From This Day Forward (32 page)

“I like that name. Nathan will do all he can for Sarah.”

“I know. I watched him work in the war. When I came to the hospital set up near the battlefield after a skirmish, I marveled at his dedication to save each soldier. I also saw what it did to him when he could not. I don’t know how he did it. The screams were…” John sighed. “I hope there are no more wars.”

Moses stood on the threshold into the parlor, his battered straw hat in his hand as he nearly crushed it. Tension stiffened him like a statue she had seen in Charleston.

John turned toward him. “What is wrong?”

“There’s a problem at the workers’ cabins.”

“Can it wait until morning?”

“No, sir. Four people are down.”

John walked to Rachel on the sofa and passed Louise to her. “I will be back.”

“Should you let Nathan know?”

“It might be nothing. I would rather he stay with Sarah in case she needs him. But you might let him know four workers are ill.”

“I shall. Bella has a wet nurse for Louise. I shall see if Louise is hungry now.” She remembered how hungry Faith was not long after she had given birth to her.

When John left the parlor, Rachel went in search of Bella and found her in the kitchen in the building behind the main house. After the black woman took the baby to give to the wet nurse, Rachel made her way to Sarah’s bedchamber to see Nathan.

He sat in a chair near Sarah’s bed, his head bowed, his hands clasped. When he heard her come in, he glanced up. A faint smile curled his lips for a brief moment before his expression fell into a neutral one. “ ’Tis good to see you after all that has happened.”

Rachel moved toward him. “How is Sarah doing?”

“Her pulse rate is good. Her breathing even. No more bleeding.”

“Then she should be all right?”

“I have been praying for that. Time will tell.”

“Praying?”

“Must be your influence.” He rose. “How is her daughter?”

“Louise Anne is doing fine. John is enthralled with his newest child.”

“I can imagine.” A wistfulness edged his words.

He was so good with Ben, Emma, and Faith. Did he regret not having any children? “John wanted me to tell you there were some workers ill. He has gone to see about it. It might be nothing, but he might need you later if Sarah gets better.”

“I am not sure there is more that I can do here. Rest is what she needs, but I will wait until John comes back to see if I am needed.”

Rachel touched his face. “You look tired. I know this has not been easy for you.”

He laid his hand over hers and held it against his cheek. “I told the Lord if He saves her I will do what He wants.”

“What if that means being a doctor again?”

“Looking back over the past months, I don’t think I have stopped being one.”

“What if He wants you to talk with your grandfather again?”

His expression rapidly changed into a scowl, the intensity in his eyes unnerving. “I intend to have a discussion with Grandfather when I leave here. I have questions that he will answer this time.”

“What makes you think he will?” The urge to smooth the anger from his face deluged her. She backed away and kept her arms stiff at her sides.

“Because I have the right questions this time.” The fury rolled off Nathan as he opened and closed his hands.

“What questions?”

“Was his son my father?”

The question hung in the air between them. The words finally sank into Rachel and their impact stunned her. “What makes you think you are not?”

“Bella told me about when I was born. I was early…too early to survive a birth most likely. And my mother called out another man’s name when giving birth to me. Something has happened to change my grandfather’s feelings. It makes sense. My mother was with child when she married my father.”

“That doesn’t mean you are not his son. I have heard of couples who have gotten married with the woman being with child. Do you think your mother fooled your father when she was expecting another man’s child?”

“I don’t know what to think. But I do know Grandfather has some answers.”

The anguish in his voice and expression lured her closer until she stood inches from him. She cupped his face, her gaze bound with his. Slowly he dipped his head toward her and grazed his mouth across hers before kissing her with such fervency that it threatened to overwhelm her senses. His arms folded her to him. His scent engulfed her. The taste of him on her lips tingled down her length. Tom had never kissed her like this, as if she were cherished and precious to him. The sensations bombarding from all sides finally flooded her in an emotional dilemma.

She pulled back but could not take her eyes away from Nathan’s. Lost in their blue depths, she wanted to explore more of what he made her feel, and yet fear intruded, cautioning her. Tom wormed his way into her mind, shutting down the new emotions she was experiencing.

The door opened, and John came into the bedchamber. A small gasp escaped Rachel’s parted lips, and she backed away quickly at the same time Nathan did.

John glanced from her to Nathan. “I think it is yellow fever. I need to get Sarah and Louise away from here.”

“We shouldn’t move Sarah far. It would wear her out even more.”

“She can come to the farm.” Rachel’s nerves settled down, but only slightly with the mention of yellow fever. She had heard about the disease, but it was not a problem where she was from.

“I will need you, Nathan. I know little of how to care for so many. I will send Bella and Moses to help at the farm. If Sarah or Louise gets worse at all, Rachel, you can send for us.”

“I will go with Rachel and Sarah then come back. There are some medicines I would like to get.”

“I have isolated the workers who have come down ill. I will accompany you to the farm too. I have to see my wife and children safely there.”

Rachel’s head swirled with all that had happened in less than a day. With yellow fever, the worst was yet to come. What if it spread to her farm?

“How are you feeling this morning?” Rachel asked Sarah when she came into the bedchamber with the first meal of the day.

Sarah propped herself up against the wall. “Better than yesterday. Did Louise nurse all right this time?”

