“I do, and that was smart, giving all your bread away. No wonder you’re hungry,” the first man insisted.
She could tell they needed food. Sympathy for them touched her heart and mind. She could help.
“There should be a homecoming holiday, alright, although, we could starve or die of thirst first, before we even get home,” the second man declared, handing out pieces of dried beef to the others. They were silent awhile, eating their meager meat meal and drinking water from their canteens to wash it down. “We’re about out of everything, you know, boys.”
“The spring water is really good and cold, though,” the third man declared, trying to be optimistic.
“Well, here, let me tell you a story,” offered the second man. “There was a blackbird ~ a crow, learned. I mean, this bird was smart. While the other crows sat or walked around searching for water one dry day, the wise crow found a container half full of water.”
“I’m glad you said that container was half full and not half empty,” the first one laughed.
The storyteller continued. “Anyway, the bird searched for pebbles and began dropping those rocks one by one into that container. Little by little, it filled and the water level came up near the top. That raven was then able to stick his beak down inside, alongside the rocks, and drink some water.”
“Are you sure about that?” asked the third man.
“Yes, I saw it, and you should hear what he did for food!”
“What did he do, knock on a pantry door and ask for a handout?” The third man laughed.
“Let him tell his other story,” complained the first one.
“He went to an orchard and found some nut trees. Next, he soared high into the air.” The story-teller used an upstretched arm to convey this. “That crow would drop a nut and the impact would smash the shell, and he could happily eat the nutmeat. Of course, his friends joined him then.”
“Of course, but I wish you hadn’t talked about food. It made me hungry all over again,” the first one informed him, then he added, “Not that I didn’t like your stories. But that meat just did not fill me. We need some potatoes.”
“Food would be welcome right now, wouldn’t it?” the second one asked. “I’d like carrots.”
“I’d like green beans and corn,” the third man added. “Maybe we should knock on some entry doors for a handout, after all,” he suggested. “I’d like fresh buttered bread and some dessert, too.”
“I guess we could knock,” the first man agreed, accepting the idea. “I want greens, though.”
“We have greens, and you won’t have to knock,” Rachael called from the oak-tree-foxglove-grotto. Yet, she certainly didn’t expect their reaction. The trio instantly rose and ran, quickly disappearing into the tall, gently-waving, marsh grasses and cattails along the edge and in the water at Blue Slough, scaring geese, rabbits, and quail, leaving behind packs, canteens, and a ragged, holey tent.
“Wait! Wait!” Rachael called, hoping with all her might that she could call them back to invite them for supper. She knew there was plenty, and couldn’t see those men going hungry, starving. She truthfully thought that the help wouldn’t mind, either. “Please come out. I am unarmed. I won’t hurt you. Please come and dine with our family this afternoon. We have chicken and dumplings and pie.”
She just kept talking, but they just kept hiding, silently. “There are vegetables in the sauce, and we have fresh garden greens. Do you like pie? We have strawberry pie, an apple cobbler, and fresh peas. Your parents won’t mind a bit if you dine with us.”
Her food descriptions must have convinced them to reappear, or else it was their grumbling stomachs, or love of pie, because their three heads suddenly popped up above the spring-green, grasses. Ever so slowly, they came back toward their would-be hostess. It had dawned on them that they need look no more tonight for a warm, delicious meal. This woman was making sure they would not have to knock on doors for a handout. They would gladly accept her offer.
“Hurry,” the first one told the others, and they quickened their pace. “She’s got pie or cobbler and I want to take her up on it.”
“Cobbler or strawberry pie?” the third man asked his friends.
“I’ve decided on apple cobbler!” The first one nearly shouted.
“I’m having strawberry pie. Mother makes the best, but hers will do, too, in a pinch,” said the second man.
“I can’t decide,” the third man confessed. “I love both.”
“I don’t see a weapon, either,” the second man declared. “I believe she’s truthful.”
