Torrent Falls

by Jan Watson

  Pain shot up Remy’s leg, and she knew she might not make it this time. But she was all right whatever befell. She’d rather die in a hollow log than be buried in an oak-board coffin. This seemed fitting somehow.

  The voices sounded agitated now. Men were gathering; she could sense it. She tried to call out to Foxy. “Run,” she wanted to say, but her dry tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth.

  Copper’s hair was dry and Mam was playing with it, trying to decide how to arrange it for the wedding. “What do you think, Alice? An upsweep like this or a chignon at the back?”

  “Most definitely the upsweep. I saw a style just so in this month’s Woman’s Home Companion.” Alice came close for an inspection. “Oh yes, with my pearl combs.”

  “Let’s play dress-up,” Darcy said. “Let’s try on our dresses and practice walking in our high-heeled slippers.”

  “Good idea,” Copper replied. “I want Mam to check my hem one more time. It still seems a little long.”

  “Hurry up then,” Mam said. “The men will be back soon, and we don’t want John seeing you in your dress before tomorrow.”

  “Surely you don’t believe in that old superstition,” Copper said, then felt sorry when she saw Mam wince. She gave her stepmother a quick hug. “Don’t worry. Nothing can go wrong now. Tomorrow will be perfect.”

  Warmth surrounded Remy. The brightest sun she ever saw poured in from the end of the hollow log. Foxy shimmered in the light. A halo rested just over her black-tipped pointy ears. She turned her head and smiled at Remy with her white teeth. Why, Remy thought, Foxy has turned into an angel.

  John pulled the hammer back on his gun and sighted down the barrel, but he couldn’t bring himself to squeeze the trigger. He’d always been partial to the pretty animals and didn’t like to kill them. Why didn’t the fool fox run? He couldn’t rightly scare it off with everyone watching him from the shade of the henhouse. Hezzy’d never let him live it down.

  One thing for sure: this fox didn’t have mad dog; for whatever reason it seemed to be protecting the log. Maybe it had had a litter in there, unusual but not unheard of. Foxes preferred to raise their young in dens stolen from groundhogs or some such thing.

  He walked up the hill. A glint of gold caught his eye, and he stooped to see what it was. The thin gold band he retrieved from the grass caught his breath. How in the world . . . ? His great-grandmother’s ring lay as true as sunrise in his palm. Suddenly he knew what was in the hollow log. He knew what the fox protected.

  Each step up that hill seemed mired in thick molasses. His heart hurt like the dickens, and he breathed in ragged gulps. Then he was kneeling, and there was Remy. “Don’t let me be too late,” he whispered as he turned toward his comrades waiting below. “Help,” he called. “I need some help here.”

  Copper’s wedding dress slid in place over her spiral wire bustle.

  “You couldn’t have picked a better color,” Mam said from her seat on the bed.

  “It brings out the green in your eyes,” Alice agreed, handing her the matching hat. “Let’s see this too.”

  “This isn’t going to work,” Copper said. “It will ruin my hair and hide your pretty combs, Alice.”

  “You’re right,” Mam said, “but you have to have something on your head for the church service.”

  “That’s easy enough.” Alice snipped at the hat with a pair of scissors and removed the netting veil and the nosegay of artificial posies.

  “Just the netting, I think,” Mam said. Arranging it in a circle, she secured the soft crown to Copper’s hair.

  “Just the right touch.” Alice held the nosegay to the side of Copper’s head. “What do you think?”

  “Too fussy,” Mam said.

  “I could carry them in my teeth.” Copper admired her reflection in the chiffonier’s wavy looking glass.

  “No, mine hat, Auntie Alice.” Lilly thrust her new bonnet at Alice.

  “Lilly . . . ,” Copper warned.

  “I have a splendid idea,” Alice said. “Let’s put some of these flowers on your bonnet, Lilly, and some on Dodie’s.”

  “Yup,” Lilly replied. “Pended idea.”

  “What about the length?” Copper asked, twirling her skirt.

  “Seems just right to me,” Mam said. “Now if you’ll slip out of your dress, I’ll press it one more time.”

