Meadowlark

by Carolyn Lampman

  Heat. Hadn’t Garrick said that was what he’d used? Becky glanced over her shoulder at the fireplace. The fire had burned down to embers. As soon as she finished feeding Alaina, she’d get it going again.

  Becky soon discovered the task she had set for herself was not an easy one. The floor of the cabin seemed to slant beneath her feet as she moved unsteadily across the room. Her legs were wobbly and weak by the time she reached the fireplace. The wood supply wasn’t as plentiful as she might wish, but they had enough to last the rest of the day at least. After that...well, she’d worry about that when the time came.

  Within a few minutes, the fire was crackling again, but the accomplishment was not without its price. By the time Becky had made her way back to the bed, she was almost too weak to climb in and pull the blanket up around herself and Garrick. She fell into an exhausted slumber almost immediately.

  As the day progressed, Becky had only enough energy to feed and change the baby and make several more trips to the fireplace. The woodpile was dwindling far faster than her strength was returning, and Garrick was getting worse.

  He moved restlessly, muttering incoherently, quieting only when she was next to him in bed again. Eventually, even her presence didn’t help. He seemed unaware of her as he thrashed around.

  Becky fought a wave of despair as she made her way to the fireplace yet again. They needed help and there was no way to get it. There was only enough wood for a few more hours, and she had no idea how to help Garrick. Alaina was safe for the moment, but for how long?

  If she could think of a way to attract attention...but what? One of the things she had always liked about their cabin was the isolation. They couldn’t hear the hustle and bustle of the mining camp, but no one could hear them either.

  “Hello in the house. Anybody home?”

  Becky’s head jerked up. Was she imagining it, or had her prayers just been answered?

  “Becky, Swede, you in there?” This time the voice was accompanied by a loud knock on the door.

  “Angel!” Becky cried, sagging in relief. “We’re here. Come in.”

  “Good Lord, Becky, you look like warmed-over death.” Angel shut the door behind her and peeled off her gloves. “Are you all right?”

  “I think so. I’m still pretty weak but—but... Oh, Angel.” Suddenly it was all too much and the tears that had threatened spilled over. “Garrick made Alaina and me better, but I don’t know how...how to help him and...and he j-just keeps getting worse. What...what if—”

  Angel was across the room in three steps. “Shhh,” she said soothingly as she pulled Becky into her arms. “Don’t even say it. Swede’s a big, strong man. He has as good a chance of pulling through as anybody.”

  “Are you s-sure?”

  “Dr. Caldwell says almost half his patients are surviving.” Angel glanced over Becky’s shoulder at the man tossing around on the bed. “How long has he been like this?”

  “He’s had a fever all day, but it’s only been the last few hours that he’s been so restless.”

  “Could be he’s about to hit the worst of it then. We better get him up to the pest house where Dr. Caldwell can keep an eye on him.”

  Becky wiped her eyes and stepped back. “How are we going to do that? Even if I wasn’t so weak, you and I could never lift him.”

  “Ox and Sam could do it.”

  “Ox is back already? He was just here last week.”

  “He’s stuck here until Dr. Caldwell lifts the quarantine. Anyway, if anybody can get Swede to the Pest House, it’s Ox. He’s very persuasive when he wants to be. That’s why he’s such a good mule skinner.”

  “Garrick isn’t a mule,” Becky said, slightly offended.

  “No, but he’s certainly stubborn enough. Why don’t you and Alaina come with me now?”

  “I won’t leave him.”

  “Becky, Ox and Sam will be here in less than half an hour. He won’t even know you’re gone, and if you don’t come now there won’t be enough room in the wagon.”

  “I don’t care.”

  “You’re as stubborn as he is!” Angel sighed. “All right, have it your way then. Do you want some help getting dressed before I go?”

  Becky glanced toward the bed. “No, I can manage. It will only take you that much longer to get help for Garrick. Angel, I...thank you. If you hadn’t come to check on us—”

  “Nonsense. If it hadn’t been me, it would have been someone else.”

  “How did you know to come, anyway?”

  “Swede didn’t open his shop today. He’s always there even in the worst of weather. You sure you won’t change your mind?”

