Take her off my hands

[Lovely]

January 9, Year 2
early evening


It was rare for Josh Palmer or any Palmer for that matter to show up at the Carlisle home. Even though three were deputies for the Sheriff they did not often come to his home. This evening found Josh coming to fetch Sam at the house during supper. One Carlisle had probably noticed that Ciara hadn't been seen at the shop or around town for days. Josh came in and softly cleared his throat. "Sam.. I need you to come see about my sister.. please."

*poof*... suddenly two empty seats at the dinner table. "Where'd Alex go?"

"Daddy was mad as heck.. " Josh explained on the way to the Palmer home, which they sped toward, arriving quickly.

Alex went in and decided now was the time to take the moment to talk to Pa Palmer. ".. sir... she needs assistance... I'd like to help... "

Pa Palmer looked at Alex, he was angry, but not at the boy. "She needs a keeper.. someone who can keep her under control."

He would find Ciara half-standing, draped over the sewing table, kinda sleeping.

"I intend to keep her, sir, but believed I'd not get that blessin'..." He went on trying to explain and ask for that. ".. love your daughter... my intent is to marry, but given..." He continued but then paused, looking to the older man. ".. wait... you'd ... she... ... I can keep her under control, make no mistake..."

He listened and nods.. Resher had said no to the offer Palmer made him to take the girl. "Then you can have her.. how soon can you take her off my hands?"

".. as soon as... well... t'be honest, I'd like the choice to be hers."

"As soon as possible.. I'd call the preacher down here right now.. but Joshua insisted on the doctor. It appears she's busted open.." Turns away flipping open his pocket watch. "Sooner the better or I may ship her to the convent anyhow."

"I... but.... the preacher's m'brother, sir. If she's not in a way to say either way, she's welcome to stay in our home, but I beg you, please don't send her away"

"Were she a bit older I'd have sent her away with her brothers.. " His jaw works in an angry clenching motion. "I am her father.. and I am saying.. she get's married off or sent off.. either way, she's not to remain here."

Alex had rarely used his charm to get other than himself out of trouble and hoped that some inkling of it might work on the man's tamer sense now. "And as she's your only daughter sir, please. Whatever is done is atonable, fixable and forgivable given time. The pennance of sending her away, being that she is so young, sir, would take your only girl from your arms, far too soon. My intent on her is none to do with your anger or wish to send her away, but to be her husband by law and love, sir. Would you deprive your only girl her one true happiness?"

[Lovely]

His gaze was distant and cold as he turned back to the boy. "At this moment her happiness is not my concern. Either you take her off my hands or I will find another who is willing to.. "

He sighed quietly and pulled back inward, guarding against the chill as it penetrated him and sought to spark his own anger. Leaving that for Cody to manage later, Alex nodded as curtly as he replied. "So be it sir. She is now my responsibility if it please you and soon have my name."

"Then take her and leave.. I'll send her things." He turned his back, not once looking to his daughter who was slumped over the sewing table.

Sam waited in the other room as Alex got there first and wanted a word with Pa Palmer.

"Sam?! I'll need your help, brother," he called out the door, not taking his eye off Ephraim for few hateful moments. He'd gotten his wish, but not how he'd intended. He'd be spending no less than an hour in confessional for the thoughts that raced through his head now. He moved slowly to Ciara to check her pain and see how he could go about getting her home in this condition.

Sam came from speaking in a low voice with Joshua in the kitchen, he paused at the door, looking to Alex. "Yes?" His eyes cast to Ciara, knowing her condition was not good as she was slumped half standing, not sleeping, but passed out.

"Your recommendation, Doctor? We're taking her home."

He could see the blood that seeped through the bandages and the back of her dress, as easily as Alex could. Sam rubbed his fingers over his lips. "Joshua.. could you fetch some pillows and some of her clothes.." He called to the man standing in the kitchen looking at the floor. At Joshua's nod, Sam turned back to Alex. "We can lay her in my cart, using the pillows and clothes to cushion her, best to keep her off her back."

Joshua moved into the house, pausing to ask his father's permission to come in further and fetch the things that Sam asked for. To his credit, Ephriam was not heartless as he nodded his head that Josh could get what he needed.

Alex followed him to help gather what was needed, but said little as he fumed. The man was being reasonable and unreasonable at the same time, more maddening than if he'd been outright furious and simply made her leave. "Tell me lad... he can't hate forever, can he?" He asked Josh in a close whisper as her dresses were folded and collected over his arm.