  “Look at you, Darcy,” Copper said. “Come see yourself in the mirror.”

  Darcy’s cheeks turned the same color as her pink mull frock. White satin epaulet bows adorned her shoulders. “I look like one of them ladies in your fashion magazines, Miz Copper.”

  “Oh no,” Copper said. “You’re much prettier than they.”

  “Wonder if Cara’s trying on her dress today,” Darcy said.

  “I can’t wait to see her all dressed up tomorrow,” Copper answered, removing the netting from her hair.

  “I’m going to the porch, where I can see to thread a needle.” Alice carried the little girls’ hats. “Dodie, Lilly, you two come with me.”

  Copper marveled to see the way Lilly minded Alice. There’d be no back talk to her auntie.

  The looking glass revealed a funny sight. Darcy stood in front of Copper, who stood in front of Mam. Mam unfastened the first few in the long row of tiny buttons up the back of Copper’s dress, and Copper did the same for Darcy.

  “Stop wiggling, Darcy,” Copper said. “You’ll make me pull a button off.”

  “I can’t help it. You’re tickling me.”

  “You’d best hurry up,” Alice called through the open window. “I see the men coming.”

  Mam pulled back the curtain for a look. Copper saw Mam’s face lose its color before her hand flew to her throat.

  “What is it?”

  “Someone’s hurt.”

  Copper joined Mam at the window. John was cradling a body in his arms. Willy? Daniel? But no . . . both boys hung back with Daddy, who supported Hezzy. And there was Dimmert rushing forward as if parting the waters.

  She heard the screen door squeak, and suddenly John was filling up her bedroom door. “Copper, Lord help us,” he said, “it’s Remy.”

  Her mind stuttered. Remy? Remy was dead.

  Mam pulled back the bedcovers, and John gently laid the small body down. “She’s been shot,” he said.

  “I didn’t mean it,” Hezzy cried from the vicinity of the kitchen. “I thought she was a fox. I never would have pulled the trigger if I knew it was a human.”

  Copper could barely hear Remy’s panting moans over Hezzy’s carrying on. Tears ran unbidden down her cheeks as she took Remy’s wrist, searching for a pulse. “Oh, my little lost friend,” she said, sinking to her knees. “Someone get my doctor’s bag and someone go for the preacher.”

  It was hours later before Copper had hope that Remy would live. The good news was the bullet went straight through the leg, leaving a ragged wound but no projectile to fish around for. But there was much blood loss and, Copper was certain, a fractured thighbone. There were the telltale signs: loss of mobility in the limb, swelling and distortion, and a grating sensation—crepitus, Simon had taught her to call it—when she placed her hand on the injured part.

  Remy was not an easy patient. Though feeble and in considerable pain, she thrashed about like a feral cat whenever anyone, save Copper or John, came near. Even the preacher couldn’t come close enough to lay hands on Remy to anoint her with oil. So he prayed and quoted Scripture at the kitchen table. Copper was calmed by his healing words.

  She could have cared for Remy alone except for the setting of the broken bone. For modesty’s sake John couldn’t help her with that. Darcy was willing, but Remy wouldn’t stand for it. Copper pleaded and soothed, but still Remy flung herself about, nearly falling off the bed. Copper was glad Mam and Daddy had taken Lilly and Dodie to John’s house for the night. Remy’s fits would have scared the little girls to death.

  Copper was at her wit’s end before things finally settled down. In the middle of
one of Remy’s tantrums, Alice marched into the room, walked over to the bed, cupped Remy’s chin in her hand, looked her straight in the eyes, and said, “That is quite enough, young lady. Stop this silly carrying on.”

  Remy’s eyes rolled in fear. She tried to jerk her chin from Alice’s grip, but Alice held firm. Remy gave up and lay still. Despite morphine, she moaned in pain as Copper and Darcy manipulated the ends of the broken bone into their natural position. Alice stood at the foot of the bed, ready to fetch supplies or lend a hand.

