Trailing Home: Liam's Bride (The McKenzie Series #3)

by Lynn Coppersmith

  Selena pulled back the rag and stifled a gasp. There was a six inch gash along the top of Liam’s arm. It was deep and still bleeding profusely.

  “Keep the pressure on this, while I get stuff ready,” she ordered Gerald brusquely. “We have to get this closed before he bleeds to death.”

  She ran to fetch the medical kit while Gerald stayed with Liam. Gerald kept firm pressure on the wound, and he was relieved to see that the bleeding had nearly stopped by the time Selena returned.

  “I’m so sorry about this Liam,” Gerald said with an anguished grimace.

  Liam shook his head and used his good hand to wave away the apology. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “Well, it never would have happened if you weren’t helping me.” Gerald looked worried as he knelt beside them.

  “Honestly, it’s nothing. Now, you should go get your wagon,” Liam said. He glanced at Selena and gave her a weak smile. “I’m in good hands.”

  Gerald hesitated briefly but finally rose. There was nothing more he could for Liam at the moment, but he stood wringing his hat in his hands.

  “Go on,” Liam insisted. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Alright. Thanks for all your help,” Gerald said, still feeling uneasy. He looked at Selena “Do you want me to ask Marcia to help with doctoring that?”

  Selena gave him a brief, reassuring smile. “I would appreciate it if she could bring me some soap, towels and hot water. Thanks Gerald.”

  Gerald merely nodded and left to find Marcia. Selena resolutely repressed her anxiety as she opened the kit and set out all the things she would need to stitch up the cut.

  “Here,” she said, handing Liam the bottle of whiskey. “You might want to drink some of this.” Marcia appeared with the requested items, and Selena nodded her thanks. “I can stitch up the cut. I don’t want to keep you from what you were doing,” Selena said.

  “Alright, but just call if you need anything else. I’m so sorry this happened.”

  “Don’t worry about it. It was just an accident.” Liam said with a pained grimace.

  Marcia’s brow furrowed with worry. She gave Liam’s shoulder a comforting squeeze before she turned to leave.

  “Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”

  Selena peeled back the blood soaked rag and was relieved to see that the bleeding had stopped. She carefully washed the wound with soap and warm water, wincing when she noticed how Liam’s arm tensed beneath her fingers. He made no protest, but he did take several long sips of whiskey. When the cut had been cleaned, Selena took the bottle from him and gave him an apologetic smile.

  “Sorry, this is going to burn.”

  “I know, but it has to be done so go ahead.” Liam met her eye and nodded.

  Selena poured some of the whiskey over the wound, and Liam sucked in a breath but otherwise sat quietly. She poured more of the whiskey over the needle and catgut and then set to work closing the wound. The muscles in Liam’s arm twitched, but he sat motionless while Selena put in a neat row of stitches. Her face conveyed her distress, but she worked diligently with calm hands until the unpleasant task was completed. When she tied off the last stitch, she gave Liam a trembling smile.

  “There. Now I just have to put some salve and a bandage and we’ll be done.”

  Liam managed to give her a lopsided grin, although his brow was covered in sweat and his cheeks were pale. “I’m at your mercy, madam. Do your worst.”

  Selena patted his arm dry with a clean cloth and smoothed a thick layer of ointment over the cut before wrapping the entire wound with a neat bandage. When she finished, she sat back on her heels and sighed.

  “Thanks,” Liam said quietly, breathing easier now that the most painful part was over.

  “I expect you to take better care of yourself from now on,” Selena scolded him, but a moist kiss on his mouth softened the rebuke as she caressed his cheek. “I don’t like having to put stitches in.”

  “Yes ma’am. I’ll do my best.” Liam brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Now, could I have another one of those kisses?” When Selena raised an eyebrow at him, he shrugged and grinned. “For the pain.”

  “Well, if it’s for medicinal purposes,” Selena smiled. She gave him another kiss and then drew back with a sigh. She carefully repacked the medical kit. “Come on,” she said, helping him to his feet. “Let’s go eat dinner, you must be starved.”

