Joseph took Judy into his arms and held her tight. She burst into tears, sobbing on his shoulder, and letting her fears out in the arms of a friend. Edith noticed his tenderness toward Judy, and she was impressed with his gentle and caring attitude.
Joseph spoke softly, “It’ll be all right, Judy. He’s a stubborn man. He’ll get better. He has to.”
She nodded, and between sobs, she said, “Thank you, Joseph. And thank you for coming.”
Judy calmed down enough to lead them into the bedroom where Gilbert was standing beside the bed, watching over Sam.
When Gilbert heard Edith enter, he turned to her. “Thanks for coming so early in the morning. If there’s anything I can do…” His voice cracked with emotion and his eyes misted over as he looked at Sam.
Edith walked toward the bed and looked down at her patient. His face was pale, with no color whatsoever. His shirt and pants were ripped, and saturated with blood. She had taken care of many wounds before and knew what to do, but none of them had been life threatening like this.
With sympathy, Edith looked at Sam’s wife and said, “I’ll do my very best to help your husband. First, I need sterile water, some rags, and a clean sheet that can be ripped into long strips, but go quickly because I have no time to waste. Every minute counts.”
Judy immediately left the room and did as she was told.
Gilbert inched closer and asked, “Can I do something?”
Edith shook her head. “No. There’s nothing you can do. Both you and Joseph may go home now, and I’ll take care of Sam. Don’t worry. Right now the important thing is to work quickly so infection doesn’t set in.”
Gilbert nodded and walked out of the room. Joseph stayed, though, quietly watching and worrying, not saying a word to distract her.
Edith calmly unbuttoned Sam’s bloody shirt. She gasped. His abdomen was torn open and blood was oozing from the gash. She knew she needed to work quickly. Edith met each crisis with a calm, prayerful attitude, and as much courage as she could muster. So, she took a deep breath, said a prayer in her heart, and began working.
Looking at his shirt and pants, she realized they would be impossible to take off without disturbing his wound, so she took a pair of scissors from her bag and cut his sleeves and pant legs open.
Joseph walked to the bed and said solemnly, “I’d like to help.”
Edith looked up at him with surprise. “I thought you’d gone with Gilbert.” Looking at her patient, she shook her head. “Joseph, there’s nothing to do here. You’ll just worry and get in the way. Besides, stomach wounds aren’t very easy to handle, and you might get queasy. I’ve seen many tough men faint at smaller injuries than this.”
“I can take it. Sam’s my friend and so is Judy. I want to help.”
Edith was doubtful, but seeing his determination, she decided to give him a chance, expecting him not to last very long. “All right, then help me take off his shirt and pants.”
As they carefully uncovered Sam’s wounds, Edith winced. His intestines were protruding from his abdomen. She had never taken care of anything like this before. She took a deep breath and then looked up at Joseph, wondering if he was able to handle it.
Noticing her inquiring eyes, he nodded, giving her the message to proceed. Carefully, she and Joseph pulled the soiled clothes loose and then laid them in the corner of the room.
“Now, what do you want me to do, Edith?”
“I need boiling water, clean rags, a sheet, and an extra pan. A small one will do. Would you mind checking on Judy for me to see if she has it ready?”
Joseph nodded and immediately left the room. While he was gone, she sterilized her hands with alcohol and examined the gash in his abdomen. In no time, Joseph had the pan of water and rags placed beside her.
She looked up at Joseph and smiled. “Thank you.” She handed him the sheet. “Could you please rip small pieces of cloth to use as a bandage? And then tear longer strips to wrap around his hips and abdomen. It’ll keep the bandage in place.”
“How wide?”
“About six inches.”
Joseph nodded, sat down on a chair next to the bed, and began ripping long strips.
Edith poured some water into the small pan, took out a sterilized violin gut string from her bag, and dropped it into the boiling water to soften. Next, she took a rag and dipped it into the water, and began washing away the blood and germs from his wounds and intestines. After she was sure that every inch was clean, she very carefully relocated Sam’s protruding intestines.
