New York Storm

by Rachel Wesson

  “Tell you what Tommy, I’ll go get you some dry clothes and then how does a nice cup of tea sound?”

  “A whiskey would sound better.”

  Aaron laughed. “Doc Erin would kill me. She doesn't believe in alcohol especially after the shock you had.”

  At the grimace on Tommy's face, Aaron leaned in closer.

  “But if you taste a wee drop in the tea, don't go telling anyone ya hear?”

  Tommy grinned back at the stranger. He liked him even more now.

  True to his word, Aaron came back with some clean, dry clothes. To Tommy's surprise, he recognized them as his own.

  “The staff downstairs are doing a fine job. It's all part of the hotel service,” Aaron explained in response to Tommy's raised eyebrows. “Now let me get you that tea while you get dressed.”

  Aaron came back with a full breakfast for Tommy. He hadn't realized how ravenous he was until he tasted the first bite. He really wanted to check on the girls but Aaron said Doc Erin was doing her rounds and it wasn't appropriate for him to visit them just now. After Aaron reassured him again that both girls were alive, Tommy tucked into his breakfast.

  “You aren't from around here, are you?” Tommy asked.

  “Me? No, thank goodness. I’m not a man for cities. I live in the wilds of Colorado,” Aaron said.

  “What do you do out there?” Tommy couldn’t hide his curiosity. All his life he had wanted to have his own farm like his granddad did. But this was his first time speaking to someone from outside New York.

  “I'm a rancher. Only came to New York as the wife wanted to see her uncle. Didn't expect this kind of welcome though,” Aaron joked as he looked outside at the weather.

  “We New Yorkers aim to please.” Tommy grinned. “So what type of ranching do you do?”

  “You have to be the first New Yorker interested in ranching.” Aaron looked around and then lowered his voice. “Most people’s eyes glaze over when I mention ranching. Maybe they think working for your living is beneath them.”

  Tommy grinned back at Aaron, liking him even more. “I always wanted a farm like my granddad had when he lived in Ireland. I've been saving up too. Someday I’ll live somewhere other than the city.”

  “Good luck son, can’t stand the city myself. The noise and the smells and the people. Way too many of them.”

  “Thank you for the breakfast and the tea.” The tea had been more than a little flavored with whiskey.

  “Don't mention it. Now why don't I find the Doc and introduce you so you can check up on your sister and her friend.” Aaron’s eyes twinkled.

  Tommy sensed the emphasis on her friend and knew Aaron has guessed his feelings for Sadie.

  “I want to marry her but I haven't asked her yet.” Tommy closed his mouth in surprise. What had made him say that? He never spoke about his feelings.

  “Don't worry none. Your secret is safe with me. But I highly recommend married life. That fine looking woman over there is my wife and I've never been happier.”

  Tommy saw the beautifully dressed blonde lady Aaron pointed to. She didn't look like a rancher’s wife, but then Aaron didn't look like any of the men he had seen in his books either.

  “So this place you're from. Is there more land going out there? How much would you need to set up a place?” Tommy asked.

  “What you planning on rearing?”

  “Sheep and potatoes.”

  Aaron nearly burst his ribs by laughing so much. Tommy looked around as everyone stared in their direction

  “I don't know what I said that was so funny,” Tommy said defensively. He hated people laughing at him unless he had made a joke.

  “Sheep lad? In cattle country. Don't you know the two don't go together?”

  Tommy didn't. But he wasn't going to admit that.

  “I just heard sheep took less money and less rearing than cattle. I thought it might be a good place to start. That's all,” Tommy said stiffly.

  “Don't get uppity lad. Sheep rearing has its place. I’m only teasing ya. I ain't averse to a good mutton pie. Now, why don't I go find Doc Erin and her husband Mick?”

  Tommy nodded while he finished the rest of his tea. Maybe he should keep his plans about the type of farm he wanted to himself. But how much better it would be if he and Sadie could move somewhere they already knew some people! It would be lonely for Sadie leaving her family and Lizzie behind. If she knew someone, she might be more agreeable to coming with him.

