The Love Knot by Karen Witemeyer

Author:Karen Witemeyer [Witemeyer, Karen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781493412013
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2018-02-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter

8

What do you mean, she won’t see me?” Pieter glared at the matronly woman barring his path into the Harper’s Station clinic.

After his conversation with Claire yesterday, he’d believed she was going to give him a chance to win back her trust, to prove his dedication. He couldn’t believe she’d shut him out less than twelve hours later. It wasn’t her nature to be so mercurial.

“She’s quarantined herself in her room,” Maybelle Curtis explained. Circles darkened her eyes, and her hair frizzed out around her bun as if she hadn’t seen her bed in days. “Won’t let me in, just shoved this letter under the door and out into the hall where I could find it.”

The midwife pulled two folded pages from her apron pocket and handed them to him. Pieter scanned the familiar handwriting, his heart aching and then pounding in concern. Claire had been exposed to the measles and was taking precautions to contain the spread of the disease.

She mentioned a family called Clark, outlining the care she’d given them and instructing Maybelle to inform Emma Shaw of the danger so the town could be warned. All people not previously exposed to the measles should avoid the Clark house for at least three weeks until the fever and rash had fully dissipated.

Then his gaze caught on his own name.

Tell Pieter I can’t see him. If complications arise, I might not be able to care for Liam. The lad will need his uncle.

Pieter glanced up at the healer. “What complications?”

Mrs. Curtis sighed and took the letter back from him. “Measles is considered a childhood disease. Usually nonfatal.”

Usually. Pieter’s jaw clenched. He recalled having the measles as a boy. The fever, the rash, the itching. The disease had swept through the tenement the year before Claire’s family arrived. Hundreds of people had fallen ill. Many had died, including a little girl who lived two doors down from his family.

“Most adults are immune after having measles in childhood,” Mrs. Curtis continued, “but children under age five and adults not previously exposed run a higher risk of complications.”

“Like death.” The word nearly choked him.

“Unfortunately, yes. Lung fever can develop, or even a swelling of the brain. Claire is still young, though,” the healer hurried to reassure, “only eighteen. Usually the worst cases afflict those much older. She’s just taking precautions. In a few weeks this will be past, and all will be well.”

In a few weeks . . . Pieter frowned, his mind spinning with all that would need to be done. Claire might have quarantined herself, but there was no way he was going to leave her to fight this battle alone.

He hated to keep the weary midwife from the bed she obviously longed to find, but he needed one more thing before he could go. “Can I borrow some paper and a pen?”

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