Moving from Maryland

by Christine Sterling

  She hissed as she ran her fingers along the contusions. “Oh my, there are so many of them.” She shook her shoulders and moved to the foot of the bed. “Okay, now his boots and pants. Let me think about how we should do this.”

  “It would be easier to get his boots off then his pants.”

  Gracie nodded. She didn’t want to have to cut the tight material from him unless she really had to. Gracie removed his boots. It took a few tugs, but they came off and she dropped them on the floor. Thank goodness they didn’t have to cut them off.

  Gracie could see the swelling through his socks. She removed his socks and then proceed to check each one of his toes to see if they would move. She then examined the arch and top of his foot.

  “He’s got several broken bones in his feet, mainly his toes. I’ll need linen to wrap those.” She looked back to Jasper. “Just get his pants started and I’ll pull down from the legs here. Once they are down enough, drape that blanket over him.” She wiped her hands on her skirt. “No need for him to be embarrassed if he wakes up.” Jasper nodded and they had the task completed in a few minutes.

  “He has some bruising on his legs, but I don’t think anything is broken.”

  Louisa came back in the room and nearly dropped the pail of water. “He’s undressed.”

  “Thank you for that,” Gracie replied.

  “It’s indecent.”

  Gracie looked at her. “I’m a doctor, Miss Abernathy. There isn’t anything to be ashamed of.”

  “Let me help,” she offered.

  Gracie nodded. “You can start by wiping his face and working down his arms. We need to get as much of the dirt off him as possible. I’ll start at his feet and work my way up.”

  Gracie watched as Louisa began to wipe the blood and dirt from Barrett’s face. “I forgot the soap,” Louisa said, looking at Jasper.

  “I’ll go get it,” Jasper offered. Louisa nodded and went back to washing and rinsing.

  Once Jasper left, Louisa put her rag down and turned to Gracie. “He doesn’t love me, you know.”

  Gracie nearly dropped the splint she was wrapping around Barrett’s ankle. She quickly recovered and continued to weave pieces of linen over the splits.

  “He will never love me, Gracie. Neither will the boys. Let’s not fool ourselves, shall we?” Louisa said.

  “I don’t know what you are talking about,” Gracie whispered.

  Louisa started wiping Barrett’s face again. “It doesn’t matter. He has to marry me.”

  The movement was so slight, that Gracie almost thought she was imagining things. But there it was again.

  “Have you told him?” Gracie asked. Grabbing a jar of liniment. She started to dab it on the bruises she saw forming on his legs.

  “Told him what?”

  “That you’re pregnant.”

  Chapter 10

  Louisa looked at Gracie in disbelief. “What makes you think that?”

  Gracie shrugged her shoulders. “You’ve been sleeping a lot. In fact, you went to bed early the day of the picnic.”

  “I am just tired.”

  “You can’t be around the smell of meat, which is also why you disappeared the day of the picnic.”

  “The smoke was bothering me.”

  “You’ve started unbuttoning the bottom two buttons of your jacket and hoping no one notices.”

  “I’ve gained weight since I’ve been here.”

  “Have you been sick in the morning? Making water more than usual? Irritable? Cranky?”

  Louisa didn’t answer. She flounced in her seat and returned to cleaning Barrett’s skin.

  “But you’ve placed your hand over your belly a few times. You may not even realize it. That is what makes me think you are with child.”

  Louisa sniffled. “I don’t know what I’m going to do.”

  “Have you told him?” she asked again.

  Louisa shook her head. “I’m hoping we will get married and then it will be too late for him to do anything.”

  Gracie was screaming internally. Externally she was extremely calm and continued her ministrations. “Once he wakes up, you need to tell him.”

  “I don’t know if I can do that.”

  Gracie finished up one leg and moved around the bed to the other side. “You don’t have a choice. You need to tell him.” She paused and looked at Louisa. “If you don’t, I will. I don’t think he will be as receptive if it comes from me.”

  Gracie was exhausted. She looked at the watch pinned on her jacket. It was after midnight. He still hadn’t woken up.

