Chapter 6
Two days later, Miriam came downstairs and looked at the mess in the kitchen. Dirty dishes littered the counter and sink, piles of laundry needing to be washed and the smell of vomit permeated the air. Rolling up her sleeves, she began tackling the dishes.
“Miriam, can you bring me up some juice?” Rose called out.
Frowning, Miriam took a deep breath. Of everyone who was sick in bed, Rose was the most demanding. It took Miriam everything she had to keep her cool.
Please, Gott, grant me the strength to get through this time. It isn’t Rose’s fault, but please make her better first.
Miriam was pouring a glass of juice for Rose when she noticed her father standing at the door. “Daed, what are you doing up so early?
“I have to get to work early. We have a field of tomatoes that will turn if they aren’t picked. James Tory will be coming by tomorrow to collect them for the market,” John said before breaking out into a fit of coughing.
“Daed, get back up to bed. I’ll take care of it,” Miriam said, guiding her father back up the stairs.
“But we can’t miss this harvest,” John said hoarsely. “We need the income.”
“Daed, get to bed and rest. I’ll make sure the tomatoes get picked for James,” Miriam said, tucking him back in bed. “Don’t worry about a thing.”
Gott, please give me five more arms, she said as she went back downstairs and grabbed another load of laundry to hang outside.
I can do this, she said to herself. While the clothes are drying, I’ll run out in the field and pick a few bushels of tomatoes. By then, I can come and make lunch, and while I’m making lunch, I can clean the kitchen. By the afternoon, I should be able to go and pick more tomatoes. Gott give me the strength to get through this time and please let everyone sleep in the afternoon.
Coming back into the house, she heard Abigail calling for her. Running up the stairs, she saw Abigail sitting up in bed crying.
“Abigail, what is it?” Miriam asked, going over to her.
“Where were you? I’ve been calling you for almost twenty minutes,” Abigail cried. “Look, I have a rash, and it’s itchy.”
Miriam went over and pulled up the sleeve of Abigail’s nightgown. Gasping, she saw her arm covered in a red rash and remembered what Mr. Wilson had said.
Miriam tried not to panic. “Do you have it anywhere else?”
“Nee, but it’s itchy,” Abigail whimpered.
“Okay, try not to scratch it, all right? I’ll run into town and get some lotion to put on it. Now please try and go back to sleep,” Miriam said, tucking her in.
Miriam peeked in on Rose, Katie, and her father, and felt some relief to discover they were all sleeping. Running back downstairs, she took out the pot for soup and began cutting vegetables. Never in her life had she made so much soup as she had these last few days. Once she had the broth simmering, she ran outside and took the two loads of laundry off the line to make room for the next two.
She was exhausted as she dropped the basket on the table and started to fold the sheets. She loved her family, and knew she needed to take care of them, but she just wished she could have an hour to herself, just to sleep.
Miriam was lost in thought when she realized that the soup was bubbling on the stove. Quickly jumping up, she gave it a stir, realizing that no one had called her name in the last half hour.
“Miriam, come quick,” she heard Katie cry out, bringing her back to reality.
Taking the stairs two at a time, Miriam ran into Katie’s room.
“What’s wrong?” Miriam asked, going over to the bed.
“I have a rash on my legs. Is this normal?” Katie asked, lifting up her nightgown.
Gasping, Miriam said, “alright, just stay calm. Abigail has a rash too. I’ll run into town quickly and get some lotion to stop the itching. You’ll be okay while I’m gone.”
She felt Katie’s forehead and frowned. “You still have a fever. Let me go and check on Daed and Rose and then I can run into town.”
After checking on everyone, Miriam figured she had at least an hour, which was plenty of time to drive into town and speak with Mr. Wilson. Parking the buggy outside the drug store, Miriam went in and headed straight for the back of the store.
“Miriam, you look like you’ve been through a battlefield,” Mr.Wilson said, concerned.
