“Hey, about time you woke up.” Harry chided Liz as he rushed toward the bed with Cody and Emma close on his heels.
“Miss Lizzy, we’ve been waiting for you to wake up. We got a house to live in. It has running water and a toilet and everything.” Emma announced.
Liz looked at her father.
“The kids wanted to stay with Harry and John. We put them in the cabin south of the barn. It’s the one with two bedrooms downstairs. We put twin beds in the loft.” Will added.
Liz looked at Harry and John. Both men were cleaner than she had ever seen them. Harry had trimmed his beard but still wore a do-rag on his head with gray hair neatly bound with a band at the nape of his neck. John was clean shaven and looked relaxed for the first time since she had met him.
“I got a full belly.” Cod patted her rounded middle then asked in all seriousness, “Are you getting better?”
“I can see that.” Liz smiled at the brother and sister. “I’m doing the best I can. Are you two doing alright now?”
“We’re good.” Answered Cody with a hesitant smile. “We have lights at the house. We get to eat a lot.”
“They got horses. Did you know they have horses?” Emma said excitedly.
“No.” Liz smiled. “I guess that is a new addition.” She looked to Will.
“Lots of things have changed.” Will chuckled.
Cassie interrupted. “All right. Everyone move along. My patient needs her rest.”
When the room cleared out, Cassie started to walk away, but Liz called her name. “A minute, please.”
Cassie turned. “Sure.” She forced a smile.
“Now, I want to know what you’re trying not to tell me.”
Cassie squared her shoulders. “Best case scenario is appendicitis; worse case, a tubal pregnancy.” She whispered. “Either way, I’m not a surgeon.”
“But you have medical training.”
“Sure, I can perform physical examinations, diagnose and treat the common cold, set bones, and monitor patients, but that’s a far cry from being qualified for doing surgeries,” Cassie protested.
Liz sighed, “I guess you’re continuing education will have a steep learning curve.”
“Try to rest. The antibiotics you’re receiving seems to be resolving the current issue. Let’s pray it’s not something that needs surgery.” Cassie closed the door to the hall then added. “Someone will be in the next room. Just ring the bell if you need something.” She stepped into the next room and came back with a cup. “If you keep the ice chips down, I’ll bring some clear broth in an hour or so.”
Liz spent another day in the ward then talked Cassie into removing the IV and letting her move to her two-room suite on the second floor. The main room included a queen-sized bed and a small sitting room. The second room was once used by the Amy and Claire. It still held Claire’s baby bed and two twin beds and small chest f toys. When she saw Liz look longingly at the reminder of her lost children, Cassie closed the door to the second room.
The terrible abdominal pain had disappeared, and everyone including Liz crossed their fingers and prayed the antibiotics had resolved the problem. She spent two days staring at the wall, then on the third day she got up bright and early and put on clothes that she had left at the Lodge. She cinched the belt at her waist and decided it was enough to keep her pants up. She pulled on a t-shirt that had belonged to Brian. They had always been an oversized, but now they really seemed big. She walked out of the bedroom and crossed the balcony to the curving stairs where she met Cassie.
“Well, I guess this means you’re feeling better,” Cassie said.
Charlotte Hoaks. . . .(C. A. Hoaks) 