  Dimmert fashioned long splints from thin, firm boards as Copper asked. Once the bone was set, she and Darcy fastened the splints to either side of Remy’s leg with soft flannel. When that was finished, Copper looked the job over. It would have to do until she could send for plaster of paris powder and loosely woven lint bandages. The hard part would be keeping the leg fully extended.

  The clock over the mantel struck three times; Copper woke with a start. Evidently she had fallen asleep at the bedside. Someone had stuck a pillow under her head and covered her where she knelt at Remy’s side. Now she had a crick in her neck, and her legs were so stiff she could barely hobble.

  Alice sat in a straight chair. A kerosene lamp turned low illuminated the Bible in her lap.

  “How long have I been asleep?” Copper asked.

  “A couple of hours,” Alice said. “I’ve been keeping watch.”

  Copper felt Remy’s pulse and listened to her heartbeat through Simon’s stethoscope. She pulled back the cover and checked the dressings on her leg. Alice brought the lamp closer, and Copper felt Remy’s warm toes, a sign of good circulation. “If we can keep her wound from getting infected, I think she has a good chance.”

  “She’s awfully pale,” Alice said.

  Remy’s face framed by her wild white hair was the same color as the pillowcase her head rested on.

  “She never has much color. Even in the summer she stays bleached out like this.” Copper patted Alice’s arm. “Why don’t you go to bed now?”

  “You take a break and then I shall. There’s hot water on the stove for tea.”

  Copper stretched and yawned. “Thanks. Tea sounds good. I won’t be long.”

  As she poured water from the cast-iron kettle over sassafras shavings, she inhaled the fragrant steam. It was too hot to drink, so she carried it outside, stirring the tea with a spoon. John sat there on the steps. She suspected he had been there all night. “Take this,” she said, handing him the cup. “I’ll make another.”

  When she came back, he had scooted over, making room for her.

  “How is she?” he asked.

  “Sleeping,” Copper said. “I’m worried about infection, of course, and she’s lost so much blood . . . but if anyone can survive this, it’s Remy.”

  “I was never so surprised to find her in that log. I thought sure she was dead.” He shook his head. “’Course I thought that once before.”

  “But you never found her. Seems like we would have suspected.”

  John turned to her, and she could hear the anger in his voice. “I searched for days, figuring her body would bob up somewhere along the banks. I think she was hiding out all along watching me, else she would never have found the ring I buried. What makes a body act like that—like they have no feelings for anyone but themselves?”

  “Remy’s just different. You know how hard her life was, John. Her family was always fleeing from the law because of her father. I guess she did the best she could.”

  “By wrecking other people’s lives?” His voice shook. “Today was supposed to be our wedding day, but now . . .” His shoulders slumped. “What are we going to do?”

  She steadied herself by clutching the warm teacup. In her joy at having Remy alive, she hadn’t thought about this day at all. Setting the cup aside, she smoothed the skirt of her wedding dress, now stained with Remy’s blood. She was tired, so very tired. “I don’t know.”

  “Listen, we can marry anyway. Everyone who matters knows I was never truly wed to Remy Riddle. Nobody would hold that against us.”

  “John . . .”

  “We’ll go away. Me and you and Lilly. Anywhere you want, just name it.”

  “Surely you wouldn’t ask me to live in adultery.” It was surreal, sitting here on the porch, her shoulder touching his, all their plans falling away like petals from a discarded daisy.

  “Don’t you see? It was all a mistake. God wouldn’t hold us to it.”

  Copper didn’t like the way John pleaded. It made her want to turn away from him. She didn’t want to see his weakness. It fell on her. She’d have to be strong enough for both of them. Lifting her cup, she took a swallow. “She is your legal wife. I won’t break the law of man, much less the law of the Lord.”

  “You always do the right thing, but ain’t you even tempted? I am.”

  She fought every instinct to take him in her arms. Instead she sat and gathered her faith. “God will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able,” she remarked, feeling much too prim and proper.

  John didn’t answer, just stood and walked away, leaving her sitting there in her ruined wedding dress, a cup of cold sassafras tea in her hands.

