by Lynn Landes
“Conner this is ridiculous,” George shouts and Maggie chooses to ignore him and focus on the patient. She drops to her knees beside him and speaks softly as she jerks off her pink waistcoat leaving her in her dress. “Lift up,” she tells him and tucks in beneath his head in a makeshift pillow.
All the voices, murmuring and noise fades as Maggie’s sole focus becomes her patient. Conner drops down beside her along with George.
“My name is Maggie. I’m Conner’s daughter, and a nurse. What’s your name?”
“Farley,” he groans and reaches for the wound.
She intercepts his hand, gripping his to keep him from touching it. “Farley if you pull that right now, you will be dead before the doctor can get here. May I treat you?” she asks softly.
The large man is growing paler by the second. All the lumbermen and sawmen are usually heavily muscled and very strong. That will play into his favor, she thinks. He looks into her eyes and nods, “Yes, Ma’am.”
Maggie wants to shout with relief, “I need boiled water!” she demands of the large group of workers crowding around to watch.
“I’ll get it, we were getting ready for coffee,” a man calls out and runs. Maggie turns to the men. “I’ll need more, bring me what you can, but it must be boiled.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” two men run into the mill to start boiling water. They back up and her father is stunned by the change in his daughter.
“I need blankets to keep his body temperature up,” Maggie glances up at the shock on the faces of the men around her. “Now!” she demands, just as Ian comes back with Shep. Two men run for blankets and she breathes a sigh of relief when she sees her bag. Maggie grabs it and drags out a bar of soap, just as the first batch of boiled water is brought out.
“Someone pour water on my hands,” she asks. Her father is quick to help, and she reminds them to keep the water coming as she scrubs her hands with the bar of soap. When she reaches out and rubs her soapy hands all around the wound, Farley gasps.
“Water, Dad,” she holds out her hands and he rinses them clean. “Pour it over his wound.” Again he does as she asks.
“Conner, shouldn’t we wait for the Doctor,” George demands.
No one responds to his question as she leans down to inspect the wound. “Just beneath the collarbone,” she murmurs.
“Looks like a tooth from one of the blades,” her Father says. Maggie presses, noting the way the blood is seeping around the metal. “It’s in the muscle,” she murmurs and whips out a knife from the sleeve of her pink dress, causing those around her to gape in surprise. Shep has to keep from laughing. She quickly slices the shirt away and tosses it at George’s feet.
Farley groans as she prods again and sighs in relief when she realizes it just missed the main artery, but he’s losing a lot of blood. “Good.” Purple bruising is spreading beneath the blood. A shadow moves over her and she snarls, “Back up!” The men jump and move back shocked by the command in her voice.
“What can we do, Mag’s?” Ian asks. Jack moves next to his father to watch with wide eyes. She unroll her tools and she gives orders. “Cover his body but leave his feet out. I’ll need help.” Moving quickly now she helps them spread the blankets over his trembling body.
“I need two men to brace his shoulders and hold his legs down when I say.”
She digs in her bag and pulls out a piece of wood. “Farley, I have to pull this out and when I do its going to get ugly fast, but I need you to be as still as possible. I will have to work quickly. You’ve nicked some main blood vessels and I think it may have also broken the collar bone. With your permission, I will sew them closed to stop the bleeding.”
“Do it,” he snaps. “Don’t let me die, Miss Maggie,” he groans, and she nods offering the wood to bite down on.
“Ready,” Maggie looks up and finds, Conner, Shep, Ian and George all holding down his arms and legs. “Donna?” she glances up and asks her to use the dental string to thread her needles.
“Can you do it?” she asks Donna.
“Yes,” she drops immediately to do as asked.
“I need clean water to wash the blood, away, continuously, so that I can see what I’m doing,” Maggie takes charge and snaps out orders.
Taking a deep breath she grabs the chunk of metal and pulls it from the muscle with a sucking sound. Farley bucks and blood squirts all over him and the front of Maggie’s dress, but she doesn’t flinch. The men hold him down, ignoring his roar of pain.