  She kicked everyone out of the room shortly after she and Louisa had bathed Barrett. They were done applying liniment and balm to the bruises that were forming and Gracie didn’t think it was good for anyone to sit around looking at him in this condition.

  The boys kissed their Pa goodnight and then asked if Gracie could tuck them into bed. Louisa stiffened slightly but then nodded to the boys.

  Gracie escorted the boys to their bedroom and watched them say their prayers.

  “Please help Pa,” they prayed. “Make him well again and let him know how much we love him.”

  Gracie took a deep breath. These children had lost so much. She wasn’t going to let them lose another parent.

  “Into bed you go,” she said, lifting John onto his mattress. John wrapped his arms around Gracie’s neck so tightly she thought she might break.

  “Good night, Gracie,” he said, kissing her cheek. “I love you.”

  “Good night, John. I love you too.”

  Sam was next. He scampered under the covers. Gracie pulled the blanket up to his neck and ruffled his hair. She bent to give him a kiss on the forehead and Sam reached out to enfold her in a hug. Gracie sat on the side of the bed as Sam cried in her arms.

  She smoothed his hair and whispered words of comfort to him. George crawled into Sam’s bed and wrapped his arms around both Sam and Gracie. Gracie gave him a kiss on the forehead.

  “It will be alright,” she said. “Your Pa is one of the strongest men I know. He’s just going to need some time to heal.”

  Sam leaned back and wiped his nose on the back of his sleeve. “I wish you were our Ma.”

  “Me too,” George said.

  “Me three,” chimed in John.

  Gracie tucked Sam back in before standing up. “To bed with you,” she gently chided, pointing to George’s bed.

  George crawled under the covers and Gracie tucked him in under the handmade quilt. “Can you tell us a story?”

  “I need to get back to your Pa. How about I tell you one tomorrow?”

  “I can’t wait,” he said.

  “Me either. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  She returned to the door and blew out the lamp on the wall. A chorus of love you reached her ears.

  She blew them kisses and closed the door behind her. Gracie saw Louisa standing outside her bedroom door. Her eyes followed Gracie as she crossed back to Barrett’s room.

  Gracie sat in the chair next to Barrett’s bed and she heard the soft click of Louisa’s door closing, taking all her dreams with her.

  She sat there silently commanding him to wake up. Gracie put her watch back down.

  She looked over at Barrett. He hadn’t moved at all. She was concerned about the swelling on the back of his head, wrapping some of the ice in several layers of linen and applying it to the area where he hit the ground.

  It had been there for a bit and was starting to melt, wetting the sheet underneath. Gracie removed the compress and dropped it into the dirty water bucket next to the side of the bed.

  “How is he?” Jasper was standing at the door.

  Gracie jumped. “I thought everyone had gone to bed.”

  “I had to go out to the bunkhouse. I’ll be sleeping on the settee in the office.” He came into the room, holding a cup and sat on the chaise where Louisa had sat earlier. He took a sip and pointed to Barrett with his cup.

  “No movement since he fel
l. Sometimes when the body experiences trauma it goes into a coma so it can heal.” Gracie rubbed her eyes. They were burning. “I’m hoping that is the case here.”

  “Do you want a cup of coffee?” he asked, lifting his cup.

  “I would love one.” Jasper disappeared and quickly reappeared with a cup of the hot steaming brew. Gracie would have liked a little milk, she found the brew too bitter for her liking. But she took a sip anyway. It warmed her completely.

  She noticed that Jasper had pulled the chaise over to the other side of the bed.

  “I brought in some sheets and a blanket. It won’t be much, but at least it will be more comfortable than sleeping in the chair. I’ll grab a pillow from the closet and bring you one of those too.”

  Gracie laughed. It was rather uncomfortable sitting on the wooden chair for so long. “Thank you. I’m sure I’ll go to sleep soon. And this way I can be here if he wakes up.”

  Jasper came back and tossed a pillow onto the lounge. “Barrett’s office is on the other side of the house. Go past the kitchen and you’ll find it at the end of the hall. I’ll leave the door open in case you need me.”