“Everyone in the house is sick. I’ve been running around trying to do everything including harvest the vegetables for my father,” Miriam said, wearily. “They are all coming down with a rash now, it seems.”
Mr. Wilson suddenly looked concerned. “What does it look like?”
“Like little red bumps but very close together.”
Mr. Wilson pulled out a medical book and opened it to a page. “Does it look like this?”
“Yes, that’s exactly how it looks. Abigail has it on her arms and Katie has it on her legs. Rose and my father don’t have it, but I am sure it is only a matter of time,” Miriam said. “Why?”
“Miriam, you need to get them to the hospital right away. They need antibiotics and fluids. That rash can be highly dangerous if it isn’t treated.”
“Alright, I’ll bring them to the hospital,” Miriam said, looking petrified. “Is there something I can give them in the meantime for the itch?”
After getting a bottle of Calamine Lotion, Miriam quickly drove home. She would have to get each one of them dressed and into the buggy. She already felt exhausted and had had hardly enough strength to dress herself in the morning.
“I need you both to get up and get dressed. I know you don’t feel well, but I have to take you to the hospital,” Miriam said as calmly as she could to Abigail and Katie.
“But I’m itchy,” Abigail cried.
“I know, I’m going to put some lotion on it that will help, but you all need to go to the hospital,” Miriam said, hoping God would grant her the patience she needed.
After getting Katie and Abigail ready, she went into Rose’s room. She gasped when she saw Rose’s arms covered in the same rash. Running into her father’s room, she found him sleeping but could see the start of the rash on his neck.
Taking a deep breath, she shook him to get him to wake up. “Daed, I need to bring everyone to the hospital. You all need special care,” Miriam said, trying to get her father out of bed. She didn’t care if he went to the hospital in his bed clothes. She tried to be strong, but she kept having thoughts of losing her whole family to this nasty flu.
One by one, she helped them down the stairs and into the buggy. Wrapping them all in blankets to keep them warm, she flicked the reigns. She knew that they were very ill when no one protested about having to go to the hospital.
Gott, please let them be okay; please Gott. If You are testing my strength and my love for my family, I think I’ve passed with flying colors. I can’t lose them; they are all I have. Please, Gott, I will be Your loyal servant for the rest of my life, just please make my family better. She prayed as silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
* * *
Chapter 7
Pulling up to the emergency door of the hospital, Miriam jumped down and ran inside. There were a few people in the waiting room but no sign of any nurses or doctors.
She ran down the hall and called out. A friendly looking Amish man came out of one of the rooms and looked at her.
“Can I help you?” he asked.
“Do you work here?” Miriam asked quickly.
“Jah, I’m a handyman.”
Miriam pointing out the door. “My family is all sick with the flu and they’re breaking out in a rash. The pharmacist said that if they got the rash, I needed to get them to the hospital right away.”
Going outside, he looked in the buggy and quickly turned and ran back inside the hospital. He reached to a button on the wall and pressed the buzzer which brought two nurses running down the hall.
“Quickly, this woman brought her family here. They are all down with the flu and have
a rash. She needs help,” he said to the nurses who ran out to check on Miriam’s family.
Before Miriam knew it, four gurneys appeared and each family member was put on a gurney and wheeled into the emergency room.
“You can move your buggy over there,” the man pointed to a spot off to the corner.
Miriam moved the buggy and made sure the horse was tied and secured on the post. She quickly went back into the hospital and looked around, not seeing the gurneys anymore.
“There you are,” the young man called out. “They’re over here. You’ll just have to wait in the waiting room until the doctors have completed their examination. But I’ll show you where the information desk is so you can fill out some paperwork.”
After stopping at the information desk, he walked her back into the waiting room. “Thank you for your help,” she said.
Smiling at her, he said, “I’ve worked around here long enough to know what to do in an emergency.” He held out his hand to her. “Joshua Towner.”
“It’s nice to meet you. My name is Miriam Troyer,” she said, taking his hand.