"Can't rightly say for sure.. he's never been this mad at us before." Josh replied softly, folding a few of Ciara's nightgowns and putting them over Alex's arm. "Promise me.. you'll take good care of her." He went to her dresser and held out a small, but beautifully carved wooden box to Alex, Josh had made it for Ciara years ago. "I know Daddy said he'd send her things, but she'd want this, it has some things that belonged to momma in it." He glanced around the room, a hollow feeling inside as he knew he would never come down the hall and see her pinning up her hair, her bright smile turning to greet him as he stood in her doorway.. this wasn't going to be her room anymore. Swallowing the lump in his throat, Josh moved to the bed to gather the pillows and her quilt, thier momma had made it for Ciara.. His arms scooped the pillows into the quilt and he was ready to bring the things down.

[Lovely]

"I promised that the day I met her, Joshua, but now y'hear it from me out loud. She'll be m'wife if she'll have me, or my sister if she won't, but she'll not set foot in a convent, I'll see to that."

Josh nodded again, sighing softly. "You better.. just cause Daddy is being all.. the way he is.. don't mean us boys won't still tear into you if you don't treat her right. I don't think we have to worry much about that.. but just so you know and all." He'd been somber and withdrawn till now, glancing at the boy with a bit of a smile. "All right then.." He walked out the door and headed with quiet purpose to set the pillows in Sam's cart.

"Thank y'for your blessing, Josh. Means more than y'know," he murmured, nodding that he was right behind and nothing more needed to be said. He followed with the dresses and the box, covering it from view with the clothes in his arms, giving Ephraim a glance of pale contempt, feeling more at ease now than he had moments earlier. Perhaps the man would come around in a few days or weeks, but he hoped in time for the wedding to see her off rightly on her day, assuming she'd take him and his ring as she already had done with his heart.

Sam was kneeling beside Ciara, the syringe being placed back into his bag as he held a bit of cloth to her arm. Wrapping and tying it gently where he'd administered the shot. Joshua had told him enough in the kitchen, for him to know she needed his care when this first happened. Why Ephriam's anger had been so great, he didn't understand the man causing his daughter this much pain. It was likely her strapping had been worse than Lily's. Sam had tended her as well, but was thankful she was mostly healed up by the time Patrick came 'back' into the picture. He worried now how Alex might react to seeing her, a bridge they would cross when they got home.

"I'll leave these in your care, Sam, if she's fit enough for travel," he said, coming back in to announce their imminent departure. He somewhat hoped Ephriam would falter or apologize or that he'd have satisfaction of seeing some seeming regret crack through the man's cold gaze.

He glanced up and nodded. "Of course. The pain will likely rouse her, but the sedative should keep her from being to bothered." His case clasped closed, he stood and moved to take the clothes in one arm, his case in the other.

Ephriam's head turned slightly but then he turned away again, moving to the window to stare out. His fingers came to pinch the bridge of his nose and his face tilted down, one arm curled around his middle. He couldn't bring himself to look at her or to apologise for what his anger had made him do to her.. he was still too angry for that.

Whatever made Alexander look up at the moment afforded him the glimpse of the man turning away. It was enough to acknowledge that she would not darken his doorstep for some time. So be it, he repeated to himself. She'll be taken care of, he silently assured the man, though on some level, he realized Ephraim knew this. He whispered every apology he could manage as he gingerly loosened the limp girl from her perch, placing himself beneath her sturdily and tenderly, laying her across the breadth of his shoulders like a yolk and plow, hunching him down. His back and arms were strong enough to hold her in any fashion, but her wounds bursting concerned him greatly. One certainty was his wish that the other girls not see her enter like this.

She whimpered softly at being jostled, even as gentle as he tried to be with her. Ciara's eyes fluttered open and she looked around with a confused expression, before the shot Sam had given her, pulled her eyes closed again.

To calm her restlessness, he hummed quietly, a soft lullabye from some distant part of his childhood he remembered. The sound was all besides his footfalls that the man would hear as he carried her to the waiting padding on the cart.

She moaned again as she was shifted to the cushioned cart, her eyes flickering open. "Alex..?" She murmured his name, not fully aware that he was there, more feeling like she was dreaming him and wanting him close.

[Lovely]

"Rest, Ciara. You're in a state and the doctor has you in his care. I'm here, luv."

"I'm sorry.." She whispered, her fingers curling into the fabric of the clothes below her.

Sam looked back at the two, to see if they were ready to begin the, unfortunately bumpy, ride home. Josh had tied Alex's horse to the cart, assuming he'd want to ride with Ciara and figuring if he didn't, he could just untie the animal.

Hearing the apology tugged painful strings in his heart. He looked at Sam, his lips pursed in a well-kept fury as he glanced back at the house then to her where she curled. "Lead the team, Sam. I'll stay back here with her. Joshua, we'll not turn you away if you need a warm bed or meal. Please consider it. Let's go, Sam."