“She has chicken and dumplings, too,” the first one reminded them. “We can’t pass that up.”
Soon they were nearing their packs. She was waiting beside the oaks and flowers.
“Come along with me. The house is just over there. The food’s hot and ready for you right now, I promise.” Rachael pointed, trying to convince them, and it did the trick. So, she turned to go.
They followed her, but offered no names when she asked them and no home places. She felt that they had probably been through the war experience, so she didn’t press them for any further details.
“We have some guests for dinner tonight, Miss Callie,” she explained, as she came over the back door threshold, beaming. She was truly pleased that the young men had trusted her and followed.
But the cook shook her head in disapproval. “I don’t know about this, Miss Rachael. I don’t think Dr. Davis would approve it. In fact, I’m sure he wouldn’t. Look at them. They’re dirty.”
“They’re hungry, Miss Callie.” Rachael raised her voice in anger and argued, standing her ground on her decision to feed them. “I believe that helping them is the right thing to do. I’m only sorry that the three gentlemen heard us arguing and now they keep their distance, outside in the garden.”
“I still don’t think he’d approve,” the cook argued, dishing the delicious dish from kettle to bowl.
Its aroma wafted outside, causing positive notes to evoke from the three. “Mmmmmmmm.”
“You are correct. I don’t approve!” The homeowner snapped from the hallway, with doctors Graham and Callahan to back him up. Mouths dropped open in amazement that he was home. Rachael was tempted to go to him to explain that the three seemed very hungry. Yet, something kept her from it. Miss Callie just rolled her eyes and continued dipping out herb dumplings, large chunks of chicken, and vegetables. Miss Mariah and Crane were nowhere to be found.
So, Rachael was left solely to plead her cause to her unhappy employer. Truthfully, she wasn’t quite sure how to accomplish that and convince him of the dire need, though. “Could we please include them for dinner? I offered, and they trusted me and followed me here from Deep Meadow where they’re camped.” She tried her best to explain. “It’s the humanitarian thing to do.” She did not want to say that she had overheard their conversation and knew they were hungry, starving perhaps, and a long way from home.
“Well, humanitarian or not, it’s my home.” He looked toward Monty and Buddy for support.
She almost smiled at his use of the word ‘well,’ except that she was too angry right now. So was he, quite a change from his departure demeanor. She gave him a dose of his own chosen secret word. “Well, I believe they are in desperate need,” she countered.
“Well, they’re also in rags, Rachael,” he responded, quieter now, as if considering her proposal.
She was amazed by his stubborn reaction and unexpected arrival. “Well, I can’t believe you said that. I don’t want them to be judged, ever, by the way they dress,” she quietly informed him. “Mr. Volunteer and Red Cross worker, you know better than to speak that way, since you’d probably attend to them medically.”
Her comment cut him to the very core. He turned pale, and glanced at his friends behind him.
She was sorry. Picking up the kitten he’d
given her, she went to place it into his hands, as a symbol of his forgotten compassion and of their new, budding friendship. At the same time she fully expected to be dismissed, on the spot, from Magnolia Gardens. “Here, welcome home,” she whispered.
He lowered his voice. “Well, yes, I would treat them medically, Rachael. You are correct about that. But, I still don’t want them at our table tonight.”
Rachael looked at Monty and Buddy, but they turned heads away, so she knew they’d not side with her. “Well, fine. May I make them plates, at least?” she finally asked, hands on her hips.
He grinned at her posture. “Well, will we get them back?” he asked, half laughing at her.
“Well, yes, we will. I’ll see to it. In fact, I shall have my dinner with them, outside on the lawn.”
“Well, you’ll do no such thing! We don’t know them, Rachael.” The doctor was firm once again.
Miss Callie shook her head ‘no’ at the nanny and began to slice warm sourdough bread.
“Well, I certainly will.” At that, the housekeeper came through the back door just at the right time. “Please bring me four plates, Miss Mariah,” Rachael insisted. Then she took the stack of dishes, good China, to Miss Callie for portions to be dished onto them for the three hungry men and herself.
