The Maid_The Eighth Day

by Rachel Wesson

  “Doesn’t matter, I can do without. Now, why don’t you give the baby a crust of bread to chew on while I get this place sorted out a little.”

  Jude was back and looking at her warily from the front door. “Jude, can you go fetch Abe from the barn. I will need some wood for the fire and also some fresh water,” Cara asked.

  “I ain't doing anything until I get something to eat,” Jude said mutinously.

  “You will be fed when I say so and not before. The sooner you get those chores done the better.” Cara decided she had to start as she meant to go on. If she didn’t sort out this chaos, everyone would end up ill, including her and Colin.

  Jude gave her such a look of hate she thought he was going to defy her, but then he shrugged his shoulders and went out, muttering how Abe wouldn’t like taking orders from no woman. Cara decided she would deal with Abe when she had to.

  There was a bucket of water by the stove, which thankfully had a small fire already lit. She added the last of the wood to the flames before transferring the water to the kettle. It didn't look too clean but it wouldn’t matter. They weren't going to drink it but use it to clean the table. Her stomach heaved on closer inspection. There were insects crawling all over it, nibbling at the congealed fat and other food leftovers. Taking a deep breath, she rummaged around the kitchen but she couldn't find a cloth. Turning her back to the children, she lifted her skirts and tore off some of her petticoats. It was cleaner than anything else in the house and would have to do. She scrubbed down the table with the hot water from the kettle before refilling the kettle with clean water. She would give the table a final scrub before she turned her hand to the dishes in the sink.

  There was no sign of Abe but Jude had returned with some chopped wood and some more water. Mary hung about, looking at Cara.

  “Mary, can you check with Doc Deane and see if he needs anything, please? Can you tell him we will have lunch in about an hour?”

  At the promise of food, a number of the children grinned up at Cara. She had to wipe a tear from her eye. How could anyone let their family end up in such a sorry state?

  She plunged her hands back into the hot water and washed the dishes. Only once everything was clean could she prepare a meal. As she worked, she thanked God for her experiences at the orphanage. Prior to working there, she hadn't a notion of how to cook or clean. Papa had servants and up till she started volunteering, Cara didn’t have to do anything more arduous than sewing and other needlework. She smiled, thinking of her mother’s face if she could see her youngest daughter now. Surrounded by dirty children in a squalid house in the middle of nowhere.

  Colin poked his head out of the bedroom. “Cara, could you boil some water and then allow it to cool. Please. I need to give the patients something to drink.”

  She nodded in reply but didn’t look at him. She heard the door close again. She wondered how bad his patients were but when she caught the look of worry on the younger children’s faces, she decided it was her job to cheer them up.

  She boiled and cooled the water just as Colin had asked before giving it to Mary to take into him.

  She sang as she worked and was rewarded by a couple of the children singing with her.

  “Mary, while I do this, why don’t you take the opportunity to have a bath and change your clothes?”

  Mary just stared at her.

  “What?” Cara said as the girl didn’t move but stood staring back at her.

  “I ain't got any other clothes.”

  Cara stopped working to look at the girl in shock. She could see she had embarrassed the younger girl and could have kicked herself. “Well, never mind. You’ll feel better after you’ve had something to eat.”

  Cara was determined to buy some new clothes for Mary. It wasn’t right for a girl of her tender years to be wearing a dress at least two sizes too small for her. Birdie would help her, she just knew it. Between the two of them, they would make sure all these children were at least decently clothed. She watched as Mary washed her hands and face before she turned her attention to the food.

  “What are you going to cook?” Mary asked.

  Cara straightened. “I hadn't really thought of that. How do biscuits and bacon sound?”

  “With real coffee?”

  “Yes, Jude, with real coffee.” Cara hid a smile.

