Chapter 13 - The Child Who Finally Called Her Mama
Toby's fever rose before sunrise.
Caleb met them at the porch.
His face told Charlene everything.
“He's sick.”
She ran inside.
Ruth sat beside Toby's bed with a wet cloth.
The little boy's cheeks were bright red.
His breathing sounded wrong.
Fast.
Shallow.
Charlene dropped beside him.
“Toby.”
His eyelids fluttered.
“Mama?”
The word stopped her heart.
Ruth froze.
Caleb stood in the doorway.
Jeb came behind him.
Toby opened his eyes.
For one second Charlene thought he was calling for Sarah.
Perhaps he was.
Then his tiny hand reached toward Charlene.
“Mama.”
Her breath disappeared.
Jeb looked away.
Charlene took Toby's hand.
“I'm here.”
No guilt.
No correction.
Sarah's letter echoed.
If they love you, don't feel guilty.
Charlene pressed her lips to Toby's forehead.
Too hot.
Jeb touched him.
“We need Doctor Hale.”
“He's in town.”
“Road?”
Caleb answered.
“North cut's passable.”
“I'll go.”
Charlene stood.
“No. Your leg.”
“I'm fine.”
“Jeb.”
He gave her a look.
She almost laughed despite terror.
“Fine.”
He left.
The next hours became endless.
Charlene cooled Toby's skin.
Made him sip water.
Held him through coughing.
Noah sat beside the bed crying silently.
Eli asked every ten minutes whether Toby would die.
Charlene answered the only truth she had.
“Not if we can help it.”
Ruth whispered, “Mama had fever.”
The connection hung heavy.
Charlene knelt beside her.
“This is not the same illness.”
“You don't know.”
“No.”
Charlene took her hand.
“But we're not two years ago.”
Ruth cried.
“What if Papa can't get the doctor?”
“Then we'll keep caring for Toby until he does.”
Caleb stood near the window.
He had become stone again.
Charlene recognized it.
“Caleb.”
“I'm fine.”
“No.”
He turned angrily.
“I said I'm fine.”
She approached.
“You're scared.”
“So?”
“So you don't have to become forty years old because you're scared.”
His face collapsed.
“What if he dies?”
Charlene hugged him.
“He might be very sick.”
“That ain't an answer.”
“No.”
She held him tighter.
“I won't lie to you.”
Caleb sobbed once.
Then hid his face.
“I can't do it again.”
“You aren't.”
“I can't lose another one.”
Charlene closed her eyes.
Neither could she.
But mothers did not always possess certainty.
Sometimes they simply held frightened children while having none themselves.
Hours passed.
Toby worsened.
His lips became dry.
His breathing rattled.
Charlene remembered her mother treating winter illness.
Steam.
Honey.
Willow bark.
Not cures.
Comfort.
She heated water.
Set blankets.
Kept the room humid.
At dusk, hooves thundered outside.
Jeb returned with Doctor Hale.
The physician examined Toby.
Charlene stood beside the bed.
“Well?”
“Lung fever.”
Jeb went pale.
“Pneumonia?”
“Yes.”
Charlene gripped the chair.
“Can you treat him?”
“I'll do what I can.”
The phrase terrified everyone.
Doctor Hale stayed through the night.
Toby's fever peaked after midnight.
Charlene never left.
At two, Jeb tried to make her rest.
“No.”
“You've been awake two days.”
“So have you.”
“I can sleep here.”
“So can I.”
He looked at her.
No argument.
He simply brought another blanket.
Around three, Toby stirred.
Charlene leaned close.
“Mama?”
Her eyes filled.
“Yes, sweetheart.”
“Hurt.”
“I know.”
His small fingers closed around hers.
“Don't go.”
Charlene bent until her forehead touched his hand.
“I won't.”
Jeb sat across the room.
He watched.
Charlene saw tears in his beard.
At dawn, Doctor Hale checked Toby again.
He waited.
Then smiled.
“Fever's breaking.”
Charlene almost collapsed.
Jeb caught her.
“Easy.”
She began crying.
Not graceful tears.
Hard sobs that shook her entire body.
Jeb wrapped both arms around her.
“He's all right.”
She nodded.
“He's all right.”
Behind them Caleb began laughing.
Ruth cried.
Eli yelled.
Noah woke Toby by cheering and received a lecture from Doctor Hale.
For the first time in days, fear loosened.
Later, when Toby slept peacefully, Charlene stepped outside.
Snow reflected morning sunlight.
Jeb followed.
“You need rest.”
“So do you.”
They stood quietly.
Then Jeb said, “You heard him.”
Charlene knew.
“Yes.”
“How do you feel?”
She looked toward the window.
“Terrified.”
“Why?”
“Because I loved hearing it.”
Jeb frowned.
“That ain't wrong.”
“Part of me felt like I stole something from Sarah.”
“No.”
“I know what the letter said.”
“Then believe her.”
Charlene laughed softly.
“You make that sound easy.”
“No.”
Jeb took her hand.
“I felt the same first time I loved you.”
She looked at him.
“Like I stole something from Sarah.”
“You didn't.”
“Neither did you.”
They stood together beneath the enormous sky.
Two people learning that love could expand without erasing.
By afternoon, Doctor Hale returned to town with news.
Silas Crowe had been arrested.
Nathaniel had been questioned.
The courthouse records proved the debt false.
Western Meridian Mining had withdrawn its claim pending investigation.
The child welfare petition was being reviewed.
Everything seemed finally to be moving toward safety.
Then Doctor Hale hesitated at the door.
“What?”
Charlene asked.
He looked uncomfortable.
“There's another matter.”
Jeb's expression changed.
“What matter?”
“Nathaniel Reed.”
Charlene stiffened.
“He's accusing Bethany of theft.”
“What?”
“He says she stole confidential bank documents.”
Charlene's anger rose.
Doctor Hale continued.
“And apparently he's petitioned the court to have her returned to his household on grounds that she's emotionally unstable after losing the baby.”
Charlene went cold.
“He's doing to her what he did to me.”
Jeb's jaw tightened.
“Yes.”
Charlene looked toward Toby's room.
She had spent years surviving Nathaniel quietly.
That time was over.
“Then I'm going to Bitter Creek.”
Jeb frowned.
“To do what?”
Charlene straightened.
“Tell the truth in public.”
May you like
Nathaniel had built his power on women being ashamed.
Charlene had finally learned shame belonged elsewhere.
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