The violin string was ready, so she threaded it through a sterilized needle and sewed up the tear. She looked up at Joseph, who was standing beside her, watching intently. She noticed he hadn’t turned blue, so she said nothing and sutured the wound shut.
When she finished, Edith went to the kitchen and fixed a liniment of arnica burrs steeped in alcohol. When the mixture was ready, she saturated the smaller strips of cloth and applied them to his wound.
As she worked, Joseph sat watching, feeling amazed at her knowledge and perseverance. She had not taken any time to rest, and she was still going. She looked weary, her hair was mussed up with several curls hanging awry, and she had small circles under her eyes. But to Joseph, she looked lovely.
They had been there for several hours and he had picked her up in the wee hours of the morning. William had told him that she even went to bed late that night because of staying over at Melinda’s too long. She had such stamina. He never knew a woman quite like her.
He had to grin when he remembered his “prima donna” slip of the tongue. He didn’t realize she had so much spunk, but then he should have known when she stormed off at the bunkhouse. That night she had intrigued him to no end, and he wanted to know more about her. Gilbert had told him that she didn’t give men a second chance, and she was the pickiest woman he had ever known. Joseph figured she wouldn’t give him a chance, either.
After she had finished, Joseph helped her bind the long strips around Sam’s hips and abdomen, securing the liniment bandages next to the wounds. Then together they changed the bedding with fresh dry linen, carefully moving Sam’s body as they tucked the sheet under him.
Edith looked up at Joseph and smiled. “You did good. And you didn’t even faint. Thank you, Joseph. Personally, I didn’t expect you to last this long.”
Joseph grinned. “Oh, I’m a tough ol’ bird.”
“Well, if you wouldn’t have been here to help, then I would have been much longer. Thank you, Joseph. I appreciate it.”
Edith had been sitting for several hours taking care of Sam without any rest. She could feel the tension in every muscle of her body, not to mention her aching shoulders and back while leaning over her patient. She stretched her sore muscles, rubbing her neck and arching her back.
Joseph watched with interest. Through her weariness, he could see the fortitude of a strong, determined woman, a woman who cared for others and showed it in her actions. He realized that she was an unusual person, thinking of others in spite of aching muscles.
After taking one last look at Sam, Joseph followed Edith out of the room where Judy awaited anxiously.
Edith announced, “He’ll be all right, I promise. Twice a day I’ll come by and wash the wound with carbolic water and apply fresh bandages and liniment. Don’t worry. His heart is beating strong. He’ll make it.”
Judy wept with joy as Edith took her in her arms and hugged her. “Now, if anything goes wrong, send someone for me. All right?”
Joseph took Edith’s arm, gently led her to the buggy, and helped her in.
After climbing beside her, he said, “You did good in there.”
Edith slightly smiled, not saying a word. She was too exhausted to think or make conversation. She was too drained.
Joseph gave a gentle flick of the reins and the horse trotted down the road at an easy gate. As they slowly rode toward home, the buggy gently swayed back and forth. Joseph was aware of Edith’s presence next to him.
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br /> He studied her for a few moments and finally said, “I got you up early, didn’t I?”
“Uh-huh.”
“And you didn’t have breakfast or lunch, did you?”
“Uh-uh.”
“You must be starving.”
When she didn’t answer, he looked at her.
“You look tired, too.”
He felt her slightly lean against him.
“So, how long did it take to graduate from nursing school?”
Joseph turned toward her and saw that her eyes were closed and she was unsteady in her seat, swaying a bit. Making sure to not lose his passenger, he put his arm around her and gently pulled her head against his shoulder. She didn’t push away but relaxed into a semi-conscious state, too exhausted to even care.
Joseph noticed how he enjoyed the feel of her tucked under his arm and instinctively squeezed her closer to him. His attraction to her was gradually growing and he found that he was thinking of her more often every day. Just the thought of her made his heart beat more rapidly, and an inner joy that he had never felt before was worming its way into his heart.