  “Just wait till Abe hears that. He’ll have to smile then.” Jude was gone before Cara could tell him the meal would take more than a few minutes. She exchanged a smile with Mary before turning her attention to making the batter for the biscuits. It wasn’t the best lunch she could make but it was the quickest, and, seeing how hungry these children were, that was the most important thing. Mary was a quick learner and keen to help, so they had lunch ready in no time at all.

  Chapter 23

  Cara insisted all children washed their hands before eating. They couldn’t all sit down as there wasn’t a seat for everyone. Instead of waiting until the younger ones were finished, the older ones had to eat standing up. Cara said grace first before they were allowed take a bite.

  Jude and his younger brothers tried to take some food before the prayer was finished but Abe gave them a rap on the knuckles. Cara didn’t agree with the violence, but a quick look at the young man made her keep quiet. He was different from his siblings. Cleaner, for a start, and he seemed embarrassed to be seen in his surroundings. He was polite, ate nicely and thanked her for the meal she’d made.

  “How’s Ma?”

  “I don’t know, Abe. I haven't had a chance to ask the doc. Do you want me to check?”

  Abe nodded. “I got to finish something in the barn.”

  He was gone before Cara could ask what it was. She looked at the other children. Abe’s question had reminded them of their ma being in childbirth, judging by the worried looks on their faces. Curiously, nobody asked about their pa.

  Cara took a quick gulp of coffee before putting her cup on the table and heading toward the bedroom. She didn’t want the children to know she was terrified of what she might find on the other side of the door.

  She had never seen a dead person before—well, apart from her grandmother, but that had been different. For a start, she had been old and when they were brought in to kiss her at the wake, there had been so many candles around, Cara had closed her eyes and nobody had noticed.

  She knocked on the door and Colin gave her gruff permission to enter. She pushed it open, her hand immediately going to her nose at the stench.

  “How are they?” she asked.

  Colin looked awful. He was so tired, the black hollows beneath his eyes making them look even bluer than usual. He shook his head in answer to her question.

  “Let me look after them for a while. You need something to eat and some rest.”

  “No, Cara. It could be contagious. I won’t have you putting yourself at risk.”

  “If it is, then chances are I have already come into contact with it. Either way, you need a rest. You can’t help anyone if you fall sick yourself. Please, Colin, don’t be stubborn. Go have something to eat.”

  “It’s not seemly. You’re an unmarried lady.”

  “I don’t think poor Mr. O’Malley is in any state to notice, do you?” Cara’s gaze shifted to the one-armed man lying still in the bed. He looked as if he had died already, his breathing so shallow, his skin so pale.

  “Go on, please. The other children need to be examined too. You won’t be able to save anyone if you don’t rest. I will be fine and when Cookie gets here, he can help, too.”

  “You spoke to Cookie?” Colin looked so astonished Cara had to smile.

  “You needed help and I didn’t know who else to ask.”

  “What did he say?”

  “He gave me a lecture about friends not stabbing one another in the back and told me to go home.”

  “I seem to recall telling you to go home, too. But you’re not good at following orders, are you?” he said softly.

  She gulped at what looked l
ike admiration in his eyes and then gave herself a shake. These people needed their focus. What was between them, if anything, could wait until this little family was back on its feet. “Go on, Colin, go have some food and some coffee. It will make you think clearer.”

  Colin gave his patients one last look and then begrudgingly followed her wishes. “Thank you, Cara.”

  She smiled before moving closer to the bed, the warm water slopping over the sides of the bowl.

  “Is it a bath ye be given to me?”

  Shocked the lady could speak, Cara nodded in surprise. “Not a whole bath, but I shall wash your face and hands. It will help you feel a bit better.”

  “How’s my babies?” Ellen tried to get out of the bed but gave up after a failed attempt. “Doc said they are getting better but they is awful quiet.”

  “I am sure Doc knows what he’s doing. I will check on them. You rest.”

  The lady didn’t respond. Perhaps the small bit of talk had exhausted her. Cara checked on the children lying on the pallets on the floor. She wished there was somewhere else for them to sleep but the house was tiny. Ideally, Mrs. O’Malley should not be in labor in the same room as her dying husband.

