A Bitter Pill to Swallow by Landon Laura

Author:Landon, Laura
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Romance
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2023-07-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

The days went by in perfect harmony. Whenever James had a procedure he thought Jenny would benefit from watching, he called her into the room. He was impressed by her seriousness and the intensity with which she watched every move he made. When the procedure ended, she asked a multitude of questions, then wrote his answers down in her notebook.

“By the time we’re done, you’re going to know as much as I do,” he teased her one day after he had a patient with a knife wound he needed to treat. What he didn’t expect was her answer when he asked her what she would use to treat the wound.

“I would use a mixture of garlic, cinnamon, and ginger,” she said. “What would you use?”

“I would probably use garlic, cinnamon, and ginger.”

“You would not,” she said on a laugh.

“No. I’d treat it by keeping the wound clean and dry, then using warm compresses.”

“But you haven’t applied anything that will help heal the wound,” she said.

“No, but hopefully it will keep it from getting infected. There are some things that even modern medicine cannot prevent.”

“Then perhaps it might be wise to consider falling back on what herbal medicine can do,” she said.

He paused as if considering her words. “Perhaps you are correct. I would like to hear more about what your mother and grandmother would have done.”

“Would you really? Or are you just saying that?”

“No. I really would. This might be an area where I can learn from you.”

“Perhaps it might,” she said. “What are you most concerned with?”

James thought for a moment. “Infection. I am most afraid that the wound I just treated will become infected and there will be nothing I can do. What would you put on it?”

“Honey.”

James looked at her as if she had grown two heads. “Honey?” he asked.

“Yes. For years, honey has been used as an aid to reduce inflammation and infection. I would mix it with finely ground garlic powder.”

“You are serious, aren’t you?” he said in disbelief.

“Oh, yes. My mother and grandmother both used honey to prevent infection. And they used garlic for its infection-fighting abilities. These are herbal remedies that have been used for thousands of years.”

“Have you ever seen them work?”

“Oh, yes. Quite often.”

“Perhaps I should call our patient back after lunch and apply some honey to his wound.”

“Would you do that?”

“Of course I would. I would be very interested in evaluating the results. But first, I want to get something to eat. Would you like lunch?” he asked.

“I don’t have time today. I need to restock some of my herbs. I am dangerously low.”

“I’ll come with you, then. I’ll pick up lunch for us to eat, then help you gather your herbs, then we can eat.”

Jenny smiled, and James couldn’t help but match it.

“That sounds perfect. I will be in the forest south of my cottage.”

“I’ll meet you there after I pick up our lunch.”

Jenny put on her wrap and her bonnet, then went out the door.

James finished locking up, then went to the restaurant and ordered dinner for them, as well as a bottle of wine.

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