Storm Clouds Rolling In (47 page)

Abby’s laughter rang out with her own, attracting the stares of many passersby.
Carrie didn’t care. It felt good to laugh after the tension and heavy feelings that had permeated her entire day.

When both women had regained control, Abby leaned over.
“I meant what I said earlier, Carrie. I would love for you to return and stay with me for as long as you would like.”

Carrie stared at her for a few moments and then nodded firmly.
“I am going to talk to my father when I get home. I’m sure he will allow it.” Suddenly the most important thing in the world was to come back to Philadelphia and continue to explore the feelings and thoughts exploding through her mind and heart. And she wanted to be with Aunt Abby—an honest woman who would challenge her and allow her to be herself.

Carrie took deep breaths of fresh air as Miles skillfully guided the carriage around new potholes that had sprung up since she’d been gone.
“It’s so good to be home, Miles.” Carrie meant it. Aunt Abby expected her back within a month, but Carrie knew she would never lose her love of the Virginia countryside. This was where a part of her heart would always be. No matter where she went, or what she did, Virginia would always be home.

“It’s good to have you home, Miss Carrie.”
Miles said sincerely.

“How is everything at home, Miles?”

“Everything be fine, miss.” He raised the reins and clucked to make the horses go faster.

Carrie nodded and relaxed back against the seat.
She had been surprised when her father had not been there to greet her but had been satisfied with Miles’s explanation that he was too busy on the plantation. Summer was the busiest time of the year. She knew it could be hard to get away. She watched the countryside slip by as she carefully planned just how she was going to convince her father that her returning to Philadelphia was the best thing. She and Aunt Abby had already made so many plans. Her head spun with the thoughts of all that was waiting for her when she returned. Her fear that Natalie would be upset had been completely unfounded.
Oh, pooh, I’m happy for you. But me? All I want to do is get back to the South where I belong.

Carrie was ready for a long bath and a good night’s sleep by the time the carriage rolled up the driveway.
A long talk with Rose and then a good night’s sleep. That was all she wanted.

“Welcome home, Carrie.”

“Father!” Carrie jumped from the carriage and ran up the stairs to embrace her father. Then she pulled back in alarm. The lines around his eyes were deeper than ever and his eyes were distressed—almost afraid. “Father, what’s wrong?”

Thomas hesitated.
“Your mother—” He paused and struggled to control his voice. “Your mother is very ill.”

Without another word, Carrie turned and ran up the stairs.

TWENTY-THREE

“Mama!” Carrie cried as soon as she reached her parents
’ bedroom door. She knew without entering the room that her mother was seriously ill. Nothing else could have imprinted the deep fear in her father’s eyes.

“Shh...”
Rose raised her finger to her lips. “She’s finally sleeping,” she whispered. She handed the huge peacock feather to another house servant standing close by and walked over to where Carrie stood staring at her mother. The house servant immediately began fanning the sleeping woman.

Carrie allowed Rose to lead her from the room and back down the stairs to where her father was still standing on the porch where she had left him.
As soon as she saw him, she broke away from Rose and ran to him. “Father! What is wrong with Mother?” she demanded.

Thomas turned weary eyes to her.
“We don’t know yet. The doctor has been called, but he hasn’t been able to get here. I hear a lot of people are sick.”

“How long has she been like this?” Carrie asked sharply.

“Four days.”

“
Four days?
And the doctor hasn’t been here yet?” Carrie fought to think clearly. She knew her father wasn’t good with medical emergencies. He seemed to fall apart when those he loved became ill. That was why she and her mother had always taken care of the medical needs on the plantation. She laid her hand gently on her father’s arm.

“How did this start?” she asked
Rose.

“Your
mama complained of a bad headache a few days ago.”

Carrie frowned.
For all her genteel southern ways, her mother could endure a great deal of suffering without complaint. She must have been in intense pain to have complained.

“She was helping some of the house servants cut out dresses for some of the children in the
quarters,” Rose continued, “but she finally laid it down and went up to her room. I was worried about her, so I went to look in on her an hour or so later. She had fallen across the bed without getting under the covers and was burning up with a fever. Later, she started mumbling to herself and thrashing around.” Rose had fear in her eyes when she looked up at Carrie. “I’ve done everything I can, Miss Carrie. All the things I’ve seen you and your mama do when one of us is sick. I can’t get the fever to come down.”

Carrie nodded and started back up the stairs.
“How soon was the doctor called?”

“We sent Miles to Richmond that very first day,” Thomas answered.

Carrie whirled around to stare at her father. “Miles
knew
? He didn’t tell me?”

“I didn’t want to worry you until you got home.”