  “No.”

  “Then I guess I’d better get going.” Angel sighed again as she put her gloves back on. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

  “I know.”

  It wasn’t long before Becky was regretting her decision to send Angel away so quickly. Gathering the clothing she would need for Alaina sapped her strength alarmingly. She decided the baby would be all right in her bunting. That left the daunting prospect of dressing Garrick. The less time it took to get him to the pest house, the better chance he had of recovering.

  Becky sat on the edge of the bed to rest for a moment before starting what was certain to be a frustrating and difficult job. Unexpectedly, he stirred against her hip. “Becky?”

  Her heart leaped to her throat. “I’m here, Garrick.”

  “We’re having beans and corn bread again.”

  “What?”

  “Doesn’t she realize I hate the stuff?”

  With a sinking feeling, Becky realized he was delirious. “Garrick you need to get dressed. Sit up so I can put your shirt on.”

  Becky didn’t really expect any response, so she was shocked when he opened his eyes and tried to focus on her. “Sit up?”

  “Yes, right here on the edge of the bed. I’ll help you.”

  It took a moment, but with Becky’s assistance he managed to balance precariously on the edge of the bed.

  Getting Garrick into his shirt was difficult, but his pants proved nearly impossible. Halfway through he got confused and thought he was taking them off. “I’m going to bed.”

  “No, Garrick, you have to get dressed.”

  “Dressed?”

  “Yes, now pull your pants up.”

  “I’m tired. It’s time for bed.”

  And so it went. They were still arguing about it when Angel returned with Ox and Sam.

  “Garrick, you have to get dressed. Angel’s here.”

  “Angel?”

  “Yes, and you’re embarrassing her sitting here without your pants.”

  “Angel doesn’t care,” he grumbled, but he finished pulling on his pants. Then he fell back on the bed and closed his eyes while Becky buttoned them. “So tired.”

  “You’ve been trying to get him dressed since I left?” Angel asked. She shook her head when Becky nodded. “Well, Ox and Sam can finish the job. We need to get you and Alaina ready to go.

  “Oh!” For the first time, she realized she was still dressed in her nightgown. With an embarrassed glance at Ox and Sam, she jumped to her feet. Angel caught her as she swayed dizzily.

  “Steady now.”

  “Angel, I’m not dressed,” Becky whispered as her face turned fiery red.

  “Nothing Ox and Sam haven’t seen before.” She held up her hand as Becky started to protest. “I know, never mind. They won’t look, I promise.”

  As Angel took Becky and Alaina behind the canvas curtain on the other side of the room, Ox and Sam managed to wrestle Garrick into his coat and boots.

  “You know,” Ox said, scratching his chin, “this would be a hell of a lot easier if we could get him to walk out on his own.” He reached down and shook Garrick’s shoulder. “Wake up, Swede.”

  “Huh?”

  “You’ve got to walk, Swede. I don’t know if the two of us can carry you.”

  “Time to sleep.”

  “Becky wants yo
u to come with her.”

  “Becky? She’s afraid of the Indians.”

  Ox looked at Sam and shrugged. “That’s why she wants you with her.”

  Garrick struggled to sit up. “Got to protect Becky and Alaina.”

  “That’s right.” Together Sam and Ox managed to pull him to his feet. They positioned themselves on either side with one of Garrick’s arms draped over each of their shoulders. Garrick leaned heavily on Ox who was much closer to his height than Sam. The lop-sided trio had just started toward the door when Alaina began to cry.

  With a suddenness that took Sam and Ox completely by surprise, Garrick jerked himself to his full height. “BECKY!” The name came out in a roar of pure rage as he tossed Sam aside and went for Ox.

  A huge fist slammed into Ox’s face with a sickening thud. Belatedly, Ox lifted his hands to defend himself, but Garrick grabbed his arm and cracked it across his knee. Ox went down with a howl of agony, and Garrick turned to Sam. He had Sam suspended above the floor, shaking him like a rag doll when Becky finally reached his side.

  “Garrick, stop! They’re not hurting us.”

