The Immortelles

by Gilbert, Morris

  “You’re able to complain. That’s a good sign.” He gave Yancy a quick examination and said, “What is this, the fourth day of it?”

  “That’s right,” Damita said quickly.

  “That’s a favorable sign.”

  “Is it really, Jeff?”

  “Of course.” He looked at her and said, “You look exhausted, Damita.”

  “Make her go to bed, Doc,” Yancy said hoarsely. “She’s worn herself out, taking care of me.”

  “That’s good advice, Damita. I’ll be here now. You go rest.”

  Suddenly, weariness fell upon Damita almost like a blow. “All right,” she said. She stood up and smiled weakly. “I’m glad you’re here, Jeff,” she said, then turned and left the room.

  The doctor said to Yancy, “I know you feel pretty bad, but I think you’re going to make it. I’ll do the best I can.”

  “I’d appreciate it if you’d save my life. I saved yours once.”

  Jeff stared at him. “What do you mean, you saved my life?”

  Yancy smiled a thin smile. As bad as he felt, he had a spark of humor in his eyes. “You remember that duel you had with Depard?”

  “Of course.”

  “You weren’t in any danger. I changed the musket balls for pieces of toast.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jeff demanded, thinking this was a hallucination. He listened as Yancy told him about forming the balls and painting them.

  “Don’t ever tell Depard. He’d want to do it all again.”

  Jeff laughed. “I was a fool then, a bigger fool than I am now, I guess. I’ve learned a few things.” He looked down at Yancy and said, “I’ll be here. Try to sleep.”

  “All right, Doc. You’re the boss.”

  The time passed slowly for Damita. Jeff stayed for two days, then had to go back to the city, promising to return. The routine continued unbroken, and Damita was pleased to find that she was strong enough to handle each day as it came. She knew that Charissa was surprised, too, and once the two were taking a late supper when Charissa said, “You’re tougher than I thought.”

  “I’m tougher than I thought,” Damita said, pleased at the compliment. She looked Charissa in the eye and said, “I still can’t get over how you left everything to come help us.”

  “It’s my job, Damita.”

  Damita studied Charissa, marveling that even though she was exhausted, she still had an exotic beauty. Her thoughts turned to Jeff Whitman, and without meaning to, she said, “I’ve thought so much about you and Jeff.”

  Charissa stared at her. “What about us?” she said cautiously.

  “It’s very obvious that you care for him. Of course, he doesn’t know that, does he?”

  “No, he doesn’t. He’s in love with you.”

  “No, he’s not.”

  Charissa started. “What do you mean by that?”

  “He’s infatuated. I’ve seen enough of it to know. I told him months ago that we’d never marry. I thought of him, for a time, only selfishly. I was afraid for the future. I was afraid I’d be poor. I couldn’t imagine what would happen to our family.” She looked up, and misery was in her eyes. “How you must have hated me for that. Nothing but a fortune seeker!”

  Charissa said quietly, “It didn’t endear you to me, Damita.”

  “Well, no more of that.”

  “It wouldn’t make any difference, at least as far as I’m concerned.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He never thinks of me as a man thinks of a woman he might love. I’m always his sister. How tired I get of his saying that. He thinks it pleases me. He’s not very sensitive, is he?”

  “He’s dumb as a post about women,” Damita said bluntly. “But you’d be good for him. You’re everything he needs in a wife. I’ll tell him that.”

  “No, don’t, please.”

  “I guess I couldn’t. But I see a goodness in you, and I hope he does, too, one day.”

  Yancy woke with a start. He felt strange. He lay flat on his back, wondering what this sensation was. It finally came to him. “I feel good,” he said aloud. He threw the cover back and sat up. He saw that the sheets were dry—he had slept all night without breaking into a sweat. My heaven, I feel good! He stood up, swayed, and then sat back down so abruptly he nearly fell over backward. Whoa, he thought. I’m not all that strong. But I’m getting out of this bed.