  At least the children didn’t seem as sick as their parents, although they looked whiter than freshly washed linen. Cara sponged them down, noting how alike they looked. If they were awake, it would be impossible to tell one from the other.

  “The children are fine, Mrs. O’Malley.” She sponged Ellen down as she reassured her, noting how old she looked, yet she couldn’t have been much older than thirty. “You should rest. You’ll need all your strength to birth the baby. And your children will need you too.”

  “It's too late for me, this baby just isn’t comin’. I’m tired out.”

  “No, ma’am, it isn't too late,” Cara whispered. “You got to fight. Those children need someone. I know. I used to work in an orphanage. It's not a place you want someone like Jude to end up in.”

  The woman’s eyes opened with such a look of love, Cara’s tears threatened to overflow. “My Jude, he’s always in trouble. Such a scamp, but he would give you the coat off his back.”

  Cara smiled. “I’m sure, he has a heart as big as the world. You can see it in the twinkle in his eyes.”

  Cara wasn’t at all sure she agreed with what she was saying, but she wanted Mrs. O’Malley to fight. She meant what she said about the orphanage. Although the nuns had done their best, a child deserved to stay with his real folks. With a ma and pa who would love them. Mrs. O’Malley closed her eyes. Judging by her breathing, she was taking advantage of the gaps between labor pains and napping again.

  Chapter 24

  Cara wasn’t sure how long she sat by the bed sponging down Mrs. O’Malley. She tried a couple of times with Mr. O’Malley but it only seemed to upset him. So she kept her attentions fixed on the woman as she sensed Mr. O’Malley had already given up.

  After a while, Colin came back into the room, looking a little better.

  “You seem a little refreshed,” Cara said, replacing the blanket over Mrs. O’Malley in order to protect her decency.

  Colin smiled at her, the expression in his eyes making her heart lurch.

  “You make fine biscuits and coffee. Where did you learn to cook?” he asked.

  “At the orphanage where I volunteered. The nuns thought it was important all girls knew the basics regardless of background. They insisted if I wanted to help, I be trained up as a maid. I was completely useless when I first started but I had to learn or they would have sent me home. Guess I learned some useful things.”

  Colin just nodded, looking thoughtful. But he didn’t say anything. Instead, he checked on his four patients.

  “I think the twins are over the worst. Ellen will be fine if she rests and the labor is relatively easy, but I’m not sure about Fergus,” he said.

  “I’m sure he’ll fight to come back to his family, too. He wouldn’t want his wife getting married to another man who would take on the rearing of his children,” Cara said.

  Colin stared at her but didn’t reply. Then Cookie’s voice carried through the window. He seemed to be talking to Mick.

  Colin left the bedroom with Cara following quickly behind.

  “Why did you say that about Fergus? Surely you know he’s dying?”

  “Neither of us know anything of the sort. Whether he lives or dies is God’s choice, but I thought it might help to give him something to fight for.”

  Colin looked at her in astonishment before he started to laugh.

  “What are you laughing at me for? It was your father who told me that the hearing is often the last thing to go. He said he always told new doctors to be careful what they said in front of a patient who seemed to be on his last legs.”

  She could see Colin tried to stop laughing but he couldn’t. Then she started, too. If anyone had asked them why they were laughing, she doubted they would be able to tell them. But it was a good way to diffuse the tensions and strains of what had turned out to be quite a horrible day.

  Cookie and Mick stood, hands on hips, staring at them until the fit of giggles ended.

  “Don’t know what’s going on in there but Seamus thought everyone was starving. He insisted on going to the store with me. Just about bought up everything in sight.” Cookie snorted.

  “Good old Seamus. The bad mood he was in this morning must have passed,” Colin said.

  Cookie called to Abe, Jude and a couple of the other children to help carry the sacks from the wagon. Mary gave instructions on what went where with regard to the house while Abe took some grain and feed to the animals in the barn. Cara nearly cried when she saw the chickens in the back of the wagon.

