––––––––
The women gave up pressing the girls to eat, and asked if they felt up to clearing the table and doing the dishes, instead. Once the girls were busy, the four older women discussed what they would need at Miranda's.
"I have two extra beds," she began. Then frowning, added, "But, I suppose we'll need two, or even three more. That is, if Miss Murphy is serious about coming to stay and help."
"Of course, I am," Colleen insisted.
"And, I'm sending Kit to stay with you," Victoria added.
Meg's head popped up, and she broke her silence, "I'll be helping as well. I suppose Eva and I will need to swap off at times, so that the businesses here don't suffer. And, I wouldn't be surprised if Ma doesn't also figure out a way to be there. So, I suppose we should have three more."
"Of course, this is if Gus and Neil can find beds on such short notice."
"I can always sleep on the floor," Colleen told them.
"Don't be silly," Miranda countered. She looked at the young woman, and added, "You know, you'll be giving up your job, at least for a while. Have you thought about this? Are you sure?"
"What's this?" Victoria asked, turning to face the girl.
"I told Miss Hendriksen and Miss Margaret that I want to stay here and help those girls. I... I have experience with morphine addiction. My brother fell victim to it. And it killed him.
"That's why I want to stay with these girls, at least for a while. Like I said to Mrs. Hendriksen, I'm not at all sure I'm cut out for the excitement and danger of being a detective, Pinkerton, or otherwise."
Victoria looked at the younger girl and asked, "Your brother died?"
"Yes, ma'am. He couldn't break the drug's hold, and he killed himself with it."
"I'm so very sorry about your brother. But Miranda's right, you don't want to give up your job, do you?"
"I'm sure." She faced the doctor, adding, "I overheard the other girls talking about this workshop."
She flushed, before she continued, "I only had older brothers. My mama died when I was about five, so while I can skip rocks and climb trees, with the best of them, I don't have the faintest notion of how to cook or sew. So, I thought I might take advantage of my time here to learn more... uh... more 'lady-like' things. That is, of course, if it's all right with you all. I mean, I realize you might need to speak to the others."
"I think," Dr. Thorne said, "I can speak for the others, when I say you are more than welcome to stay and help.
"And, Eva and I will be more than happy to teach you things you think are more 'lady-like'," Meg said, smiling.
Then, in a more serious tone, she added, "Besides, we will need all the help we can get. One girl fighting the lure of the drug would be bad enough. Having two will be very difficult, especially trying to keep Kathy's baby safe in the process."
Meg fetched paper and pencils, returned to the table, and passed them around before she sat down. Then, clearing her throat, she began, "Well, we'd better get our lists finished. Gus will be back very soon."
"Yes," Dr. Thorne agreed.
"Well, if they're buying more beds, we'll need more linens and blankets and things," Miranda said. "I doubt I have half a dozen sets of sheets, anymore."
"Yes, ma'am," Colleen added, "we'll need more, lots more. We sometimes went through more than that many sets in one day with just my brother. And night clothes. Those girls will be so restless and agitated; between fidgeting and perspiring, they'll need to be changed constantly."
"I can see you will be a wealth of information about everything," Victoria told her, smiling. "We can get linens and enamelware from over the surgery. We kept everything we'd used during the scarlet fever epidemic. So, the first thing for Neil to do is to gather those things together."
Then looking up, she asked, "Miranda, you have a hip bath, don't you?"
"Yes, of course. But, perhaps, one isn't enough, or even large enough. Ma and Gus broke Meg's fever by holding her in a horse trough of ice water."
"I suppose we could ask for a second hip bath and even a horse trough," Meg answered. Then, after a moment she added, "Unless, you think we're asking for too much."
"Well," Victoria told her, "we'll need those things for the hospital, if the town council decides Manchester needs one. We can always put everything we acquire aside for it."
"Now, what about food?"
Victoria frowned. After a moment, she answered, "Well, I think we should get tea, oatmeal, and maybe cornmeal. Kit can make broth and the chickens will give us enough eggs. Although, once the girls are in the throes of withdrawal, I don't expect them to keep much down."
"Honey." Colleen said flatly. When the older women turned to her, she continued, "My brother loved honey. I can't tell you how many times he got stung as a child, stealing honey comb. Anyway, he always seemed to be able to handle a spoonful of honey. It wasn't too heavy, or too much on his stomach."
"What an excellent idea!" Dr. Thorne cried out. "I'm especially worried about Kathy. It will be hard enough to keep fluids in her. But, your idea about honey will be a big help in keeping something inside of her."
They were just finishing up the list, when the door opened and a man walked in, rather hesitantly.
Miranda looked at him and said, "I saw you this morning, when I went to see the judge."
"Yes, ma'am. My name's Jake Kennedy. I was one of the Pinkerton detectives. I worked out at Gunderson's place and sniffed around. For a while I was really onto something—for a while there, at least. Until he was murdered before he could tell me anything.
"Since then, I've been working with Mr. Stratton. Dr. Thorne knows me.
"The thing is I like working for him. And, I like Manchester. So, I sent Mr. Brown a telegram saying I quit."
"My," Victoria said, "I don't think your Mr. Brown is going to be very happy with us—robbing him of his staff."
"Well, welcome to Manchester, officially, Mr. Kennedy," Miranda said, smiling.
"I hope you keep on liking it," Meg added.
"Thank you, ma'am." He took another step inside, and lowered his voice. "Mr. Stratton sent me over to tell Miss Miranda, Mr. Gunderson wants me to go out to your place, and send your hand over to his place. You all know, I won't tell anyone where the girls are. Your hand might not keep things as quiet."
"Ah..." Victoria sighed. "Yes, I see the wisdom in that." She turned and asked, "You heard, Miranda?"
"Yes. I'll look forward to seeing you later, Mr. Kennedy."
He turned to leave, and almost ran into Neil Stratton, who burst through the door. "Come along, Victoria. I'm walking you to the hotel and you are going to get some sleep."
"But..."
"No buts." Neil told her. "Unlike Meg, you didn't get any rest last night. Besides, you promised me earlier."
Dr. Thorne eyed him, as if she was trying to remember if she had promised him that, or anything else. But, in truth, she was too tired to remember.