“You look like you need to sit,” he said pointing to a chair in the corner.
“Danke. It’s been a difficult week. I'm exhausted.”
“Your family will be in good hands. We’ve had ten other people come in this week with the same symptoms,” Joshua said. “It’s a pretty bad flu that’s going around.”
“I have prayed to Gott every night that I don’t get it,” Miriam said, smiling weakly.
Joshua nodded. “Well, I need to get back to work and finish my shift. The doctor won’t be too long. It was a pleasure to meet you, Miriam.”
Smiling, Miriam watched him walk away. She was lucky that he was there to help. Miriam didn’t think she had the strength even to lift her arms. Before she knew it, she started drifting off.
“Excuse me,” Miriam heard as she jolted awake.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. You came in with the man and three young women?” A young doctor was standing over her.
“Yes, it’s my father and sisters. Are they alright?” Miriam asked, jumping up.
“They’re very ill, but this is the best place for them. We’ve moved them to a room and are treating the rash and fever,” the doctor said. “I would suggest you go home and get some sleep. You look exhausted. They are all sleeping, and they’ll be spending some time here.”
Nodding, Miriam smiled at the doctor. “I think I might just do that and come back tomorrow.”
* * *
Upon arriving home, Miriam dragged her weary body up the stairs and into her room. She hadn’t realized just how exhausted she was. As soon as she climbed into bed, she was asleep instantly.
A sharp rapping noise woke her up, and she jumped out of bed not knowing where she was or what time it was. Miriam went over and picked up her alarm clock. Ten o’clock. She had slept right through the night. Hearing the rapping noise again, she realized that someone was at the door.
Grabbing her housecoat, and quickly putting on her kapp, she ran down the stairs to find Mr. Tory standing on the porch.
“Miriam, I’m sorry to bother you, but I came by to pick up the tomatoes for market your father promised me,” the man said, looking around. “Is he here?”
“Oh, Mr. Tory. My father is in the hospital with the flu. He’s been sick the last few days. I managed to pick three bushels if that will do,” Miriam said, apologetically. “I can pick the rest over the next few days if you are fine with that.”
“That’s too bad about your father. I hear that flu is really going around,” Mr. Tory said. “I’ll take the three bushels for now and if you can promise me I can get three more tomorrow and I can pick the rest up at the end of the week.”
“I promise, Mr. Tory.” Watching Mr. Tory’s car drive down the driveway, Miriam moaned. She had made a promise to her father that the tomatoes would be picked and she couldn’t let him down. Miriam quickly ran up the stairs and got dressed. If I go out and pick tomatoes for at least two hours, I’ll still have time to do a load of laundry before running to the hospital.
By mid-afternoon, she had finished everything she wanted to get done and headed to the hospital. As she waited for the elevator, she heard a familiar voice call out her name.
“Miriam, nice to see you again,” Joshua said, walking towards her.
“It’s nice to see you too. I was just coming in to see how my family is doing,” Miriam said, getting into the elevator.
“I’m actually going to that floor too,” Joshua said when he noticed she had pressed the fourth floor.
“So do you work here every day?” Miriam asked.
“Nee, just part time. I’m actually a cabinet maker, but business has been slow, so I took a job as a handyman here to help make ends meet,” he said as the door opened on the floor.
“Well, it was wonderful seeing you again,” Miriam said as she turned and headed towards the room.
“Perhaps we could meet for lunch sometime. I mean, I know you’re busy, but you do have to eat,” Joshua called out as she walked away.
“Hmm…sure, maybe if I have time. I’m sure I will see you around,” she said hesitantly.
“Hi, Daed. How are you?” she whispered when she approached her father’s bed.
“Miriam, my sweet girl. I have never been so sick in my life,” he said weakly. “I hardly even have the strength to speak.”
“Rest then. You are all in good hands here,” she said, smiling as she went to the next room to check on her sisters.