  “Thank you.”

  “No, thank you, Gracie. Barrett may not know it yet, but he owes you his life.”

  Gracie watched Jasper leave the room and she listened to the sound of his footsteps as they faded down the hall.

  She disagreed with Jasper’s assessment. If anyone was the hero, he was. She didn’t even know if she would be able to save Barrett.

  She leaned over and picked up Barrett’s hand in hers. His fingers were long, and his nails were square. The skin on his knuckles had been scraped off. Gracie had put lavender balm on his abrasions. The smell was pleasant, and lavender had antibacterial properties.

  “I bet you didn’t know that you would smell like a garden, did you, Barrett?” She rubbed the back of his hand, carefully avoiding the scraped and bruised places. “You need to get well. You hear me, Barrett Wright? Those children need you.” She wrapped his hand up in both of hers, cupping it so she didn’t touch the tender skin. “Jasper needs you. Mrs. Parker needs you. Louisa needs you.” She paused and looked at him. His handsome face looked so peaceful. She watched the steady rise and fall of his chest. “I even need you.”

  She waited for him to respond. Of course, he won’t, she thought. She didn’t think he could hear her. She didn’t know much about comas, just that they were a deep sleep that the patient couldn’t wake up from voluntarily.

  “I know you and Louisa are going to get married. She really does need you right now. I just want you to know that I’m happy for you, really happy.” Gracie wiped away a tear. “I will love you from afar. I just want you to be happy, Barrett.”

  Gracie dropped her head to her chest, closing her eyes and took several deep breaths. Suddenly she felt it. Her eyes flew open and she looked at Barrett. He had squeezed her hand.

  Gracie woke up with a terrible headache. It took a moment for her to realize where she was. She had contorted herself on the chaise. She honestly didn’t remember even lying down, but she must have fallen asleep once her head hit the pillow.

  She opened her eyes and closed them again against the bright light. Didn’t people believe in curtains?

  “You awake, Gracie?” a small voice asked.

  John.

  Gracie pushed herself up from the lounger. “I am now, honey.” She ran her fingers through her hair trying to calm the mad waves.

  “You boys get out of here,” another voice said.

  Mrs. Parker.

  Gracie opened her eyes again. “It is fine. I’m just waking up.”

  “I brought you some coffee and biscuits. I didn’t know what you would like to eat.”

  “That sounds good.”

  “How’s our patient this morning?”

  Gracie looked at Barrett. Some of his color was returning, unfortunately it was mottled by shades of blue, black and purple.

  Gracie walked over to the bed. “He didn’t wake up all night. I am hoping we can get some response from him today.”

  “Is he going to die, Gracie?” Sam asked.

  “Shush,” Mrs. Parker admonished them.

  Gracie reached out to give Sam’s shoulder a quick squeeze. “It’s alright, Sam. He isn’t going to die. He’s just not out of danger yet.” She brought the young boy over to stand by his father. “He can hear everything you say. Why don’t you pick up his hand and talk to him?”

  Sam carefully picked up Barrett’s hand. It looked so large in the boy’s small one. “Pa?” he tentatively asked. “Can you hear me, Pa?”

  George grabbed Barrett’s other hand. “It’s me, Pa. George. John, Sam and I are here with Gracie and Mrs. Parker.”

  “Mrs. Parker made biscuits and ham this morning. I know how much you like those.” Sam laid his head down on Barrett’s chest. “Wake up, Pa.”

  “Why don’t you come back in a bit and talk to him some more?”

  Mrs. Parker took the boys from the room. Gracie used the opportunity to use the privy and wash her face. How she missed the water closet from her dormitory. It was so nice not to have to go outside, even if she did have to share it with 7 other women.

  She quickly washed her hands in the basin and then went back to check on Barrett. Her hands were cold, so she warmed them with her breath before checking his pulse at the base of his neck. It was strong and steady.

  She checked his lungs. They still sounded clear. It was a miracle that he didn’t puncture his lungs. Gracie didn’t know if she would have been able to handle draining his lungs if it came to that. The bruises were darker this morning. She noticed a small pool of blood on top of his foot under his skin. She would have to keep an eye on that. It was probably draining and collecting there.