"Just long enough to make sure she's settled.." Josh accepted the offer quietly, setting his horse to pace with the cart as Sam set the team in motion.

Ephriam watched them out the window as they left, his head pounding and his chest feeling heavy. He knew he wouldn't likely sleep again tonight, but turned away as the cart faded into the distance, to head to his room.

It likely wasn't comfortable hitting every stone and pit on the fields and road between the houses, but the worst was the incline of the hill where the old house rested. Alexander rode with her head cradled in his hand on his leg, scarcely moving the whole way. He stroked her hair softly with the other if only to reassure her in the induced tranquilized state that he was near and not ever leaving her.

Sam pulled the cart to a stop in front of the house, Josh closing the gate behind them and then catching up. He stood quietly to the side to allow them the room they needed to attend Ciara. Sam tossed him the riens and stepped down from the cart, moving to the back to offer Alex assistance.

Ciara faded in and out, more out than not for the ride to the Carlisle estate. Her hand rested on Alex's leg, next to her face and now and again she would moan or murmur his name.

"Alright, Ciara. We need to take you inside. Can you stand? I need you to help me help you get down. Think of it as an adventure. We're on a great hill and I need you to come down now, alright?" His tone was gentle and he kissed her cheek softly then pulled himself stiffly from beneath her. His leg was numbed and starting to prickle as he moved, making standing difficult. He dug about for a loose wrap to cover her wounds. "Joshua, if you would, help me get her to her feet. Sam, I don't want Charlotte to see her like this. Truthfully, Aeilandra shouldn't either. Please tend to them and we'll get her inside."

Sam clutched his bag in one hand and nodded, moving inside to make sure the girls were kept away from seeing them bring in Ciara.

She groaned softly when Alex moved and brought her hand to her head, feeling disoriented. She wasn't sure if she could stand, but she would try, listening to Alex's gentle voice and simply wanting to be closer to him. Every time she moved it felt as though the world went off kilter and her back ached and stung. Ciara shifted and moved slowly through the haze of her vision to find Alex.

Josh was of course more than willing to assist and moved down to the back of the cart, his hand reaching to Ciara's arm to steady her as she moved unevenly towards them.

[Lovely]

Alex murmured to Josh, not certain if Ciara could hear him clearly. "Should they ask, she was thrown from her horse that later stumbled. She needs the doctor's care, and that's why she's here. That and your father needed to put the animal down... it was one of her favorites and he didn't want her to know in her state. That's all they should need or want to hear."

Josh gave him a curious look and nodded his agreement. "What will you tell her?" He whispered, easing his arm around Ciara's waist.

"That I'll die old, alone and brokenhearted if she says 'no'."

He nodded again, with that almost smile. "Ready?" He draped her arm over his shoulders and held onto her hand.

The last part he somewhat hoped she did hear to let that work whatever magic it would in her dreams. He secured her on his side, tender and gentle as he could manage for them both to hold her up. The wrap he pulled from the pile was tossed loosely around her shoulders to hide the lashings that had clearly bled through. Once that was in place, he nodded he was ready to help ease her to her feet and into the house.

She stumbled a bit as the boys mostly carried her into the house, her feet moving when she could get them to coordinate. Her head rested to the side, partly leaning on Alex's shoulder and arm, her eyes fluttered between open and closed. She winced and hissed softly from the pain and wished she could just go to sleep where she wouldn't feel in anymore.

Normally he bounded up and down the walkway and never realized how the stones were set unevenly, and how many there actually were until trying to help her move her feet over them. "Just a short bit yet, lass. You're doin' fine," he murmured, kissing the top of her head. There was still a good thirty feet to go to reach the door and the few steps up to boot.

Josh paused and with the hand that was looped behind Ciara tugged Alex to stop as well. "It will hurt some, but will be easier and over quicker if one of us carries her in."

"Was hoping not to bruise her dignity as well, laddie, but y'have a fair point. Get the door." He nodded and positioned himself to carry her again, but this time cradled like nothing were wrong other than her being drugged. "Sorry, Ciara. You have every permission to pinch and kick this pain back into my very soul when you can move, but it's only for a few moments, I promise you."

"Dignity be damned.. you're going to marry the girl, scoop her up! 'sides she won't make it that far like this.." He spoke as Alex was lifting Ciara into his arms. Josh heard her whimper as he moved off ahead of them to get the door.

Her fingers suddenly seemed very 'awake' as they clawed into Alex's shoulder, tears stung her eyes and she muffled the pained cry against his neck. She panted slightly for a moment the pain breaking through the heavy 'sleepy state' but then relenting enough for her head to drift against his shoulder as he walked to the house.