“I’m sorry for losing my temper. I hope you aren’t holding it against me,” Caleb began. “I just didn’t like the way he seemed determined to keep us from caring for Judith.”
“I couldn’t hold that against you. You’re in love with her,” Micah said with a chuckle. “I would expect nothing less.”
“Love?” Caleb glanced at Micah, then quickly looked back at the road. “Why do you say that?”
“Good grief, man, the way you held her hand. The way you spoke to her. If you don’t propose and marry her, you’re an idiot.”
“I’m so afraid she’s going to die.”
“I am too, but I can’t figure out what’s wrong with her. That’s why I would have liked to have seen her grandmother as well.”
“What do you suspect?” Caleb could hear the worry in Micah’s tone. It didn’t bode well.
“I don’t know, but there are clear indicators that it isn’t influenza. She has no fever, for one thing, and her pupils are dilated. Of course, that could be due to the medication given to her by Dr. Barringer. I will consult with him before we head back.”
“Is that why you were eager to go?”
Micah nodded. “I need to know more before I can figure out what’s really going on.”
“Poor Judith,” Camri said after hearing all that Caleb had to tell. “Isn’t there something we could do? Perhaps sit with her to give the rest of the staff a break?”
“I suppose we could ask,” Kenzie said. “I don’t have to be back at work until Tuesday. Cousin George called earlier and said he was taking an extra day to work on the machines. I’d be happy to sit with her.”
“You’d make a wonderful nurse, I’m sure,” Micah said with a wink. “But let me consult with Dr. Barringer first. I shouldn’t be gone long. Want to walk me out, Kenzie?”
Kenzie looked away, clearly annoyed.
Camri shook her head. “You two are such a bother.”
Micah laughed and left.
Caleb looked at his sister and then to Patrick. “You said you had something to tell me when I was leaving with Micah earlier.”
Patrick nodded. “I wanted to report to ye on the warehouse, but it can wait.”
Caleb shook his head and took off his suit coat. “No, it’ll help me to have something else to consider.”
“Well, then, I’ve removed the damaged portions of wall and replaced them. I’ll be puttin’ in some additional supports as well. I’m thinkin’ we should be havin’ a plumber come in to consult with me, as well as an electrical man. Both of those things will cost plenty. Especially if Ruef catches wind of what we’re doin’.”
Caleb tossed his coat over the back of a chair. “Talk to Judge Winters about it on Monday. He knows men who have come over to our side of things. I’m sure he can point you in the right direction.”
“Aye. I’ll be seein’ to it after the holiday.” Patrick glanced at Camri, who was pouring herself a cup of tea. “And ye should be knowin’ that yer sister has ideas for the furnishin’ of the place.”
“She’s always got an idea about something.” Caleb plopped down in his favorite chair by the fireplace. Despite telling Patrick he needed to focus on something other than Judith, he didn’t want to think about the warehouse. The entire project seemed so unimportant with Judith’s life hanging in the balance.
“I have some very good ideas.” Camri crossed the room with her teacup and saucer in hand. “I’ve made some calls. I’ve found us an industrial-sized stove for a greatly reduced price. It’s not new, but it’s in perfect condition. It will be exactly what we’ll need for the kitchen.”
“So buy it, then. I told you that you could arrange to purchase whatever was needed and have me billed.”
“And so I have,” Camri replied. “I arranged to have it delivered tomorrow.”
“How did you manage that with it being Easter weekend?” Caleb asked.
“Not everyone cares that it’s Easter,” she replied.
“But we do, and therefore I think it inconsiderate for us to put others to work on a holiday.”
“I tried to tell her the same,” Patrick said, taking a seat on the sofa. “But ye know yer sister.”
“Indeed, I do.” Caleb looked at Camri, who sat sipping her tea as if nothing were amiss. “So the stove will be delivered tomorrow. Is that all you wished to tell me?”
