Ride With Me (A Quaking Heart Novel - Book One)

  Chapter 23

  Jessica squeezed Roy's arm and looked over at Mabel as the three stood nervously in the small bedroom. Dr. Barnes popped his stethoscope out of his ears and looked each one of them in the eye. His expression was solemn. "I'd say he originally had a superficial bacterial infection that weakened his body." His words were measured, sympathetic. "Now, I think he's battling something more serious. What makes me think that is the red and puffy area around the original wound." The doctor uncovered the wound, and a cold dread settled in Jessica's stomach.

  "As you can see, it's gone deeper. Sepsis, maybe—that's bacteria in the blood. It's hard for me to know for sure. And we don't have time for tests. He needs antibiotics now, since he's losing ground."

  Uncle Roy and Mabel looked thunderstruck, the same way Jessica felt. She had to remind herself that God was in control. She consciously reined in her panic. "What's next?" she squeezed out.

  "I'm going to give him a heavy dose of Penicillin by shot right now. I'm hoping he'll wake up intermittently. Fluids are vital. Aspirin to keep the fever down. I'll be back tomorrow to check on him and give him a second shot. If he hasn't regained consciousness, we'll have to consider moving him to a hospital, mostly for intravenous therapy. I'd rather not. He's too weak to move so we'll work from here as long as we can."

  Jessica's heart squeezed over that news. The whole time at Mary's, Clint's health had fluctuated. She wasn't sure why he'd made the trip back to the ranch before being fully recovered, but it had been the wrong thing to do. Jessica was sure he hadn't come just to tell her he was sorry.

  Sorry about what, exactly, she found herself wondering. That had never been determined. Why had he come back while still sick? Her thoughts tumbled backwards to yesterday's arrival. When Clint had stopped the wagon at the back of the house, Rose Marie was clinging to his side. He had looked stricken when she fell out of the wagon, and though he had glanced at Jessica, he'd stayed to help Rose Marie. And the way they had peered into each other's eyes . . .

  It was all becoming clearer now.

  Her mind warred within—doubts versus logic. He hugged me hard, and held my hand to his heart. A friendship gesture? No. He came back for me. But, she had to admit, that didn't seem likely anymore. Her emotions sank right back into the same grief she had struggled to push away. Haven't I learned anything, Lord?

  Suddenly she needed air.

  She jumped up, thanked the doctor, and fled the house. Filling her lungs with the crisp mountain air she soon found herself at the place of solitude and peace—her rock by the stream.