  You haven't even asked to court her yet, and here you have her married and moving to someplace out west to raise sheep, he scolded himself. Maybe he had hit himself on the head in the snow after all.

  Chapter 27

  Nancy Headford opened her door at the knock, her heart in the mouth.

  Please God don’t let it be the police telling me they found my sons, she prayed.

  She was never so delighted to see Marcia Henson standing on the doorway.

  “You heard from your Jamie?” Marcia asked.

  “No. Barry?” Nancy asked about Marcia’s only son. She relied heavily on him ever since her husband had died the previous year.

  “No, not yet. Maybe they stayed at the factory. I am sure they stayed together.” Marcia rubbed her hands together in an agitated fashion. Her eyes had big black circles under them, probably caused by staying awake praying just like she’d been.

  Nancy gave her a quick hug. “Why don’t you sit down and have a cup of tea? Jimmy went out searching. He may be back soon with some news.”

  Nancy turned to boil the water. Poor woman, what would she do without Barry? Nancy sniffed. She couldn’t bear to think about Jamie being dead. Her son was the apple of her eye, although she would never admit to favoring him over her youngest Paul. She assumed Paul would be safe with her brother Michael.

  “Maybe they stayed at the factory?” Marcia asked hopefully.

  Nancy didn’t want to be cruel but it was hardly likely.

  “At the factory? Would they let them? Would have been safer but you know what company bosses are like.”

  “Yes, someone told me William Strauss, you know the German family that lives in number nine,” Marcia said, “He trudged all the way to his job, he was at the gate when the whistle blew and the guard locked it in his face. On Monday morning through that storm. And they’re docking him a day’s pay.”

  “Oh poor Mrs. Strauss and her with all those children. I wonder if we should pool some things together for them. They don’t have much without losing a full day’s wages on top.”

  “Perhaps,” Marcia said, her tone suggesting she wasn’t too keen.

  Nancy wasn’t going to upset her friend more by arguing with her. She would drop something in to Mrs. Strauss later. At times like these, people had to pull together.

  “Come home, Jamie and Paul, I need you both home,” Nancy whispered to herself as she said a quick prayer for her children’s safety.

  “Lizzie, are you awake? Someone wants to see you.”

  Lizzie fought through the fuzzy feeling in her head to force her eyes to open. She saw the woman, a nurse she assumed, who had examined her last night.

  “Where am I?”

  “With friends. Safe out of the storm. Your brother wants to see you.”

  Tears flowed down Lizzie's face, she couldn't help it. She had been so worried, kept dreaming she had lost Tommy. She held her arms out as he came closer. He knelt down and hugged her tight. She could feel his tears on her neck. Tommy never cried so that scared her even more.

  “What happened to Sadie?” she asked, fearing the answer.

  “Your friend Sadie is here too. She fought so hard to find you both the night before last. She refused to come inside the hotel until my husband picked her up and made her,” the woman told her.

  “The night before last. You mean we’ve been asleep for a whole day?”

  “Actually a whole day and two nights. Your bodies were exhausted and sleep is a wonderful healer,” the lady smiled and then her sm
ile dropped and she looked serious again. “Sadie was lucky you arrived when you did. As it is, she has some injuries I’m rather concerned about.”

  Lizzie felt Tommy stiffen as he withdrew from their embrace. She held his hand

  “Sadie? Injured? Why type of injury? Where is she?” Lizzie asked as Tommy fell silent.

  “I put her in a bed right over there. I figured she would be more comfortable in a real bed rather than a pallet on the floor.”

  “Has the doctor been to see her yet? What did he say?” Tommy asked.

  The woman chuckled, “Sorry, I never introduced myself. I am doctor Erin Quinn. I’m the one who’s been treating you and your friend.”

  “You’re Mrs. Doherty's friend,” Lizzie replied smiling.

  The doctor smiled “Yes, I am. I take it you know Carmel?”

  “Yes, I’m friends with Nora. What’s wrong with Sadie?”

