Destined for You

by Tracie Peterson

  “Come on. Let me get you to bed, and we’ll see what the problem might be.”

  “I can’t. We’re getting married tonight.”

  “I know, but maybe it isn’t something that will keep you from being there. Let me look you over and give you some medicine. You can rest until supper, and if you feel well enough to eat, then fine. If not, we’ll see what else needs to be done.”

  She helped him to his feet and led him to his room. “You get your clothes off, and I’ll grab your nightshirt and pull down the covers.”

  Just the fact that he wasn’t protesting left Gloriana gravely concerned. It wasn’t like JT to be so sluggish, even when he was sick.

  She pulled down the covers and turned to see him standing in front of the window. The light streamed in, touching his small chest and face. There, Gloriana could see the source of his illness. A fine rash had developed all over his torso.

  “Oh, JT.” She went to him and touched his arm. “You have the measles.”

  “It’s the measles, all right,” Abigail Lindquist declared. “Nothing to be done but keep the fever down and put him in a dark room. He’ll need lots of fluids. Measles dries a body out something fierce.” She got up and gathered her things. “I’ll let folks know you’re in quarantine. You need to post a sign.”

  Gloriana nodded. “Are there other cases?”

  “JT is the third child I’ve seen this week. I hope we won’t have a full epidemic, but you can never tell. Someone probably brought it in on one of the ships. You know these things spread fast.”

  Gloriana nodded and then remembered Sally. “What about the baby?”

  Abigail shook her head. “There’s no way of telling. She is definitely susceptible. Keep her away from his sickroom, but it’s probably too late to keep her from getting sick if she’s going to take it. You’ve already had the measles, so you won’t get them again.”

  The entire situation was terrifying. Her mother and other siblings had died from scarlet fever, and now JT was sick with the measles. She tried not to race to the obvious conclusion that JT could die, but it was all she could think about.

  “It’s most important to get JT’s fever down. Children usually fight off these things better than adults, but the fever can still burn his brain and leave him blind or deaf. You must be vigilant to bring it down. Use the willow bark tea; that will help. I’ll show you how much to use for someone his size. Come with me to the kitchen.”

  Gloriana followed Abigail, hesitant to leave her little brother. He was already sleeping, but she didn’t want him to be alone. It was terrifying to be sick and not know what might happen. She didn’t want him to be afraid.

  Abigail showed her the exact amount to use in JT’s tea and told her how often to use it, but Gloriana wanted only to return to his side. She was so thankful that Sally was content to play in her crib. The baby’s brand-new trick was sitting up. It wouldn’t be long until she was pulling up and then walking. Gloriana decided to put Sally’s crib in her father’s old room so Sally would be closed off from the rest of the house.

  Once Abigail was gone, Gloriana found a piece of brown paper and some burnt wood. The charred pieces would make nice black lettering. She wrote the word quarantine, then set the paper aside to make a flour-and-water paste. Once this was complete, she plastered the sign to the front door.

  Poor Luke. She hoped he’d already had the measles.

  Then it dawned on her that they were to have been married that evening. “Oh, grief!” She sighed. What if this caused problems for them with the baby? What if Luke’s father was somehow able to get the edge because they hadn’t yet wed?

  She tried not to think of her disappointment in having to forgo the wedding she’d been anticipating with great joy. Such thinking was selfish. Her little brother was sick—possibly on death’s door. How could she worry about something such as getting married?

  Taking the willow bark tea and a pan of tepid water, Gloriana made her way back to the bedroom. JT was sound asleep, but she had to do what she could to bring down his temperature.

  “JT, I need you to wake up and take some medicine,” she said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible. She shook him gently and waited as he opened his eyes. She smiled down at him. “I have some tea you need to drink. It’ll help with the fever. After you do that, I have to wipe you down with vinegar water. It smells terrible, but it will help with the fever too.”

  “Do I have scarlet fever again?”

  “No, this time it’s the measles.”

