Truly Yours Historical Collection December 2014

by Susan Page Davis, Paige Winship Dooly, Connie Stevens

  Megan drew on her mittens and swiped at her cheeks with her mittened hands, nodding. Jesse followed her to the door, grabbing the bails of the buckets on his way. The sky was beginning to lighten in the east as they stepped outside. Jesse matched his steps to Megan’s as they walked toward the house.

  The door to the house flung open. Seana stumbled out. “Meggie, help me.” A billow of smoke followed in her wake. Flames danced up the sleeves of Seana’s dress, getting larger as the girl ran. Jesse’s heart thudded as he quit thinking and sped toward Seana.

  Twelve

  “Seana.” Megan froze, staring in horror as her sister ran toward them. Flames leaped up her arms, reaching greedy fingers to her face and hair. Beside her, Jesse dropped the buckets with a clunk. The milk sloshed in the pails, but didn’t spill over. Jesse raced for Seana, his feet churning up clumps of wet earth from the well-worn path.

  Screams tore through the air. Megan’s throat ached, and she knew she and Seana were both screaming. Jesse reached Seana and tackled her in midstride. He fell on top of her, covering her with his body. As if she’d suddenly been loosed from bondage, Megan leaped forward, her heart pounding. What was he doing? Jesse should be helping Seana, but he was going to hurt her worse than the fire!

  Rolling back and forth, Jesse looked like he was forcing Seana deeper into the damp ground. Megan wanted to weep. Minutes before she’d trusted this man; now he was trying to kill her sister.

  “Stop.” Megan grasped Jesse by the collar of his coat and dragged at him. “Get off her. What are you doing?”

  “Megan, it’s okay.” Jesse glanced back over his shoulder. “I’m not hurting her. It’s what I had to do to get the fire completely out.”

  He rolled to the side. Seana’s sobs turned to quiet hiccups. Mud coated much of her. Her hair was singed; and the smell of smoke, burnt clothing, and scorched flesh made Megan nauseous. Jesse lifted Seana up from the ground and hugged her to him. Megan realized he had tears on his cheeks. Where moments before she’d felt anger, now a fierce love poured through her. Jesse had saved Seana’s life with his quick action.

  “Take her.” Jesse thrust Seana at Megan. He leapt away to snatch up the two pails of milk and dashed for the house. Megan and Seana hurried after him. Smoke still billowed from the doorway. Fear lodged in Megan’s throat, making it difficult to swallow.

  “Jesse.” She trembled at the thought that he might be burned trying to put out the fire. She stopped in the doorway, letting her eyes adjust to the dimness and the billows of smoke. Across the room, Jesse stomped on embers burning into the wood planks of the floor. Moving fast, he rolled up the rag rug her mother had made and headed for the door. Megan stepped aside as he tossed the smoking rug into the yard.

  Jesse turned to survey the room, his chest heaving, sweat beading on his brow. Megan began to cough. Her lungs burned with each breath she took. Beside her, Seana also began to cough.

  “Take her out of here, Megan. This smoke isn’t good to breathe.”

  Grabbing the sleeve of his coat, Megan stopped him as he started to cross the room. “You come, too. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  Jesse smiled and squeezed her hand. “You go on out. I’ll be right there. I just want to check and make sure all the fire is out. Leave the door open to let the place air.”

  Holding her breath, Megan led Seana outside. Seana doubled over in a fit of coughing. By the time she finished, she was shaking so hard, she could barely stand. Megan led her to a bench along the wall of the house.

  Easing the charred, sodden cloth away from Seana’s arms, Megan had her first glimpse of the burns. They were bright red and already blistering. Smears of brown mud would need to be washed away. “Wait right here, Seana. I’ll be back.”

  Going to the side of the house that saw the least sun, Megan dug through the mound of snow that bordered the edge. The crust had hardened, streaked with gray and black from the dirt. Underneath the crust, the snow was mostly clean. Megan scooped up a double handful and carried it back to her sister. Putting the snow on the bench beside Seana, Megan began to spread it over the singed flesh. She hoped this would stop the burning and cool Seana’s arms. She also prayed the melting snow would help wash the dirt from the burns without doing further damage.