An unexpected thud was heard, as Dr. Davis collapsed, falling to the floor in the hallway. Rachael screamed. Miss Callie gasped and placed a hand over her mouth. No words came to her, yet tears welled in her eyes. Never in all her years of cooking for the doctor and his family had she seen anything like this.
Rachael’s scream immediately brought Crane from the garden. He hurried to his downed employer, cradling his head. The butler had great respect for this man. Luckily, the lieutenant had somehow caught the kitten, as John fell. He quickly handed it to Rachael and went to kneel at John’s side, taking his pulse. Thankfully, as the men tended to John Davis, Cousin Emery surprisingly appeared, as if sent by an angel, a most welcome arrival.
Chapter Six
Carefully, Crane, Emery, Monty, and Buddy carried John to a main floor bedroom, since it would have been rather difficult to try to maneuver him upstairs to his room. “It will be much easier to serve him downstairs and have Dr. Evans look in on him there. He’s so lucky to be surrounded by doctors, plus all of us who love him. His family lives not far from here, also,” Miss Callie quietly explained to Rachael, knowing that she probably did not know these details.
When two plates were full, the nanny hurried them outside to where the three men were resting on the cool grass under a tree. “Here you are. I shall be right back with yours and mine,” she explained to the one who would be without a plate for another minute.
The three stood, as if ready to run again, when she tried to serve them.
“We don’t want to bother your family, miss,” the first man insisted, before taking a plate.
Rachael had a comment on that. “You certainly are not bothering us. The household has some company inside, but I am choosing to eat my dinner here with you. We can have a nice visit.”
“Oh, no, ma’am, we don’t want to bother you, either. That won’t be necessary. We won’t steal your plates and silver. We’ll leave them on the back step when we’re finished,” the second man addressed her, reassuringly. “Thank you.”
“We promise, but we don’t want you with us,” a third man informed her. He looked at his torn shoes, as if ashamed.
His comment cut Rachael to the very core. She swallowed hard. After all, she had tried to be nice to these strangers. “I just wanted to talk to you and learn where you are from and a little bit about your lives and your families.”
“We don’t want to tell you,” the second man replied, then seemed ashamed for saying it.
“We heard a commotion inside and someone screaming. We can certainly leave now.” the first man insisted.
“Oh, that. It’s nothing to be alarmed about. I simply tripped on my skirt.” Rachael hated to lie, but she did not want to have to explain what had happened to her employer, because, after all, she didn’t even know for sure, herself. It made her very nervous, frightened even, to think of John Davis down. What could have possibly happened to him, she wondered? For certain, she did not wish to discuss it with these men she hardly knew.
“Very well, then.” Quickly, the nanny turned to go back into the kitchen for the third plate and water for them all. Returning with only one plate and a glass of water, she silently turned and hurried in for the other two glasses. “Are you sure I can’t join you, at least for some conversation?”
All three shook their heads to discourage her without even saying a word; then they went back to enjoying their food.
She was thrilled about that. “I’ll bring you each a piece of pie and some cobbler. My brother provided the apples for the cobbler and the peas,” she explained proudly. With one last glance over her shoulder, their smiles and actions told her they were delighted with that idea.
“He has a fever and his wound is infected,” Lieutenant Graham was explaining, as Rachael rejoined Miss Callie and Miss Mariah in the kitchen. Crane and Cousin Emery were still at John’s bedside.
Dr. Callahan now joined them. “We have medicine. That’s no problem. We can treat him. But, he’s weak.”
“That’s why we returned early, without warning. We noticed John limping and his weakness becoming worse. We wish to help, but we don’t want to be an imposition here,” the lieutenant told the three Magnolia Gardens’ women.
