I arrived back at the house in Marsh Station quite late in the evening. Having started off the day in heat and humidity and ending up in a thunderstorm, I was grateful to finally get to my little house. As I approached from the front, I could swear that I saw a dim light inside, as if I’d left a lamp lit. But I’d been gone for days and surely it couldn’t have been something I’d left. I became concerned when I approached the side door and found it unlocked, closed but nonetheless unlocked. I knew that I had locked the door when I left for Ashburg. ‘Kate must be here,’ I thought to myself. But that would have been very unlikely. So, it was with timidity that I entered the dark kitchen, very quietly, until the cat greeted me loudly. I petted her in the dark, lit a lamp and standing quietly, listened intently for anyone who may be in the house. That’s when I heard it. A moan. I walked through the kitchen with a candle I’d lit, and treading lightly, wound my way through the hallway and parlor. No one was there.
Turning the corner of the parlor, I could see through and into the bedroom where a faint light issued from the bedside table. A silhouetted figure in the bed, let out another low moan. I approached carefully, like a stranger. I slowly stepped across the carpet then coughed quietly to get the attention of my visitor who seemed to have taken up residence in my absence.
‘Could Kate have sent someone here without my knowledge? What could be going on?’ I thought to myself.
The figure turned her face towards me, and in the shadow, I recognized the upturn of her nose.
“Sarah? Sarah, is that you? Here? Honey, what’s the matter…?
“Annie? Oh Annie, thank god you’re back. I need some of your…” she paused, “Nursing and care. I have a …” she struggled to speak and by then I had my hand on her forehead and detected a strong fever. “…a gash in my leg…from a fence, I think. I barely made it here. I had no idea where you were or when you’d be back, but I was pretty sure…I had the right place.”
“Yes, sweetie, you certainly do. Now, I’m going to move back the sheet from your leg and see what’s going on here.”
I brought the candle closer in to have a look. Sarah had an oozing wound all right. Her fever told me that right away. Her leg was swollen and hot and she was in a lot of pain from the cut to her inner calf. Fortunately, I didn’t see any signs of red streaks indicating poisoning, but I knew I’d better get to work and see what I could do. I had a thousand questions for her, but I knew that they would all have to wait until we got the wound under control and her fever down. Opening a window allowed a welcome breeze in.
“When was the last time you had something to drink?” I asked her.
“I’m not sure,” she responded. “But I’m very thirsty.”
“I’ll get you some fresh water and I’ll be right back,” I said. “And I’m going to make a poultice for your leg.” Bending over to kiss her forehead I added, “I’m just so glad you made it here, Sarah. I’ve missed you very much.”
I detected a smile from her but it was all she could manage given the state she was in.
Leaving the bedroom, I went into an emergency mindset. First, I set out to get her water. I went to the sink and lifted the iron handle of the pump, up and down, again, up and down. Nothing.
“Come on,” I said to the thing. Up and down. Nothing. Up and down. A dribble of water. Up and down, a splash. Up and down. I filled a glass.
I knew I’d have to get some hot water but in this heat, I couldn’t light the stove. I’d have a fire in the fire pit outside in the yard, my version of a summer kitchen. I’d have to steep a few herbs. No, that could wait until morning. I’d pick comfrey from the yard and use it directly on her wound. With some hydration tonight and a cooling compress on her forehead, I could get a poultice made for the wound and seek out more herbs and hopefully a doctor in the morning. If there were any doctors left in town. Any doctors who wouldn’t use leeches on her.
The night passed hour by hour and as I changed the compress and refreshed the comfrey, Sarah’s moans and sighs quieted. She slept deeply. By morning light, I had slept a little myself, and got up quietly to get outside in the fresh air and assess my options for Sarah while I lit a fire. I needed a strong cup of tea.
Each Other Page 26
