CHAPTER 6
Rowena
“Would you like to come with me to see Jake?”
Charlie stood in the empty classroom as Rowena gathered her things that afternoon. She looked at him in surprise.
“I thought you’d already been,” she said. “I wasn’t ready for you because I thought you’d be later.”
“Am I too early?” Charlie asked in concern. “I can come back later.”
“No, it’s all right,” Rowena said hastily. “I’ve done everything important that needs doing before tomorrow.”
“Well, I’m headin’ to see Jake if you’d like to come,” Charlie offered again.
“Yes, I’d like that,” Rowena replied, feeling shy. Had Charlie noticed her concern with Jake?
It seemed that he had. “I know you’ve been worried about him,” Charlie said, offering his arm as they made their way to the sleigh.
“He’s my friend,” Rowena replied, hoping that would be enough to satisfy the man who’d called Jake a son.
Charlie gave her a keen look that told her he didn’t quite believe her, and she felt a blush rising to her cheeks.
“Well, is that so?” Charlie drawled, helping her into the sleigh. “You make a mighty fine friend, Miss Williams.”
Rowena had a feeling the older man was laughing at her behind his long, gray beard, and she had no idea what to do about it. How was she supposed to convince him that Jake really was just her friend?
And was there more to their friendship? Rowena wasn’t sure. It was true that she looked forward to their sleigh rides as the highlight of her day, and he often filled her thoughts. Did that mean she had feelings for him? She thought back to the events that had led to her arrival in Jackson. Had she had real feelings for Christian, who’d wed her best friend, Maria? Perhaps. It sure had hurt when Christian chose Maria over her. It had plunged her into a dark well of misery for months, which led to the decision to leave Salt Lake City and try a new adventure. She held no animosity towards her friend; after all, only one of them could have the man they both loved. She just wasn’t sure the friendship would ever be the same again, and feeling lost and adrift, she’d decided to strike out in a new direction.
Charlie glanced sideways at her as he shook the reins and the horses started moving forward. “Jake is a fortunate man,” he said quietly. “I just hope he realizes that.”
“I’m sure he does,” Rowena replied. “He’s just escaped death.”
“That wasn’t what I meant,” Charlie said, then fell abruptly silent.
Rowena decided to let the matter drop. “Will Mrs. Hill allow us to see him?” she asked instead.
“I don’t know,” Charlie answered. “But if you don’t ask, the answer is always no, isn’t it?”
Rowena smiled. “I hadn’t thought of it that way, but you’re right. You only get a yes if you ask.”
They drew to a stop outside Mrs. Hill’s house on the main street. Charlie helped Rowena alight from the sleigh, and soon they were inside the warm, cozy home.
“You’ve come to see Jake?” Mrs. Hill asked, looking from one to the other.
Charlie nodded. “Yes, please, if that’s not too much trouble.”
Her brow creased for a moment in thought. “He’s still not out of danger,” she said. “I’m keeping a careful watch on that leg in case it gets infected. And almost freezing to death hasn’t helped his general health, either.” She paused. “All right. You may go in one at a time, but you can’t stay for long. And please wash your hands first, and don’t touch him. I’m very strict about hygiene when a patient has a wound.”
She led the way to a small washroom at the end of the porch, and Charlie went first, washing his hands thoroughly with the cake of soap she’d left on the side of the wash basin. Then it was Rowena’s turn, and once they were done, Mrs. Hill let Charlie into the small infirmary she had set up on one side of the house.
“Please, have a seat while you wait, my dear,” Mrs. Hill invited.
Rowena took a seat on the red velvet couch in the parlor, sitting with her back straight and her hands folded in her lap as was expected of polite company. Mrs. Hill sat opposite in her work apron, which struck Rowena as incongruous.
But nothing in this place was like life anywhere else; here, life was so imbued with the struggle to survive that people paid less attention to niceties and proper manners simply because they had no time or energy to devote to non-essential matters.
“Your young man went through a near-death experience today,” Mrs. Hill said.
Rowena gaped at her. “My young man? Jake is just my friend.”
“My mistake,” Mrs. Hill smiled at her. “He asked for you, so I just assumed …”
“He’s a neighbor,” Rowena explained. “He’s been driving me to school each day in his sleigh because that’s the only way for me to get to school on time.”
“Well, that’s neighborly of him,” Mrs. Hill agreed. “He’s a good man, Miss Williams. If I were you, I’d consider that.”
Rowena stared at her in surprise. Yet another person had just told her to think about Jake as a good man. Suspicion bloomed into certainty. There was definitely a matchmaking conspiracy afoot.
But before she could consider the matter further, a noise at the door caught her attention, and a moment later, Charlie emerged, his face somber.
“Was he pleased to see you?” Mrs. Hill asked.
“He’s not the Jake I know,” Charlie admitted, his face stricken. “He looks very weak.”
“That’s normal,” Mrs. Hill replied. “He’s been through an awful ordeal that almost took his life. Give him a few days or so, and if nothing else goes wrong, you should start to see improvements.” She turned to Rowena. “Are you sure you want to see him, my dear? He doesn’t look the same as he usually does.”
Rowena nodded. “I’m sure.”
“Then you may go in for a short time. Just remember what I said. I’ll be just outside the door.”