As he thought about it, even the sight of her made him wish that he could take her in his arms and kiss all that spunkiness away. This woman, of all women, was having an effect on him, making him think of marriage, making him want to settle down. But why? Why was such an independent, spunky woman creating these thoughts within him?
Joseph watched her sleep against his shoulder and wondered if she was aware of his presence. He grinned. Well, he was well enough aware of hers, and he did not want this little journey to end.
After he reined in the horse, he softly said, “Wake up, sleepy head. We’re here.”
Edith straightened, blinked a couple times, and tried to get her bearings. Joseph stepped down from the buggy, walked around to Edith’s side, and held his hand out to help her down. She looked unsteady on her feet as she gathered her skirts together the best she could, and took his hand.
As Edith was stepping down, she lost her footing, and tripped on her skirts. She fell right into Joseph’s arms. He pulled her to her feet, but didn’t release her right away. His arms lingered around her waist, his face next to hers. He smiled as he felt the softness of her in his arms. But it didn’t last long. Edith quickly pulled away, her face flushed, and her eyes wide.
When he realized that she was embarrassed, he quickly joked, “Don’t worry, Edith. You didn’t hurt me one bit.”
Noticing how gallant he was, she laughed. “That’s what I get for sleeping on the job.”
Joseph grabbed her bag from the floor of the buggy and handed it to her. “You’re quite a trooper, Edith.”
Then he turned on his heels and strode toward his horse. He untied it from the hitching post, put his feet in the stirrups, and settled into the saddle. He gave a kick to the flanks and off he sped down the road, hoping his heart would stop fluttering enough for him to think.
Chapter 19
Groveling
The Cozy J was all abuzz with the new ranch hands preparing for the cattle drive tomorrow. Gilbert had cooked up a large pot of stew and had just fed the men an early meal. Then he showed them the bunkhouse where they would stay for the night.
Uncle William and Gilbert were seated at the kitchen table, talking about the cattle drive. Gilbert gave him an envelope. “Thanks, William. I really appreciate it. Here’s the train ticket and all the information. After the cattle are sold, then you know what to do with the money. I’d go with you, but with Melinda’s condition I don’t want to leave for that long. Her cramps seem to be less frequent now, but I don’t want to take any chances in case she needs me.”
William nodded and then stood, stuffing the envelope in his pocket. “It’s no problem,” he said with a smile.
“Thanks, William. It’s a day’s drive so we’ll set up camp somewhere near Montpelier and then head the steers to the train station the following day. The price for beef has gone up this year so we should get a good deal.”
Looking over at Melinda sitting on the sofa, William smiled. “Take care of yourself, my dear.”
Melinda smiled and waved as William opened the door to leave. After he was gone, Gilbert sat down beside her. Melinda was resting her hand on her swollen stomach. She was now six and a half months along, and the baby was quite active, more so than John had ever been. The difference made her think this baby just might be a girl, but how would her son feel about that. John wanted a companion to play with and Gilbert needed another son to help around the farm. But whatever it turned out to be, she would be happy.
Gilbert looked down at her belly and smiled. “So, how’s the little one doing tonight?”
“Oh, so-so.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, constantly kicking me in the ribs. I don’t understand. There are plenty other directions this babe could kick, but why in my ribs?”
Gilbert chuckled. He had no answer to her question. “Well, be glad that our little one isn’t kicking you all night long any more like before, keeping you awake most of the night.” Then he grinned. “Especially in the bladder.”
Laughing softly, Melinda shook her head. “How can I forget?” She gave a sidelong glance at Gilbert as she said, “I think he must be used to my schedule by now. He seems to know when it’s time for bed.”
“That’s good.” Gilbert blinked. “He?”
She laughed. “I’m not sure what to call this little one.”