“Well, not exactly. I’ve been busy all week making calls.” She smiled and put the cup and saucer on the table to her left. “I’ve arranged for two dozen cots, three tables, and eighteen chairs to be delivered Monday. There will also be several crates of blankets, pillows, bedding, dishes, and three bathtubs.”
“Only three?” Caleb couldn’t keep the sarcasm from his tone.
“Well, until we speak with the plumber, I thought it best to wait. I’d like to have six separate bathrooms installed. I arranged for six toilets to be delivered, but then Patrick pointed out that we know nothing about the sewer lines, so I thought perhaps I should wait on doing more.”
“And what is all of this costing me?”
Camri smiled. “The receipts are all on your desk. You said there was plenty of money and not to worry about the cost, so I didn’t.”
Patrick laughed. “Never tell a woman not to worry about the cost. Especially yer sister. It’s expensive taste she has, and soon ye’ll find her orderin’ china and silver tea services.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Patrick. I’m only purchasing the minimal that I believe will be useful to us. It’s just to get us started. I’ve still got to arrange for cupboards for the kitchen as well as iceboxes.”
“I can build the cupboards,” Patrick offered. “No sense payin’ a fortune for somethin’ fancy. Besides, I thought we were still waitin’ for some sort of approval from the Board of Supervisors.”
“All the permits and approvals have been put in Judge Winters’ hands. We can check with him on Monday and see what he’s managed to come up with. I think since Frederick Johnston has come on board to help us, along with all the other support we can muster from the men working to end Ruef’s control, there won’t be too much trouble.”
“I hope not,” Camri said, smiling. “I’m so excited to see our project completed. I even noticed that the property just to the south of ours looked abandoned. Maybe we could speak to someone about it.”
Caleb shook his head. “Slow down, Camri. Let us accomplish one thing at a time. Frankly, until I know more about Judith’s condition, I have little interest in any of this.” He got to his feet. “I’m sorry.”
He walked from the room and made his way to his office. Once there, he sat down at his desk and buried his face in his hands. For the first time in a great long while, he actually felt close to tears.
“Lord, please help us—please help Judith.”
CHAPTER
23
Since you mentioned the incident with the snake,” Micah said later that day, “I’ve been inclined toward a thought regarding Judith’s condition.”
“You think she’s been bitten?” Caleb asked.
“No. I’m wondering if she’s been poisoned.”
“But her grandmother and Bill took sick as well.”
Micah shrugged. “You mentioned Victoria Whitley hating Judith. Perhaps she hates her grandmother and brother as well.”
Fear spread through Caleb like wildfire. “Then we have to get her out of there. We’ll take her by force if necessary.”
Micah held up his hands. “Calm down. Listen to me. That’s why I told them to give her nothing by mouth.”
“So you don’t have some new medicine to offer?”
“No, but if someone is slipping her poison in her tea, then being without it for several hours may show us some improvement. If it’s poison, it’s being administered in small doses over time to affect the look of sickness rather than sudden death. It would be much harder to explain sudden death in someone as young and healthy as Judith. But even if it isn’t poison, the medication Dr. Barr
inger left for her has properties that cause symptoms of its own. I want to examine Judith without its effects.”
Caleb paced like a caged animal. “I still think it would be better to remove her. We could take Patrick with us. He could probably take on anyone who might try to stop us.”
“I don’t know that it’s come to that. Besides, if she’s being poisoned and we remove her, it might just happen again when she returned.”
“I won’t let her return.”
“Caleb, we need to take this one step at a time. We don’t even know that she’s being poisoned or is in any real danger. It could be just as Dr. Barringer believes—an influenza of some type. We need to remain calm.”
“I don’t feel at all calm.”
“Look, after speaking with Dr. Barringer, I’m fairly certain Mrs. Whitley’s condition is grave. He told me he’s tried to convince William to move her to the hospital, but he won’t allow it. The doctor plans to speak to William again this afternoon. I thought we could go earlier than six and hopefully arrive before he left. With his encouragement and support, we might be able to move them both.”