  Gracie grabbed the pillow on the chaise along with the blankets. She propped up Barrett’s feet. If she kept them elevated, the swelling and blood would probably dissipate rather quickly.

  Once she had him settled, she pulled out several items from her bag and headed to the kitchen. The boys were sitting around the table eating biscuits with jam and drinking milk. They jumped up when they saw Gracie.

  “Is Pa alright?” Sam asked.

  “He’s still asleep,” she told the boy. She looked at Mrs. Parker as she placed her items on the table. “I just came in to make some salve. Do you have an old pot I can use?”

  Mrs. Parker pulled out an old coffee pot. “This is dented, will it do? I was just keeping it as a grease tin.”

  Gracie took the pot and looked at it. “It will work perfectly.”

  “What are these for, Gracie?” John asked, picking up the linen bag and several tins.

  Gracie placed the pot on the stove. “Would you like to help me?” she asked, picking up the bag.

  A resounding chorus of yeses reached Gracie’s ears.

  The boys gathered around Gracie. “Don’t stand too close to the stove,” she cautioned. “This is beeswax.” She took a block out of the bag and handed it to the boys to touch.

  “Like from bees?” John said. He was standing up on his tiptoes trying to see.

  “Exactly,” Gracie said, touching his nose. When they were done looking at the block, she popped it into the coffee pot to start melting. “Let’s look at the rest of this.”

  She dug back into the bag and placed several sheets of cheesecloth and a few empty tins on the table. “We are going to make some more lavender salve and some arnica salve.”

  “Arnica?”

  “Yes George. It will help break up the bruises.”

  “Can we make cookies?” Sam asked.

  Gracie laughed. “Not right now. Once your Pa wakes up, we will have all the time to make cookies.” Gracie gave the dried lavender flowers to George. “Will you take these and crumble them into the beeswax?”

  “Like this?” he asked, demonstrating for Gracie.

  “Exactly like that.”

  “Isn’t this a cozy scene,” Louisa said comin
g into the kitchen. She walked to the table and sat down. “Ida, make me a coffee.” Mrs. Parker looked at Louisa but didn’t say anything. A moment later a steaming cup of coffee was placed on the table. Louisa took a sip and sighed. “What are you doing?” she asked Gracie. “Shouldn’t you be taking care of Barrett?”

  “We’re making sal… sal…” John started.

  “Salve,” Gracie encouraged.

  “Yes, salve.”

  “Isn’t that rather primitive?” Louisa said. “Using all those herbal remedies.

  “The pioneers would use medicine like this, and it worked for them.”

  Louisa gave a little sniffle. “Would it be feasible to get something to eat? Or is the entire kitchen being taken up with this tomfoolery?”

  Gracie sighed and looked at Mrs. Parker. “How about I make you some eggs and bacon, Louisa?” Mrs. Parker asked.

  Louisa nodded. Gracie looked inside the coffee pot. The wax was melting nicely, and the flowers were starting to disintegrate in the hot wax. She pulled the mixture off the stove and swirled it around to make sure it was fully infused. She set the pot to the side of the stove to cool slightly.

  Pulling a small pewter pitcher from the bag, she lined it with cheesecloth. “What are you doing now, Gracie?” John asked.

  “We are going to strain this and then put it in the tins. Can you line up the tins for me?”

  John took one of the tins, Sam pushed him out of the way. “Hey, I want to help.”

  “Give that back to me,” John said.

  “Stop it,” George shouted.

  “My head! My head! Can you please be quiet?” Louisa complained.

  The boys looked contrite and put the tins back on the table.

  “I can make you some willow bark tea. It will help with your head,” Gracie offered.

  “No thank you, I’ll be fine if we can just get the noise down.”

  “Boys, your Aunt Louisa isn’t feeling well. Let’s use our softer voices,” Gracie said. She stole a glance at Mrs. Parker who was rolling her eyes and continued to cut the slab of bacon.