  “Oh, I remember you saying that. Billy and Matt have been sick too, and Teacher said it was measles.”

  Gloriana nodded and helped him with the mug. “Mrs. Lindquist said there are several children sick with it. It’ll be all right, though. You just need to rest and drink a lot of fluids. We’ll have you well in no time.”

  “But tonight . . . we were supposed to go to the church.”

  She was surprised he remembered. “It’s all right, JT. We’ll still have the wedding sometime, but right now it’s more important that we get you well.”

  “Is measles really bad?” He looked at her with glassy, fevered eyes.

  “It can be, but we’re going to make sure it isn’t. Now, you rest while I bathe your body. It won’t take long. I don’t want you to take a chill.”

  Sally began fussing in the other room, and JT shook his head. “Does the baby have measles too?”

  “No. At least I don’t think so. I hope not.”

  “We gotta pray so she won’t get sick. Will you pray with me, Glory?” he whispered.

  Rather than rage in anger at God, Gloriana was too afraid to do anything but cling to Him. He had the power to heal her brother and to keep the baby from getting sick. But God had also had the power to heal her family of scarlet fever. Doubt crept in, and Gloriana fought to push it back.

  “I will pray.” She squeezed JT’s hand. “Dear God, we need Your help. We need healing for JT and the others, and we need Sally to stay well.”

  What if He didn’t hear her now any more than He’d heard her prayers for Mama, Tabby, and Aaron? But He had heard. He had. He had heard and He had been there. He was here now. Prayers might not always be answered the way Gloriana thought they should, but God was here.

  Tears flooded her closed eyes. Please don’t take him from me, Lord. Please. I know Your will is all we should seek, and I do want to be mindful of that, but please . . . please . . . I need JT. I need him to live.

  When she opened her eyes, JT was once again asleep.

  Luke saw the quarantine sign and frowned. He knocked on the door as he always did, but this time he didn’t open it. When Gloriana finally showed up, he could see she’d been crying.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  “JT has the measles. He’s very sick.”

  “And Sally?”

  She shook her head. “So far she’s fine, but she has been exposed, and there’s no telling how it will go with her.”

  “Is there anything I can do? I’ve had the measles, so I won’t catch them again.”

  “No. I’m sorry, but it means we can’t go to the church tonight. JT was upset about that.” She twisted her apron in her hands. “He was worried about us not getting married.”

  Luke gave her a smile. “Tell him not to fear. We will be married as soon as possible, and he will be there to share in the celebration.”

  “I’m so worried about him, Luke. I’m so afraid.”

  He pressed open the door and pulled her into his arms. “I promise it’s going to be all right.”

  “You can’t make that kind of promise. Diseases don’t care about promises.”

  He lifted her face to his. “Don’t let this fear take ahold of you, Gloriana. The devil wins then. He wants you to be so afraid that you’ll again put up walls between you and God. Probably between you and me as well. We’re going to see this through with God’s help. Neither of us is going to leave you, Gloriana. And that’s a promise you can cou
nt on.”

  Chapter 22

  For two days and nights, Gloriana fought to get JT’s fever to break. Instead it seemed only to climb and the boy to grow ever sicker. She tried her best not to fear what might or might not happen.

  On the second night, Abigail Lindquist stopped by to resupply Gloriana’s willow bark tea and to check on them.

  “You’re doing everything right,” she assured Gloriana.

  “Then why won’t the fever come down?”

  Abigail shook her head. “It’s just often the way of it. Don’t despair. Keep getting fluids into him. That’s the most important thing right now.”

  “Luke wants to help. He’s had the measles. Do you suppose it will be all right to let him see JT?”

  “Of course. The quarantine is for those who haven’t had the disease. We keep it contained here, and hopefully those who haven’t had it will refrain from taking it. Luke should be fine to come and go.”

  Gloriana breathed a sigh of relief. She was so worn out. Despite Sally being such a good baby and remaining well, she was in constant need of attention. Having Luke around to help with the baby might allow Gloriana a few minutes to herself.

