“Oh God, Jesse, you have to hear me, please. I’ve made so many mistakes. I never should have left you, never should have said I didn’t want any more babies. I want your babies. Do you hear me, Jesse? I want lots and lots of babies. You have to get better, please.”
She pushed her fist into her mouth to keep from screaming. He looked so white and still, his lips blue. Several scratches and a deep cut covered his face, and his arm dangled at an odd angle.
She hung onto her emotions as they maneuvered through the confusion, and arrived at the doctor’s home. His house stood in one piece, the tornado having passed by this section of town.
Dr. Hendricks and Michael lifted Jesse, while Tori hurried up the steps to open the door. Mrs. Hendricks greeted them holding a lamp high. They followed her to the doctor’s office.
“Tori, I’ll be a little while here. Why don’t you go with my wife and have a cup of tea.” The doctor spoke as he washed his hands thoroughly with lye soap.
“No, thank you, Dr. Hendricks. I’ll stay right here.”
He sighed, still engrossed in his examination. “Well make yourself useful and help me take off his clothes, but be very careful not to jar him at all.”
Dr. Hendricks removed Jesse’s clothes with Tori’s help and began a thorough examination. Tori held her breath as the doctor shook his head, poking and prodding various parts of his body. He peered into his eyes, listened to his heart and lungs.
He spoke over his shoulder. “Wash your hands real well with that lye soap and bring me that container on the counter. The one next to the sink. Then go to the kitchen and ask my wife to fill that white pan there on the table with hot water.”
She did as he asked, and after washing the blood and dirt off Jesse, they used the salves in the container to treat his numerous scratches. Then Dr. Hendricks set his arm, using plaster to hold it in place. He finished by securing the bent arm with a cloth around his neck. The doctor then retrieved a nightshirt from one of the drawers in the room and with Tori’s help dressed the patient.
“Get your nephew to help me move him to the bed in the other room. Then we’ll talk.”
Michael and Dr. Hendricks got him settled, with Tori piling three blankets on top. He still hadn’t moved, and his face remained pasty white. Tori bent, gave him a kiss, then pushed the hair back from his forehead. Her eyes filled with tears. What she wouldn’t give for a grin or a smirk from his still face. She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands and joined Dr. Hendricks in his parlor.
“Tori, I wish I could give you good news,” he started when she perched on the edge of the chair across from him. Tori clasped her ice cold hands in her lap to control the shaking.
“But I don’t have bad news, either. Jesse has some minor cuts and scratches, and the broken arm, but he also has a head injury, which we won’t know much about until some time has passed. He could also have internal injuries I’m not aware of, although I haven’t seen any evidence in my examination. As much as I hate to give this kind of news, the only thing I can tell you is we have to wait.”
Tori licked her lips, nodding her head as he spoke. Head and internal injuries could be deadly.
“You’re exhausted. I think you should go on home to your family, get some rest. You can come back tomorrow morning.”
Tori’s eyebrows shot to her hairline. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying here with Jesse.”
“There is nothing for you to do here to help him.”
“Then I’ll sit here and stare at him.”
Dr. Hendricks studied her for a minute. “All right, if you insist on staying, I can have my niece draw you a bath and loan you a nightgown. I’ll bring in an extra cot I have. But I’ll emphasize again you can’t do anything for him.”
Tori thanked the doctor and sat back in the chair. She closed her eyes, the sounds of a ticking clock soothing her nerves.
“Mrs. Cochran?”
Tori jumped as Maggie entered the room. “I’m getting water hot for your bath.”
Tori attempted to focus, but the girl’s words faded in and out. Her mouth moved, but she only caught a few words.
“Here is a nightgown you can use. I have some beef stew made, and we would be happy to have you join us for supper.” She pointed toward the back of the house. “The kitchen is that way.”
“Thank you. I’m not hungry, but a cup of tea might be nice, if it’s not too much trouble.”
She followed Maggie to the kitchen. Dr. Hendricks, his wife, and Michael sat at the table, eating a delicious smelling stew. When she entered the room, Michael’s spoon stopped midway to his mouth, his gaze locked with Tori’s.
A plate of biscuits sat in the middle of the table. Despite her insistence she wasn’t hungry, Maggie set a bowl of stew in front of her. One glance, and her stomach rebelled.
“Tori, as your doctor, I insist you try to eat a little bit. You’ve had a shock. You need food and sleep, or you won’t do anyone any good. Maggie’s a great cook, you’ll see.”
Tori took a small bite. Dr. Hendricks did not exaggerate. Maggie was indeed a fine cook. Once she got the first bite down, hunger returned. She finished the bowl of stew as well as a warm biscuit. The hot sweet tea at the end of the meal restored her.