Ignition: Day 10

 Word Count: 60,309

Summary of Events:

Leaving Dr. and Mrs. Carrigan's house after having stayed for a tasty lunch, Keiller spied the town gossip, Mrs. Hames, lurking outside and feared rumours might develop. Rebekka and Mrs. Carrigan were making raspberry jam when Mrs. Hames came to visit, a visit that proved trying because of Mrs. Hames' failing hearing, and her unwillingness to admit it was failing. Keiller was later confronted by Mrs. Wharton, who'd heard from Mrs. Hames that Keiller was visiting Dr. and Mrs. Carrigan's house to flirt with an actress, but Keiller convinced her it was all nonsense. Rebekka was working on sewing some gowns for her baby while Mrs. Carrigan made supper, and Dr. Carrigan, to her indignation, suggested that she apprise Keiller of her surname like he wanted . . .

Excerpt of the Day:

“Even if he is impatient, and maybe even lacking in some areas of character, he isn’t dastardly, underhanded, or corrupt,” Dr. Carrigan said. “In fact, in some ways I feel he’s even better at upholding the law than Marshal Evans was. He’s certainly much better than Deputy Gillies. I can assure you.”

Nevertheless, Dr. Carrigan hadn’t heard the threats Marshal Bartlett had made to her, and she also didn’t think a marshal could be very good if he let his deputy marshal do dastardly and despicable things.

“In fact, I’m impressed at what he’s done for you so far,” Dr. Carrigan said.

“What he’s done for me?” Rebekka asked, looking up from her sewing.

“Well, he did let you come stay with us, as well as allow us to give you clean clothes and the ability to tidy your hair,” Dr. Carrigan said.

“I don’t understand that he did any of those things with complete willingness,” Rebekka said.

“Nonetheless, considering the poor relations between the two of you, he did relent, and without overlong delays,” Dr. Carrigan replied. “And I’m impressed by that.”

“You thought he would put up more of a fight?” Rebekka asked.

“Yes,” Dr. Carrigan replied. “He’s certainly not one who gives up easily.”

Still, he had threatened her, and let his deputy handle her indecently, and make inappropriate comments toward her.

“The most impressive thing, however, was what he did willingly,” Dr. Carrigan said.

“But he didn’t do anything willingly,” Rebekka said.

“Yes,” Dr. Carrigan replied. “He did.”
“What are you talking about?” Rebekka asked.

“For the first few weeks you were in his care he ate the food that was supposed to have gone to you,” Dr. Carrigan replied.

Rebekka felt appalled. “And I’m supposed to appreciate that?”

“Considering that it was burnt, over-seasoned, and otherwise ruined, yes,” Dr. Carrigan replied.

“Ruined?” Rebekka asked.

“Yes,” Dr. Carrigan replied. “Apparently Mrs. Wharton was not impressed to know that Marshal Bartlett had a female prisoner, and so deliberately ruined the serving of food that was to be served to you, but Marshal Bartlett ate the servings instead and gave you his perfectly fine food.”

Rebekka didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t altogether sure she believed what Dr. Carrigan was telling her, it didn’t seem like something Marshal Bartlett would really do, it sounded more like a tale he’d told in order to get Dr. Carrigan to tell her to reveal her surname.

“And you believe him?” she asked.

“Yes,” Dr. Carrigan replied.

“You don’t think he’s lying just to get what he wants?” Rebekka asked.

“No,” Dr. Carrigan replied. “I promise you that he isn’t devious like that. He may not be perfectly upright, but he is actually more upright than some of the people who call themselves Christians in this town.”

She wasn’t convinced. To her this was more likely a story Marshal Bartlett had made up in an effort to get what he wanted, and she, for one, wasn’t going to buy it. She was disappointed that Dr. Carrigan had.