Carrie groaned. “I could have perhaps found the doctor in Richmond. At least I could have brought back some kind of medicine.” She opened her mouth to say more, but the pain in her father’s eyes stopped her. She bit back any more words, climbed the stairs, and entered the sick room. She moved closer to her mother’s still form and laid a hand on her burning forehead. Her heart sank. “She’s had a fever like this for four days?”

Rose nodded silently.
“I’ve tried to get her to drink, but she mostly just thrashes around and knocks it out of my hand. I haven’t been able to get much into her.” She paused. “Miss Carrie, I’m glad you’re home. I’m real worried about your mama.”

Carrie turned to Rose with a faint smile.
“I’m glad I’m home, too, Rose.” She wrapped her arms around her friend and gave her a hug. She needed Rose’s strength. Then she straightened and started barking orders.

In short order she had a tub full of chopped ice brought up from the ice house.
Buckets of cold water drawn from the well were poured into it. Great strips of sheeting were torn and brought to the room. Only then did Carrie begin to work, ordering everyone but Rose out of the room.

“Your father wants to know if you want his help.”

Carrie shook her head firmly at Sam who had suddenly appeared at the door. “Tell him I’ll keep him posted.” She didn’t add that he would just be in the way. Sam nodded and pulled the door shut.

Carrie moved over and pulled all the covers off her mother.
The first thing she had to do was bring the fever down. She pulled the soaked nightgown off and directed Rose to drench the sheet strips and wring them out. As Rose passed them to her, she carefully wrapped all parts of her mother’s body with the cold cloths. She worked relentlessly, stopping only long enough to wipe the sweat dripping from her forehead. As soon as she finished wrapping her mother’s body, she would start all over again, replacing hot cloths with new cold ones. She lost all track of time.

“Are you hungry, Miss Carrie?” Rose asked at some point.

She shook her head impatiently.
“We need more ice. Please send Sam to bring more.”

The evening wore on as she continued her battle.
As darkness fell she imagined that the sheets weren’t getting hot quite as fast, but by now she was too tired to really tell. Her movements were automatic. Wrap. Unwrap. Wrap. Unwrap.

It was past midnight when Abigail opened her eyes.
“Thomas?” she said weakly.

Carrie spun from where she was kneeling next to the tub.
“Mama!” Leaping up, she flew to her mother’s side and laid a hand on her forehead. “Your fever has broken,” she whispered joyfully, her fatigue forgotten.

Abigail stared at her uncomprehendingly.
“I’ve been sick, haven’t I?” She closed her eyes for a moment, and opened them again with effort.

“Yes, Mama.
You’ve been sick,” Carrie confirmed. “But you’re going to be okay now.” She wondered at the truth of her own words. She had seen what a fever like her mother’s could do to a person. She had brought it down, but had she done so soon enough?

Her mother spoke again, her words slow and halting.
“You’re home. I’m glad.”

“I’m home,” Carrie agreed softly.
“You need to drink some water, Mama.” She reached out and took the glass Rose was holding out to her. She controlled her shudder when she lifted her mother’s shoulders to steady her. How had she become so frail and thin in just four days? Her heart was heavy when she gently lowered her mother back down on the bed. The fever had already done a lot of damage. How much would have to wait to be seen.

“Your father is outside, Carrie.
Sam went to get him.”

Carrie nodded and went to open the door.
“The fever has broken, Father.”

Tears filled Thomas’
s eyes. “I knew everything would be okay as soon as you got home, Carrie.”

Carrie said nothing about her misgivings.
Words would not change the situation. Only time would tell. “She needs rest, Father.”

Thomas nodded.
“I’ll only stay a few minutes.”

Carrie stepped back.
“I’m going down to get some fresh air. When I come back I’m going to see if she can drink a little broth. She has lost a lot of strength.”

Carrie stayed on the porch just a few minutes, gulping in the cool night air.
She could hardly believe she had arrived home that afternoon. She gave one long look north and then turned to re-enter the house.

Rose glanced up at the light still shining from the Cromwell’s bedroom before she soundlessly slipped into the woods.
Carrie had been home for two days. During that time she had rarely left her mother’s side. The fever had tried to creep back several times, but her determined friend had fought it off. Her mother was eating a little, but her tiny frame had begun to look emaciated. She knew Carrie was deeply concerned. Rose shook off her thoughts as she walked quietly through the woods. There were other people who were depending on her. She prayed Carrie would not call for her and find her missing.

“That you, Rose?”

“Yes, Moses,” Rose whispered back. She smiled when his towering form appeared by her side. Just his being there made her feel more confident. She waited until they were deep in the woods before she spoke again. “Are the others in place?”

Moses nodded.
“They’ll be only a few minutes behind us. They’re all meetin’ in the school ravine. They’ll wait there for us.”