The Scarlet Wedding

by Lorana Hoopes

  “Does it need anything else?” Emma turned in a slow circle for Kate to get a full view.

  Kate narrowed her eyes as she scanned the dress. “I don’t think so. It looks beautiful and with your hair pinned up, it will be amazing.”

  “Wonderful.” Taking care to avoid the pins, Emma removed the dress and handed it to Kate while she changed back into her other dress.

  Suddenly, Kate’s front door burst open and a breathless Carrie entered, her blonde hair flying behind her. “Emma, come quick. There’s something wrong with Jennie.”

  “What’s wrong with her?” Emma quickly finished fastening her dress and tried to tame the fear clawing at her heart.

  “I have no idea. She vomited at school and has some kind of rash; Pa said to come get you.”

  The fear turned to ice and snaked through Emma’s veins. Illnesses were never good and even worse when they struck children.

  “Should I come too?” Kate asked.

  “No,” Emma said forcefully. “You need to stay far away and protect your baby. Hopefully it’s nothing serious. I’ll send word when I can.”

  Forgetting both her dress and her bag, Emma followed Carrie outside and climbed into the wagon beside Samuel and Benjamin. Pa had sent the whole family to get her? This wasn’t good.

  Emma was the first out of the wagon when they arrived at their house. She thundered up the steps but before she could enter the house, Doc Moore opened the door and closed it behind him.

  “Emma, you can’t come in. I think it’s Scarlet Fever.”

  Emma’s hand flew to her mouth as her eyes widened. “Pa, are you sure?” Scarlet Fever was the worst sickness they had seen, but it would explain why he had sent everyone to get her. He would have wanted the rest of the family out of the house as quickly as possible hoping to keep them from catching the illness. While the Fever had spared their town during the last outbreak, stories of the deaths from neighboring towns had reached them. Emma remembered that her pa had said once a household was affected, nearly all the children in the house had gotten sick.

  “I’m almost sure.” His face was grave as he nodded. “She has three of the known symptoms - vomiting, fever, and a rash. You need to do some things for me. Are you listening?”

  Though shocked, Emma managed to nod. She barely registered her siblings joining them on the porch.

  “Good. First, you need to go to the school and ask them to close it down for at least a week. I have no idea where she contracted it, but we need to contain the spreading if possible. Second, you need to take your brothers and sisters to yours and William’s homestead.”

  “But Pa, it’s not finished yet,” Emma said.

  “It’s close enough. See if you can borrow some blankets from some of the neighbors if William doesn’t have enough. I understand it won’t be the same as your beds, but it will do until Jennie gets better or…”

  “Is Jennie going to die?” Benjamin’s voice trembled with fear.

  “Don’t even think it,” Emma replied as tears filled her eyes. “She will be okay.”

  “Of course she will,” Doc Moore said. “Finally, you’ll have to cover the clinic for a few days. I realize you hadn’t planned on spending much time there anymore and this will delay your wedding, but I can’t leave Jennie. You’ll need to watch yourself too. All of you. You’ve been exposed. If you start to feel feverish or get chills or a rash, close the clinic.”

  “Can I check on her? How will I know if she’s okay?” Emma’s heart felt like it was breaking in two. Though Jennie was only her sister and not her daughter, she had practically raised her as such.

  Doc Moore tapped his forehead for a bit as he thought. “I’ll put a white towel in the window to inform you she’s okay. If the towel disappears, come in and check on us.”

  It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it would work for now. “If you need anything while you’re in there, write it down and we’ll leave it on the porch.” Emma wanted to say more but she didn’t know what.

  “Good idea.” Doc Moore’s eyes moved from one child to the next as if he were memorizing their faces. “Take care of yourselves. I better get in and check on her.”

  “Pa,” Emma said as he began to close the door. He looked at her, a mixture of questions and fear in his eyes. “Don’t forget to pray.”

  “You too.” And then the door closed in their faces.

  Emma turned back to the steps, her gait much slower this time. Carrie took one of her hands and Benjamin grabbed the other. Though neither said a word, Emma could feel the fear radiating off both of them.

