Healing Sarah (American Homespun Book 3) Read online

  “Climb up.” Tim extended his hand. “Now, tell me again more slowly.”

  As her story lengthened, so did his concern. Mrs. Wilson could have been gone for hours.

  “Let’s go check your house quickly. We’ll need some extra blankets when we find her.” He didn’t point out that Sarah was shivering and could use one now. He simply lifted his lap robe and spread it over her too. “Why do you think she went toward Samuel and Lucy’s?”

  “Last night Emma thought I was my aunt and kept calling me Mary. Mary died in 1778 during a snowstorm. Emma found her and my mother, who was badly injured. I think Emma may have gone looking for them.”

  He pondered her information for a moment. As illogical as Mrs. Wilson’s thinking seemed to be, Sarah had hit upon a good explanation. He stopped the horse in front of her house. “Go get me some blankets, and I’ll go look for her.”

  “I am coming with you. There is no telling where Emma thinks she is, and she won’t come with you if she doesn’t recognize you.”

  “What if she doesn’t recognize you?”

  “She always recognizes me, but as my mother or my aunt or a younger version of Lucy. At least I am always someone she knows.”

  Tim helped Sarah down. “If you are coming with me, you are going need to get some dry socks on. I don’t want to be treating both of you.”

  Sarah nodded and ran up the now-cleared path to the door, Tim following in her wake. Once inside, she became a model of efficiency, checking with the Larkin girl, then gathering several quilts, which she stacked in Tim’s arms. “Ready.”

  “Not until you change your socks and boots, if you own another pair.”

  Sarah opened her mouth to argue.

  He raised his hand, nearly toppling the blankets. “I don’t want to treat you for frostbite.” Sarah ran up the stairs. From what he could see of her skirt, she could do with changing it too. He yelled after her. “Add an extra petticoat or two!”

  A gasp came from the Larkin girl in the kitchen. Likely she wasn’t used to hearing men discuss such things. He nodded in her direction, and she blushed. He hoped she wouldn’t carry any tales.

  Nineteen

  Wisdom or not, Sarah seethed at the extra time it took her to change her stockings, add an old-fashioned quilted petticoat, and put on an old pair of half boots. Didn’t he realize that Emma could be dying? It didn’t matter if her feet were cold. He was wasting time treating her like a little girl.

  She pulled the laces on her boots tight. Her feet were still cold but dry. Maybe he had a point.

  Tim told her the hardest part of being an army doctor was performing amputations. She’d rather not have any toes amputated. She ran down the stairs, not wanting to delay a second longer.

  Tim waited for her, a steaming mug in hand. He took a drink, then handed it to her. “Finish it and we’ll go.”

  The chocolate in milk was bitter but welcome, warming her as it worked its way down her throat.

  “Did you eat this morning?”

  Sarah shook her head as she drank.

  “Miss Larkin, do you see a bit of bread or cheese?”

  The girl produced both. Tim took the empty mug and handed the food to Sarah. “You can eat on our way. I don’t need you fainting, either.”

  A retort about his heavy-handedness came to mind, but she had already stuffed the cheese in her mouth.

  Tiny snowflakes floated softly down.

  “At least it is slowing. You should have seen it at three o’clock this morning. I couldn’t see ten feet in front of me,” said Tim as he handed her up into the bench seat. Sarah put the last of the bread in her mouth and replaced her mitten.

  “You said between the old Wilson place and Samuel’s farm. Do you know where?”

  “Not exactly. Lucy showed me a place she thought Aunt Mary was killed. But she wasn’t sure as Mama never spoke of it and Emma only talks of it when she is lost in the past. There is always the back trail between our farms too, but Lucy believes the attack happened in the woods along the north road.” She hoped he wouldn’t ask more about the history than she wished to tell. The deserters who’d left her mother for dead and killed her aunt had also fathered her sister. Among the women Emma’s age, it was an unspoken secret but hardly one that needed to be brought to light now. Sarah couldn’t stand it when someone treated Lucy poorly due to her origin.

  “We’ll stop at John’s on the way. Mrs. Wilson may have stopped there, and he can help look.”