They were all sleeping, but Miriam could tell they still had the fever and rash. Miriam went back over to her father's room only to find he had fallen back asleep. Sitting down in the chair, she waited for a while then decided she might as well go home. I’ll come back tonight after supper and see how they’re doing.
“Miriam, we meet again,” Joshua said as he approached the elevator.
Miriam smiled at him not knowing what to say. Part of her was a bit hesitant to get to know him. He was very nice, but Miriam was afraid to let her guard down, and another part of her was just too tired.
“Are you free now for lunch?” he asked.
Miriam sighed. “Well, I really do have to get home. I have so many extra things to do now with my daed in the hospital. I can’t spare any free time right now.”
“Okay, maybe another time. I understand,” Joshua said, trying to hide his disappointment. There was something about Miriam Troyer he liked, and he wanted to get to know her better.
* * *
Chapter 8
The sun was hot on Miriam's neck as she stood up from picking tomatoes. Looking down the endless rows of plants, she felt completely overwhelmed. She had been working in the fields every spare moment she had, trying to keep up the supply for Mr. Tory. Her back ached, and her fingers were cut and scratched from the plants.
She had gone into the hospital a few times over the last few days and each time her father and sisters were sleeping. Miriam saw no point in sitting by herself so she would go home knowing she had plenty of work to get done. She hadn’t seen Joshua since the day he had asked her for lunch and felt relieved. After Jacob, she wasn’t ready to meet anyone else. Her heart needed time to heal. And for now, her family was her top priority.
Stretching her back, she looked down the road to see a buggy turn and come up her drive. Shielding her eyes from the sun with her hand, she squinted, trying to recognize who it was. As the buggy came closer, she realized it was Joshua.
“Joshua, what are you doing here? How did you find out where I lived?” she asked, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy that he knew where she lived.
Joshua jumped down from the buggy. “I had a brief chat with your daed today. He was telling me how proud he is of you, and he also mentioned your tomato crop,” he said, going over and grabbing a bushel basket. “There is no way you can do this all by yourself, so I decided to come and help you.”
Miriam stood ther
e with her mouth opened as he walked by her and proceeded to pick tomatoes.
“But, I am perfectly capable of working on my daed’s farm.”
Joshua stood up and chuckled. “Stop being so stubborn and let a friend help. Besides, I could use a break from the hospital.”
Sighing, Miriam smiled. “Well, okay. Danke.”
They worked for three hours going up and down the rows, picking tomatoes, chatting about their lives and getting to know one another. Miriam was amazed how easy Joshua was to talk to and before too long, felt very comfortable with him.
“So, where is your family, Joshua?” Miriam asked after she told him about her mother's death.
“My family went to be with Gott. My daed had a large dairy farm and one night our barn caught fire. We all ran out trying to get buckets filled with water to put out the fire but it was too much. So…my daed decided we needed to get the cows out of the barn.”
Miriam looked at Joshua. “If this is too painful, you don’t’ have to go on.”
“Nee, nee, it was a long time ago. Anyway, I ran in and untied the first cow and brought her out. We were going to bring them all down by the pasture and tie them to the fence. While I was doing that, the rest of my family went in to get more cows, and the fire hit a propane tank we had near the barn. The barn exploded in a ball of fire, and my family was killed instantly.”
“Joshua, I can’t imagine what you went through,” Miriam said, almost crying.
“Well, like I said, it was a long time ago. I went and lived with my Englisch grandmother for a while until she passed away, then I moved here because I missed the Amish community. I started working for a cabinet maker and learned the trade. I’ve done pretty well for myself, despite the tragedy.”
“It must have been difficult living with the Englisch,” Miriam said, picking up her bushel to carry to the next row.
“It was different. I was made fun of a lot and my grandmother tried to get me to forget my Amish roots because she never agreed to my parents’ lifestyle; but I just couldn’t. Amish is a part of me. That’s why I came back.” Joshua turned to smile at Miriam.
The Troyer Sisters Series - Amish Romance: 4-Book Box Set Page 3