  Doc Erin looked at them closely and then glanced back at Sadie.

  “I really should wait until her family arrive.”

  “They can’t get her in this storm,” Lizzie said. They were unlikely to come anyway, but Doc Erin didn't need to know that.

  “Sadie suffered some damage to her legs. Her boots, well they let in water. She has frostbite, but with time and patience, we hope she will get better.”

  Lizzie didn't want to probe. She sensed there was more to it than what the doctor was saying.

  “Can we see her?”

  “Yes of course. I will arrange for your clothes to be returned.”

  Only then did Lizzie realize she was wearing someone else's nightdress. She loved the feeling of the rich cotton against her skin, it was almost too much of a temptation to ask to stay in it.

  “Your clothes were frozen so we had to wash and dry them. I’ll get some breakfast brought up to you as well. When you do speak to Sadie, please don't let her know how concerned we are. We need her to be as positive as possible,” the doctor said.

  “Yes, Doc Erin,” Lizzie answered on behalf of both of them as her brother seemed to have lost that ability to speak. The doc nodded before moving away.

  “Tommy, did you hear the doctor? You can’t let on to Sadie.”

  “I'm not stupid Lizzie.”

  “There's no need to speak to me like that.”

  He stared back at her before he looked away. “Sorry, Lizzie I wasn't thinking. I’ll leave you to get dressed.”

  “Tommy,” she said softly, grabbing his hand. “She’ll be fine. She has both of us to look after her.”

  Tommy nodded before walking away. She knew he had to be alone to process what the doctor had said. Poor Sadie, as if she didn't have enough problems in her life.

  Lizzie was determined to help not only her friend, but also the other people around her. There was nothing wrong with her that a little rest wouldn't cure and there would be plenty of time for lying down when the storm was finished. In the meantime, keeping busy would keep her mind off Jamie. Was he home safe? She certainly hoped so. After her experience in that storm she wouldn't wish that on anyone, especially not the man she loved with every fiber of her body.

  Chapter 28

  Sadie woke up in agony, the feeling of ants crawling up her legs driving her mad. She twisted and turned so much a woman came running.

  “Please don’t do that. You may hurt yourself more.”

  “I have to get up and go home. My ma will be worried about me,” Sadie said.

  “Shush now you need to rest. The blizzard is still blowing so there’s no way Doc Erin would let you leave. You have to get better first.”

  “Please, help me. There are ants crawling on my legs. I can feel them. Please. I don’t know your name.”

  “My name is Lily Greene. I’ll check your legs if you promise me you’ll lie still. Deal?”

  Sadie nodded her head and forced herself to lie still as the girl looked under the blanket.

  “What do they call you?” Lily asked.

  “Sadie. Sadie O’Riordan.”

  “Sadie, I promise there are no ants. What you are feeling is probably the blood flowing back into the parts of your body that froze with the snow. But I ain’t a doctor so let me go get Doc Erin for you.”

  Sadie didn’t want the girl to go. She didn’t want to be alone. A cough behind Lily made her glance up.

  “Lizzie, you’re here! You look okay, please tell me ya are.”

  Lizzie glanced at Lily who nodded. Then she took a seat beside Sadie’s bed.

  “I am thanks to you. You saved our lives, Sadie.”

  Sadie flushed. “I didn’t do anything. You and Tommy brought me out of the factory. After Stan…I was on my own.”

  “Well, Doc Erin reckons you saved us as you wouldn’t let them take you into the hotel until they found us in that snowdrift.” Lizzie took Sadie’s hand in hers. Sadie stared down at their joined hands trying hard to be brave.

  “Sadie, what’s wrong?” Lizzie tenderly brushed away a lone tear that had escaped.

  “I can’t feel my feet. I can feel ants crawling on my legs but nothing on my feet. Why can’t I feel my toes?”

  She caught the look in Lizzie’s eyes before her friend glanced away. When she turned back the look was gone, replaced with a guarded expression. Lizzie was hiding something, but what?

