Chapter10

Sickness

Sabrina emptied the water pitcher into the sink and used the hand pump to pour fresh spring water into the waiting pitcher. Inside, her mind buzzed with worry. Mary's sickness was at the forefront of that worry, but so was Tobias, Alan and Stormy. Those two lunkheads were mischief waiting to happen. She was thankful that Stormy was along to keep them out of trouble, but the two of them together could be more than she could handle.

Hurryng the pitcher upstairs, she came into Mary's room. Jasmine sat next to the bed, her dark form slumped in slumber. Sabrina felt a surge of relief. Jasmine had remained up all night on her lonely vigil, and all of the day before, trying to break the fever Mary had. The effort had clearly exhausted her, and Sabrina was grateful for her dedication. Setting the pitcher on the small stand next to the bed, she settled herself on the next chair and leaned in to wait.

As the minutes ticked by ever slowly, her mind began to wander. How nice it would be to go adventuring. To see strange new lands and meet new people? She had dreamed about doing such things as long as she could remember. Yet she had never been able to do so because of her father, and especially her brother. They were both old mother hens when it came to her and Mary. Still, they couldn't stop her dreams. She would avidly listen to the strangers in Riley's Tavern as they related their stories. Later, she would imagine herself in those stories and seeing those places.

A soft cough interrupted her and she looked at Mary. Her face was still flushed, and her eyes moved rapidly beneath their lids. Please be all right, she urged. Taking a rag from the stand, she dipped it in the pitcher and applied to Mary's fevered brow. Lady of Light, please watch over Mary and let her be well again. She hoped her prayer had been heard. Indeed, it seemed as it her breathing had gotten easier. Sabrina let out a sigh of relief. Easing back in the chair she waited for the end of her vigil.

Jasmine awoke about noon and sent her downstairs to help with dinner. Kathleen Eagleheart was in the small kitchen over the cast iron stove, stirring something in her large pot. The heady aroma of beef stew and spices told her nose exactly what was in the pot.

"Oh Sabrina!" said Kathleen, surprised. "What are you doing here? I thought you would be up helping Jasmine."

Sabrina frowned. Her mom seemed so anxious, like a twitching swamp bird. It was totally out of character for her. Her mom had always been as solid as a rock. Completely unflappable no matter what disaster came. When rain and hail beat the crops flat, earthquakes leveled houses, and fires burned towns to the ground, her mother, like all the people of Sandytown, simply started all over again. To be as worried as she was meant that things were very grim indeed. "I was." Sabrina told her. "However, Jasmine woke up and with Mary breathing normally; she thought that I could be better help down here."

Kathleen Eagleheart stared at her a moment before returning to her stirring. Sabrina went to the cupboard and grabbed a knife. Heading outside to the root cellar for a moment, she grabbed some dry vegetables from the cellar and returned to the kitchen. Grabbing a cutting board from the same cupboard, she proceeded to chop the dried potatoes and garlic finely. When she had finished, she carefully slid them off the cutting board and into the pot. Her mother then checked the stew and nodded. Managing a wan smile, she told her to go and fetch her father for dinner.

Sabrina went out to her father's workshop. It was an imposing edifice set into the side of the house. Built of sawn logs fitted closely together, the shop occupied a great space. It was large enough to hold several logs at once, which was often the case when her father was drying the wood to use. One wall held much of the tools that her father used; hammers and chisels, hand saws and great, two-person saws, stones of various grit and sizes to smooth and polish wood, and dozens of others. Her father could make just about anything out of wood, which is why she knew he had been secretly disappointed that her brother had decided to work with metal rather than wood. However, he had been supportive, and had built the forge where Alan worked.

She could hear the sound of hammering near the back of the shop, so she made her way over. Her father was working on what appeared to be a log easily larger around than she was. He was using chisel and hammer to carve out what appeared to be the beginning of a spirit face. She knew that many of the buildings in Sandytown had such carvings to keep the evil spirits of the swamp away.

Her father looked up from his hammering. "How's Mary doing?" was the first thing he asked. She could see deep worry lines etching his worn face.

"Mary is fine, poppa." She said soothingly. "Jasmine is with her now. It is time to come in for dinner."

Paul Eaglheart nodded and began cleaning up the shop. Sabrina bent to help him. First she swept the pine chips her father had made and threw them in the chip pile. As she worked, her father began replacing his tools on the wall. When she had finished, she replaced the broom and dustpan and helped her father with his tools. When they were back on the wall, they headed back into the house to wash up for dinner.

Dinner was a fairly quiet affair. With everyone's minds on Mary, small talk was all but non-existent. Sabrina kept her head down as she ate her stew. I hope Mary will get better soon. Momma and Poppa can't take much of this strain. She gulped down another bite. Alan, she thought fiercely, you had better get your fat bottom moving and bring back a healer or I'll thump you!

Outside, the day dimmed as the sun continued its journey across the sky.