  With no other vehicles on the road and the runners gliding swiftly over the snow, they made it to John’s in record time.

  John came outside to meet them. As Sarah explained what had happened, his face grew increasingly red. She didn’t need to wait long for the explosion.

  “I told you something like this would happen! If Ma is dead, it’s on your head. If you had agreed to my plan and married me––” He took a step forward, but Tim stepped in between them.

  Sarah ducked under his arms and placed her hands on her hips. “If you had listened to me, she wouldn’t have been here all day yesterday!”

  Tim stepped in front of her. “Fighting is not going to find your mother. Sarah mentioned a back path to Samuel’s. Take your horse and search there. We will stay on the main road.”

  “No. Sarah can stay here and watch after my children.”

  Don’t talk about me like I am a child. Sarah stretched to try to reach a height she didn’t possess. “Isn’t Lettie here?”

  “Of course she is here. Came down yesterday afternoon, so I took Ma back. Perhaps I shouldn’t have.”

  “Then she can watch your children. I am going with Dr. Dawes.” Sarah climbed back into the sleigh without assistance.

  Tim walked around the vehicle and said to John, “If we are not at Samuel’s, circle back around by the road. If you don’t see us, we found her and took her home. If you aren’t at Samuel’s, we will do the same.”

  John glared. “Bring her here.”

  “Only if I must. The Larkins will have warm blankets and bricks ready. It will be easier to help her in her own bed.” Tim didn’t wait for a reply before urging the horse into a trot.

  Sarah studied the side of the road as they went along. “This is the wooded area Lucy showed me.”

  Tim slowed the horse.

  “Do you know what Mrs. Wilson is wearing?”

  Sarah bit her lip. “I—I didn’t look at her clothing carefully. Her shawl wasn’t by the door when I got mine.”

  “What color is it?”

  “Probably the blue one, but it has faded to a grayish color.”

  “Too bad it isn’t red.”

  “Stop!” Sarah pointed to a place where the snow was disturbed. “It looks like somebody’s walked here. I hope it’s more than a deer.”

  She didn’t wait for Tim to hand her down. The last thing she wanted to hear was that she should wait. The trees grew thick in this area, and snow fell from the branches in large dollops, making it hard to tell footprints from nature’s snowballs.

  “Emma?”

  She felt Tim come up behind her. When she didn’t turn around, he touched her shoulder.

  “I’m not going back to the buggy.”

  “I know. I am going to go over there about ten yards. We can cover more area if we spread out. Look at the base of the larger trees. If she got tired, she may have sat down. Stop when you reach the creek, and we can choose a different area.”

  Sarah nodded, and Tim turned north. The wind moaned through the high branches, sending snow down on her head. Tim called for Emma, and Sarah did the same as she forged through the snow-covered trail.

  “Emma!”

  The only response was Tim echoing her call. A drift at the base of a tree caught her attention. Just a stump.

  Sarah followed the trail around a boulder. There on the leeward side of the rock sat Emma. She appeared to be sleeping.

  “Tim! Tim!” Sarah brushed the snow off Emma. She thought she felt Emma brea
thing.

  “Where are you?” Tim’s voice echoed off the trees.

  “Behind the boulder!”

  The strands of the knit shawl were frozen to Emma’s face and hair. Sarah wasn’t sure if she imagined the flutter of Emma’s eyes or not.

  Snow crunched as Tim came closer. “Sarah?”

  She stood and waved her arms. “Here!”

  Tim plowed through the snow and came to kneel by Emma’s side. “I think she is still alive.” He scooped Emma into his arms. “Walk in front of me. Tell me if there are rocks or branches to avoid.”

  Sarah nodded, praying all the way back to the road.

  Mrs. Wilson’s half-frozen body was heavier than he expected. Tim didn’t dare voice his doubts or the need for a miracle. He stumbled a few times but managed not to fall, now feeling the absence of every missed moment of sleep. Oh, to be as strong as the Wilson men. Intent on just the next few steps, he focused on Sarah’s back. If he fell or dropped Emma, he knew he didn’t possess the strength to lift her back up.

