Dinner at the St. James

by Sandra Robbins

  Tave took two aprons from the pegs by the stove and handed one to each of the women. “Savannah, are you sure you’re up to this? Some of the patients are still in the acute stage of the disease. They’re running fever and having terrible aches with some vomiting. The ones in the toxic stage are much worse. In addition to the vomiting, some of them are hemorrhaging. This is not going to be an easy task.”

  Savannah tied the apron around her waist and took a deep breath. “Don’t worry about me. I’m ready to help.”

  “Then come with me.” Tave led her friend into the waiting room and directed her to the bed of a young woman who moaned aloud before Tave headed back to the bedside of the man she’d been helping. As Tave bent over him, she wiggled her shoulders. The back of her neck itched. She reached over her shoulder and scratched her skin then straightened. Just a mosquito bite—a summertime hazard of living on the river.

  ❧

  “Hey, Preacher. We need you over here.”

  Daniel glanced over his shoulder at a group of dockworkers who stood at the gangway of a steamboat tied to the pier. Daniel walked toward the men he’d worked with and come to know in the past year.

  “What can I do for you?”

  One of the men pointed to the ship. “There’s a sick man on board who’s calling for a preacher. We told him we had one working on the dock.”

  Daniel chuckled. “Did you tell him I’m not a licensed preacher?”

  The dockworker’s eyes grew wide. “What difference does that make? You’re the one that holds Sunday services over at that warehouse, and I ain’t seen nobody else preaching except you.”

  Daniel nodded. “Sometimes I think you fellows railroaded me into leading the services in case none of you could show up after a night of living it up in that saloon all of you frequent.”

  A sheepish grin covered the face of Augie, the man Daniel had been trying to reach for the past six months. “Aw, Preacher, you know that ain’t true. You’re the only one who knows ’bout the Bible.”

  “Only because I study it, Augie.” He glanced at the ship. “Now where is this man who wants a preacher? Maybe I can say something that will help.”

  Augie pointed to a cabin on the lower deck. “Right there, but you may not want to go.”

  “Why not?”

  “They think he has yellow fever. They’re waitin’ for somebody to come take him off the boat. Nobody on board wants to touch him.”

  Daniel frowned. “Is he near death?”

  Augie shrugged. “That’s what they say.”

  A memory of being near death on a boat returned, and the faces of those who had helped him flashed into Daniel’s mind. “Then he’s in need of comfort.” Daniel walked onto the boat, stopped at the door, and knocked.

  The door was opened by a middle-aged woman. A worried expression covered her face. “Yes, may I help you?”

  Daniel pulled the cap from his head and smiled. “I work on the docks, ma’am. Some of my friends said you were in need of a preacher. I’m not a licensed one, but I do hold services for the dockworkers every Sunday.”

  Her face relaxed into a smile. “My name is Lydia Collins. I think my husband, Herbert, may have caught yellow fever.” She glanced over her shoulder. “He’s very ill. I’ll understand if you don’t want to come inside.”

  Daniel stared past her at the writhing form on a bed across the cabin. “I’d be glad to come in if I can be of any help, ma’am.”

  She opened the door wider and smiled. “Then please come in. We’ve called for a doctor, but he hasn’t gotten here yet. Herbert asked if I could find a preacher to pray with us. Thank you for coming.”

  Daniel stepped into the darkened cabin. The man groaned in agony, and his fingers clutched the side of the bed. Daniel knelt beside him and placed a hand on the man’s trembling arm. “My name is Daniel Luckett. I’ve come to pray with you.”

  He nodded, and Daniel bowed his head. “Dear God, I come to You today on behalf of Herbert. He’s in a great deal of pain right now and needs the assurance that he’s not alone. Give him peace as only You can, and let him know that You are still in control. We can do nothing except place our lives in Your hands. Father, Your Word tells us there is a season for all things. We pray that this will be a season of rejoicing at Herbert’s returned health. Be with this loving wife who stands ready to help her husband, and comfort her in this difficult time. We thank You for what You’re going to do in Herbert’s life today, and we give You praise, Lord, for loving us and caring for us. Amen.”