  Carefully, he stood again and took small, cautious steps to where his clothes were folded across a chair. He dressed, sitting down, and when he had pulled his boots on, he stood and went over to the window. It was a beautiful day. Just feels good to be alive. Thanksgiving rose in him, and he found himself saying, “Lord, I’m not much for praying, but I want to thank You for pulling me through this.”

  He smiled to himself. Maybe I’m getting religion in a big way, he thought. But then he added, “Do the best You can for me, Lord. I’ll not forget this.” He slowly left the bedroom and walked downstairs, holding on to the banister. When he turned into the kitchen, he saw Charissa standing at the window, looking out. She turned, and her eyes widened when she saw him.

  “Yancy, what are you doing up?”

  “Couldn’t stand that bed. I didn’t have any fever at all last night—but I’m weak as a kitten.”

  “Here, sit down. What you need is some good food. How about something light? How does scrambled eggs and toast, and maybe some hot tea and milk, sound?”

  “I could eat a bear, I think.”

  “You can’t have bear.”

  Charissa cooked a quick breakfast, then sat down and watched Yancy eat with gusto. She reached over once and held his wrist, testing his pulse. “Slow and steady,” she said with a smile.

  “Where is Damita?”

  “I don’t think she’s awake yet. She was up most of the night with her mother.”

  “I can’t get over,” Yancy said thoughtfully, “how much she’s changed.”

  “Yes, she has changed more than I would have dreamed possible. I believed she was selfish to the bone and would die that way, but she’s not now. You’ve done that for her, Yancy.”

  “Me? I haven’t done anything.”

  “I think you have. You saved her life this time, just as surely as you did when you pulled her out of that shipwreck.”

  Yancy sipped his tea. “Don’t quite see that,” he said.

  “Don’t you remember how afraid she was when her father died? She didn’t have anyone to cling to. Her mother’s helpless,” Charissa said, shrugging, “in business matters, at least. But then you came along and took over and gave her hope. I’ve seen it in her since when you came.”

  Yancy changed the subject to the plantation’s upcoming crop, and the two chatted for a few minutes. Then Charissa smiled wearily and said, “I’m about worn out myself. I think I’ll go lie down.”

  “You’ve both worked too hard,” Yancy said.

  Charissa stood, turned, and suddenly began to sway.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked with alarm.

  Charissa turned around, and he saw that her lips were pressed tightly together. “Just a dizzy spell,” she whispered.

  Yancy looked more closely at her. “You don’t look well.”

  “Oh, I’ll be all right. I’m just tired. I’ll go lie down awhile.”

  Yancy had walked slowly to the porch and sat down in a cane-bottom chair. It was such a pleasure, simply to watch life from some vantage point other than a bed. He heard footsteps, and Damita stepped outside. She looked astonished.

  “You shouldn’t be up, Yancy!”

  “Yes, I should,” he answered, smiling. “I didn’t have any fever last night, and I feel great. Just weak yet.”

  “I’m glad to hear it! Where’s Charissa?”

  “She was worn out. She didn’t look too good to me. She went to lie down.”

  Damita sat down beside him. “She’s worked herself almost sick.”

  Yancy was silent for a time, then said, “Damita.” When she
turned to face him, he said, “I guess this is when I tell you how grateful I am for all you’ve done for me.”

  Damita flushed slightly. “Why, Yancy, that was nothing.”

  “No, it wasn’t.” He laughed shortly. “When I got out of bed, you know what I did first? I began to thank the Lord for pulling me through.”

  “Oh, I’ve done the same thing. Mama’s doing fine, too.”

  He put his hand out, and when she put hers in it with a look of surprise, he squeezed it. “In any case, I owe you.”

  “No, it was my turn.”

  “What do you mean by that, Damita?”

  “I mean it’s a little down payment for what you did in pulling me out of the wreck—and for saving our plantation.”

  Yancy held her hand firmly. “So, we’re even now?”

  Damita hand was relaxed in his grasp. He looked so good—his face was ruddy, his eyes were clear, the yellow tinge had gone. He had been so sick, and now she saw the returnings of strength. “I don’t think people ever even up for things like that.”

  “I reckon you’re right, but when I was sick and you were always at my bedside, I remember thinking, even when I was too ill to speak, how glad I was you were there—that you hadn’t left me.”

