Mistletoe Mistake

by Caroline Clemmons

The only explanation he could come up with was that he’d completely lost his mind. He remembered her working so hard to help the Doan children. Before that, she’d helped the Fraser woman and her babies.

  He didn’t like admitting he was wrong. This time, though, maybe she did know what she was doing. Damned if she wasn’t proving she knew her job.

  Chapter Nine

  The next morning, Shannon started coffee and then set to work making biscuits as quietly as she could. Her dress was a wrinkled mess, but she’d change later.

  Sensing more than hearing his approach, she turned. “I tried to be quiet so you could sleep. You’ve been taking care of everyone and of the animals, too.”

  He scrubbed a hand across his face. “Smelled coffee. Need a cup.” His hair stuck up in a cowlick and he resembled a small boy waking from a nap.

  “Sit down and I’ll bring your coffee. Biscuits will be cooked soon. Let me get eggs and ham cooking.”

  “I like the sound of that. Haven’t had homemade biscuits in a long time. Abner at the café is a good cook but there’s nothing like a small batch cooked just for the family.”

  Sylvester stood up and stretched.

  Riley took a large swallow of coffee then donned his coat and hat. “Come on, Sylvester, let’s go check on Plato.”

  “Breakfast will be ready when you come in.”

  They’d finished breakfast and were putting away the clean dishes when there was a knock on the office door.

  She tossed her apron aside. “I’ll see who that is.”

  Walt Dixon stood on the porch. “My two have the measles. Jenny is real bad sick.”

  She saw he’d used a buggy to get to her house. “I’ll change clothes and get my bag. Go on home and take your children to the church. I’ll meet you there. Bring blankets and pillows if you can and we’ll make beds on the pews.”

  Shannon went back to the kitchen. “Riley, please let the minister know we need to accept his offer of the church to quarantine those infected.”

  “There’s also the school.”

  “I considered that, but if we pad the pews with blankets, they’ll be like a child’s bed. I don’t know what we’d use at the school.”

  He reached for his coat. “I’ll go alert the pastor.”

  She changed into a wool dress and quilted petticoat. On the board near her door, she wrote a note.

  “All measles patients go to church and bring blankets”.

  Reverend Bart Nichols welcomed her and already had the two stoves heating the sanctuary.

  Shannon and Unadee Dixon folded blankets to pad the makeshift bed for Jenny and Wally. Mr. Dixon ran his hand lovingly over each of his children’s hair. “I need to get back to the livery and take care of the animals. I’ll come by when I can.”

  Before day’s end, Johnny Gibson and Katie Holloway were also bedded down on church pews.

  Vennie Gibson tucked cover over her son. “John would like to have stayed, Shannon. We thought someone needed to be home with his mother.”

  Shannon had treated the elder Gibson woman for a recent fall. Now Shannon could have hugged her friend. “You know I welcome your assistance, Vennie.”

  Lily Holloway stood behind Shannon. “I’m going to stay, too.”

  Surprised, Shannon pivoted. “Thank you, Lily. With this many children, we’ll need all the help we can get. I imagine we’ll have more children soon.”

  Vennie glanced at the window. “Weather’s turning worse. Sure hope we don’t have another blizzard.”

  Lily hugged her arms. “Might be a good thing because people will stay in and not give the measles to anyone else.

  Shannon shook her head. “By now, I imagine all the children have been exposed at school.”

  The day lengthened with Shannon spending most of her time caring for Jenny Dixon. The small girl’s fever was high and she was fretful. Shannon lost sense of time as she moved from patient to patient. Poor little Jenny wouldn’t stop crying.

  Her mom, Unadee, silently sobbed with her daughter. “I’m sorry. I know she’s disturbing the others but I can’t get her to quiet down.”

  Shannon patted the mother’s shoulder. “She’s too young to understand why she feels so bad.”

  “I’m so scared. She doesn’t seem any better.”

  Once again, Shannon listened to Jenny’s lungs. “She doesn’t have pneumonia. Keep bathing her face and body to lower her fever. I’ll continue checking on her.”