  “I’ll go get a horse ready for you,” Samuel said before hurrying off to the barn.

  “What’s wrong with Jennie?” Benjamin turned big eyes up at her. His voice was quieter than Emma had ever heard it.

  “Pa thinks it’s Scarlet Fever,” Emma said.

  Beside her, Carrie sucked in her breath, but Benjamin was too young to remember the last outbreak. “I don’t understand.” He looked from one girl to the other. “What’s Scarlet Fever?”

  Emma bit her lip as she tried to decide how to explain it so his twelve-year-old brain could comprehend it. “It’s a sickness, and it’s not good. We must pray hard for Jennie. Can you do that?”

  Benjamin’s eyes filled with tears, but he nodded. “I’ll pray every hour.” He bit his bottom lip and glanced away. “Emma, she’s not sick because I got mad at her, is she?”

  “Oh no.” Carrie let go of Emma’s hand and wrapped her arms around the boy. “You didn’t cause Jennie to get sick, Benjamin. This is not your fault.”

  “Sometimes people get sick,” Emma said. “It’s why Pa became a doctor. To try to help them.”

  Samuel appeared then with one of their horses saddled and ready.

  “Thank you.” Emma took the reins and addressed Samuel. “Go to William. I’ll catch up, but I have to do the errands for Pa first.”

  “No, Emma, I want to go with you,” Carrie said.

  Emma shook her head. “There’s no room on the horse. I’ll be faster alone, and I promise I’ll be there soon.”

  Both Carrie and Benjamin looked unconvinced, but they climbed up into the wagon. Samuel flicked the reins, and the wagon drove off. Emma spared one final glance at her Pa’s place and managed a tight smile when she saw the white towel in the window. Then she grabbed the reins of the chestnut mare and swung up on the saddle. If she hurried, she might reach the school before Margaret Goodman left. If not, she knew where the woman lived.

  Margaret was just locking the schoolhouse door when Emma rode up.

  “Hey, Emma.” The petite brunette looked up at her, using her hand as a shield against the setting sun. “Did Benjamin or Jennie forget something? She said she wasn’t feeling well today, but I thought they got everything before they left.”

  Emma dismounted and walked closer before answering. “No, Pa sent me to tell you that he thinks Jennie has Scarlet Fever.”

  Margaret’s blue eyes widened in fear. “Is he sure?”

  “He said he was almost sure. He sent me to ask you if any other children have had fevers, chills, or rashes, and to tell you watch out for those symptoms.”

  Margaret shook her head. “I have noticed none of those symptoms, not even with Jennie. And no one has been absent, but I’ll keep my eye on them all.”

  “Thank you. Pa recommended closing the school for at least a week until we’re sure no one else gets sick. We’ll keep Benjamin home regardless until we are sure he doesn’t have it.”

  “I understand.” Margaret issued a succinct nod. “I’ll be praying for Jennie.”

  Tears pricked Emma’s eyes once again, and she thanked Margaret before mounting up again and heading to the clinic.

  Once there, she found some paper and a pencil and wrote out a brief note.

  Doc Moore is tending to a patient with possible Scarlet Fever. Please be on the lookout for fever, chills, vomiting, and a rash. Emma will tend the clinic in Doc Moore’s absence. Should y
ou need care while no one is here, please come to William Cook’s homestead.

  Satisfied, Emma placed the paper in the window and locked up the clinic. She had done all she could for now. The rest was in God’s hands.

  William heard the wagon approach before he actually saw it. He looked up at Jesse who returned the same questioning gaze. Who in the world could be approaching in such a hurry?

  The two men walked to the front door, and William glanced at the rifle in the corner. Should he grab it? Before he could decide, the voice of Carrie, Emma’s younger sister, carried into the house.

  “William?” Her voice was shrill and filled with worry. “William, are you here?”

  His heart plummeted. If Carrie was calling, did that mean something had happened to Emma? Forgetting the gun, he threw open the front door to see Samuel helping Benjamin and Carrie down from the wagon. As soon as her feet hit the ground, Carrie flew into his arms, burying her head against his chest.