  Daniel opened his eyes, and Herbert Collins turned his head on the pillow. A weak smile curled his lips. “Thank you,” he whispered.

  The door opened, and the ship’s captain ushered a small man holding a medical bag into the room. Daniel rose and backed away from the bed as the doctor bent over Herbert.

  A hand touched his arm, and he glanced at Lydia Collins, who stood beside him. “Thank you, Mr. Luckett. You were a great comfort to my husband and me today.”

  Daniel smiled. “I’m glad I could be of service.” He looked back at Herbert. “Yellow fever is a bad disease. Do you have any idea where he might have caught it?”

  She nodded. “Actually I do. We live in Selma, but we’ve stayed the past few weeks with our dear friend Reverend Thomas Somers in Willow Bend. He lost his wife to the disease.”

  Daniel reeled from her words. “Willow Bend? I know Reverend Somers. You say his wife died?”

  “Yes, she was the first. There have been many more since then.”

  Daniel almost doubled over from the pain that ripped through his body at the thought of Tave in the midst of that illness. He struggled to speak. “Did you happen to meet Dr. Spencer while you were there?”

  She nodded. “Yes, once. He was very busy with so many sick people in the area. Right before we left for home I heard he’d set up a hospital at his office for the worst cases.”

  “And his daughter? Did you hear of her?” He could hardly speak the words.

  She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t meet her. We went back to Selma and caught the boat to Montgomery because none of the steamboats are stopping at Willow Bend right now. My husband is the pastor at a church in Selma, and he was supposed to speak at a meeting of church leaders here.”

  Daniel backed toward the door. “I hope your husband recovers. I’ll go and let you talk with the doctor now.”

  Daniel bolted onto the deck of the ship, rushed to the railing, and grasped it. He couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. Why hadn’t he known about the yellow fever outbreak in Willow Bend? Surely it had been in the newspapers. Somehow he’d missed it.

  He thought of Tave and wondered if she was all right. And her father. What about him? An uneasy feeling washed over him, and he knew he had to find out about them some way. How could he do it?

  He lifted his eyes toward heaven and breathed a prayer for God to show him what to do. Just give him some assurance that she was all right.

  A door to a cabin down the deck from where he stood opened, and a man stepped out. He glanced back inside and spoke in a loud voice: “You look beautiful enough. Now quit wasting time, and let’s go. This boat’s going to be ready to depart before I can get you onshore.”

  Daniel’s forehead wrinkled. There was something familiar about the dark-haired man’s profile. Where had he seen him before? He turned, and Daniel gasped in recognition. This was the plantation owner he’d seen at Dr. Spencer’s office, the man interested in Tave—Matthew Chandler.

  Matthew approached and glanced at Daniel. A slight frown wrinkled his brow. He stopped and stared at Daniel. “You look familiar. Have we met?”

  Daniel swallowed and nodded. “Last summer in Willow Bend. I was a patient of Dr. Spencer’s.”

  Matthew nodded. “Oh yes. I remember.”

  Daniel took a step forward. “I’ve just heard the news about the yellow fever outbreak there. How bad is it?”

  Matthew sighed. “Terrible. I think about twenty people
have died so far.” He looked back over his shoulder toward the cabin he’d exited. “I took my wife to Selma so that we could board the boat there. We’re going to stay in Montgomery until the epidemic is over.”

  Daniel breathed a sigh of relief. Tave was safe. “I’m glad to hear that. How is your wife?”

  “She’s fine.”

  “And her father?”

  Matthew frowned. “How would you know her father?”

  The question surprised Daniel. “He was my doctor.”

  Matthew laughed. “Portia’s father isn’t a doctor.”

  “Portia? I thought you married Tave Spencer.”

  Matthew shook his head. “Oh, that’s right. I’d come to visit Tave the day I saw you there. No, it didn’t work out for us.” His eyes clouded. “I was very sorry to hear that she was ill.”

  Daniel felt as if he’d been slapped. “Sick? With yellow fever?”