“I believe I have a solution.” Cousin Emery Davis joined them with an offer, trying to remain optimistic. “One of the fine doctors can stay with John, while the other is with me, at least some of the time. We have extra beds, so they can alternate tending him. I’ll do everything I can to help, too. I love John. He’s like a brother to me.”
“What a wonderful idea,” Miss Callie said with a sigh, relaxing a little. Rachael and Miss Mariah nodded their approval. “We have plenty of food,” the cook assured them. You’re all welcome to stay.”
“We can bring in food and supplies, too,” Monty Graham offered. “That’s only fair.”
“Should someone summon his parents?” Rachael wanted to know. However, she didn’t relish the idea of tending to his daughter when he was so desperately ill, unable, possibly, to coach her as to his wishes.
His cousin spoke for the family. “No, not at this time will we notify the rest of the family. His parents and grandparents have such a heavy burden right now with the loss of Rose and tending the baby. I’ve checked on them and they are comforted by caring for Lily at this time. It would tear them apart to see John in this condition, and I don’t even know what the baby would do. She wouldn’t understand. It wouldn’t do to have her here. So, let’s not breathe a word of it for now, please. If need be, I can always go for them. Let’s wait for a few days until his fever breaks.”
“Of course, you’re right, Cousin Emery,” Miss Callie acknowledged. “We’ll honor your wishes.”
“I understand,” was Rachael’s quiet reply. She saw his point and was somewhat relieved. The young nanny then excused herself and hurried to John Davis’ library, where she searched for his medical books. Finding a few satisfied her, especially when her gaze fell upon an herbal remedy manual. She decided to read and study wound care for a few minutes before dinner, although she already knew some from her experiences on the farm.
Too soon, though, an interruption occurred by way of the door knocker. Her heart sank when she heard the voice of Mrs. Amber Worthington in the hallway, after Crane answered the door.
Surprisingly, Crane hurried away, leaving the guest just inside the front door. Rachael thought that was strange, until Crane quickly and appropriately returned with Cousin Emery Davis.
“Amber, how are you?” Rachael heard John’s cousin ask the widow. “You look wonderful.”
“I am fine,
but what’s going on here? I see several rigs and horses outside, including yours. I was just out riding Sweetie Pie. It’s such a fine afternoon. Is John back home from his trip yet?”
Emery lowered his voice, but Rachael could still hear him clearly, and she wondered if he knew she was here in the library. “John is ill, Amber.”
Rachael expected it and could hear her gasp. After all, they were longtime friends. “No.”
“They returned early from Washington. It’s his wound,” Cousin Emery explained gently.
“Noooo.” The young widow dissolved into tears. Cousin Emery comforted her as she sobbed.
“He collapsed in the hallway a few minutes ago and is being tended by Monty, Buddy, and Crane. You can’t see him just now, dear. He has a fever. Perhaps later we can allow guests.”
At first, Rachael only heard more sobs from Mrs. Worthington in reply to Cousin Emery’s explanation. “What can I do? Oh, poor John, and Lily, and Rose. I miss her so much, you know.”
“I know you do. But the best thing you can do is get some rest,” he advised. “Don’t upset yourself over this. John will recover nicely, and I’m going to take you home now.”
“But I want to help,” she explained. “You know I do. Can’t I stay?”
“I know you wish to help. But please allow me to drive you home in my buggy. I can tie Sweetie Pie to the back. We’ll go slowly, have a wonderful conversation, and we’ll let your mother know I’ll fix you both a most aromatic and wonderfully nourishing dinner at my place.”
Rachael was nodding and smiling as she overheard his generous offer for the evening. She, for one, heartily agreed with his plan, and noted the fact that he had not even told her ‘No.’ Instead, he simply suggested another idea. All at once, two books unexpectedly slipped from Rachael’s lap onto the floor with a thump. Obviously, though, the pair in the hall did not hear this, or if they did, they ignored it altogether.
“Let’s just go. We won’t be missed, dear, and I’ll return for Buddy later. I need to start dinner.”
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