  “Sadie, Doc Erin is going to come back and examine you. She can explain it better than I can. Now you just got to rest and trust you are in good hands. Carmel Doherty says Erin is the best doctor and she wouldn’t lie.”

  Sadie lay back on her pillow trying to follow her friend’s advice, but she was terrified. What if she never got the feeling back in her toes? Would she become an invalid just like her ma?

  Sadie woke up to find Doc Erin waiting by her bedside. She listened as the doctor explained how she was going to stick a pin in Sadie’s foot in the hope it would hurt. Sadie studied the doctor’s face but she couldn’t tell what she was thinking. She knew Erin was concerned, she had already explained that she was worried that the feeling hadn’t returned to Sadie’s toes, despite it being two days since she’d been brought in out of the snow.

  Sadie wondered if she would lose her limbs because of the frostbite. She’d been wearing shoes, but the soles had holes in them, the water had got in and froze around her feet. She hadn’t been too worried, thinking that you had to be out in the snow for hours and hours before you could get frostbite. She was still glad she had insisted on her friends being seen to first. She had overheard Erin talking to her husband about some people who had fallen into snowdrifts and died. She couldn’t bear to think of life without Tommy Carpenter, or her best friend Lizzie.

  Sadie couldn’t feel a thing when Erin put the pins in and, although Erin tried to mask her reaction, she could see the doctor was worried. Forcing herself to be cheerful, she hid the tears and smiled at Erin.

  Erin asked one of the waiters to bring some fresh hot stones. “The stones will help warm your feet and get the internal temperature back to normal. Rest Sadie, and let us look after you.”

  “Will I lose my foot, Doc?” Sadie knew it was mean to put the doctor on the spot but she had to know. She waited while Erin composed her reply. She guessed the doctor didn’t want to lie but neither did she want to give false hope.

  Erin held Sadie’s hand, “I don’t know, Sadie. Not for certain. I need you to continue to be brave and hope for the best. You have to do everything we tell you. The most important thing is to stay in bed.”

  Sadie forced the lump in her throat back. “But I feel so helpless lying here when everyone else has so much to do.”

  “What if I put a couple of the younger children’s beds closer to yours? Then you can help keep them amused by telling them stories.” As Sadie’s eyes lit up, Erin admonished her, “You are not to get overtired, though. That won’t help anyone.”

  “I won’t Doc Erin, thank you,” Sadie said, thinking being with the children would help keep her mind off her problems. She saw Erin blink back the tears befo
re she patted her hand and walked away. Only once Erin was gone, did Sadie allow her own tears to fall. Then she took a deep breath and determined she would beat this frostbite or her name wasn’t Sadie O’Riordan.

  Chapter 29

  Sadie must have dozed off because sometime later she woke to find Tommy staring at her. He was standing by her bed, a grim expression on his face.

  Did he know? Had Doc Erin told him? She wouldn’t would she? He wasn’t her family or anything. But then if he didn’t know, why did he look so cross?

  She smiled but he didn’t return her smile. Then he seemed to realize she was awake.

  “Hello Sadie. Sorry, I didn’t mean to waken you. I just wanted to say thanks.”

  “For what?” Why was he being so formal? What had she done wrong?

  “You saved Lizzie. And me. How are you feeling?”

  “Fine,” she lied. She wished he would go away before the tears behind her eyes spilled over. She’d dreamed of him coming over, taking her in his arms and declaring his love. Instead he stood like someone had made him come and talk to her.

  “I am rather sleepy,” she said as he stood in silence.

  “Oh, I see. I’ll leave you to sleep then. You take care.”

  She didn’t watch him walk away but turned her head to face the wall and let the tears flow. He didn’t care. Maybe he had heard about her feet and didn’t want a potential invalid as a…she couldn’t bear to finish that sentence not even in her thoughts.

  Lizzie had watched her brother and Sadie from a distance. She marched up to him and dragged him away into an empty corner. Only once they had reached relative privacy did she ask him what was wrong with him.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Tommy Carpenter, don’t you lie to me. I can read you like a book. Why did you treat Sadie like that?”