  Matthew nodded. “Right before we left, one of my tenant farmers went to town. When he came back, he told me Tave had gotten sick with yellow fever.”

  Daniel staggered back. “How bad was it?”

  Matthew hesitated before he spoke. “I think she was near death.”

  Panic seized Daniel. “I’ve got to get to Willow Bend right away.”

  “I don’t know how you’ll do that. The disease is traveling upriver. I heard that this is the last boat Montgomery is allowing in, and they’re setting up blockades to keep anyone from going south.”

  Daniel heard the words, but he didn’t care. He turned and ran from the boat. No matter what it took, he had to get to Willow Bend. He prayed he wouldn’t be too late.

  Thirteen

  Tave groaned and tried to turn on her side, but it was no use. Her back hurt, and her head ached. She’d never felt so helpless in her life. A soft hand touched her forehead, and she opened her eyes. Savannah stood over her, a smile on her face.

  “Are you awake?”

  Tave tried to answer, but her throat was too dry. Maybe she could nod, but she didn’t even have enough energy to move her head. There wasn’t a place in her body that didn’t hurt. Her eyes drifted closed.

  Footsteps approached her bed, and she tried to smile. She would recognize her father’s steps anywhere. She could sense his presence, and she felt him lift her arm. “Her skin is turning quite yellow. That means the disease is attacking the liver.”

  He sounded so sad, and she wished she could tell him everything was going to be all right. She tried, but she couldn’t reopen her eyes.

  “What do I need to do, Dr. Spencer?” Savannah’s voice drifted into her ear.

  “Just keep up the liquids. Everything that comes up has to be replaced with even more in hopes that some of it will get into her body.”

  “I’ll do my best, Dr. Spencer.”

  A soft sob sounded, and she wondered if her father was crying. She’d never seen him cry. He was so strong.

  “Thank you, Savannah. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  They moved away from the bed, and a chill shook Tave’s body. She waited for it to pass and tried to think of something to make her happy. Daniel’s face drifted into her mind, and she smiled inwardly. She wondered where he was and if she’d ever see him again. She hoped so.

  ❧

  Augie held the reins of Daniel’s horse and waited for Daniel to tie the saddlebags on the mare’s flank. “Are you sure you want to do this, Preacher? I hear those barricade guards are shootin’ before they ask any questions. Just ’cause it’s midnight, don’t make the mistake they’ll be asleep. You most likely won’t make it a few yards past them before you get a bullet in the back.”

  Daniel patted the horse and took the reins from Augie. “I’ve gotta try. Thanks for coming to see me off.”

  Augie pulled his cap down on his forehead and scowled. “Aw, don’t go making such a fuss. I just wanted to see you one more time while you was still breathin’.”

  Daniel laughed and shook Augie’s hand. “Thanks for everything, Augie. Tell all the fellows that I talked with Mr. Smith, and he’s going to see that services continue at the warehouse. And I told the Whittakers not to hold my room.” He gazed into the face of the man he’d been praying about for months. “If I don’t make it back to Montgomery, I want you to know I’ll never forget you, and I’ll never quit praying for you.”

  Augie tilted his head to the side and studied Daniel with a probing gaze. “I’ll remember you, too. I ain’t never known anybody like you before. I’ll think about all those things you’ve been talking to me about.”

  Daniel smiled. “Good. I’ve turned you over to Jacob now that I’m leaving. He wants to help you like he has me.” He put his foot in the stirrup and swung himself into the saddle. “Good-bye, friend.”

  Augie backed away. “Now remember what I told you. Follow the river until you get out of town. Once you’re past the barricade outposts, I reckon it’ll be safe enough to get back on the road.”

  “I’ll remember.”

  “And one more thing. It’s gonna be dark out there in the woods along the river. It might be good for you to lead the horse. You don’t want her to step in no holes. Last thing you need is a horse with a broken leg.”

  Daniel rested his arm on the saddle horn and gazed down at Augie. “You’re beginning to sound like a mother hen.”

  Augie grinned. “Can’t help it. I done come to think a lot of you. Be careful, Preacher. I hope your woman friend is all right.”