Melinda shifted position, trying to get comfortable. Eyeing a couple pillows lying on the sofa, she smiled. They would do the job very well. She grabbed one and put it behind her lower back and the other one under her arm to lean on. It was not quite right, so she took the one behind her, punched it a couple times, and then placed it at the curve of her lower back. She wiggled her backside until it fit comfortably.
Gilbert was watching her every move as she maneuvered the pillows and wiggled into a new position. After a few minutes of adjusting pillows and situating her position, he grinned. It was quite a procedure.
After settling back, she sighed with relief. Looking up at Gilbert, she saw his amused expression. She arched her brows and asked, “What?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just watching the daily ritual of getting comfortable.”
“Oh, you sure sound sympathetic.”
Gilbert chuckled. “Oh yes, I am. Very sympathetic! When I see how much you have to put up with, I thank God every night that I’m a man.”
Melinda grabbed the pillow from under her arm and playfully punched Gilbert with it. He burst into laughter and grabbed it from her hand.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “One of these days, Mr. Roberts, you’ll get yours. Men have to go through some sort of discomfort and pain, not just women.”
“Oh, Melinda, we do. We definitely do.”
“What discomfort do you go through?”
Melinda folded her arms on top of her round belly and waited to hear what he had to say. It was going to be very interesting to hear his explanation.
“All right, Melinda. How about watching the discomfort and pain of your wife? I worry and I fret about you all the time, wondering if you’re all right. Worrying is a very plausible discomfort. Wouldn’t you agree? Not to mention, all the mood swings that a woman has to go through.”
He dramatically threw his arms in the air. “We men not only have to put up with these mood swings but we have to keep on our toes, hoping we won’t hurt your feelings by being too insensitive. Your emotions seem to be on the surface in your condition, and you cry over the tiniest things, such as burning the roast or reading some bad news in the newspaper. I actually had to ban you from reading it because you were becoming so emotional.” Gilbert slowly shook his head. “For a man, it’s no picnic.”
“No picnic?” Melinda’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in surprise as she playfully punched Gilbert with another pillow. “I can’t believe you said that. No picnic?”
G
ilbert laughed. “Well? Is it a picnic for you?”
Folding her arms across her belly, she answered, “Sometimes it is. How about the time you put your mouth up to my belly and sang a little melody and the babe started kicking. Wasn’t that a picnic?”
A smile played at the corners of his mouth as he said, “Yes, it was. She punched me on the nose. I’ll have to tell her how she slugged her papa before she was born.”
“She?”
He shrugged. “He. She. It.”
He laughed as she punched him with a pillow yet again.
“It?” She shook her head with amusement.
After a while, she looked up into her husband’s face and started laughing.
“What?” Gilbert said cheerfully. “Tell me, so I can laugh, too.”
“Well, when you sang, the babe started kicking furiously as if something was bothering him.” She bit her lip playfully and smiled. “I think he was telling you something. Don’t you?”
Gilbert furrowed his brow and groaned good-naturedly. “Oh Melinda. That hurts. You cut me deep. I wasn’t that bad.”
Melinda laughed and then leaned over and kissed him affectionately on the cheek.
Gilbert gave her a sidelong glance, showing his dissatisfaction. “You think that kiss will make up for what you just said about my singing?”
“Well, I hoped it would.”
He shook his head. “Nope. You’ve got to try harder than that. You insulted my singing and hurt my ego. I think I deserve some sort of groveling.”
“Groveling?”
Melinda giggled. Then she pushed herself up from her seat and stood in front of Gilbert. He looked up at her and wondered what she was preparing to do. Before he could ask, she carefully sat upon his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and placed tender kisses all over his face. On his cheeks, his forehead, his nose, his chin, and last of all on his soft luscious lips! Her lingering kiss was warm and tender, and it melted his heart. If this was groveling, he approved of it immediately.
When she leaned her head on his shoulder, she asked, “Have I groveled sufficiently?”
Edith and the Mysterious Stranger Page 10