“Water,” she calls, and someone pours. Farley passes out. “Needle,” they give it to her, and she says, “water,” and they rinse the wound. Maggie isn’t sure how much time passes. They watch in awe and Shep is amazed that her hands never waiver as she pinches both vessels with her fingers to wait for the needle.
Donna’s hands are trembling when she holds up the needle. “Jack, I need someone with small hands to assist, get over here!” Jack drops to her knees without hesitation. Donna gasps, “No,” but Conner shushes her. “You can do this Jackie,” he says.
“Yes, Sir. Tell me what to do, Mag’s.”
“Wash your hands,” she watches as he does as she instructs. “Good. Now, look, see what I’m doing. Pinch one of these while I sew the other one. It will prevent more blood loss.”
Jack does exactly what she says, and Maggie quickly patches the first blood vessel, “Perfect, now Jack, you can let go.” He releases it and Maggie isn’t surprised when is spurts blood over her hands and face. Donna wipes Maggie’s face while she swipes her hands on her dress and demands a fresh needle. Jack moves back. She sews the second one and cuts the thread.
“Water,” she calls and washes away some of the blood, before she accepts the third needle and begins to sew up the wound on the outside. “Water,” she orders again, and smiles when the blood begins to slow. “Yes, that’s what I want to see.”
Farley wakes and they are forced to hold him still while she speaks calmly to him. “Farley, it’s okay. It’s out. I’m just sewing it up, now be still!” she snaps and he instantly stops moving. “Thank you,” she slowly closes the wound now, being sure to leave a small corner for extra blood to seep free and prevent infection.
“Water please,” Maggie holds her hands to the side as warm water is poured over rinsing them as clean as they can be.
“Donna, I will need a clean cloth from my bag.” Donna digs and offers it.
Maggie reaches for the cloth and pats the wound dry. “Good,” Maggie sighs. “That’ll do,” she smiles into Farley’s eyes and speaks to him soothingly.
“Mr. Farley, you are going to have a handsome scar, but you’ll live.” She smiles at the look of relief on his face. Another cloth is handed to her and she dips it in the bucket and washes around the wound, wiping away the blood. “The Doctor will check you over when he gets here, but we will move you to the house and get you cleaned up.”
“Thank you, Miss Maggie,” he says hoarsely.
Donna takes over, demanding they carry him to the wagon and drive him to the house.
“I can walk,” Farley shouts and they laugh as he struggles to his feet with assistance. Maggie quickly cleans up her hands, and needles rinsing them clean, before packing up. She stands with Shep’s assistance and smiles in relief at him.
“Magdalaine, you are a wonder,” he says softly. “That was amazing,” pride shines in his eyes as he presses a kiss to her forehead.
Maggie glances down at her dress and laughs, “Now I’m down to one dress,” she gestures to the blood staining her hands and clothes and nods. “It was a good day,” she murmurs the mantra her doctor always said after a surgery.
“A good day!” George stares at her with shock and shakes his head.
Maggie looks at her brother and father who are staring at her with a similar look of confusion. “Just what kind of nurse are you?” her Dad demands.
“The best kind,” she quips, hiding the pain of rejection. She turns on her heel and hurries to the house to check on her
patient and clean up. Jack follows her at a run and slips his arm through hers.
“You did great Jack,” she says but he doesn’t speak as a tear streaks down the blood staining her cheek.
Chapter 19
“Maggie it’s bleeding again,” Donna shouts the moment she enters the house.
“It’s okay for it to weep. I left it open, so it doesn’t build up inside.”
Donna looks at her in horror, “Maggie! Oh my, you’re a mess!” This morning Maggie was dressed in a corseted pink floral dress with matching waist coat and now she’s stained with blood and water.
Ian and Conner enter followed by Shep and George. Maggie chooses to ignore them and glances at her brother.
“I know. I’m sorry you had to see that Jack, but you did great.” She turns to leave, but Maggie grabs her first in a fierce hug.
“No. That was amazing! You were incredible! I don’t give a fig about the dress. Farley has a young bride at home and two young sons, Magdalaine, you are doing God’s work. Don’t you ever forget that.” She kisses both her cheeks before releasing her.
