Thursday, April 18, before midnight
Owen was shivering badly. He’d slipped while making his way down one of the narrow, overgrown trails that wove through the fort’s grounds. He had fallen, hitting several of the large granite rocks, and landed on his left leg, which was folded under him at an unnatural angle.
His eyes opened wide as he saw Nell beside me. She knelt on the cold ground and felt his forehead. “He’s feverish. We should have thought to at least bring some water with us.”
She turned to Owen and spoke softly. “Are you bleeding anywhere?”
He shook his head. “Not anymore. Scratches.”
“Good.” She looked at Owen’s leg, but didn’t touch it. Then she took off her heavy cape and covered him with it. Her white dress glimmered in the glow of the lantern.
“Joe, we can’t move him; his leg is badly broken. We could make it worse. We need to get a doctor with a wagon. You’re faster than I am, and you know where to go. I’ll stay with Owen and talk with him and keep him warm.”
I got up. “How do you know so much about doctoring?”
Nell hesitated. “I had brothers and sisters. I took care of them. You go, now—bring back a doctor.”
I started to hand Nell the lantern, but she refused it. “You’ll need it to make better time on the road. You don’t want to fall and break your own leg. Now, go!”
I left her sitting next to Owen, her arm around him. I think she was singing him a song.
I hardly remember the next hour. Somehow I got back to Wiscasset and told Dr. Cushman. While he was harnessing up his horse and putting water and blankets and lanterns in his wagon, I went to tell the Bascombs.
Mrs. Bascomb loaded more blankets into her husband’s arms and hugged and kissed me about ten times, until I was finally able to drag her husband out of there. We ran back to Dr. Cushman’s house, where he’d readied his wagon.
I wished I’d had time to let Ma and Pa know what was happening, but everything was happening too fast for such delays. Dr. Cushman did look at me questioningly when I told him that Nell Gramercy was with Owen, but he, too, focused on what had to be done. Questions could be asked and answered later.
The ride back to Fort Edgecomb went quickly. Before I knew it I was leading the doctor and Mr. Bascomb down the uneven path between the rocks where Nell and Owen were.
By now Nell was also shivering, and I could tell something was wrong with her as well, but Owen was so glad to see his father, there was no time for anything but trying not to hurt him too much. We lifted him onto the plank Dr. Cushman had brought, and carried him to the wagon.
Dr. Cushman gave him some medicine for pain, and Owen was brave. I think he was almost too tired to cry or scream. Almost, but not quite. The wagon bumping up and down on the rocky road didn’t help. I tried not to look at his face; I figgered he wouldn’t want me to see him cry. But the way his leg looked, there wasn’t a grown man in Wiscasset who wouldn’t have shouted to high heaven and let loose with language the reverend wouldn’t have looked on lightly.
Dr. Cushman covered Owen with the blankets he’d brought, and Nell curled up in another corner of the wagon on her cloak.
“What’s wrong?” I asked her softly.
“My head,” she answered. “It started a while after you’d left. It’s pounding. I can hardly see. The jouncing of the wagon makes it worse.”
I didn’t know what to do. “Do you want us to take you back to the inn?” I asked.
“No,” she managed to say. “No—please. Don’t make me go back there. Let me stay, and see how Owen is. Maybe the doctor can help me, too.”
I left her alone, and waited to see what would happen.
About that time I looked up at the sky and realized it must be considerably after midnight. No doubt Nell’s aunt and uncle knew she was missing by now.
Owen was safe—but how much trouble was Nell in?