Chapter 11
Max decided at the last minute to attend his father’s church.
He had so many questions after trying to read various parts of the Bible.
In fact, there were more questions now than when he’d started.
He thought perhaps by attending church, he might at least get an idea of what was required to better know God.
The minister was a pudgy fellow well into his years. His stern expression and long-winded sermon offered Max mostly boredom and indifference. The man droned on and on about David slaying Goliath, and while Max had heard the story before, he found little value in what the minister shared.
Thankfully, the service ended, and after a lengthy benediction, the congregation was dismissed.
Max felt as if the void within had grown.
He made his way out of the church, hoping to have a word with his father, but didn’t see him anywhere.
The Duchess, however, was holding court in a sea of silks and laces.
The parasols and large hats domed over the gathering of women like flowery arbors shielding them from the sun.
Max deftly avoided making contact as he continued to search for his father.
He heard hushed angry voices as he rounded the corner of the urban church. Near a line of carriages, he saw his father speaking with a half dozen well-dressed men. His father looked none too happy, especially as Ambrose Sterling took charge and wagged his finger at him.
Max decided against interrupting. It was clear that whatever the matter, the men were of mixed opinions and would probably argue their points for some time. The Duchess would be beside herself having to wait in the heat, but Max had seen his father go on for hours when something got his ire up.
Backing away, Max headed to where his single-horse buggy awaited.
He’d already determined to go to Boom Island despite the hunger gnawing at his gut.
He’d had little in the house for breakfast and decided there and then his first task on Monday morning would be to hire a cook.
Most businesses were closed to observe the Sabbath, so he had no idea what he might do for a luncheon meal.
Better to focus on the men he’d asked to meet him at the mill.
They were no sooner home from church than Evie found herself cornered by her father. A request had come for Father to come to the mission immediately and attend two men who had gotten into a knife fight.
“Why don’t you come with me, Evie? We can make short order of this if we’re both there.”
Evie had no desire to deal with the aftermath of a knife fight but found herself nodding. “Just let me go change my clothes. I won’t be but a minute.”
Beth was awaiting her upstairs, and when Evie explained, she sprang into action to see her mistress transformed.
Gone was the watered silk of her church gown, and in its place came the navy dress and white pinafore apron.
Evie grabbed a vial of peppermint oil and dropped it in her pocket, then took up her medical bag and headed for the door.
“Wish me well, Beth. You never know what you’ll find when medical emergencies call you away.”
“I always pray, Miss Evie. All these years with your parents have proved it wise to pray without ceasing, just as the Bible says.”
Evie nodded and left the maid to put away her clothes.
Hurrying down the stairs, Evie tried not to think about what was ahead of her.
After her conversation with Evan on Friday night, she had very mixed feelings about speaking to their parents.
Evan encouraged her to speak the truth but to also have an idea of what she wanted to do in place of nursing.
Frankly, that matter was easy enough. She would just as soon fundraise and focus on the possibility of getting to know Max better.
Thinking of Max, however, gave her pause.
Should she really be exploring feelings for someone who didn’t fully share her faith?
All of her life she’d been warned about the heartache that could befall couples who were unequally yoked.
“I’m ready,” she announced, joining her parents in the foyer.
“Good. John brought the wagon around.”
Evie nodded. She knew there would be several crates of medical supplies already loaded on the wagon and ever at the ready. Her father was prepared for almost anything when making his rounds.
She climbed onto the wagon seat and waited for her father.
Being alone with him might very well present the opportunity she needed to explain her situation.
In fact, after they tended to the wounded men and were on their way back home, it would be the perfect time to address the matter.
Maybe she should even allow herself to get sick and then afterward explain she was dealing with this problem every time she attempted to act as a nurse.
“Here we go,” Father said as he settled into the seat. For a man of sixty years old, he was still amazingly spry and active. He placed his medical bag alongside hers and grabbed the lines. “I’ve got it now, John,” he called to the boy who held the horses.