  “It hurts, Meggie.” Seana’s sobs made Megan wish this pain could be hers instead. Why did this have to happen? Seana leaned forward and groaned as agony ripped through her. A few times Megan had received minor burns from cooking. From that experience, she could only imagine how painful these severe ones would be.

  Megan was returning with her second handful of snow when Jesse stumbled from the house. He bent over on the stoop, hacking and gasping for air for a minute before he straightened.

  “You’re doing good.” Jesse knelt beside Megan as she applied more snow to Seana’s arms. “I’ll get your coat, Seana, so you don’t get too cold.” He returned in a moment and draped the heavy outerwear over Seana’s shaking shoulders. Megan felt like crying. How could she have forgotten how cold her sister must be? All she’d thought of was treating the wounds.

  “You did fine.” Jesse must have read her mind. His arm wrapped around her shoulders for a quick hug. “You needed to get the burns cooled off first. There’s some salve in the barn that should help take the sting away and keep infection from setting in. I’ll go get it as soon as you get her cleaned up enough.”

  “What happened?” Megan glanced up at Seana and Jesse as she realized things had been moving so fast she hadn’t asked how the fire began.

  “A log rolled out of the fireplace.” Jesse sounded grim.

  “It’s my fault.” Seana spoke so low, Megan wasn’t sure she heard her.

  “Nonsense.” Megan looked up to see the tears swimming in Seana’s eyes. “Sometimes the logs shift, and one will roll out. You know that’s happened before. That’s why we’re careful to keep the rug away from the front of the fireplace.”

  “I don’t think these logs shifted on their own.” Jesse stared at Seana, who studied the ground.

  “I did it.” Seana looked at Megan, desperation in her gaze. “You were gone so long and the room was getting colder. I thought I could help by putting on a couple of logs. I knew you’d be cold and the warm fire would be nice. Then that one log moved and fell out. It rolled across the floor to the rug. I tried to roll it back, but my dress caught on fire.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m sorry.”

  “Oh, Seana, I’m sorry, too.” Megan leaned forward and kissed her sister’s cheek. “I should have come back in the house sooner. I didn’t mean to leave you for so long.”

  Seana glanced at Jesse. “I did get the biscuits out of the oven and I finished the bacon. At least you can have some breakfast.”

  Smiling, Jesse stood and swept her into his arms. “Then let’s see if the smoke’s cleared enough. I’m starving.” He paused and gave Megan a sheepish grin. “I do hope we can just drink water today, though. I threw the milk on the fire to put it out.”

  Megan managed a smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of using milk that way.”

  ❧

  “Megan, I think we need to take Seana to town to see the doctor.” Jesse stepped up behind Megan as she washed the breakfast dishes, speaking softly so Seana wouldn’t hear him. “Those burns are really bad. The doctor might have something to give her for the pain. I don’t know if the salve I have will help enough, either.”

  Turning so her back was to her sister, Megan swallowed hard before speaking. “Couldn’t you just ride to town and bring the doctor here? The trip might be too hard for Seana.”

  “That would take too long. I wouldn’t get back before nightfall, and even that’s not guaranteed. What if the doctor can’t come right away?” Jesse brushed a stray lock of hair from Megan’s face. “I know you don’t like going to town, but for Seana, we have to. She isn’t strong, anyway. I’m also worried about the smoke she breathed. She’s still coughing, even though you and I stopped a long time ag
o.”

  Finishing the last of the dishes, Megan wiped her hands on a towel. Walking away from Jesse, she began to wash the table, swiping at nonexistent crumbs. Jesse had seen her clean the table already. He waited. She needed something to do while she considered their options.

  “I’ve got some water warmed to wash her.” Megan came to a stop beside him, but didn’t look up.

  “Don’t make it too warm on her arms and face. Use cool water only on the burns. Don’t rub, either.”

  Megan nodded. Jesse watched her face turn a little paler as she ladled water out of the kettle. He didn’t know if she was worried about Seana and caring for her burns or if she was afraid of going to town. After Sunday’s fiasco, he couldn’t blame her for wanting to wait a long time before returning. Jesse knew Megan cared too much about Seana to forego seeing the doctor just because she didn’t want to be seen in Yankton.

