Chapter Sixteen #2
“Ada’s not my friend,” he said. “Billy and Calum are my friends.”
“And do you think friends would abandon an injured girl?” Mia said. “Or worse—push her off a rock and endanger her life?”
The boy shook his head and whimpered. “H-he didnae mean to push her! She was just being a stupid girl and wouldnae jump!”
“So he pushed her, yes?”
He nodded.
“Then I’d say he did mean it,” Mia said. She gestured to the girl. “This child’s hurt, and those two boys have abandoned her. What do you think would happen if she were left out here?”
The boy said nothing, and Mia’s temper rose.
“She might die, you foolish child! Is that what you want?”
“Of course not!”
The girl let out a soft moan and Mia placed a hand on her cheek. Sweet Lord! Her skin was freezing.
“Hush, sweetheart,” she said. “Can you tell me your name?”
The girl’s eyelids fluttered, then she let out a whimper.
“I must get her inside,” Mia said. “It’s too cold out here to do anything, and she’ll catch a chill if she remains out here any longer.
” She shivered, her breath misting in the air.
Then she placed her hands on the girl’s body and ran them along her form.
Her stomach clenched as she reached the girl’s shoulders.
The child’s arms were twisted at an unusual angle, and when Mia touched her shoulder, she let out a cry.
“I’m sorry, little one,” Mia said. “But you’ll be safe, as soon as I get you inside. ”
“Ada,” a voice said, and Mia glanced up to see that the boy had climbed off the rock and was standing a few feet away, hands thrust into his pockets. “Her name’s Ada.”
“And you’re Jamie, is that right?”
The boy nodded. “Aye. Jamie Sutherland.”
“Sutherland?” Mia said. “Not MacLennan?”
“Aye, the minister’s my da.”
“Then, Jamie Sutherland, would you like to be a brave, strong boy, unlike your friends, and help me with Ada?”
The boy sniffed, then nodded.
“Come here, then,” Mia said. “Ada’s been hurt, but it’s too cold for me to tend to her here. I must carry her to Riverside Cottage. Would you help me pick her up?”
The boy approached. Bright blue eyes glistened as they stared at the girl and a tear splashed onto his cheek.
“Here,” Mia said crisply, adopting the tone that Dr. McIver said spurred onlookers into action, “I need you to help lift Ada into my arms, then I can carry her. You lift her there, under the knees.”
“What if I hurt her?”
“Her legs aren’t broken,” Mia said, “so it shouldn’t hurt. But I think she’s injured her shoulder, so she may cry out as we lift her, but you mustn’t stop. Can you be brave?”
Jamie nodded.
“Say it.”
“Y-yes, ma’am. I can be brave.”
“Good lad.” Mia smiled encouragement, and the boy stopped sniffing and gave her a watery smile in return. Then, as she directed, he tucked his arms under the girl’s knees as Mia slipped an arm under her torso, and together they lifted her until she was in Mia’s arms.
Mia made her way back toward the path. The child weighed little more than a laden basket, but Mia’s pace was hampered by the uneven ground. Footsteps followed, and she turned to see the boy carrying her basket.
“Sh-shall I come with ye, ma’am?”
Mia nodded, then continued along the path. Though the ache in her arms increased with each step, she maintained the pace until, at last, Riverview Cottage came into view. The little girl in her arms stirred occasionally, and let out a low groan each time Mia stumbled, but she did not open her eyes.
“Is that where ye live?” Jamie said, pointing to the cottage.
“Yes.”
“That’s the witch’s house. She used to fly over the moors at night. Billy says she’ll eat ye if she catches ye out on the moors on yer own.”
“Do you believe everything Billy tells you?”
“Billy says that he’s the biggest and the eldest of us, so we have to believe him.”
“You can’t think for yourself?”
The boy hesitated, and transferred Mia’s basket from one arm to the other.
“This basket’s heavy, ma’am.”
“And would you believe Billy if he told you it weighed nothing at all?”
Jamie’s eyes glistened with tears.
“Forgive me,” Mia said. “Come inside and I can give you something to eat for your trouble. That is, if you think it’s safe to enter a witch’s house.”
“I-I dinnae think ye’re a witch.”
“No matter what Billy says?”
“Aye.”
Mia carried the girl inside and set her on the table in the parlor.
“Put the basket on the chest of drawers you see over there, Jamie,” she said. “Once I’ve tended to your friend, I can get you something to eat. I take it Ada is your friend.”
“C-can I do anything to help, ma’am?”
“That’s very kind,” Mia said. “Would you bring me two blankets from the cabinet in the corner? We need to make sure Ada’s warm and comfortable before I take a proper look at her. I’m afraid the fire’s gone out.”