  Riley had been in and out all day. Pastor Nichols had too.

  When night arrived, Shannon suggested the other adults sleep while they had the chance. She continued moving from patient to patient.

  Later, speaking quietly to Riley, she admitted, “I can’t keep from worrying about the family who brought the disease to Mistletoe. Those children need to be in a warm place so they don’t contract pneumonia.”

  “Nothing we can do for them. You appear to have your hands full here.”

  “I do, but I’m pleased several people are willing to help.”

  Vennie and Lily stretched out on pews near their children. Lily held her daughter’s hand. Unadee held Jenny.

  Shannon sat down for a half hour between rounds. By sunup, she must have walked several miles while circling to each patient.

  Riley pulled on his coat and wrapped a wool scarf around his neck. “I’m going by the office, feed your horse and my dog, and check on a few of those who live alone.”

  Three hours later, Riley arrived, half carrying Otto Jensen. The older man was swathed in several blankets over a heavy coat and cap. A scarf covered most of his face.

  Mr. Jensen plopped onto a pew coughing and wheezing as if he couldn’t catch his breath. “I’m seventy years old. Hell of a time to come down with measles like a snot-nosed child.”

  Shannon helped the newcomer remove three blankets and his coat. “Measles attack all ages, Mr. Jensen.”

  He sent Riley a stern frown. “Sheriff said I had to come here and let you take care of me. Danged man wouldn’t leave until I agreed and I let him bully me. Don’t see how getting dragged through the cold can help.”

  Shannon folded and smoothed his blankets on a vacant pew. “You need care, Mr. Jensen. People of all ages are susceptible if they haven’t had the disease. Pneumonia is particularly a danger for adults and infants.” She folded his coat inside out to use for his pillow.

  When he’d lain down, she listened to his lungs before taking his temperature. She feared he already had pneumonia. “Sir, your temperature is 103 degrees. When’s the last time you had something to eat or drink?”

  He wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Haven’t felt like cookin’ anything for a couple of days. Had two cups of coffee this morning.”

  “Abner and Hattie Vincent from the café have brought in food. Several people from town contributed, too. Right now, I’ll get you a drink of water.”

  Mr. Jensen grabbed her arm. “That’ll make me hafta pee and I don’t feel like going to the privy in this weather.”

  “Pastor Nichols has arranged bed pails for adults in what was a storage closet.” Riley helped the older man raise his head while Shannon held a cup of water to his lips. “You need a lot of liquid to bring down your fever. Later, I’ll get you a nice meal.”

  Pastor Nichols stopped by to assess the status. “On my way to perform a wedding at the school. Clyde Bellman’s mail-order bride arrived. Nice to have new couples forming.”

  He beamed a smile. “I love weddings. My favorite duty.”

  Shannon smiled at the kindly minister. “Please give them our apologies for the church being unavailable and wish them well.”

  “Clyde understands and I’m sure his bride will. I’ll check back here later.” The minister opened the outside door barely enough to slip through so as to keep out the cold.

  No sooner had Pastor Nichols left than three-year-old twins Holly and Heather Webster arrived with their parents. The girls were adorable blondes with blue eyes and light skin completely cover
ed in red blotches. Belle Webster sent her husband, Davis, home. “He’s no good with sickness. He’s promised to corral the three older children. They had measles before we moved here last year.”

  Shannon asked, “How old are they?”

  “Chester is five. Twins Grover and Benjamin are eight.”

  “Two sets of twins? You must be very efficient to manage your household.”

  Belle rolled her eyes. “No other choice if I want to survive and have any semblance of order.”

  That evening, Kenneth Porter brought in Phoebe. She was bundled in blankets and clutched a pillow. “I still don’t hold with a woman doctor, but my wife needs help. Her stomach’s messed up as well as having spots all over. I’m sure she has temperature.”

  Shannon bit her tongue to keep from telling the officious man that everyone had a temperature. An above-normal temperature meant the person had fever. Instead, Shannon helped Phoebe get settled on a pew-pallet near the storage closet.

  Phoebe’s spots were so numerous she was almost solid red. “I’ve never been so sick in my life. I must be dying.”