  Instantly, Garrick dropped Sam to the floor with a thud and pulled Becky into his arms. “Becky,” he whispered, as he buried his face in her hair.

  She put her arms around him and rubbed his back. “It’s all right, Garrick. We’re safe.”

  Angel knelt beside Ox. “Wish we could say the same for Ox. He’s going to have a nice shiner.”

  “That’s the least of my worries,” Ox said, his face looking rather gray as he struggled to sit up. “I think Swede broke my damn arm.”

  Chapter 22

  “Mrs. Swenson? Your husband is asking for you.” Martha Jane Canary, the nurse hired to look after the Pest House, shook Becky’s shoulder.

  Becky’s eyes popped open. “Oh dear, not again.” She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “He seemed so much calmer.”

  “No, you don’t understand. This time he’s awake.”

  “He is? Oh, that’s wonderful.”

  Becky jumped up and hurried from the women and children’s section into the much larger room where the male patients were. Sure enough, Garrick was wide awake, his frown relaxing into a slight smile when he saw her. “Hello,” he said. “The nurse told me you were here.”

  She sat down next to him and felt his forehead. “Of course I’m here. Where else would I be?”

  “I don’t know. Home maybe. You don’t seem sick anymore.”

  “No, Alaina and I were mostly recovered by the next morning. I stayed to help take care of you.” She picked up his hand. “You haven’t been a very good patient.” In truth, he’d nearly wrecked the hospital two days ago when they’d brought him in. Only Becky had been able to calm him down.

  He gave her a sheepish look. “I kept dreaming you and Alaina were in trouble.”

  “So I gathered.” She smiled. “I wasn’t sure for a while you were going to make it, but Dr. Caldwell kept telling me your meanness was a good sign. I’m not sure everyone would agree.”

  “I seem to remember something about Ox Bruford.”

  “Angel, Ox, and Sam helped get you here.”

  Garrick studied the top of Becky’s head as she suddenly became interested in straightening his blankets. “I hurt him, didn’t I?”

  “You were out of your head with the fever.”

  “How bad?”

  If there were only some way she could get around telling him. “One eye is swollen shut.”

  “And?”

  She sighed. “His right arm is broken.”

  “Oh, hell.” Garrick shut his eyes. Without the use of his arm, Ox couldn’t drive a wagon. He could easily lose his business in the time it took for his arm to heal correctly—if it ever did.

  “He doesn’t blame you, Garrick.”

  “That doesn’t make it any less my fault.”

  “Garrick—”

  “Where’s Alaina?”

  “Angel takes care of her during the day. Ox looks after her at night.”

  “Ox!”

  “It was Ox’s idea,” Becky explained. “He’s staying at Angel’s anyway, and all he does is keep an eye on Alaina while Angel’s working. Once I feed her, she sleeps all night. If anything should happen, I’m not that far away. I’ve been going over five or six times a day to see how she’s doing and to feed her.”

  “It seems we owe our friends a rather large debt of gratitude,” Garrick said.

  Becky was uncomfortably aware of a slightly disapproving tone in his voice. “I didn’t know what else to do, Garrick. We needed help, and they gave it. I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but I didn’t have much choice.”

  “I didn’t mean it to sound like that.” Garrick felt small and mean as he rubbed his forehead. “It’s just hard for me to be beholden to anyone. Call it stubborn Norwegian pride if you want to.”

  Becky smiled. “Don’t worry, you’ll probably find a way to make it up to them and mend your pride. In the meantime, just concentrate on getting better so we can go home.”

  By the following day, Garrick was ready to leave the hospital. It was said that when a patient left the pest house they either walked down the hill into town or were carried up the hill to the graveyard. As Becky waited for Garrick in the buckboard, she closed her eyes and said a quick prayer of thanksgiving. Any of them could have made the journey up the hill.

  Garrick reopened the smithy two days later, and Becky went back to The Green Garter. Life had returned to normal. Ox Bruford and Angel came to dinner that night. Becky invited them to express her thanks and to help lessen Garrick’s feeling of obligation. As a dinner party, it was a complete success, but Becky couldn’t tell if her ulterior goal had been accomplished or not.