  “That’s what I felt when the ship went down. We were clinging to that board, and your arm was around me, and I was scared out of my wits. But you held me so tightly, and I knew you wouldn’t let me go.”

  Yancy did not speak. Damita put her free hand over his. “Thank you, Yancy, for not letting go of me at that terrible time.”

  Yancy studied her eyes, then said, “I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you, and I still can’t. I don’t know how to say this any better, but I love you, Damita. I always will.”

  Damita remembered something a friend of hers had said once: “It’s funny. Sometimes a fellow bends over to tie his shoe, and when he straightens up, the whole world has changed.” She knew at that moment exactly what he meant; when Yancy spoke those simple words of love, she realized that the truth had been with her all the time, for a long time, and now she knew what it was. She stood and pulled him to his feet. He looked at her with surprise, and she lifted her arms and put them around his neck. “Yes, you must never let me go. I’ve been selfish all my life, Yancy, and I still am.”

  “No, you’re not selfish.”

  “Yes, I am,” she said, and her eyes were bright, her lips trembling. “I want you in the most selfish way you can imagine.” She pulled his head down and kissed him on the lips, his arms went around her, and she buried her face against his chest. “I love you, Yancy. I’ve been the biggest fool in the world, and I suppose I will be again, but you’ll have to take me as I am.”

  Yancy stood in wonder, amazed at the woman in his arms. He laid his cheek against the top of her head and whispered, “Don’t worry. I’ll hold you so tightly you’ll never be able to get away, Damita.”

  Chapter twenty-four

  As soon as Jeff opened the door and saw Damita, he recogized strain in her face. “Is something wrong?”

  “It’s Charissa, Jeff. She’s very sick.”

  Jeff ’s looked as if she had struck him. “Sick?” he asked hoarsely. “Is it the fever?”

  “I . . . I don’t know, but I think you’d better come.”

  “All right. I will.”

  “Jeff, wait. I know this is no time to speak of this, but let me tell you one more thing.”

  Jeff stared at her, his mind occupied only with Charissa. “What is it?” he asked impatiently.

  “I wanted you to know that Yancy and I are going to be married.”

  Jeff stared at her. “I guessed that might happen, Damita.”

  Damita shook her head. “You and I have both been confused, but now the important thing is Charissa.”

  “I’ll follow you back. Let me get my horse,” he said.

  Charissa felt a hand on her forehead and stirred slightly. Her head ached, and a cough seemed to tear her in two. A voice asked, “Charissa, can you hear me?”

  Charissa pulled herself out of the sleep that had wrapped itself around her. For a moment, a face was blurred before her, then it cleared, and she whispered, “Jefferson?”

  “Yes, it’s me.”

  “How long have you been here?”

  “I came as soon as I heard.”

  Charissa began to cough, and he held her hands until it subsided. “That sounds terrible.”

  “I feel terrible.”

  “I can give you some good news. You don’t have yellow fever. You’ve got some kind of congestion and infection.”

  Charissa fully awoke then and licked her lips. Jeff gave her water, then sat down beside her.

  “How did you know I was sick?”

  “Damita came and got me.”

  “You can’t stay here. There are too many sick people.”

  “Yes, I can,” he said, almost roughly. He reached out, took her wrist, and felt her pulse, then put his hand on her forehead.

  Charissa lay quietly, watching him. He said nothing, but she saw his concern.

  Abruptly he said, “Charissa, Damita’s going to marry Yancy.”

  “Oh, Jeff, I’m so sorry.”

  He looked at her strangely, then forced a grin. “Don’t be sorry. I could never have made her happy, and she couldn’t have made me happy, either.”

  “I know you feel bad about it, though.” She coughed again, but then she smiled and said, “You know, it’s good to have a brother to take care of me.”

  Jeff stared at her sternly. “I am not your brother, Charissa.”

  Charissa looked at him with surprise.

  “I wish you’d stop calling me your brother. It bothers me.”

  Charissa suddenly felt buoyant. “Why does it bother you, Jeff?” she asked in a weak voice.