  “Oh, William, she’s sick.”

  “Emma? But I just saw her yesterday.” William blinked in disbelief. What could have happened to Emma so quickly?

  “No, not Emma.” Carrie stepped back and wiped tears from her cheek. “Jennie. Pa says it’s Scarlet Fever.”

  Scarlet Fever? William had been in enough towns to have seen an outbreak of Scarlet Fever. It was one of the deadliest diseases, mainly because there appeared to be no cure. Doctors would often let blood out of the patients to try to get rid of the infection that way, but for the most part, it meant quarantine and hoping that the child was strong enough to fight it off.

  “I should go check on Kate.” Fear danced in Jesse’s eyes as he stepped into the conversation.

  “That’s a good idea. In fact, why don’t you stay with her until we know none of the others have it?” William suggested. Though he appreciated Jesse’s help, he didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the health of his baby.

  “Are you sure?” Jesse asked, but William could hear a tiny thread of relief in his voice.

  “Yes, of course. Samuel and Benjamin can help me with the final touches around here.”

  Jesse nodded and hurried over to the tree where his horse stood tied up. In mere seconds, he had the horse untied and was up in the saddle. He flashed a wave and then rode off toward the outskirts of town where he and Kate lived.

  “Carrie, it will be okay.” William turned his attention back to the girl. “Where is Emma?”

  “She had to do some errands for Pa.” Samuel approached carrying two burlap bags. Benjamin trailed slightly behind him, carrying a sack of his own. “Pa made us gather some clothes before he sent us to get Emma.” He held up the bags. “Where do you want us to put them?”

  “Let’s take them inside,” William said. Though he didn’t have all the furniture yet, he had the space for everyone. With his money, he had opted to build a three-bedroom house.

  Samuel nodded and led the way into the house followed by Benjamin. Carrie and William rounded out the end. Before closing the door, William took one last look around for Emma but the air was still. He hoped she was okay.

  “Okay, Samuel, why don’t you and Benjamin set up in this room?” William opened the door to one of the empty rooms. He had wanted the inside of the house to be a surprise for Emma, but that would not happen now. “There’s no mattress yet, but perhaps we can go to the mercantile in a bit and see what they have. Get some blankets at least.”

  “We’re fine sleeping on the floor.” Samuel dropped the two burlap bags on the hard ground.

  “Speak for yourself,” Benjamin muttered under his breath.

  William smiled and shook his head. “No one has to sleep directly on the ground. We’ll figure something out.” He led the way to the next room which was about the same size, but already held a bed, a mirror, and a dresser. This was the room he had been sleeping in. “Carrie, you and Emma can sleep here where I’ve been staying, and I’ll take the last room. It’s not an ideal situation with us being unmarried, but surely people will understand.”

  “While I agree that is an issue,” Carrie mumbled, “I think Jennie dying is a much bigger one.”

  “Jennie’s dying?” Benjamin asked in a squeaky voice. A wet sheen coated his eyes and William knew tears weren’t far behind.

  “Nobody’s saying that.” Samuel put an arm around Benjamin’s shoulders and shot Carrie a pointed look. “But Jennie is very sick. We should all pray for her.”

  “Yes, that’s a great idea,” William hurriedly agreed. He wanted to change the subject from the uncomfortable topic of Jennie’s possible death. “Let’s do that now.”

  The four formed a small circle and William bowed his head. “Lord, we come to you now thanking you for family and lifting up one of our own. Please be with Jennie and help heal her. Give Doc Moore the wisdom to make the right choices for her care. Please keep the illness from spreading, to us and to the rest of the town.” He paused and took a deep breath. “And please keep Emma safe in her errands and bring her back to us. Amen.”

  The children echoed their amens and then traded fearful stares. It wasn’t that they didn’t believe God could heal Jennie, but they knew, from the death of their mother, that sometimes God didn’t choose that option.

  As William tried to think of what to say to cheer them up, the pounding of a horse’s hooves reached his ears.

