From a neighbouring knoll most of McCane’s crew looked on with curses loud and deep, but they had no collective stomach for further warfare just then. When nothing but charred end-logs and glowing coals remained, Kent’s men tramped off through the deep snows shouting gibes and taunts at their enemies. Their vengeance had been ample and satisfying.
XIV
MacNutt was able to boss the job on the following day; but Kent was less fortunate. Pains in side and head attacked him, what of the pounding he had received. After waiting a couple of days for them to disappear, with a healthy man’s confidence in his own recuperative powers, he was driven back to Maguire’s, where he took train for Falls City. There his injured side was strapped and he was ordered complete rest and quiet.
Early in the winter, because he was alone in the world, he had leased his house and moved to an apartment building. This now seemed to him about as cheerful as a prison. He longed for human companionship of some sort, and he would have disobeyed his doctor’s orders and gone out in search of it, but for the fact that his face, covered with bruises, would have attracted attention. But in the afternoon of his first day’s confinement came William Crooks and Miss Jack.
That young lady took charge of the situation with calm capacity.
“Now, Joe,” she said, “you’re coming up to the house until you’re well. Doctor’s orders. So tell me what things you want and I’ll pack them for you.”
“I couldn’t think of troubling you,” he protested. “I’m not sick, you know. Just a cracked rib and a jolt on the head. I feel all right, really.”
“You do as you’re told,” she replied. She began to pull out the drawers of his chiffonier. “What a mess your things are in! Nothing where it ought to be. Where do you keep your pajamas? Dad, look in that closet for his suit case.”
“This is kidnapping,” said Joe.
“Call it what you like,” chuckled Crooks. “Do as Jack tells you and quit kicking. I have to.” He brought out a suit case and a deep club bag. “Fire in what you think he needs, Jack.”