John stepped back, releasing the horses, and Father steered the wagon down the drive.
Evie drew a deep breath and tried to steady her nerves.
She wanted so much to just explain everything.
It shouldn’t be this hard. She knew Father would love her no matter what she said or did, so why did it hurt so much to think about his disappointment?
“I have no idea what we’ll find, but the note said it was urgent. That probably means multiple deep wounds. I do wish those men would set aside their anger, but I suppose if I were without friend or family or hope, I might be inclined to fight. Still, it does nothing to better their circumstances.”
“It is a terrible life they face. I was just thinking as I helped Mother distribute the food packages that we’re quite lavishly blessed.”
“We are,” he agreed. “It wasn’t always so for my family. We started off well, but then my father lost everything, and after he died, my mother and sister suffered greatly. He shrugged. “But of course you’ve heard all of this before.”
“Yes, but I cannot imagine the difficulties because I’ve not had to live them. Still, I see their homes and lack of what I consider common supplies. No wonder some feel driven to steal. Some are treated worse than the animals on the streets.”
“We’ve always tried to acknowledge their needs and help others.
We can’t make the world right, only God can do that.
However, as His ambassadors we must do what we can and share what we have.
God has blessed us in this way, knowing that our hearts would be touched in this direction.
He knows well in advance who will reach out to the hopeless and offer encouragement and help. ”
“Their housing situation is so dire. I can’t even imagine sleeping on the ground with rats threatening to bite me.” Evie could still remember the little girl’s infected arms.
“They bite the children because they are usually unwashed. Sometimes they have bits of food smeared on their hands and arms. I’ve worked hard to encourage cleanliness. Your mother too.”
“Yes, each of her packages includes soap.” Evie smiled. Mother well understood the dilemma. She always stressed the importance of keeping things and people clean, but someone had once told her it was hard to worry about soap when soup was needed for empty bellies.
On a Sunday afternoon, traffic was light downtown, and they made the journey in quick order.
When they pulled up to the homeless building, Evie steadied her nerves and tried not to think about what they’d find inside.
She whispered a prayer and took up her bag.
When Father wasn’t looking she dabbed a healthy bit of the peppermint oil around her nose and chin.
As she did, she noted the man she and her mother had met earlier.
Mr. Stubbs, wasn’t it? He was speaking in the alleyway with what appeared to be a uniformed servant. How odd.
At the door, Father paused alongside her. “I smell mint. How refreshing.”
“Yes,” Evie murmured but offered nothing more.
Inside, the situation was even worse than she’d imagined. The men had been ruthless and gone after each other with the idea of causing as much harm as possible, perhaps even death.
“We’re going to have to preform delicate surgery to keep this man from losing his arm.” Father was already pulling various tools from his bag.
Those in charge of the mission had a room set aside for medical needs.
They had already cleaned each of the men and staunched the bleeding as best they could.
Evie worked alongside her father for the operation.
She felt bile rise in her throat and swallowed it down.
She was determined to be an asset and not cause her father grief.
Thankfully, there hadn’t been time to eat lunch.
They worked well together. Evie had always been complimented by doctors for her ability to anticipate their requests for instruments. They had no way of knowing how hard it was for Evie to concentrate as she fought against her nausea and feeling faint.
Once they finished with the man, Father directed the staff to arrange for his transfer to the hospital.
He would need round-the-clock care and might yet pass away from his injuries.
The other man’s wounds, although serious, were less life-threatening.
Father stitched him up and spoke to him about the need to keep the wounds clean.
“Infection is almost certain given the setting. No doubt you fought with dirty knives that you had used for the vilest of duties. I’ve cleansed your cuts as best I could, but you must be careful.
Watch for redness and swelling, streaks of red going up toward your heart from the wounds.
Any problems at all should be addressed.
If you get chilled, that might mean fever from an infection. ”
“I’ll see to it,” the man grumbled.