  Daddy came by while Copper was doing the milking. It was so good to have him here. She needed the wise counsel she knew he would give. “How’s the patient?” he asked.

  “She spiked a fever this morning. Alice is giving her an alcohol rub, and then I’ll check her leg again.” She leaned her head against Mazy’s warm flank. “It’s so funny to see Alice taking care of Remy. Remy doesn’t dare to sass her like she does me.”

  “Let me finish this,” Daddy said.

  “I need to be milking. It makes me feel normal.”

  Her father squatted beside her. “I talked to John,” he said.

  “Tell me I’m doing the right thing,” she whispered, knowing that he would.

  “As far as we know now, John’s marriage to Remy is legal and binding. You’re doing what God would have you do, and I am proud to call you daughter.”

  Mazy was empty and so was Copper. Daddy stood and helped her up. “It’s not easy,” she said, leaning against him.

  “It’s not supposed to be.” He took the milk bucket from her. “What do you want to do about today?”

  “It’s still Dimmert and Cara’s wedding day. I’d like you and Mam to make sure they have the wonderful ceremony we planned.”

  “They’re waiting on the porch to talk to you. I think they want to postpone it.”

  She wished she had changed her blood-spattered dress when she saw the young folks waiting for her. Cara’s cheeks were tearstained, and Dimmert looked like he did the day he sold Star. “Now listen,” Copper said as she stepped up on the porch, “I’ll have no talk of postponed weddings.”

  “But, Miz Copper,” Cara replied, “we can’t be all happy if you and Mr. John won’t be there with us.”

  “Sure you can. Why, look at the beautiful day God has given you. We prayed for just such weather. You can’t deny folks the pleasure of seeing you two wed. You know everyone who comes to church and Sunday school will be staying.”

  “I’m sad for you,” Cara said.

  Copper took Cara’s hand and held it to her cheek. “Don’t be. Do you know what I would like from the two of you?”

  “Anything,” Cara said.

  “Come by after the ceremony. I want to see you in all your finery.”

  Dimmert swallowed. “My overalls won’t bend.”

  Copper laughed. “That’s to keep you from keeling over during the service. We found the stiffest new overalls we could for you. By the way, did someone iron your white shirt and press your jacket, and did John show you how to tie your tie?”

  “Everything’s taken care of,” Cara said. “Don’t you be worrying about us. Sounds like you’ve got your hands full already.”

  “It’s a job worth doing. Have everyone at church pray for Remy today. Ask for God’s blessing and for healing.”

 
“We will,” Cara said as Dimm helped her down the steps. It made Copper smile to see Cara handled like a fine piece of china. At the edge of the yard the couple paused.

  “See you later,” Dimm said with a wave.

  “That was good, Dimmert,” Cara said. “I’m right proud of you.”

  Thank You, Lord, for the blessings Dimmert and Cara have brought into my life, Copper prayed. Please take good care of them. Let them grow old together and let them always be as content with each other as they are right now.

  The house was full of hustle and bustle. Alice and Mam had the little girls dressed and ready to go to the wedding. Willy and Daniel stood handsome and proud in their Sunday suits. Darcy was pretty as a picture in her pink frock. She was sure to catch some young man’s eye.

  When they were ready, Daddy brought the buggy around and fitted everyone inside except the boys, who were content to hang on the outside of the buggy.

  “Not so fast, Will,” Copper heard Mam call as they drove away. “You’ll fling the boys off.”

  Mam was such a worrier, Copper mused. My, she wished they wouldn’t go back to Philadelphia. But she knew they must. The boys couldn’t miss much more school.

  Remy was sleeping, so Copper took advantage of the privacy. She closed the kitchen door and pulled all the curtains before she attempted to take off the dress she’d worn since last afternoon. It was no use. She couldn’t contort herself enough to reach the row of buttons up the back.

  Standing in front of the mirror over the washstand, she appraised herself. “You would have been a beautiful bride,” she said. One tear was followed by another as she resolutely took up the scissors and cut her dress away. She never wanted to see it again.