  Daniel nodded and urged the horse forward. He glanced up at the sky and said a prayer of thanks for the cloudy night. With the moon obscured, he might be able to blend into the shadows better. Now if the Lord would just provide his horse a clear path, everything would be all right.

  Daniel rode through the deserted streets of Montgomery. The clip-clop of the horse’s hooves sounded like a drumbeat to his ears, but no one stirred in the dark houses they passed. As he approached the outskirts of town, he guided the horse off the road and into the trees that lined the riverbank. He slowed the horse to a walk and peered into the darkness before them. After a few minutes, he pulled the horse to a stop and dismounted. Taking the reins in his hands, he pressed his weight into the ground with each step before he led the horse forward. Inch by inch they began a slow advance that would take them past the barricades.

  Only once did Daniel pull to a stop. Voices drifted through the trees. He stood still, his hand gently stroking the horse that seemed to sense the nearby danger. She didn’t move as Daniel’s fingers gently calmed her.

  After what seemed an eternity, the voices quieted, and he moved on downriver. Three hours later, the clouds parted, and the moon reflected on the rippling water of the Alabama River. Daniel looked for landmarks that he remembered from his days on the Montgomery Belle and spotted a scraggly tree he’d often seen on the riverbank. He breathed a sigh of relief. They had cleared the barricades and were well south of the city.

  He led the horse back through the trees, and within minutes they were on the road he’d traveled when he came to Montgomery. He offered a silent prayer of thanks for safety through a dangerous night and urged the horse south. If all went well, he would soon be in Willow Bend.

  ❧

  Someone was crying again, but Tave couldn’t tell who it was. She tried to call out, but her throat refused to work. Voices echoed in her ears. It reminded her of how she used to yell into the depths of her grandmother’s well and hear her voice vibrate.

  “How is she?” someone asked.

  “I think she’s dying.” That almost sounded like her father, but the voice trembled more than her father’s.

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “Pray, Savannah. That’s all that will help now.”

  Relief washed over her. Savannah was here. Maybe she could comfort whoever was crying. No one should be sad today. She’d had a dream that had made her so happy. She’d seen Daniel again, and he wasn’t angry anymore. The hatred was gone from his life.


  She was glad. So glad. Now she wanted to go back to sleep and dream again.

  ❧

  On the second day after leaving Montgomery, Daniel rode into Willow Bend. The town looked like a ghost town with no one on the deserted streets, and he wondered if he was too late. Maybe everyone had died.

  He rode into the livery stable and was relieved when Mr. Jensen stepped from one of the stalls. Daniel dismounted, tossed the reins to the man, and grabbed his saddlebags. “I’m Daniel Luckett. You took care of my horse when I was here last summer. I need you to do that again. I’m going to Dr. Spencer’s office, but I’ll be back later to pay you.”

  Without waiting for an answer, he ran out the door and down the street toward the familiar building. When he charged onto the porch, he grabbed the doorknob. Fear like he’d never known gripped him, and he couldn’t open the door. What if she was dead? How would he be able to forgive himself for the way he’d talked to her the last time he’d seen her? He should have told her how much he loved her instead of pushing her to marry someone else.

  But that hadn’t been God’s plan. Daniel had come to understand that God had sent him to Montgomery so he could meet Jacob Whittaker. Alone with Tave’s Bible in his small room at the boardinghouse, he had digested everything Jacob had told him about God, and it had given him a new life. Now he realized that he had to trust God to take care of him no matter what he found in Dr. Spencer’s office. He took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

  A sour stench overpowered him, and he almost stumbled backward to the porch. His stomach rumbled in protest, but he forced himself to walk into the room.

  The neat waiting room he remembered now resembled a battlefield hospital. Beds, each occupied by a patient, sat side by side with narrow walk spaces between them. Low moans joined together in a deadly chorus that chilled him.

  In disbelief, he took in the scene before him. A woman, a scarf covering her blond hair, leaned over one of the beds. She turned toward him. Surprise flashed in her tired eyes. “Daniel, what are you doing here?”