twenty-five

I was beginning to worry a bit by five o’clock when Mother still had not returned. The children had eaten a snack and were playing. The snow had stopped, so where was she? And for that matter, where was Faith? She was usually home by now, too. But worry would get me nowhere. And I was exhausted and in pain. “Children, I’m going to rest a bit.”

Mark barely looked up from the game of jacks he was playing on the kitchen floor with Matthew, but Betsy jumped up from tucking her doll into a small cradle.

“Auntie Rose, how is thy head feeling?” Betsy asked. They’d all noticed the matted blood on my head after Kevin had left.

“It aches a bit, my sweet, which is why I’m going to lie down. Let me know when thy granny returns, please.”

She stroked my arm with her small hand. “I’ll stand watch.”

I had to smile at her earnest expression. “I thank thee.”

In my room I unplaited my hair and reclined, half sitting, supported by pillows. It seemed I had only just closed my eyes when I felt a hand stroking my brow. I opened my eyes to see David bending over me, worry writ large on his face.

“David, what is thee doing here?” I struggled to sit up, but felt a sharp pain for my efforts, so I lowered my head again.

“Detective Donovan telephoned me. He told me what happened. He was worried about your injury and wanted me to make sure you were well.”

Mother appeared in the doorway to my parlor. “This young man kindly gave me a ride home. Clarinda called and asked him to.”

“I was happy to bring you home, Mrs. Carroll,” David said.

“None of this Missus stuff, now,” Mother said with a mock frown. “Thee shall address me as Dorothy and that’s that.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled.

“Mother, I was worried about thee.” I peered at her.

“I wanted to wait out the storm. And Clarinda and I were having such a good visit, the time flew by. I knew it would.”

I glanced at David, who winked at me, and back at my mother. Would wonders never cease? I’d never had what I would call a “good visit” with Clarinda. I held out my hand to David.

“Help me sit up, please.”

With the help of his arm around my shoulders, I sat slowly enough not to bring back the pain in my head. Mother bustled all the way into the room and lit both lamps. Faith popped her head in, too.

“Rose, thee was attacked?” she asked in a low voice.

“Did the children tell thee?” I’d told them only that I’d had a small accident so as not to concern them.

“No, but David and Granny Dot gave me a ride home from just outside the mill.” Faith’s place of employment was a short distance down the hill in town. “David told me about the attack on thee.”

“Good,” I said. I looked from face to face. “But I don’t want to relive the details right now. Is that all right?”

“Of course, dear,” Mother said. “Faith, let’s get supper on, shall we? David, will thee join us?”

“Thank you, but I’m afraid I can’t. I promised my father I’d attend a meeting with him. He’s been quite successful establishing a health clinic for his workers at the shoe factory, but we have business to attend to.”

“Be sure to check out Rosie’s wound before thee goes.” She and Faith left the room.

David perched on the bed next to me. “Tuck your chin down for a moment.”

I obliged, spying his black doctor’s bag on the floor. His hands were gentle, probing my scalp, but I jumped when he touched the wound itself.

“I’m sorry, my sweet. Now look directly at me.” He held a finger in front of my eyes. “Keep your eyes on my finger.” He passed it back and forth.

I tracked the movement without difficulty. He held up three fingers.

“How many?” he asked.

“Three.” I kept answering as he varied the numbers of fingers he held up.

He brought the small table lamp close, then pulled it to the side at arm’s length, then brought it back in front of my face.

“Good,” he declared.

“It looks like thee is testing me for a concussion.”

“Exactly. I guess I’m not surprised you know about shock to the brain.”

I smiled wanly. “Did I pass the exam?”

“I suppose. You cried out when you first sat up, though. Are you having headaches?”

I acknowledged I was.

“You’re going to need to rest and not do anything taxing for a few days to let yourself recover. I’d like to admit you to Anna Jaques for complete rest. The hospital nurses can monitor your status.”

I wrinkled my nose. “I’m not going to the hospital, David. Surely a trip there isn’t necessary? Mother is here, she’ll take care of me.” The hospital, only a few years old, was named for its primary benefactress. Anna Jaques, a wealthy unmarried woman with no heirs, died the year after the first patient was admitted, but she lived to see her dream of helping her community realized.

“Are you certain?” He waited a second, then went on. “It would keep you safe, too. I hate the thought of a murderer coming after you, Rosie. If anything were to happen to you, my life would be over, too,” he murmured.

How could I ever have doubted him? “I don’t want to go to the hospital.” I patted his hand. “But nothing’s going to happen to me. I already promised Kevin I wouldn’t go out alone at night, and that I’d cease my investigation. This afternoon frightened me badly.”

“All right,” he said, but his frown remained.

“David, yesterday Kevin arrested Hilarius Bauer.”

“No! For the murder?”

“Yes. But when Kevin stopped by today, he said Hilarius was released.”

“What a blessing. I truly don’t see him being a killer.”

“I don’t either,” I said.

“Now, my darling, I am going to have to dress your wound. And I’m afraid it’s going to hurt.”

I hunched my shoulders but agreed. He drew scissors out of his bag and trimmed my hair around the area. I gritted my teeth, wincing when he daubed gauze on the injured spot.

“I know it stings, but the carbolic acid in the gauze will keep it from becoming infected. Lister made quite the discovery with this technique.”

“Didn’t he cut his surgical team’s mortality rate almost in half by cleaning wounds thoroughly?”

“Precisely so.” David patted my head with dry gauze before kissing my forehead. “You should wear a clean sleeping cap to bed each night for several days. When you are up tomorrow, I’d remove the cap so the wound can get air on it, but put on a fresh cap if you lie down to rest.”

“Yes, sir, Doctor Dodge,” I said playfully. “Thank thee for coming. I’d never seen such a pleasant sight as thy face in front of mine when I awoke.”

He kissed me again, this time on the lips, then stood. “I wish you would have a telephone installed. I would feel more secure in your safety if you did.”

“The thought has crossed my mind, I admit. But aren’t they quite dear?”

“Yes. I can pay for it, though. I’d be happy to.”

“Don’t be silly, David. My business has been thriving. I can pay for my own telephone. It would be a great help in my work.” If I’m still able to work. What if I was called to a genuine birth in the next few days? What if the headaches persisted and I wasn’t able to help the women who relied on me to give their precious babies safe passage into our world?