  “I don’t know, but please don’t say it again.”

  Charissa was aware of the warmth of his hand as he held hers, aware also that life had somehow changed for her. She smiled at Jeff fully and completely, and he reached out and put his hand on her cheek. “You’re going to be fine, Charissa. You have to be.”

  “You’re a masterful doctor.”

  “Am I?” He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed her head. He stroked her hair back from her face and said, “You must get well very quickly. I can’t have my—” She knew he almost said sister, but he changed his mind and said, “I must have my best friend feeling perfectly well again. Will you do that?”

  “Yes, I will, Jefferson.”

  Jeff was getting ready to leave the plantation, and he was speaking with Yancy and Damita. “She doesn’t have yellow fever, of course. It’s just some sort of respiratory infection. I think she’s over the worst of it, and she’ll be fine.” Jeff shook hands with Yancy and nodded to Damita. “I’ll be back tonight. I know you’ll take good care of her.”

  The pair bade him good-bye, and as soon as he was out the door, Yancy turned and said wryly, “I was afraid he might challenge me to a duel for taking you away from him. If he does, I think I’ll choose cornstalks for weapons.”

  “He didn’t seem too broken up about it, did he? I suppose I should be upset about that. Here he’s gone mooning around for months, and now he doesn’t seem to mind at all.”

  “He’s a strange sort of chap. But we Kaintocks are. You Creoles never understand us.” He reached out, took Damita’s hands, and drew her forward. “When can we be married? I may be a Kaintock, as you’ve often pointed out—just a rough fellow. But I love you.”

  “As soon as you wish. We’ve missed a lot of time.”

  “I guess it wasn’t all lost,” he said quietly. “We had to learn some things about ourselves, didn’t we?”

  Damita put her arms around him and laid her cheek on his chest. “I think we did, but we’ve found each other now.”

  “I still think you’re leaving too soon. You need to rest a bit longer, Charissa,” Damita said with concern. Charissa had rested for two days but
was now dressing to leave, saying she needed to get back.

  “I’ll be all right, Damita.”

  “I have to tell you something, Charissa. It won’t come as any surprise to you, but I’m the most selfish woman who ever lived. I don’t do anything but take,” she said quickly. “I took Yancy’s help when I nearly died. I was so selfish with Jeff. I let him court me when I didn’t care for him. And I took your help when I didn’t deserve it.” She reached out and took Charissa’s hands. “I wish I could do something unselfish for you.”

  Charissa looked at Damita with shock. She saw that she had tears in her eyes and knew that this was not the same self-centered young woman she had served years before. “Why, don’t cry,” she said. But then the tears rolled down Damita’s cheeks, and Charissa did something that, in previous years, would have been unthinkable.

  Stepping forward, she embraced Damita and felt the tremors passing through her body as she wept silently. “I want you to forget the past, Damita. You’ve got a new life now. You serve the Lord God and Jesus. Let Him be your King. You’ve got a good man, and I forbid you to brood over what God has already forgiven.”

  She held the weeping young woman and thought, What a miracle this is, that God can take what she was and make her into what she is now. And He did the same with me.

  Charissa stood beside Jeff, and as the new bride and groom passed by, they threw handfuls of rice. Charissa laughed as Yancy and Damita gave them a quick glance and waved, smiling.

  They followed the crowd until the two were in a carriage and pulling away to the sounds of the crowd’s cheers.

  “Well,” Jeff said, “they’re married.”

  Charissa turned to look at him. “Are you sure you don’t feel a little bit broken up about that?”

  “Oh, no. I’m a hardheaded, rather stupid fellow, but it finally sank in. I know she’s got the right man. Come on. Let’s go get something to eat. Weddings make me hungry.”

  Charissa had watched Jeff carefully as the wedding day approached. He was such a transparent man, and as far as his emotions were concerned, she had been relieved to find that, indeed, he was over his infatuation.

  “Excuse me, sir.”

  Jeff and Charissa turned to see a young man with dark hair and dark eyes beside them. He removed his hat and said, “You remember me, Miss Charissa?”