  Voices called out, and shortly after Sarah answered, Samuel Wilson appeared, blocking his way.

  “Let me.” Samuel took his mother from Tim’s arms.

  Free of the weight, Tim followed them back to the road. Samuel laid Mrs. Wilson in the back of his wagon, which was lined with blankets. “Sarah, climb up here and help me.”

  Tim noted Sarah’s frozen skirt hem. While they cared for Mrs. Wilson, he’d need to make sure she got warm and dry. Especially her feet—those flimsy boots were not made for snow.

  Samuel turned to face him. “Doctor, my Lucy is heating water and blankets. Since my home is closer, I suggest we go there. We can send word to the Larkins.”

  “We should probably get this sleigh back to the livery as well. No doubt others will need it today.”

  Samuel nodded and jumped into his wagon. Tim climbed into the converted buggy and only then noted John’s presence. Not sure how to read the man’s expression, Tim called to his horse to trot and followed Samuel to the farm.

  Twenty

  Sarah heard Emma groan as the wagon hit a bump, and she tightened her grip to keep them from rocking too much in the wagon bed. When the wagon slowed and Samuel pulled up to the porch, Sarah sat up, pulling off the blanket covering her.

  Lucy threw open the door. “Our room is ready. Sarah, I had Louisa lay out dry clothes for you behind the screen. Change and come help me.”

  “I can help now.” Sarah hopped out of the wagon.

  Lucy put a hand on her lower back, which made her growing belly seem larger. “You’ll be of no use if you are standing there shivering. Hurry now. The doctor will want to see Emma, and I can’t have you changing when he is in there.”

  Sarah flew into her sister and brother-in-law’s room and was still shrugging out of her wet dress and shoes when she heard Samuel and Lucy enter.

  “Let me get that. I don’t want her to burn herself on the warming pans,” said Lucy.

  “A knife, please? It will be easier to cut these frozen clothes off her.”

  At the sound of Tim’s voice, Sarah’s hands froze, unable to finish undoing the ties of her petticoat.

  “My scissors are in my sewing box. Sarah, the box is back there. Can you hand them out?”

  Lucy’s head appeared around the end of the screen. “Heaven’s! Aren’t you done yet?”

  “Sorry, my fingers …”

  “Allow me.” Lucy made quick work of the strings of the corset and petticoats, tossing them on top of the wet dress.

  “Give me back my corset,” whispered Sarah.

  “You won’t need it under Louisa’s dress.” At least her sister hadn’t pointed out how Sarah didn’t need the corset at all. Lucy dropped a dry shift over Sarah’s head and tied the laces of the petticoats before helping Sarah into the dress minus the corset.

  “Pass me my scissors and hurry. You are shivering. I must get back to Emma.”

  The dry clothes felt good. Sarah hadn’t realized how cold she was until now. She didn’t bother putting her wet boots back over the new stockings. Eventually her feet would thaw.

  Tim hardly spared her a glance when she emerged from behind the screen. He was bent over Emma with Lucy helping him. “Sarah, can you get some hot water in the basin? Some of Mrs. Wilson’s clothes are so frozen we can’t get them off.”

  Her hands shook as she poured water from the kettle into the basin, some of the water splashing out.

  Tim looked up. “You are shivering!” He took a quilt off the end of the bed and wrapped it around her, his fingers grazing her neck. The shiver that went down her spine had nothing do to with the cold. “Go get warm. We’ll call you when we need you.” He gave her a push toward the door. Sarah glanced back, but he was already helping Lucy with Emma’s frozen clothing.

  Her sister looked up. “There is some stew. Eat while you warm up, then you can trade me.”

  The promise of being needed warmed her almost as much as the quilt. Sarah ladled herself a bowl of stew and was scooting her chair as close to the fire as she dared when the door banged open, nearly causing her to spill the contents of the bowl in her lap.

  Samuel appeared to be arguing with John, but both men quit talking when they saw her.

  Samuel spoke first. “How is Ma?”

  “They are still trying to get her frozen clothing off.”

  “Why aren’t you helping?” John crossed his arms and glared at her.