  “I don’t think so, but I know you’re miserable. The storage closet has bed pails for privacy.” Shannon went through the rules and helped Phoebe drink weak tea and eat soda crackers. “Try to sleep. I’ll check on you frequently. If you need help getting to the storage closet, call out.”

  Although the blizzard of the eleventh was well-past, occasional snow fell on the town. Riley kept coal supplied to keep the church stoves going.

  When Ila Mae and Robbie Stuart were brought in, their mother, Evalee, cornered Shannon. “I can’t stay ’cause I’ve got to work and so does my man. I explained to the children that you’d take care of them and they have to do what you say.”

  Shannon held the other woman’s hand. “I’ll do my very best, Mrs. Stuart.”

  Mrs. Stuart hugged each child before she and her husband left.

  Eight-year-old Robbie crossed his arms. “I ain’t scared. Me and Ila Mae won’t cause no trouble.”

  “I’m glad to hear that, Robbie. Let me help you find a place for you and your sister to bed down while you’re here.”

  She folded their blankets into two pallets and lifted five-year-old Ila Mae onto hers then tucked her in. Robbie took care of his own bed.

  Shannon quickly gave them the pattern for care. She would have prodded the children for more information, but she’d no sooner settled Robbie and Ila Mae than Connie and Jasper Amherst brought in their children, Amaryllis and Eli.

  Jasper pulled on Shannon’s arm. “I insist you stop what you’re doing with the riff raff and tend to Amaryllis and Eli.”

  Shannon hadn’t slept over an hour or two in days and she had no patience with either of the Amherst adults. “Go home, both of you. Don’t come back until your children are well enough to leave. Someone will come get you when that time comes.”

  Jasper puffed up like a banty rooster. “You’re an employee of the town. I’m an important member of this community and you’re supposed to serve me. You can’t boss my wife and me around.”

  Riley stepped in front of Jasper. “I’m also an employee of the town, but I’m warning you—go home or I’ll arrest you.”

  Jasper’s face was so red Shannon feared the man would have a heart attack. “For what? You can’t jail a man for protecting his children.”

  Riley towered over Jasper. “I can if he threatens the welfare of everyone in the building. Get out. Now.”

  Jasper shook his fist at Riley. “You’ll regret this, Sheriff.”

  The couple left with dark looks at the sheriff and at Shannon.

  Belle Webster said, “Thank you, Sheriff.”

  Lily Holloway stared at the departing Amherst couple. “What a way for Jasper to act. Katie and the others here are as important as Amaryllis and Eli.”

  Shannon showed Amaryllis and her brother where to bed down and gave them the rules. Either Amaryllis’ illness or watching her parents be sent away must have subdued her usual prissiness. She helped her younger brother into his makeshift bed.

  Kneeling on the floor beside their pallets, Shannon checked each child for fever and congestion.

  Eli said, “I want my mama.”

  “While you’re sick, pretend I’m your mother. I’ll take care of you and your sister as if you were my own children.”

  Amaryllis asked, “Why did you make Mama and Papa leave?”

  “Because each child here is precious to me. None of you is more dear than another. Your parents love you and wanted me to focus my care on just the two of you. You can understand that wouldn’t be fair to others and I can’t do that.”

  When she finished examining them, Shannon tucked them in. “Don’t scratch. I know the rash itches, but you’ll only make scars if you scratch.” She sat beside them until they were quiet before she moved to assess the others.

  Chapter Ten

  Lily carried her daughter against her shoulder. “How much longer do you think the epidemic will last?”

  “I imagine Katie and Johnny can go home in two days. Wally could but with his mother and sister here, there’s no one to care for him if he leaves. Jenny is so sick, she’ll probably be here an extra couple of days.”

  “You sure have been good to everyone. I declare I don’t know what I’d have done with Katie so sick and me not knowing what to do to help her.”

  “I’m sure you’d have managed, Lily. Mothers usually have good instincts.”

  Lily grinned and her eyes sparkled with mischief. “You ought to get Jasper back to empty the bed pails. I declare I can’t imagine why he thinks his children are any more precious than anyone else’s.”