Maggie nods and hurries away before she erupts in tears.
“Jack sit with Mr. Farley, I’ll help Maggie,” Donna demands and starts shouting orders.
Maggie stares at herself in the mirror and starts laughing. “Oh, the first time I see George is like this?” Covered in blood, the front of dress, is saturated and she is startled to realize that she doesn’t care what he thinks of her. The pride in Shep’s voice and touch was worth more to her than anything else.
Donna follows and helps fill the tub, shouting for more water. Men carry up buckets, and Maggie is touched how many stay to see to her needs. It takes more time that she cares to admit to wash away the blood. Maggie scrubs with soap and stares into the blood-stained water with a sense of horror.
“The dress is a loss,” Donna teases and orders her to stand to rinse her in clean water.
Maggie laughs as she hurries through dressing in her navy dress so she can check on her patient. “I know, I never understood why they made us wear white. Blood never comes out. Now, I really need to go to town.” She pulls on her dress and stares at Donna.
“I’m sorry for the mess. For everything, Donna. I remember my Mother the scent of her, the soft hair, smiling eyes, but when I think of home, it’s you that I remember.” Maggie sniffs.
“Magdalaine!” Donna covers her face and Maggie grabs her wrists.
“It must be said, Donna. You were, are a wonderful mother to all of us. I’m so thankful that the Lord sent you to us.” Donna sobs and hugs her tight.
“Thank you, Magdalaine. It’s been my honor and your mother would be proud of the woman you’ve become.” She blows her nose and helps her dress. Maggie braids her hair and quickly pins it up. “That’ll have to do, I need to check on my patient. The doctor should be here soon.” Maggie walks downstairs and can hear a large group of men outside, thankfully, they’ve left Farley to rest.
“Farley?” she finds him resting, covered in multiple blankets and trembling, next to Jack. “How are you feeling?” she nods to Jack, who slips out to clean up. Maggie leans down to check the wound and removes the bloody cloth to check on it.
“Alive,” he groans, “thanks to you,” he says hoarsely. “How will I ever thank you,” he whispers. Maggie glances at him with a smile.
“It would be nice if you’d not get an infection and allow your body to heal. I was just doing my job,” she reminds him.
“Conner must be one proud father, to have a daughter like you.” Her eyes jump to his in surprise.
“I don’t know about that, Farley, girls are supposed to stay home and keep house.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t do that,” Farley laughs and presses a hand to his shoulder as bone deep pain ripples through.
“How’s your pain?” she questions him and lifts his hand to check for feeling in the fingers. “Are your fingers numb?”
“I’ve had worse,” Farley grunts, as he moves his fingers. “They aren’t numb.”
“That’s good.” A wave of people move into the guest room and Maggie turns to greet her Father and a well-dressed older man carrying a medical bag.
“Doctor Clarence Hall,” he introduces himself, but his eyes have already jumped from Maggie to Farley. “Let’s see how you’re doing Farley,” he says softly and removes the cloth. He spends a few minutes prodding at it and keeps his thoughts to himself.
“Miss O’Malley, tell me how you treated our patient.” He turns to her and his thoughtful brown eyes are fully focused on her now.
“The patient had two lacerated blood vessels, with the steel embedded in the muscle. I believe the collar bone to be fractured or possibly broken but the danger of bleeding took precedence.”
He nods in agreement. She spends the next few minutes answering his questions before he turns to look at them.
“Excellent. I agree with your assessment and I recommend that Mr. Farley stay the night. He needs to rest, and I don’t want to disturb the wound and risk such fine craftsmanship. Watch him for fever or drainage that changes color. What am I saying, you clearly know what you’re doing.” Maggie blushes at the praise and glances at the door where Shep is waiting for her.
Dr. Hall says, “I’d like a word with you, Miss O’Malley, in private.”
“Of course, Dr. Hall,” she nods.
“First, you need to reassure the men, that Farley will be okay,” Conner says.
Dr. Hall steps outside with Conner and Donna moves inside with more blankets. She tells him that his wife, Ellie, will be there soon with the boys.