  “Pearl gave me them. Said scrambled eggs was a good diet for a nursing mother.” Cookie looked so embarrassed, Cara almost felt sorry for him. Then she remembered his attitude toward her earlier.

  “The baby isn’t born yet. Won’t be much longer, although Ellen is already exhausted,” Colin said, a worried expression on his face.

  “Anything else we can do for you, Doc?”

  “No, Mick, but thank you.”

  Colin didn’t like the way Mick’s cheeks turned red as Cara smiled at him. His stomach roiled and he knew what was eating him. He was jealous. Plain and simple. What on earth was wrong with him? He had sick patients to tend to and he was standing around here like a love-sick puppy.

  “Colin, don’t you think it would be a good idea for Cookie and Mick to take a couple of the boys back to town? They seem to be very healthy, if a little dirty. The less people in the house, the easier it will be to manage everyone.”

  “That’s a good idea, Cara. The boys need a good bath, Cookie.”

  “Phew, they certainly do. They smell worse than a bunkhouse and that’s saying a lot. How many do you want us to take back with us, Doc?” Mick asked as Cookie stared at Cara.

  “Abe, you and your brother are going back into town to stay in my house for a night or two.”

  “I can’t, Doc. I’m staying right here where Ma needs me. Someone’s got to see to the animals. Send Jude, Peter and Fergus Junior. They’ll behave. They know I’ll clout them one if they don’t.”

  The young boys didn’t seem too reluctant to go with Cookie, not when they heard he’d been a soldier and could cook. “Did you fight any Indians? When I grow up I is going to fight them and kill lots,” Jude chattered away.

  “You too young to be thinkin’ of killin’ anyone.” Cookie reprimanded the youngster, but Colin didn’t think the boy would take any notice.

  “Mick, could you do something else for me, please?”

  “Yes, Miss Cara. What do you need?”

  “Could you go to see Mrs. Peregrine and ask her to pick out two new dresses for me please? For a thirteen-year-old girl, small for her age.”

  “Mrs. Peregrine?” Mick said, looking confused.

  Cara smiled before explaining. “Birdie was one of the ladies who traveled to Noell
e with me. She is wonderful with her needle and quick, too. If she doesn’t have suitable dresses, she will make them. Tell her I will pay her later. I will ask Abe to go into town to collect them in a couple of days, assuming the weather is okay.”

  “Sure thing, Miss Cara. Are you staying overnight out here?”

  “Yes,” Cara replied.

  “No,” Colin said at exactly the same time.

  The two looked at each other.

  “Cara, you need to get back to town. People will talk if you stay out here all night,” Colin said.

  “I don’t give a flying pig what people say. Mrs. O’Malley is going to have her baby and with her husband and young’uns sick, you need all the help you can get,” Cara said before turning to the one and only ally she had.

  “That right, Mick?”

  Mick didn’t answer but his neck turned red. Colin knew he wasn’t going to win this battle so turned on his heel to storm inside. He wasn’t out of earshot, though, when he heard Mick say, “Miss Cara, you be the best thing to happen to the doc in a long time. See you tomorrow.”

  “Bye, Mick,” Cara said and, by her tone, Colin could tell she was smiling.

  Chapter 25

  Cara watched the little party go until they were out of sight. She hoped the boys wouldn’t be too much of a handful for Mick, although, if she were honest, she did hope they gave Cookie a difficult time. Might teach him a few manners.

  Cara shrugged at the thought of sleeping in what was likely to be a dirty bed, but then the thoughts of being caught out in the snow didn’t appeal either. Then she gave herself a talking to. She had little enough to worry about compared to Ellen, who was fighting for her life and that of her babe.

  She turned toward the house, but instead of going into the kitchen she took a walk out to the barn. She wanted to see if Abe was working on more wood. It would keep the house warm for the patients.