The Aftermath 1/5

Pa and Mary are riding the wagon into town. Mary is prattling on about what the class has been covering in their history lessons. Specifically, discussing both sides of the Civil War. Pa is not too enthusiastic about the subject matter since the war has only been over for eleven years. Yes, what better way to begin learning from the mistakes of history by not engaging in the analysis as soon as possible. No offense, Charles, but that's the first step towards ignorance.

As the wagon pulls into town a man is shouting "good news!" repeatedly. I don't think you can count your time in Walnut Grove as part of your missionary quota, mister. Oh, it's a newspaper delivery man saying that Jesse James and his gang were involved in a botched bank robbery. A couple of the gang members were killed and Jesse's brother was shot in the leg. "Murdering, thieving scum," says one man who may or may not be Patrick Stewart, judging by the voice and delivery. Nels is holding the stack of papers and meekly reminds everyone that each issue is a penny as they walk away. Poor Nels.

Charles walks over to Mrs. Foster at the post office. A man in a brown suit is sitting on a bench outside the service window and he doesn't look well. It looks as if he may throw up but instead opts to fall out of the bench. Charles catches the man before he hits the ground. A blond man, unloading a wagon, sees the commotion and rushes over. Once the man in the brown suit sits back up, he blames his condition on swamp fever. A couple other people, including Mary and Mr. Hanson, stop by to make sure everyone is all right. The blond man says that the sick guy just needs to rest up for a few days. The blond man introduces himself as P.K. Dankworth and the man in brown as Mr. Hobbes. Charles introduces himself and his daughter to the two men. P.K. goes on to say that he and his partner were speculating nearby when Hobbes got sick. They wanted to get a hotel room but Mr. Hanson chimes in that the hotel is booked. P.K. is disappointed with the news and asks if there is another place they can stay. Mr. Hanson offers a house he can rent out for $4 a week. Hmmm, even in 1880's dollars that seems a little too low. P.K. doesn't seem to object though and hands Hanson some money.

Jonathan, who has also been watching this scene, takes another look at Hobbes and offers to get Doc Baker so he can take a look at him. Hobbes politely refuses as P.K. goes on to explain that they already know how to treat swamp fever. Jonathan seems a little wounded that he didn't get to help the new people in town and walks away with his tail between his legs. Charles offers to give the men a ride to the house. P.K. offers to pay Charles for his help but he replies "we don't charge neighbors." You know, that's how every other case on The People's Court gets started...

Whoa! It looks like the house that is rented out is the one that is later used for the blind school. $4 a week? That place is HUGE. Why can't Hanson be my landlord? Anyway, Mary and Charles help carry in Mr. Hobbes and his things. Everything is covered in sheets since no one has lived in the house for a while. Seriously? $4 a week, furnished, and they will have the entire building to themselves? I thought the place I just moved into was a steal but apparently I was wrong. Sorry, where was I? P.K. helps Hobbes onto the couch as Pa asks if they can be of any more assistance. He replies that they will need supplies so Charles offers to show them where the Mercantile is located. P.K. balks at this, saying that Hobbes' fever brings on convulsions so he would rather not leave his associate alone. He asks if it would be possible to hire Mary as an errand girl for twenty five cents a day. Mary's face lights up like a Christmas tree. Pa thinks for a moment before laying down some terms: Mary may only work after school and only for ten cents a day. Uh, Mary must take after her father because Charles Ingalls sucks at salary negotiations. Everyone seems happy with the deal, particularly Mary.

Charles is loading up some crates at the Mercantile. Doc Baker walks over and greets Charles and asks about the man with swamp fever. Charles says they didn't want to see a doctor since they already know how to deal with the fever and convulsions. Doc Baker was already concerned about the patients refusing treatment and now he is baffled as to how convulsions got mixed in with this. I guess that symptom doesn't mesh with the differential. Doc Baker leaves to consult his medical texts.

Back at the Hanson Arms, P.K. is removing a bloody bandage from Hobbes' leg. Hmmm, I don't think that's a symptom of swamp fever either. Hobbes calls P.K. "Jesse" and says that he is glad he avoided passing out earlier. P.K./Jesse agrees as he takes a look at the wound. Hobbes is glad that he only has a flesh wound, but he wonders how everything went wrong earlier. Hey, hiring Mary was Jesse's idea. Oh, they must mean the botched robbery, in which I think they may have been directly involved. They start discussing their Plan B since their gang is kaput. Right now the goal is to lay low and hopefully remain unrecognized until Hobbes' hobble is healed and then mosey on over to the Dakota to homestead or something. I think they would both agree that it won't be the most exciting endeavor, but at least there will be fewer bullets.