The boy approached the pile of blankets on the cabinet and plucked two from the top. Then he glanced at the fireplace. “I can lay and light a fire, ma’am, if Ada needs to be warm.”
“You can?”
The boy puffed out his chest with pride. “My da showed me how, and I’m only six. Billy says I cannae light a fire, but I can.”
“Then,” Mia said, “perhaps you should listen to your own judgment, not what Billy says. The most important lesson a young man can learn in life is understanding the difference between right and wrong. And often you’re the best judge of that—not those who profess to be your friends.”
Jamie’s eyes widened. “That’s just what my da says.”
“He sounds very sensible. But he might not approve of my letting you light a fire. Fire can be very dangerous.”
“Please.”
Mia glanced at the little boy and saw earnestness and remorse in his eyes.
“I want to help Ada,” he said. “I-I’m sorry for not helping her before. I knew Billy was going to push her, and I didnae stop him.”
“Very well,” Mia said. “Why don’t you sweep out the fireplace then lay the fire while I take a look at Ada? But don’t light it, mind. We can light it together. There’s a broom in the kitchen to sweep the ash, and a log store to the side of the house.”
The boy smiled, then disappeared into the kitchen, returning with the broom.
Mia turned her attention to her patient.
The girl’s pallor seemed to have worsened, her skin chalk white, save for the dark-purple semicircles beneath her eyes.
Mia folded one blanket and tucked it beneath the girl’s head, then placed the second blanket over her lower body.
Then she began to inspect the girl’s upper body, running her fingertips along each arm, recalling Dr. McIver’s instructions on bones of the body—the lower and upper arm bones, the shoulder blade, and the collarbone…
That was it! The collarbone, which should run perpendicular to the breastbone, was distended, forming a lump near the center of the girl’s chest. As Mia ran her fingertips over it, the girl let out a cry.
“Try to stay calm, sweetheart,” Mia said, placing a hand on the girl’s shoulder, but the child shifted position in an attempt to break free. “No,” Mia said firmly. “You’ll only hurt yourself more if you try to move.”
“Who are ye?” the girl cried. “Where am I? I want my ma!”
“Ada!” Jamie approached the table and took the girl’s hand. “Ada, ye’re safe.”
“J-Jamie?”
“This lady’s here to help ye, Ada,” Jamie said. “Ye’re in her house—she carried ye all the way here!”
The girl lifted her head, then fell back with a cry.
“Och, Ada, I’m sorry!” the boy said. “I didnae want Billy to push ye.”
“Then why did ye not stop him?”
“I…” He glanced at Mia. “I was afraid.”
“I-I thought ye were my friend.” The girl started to cry, her body shaking, then let out a whimper. “It hurts so much!”
“Keep still,” Mia said. “Let me give you something for the pain, then I can make you better. You’ve hurt your collarbone.”
“M-my what?”
Mia placed a light hand on the distended bone and the girl winced. “This is it,” she said. “It’s in the wrong place—brought about by your fall. I must move it back.”
The girl’s sobs increased and Jamie took her hand.
“Dinnae cry, Ada,” he said. “This lady will make ye better.” He turned to Mia. “Ye will, won’t ye?”
“I’ll do everything I can,” Mia said. “Keep holding Ada’s hand, and I’ll fetch something for the pain.”
The boy nodded, and Mia approached the shelves and reached for a jar containing long, thin shavings. She picked one out of the jar and held it up before the girl.
“Chew on this, Ada,” she said.
“Wh-what is it?”
“Willow bark. It tastes bitter, but it’ll help with the pain and the swelling.”
“I-I dinnae know…”
“Go on, Ada,” Jamie said. “If ye do, I’ll not let Billy push ye again.”
“Promise?”
Hope flared in the little girl’s eyes despite the pain she must be feeling, then she opened her mouth and Mia placed the sliver of bark on her tongue.
“Eugh! It tastes horrid!”
“I’ll make you some sweet tea afterward,” Mia said, smiling. “Now, keep chewing, and try to stay still. Will you do that for me?”
Jamie squeezed Ada’s hand. “Hold my hand,” he said. “Squeeze it ever so tight when it hurts.” He glanced at Mia. “That’s right, isn’t it?”
Before Mia could reply, she heard a loud knock on the door.
“Ada!” a deep voice cried. “Where are ye, lass?”
“Da!” Ada sat up, then let out a scream. The door burst open and a man entered. His eyes widened as he caught sight of the child on the table, and dark-blue eyes flashed with fury at Mia.
“What the fuck do ye think ye’re doing with my child?”