Haaaapy Friyay, Hearties! We’re inching closer to the first weekend in May! I got all excited, thinking it was this weekend, then I looked at my WCTH calendar, and realized I had miscounted my days! Sadness! But I’ll live…somehow. đ
Okay, I won’t keep you from the story any longer! Will anyone else get sick? Will Bill, Henry, and Mike succeed on their mission? Will Faith figure out how to make everyone well? Find out now! (At least in part.) And if you’ve missed parts 1 and 2, simply go to the 2 previous #FanFictionFriday posts. đ Enjoy Romance: Quarantined Part 3 by Sarah Nitsch and Kami Clements.
âAre you trying to hit every hole in the road? I think my backside has bounced into my throat by now!â Bill complained.
âWell, you and your backside had better become accustomed to a few bumps, Bill, because there is no way Iâm letting you get behind this wheel,â Henry grumbled.
Bill still wasnât the least bit pleased with the prospect of countless hours in the same vehicle as Henry Gowen. It had already been eight, and he was exhausted! He didnât like the feeling of not being in control of a dire situation, so to cover, he had to think of a way to fire back. âYou let Rosemary Coulter in that driverâs seat at Christmas.â
Henry grimaced, and inwardly cursed himself. He knew that decision would come back to bite him. Heâd had his reasons, but they werenât for Billâs ears. He had to retaliate, but he crafted his words carefully. âWould you have had me deny a pregnant woman a pram, and the whole town their Christmas dinner entrĂ©e?â
Mike sat in the back seat shaking his head and sighing. He rubbed a hand over his worn out face, then switched to massaging his sore neck. Heâd tried to refrain from looking back and forth between the two bulls locking horns, but to no avail; and it was beginning to take its toll…in the form of whiplash. After the first two hours, heâd tried breaking things up by talking about how great the weather was for the drive, and that they hadnât gotten stuck in any mud, not even once. That had been fruitless; Bill had just waved a lazy hand in his general direction, and plunged right back into whatever theyâd been arguing about. Maybe he should try again. Well, no time like the present!
Mike put a smile on his face, and scooted up in his seat, trying to put some distance between the two, hoping to get a word in edgewise. âBill!â he began cheerfully, clapping him on the shoulder.
Bill turned his glare to Mike, then Mikeâs hand on his shoulder, then Mikeâs face again. Mike timidly cleared his throat, and slid his fingers down the back of the seat until they met with his other hand, and clutched both together for dear life. He continued, but in a much more subdued tone. âUmâŠdid you hear aboutâŠthe new head saw Mr. Coulter ordered? It came in just before we left.â
âIs that a fact?â Bill asked unenthusiastically.
âYes, it did,â Henry proclaimed. âI installed it with a team myself, and it runs twice as fast. Weâll be able to double our production,â
âItâs a miracle the engine didnât burn out before we left!â Bill quipped snidely.
âAnd you think the town wonât burn down with the brand new Mountie you left in charge?â Henry retorted.
Mike blew his breath out his silent lips, realizing how futile his attempts were. He sat back in the seat, trying to get comfortable, resigned to tuning out the two carrying on. His head rested on his hand, and he groaned softly as he watched the scenery passing. âI should have brought a book!â
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Faith sat beside Dorothyâs cot, holding her little hand in her left, and wiping at tears with the back of her right. Gently and reverently, she let go of Dorothyâs tiny fingers, laid them at her side, then covered her face with the sheet. The back of her hand returned to her face, this time to muffle the sound of her crying. She was careful not to let her fingers touch her skin and spread germs, but felt she would explode if some of this emotion wasnât released!
Faith felt another hand ease onto her shoulder and instinctively grasped it tightly. âSheâs gone,â she said, more clarifying it out loud for herself than anything else. She couldnât believe it! A soft whimper escaped with the declaration.
âYou did everything you could,â came Mollyâs soothing reply.