  “Emma,” he breathed and hurried to the front door. Without checking first, he flung the door open to see Emma sliding off her mare and tying the reins to a slat in the porch railing. Her eyes met his and she sped into his arms. Wetness from her cheeks seeped through his shirt.

  “Don’t worry.” William stroked her hair and tried to calm her. “Everything will be okay.”

  “You can’t know that,” she sobbed. “She’s so little.”

  “She is, but she’s also strong, and she has your father with her, remember?” He placed a hand under her chin and tilted her face up. Her eyes were red and swollen, her face mottled from crying. “I can’t think of any doctor I’d trust more, can you?”

  She shook her head and sniffed.

  “Good. Now the others are getting settled in, so why don’t you dry your tears and we’ll join them?”

  Emma nodded and took a few deep breaths. With each one, her shoulders pulled a little straighter. Finally, she nodded again and flashed a tight smile. “Okay, I’m all right now.”

  William knew this was only temporary. More emotion and more worry would hit her as the days went on, but he would take it for now. “Then allow me to show you your new home.”

  Emma’s eyes widened as if she just realized what that meant. “I’m sorry. I know you wanted this to be a surprise.”

  “It’s all right.” William offered a smile and pushed open the front door. “Life doesn’t always turn out exactly as we planned.” He stepped back through the doorway and gestured to the open room. “This is the living room. It will look more homey once we have all the furniture, but it’s just been me.” There was a wooden table and a few chairs at the far side of the room near the kitchen, and a couch frame that desperately needed some cushions in the living room, but otherwise, the space was devoid of furniture. It was not, however, empty of people, and Benjamin and Carrie rushed to Emma’s side as she stepped in.

  “It will be wonderful.” Emma wrapped her arms around her siblings and William could tell she hoped she wouldn’t be wrong.

  Chapter 8

  After unpacking hers and Carrie’s few clothes, Emma wandered into the kitchen. William really had spared no expense. A large stove sat at the back and shelves hung from one side of the room. An icebox and a deep sink filled the other wall.

  Emma ran her hand over the shelves, enjoying the smoothness of the hand-sanded wood. William had even etched a decorative line in the oak.

  William came up behind her and placed his hands on her arms. “I have some food, but we should get more. In fact, why don’t you poke around and see what we might need. Samuel and I will
go into town and get it.”

  Emma nodded and took a deep breath. “Okay, I can do that. I guess Pa had them pack a few clothes before he sent them to get me, so we should be good there, but we’ll need blankets and maybe a few pillows. Do you have cooking utensils?”

  “It’s how I’ve been eating.” William’s eyes twinkled as he turned her around and his voice held a teasing tone. He ran his hands up and down her arms.

  “Right.” Emma nodded and repeated the word a few times. A fog filled her head leaving her unable to focus on anything. “Paper?”

  William’s brow crinkled. “That might be a little harder to get. Let’s go see.” He stepped past Emma into the kitchen and began opening the cabinets. “Aha, I figured I had some,” he said. With a triumphant smile, he pulled some butcher paper from a cabinet and held it out to her.

  “Thank you.” She took the paper and returned to the kitchen table. “Do you have a writing utensil?”

  William’s mouth twisted to the side a second before his eyes lit up and he snapped his fingers. “Be right back.”

  As he headed down the hallway, Carrie and Benjamin entered.

  “Anything we can help with?” Carrie asked.

  “Yes, do you want to inventory the food and see what we might need?” Emma asked. “William and Samuel will head into town shortly to pick up a few things.”

  “Can I help?” Benjamin asked.

  “Of course you can.” Carrie grinned at him and ruffled his hair.

  Emma smiled at her two siblings, but she couldn’t help noticing that though the two smiled in return, the usual light in their eyes had dulled. She imagined she would see the same thing in her eyes were she to glance in a mirror.

  William returned with a pencil as Carrie began moving things on the shelves. “I suspected I had one near my Bible. I always like to make notes to help with my reading. Are you three good in here? I’d like to find Samuel and get the wagon ready.”