“All right. When do you want to go?”
Micah looked at his pocket watch. “I’d say in an hour. Dr. Barringer said he’d be there around four thirty. He should still be there at five.”
Caleb wasn’t sure he could stand to wait until five. If someone was poisoning Judith, he wanted to act swiftly.
“We need to say nothing about the idea of them being poisoned,” Micah warned. “Whoever is doing this—if it is poisoning—will only find another way of attack. We need some proof. If we can lay our hands on some of the tea Judith’s being given, then perhaps we can test our theory.”
“I never should have let her go.” Caleb went to his study window and looked out on the day. “None of this would have happened if we’d made her stay.”
“And how would you have done that? Locked her in her room? She’s a Whitley, Caleb. She has every bit as much right to live there as the others, and she wanted to go.”
Caleb turned back to face him. “I’m not sure that she did. I think she felt obligated. I’m convinced Mrs. Whitley gave her some story about being old and needing to spend time with Judith before she died.”
“And that would be valid.” Micah’s words were matter-of-fact. “Dr. Barringer said her body is extremely weak. Her heart and kidneys have been damaged from diabetes. He’s treated her for years, and the problem has only grown worse. She wasn’t doing well even before this illness.”
“You couldn’t have convinced me of it, the way she conducted herself.”
“Be that as it may, she hasn’t much time, according to her doctor. Perhaps not even a full year. And now, given this illness, her chances are worse yet. She doesn’t have the ability to fight back the way Bill and Judith can.”
Caleb began pacing the room. “Well, hopefully we can get Judith and Mrs. Whitley out of there without too much fuss. I don’t want to have to bang down doors on Easter weekend, but I will if I have to. I’ll gather more men, and we’ll storm the place if need be.”
Micah stepped in front of him, halting his frantic movements. “We need to go about this in a calm and civilized manner. You won’t help her by acting like a wild man.”
Caleb nodded, but it was hard to control his feelings. He loved Judith. He knew that now beyond any doubt, and he couldn’t bear the thought that someone wanted to hurt her.
At five o’clock, the Whitley butler ushered Micah and Caleb into the house. Micah inquired as to whether Dr. Barringer was still there.
“He is, sir. He’s with Mrs. Whitley.”
“I’d like to consult with him before he leaves. Would you let him know?”
“Of course, sir.” The butler gave a curt nod. “Shall I show you to Miss Judith’s room?”
“We’re able to make our own way there, if you like,” Micah replied.
Caleb remained silent for fear he might say something that would create trouble. He still felt their presence wasn’t entirely welcome and feared that someone might force them to leave.
“Very good, sir. You’ll find Miss Linde is with her, and she’s doing better.”
“Thank God!” Caleb exclaimed and moved past the butler without waiting for anything further. He took the steps two at a time and found Bill seated on one of the sofas in the large open room at the top of the stairs.
“Mr. Coulter. I didn’t think you were returning until later this evening.” Bill got to his feet. He was dressed now and properly groomed. He looked like he was about to go to a garden party.
“Dr. Fisher wished to consult with Dr. Barringer while he was here.” Caleb forced a smile. “You look completely recovered. I’m glad.”
“Yes, well, I’ve always had a strong constitution.”
“And what of your sister? Has she managed to stay well?”
“Victoria is too mean-spirited to take sick.” Bill glanced over his shoulder toward the east wing of the house. “Besides, she’s leaving tomorrow. Bound for Switzerland. She wasn’t sure she should go, with Grandmother so ill, but Father assured her she must. Grandmother expects it and would no doubt be infuriated if Vicky did otherwise.”
Caleb nodded. Having Victoria gone would be good. If she was the one causing trouble, then the problems would end with her departure. At least he hoped that would be the case. She could have paid someone on the staff to help her. If that were true, the trouble could go on and on even after Victoria was safely in Switzerland.
“Shall I accompany you to see Judith?” Bill asked.
