A Terrible Tide by Suzanne Meade

Author:Suzanne Meade
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Second Story Press
Published: 2021-07-06T16:34:56+00:00

Chapter 9

Duck Stew

Thursday, November 21, 10:30 a.m.

Mom and Mrs. Taylor had managed an uneasy truce between them in the house. It was strange to see my mother defer to anyone, but when it came to decisions affecting everyone, she did just that. When it came to our family, though, she was as firm and fiery as ever. And she wasn’t shy about barking orders at the Taylor girls when their mother and grandmother weren’t around.

We’d been up with the sun again, seeing Nurse Cherry off on the next part of her journey. She was headed down the coast toward St. Lawrence and then Burin. She’d taken a look at Winnie after helping with Henry’s leg, frowning and leaving instructions that she only take short trips out of bed for a few days. A small stock of aspirin tablets had been cautiously handed over to Mom, who kept them in a battered tin in her apron pocket. Everyone knew they had to be used only when truly needed. With Nurse Cherry’s news of damage all along the coast at least as far as Lamaline, we had no idea when we might be able to get more. She’d not had many details to share about who might be lost, or dead, or missing, and some of our neighbors were worried sick about friends and family in the other towns nearby.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, Dinah and I sat sorting through random bits of clothing at my mother’s request. It seemed as if everyone who had anything extra had dropped it off to share with those who had none to speak of. I’d rather be doing something else, but Mom’s expression had left no room for questions or arguments. Even Dinah had quickly agreed to the task. I guessed we were looking for fresh outfits for everyone, or as many as we could manage. Definitely a full set of clothes for those like Maggie, who’d come through the disaster with only a nightgown.

We could hear a low rumble of voices from the kitchen as we worked—Nan, Mom, and Gran Taylor were discussing the food situation. We had so many mouths to feed—the seven of us, eight Taylors, plus Maggie Hollett—that it was really becoming an issue. All the dried cod had washed away, and the bay was so torn up, no one had been able to catch anything fresh. The folks crammed into the few other buildings weren’t faring any better.

“How’s Henry?” Dinah asked. “I haven’t seen him today.”

“He’s got a right dreadful cut on his leg. Mom thinks it must have been a nail in the scrap from the bridge that did it. She had to fix him up once we got him home. Although I’m sure she was glad for the help of a real live nurse.”

Dinah shuddered delicately. “It sounds awful. I’m glad there was someone experienced to help too. Did she have much to say about Winnie?”

I nodded, thinking of how queasy I’d felt looking at the cut.

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