“She’s getting better. It is a lot of work and she tires.” John had not wanted the wet nurse to come with them in case she had been infected with the disease, living in the workers’ quarters.

“I cannot thank you enough for filling in as a wet nurse.”

“After all you and your husband have done to help me, it is the least I could do. Louise is asleep while my daughter is trying to roll over. It should not be long before she does. She badly wants to go places.”

Sarah laughed. “How is Sean doing?”

“Following Ben around everywhere. They are down at the barn feeding the pigs.” Rachel pointed to the mush. “Bella made that. Not me, so it is safe to eat.”

“Have you heard anything from Liberty Hall?”

“Not since I told you yesterday afternoon. Three workers have died. More have come down with the fever.”

“What about John?”

“Doing his best to keep it contained.”

“How? No one knows how it spreads. It strikes then leaves. Close to four thousand died in the epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793. What if this is the beginning?”

“Then we need to pray.” Rachel sat on the bed and took Sarah’s hand, both bowing their heads. “Please, Lord, heal the sick and stop this fever from spreading. Also watch over Nathan and John.”

“Amen.”

“If you are up to it, I will walk you into the main room, and you can sit while Bella and Maddy bake the bread.”

“And you?” Sarah couldn’t contain her smile. A sparkle momentarily lit her eyes.

“I’m doing everyone a favor and staying out of the kitchen. My services are best used in the garden, harvesting the vegetables for our meals. Then later, when Moses is finished with his tasks in the field, he is going to take me to Charleston to get a cow. I have been wanting one so there is fresh milk, cheese, and butter. I am using the reward money to buy one.”

“You don’t have to go all the way to Charleston. I’m sure Patrick will sell you one. He has a small herd at Pinecrest and can afford to lose one.” Sarah slipped her legs over the side of the bed. “You could go to Liberty Hall, but it is too dangerous.”

“I’m not sure it is wise to go to Pinecrest. I’m not your grandfather’s favorite person.”

“Only because he doesn’t know you.”

“No, I don’t think he would be able to see past the fact I am English.”

“I have a better idea. Moses could go to Liberty Hall. He has had yellow fever. I have heard people who have had it don’t get ill again. I am sure that is why John sent Moses and Bella with us.” Sarah inhaled a deep breath and then rose slowly.

Rachel hurried to her side to assist her if she needed it. “You have not had it?”

“No, neither has John or Nathan. I worry about them. It has been four days now. This could go on for weeks.”

Weeks without Nathan
. The thought bothered Rachel more than she wanted to acknowledge. “If Moses agrees, then that would be wonderful. We can get another update on what is going on at the plantation.”

“That was also what I was thinking.” Sarah gripped Rachel’s arm and made her way into the other room, her pace slow but steady.

“I will get Louise so you can hold her for a while.” Rachel helped her to sit in the rocking chair in front of the cold fireplace.

The door stood open, and a warm summer breeze carried the humid air into the house.

“ ’Tis goin’ t’ be a hot one today.” Bella fetched the big bowl to prepare the bread dough.

“I know. Ben and Emma have already asked me if they can swim in the river. I may let them. It would give me a good reason to take off my stockings and put my feet in the water.” Rachel took her bonnet off the wooden peg. “I am off to see if that rabbit has eaten any more of my vegetables.”

When Rachel left, she paused in the shade of her house. Although she had tried to sound as if she did not have a worry, it was hard to keep it up. But Sarah did not need that on top of trying to recover from a difficult childbirth. The brief message Rachel received from Nathan yesterday mentioned that John was working too hard. Nathan worried that John’s exhaustion from nonstop work would make him sick

What if John succumbed to sickness? Or Nathan? Who would take care of everyone else?

She leaned back against the house. For all the times she had said she could make it on her own, what would she have done without Nathan’s help these past three months? She pushed from the wall and headed for the garden with her basket. But she could not rid her mind of the realization that when he left the farm four days ago to return to Liberty Hall, it could be the last time she ever saw him. A pain stabbed her in the heart.

“Moses, Mr. McNeal does not want his wife to know he has come down with the fever. I agree with him. She will want to come nurse him, and I cannot allow that. Understand?” Nathan handed the man the rope to lead the cow that Rachel purchased back to the farm.

“What do I say about you to Miz Rachel?”

“That I am fine.”

Moses’s eyes widened as if he did not believe Nathan. “I will say nothing of you two.”

Nathan patted the man on the back. “Thank you. I cannot have them worrying. I’m determined John will make it. Tell Rachel I will be home when I can.”

“Yes sir.” Moses began his trek toward the road.

Nathan watched him for a moment before heading back into the house to check on John and take him cold chamomile tea with elixir of vitriol to help with the nausea. His leaden steps slowed even more as he mounted the stairs to the second floor. For days now, he had not slept more than a few hours total. That was the only reason he had referred to the farm as his home. The cabin on his small tract of land was his home, and he needed to return to it before he began to think he could have a future with Rachel.

This outbreak of yellow fever only reconfirmed she needed to go back to England. What if the disease spread to the farm? How could he be both places at once? He had a couple of workers helping him to nurse the ill quarantined in three cabins, but there were not enough hours in a day for him to do it all.