  After Abigail left, Gloriana went to check on her brother before starting a bottle for Sally. JT slept peacefully, although he now had some congestion. She could hear it rattle in his chest as he breathed. Abigail said it was important to keep moving him and even make him sleep propped up so his lungs would drain properly. Gloriana touched his forehead. He seemed a little cooler. Or was that just her own wishful thinking?

  Sally began to fuss, and Gloriana knew it was only a matter of time until she was crying in earnest. Still, it was hard to leave JT. What if he needed her and Gloriana didn’t hear him? She desperately needed Luke to come by so she could tell him it was all right for him to stay. No matter what anyone thought.

  She went to the basin in the kitchen and poured hot water into it. Next, she washed her hands with soap. She didn’t know if it really helped or not, but keeping clean seemed a good way to avoid spreading the disease. She started the bottle warming, then went to change Sally and get her up from her nap.

  “Hello, beautiful girl.” Gloriana smiled, and the baby immediately calmed and looked up.

  Gloriana undressed Sally to rid her of the wet diaper. Each time she’d performed this task over the last two days, Gloriana had held her breath, looking for the telltale signs of measles. So far there was no rash and no sign of fever. She let out a sigh and put the diaper to soak with several others. Laundry would have to be done soon.

  “Oh, I hope you stay well, little one. I cannot imagine the misery you and I would both suffer should you fall ill.”

  Sally kicked and cooed as if she understood.

  Once she had a dry diaper and new gown in place, Gloriana lifted the baby and snuggled her against her neck. How she loved this child. She had never really thought of the fact that she had become Sally’s mother, only that she loved this child enough to sacrifice anything for her. Even life itself. It was clear that Gloriana needn’t have carried Sally in order to love her.

  “And I do love you, little one. With all my heart.” She kissed the baby’s face, and Sally pressed her fingers against Gloriana’s mouth. Gloriana pretended to nibble on the baby’s fingers, and Sally giggled.

  For just a moment, Gloriana could forget about the miseries of the day—the week. She longed to rest in the moment and enjoy the sweetness of Sally’s amusement. Closing her eyes, she pretended that the world was in right order and all was well. But, as if to keep her from even that momentary pleasure, a knock sounded on the door.

  She opened her eyes and looked at the baby. “Well, so much for a quiet moment.”

  Crossing the room, Gloriana could see through the window that the visitor was a man. Perhaps Pastor Sedgwick had come to check on them. She opened the door.

  A stranger looked at her with a stern scrutiny. “Quarantine? For what, if I might ask?”

  “Do I know you?” Gloriana returned the man’s studying gaze.

  “I’m Martin Carson, Lucas Carson’s father.” He looked at the baby on her hip. “Sally Carson’s grandfather.”

  Gloriana was determined to show no fear. “I’m Gloriana Womack, soon to be your son’s wife, and yes, we’re under quarantine for measles.”

  He was still as sober as a Puritan minister. “Does my granddaughter have the measles?”

  She hugged the baby close. “No, at least not yet. We’ve seen no signs, but the disease varies as to when you might see symptoms. So far Sally is quite healthy.”

  “And this . . . is Sally?” he asked, nodding toward the baby.

  “It is.”

  He gave the first signs of softening. “She reminds me of her father.”

  “Yes, but she also bears characteristics of her mother, as you can probably see for yourself. Luke tells me you knew her. She was my dear friend.”

  “She scarcely lived here long enough to form much of a friendship with anyone, I daresay.”

  Gloriana held her temper. “Some friendships are formed more easily and quickly. When Scott and Sally arrived, they had no one, and our family quickly took them under our wing. Scott was like a son to my father. They worked well together.”

  “And died together.”

  “Yes, tragically so. The lake is unforgiving when storms come up without warning. My father sailed her for over fifty years and knew her well, but there is no accounting for rogue storms.”

  “Still, a man with such experience should know better than to risk the lives of everyone on board. No doubt he felt he could take that chance, but it has robbed me of a son.”

