Blake, Jennifer by Southern Rapture

Author:Southern Rapture [Rapture, Southern]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-03-12T04:12:34+00:00

CHAPTER 11

Lettie had a feeling about the appointment with the Thorn, and it was not a good one. A dozen times she decided she would not go, and just as often, as she thought of the relief and hope that had appeared on Johnny's face when she and Aunt Em had told him what they had done, she changed her mind again. It was extraordinary to her how much confidence both Johnny and Aunt Em could place in the Thorn, given the stories circulating about him. It was almost as if they were willfully ignoring his more discreditable exploits. She could not forget them, any more than she could forget the night in the corncrib. That she was returning there of her own will was beyond belief. She could not feel that any good would come of it. Ill-conceived, ill-fated, how could the entire project be anything but a disaster?

She was not surprised when things began to go wrong during the morning of the day before the one that was set for the meeting.

Aunt Em, going into the poultry yard to feed her flock, spotted a fat hen that looked perfect for a pot of chicken and dumplings for dinner. She gave chase in her most stealthy and experienced fashion. Just as she bent over to snatch the hen's legs from under her, a pugnacious rooster came fluttering up in defense and spurred Aunt Em in the arm.

The wound bled profusely but was not deep. On the older woman's instructions, Lettie washed it with soap and water and tied it up with a bandage. Aunt Em went about her work. The hen was caught and put into the pot. By late evening, however, the older woman's arm had swelled and was extremely tender. Aunt Em rested it upon the table and enjoyed her meal of dumplings.

With the morning, Lettie's landlady was listless, and she turned white around the mouth at the sight of food. She was feverish, and there were angry red streaks running up her arm. The doctor was sent for and, when he came, recommended soaking the arm in hot water to which a carbolic solution had been added. Aunt Em obeyed the instructions, also soaking it in hot salt water. The redness and swelling began to subside, but the fever and infection had made the older woman, as she herself put it, as weak as dishwater. She was obviously in no condition to go rambling over the countryside at night.

So Johnny and Lettie set out alone. The two of them elected to ride instead of driving the buggy. It would not only be quieter and faster, but it would give them more freedom of movement should the need arise. The sidesaddle found for Lettie was an old one with most of the padding gone from the seat and knee rest, a lack she was going to feel come morning, but its benefits outweighed that drawback.

The riding habit she had brought South with her was of wool crepe and much too heavy.

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