Hidden Fires

“Her throat is sore?” Rosa only nodded.

Lauren closed her eyes briefly and prayed for strength. The next several days would be a trial for them all. The task facing her was unpleasant, but she would do it. These people were her friends and they needed her. If she didn’t help them, no one would.

Her voice showed no trace of the panic she felt as she began issuing instructions. “Brew some tea and keep the kettle on at all times. Move the baby out of that room at once and don’t let anyone else near it. Scald all of the kitchen utensils and don’t go into the sickroom again. Where has Elena been today?”

“Nowhere, señora. She feels too bad to do much. She was in Pueblo a few days ago showing off Isabela.” Rosa’s voice wavered as she asked, “She has the scarlet fever, señora?”

“Yes, she does.” Lauren remained calm despite the turbulence inside her as she went again into the dim room.

Scarlet fever. Isabela. She hated to see. Please, God, no. The baby had been sleeping peacefully all day. Unusual. Lauren forced herself to go to the crib. She pulled up the tiny sacque and cried out in anguish as she saw the rapidly rising and falling chest covered with the telltale rash.

“Madre de Dios,” Rosa murmured behind her.

“Has the fever been going around in Pueblo?” Lauren asked.

“Si, se

ñora. Many have been sick. Elena didn’t think she would catch it. No one in the family had it when she visited.”

“Go do what I told you to, Rosa. I’ll stay here with her and the baby.”

When the woman had retreated to the kitchen to carry out her instructions, Lauren sat down on the edge of the bed and took Elena’s hand. The girl’s eyes fluttered open and she offered a weak smile. When she tried to speak, she could only croak.

“Don’t try to talk, Elena, I’m here to make you feel better.” Lauren pushed back a few strands of lank hair resting on fevered temples.

“Baby?” Elena asked.

“The baby is… sleeping. Everything will be all right. You go back to sleep. I’ll give you some tea when it’s made.” Elena closed her eyes apathetically and her breathing was soon even if somewhat shallow.

Lauren left the room, went through the kitchen, and walked in slow, measured steps into the parlor where Olivia and Carson were playing cards. Jared was slumped in a chair, a whiskey decanter near his hand.

Not quite believing her temerity, she asked for their attention, and when the three had turned startled eyes toward her, she told them about Elena and the baby.

“You can’t be serious!” Olivia exploded when Lauren made clear her intention to nurse them.

“I’m quite serious, Olivia,” she said levelly. “They need constant care and, since I have no other responsibilities, I’m the one to do it. I only came to tell you that you might want to have food catered in, as the kitchen is so close to the sickroom. And keep everyone out of the house. Go nowhere that isn’t absolutely necessary. We should quarantine ourselves for the sake of others.”

She spoke with such authority that the other three were momentarily stilled. But the respite was brief. Olivia unleashed her fury in full force.

“If you think I’m going to let a Mexican girl and her brat lie sick and possibly die in my house, contaminating the rest of us, you are very much mistaken. Get Pepe to remove them at once, Jared. Let them take care of their own.”

Lauren turned to Jared, who had sobered considerably and was watching her closely through clear eyes. “Jared, if they go, I do, too. Would you have it said that Jared Lockett banished his wife to Pueblo?” she challenged.

He glanced toward his mother and said uneasily, “Lauren, those people are accustomed to epidemics. They die by the hundreds in San Antonio every few years from yellow fever. Pueblo doesn’t have proper sanitation to protect them from these diseases, and once one gets started, it runs rampant.”

“Then someone who has a lot of money and power should improve their sanitation system, shouldn’t he?” Her voice was an accusation. She wondered why these Locketts had ever intimidated her. Right now, she felt very strong.

Jared tried another tack. “It’s highly contagious, Lauren. Did you think of that? What’s to prevent you from catching it?”

She looked at him steadily. “I had it. When I was ten years old. I was ignored by a father terrified of disease and by a housekeeper angry with me for causing her so much extra work. It’s a wonder that I lived. I have not forgotten the misery and fear. I won’t let Elena suffer that way. Now am I to nurse her here or somewhere else?”

Olivia opened her mouth to speak, but Jared ordered, “Shut up, Mother.” His eyes never left Lauren’s face. They stared at each other long and hard. Her hand found its way to his arm and rested there as she gazed up at him suppliantly.

“All right,” he said finally. “Is there anything I can do?”

“No. Stay away from the rooms in the back of the house. I’ll have Rosa scrub everything with disinfectant as soon as possible. Thank you.” It was only when she tried to pull away that either of them became aware of his strong fingers trapping hers against his arm. Slowly, regretfully, they were released.

She didn’t look at Olivia or Carson as she moved out of the parlor. At the portiere, she turned and looked back at her husband. “I don’t think the baby will live.” He saw tears shining in the luminous eyes.