“No.” Caleb turned. “I know the way.”
He crossed the room and stepped through the open doorway into Judith’s suite. Sarah sat beside the bed, and to Caleb’s surprise, Judith was propped up and speaking.
“Caleb,” she said, smiling. “I’m so glad you came back.” She looked at Sarah. “You can go now. I’m sure if I need anything, Caleb can manage it.”
The maid nodded and got to her feet. She smoothed down the white apron she wore. “You have only to ring if you need me.”
Caleb took the vacated chair and waited until Miss Linde was gone before speaking to Judith. “You look better.”
“I feel better. I think the medicine Dr. Barringer was giving me made me sleep all the time. I didn’t care for it at all.”
For a moment, Caleb could only gaze upon her face. Her color had improved, but the darkness still circled her eyes. “Micah’s come too. He’s speaking right now with Dr. Barringer. Apparently your grandmother is still quite ill.”
“I know. Bill said I should prepare myself for the worst.” Judith bit her lip and shook her head. “I don’t want to lose her after just finding her.”
Caleb took her hand. “I know.” He glanced toward the door and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Micah thinks you may have been poisoned.”
“What?”
Her expression betrayed her fear, and Caleb wished he’d been gentler in telling her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to just blurt it out like that.” He got up and walked to the door. Bill was nowhere in sight, so he hurried back to Judith’s side. “I told Micah about the snake, and after he examined you, he admitted that it didn’t seem like influenza to him. He talked with Dr. Barringer, and later when he came to speak to me, he told me he had concerns that perhaps you’d been poisoned.”
“Bill and Grandmother too?”
“I’m afraid so.”
Judith relaxed a bit, but she held fast to his hand. “But who would do such a thing?”
“My first thought is your cousin Victoria. But who’s to say? I want to get you out of here—your grandmother too. Micah thinks she should go to the hospital, and he’s trying to convince Dr. Barringer.”
“This is terrible, Caleb. If it’s true, then it means someone here is willing to commit murder. But why?”
“Money or jealousy.” He squeezed her hand. “But don’t worry about that. We need to get you on your feet. I want to tak
e you home, where you can recover.”
She cocked her head slightly and gave him a strange look.
Caleb worried that he’d offended her. “I didn’t mean to sound as though you had no say in the matter.”
A smile replaced her expression. “They won’t like that.”
“No, I’m sure they won’t.”
Micah bounded into the room with his large black bag. He threw Judith a smile. “You look better.”
“I am, but I’m very thirsty. Sarah said you didn’t want me drinking anything or eating.”
“And she was right.” Micah opened his bag and pulled out a bottle of liquid. He opened it and handed it to Judith. “This will give you some energy and hopefully help with your thirst.”
Judith sampled it and smiled. “Thank you. It’s good. What is it?”
“Soda water, lemon, and sugar. It’s a concoction that a friend of mine bottles and sells. There’s nothing harmful in it, unlike some of the other bottled sodas.” He drew three more bottles from his bag. “I brought these for you, and I don’t want you to drink anything else.”
She nodded and whispered, “Caleb told me that you’re worried I’ve been poisoned.”
“I am. We must be meticulous in what you eat and drink over the next few days.” He drew out a small box and handed it to Judith. “Here are a few of my mother’s oatmeal cookies. If you feel up to it, you might eat one or two. I’ll take the others back with me and bring you something else in the morning.”
“But why can’t we just take her home with us?” Caleb asked.
“I was just speaking with Dr. Barringer and Mr. Whitley. I’ve finally convinced them to move Mrs. Whitley to the hospital, but I think Mr. Whitley would change his mind if we suggested Judith go as well. He already feels hesitant going against his mother’s wishes regarding the hospital, but I think he realizes how grave her condition is. However, he was adamant about Judith remaining here, since she’s doing so much better. I think if we keep her eating only what we bring her, then we’ll know for certain whether someone has been poisoning her.”
In Dreams Forgotten Page 22