  It wasn’t until later that night when they lay in each other’s arms that Becky began to think she might have succeeded. They were both drifting along in the soft aftermath of lovemaking when Garrick broke the silence.

  “Becky.”

  “Hmmm?”

  “Thank you for inviting Ox and Angel to dinner.”

  “It was fun, wasn’t it?” She smiled and settled her head more comfortably against his shoulder. “They both seemed pleased. I don’t think either one of them gets many invitations.”

  “I don’t suppose they do.”

  “I thought Angel was going to cry when I asked her and Ox to be Alaina’s God-parents.”

  “She was surprised.”

  Becky tilted her head back to look at him. “I can’t imagine why. They’re our best friends, after all. Anyway, now seemed like a good time for Alaina’s baptism with Ox stuck here for almost two weeks until the quarantine lifts.”

  “Ah, Becky,” he said as he hugged her tighter. “Do you have any idea how special you are?”

  “The only thing special about me is the way you make me feel. Speaking of that, are you sure we should be...you know? I’d hate to have you get sick again.”

  “Ja, I’m sure. Maybe I’ll make you feel ‘special’ again just to prove I’m all right.”

  “Now there’s an idea,” she said with approval.

  Thinking back on their conversation the next morning, Becky was sure she’d helped ease Garrick’s conscience. Still, she knew he wouldn’t be satisfied until he found a way to save Ox’s business.

  Then she had it. All Garrick needed to do was find someone to drive Ox’s wagon until his arm could heal. It seemed the perfect solution. Garrick was surprised, then pleased when she suggested it at lunch. With a quick kiss, he told her he’d look into it right away and went back to work. Becky was extremely pleased with herself as she put Alaina down for her nap. It was such a simple solution and so easily accomplished.

  That’s why Garrick’s announcement when Dr. Caldwell finally lifted the quarantine the day after Alaina’s baptism came as a complete surprise. Becky was getting ready for bed when Garrick broke the news.

  “I’ll be leaving tomorrow with Ox,” he said with careful nonchalance.”<
br />
  “You’re what?” Becky stared at him in disbelief. Surely, she had misunderstood.

  “We figure it will only take this one trip. After that, his arm should be healed enough for him to take over again.”

  “I thought you were going to hire somebody to go with him.”

  “Experienced drivers aren’t all that easy to find. It takes special skills to drive a mule team and a big freight wagon.”

  “Surely, there’s somebody around.”

  “There is. Me.”

  Becky threw her hairbrush down in exasperation. “You could find somebody else if you tried. Why does it have to be you, Garrick?”

  “It’s my fault Ox can’t drive himself.”

  “What about your shop? Who’s going to run that while you’re off gallivanting across the countryside?”

  “John Gibbons. He’s an experienced smith and said he wouldn’t mind taking a break from the gold fields for a few weeks.”

  “Then let him go with Ox.”

  “He’s a smith, not a mule skinner.”

  “I could say exactly the same thing about you.” She stomped over to the bed. “And I don’t suppose anything I do or say will make the slightest difference to you, will it?”

  “I’ve made my decision.” Those four words uttered in his father’s no-nonsense voice had stopped Garrick’s mother in mid-tirade more than once. For some reason, it didn’t sound the same when he said it. Nor did he ever remember his mother looking quite so hurt.

  “Fine, then there’s nothing I can do about it, is there?” Becky flopped into bed, pulled the blankets up to her chin, and turned her face to the wall.

  Uncertain what to say, Garrick ran his fingers through his hair roughly. When would he learn that what worked for his father didn’t always work for him? Feeling like a fool, he blew out the lamps and undressed for bed. How he envied the glib-tongued Ox, who always knew exactly what to say. Unfortunately, Garrick was a man of action, not words.

  Come to think of it, maybe action was what was needed here. He crawled into bed and cuddled up to Becky’s unyielding back. Tracing the curve of her hip with the palm of his hand had no effect, nor did kissing the sensitive skin beneath her ear. Even when he unbuttoned her nightgown and caressed one warm breast with the tips of his fingers, she remained stiff and unresponsive.