  “Frankly, I can’t see him emptying pails for his own children, much less for others.” She leaned over to kiss Katie. “You’re going to be well in no time, dear.”

  That night, Riley pulled Shannon to a pew where he’d laid blankets. “You better sleep some or you won’t be much use to the patients.”

  She exhaled a huge sigh. Fatigue dragged at her limbs. “You’re right, Sheriff. I’ll rest for a couple of hours. You ought to take your own advice.”

  “Might catch a few winks.” Instead of lying down, he slouched with his long legs stretched out.

  Before she closed her eyes, she offered up another prayer.

  Dear Lord, protect these precious ones and save others from the epidemic.

  When she woke, Riley watched her.

  She sat up and smoothed her hair. “What? Did I snore or drool?”

  He grinned. “Not telling. I may not know a lot about women, but I’m not that stupid.”

  Phoebe moaned out of her head. Her fever had decreased, but she was still in danger. Shannon rose to bathe her again in an effort to further cool the fever, but Phoebe appeared no more comfortable in spite of having a lower temperature. The disease took its time.

  During the night, Jenny’s fever broke and she slept soundly. Unadee curled up on the other part of the pew and slept with one hand on her daughter.

  Shannon sat on a pew across the aisle from Phoebe where she could keep a close eye on the woman.

  Riley returned to the sanctuary and sat beside Shannon. He spoke quietly, “Glad to see you’re taking a break.”

  “For a few minutes while everyone’s sleeping.”

  “Who’s the sickest?”

  She glanced at the pew where Unadee and her daughter slept. “Jenny’s finally over the worst, so that would be Phoebe Porter.”

  “Stretch out and put your head in my lap. Catch a little sleep while you can.”

  “I don’t dare with Phoebe so ill. I’ll sleep when the epidemic is over. That last blizzard was really bad, wasn’t it?”

  “Sure was. Nothing outside moved.”

  “I suppose you made your rounds through town.”

  He linked fingers with hers. “Have to. Can’t afford to chance someone falling and not being discovered before they froze.”

  “I guess you know that
someone could be you.”

  He pulled her head to his shoulder. “Won’t say I’ve never fallen, but I always get up again. Guess I’m too ornery to stay down.”

  Exhaustion tugged at her, lulling her to sleep. “The hours crawl. Talk to me to pass the time.”

  “Any topic in particular or you want me to ramble?”

  “Tell me about your family and your life before you came here.”

  “Not a pleasant subject. Had to escape my family. They were always trying to pull me into one of their ridiculous schemes—or scrapes. Usually, they were in the wrong with the latter. Not that I’m a saint. I gambled for a living, drifting from place to place.”

  He appeared so sad she hated she’d asked. “I didn’t mean to call up bad memories, Riley. We can’t choose our family.”

  “I think of Mistletoe as my family. There’s the odd black sheep, but most are fine people.”

  “You must be good at gambling if you could survive on your skill.”

  “Counting cards is natural for me, an ability I was born with and not a trick I learned. I honed the talent, of course. And, gambling’s partly observing others.”

  “Good training for being sheriff.”

  “Which is a job I like. First time in my life I’ve been happy and part of a community.”

  “Not just a part, you’re the leader.”

  He shrugged. “As the town grows, they’ll elect a mayor and town manager, other officers. My services may not be required, especially if Jasper Amherst has anything to say.”

  “People wouldn’t let him replace you. I don’t think most people even like him.”

  “He’s a good politician and people respond to that. Besides, he might be the only candidate.”

  Phoebe moaned and thrashed around so much that Shannon was afraid the woman would fall to the floor. Shannon rose and went to soothe Phoebe, whose fever had risen and read 104 degrees.

  As if reading her thoughts, Riley was by her side. “How can I help?”

  Crushing down her panic, Shannon faced him. “Her fever’s climbing. Would you bring me a bucket of snow?”

  In less than a minute, he returned with a pail heaped with snow. “That’s a water pail I grabbed, by the way, and not the other kind.”