  “I’ll see to the stock and get the wagon hitched up while you’re getting Seana ready to go.” Jesse glanced down at his still-muddy clothing. “Then I’ll come in and change before we leave.” He touched Megan’s shoulder. “I’ve seen someone burnt like this. They didn’t get help, and the wounds got infected. I couldn’t stand to see Seana go through something like that.”

  The drive to town seemed to take forever. Megan rode in back with Seana. Jesse had put down a mattress and several blankets to keep the young girl as comfortable as possible. Even so, the constant motion of the wagon caused her ceaseless pain. Megan had to keep Seana’s arms uncovered so the blankets wouldn’t pull any more skin away from her burns. Bits of cloth still clung to the worst of the injured areas. When Jesse tried to peel away her sleeves, the pain had been too great.

  Lunchtime had passed when Jesse drove the wagon down the main street of town, following Megan’s directions to the doctor’s office. He felt bone weary. The travel wasn’t as hard as knowing every jolt in the road hurt Seana. She’d passed out more than once on the trip here.

  The doctor, a tall, thin man who looked more like an undertaker than a healer, took one look at Seana and motioned them to bring her right in. A middle-aged woman with a hat that held more feathers than a bird jumped from her seat in the waiting room, stared open-mouthed, then huffed her way out. Jesse didn’t miss the distress that crossed Megan’s face as she tried to ignore the woman. He would have to ask about her as soon as they saw to Seana.

  “Martha.” The doctor’s bellow echoed off the walls. “Martha, get down here.” He acted as if Jesse and Megan weren’t even in the room as he went about gathering items he needed. A woman as tall and thin as the doctor rushed into the room. Her hands were busy tying an apron over her gray dress.

  “Yes, Myron. What is it now?” Her voice squeaked to a stop as she focused on Seana, who had once more passed into unconsciousness.

  The doctor swiveled around from his rummaging. He started to speak when his gaze caught Megan and Jesse standing by the table where Seana rested. “Oh, this won’t do. You’ll have to wait outside. I’ll let you know when I’m done.”

  Martha made little shooing noises and motions with her hands, as if she were urging the chickens to leave the pen. Jesse took Megan’s arm to lead her from the room. She gave him a panic-stricken look that shot a shaft right through his chest.

  “Megan, she’s in good hands. The doctor will do the best he can.”

  Like a sleepwalker, Megan followed in silence. As soon as they cleared the threshold, Martha slammed the door shut. The waiting room, empty now, offered a variety of seats. Jesse chose a ratty sofa and gave Megan’s shoulders a gentle push. He sat beside her. She didn’t seem to know he was there. Putting his arm around her, he rubbed her shoulder in a soothing motion. With his free hand, he tipped her head until she rested against him. For a few minutes she stayed stiff; then bit by bit, she relaxed. He didn’t try to talk, but offered her comfort by his presence. He hoped that would be good enough.

  Screams erupted from the other room. Megan jolted upright. Her eyes filled with tears. Jesse caught hold of her. She turned to him.

  “I have to go to her.”

  “You can’t.”

  “She needs me.” Megan choked on a sob. “Why can’t Momma be here? I can’t do this alone.”

  Jesse hauled her to him, hugging her tight. “Oh, Megan.” His whispered words stirred the wisps of hair that had worked free from the braids wrapped around her head. “Since your parents died, you’ve tried to be both of them to Seana and to yourself. You can’t be someone else.” He kissed her temple as silent tears slipped down her cheeks. “All God wants is for you to be you and to follow Him. You are so precious to Him, Megan. He didn’t allow this as a punishment.”

  “Then why did He allow my parents and Matt to die?” Megan sounded so much like a little girl that Jesse wanted to pull her onto his lap and snuggle her close.

  “I can’t answer that.” Lord, please help me here, Jesse prayed. “I know many of the prophets and people in the Bible asked similar questions about why injustice is allowed. Why do good people die and bad people prosper?”

  “And what did God answer?” Megan tilted her head back to look up at him.

  Jesse thought of the examples in Scripture for a moment. “Do you remember what he said to Job?” Megan shook her head. He almost forgot what he was supposed to say, at the trusting look in her blue-gray eyes. Jesse cleared his throat and scraped his thoughts together.

  “When Job questioned Him, God asked if Job had been present at the beginning of the earth. He asked if Job continued to maintain it.”