  Selena tended his arm for the next several days, changing the bandages often. The wound healed well, and she took the stitches out after six days. Liam went about his usual routine, although he had to be careful to keep his wound clean and dry to avoid infection. He didn’t complain about his arm, but Selena noticed that he was somewhat subdued.

  They passed a series of waterfalls that could be heard from miles around, as they wended along beside the Snake River. As they rode past American Falls, Shoshone Falls, and Twin Falls, Selena enjoyed the breathtaking scenery. The air was heavy with mist, and Selena could see magnificent rainbows as the sun sparkled off the rising moisture.

  They arrived at Three Island Crossing, and were faced with the choice of crossing the Snake River to get to the lush Boise River Valley or staying on the dry south side that had only sparse vegetation. The crossing was thusly named because the river was wide at that point, and there were three distinct islands that had been formed in the center, almost like stepping stones across the wide body of water.

  Because the water was eight feet deep and the current was swift, this was considered by many to be the most treacherous river crossing on the Oregon Trail. Many chose not to make the crossing at all. However, since their oxen were looking lean and tired, Liam and the others decided to cross to access better grazing. Selena clutched the seat in white knuckled fear, but they crossed without mishap.

  Gerald began crossing with his wagon, Susan perched beside him on the narrow bench. They were crossing from the shore to the first island, when the wagon almost overturned in the water. Susan screamed as she was flung into the water. She flailed helplessly, struggling against her skirts and the swift current. Both Liam and Selena relived the terror of her own near drowning, but they were too far away to lend any assistance.

  Without hesitation, Peter kicked his horse into a gallop and raced along the bank to get ahead of Susan. He dove into the water and with swift strokes, he swam toward her. Susan slammed into him and they both went under. The others watched in pained horror until the pair came up sputtering and coughing a few seconds later. Peter grasped her against him and swam to the center island, where they both collapsed, exhausted from their ordeal.

  “Thank God,” Selena breathed. Her eyes were full of tears, and her face was pale with fright. She had become very fond of Susan, and Peter too for that matter. It would have broken her heart if anything had happened to either of them. They managed to get the other wagons and the buggy across the river, and they made camp for the night. Everyone was relieved that the dreaded crossing was behind them.

  The near brush with death frightened them all, and it brought home to them once more how tenuous their hold on life really was. That night, as Liam lay sleeping, Selena lay beside him, listening to his slow, steady breathing. Her throat constricted with unshed tears. She felt so blessed. This journey was difficult and sometimes scary, but because they had to depend on each other so much, she and Liam were forging a strong partnership, built on a foundation of love and trust. In the years to come, she hoped that partnership would grow ever stronger, as they raised a family together. With a deep sigh of contentment, she snuggled against Liam’s shoulder and fell into a deep, untroubled sleep.

  Eight days after Liam’s accident, Selena noticed that he hadn’t spoken for several hours and his expression looked rather pained as he drove the wagon.

  “What’s the matter, Liam? Is your arm hurting?”

  “No, my head hurts,” he muttered, rubbing a hand over his eyes.

  “Should we stop for today? Maybe you should
rest,” Selena suggested.

  “No, we need to make a few more miles today. I don’t want to get behind schedule.”

  Selena’s brow knitted with concern. She had never known Liam to complain of any kind of ache, and it worried her.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stop?”

  “I’m fine,” he said irritably. “It’s just this heat. It’s getting to me.”

  Selena frowned. It was late August, but it wasn’t a particularly hot day. In fact, she felt more comfortable than usual. She placed a hand on Liam’s brow.

  “Liam, you’re running a fever!”

  “I said I’m fine, alright?” he snapped, brushing her arm aside. “Just drop it.”

  Selena didn’t argue, seeing that there was no point. She knew when Liam had his mind made up, there was no use wasting her breath. She watched him with growing concern for the rest of the day.

  When they stopped to make camp, Liam had a hard time climbing down from the wagon, but he reached to help Selena down as usual. He nearly dropped her and gave a grunt of pain as he set her to the ground.

  “Liam!” Selena grasped his arm, noticing that his face seemed frozen in a rigid grimace. “My God, you’re really sick!” She helped him to sit down and yelled for Marcia.