“You should see this,” Shep grips her elbow gently and guides her through the hallway to the front door. Maggie steps outside the door and is stunned to see the porch crowded with workers, intent on hearing the Doctor’s words.
“How’s Farley?” A man shouts.
“He’s going to be fine. Miss O’Malley saved his life. I have no doubt about that. Especially if you’d pulled it without help. Which I’ve told you before. Let this be a lesson to you!”
All eyes swivel to her and Maggie tries to back up but Shep is standing behind her. He grips her shoulders gently, giving her his support and she relaxes into him and reaches up to cover a hand with hers.
George’s eyes narrow on them and he frowns not sure what her coming home means for him. “Let’s get back to work,” George snaps and starts shouting out orders to replace the broken part.
Conner nods in approval and turns back to the Doctor. “Let’s go inside.”
“Wonderful. Miss O’Malley, I have questions,” Dr. Hall says.
“I’m sure you do,” Maggie smiles and Shep waits to follow them.
Conner guides them to the sunroom on the back of the house, and tries to close the door, but a large hand slaps the door. “This is a private meeting, Mr. Millard,” he snaps.
“I understand,” he runs a hand through his black hair, “I’m here for Magdalaine, not you.”
“Dad, let Shep in. I want him with me,” she says.
He concedes and steps back only to glare at Ian and Jack as they follow Shep inside.
“This is a crowded, private meeting,” Dr. Hall chuckles.
“We have questions too,” Ian replies.
“Very well, but no one else,” Conner grumbles and sits down. Maggie sits in the chair and Shep stands behind her with his hands resting on the chair.
Maggie smiles as her family sit across from them with the Doctor. “Please call me Maggie, Dr. Hall. What do you need to know?”
“Thank you, Maggie. Who did you train under?” Dr. Hall asks.
“I went to school in Boston,” Maggie chews on her bottom lip nervously and reaches up, finding Shep’s hand ready.
“That doesn’t answer my question,” he sips on a cup of hot tea and waits. “Let me make this easy for you, the technique you used for the ligature on the patient was taught and used during the war. Am I right?”
&n
bsp; Shep’s hand jerks on hers and he releases it and moves around to stare at her. “What!” her father shouts.
Maggie jumps and looks at Shep. “I served as a nurse during what is now referred to as the Indian wars.”
“For how long, Magdalaine?” Shep asks.
“Three years,” she grips her hands tightly together and Dr. Hall watches the reactions of the men in the room.
“Three years,” Jack whispers.
“Maggie you said you were a nurse in San Francisco at the Children’s hospital. I thought that meant, changing nappies and wiping noses, not …” her father’s voice fades as the images flash through his mind.
“San Francisco?” Dr. Hall interrupts. “Do you know, Doctor Emery William?”
“Very well,” Maggie looks at him and smiles, “I was his surgical nurse for the last two years.”
Dr. Hall grins, “Remarkable!”
“Thank you,” she looks worriedly at the men in her life. They are all calculating the times and dates. She sighs and stands up to face them.
Explain Maggie!” Her father demands.
“Fine. You want details. I worked for the U.S. Army as a travel nurse. I’m not the sixteen-year-old girl who left home six years ago and I wouldn’t wish to be. I’ve seen life and death, held both in my hands,” she lifts them up and now she starts shaking. “I’ve witnessed atrocities done by both sides of the war and feared for my life more than a little, but always with the faith that I was walking the path the Lord chose for me. You will not take that from me!” Her Irish lilt is back and her father leaps to his feet.
“You ran away and lied to us for years and you expect us to just pretend that this is okay?” Conner snaps.
“No, Dad, I expect you to understand that sometimes we make choices that we have to live with. You made yours, and I am proud of mine.” Conner whirls around and slams from the room, leaving a stunned group behind.
She turns and faces the men left. “Well, out with it then, all of you.” Any hope Maggie had, is now fading away as they glare at her with shock and anger.
“Maggie, I won’t pretend I’m not shocked, but what I saw you do today was amazing. We are lucky to have such skill nearby. Give Dad time. I’ll go talk to him.” Ian leaves. “Come on Jack.” They leave and Maggie sits down heavily.