  Megan’s brow furrowed.

  “You see, Megan, God’s ways are so much different than ours that we can’t question what He allows or doesn’t allow. We have to trust that He will work everything out the right way. God always wants the best for us.”

  For a moment Megan was silent as she stared at the wall, a faraway look in her eyes. With a sigh, she smiled at Jesse and nodded. “You’re right. I’ve read those verses before. Job suffered much more loss than I have. If he could end up praising God, then who am I to question what’s right?” She gave him a watery smile. “That’s much easier to say than do.”

  “You are so right.” Jesse grinned.

  The office door opened. Dr. Stanhope stepped out and pulled it shut behind him. He finished brushing the sleeves of his shirt down over his arms as he walked toward them. Jesse could feel Megan’s tension as she rose to stand next to him. He placed his hand on her elbow to let her know he was there for her.

  “The youngster should be fine.” Doc smiled, losing his undertaker image. “Those burns are pretty nasty, but Martha will give you some medicine for them and give you instructions for her care. She’ll cough for a few days until all the smoke clears out of her lungs. Try to have her drink plenty of liquids to keep her throat from getting too sore.”

  His brow creased. “She might be in quite a bit of pain for the next few days while the healing starts. I’ll give you something to help with that, too.”

  Jesse breathed a sigh of relief a few minutes later as he helped Megan and Seana settle in the back of the wagon. He planned to get a little something they could eat on the way home and then head out. They should be able to be home in time for the evening chores.

  Piling the blankets close to Megan so she could cover up Seana as the weather cooled, he felt her stiffen. He glanced over his shoulder to see Reverend Porter and the banker glaring at them from the sidewalk.

  Mr. Sparks rubbed his hands together and gave them a feral smile. “Weather’s turning nice, don’t you think, Reverend? June will be here before you know it.”

  Thirteen

  The extra blanket tucked around Megan’s shoulders did nothing to ease the bone-deep chill. She shook, not from the cold as much as from the fear invading every part of her. God, what are You doing? First, Momma and Papa and Matt. Now Seana’s hurt and Mr. Sparks is going to get our farm. Where will I go? What will I do? I have no future.

  From the corner of her ey
e, she caught a glimpse of Jesse’s broad, straight back as he guided the team toward home. Did she even have him? Yes, he’d been wonderful lately, but what about when they lost the farm? What would he do then? Did he truly want to be saddled with her as a wife, or would he continue with his life without a backward thought for her or Seana?

  God, there’s no one I can turn to. Everyone I know thinks I’m an awful person. Even the preacher in town wouldn’t let me into his home. An image of the Bright family popped into her mind. She could feel the weight of the baby in her arms and remember the softness of his skin, the way his round eyes crinkled in laughter as he looked at her. Shame washed over her. God hadn’t left her alone. She had no right to question Jesse’s allegiance, either. So far, he hadn’t given her any reason to believe he would turn his back on her. Jesus, forgive me. I’ve been wallowing in self-pity, whining like a little child. Instead, I should be thanking You for saving Seana’s life. With sudden clarity, she could see Jesse throwing himself on top of Seana and rolling to put out the fire. Her throat tightened. If he hadn’t been there. . .

  “Jesse.” His name caught, coming out too soft for him to hear. She cleared her throat. “Jesse.”

  He turned and flashed her a smile that made her heart dance. “Getting hungry? The rise where we ate with the Brights is right up ahead. I thought we could stop there and rest a minute while we eat.” He glanced at the sun. “We won’t be able to stop for long, though. I hope you don’t mind.”

  “That’s fine.” The words Megan wanted to say wouldn’t come out. Jesse turned back around. She watched him lean forward, doing the little that needed doing to guide the team over the rutted road. His hands were strong and capable, yet she knew they could also be gentle. She touched her cheek, recalling the feel of his fingers there. A flood of warmth washed over her at the memory.

  Jesus, have I been blind? I’ve been so caught up in my grief and complaining that I didn’t realize You sent Jesse to me, knowing I would need his love and support. Yes, Lord, I do believe he loves Seana and me. I don’t know why or how, but he does. Lord, I love him, too. Help me to show him that. Help me be the wife he needs.