  The two women helped Liam lean back against a large rock. His pained grimace seemed frozen in place, and he had begun to tremble and twitch. Marcia took one look at him and her face filled with concern.

  “Selena, he’s got lockjaw,” she whispered. “He must have gotten it from the cut on his arm.”

  “No! Please God, no.”

  Selena clasped a shaking hand over her mouth and her eyes filled with tears. An attack of tetanus was enough to strike fear into anyone’s heart. They had no way to treat it, and more often than not, it was fatal.

  “Is there anything we can do to help him?” Selena asked weakly, putting an arm around Liam’s shoulders.

  “All we can do is make him as comfortable as possible and pray for the best.”

  They set up camp, and Selena helped Liam to undress and climb in bed. By evening, he was running a high fever, and he was twitching and grunting uncontrollably. He could no longer speak because his jaw was completely rigid, but he didn’t appear to be alert enough for rational conversation anyway. He drifted in and out of awareness.

  As usual, Marcia and Gerald were anxious to help. Everyone except Natasha pitched in to help with chores so that Selena could nurse Liam. Gerald felt terribly guilty since Liam had cut himself while working on their wagon, but Selena assured him that it wasn’t his fault.

  “Gerald, of course you’re not to blame. No one is. Now let’s just concentrate on trying to make Liam better.” Selena hugged Gerald fondly and nothing more was said about blame or recrimination.

  Selena tried to get Liam to drink some broth, but he had a hard time swallowing, and most of the liquid just dribbled out of his mouth. Her fear grew as she nursed him through the night. He jerked violently on the pallet, his muscles locked in painful spasms, and helpless tears rolled down Selena’s cheeks as she sat with him. His condition worsened over the next three days, and Selena met with the others to try and decide what to do.

  “We’re gonna have to make a pallet for Liam in the wagon and move on,” Hank said gently. “He could be sick for a long time, and we can’t stay here indefinitely waiting for him to get better. As it is, we’re running behind schedule.” Everyone murmured their reluctant agreement, even Selena. Hank turned to his grandsons. “Can one of you drive Liam’s team?”

  Before they could answer, Selena spoke up. “No, I’ll drive our wagon.”

  Gerald frowned at her. “Selena, this is rough country. It’s not easy maneuvering up and down these hills. You’d better let one of the men drive.”

  “I know how to handle the team,” Selena said stubbornly. “I grew up driving a wagon for my Pa, and I’ve watched how Liam handles the oxen. If you’ll lead the way, Gerald, I’ll get our team to follow you. We’ll be fine.”

  Gerald didn’t look happy about her decision, but he grudgingly agreed. “Alright. We should leave in the morning.”

  The next morning, Gerald and Peter lifted Liam onto a pallet in the back of the wagon, and Selena drove their wagon. Everyone was surprised to see that she really did know how to handle the oxen, and they relaxed. The truth of the matter was that she needed something to do all day to distract her from worrying about Liam.

  Selena quickly realized that even driving the team did not provide enough distraction for her tortured thoughts. Mile after mile, she mumbled fervent prayers for Liam to get better. He huddled on his pallet, jerking and twitching. Sometimes his breathing was labored, and the air made a terrible wheezing sound as he struggled to draw it into his lungs. Selena choked back tears, feeling helpless and afraid as she remembered her mother’s death. Then, his breathing would ease once more, but the spasms continued, giving him no relief.

  There were a few brief periods when Liam’s eyes rested on her, and he seemed to understand what was going on, but most of the time, he appeared oblivious. Selena felt like she was in hell. Her beloved was nearby, she could see him and touch him, but she couldn’t reach him, and she couldn’t do a thing to make him better.

  Selena found that handling the oxen for ten or twelve hours a day was exhausting. Her shoulders were sore and stiff, and her palms were covered in bleeding blisters from handling the leather reins. Still, her physical discomforts were of little concern to her when she was so worried about Liam. Every evening, Selena coaxed fluids down his throat, as she held him in her arms. He could barely swallow, so the best she could do for him was to ply him with rich broth. He lost weight, and his face became hollow and gaunt as the days passed by. His eyes became dull and listless, and Selena began to despair.