But Faith wasnât soothed. âAnd yet, I still lost her!â Her voice was tinged with anger. In her entire career, she had only lost a handful of patients; certainly none of them were as young as four years old! Her hands balled into fists, and smacked her thighs. âIf only I had figured it out sooner!â
âFaith, calm down,â Florence advised somewhat sternly. She and Rosemary had joined them. âYou wonât do your other patients any good by making yourself upset.â
Rosemary piped up, but a little softer. âFaith, you canât do that to yourself. Youâll go crazy, and you know it.â She knelt to be closer to eye level with Faith, so she could make sure she was heard. âYou are a smart, capable, wonderful nurse, and you are doing an incredible job of caring for everyone, especially with Carson sick too.â
Faith emitted a small moan at the mention of Carsonâs name, and let her eyes wander to his still and weakened form. All three women followed her gaze.
âFaith, go!â Molly urged. Faith looked up at her. âReally, itâs alright. We know you want to so badly. Go sit with him, even just for a little while.â Molly looked to Rosemary and Florence to make sure that was agreeable with them, and both nodded eagerly.
Faith looked longingly at Carson, and even took a step in his direction. But she shook her head, shaking herself from that dream. âIâll give him his medication, but then I need to get back to work. We all should do the same.â
A brief look of concern passed between the other three. They recognized the signs of a woman staying busy to keep herself from worrying. At this point, however, it was better not to stop her.
âIâll have Jesse and Constable Grant take care of little Dorothy,â Rosemary volunteered.
âIâll go inform her parentsâŠpoor things,â Florence chimed in.
âAnd Iâll help you administer the medication to everyone,â Molly said on her way to the bar. She came back with the two bottles of quinine, and Faith was shocked to see how little was left. âItâs almost gone,â Molly noted nervously.
âI know,â Faith said with just as much concern. âWeâll be lucky if we make it two more days.â As long as no one else gets sick, her mind added.
Everyone dispersed, leaving her standing there, anxiously rubbing the bottle in her hands. She only hoped the men would come back soonâŠbefore she lost anyone else.
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âAre you sure weâre going the right way?â Henry asked skeptically. He, Bill, and Mike dodged their way in and out of peopleâs paths as they made their way down the streets of Toronto.
âOf course I am,â Bill said indignantly. âThe grocer said it was a right turn at the church, then straight down the street a ways. WE just needs to keep walking.â The three men were exhausted from the long train ride, but the adrenaline of being so close to the cure kept their feet moving.
Still, Henry continued his interrogation. âI just think we should be able to see it by now.â
Billâs blood was starting to boil. He was just about to take a swing at Henry on a public street when Mike said from behind them, âWell, what man hasnât gotten lost in a big city a timeâŠâ Bill and Henry stared him into submissive silence, but not before he finished with, âor two.â
They forged ahead about twenty more minutes before arriving at a large stone marquee that read âUniversity of Toronto: School of Medicineâ.
âAha!â Bill gloated. âI knew weâd find it. Now all we need is to find the stables.â He started charging at the first person he saw, which happened to be a young female student.
Henry caught him by the arm, and smiled smugly. âYouâll frighten the poor girl off. Allow me.â Henry made his way over to the young woman.
Bill and Mike watched Henry tip his hat politely, and engage her in conversation. Bill huffed. âWe donât have time for niceties.â He watched Henry a moment longer, then scoffed. âHe thinks heâs such a charmer.â
âWellâŠâ Mike began, but Bill gave him the look that could freeze fire. âNever mind.â
Henry tipped his hat to the young lady again, then rejoined the other two. âItâs just around this way,â he pointed.
They walked around the campus until they came to a large, weather-beaten, barn with a smaller side door. Bill heaved the door open, and stepped inside to find several people in aprons and lab coats, as well as many horses. Henry and Mike entered behind him.
âExcuse me!â Bill called out, and everyone looked up. âWeâre looking for Dr. John FitzGerald.â
A man came out of a stall in the middle of the barn, wiping his hands on a yellowed cloth. âIâm Dr. FitzGerald. How may I help you?â
Alrighty! We’ll see you next week Hearties! Ive got some great surprises in store! This is Hooked Heartie, signing off! May your heart let your hope blossom!