  “They—”

  Samuel turned on his younger brother. “As you see, Sarah is half frozen after spending the morning looking for Ma. Lucy and the doctor don’t need two patients.”

  “If she had stayed at my house like I told her to—”

  “Then we would still be looking for Ma. Dr. Dawes told me Sarah was the one who knew where to find her.”

  “What I don’t understand is why she couldn’t watch Ma in the first place.” John’s hands were balled into fists, and he took a step toward Samuel.

  Sarah stood. “I did watch her! I locked the house like I do every night. I hid the key. I told you how much I hate that, but I did it anyway! I don’t know how she got out or if she found the other key or something. I didn’t hear her leave.” Tears started to run down her cheeks.

  Samuel came around the table and pulled her into his arms. For a moment, she didn’t mind being small. She could almost pretend he was holding her like he did when she was little. “And you found her.” He placed a kiss on top of her head and released her. “Brother, let’s not fight about this now. All that could be said on the matter was discussed two weeks ago. None of us could guess we would get a half foot of snow in June or plan for such a danger.” Samuel turned back to Sarah. “Did Ma act oddly last night?”

  “She kept calling me Mary and searching for you and Thomas Jr. as well as her baby. I finally lied and told her you were all sleeping upstairs and that Mama was watching them. I said Emma needed to get some rest so she could get better and see them. She went to bed but kept wanting to go see her children. I stayed awake until I was sure she was asleep, then I banked the fire, locked the house, and went to bed.” Sarah took a bite of her cooling stew.

  John hadn’t moved from his spot by the door. “You are sure you locked up?”

  “I think I did. Since I do it every night, it is hard to remember one night from another.”

  “You think?” John pushed off the wall.

  Samuel glared at his brother. “Not now.” He turned back to Sarah. “How long did Ma think you were Mary last night?”

  “Close to two hours. None of my tricks worked. She got angrier than she has ever been when I wouldn’t let her see you or the other children.” She raised a hand to cover the side of her face.

  Samuel pulled her hand away and touched her cheek. “How did you get this bruise? Did Ma hit you last night?”

  Sarah looked at the floor, not wanting to answer.

  John studied her face. “That is ridiculous. Ma never slapped us,
even as children.”

  Samuel didn’t reply to his brother. He lifted Sarah’s chin with his finger and locked gazes with her. “Was this the first time?”

  “No.” Sarah tried to step back, but the chair was right behind her.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I tried to last Sunday.” She shrugged and looked in John’s direction.

  “I shouldn’t have brought her home last night.”

  Samuel dropped Sarah’s chin and turned to his brother. “Ma was out at your place yesterday?”

  “Of course. With Lettie ill, I needed someone to help with the children before the storm hit. As it is, I probably lost the south field. Sarah protested, but Ma did just fine.”

  Samuel groaned.

  Lucy appeared in the bedroom doorway, rubbing her back. “Sarah, can you come assist the doctor?”

  Sarah was glad for an excuse to leave the room.

  Samuel stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “Tell the doctor I sent the boys back to the livery with the sleigh. They’ll bring Little Brown back here so he can leave when he needs to.”

  Sarah nodded and crossed the room.

  Samuel’s voice stopped her. “Sarah, thank you for finding Ma. I know you tried your best.”

  Sarah didn’t look back at him, afraid he might see her tears.

  Lucy shut the door once Sarah had entered, then hovered over her younger sister for a moment, talking in hushed tones, before addressing Tim. “Well, Doctor, it seems my replacement is here. I need to go take care of some other things.”

  “What you need to do, Mrs. Wilson, is to lie down. I don’t believe the baby is due quite yet, but the way you are rubbing your back makes me wonder if he is not considering an early arrival. This bed is large enough. You can lie down here if you wish, or perhaps in one of the children’s rooms.”

  “I promise I will go lie down as soon as I take care—” Lucy’s face pinked.

  Understanding dawned. Most likely she needed the chamber pot stashed behind the screen where Sarah had changed earlier. But he doubted she would want to use it with him in the room. “Very good plan. A least a half hour of rest. Sarah, can you take over here? The shawl is almost off Emma. I don’t want to rip her hair out or get her too wet.”