and Alex intended to keep his daily appointment with a girl and broom at the mercantile. He nodded that he would lock up and come get him if anything happened. "Shortshaft," he nodded to Cody in greeting and departure as he slipped back inside.

"A cold.. no.. perhaps not, if it has lasted so long and the symptoms do not sound like a cold." Sam nodded to Alex, smiling a little as he thought of the small changes he'd seen in the boy recently. Turning his attention back to Cody, he nodded that he was ready to depart. "Let's go have a look, shall we?"

Cody felt he did them both a favor by not going inside after Alex. His glare was iced and hard on the door for a moment as Alex's back disappeared through it. He turned back to Sam after a moment. "Yeah Doc. If it's not a cold... then what she got?"