  Gloria stiffened. “Your son went willingly, as did the other members of the crew. They were loyal to the ship and one another. They entrusted their lives to one another.” Gloriana found it harder and harder to hold her tongue. “I would wager a guess that you know nothing of such a bond. You strike me as a man who has trusted solely in himself.”

  She saw the edge of anger in his eyes and regretted her words. She let out a sigh. “I apologize. That was uncalled for, but I am quite busy, and your appearance has called me away from my duties. Luke isn’t here, so you should check at his office or even the cottage next door if you’re looking for him.”

  “I came to see my granddaughter.”

  She nodded. “And so you have.” Sally played with one of Gloriana’s loose curls. “But now you must excuse me, because she’s hungry and I have a bottle warming.”

  She backed up and began to close the door, but Martin Carson put his hand out to stop it. “I won’t be dismissed. This is my granddaughter, and I’ve come to take her back with me to Philadelphia. I’m sure Luke has probably made you aware of that.” He stepped forward as if to cross the threshold, then seemed to reconsider.

  “You really should take this matter up with your son, Mr. Carson.” Gloriana didn’t want to say any of the harsh things she was thinking. She could easily remind him of how much he’d hurt Scott by disowning him. She could remind him of the terrible way he put Scott and Sally from the house without money or much more than the clothes on their backs. But she held her tongue, knowing that speaking of such things would only make matters worse.

  “Father, what are you doing here?”

  Thank the Lord, Luke had come. Relief poured over her.

  Martin Carson turned. “I wanted to meet my granddaughter, and I arrive here to find her in a house of disease.”

  “Yes, Gloriana’s brother has the measles. And as I recall, you have not.”

  The older man frowned. “No, I have not.”

  “How does a man go through life without having contracted measles?” Gloriana murmured, immediately wishing she’d kept the question to herself.

  “My upbringing shielded me from most of the diseases this world has to offer. My determination to live in a healthy manner has helped me elude the rest,” Luke’s father said in a haughty manner.

  “In other word
s, Gloriana, when there were sick people to deal with, my father let someone else see to their needs.”

  “And why not? I’m neither a doctor nor a nurse. My care has kept me from harm. How can you fault me for such a thing? No man willingly walks into a den of vipers.”

  “No, I suppose not, Father. But if Sally accidentally walked into that den, I would risk my life to save hers. Would you?”

  Sally began to fuss, and Gloriana took it as the perfect opportunity. “I’m sorry, but I must feed the baby. Luke, Abigail said that because you’ve had the measles, you are safe to enter the quarantine.” She looked at Luke’s father. “I’m glad to have met you, Mr. Carson.”

  “I hardly believe that,” he replied with a sneer.

  That was all she could take. “Then you misjudge me. I’m glad to have met you, because now I know who to avoid in the future.”

  “How long was he here?” Luke could see how upset Gloriana was by the way she paced back and forth while feeding Sally.

  “Not all that long, but long enough. How did he find out where we live?”

  “It’s not that big of a town, Gloriana.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “But stop worrying. He cares far too much about himself to come back here until we’re out of quarantine.”

  “He scares me. Like you said before, he is a man used to having his own way.”

  Luke went to take Sally from Gloriana. “You’re exhausted. I want you to go rest. Have a nap. It won’t hurt for you to take some time away from all this. I’ll stay here and take care of JT and Sally.”

  “But you don’t know what to do for JT.”

  “So tell me.” He grinned and put Sally to his shoulder to see if she needed to burp. She did.

  “It’s too complicated. JT has to get the willow bark tea every six hours to help with his fever, and he has to drink plenty of fluids otherwise. He’s just now starting to feel a little cooler, so I dare not relax my concern now.”

  “You aren’t. You’re letting me take it on for you. Now go to bed. I’ll be here to oversee it all. I know how to warm a bottle and change a diaper. I can even wash out dirty clothes if I need to.” He adjusted his hold on Sally. “We’ll be just fine.”