  “I’m losing him,” she cried, sobbing while Marcia hugged her close. “I can’t help him, and I’m losing him a little more every day.”

  “Shh, darling. You mustn’t think like that. Liam’s strong, Selena. He’s strong, and he has a lot to live for. He loves you. You have to have faith that he will fight to get through this.”

  “I’m trying, but I’m so frightened. I don’t want to go on living if he dies,” Selena whispered.

  “I know. Have faith and pray that the Lord will help him through this.”

  Selena slept fitfully, when she managed any sleep at all. Worry became her constant companion, and it gnawed at her, growing ever more intense.

  Five days after the onset of his illness, Liam’s breathing became so labored that Selena thought he would surely suffocate. That evening, she held his head and shoulders cradled in her lap and stroked his chest. She could feel his heart racing beneath her palm as he struggled to draw each breath, and her mind was scourged by the cruel claws of fear. Selena’s lips moved constantly while she repeated her prayers for Liam to get better. She was certain he wouldn’t make it through the night, but his breathing finally eased. Although the wheezing continued, his heart finally calmed, and it seemed as if he were breathing deeper than before.

  On the eighth night after Liam’s illness had begun, Selena awoke with a start, and she heard Liam whispering in a hoarse croak. Whatever he was trying to say came out as a garbled slur, but she was overjoyed that he was able to make the effort. Selena stroked his face and kissed his brow.

  “I’m here darling. I’m right beside you,” she said

  He struggled to say something else, and Selena realized he was trying to ask for a drink. She rushed to get him a cup of water, and she helped him drink a few tiny sips. He was able to swallow, and her heart filled with fresh hope. He looked at her for a long time before he drifted off to sleep once more. Selena noticed that he was still twitching, but it seemed the spasms weren’t as severe as they had been. She whispered another prayer and drifted into an exhausted sleep.

  The next morning, Selena was busy packing the wagon when she heard Liam’s voice from inside the tent. She rushed in and stop
ped in her tracks. Liam was struggling to rise up on one elbow, but he was wobbly and weak, and he wasn’t having much success.

  “Oh Liam, just lie down, sweetheart. You have to take it slowly,” she soothed, as she gently pressed him down on the pallet. “You’re looking much better today.”

  Liam’s face was twisted into a slight frown, which she took as a good sign. At least he was regaining some control over his facial muscles. Selena smoothed his hair back and kissed his brow.

  “Are you hungry? Could you eat something if I bring it for you?”

  “Um hmm,” he mumbled and managed to slightly nod his head.

  Selena’s eyes filled with happy tears. “I’ll be right back.”

  She had cooked a pot of hearty vegetable stew with bits of venison and fresh sorrel in it, and she brought back a bowl. Sitting beside the pallet, she mashed the vegetables and meat into a thick liquid. Holding Liam’s head in her lap, she managed to get a few spoonfuls of the soup down his throat, and she counted that as a victory. Realizing that the others were nearly ready to leave, Selena gave him a kiss on the brow.

  “I have to finish packing up, Liam. Everyone will be waiting for us, but I’ll be back very soon.” Her eyes were shining and her smile was radiant as she looked down at him. “I love you, Liam.”

  She quickly packed their gear, and once again the men lifted Liam onto his pallet in the wagon. Selena took heart that day, for although Liam was still twitching and couldn’t talk, his fever was gone, and his eyes appeared lucid.

  That evening, Selena coaxed more soup down his throat. After he had consumed nearly an entire bowl, he turned away from the spoon.

  “No more,” he managed to mutter.

  Selena was ecstatic. She set the bowl aside and stretched out beside him on the pallet, gently combing his hair back off his brow. They lay like that for a long time, their eyes locked in unspoken communication, and it was the first time in over a week that Selena felt Liam was really with her.

  September rolled around, and they passed the place where Fort Boise had previously been. The fort had been plagued by floods for several years, and had finally been deserted. However, it stood as a milestone to let them know that they still had another four hundred miles to travel. The last leg of their journey was the most treacherous. They had to pass over the dreaded Blue Mountains, with their steep grades and rough terrain. These were the highest mountains they would have to cross, and the threat of early snow was heavy in everyone’s mind.