“Only stay for a short time and don’t touch anything.” Rowena rose to her feet, grateful that Mrs. Hill was willing to act as a chaperone. “I will see you in a few minutes,” she said as she headed for the sick room.
As she entered the dimly lit room, she could see Jake’s huddled form beneath the blankets. A fire blazed in the fireplace on the other side of the room and it felt warm and cozy, but Jake still looked cold. His eyes fluttered open as she approached, and she was shocked at how frail and feeble he looked, despite his size.
“Rowena,” he rasped, reaching for her hand. “You came. I was hoping you would.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Mrs. Hill has forbidden me from touching you. She wants to avoid infection in your leg.”
“Oh, I forgot,” Jake mumbled, withdrawing his hand. “I was just glad to see you.”
Rowena pulled a chair close to his bedside and sat down where he could see her. “I was so scared when I heard you hadn’t come home,” she confessed.
“Not nearly as scared as I was,” he said with a grim smile. “I thought I would never see you or anyone else again.” He winced in pain as he tried to move.
“Did that matter?” she asked, curious.
“More than anything,” he murmured. “The thought of the people I care about kept me going through the night when I should’ve frozen to death.”
Rowena shuddered. “I’m so glad you hung on,” she said. “I heard the wolves howling and I was worried because I didn’t know if you’d arrived home safely.”
He gave her a curious look. “How did you know that I might not have?”
“It was just a feeling I had. There was no real explanation for it. Just a feeling that something wasn’t right. When I heard the wolves, I kept telling myself that you were home, all your animals were safe in the barn, and everything was fine. I had to pray about it for a long time before I finally felt at peace.” She took a deep breath as the anxiety of the moment filled her memories. “As it turns out, I was right.”
“I think your prayers were what saved me.” Jake shifted in the bed, again wincing with pain. “They tell me I was almost at death’s door when the men arrived.”
“Charlie is just about beside himself for not checking that you’d arrived home safely,” Rowena said. She felt bad for the man who considered Jake his son by choice.
“I know. He kept apologizing, but it’s partly my fault. We’d both become a little complacent because we’ve been working in the woods all winter and haven’t had any mishaps. We forgot that even tiny things become a matter of life and death out here.” He paused for a moment. “I was so sure that I would be right behind Charlie because I’d almost finished the last job and then I was headed home. I thought I’d only be another fifteen minutes at the most. It was foolish of me to send him ahead.”
“Well, the mountains are always ready to teach us a lesson,” Rowena replied. “I just hope you never have another one like it.”
Jake grimaced. “It taught me a good one.”
“How long until you’re healed?” Rowena asked, wanting to hear it from Jake himself.
He closed his eyes. “I don’t know. Mrs. Hill says the next few days are crucial to avoid infection. If I get past those, I might be able to go home within a week or two. But I will need help with chores around the farm and in the house.”
“I’m sure the neighbors will take care of the animals for you,” Rowena said. “I know Zach would be happy to help. And there must be others.”
Jake licked dry lips. “They are good people around here.” He reached for a glass of water, almost knocking it over, and growled in frustration. “I’m not going to make a good patient,” he muttered.
“Not patient enough?” Rowena teased.
Jake gave her a mock glare as he collapsed back onto the pillows, exhausted by the effort. Rowena reached for a cloth and wrapped it around the glass, then handed it to him.
“Now I can say that I haven’t touched anything of yours,” she told him as Jake took the glass and she turned to place the cloth on the dressing table.
“More’s the pity,” Jake mumbled.
Rowena felt heat flooding to her cheeks. “What did you say?” she asked.
“Oh, nothing. But if I had something of yours to comfort me in my great distress…”
He allowed the words to trail off, and Rowena felt flustered. She didn’t know what to say. Was Jake flirting with her? What was she supposed to do with that thought? She didn’t know whether to welcome the idea or be embarrassed.
“You’re a good distraction,” Jake smiled as if sensing her confusion. “I can lie here and think about all the things I want to tell you while you’re gone. You will come back, won’t you?”
Rowena cocked her head to one side, thinking. “I’ll make you a deal,” she said at last. “You stay alive overnight and I’ll see if I can persuade Charlie to bring me for a visit tomorrow after school ends. Does that sound good?”
“It sounds wonderful,” he smiled, and Rowena was glad to see that some color had returned to his cheeks since she’d first set eyes on him.
She rose to her feet. “I must go now,” she told him. “Mrs. Hill will come in with great wrath and chase me out otherwise. I must not tire the patient.”
His face fell. “Already?”
She nodded. “Beware the fearsome nurse,” she said in a dramatic whisper. “It will prolong your life.”
Jake chuckled, and it was the most wonderful sound she’d heard in a long time.
“Dear Rowena,” he murmured. “You’ve made me feel better already. Thank you for coming to see me.” He leaned back on the pillows, looking tired, and Rowena knew it was time to leave.
“Goodbye, Jake,” she said softly. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As she rode home with Charlie a few minutes later, she mulled over Jake’s words in her mind. Perhaps it was the pain relief that Nurse Hill had administered, or perhaps Jake was simply grateful to still be alive, but he’d certainly allowed his feelings to show. Rowena hugged the memory to her heart, already looking forward to seeing him again.