Uncertainty played across the midwife’s eyes.“I’ll do the best I can.”
George didn’t want to leave, but he trustedthe midwife would take good care of her. He stepped outside thedoor and as soon as it snicked shut began pacing. He didn’teven know the woman’s name, but she was all he could thinkabout.
Time stood still like molasses in January.Had she breathed in too much smoke? Did he get to her in time?
* * * *
George sat by her bedside in a ladderbackwooden chair, holding vigil. Atfirst her irregular breathing frightened him, but throughoutthe night her raspy breaths hadgrown more even. Every time she stirred, George’s heart beatfaster, and he prayed she’d open her eyes.
Mrs. Brown entered and handed him a cup ofcoffee. “Do you work in the morning?”
George stared at his burned feet. “I was.”Working seemed highly unlikely. He’d have to go down and explainwhat happened if he wanted a good recommendation to work on anothersteamboat.
Hopefully,this woman would wake before he had to leave. At the least hewanted to know her name. He sipped the strong coffee. “Thankyou.”
The midwife pulled another chair over and satnext to him. “I noticed you were walking gingerly. When were yougoing to say something?”
“I’m not concerned for myself only for her,”he mumbled into his cup.
“I’ve done all I can for her. She just needsto rest. You better let me tend to your burns if you think you’regoing to walk anywhere tomorrow.” Her voice carried motherlysternness.
He wasn’t going to argue. She peeled off theremnants of his shoes and he bit his tongue.
“Do you want something for the pain?”
He shook his head. He’d tough it out.
The midwife cleaned the burns, put a soothingsalve on them, and then bandaged his feet. She left and returnedholding a pair of slightly worn shoes. “These were my husband’s. Ithink they’ll fit you.”
“I can’t—”
“I don’t have use for them.”
George nodded. “Thanks.”
A murmuring sound drew George’s attention tothe bed. The woman’s eyes fluttered open.
“Thank God,” George whispered. He rose andlimped over to her.
She studied him with a hazy expression. Hecould tell the wheels in her mind were turning slowly.
“We’ve been waiting for you to come around.Can you tell us your name, miss?” George asked.
“Allison,” the woman said, her voiceweak.
“I’m George.” He pointed at his chest. “Andthis is Mrs. Brown. She’s a midwife and has been taking care ofyou.”
Allison’s expression changed from confused touncertain to angry, unable to settle on one emotion. The poor womanhad been through so much. He wanted to do something to help her, tocomfort her. He reached out and gently held her hand.
Colordrained from her face, her whole body turned stiff and shescreamed.
George let go of her hand and took a stepback. There were no burns on her hand. “Did I hurt you?”
She didn’t answer. The terror in her eyesclamped shut the chambers in his heart.
The midwife padded around the other side ofthe bed and barely touched her arm. “It is all right, honey,” shecooed. “George saved your life. He’s not going to hurt you.”
Allison’s tense muscles relaxed a fraction.She didn’t take her eyes off of him, watching him as closely asprey eyeing the hunter. “Why’d you save me?” her words carried apainful bite.
George blinked. Wasn’t that obvious? Did shewant to die? “You were in trouble. You needed help…” George rubbedthe back of his neck, trying to dissolve the tingling sensation.She was young and beautiful and he had a hard time keeping hisvoice natural.
Allison made a sound that was cross between a sigh and a grunt, but her eyeslightened.
A large lump rose in his throat and heswallowed hard. “I-I’m sorry, Allison. I didn’t mean to scare you.”Warmth spread to his ears.
He turned his attention to the midwife. “Mrs.Brown, can Allison stay with you until she is well?”
“Of course.” The midwife’s wrinkled facesoftened. “It will be nice having company for a while.”
George smiled, relief rushing through hisveins. “When I come back I will pay you more. Just take good careof her.”
The old woman nodded.
Before leaving, he took one last look at Allison. She had closedher eyes again. Was she asleep? She had to be traumatized after thefire. She needed time. When he returned she’d be more receptive. Hewanted to kiss her lips and tell her everything was going to befine.
“Sweet dreams, Allison,” he whispered.
“I’ll be right back, honey,” Mrs. Browncalled over her shoulder and followed George out of the room. Thetwo of them strolled down the hallway to the front door. Shestepped into the night air with him. “Give her time, George. Shehas been through more than we will ever realize.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She cocked her head and eyed him. After asecond her mouth cracked in a toothy grin. “You want to get to knowher better, I see.”
George’s cheeks heated and unable to formwords, he nodded.
Heavinesssettled on his shoulders and a question kept repeating in his mind.Would Allison want to know him better? And why did she not want tolive? What had frightened her so?
Chapter 5
A COOL HAND brushed her forehead. Allisonopened her eyes, her head pounding.
“Good morning, dear,” Mrs. Brown said.
It wasn’t a good morning. She should be dead.Allison groaned, the woman’s cheerfulness grated on her tatterednerves.
Mrs. Brown grabbed another pillow and proppedher up so she sat in bed. “How do you feel?”
Weak, fragile, exhausted, and bitter. Allisondrew in a deep breath. “Like I was in a burning house,” she saidwith a sarcastic air.
“Yes, I’m sure.” Mrs. Brown eased into achair next to the bed
Mrs. Brown smoothed out the wrinkles in herplain olive dress. “I’d like to talk to you about that.”
“What is there to say?” This was not aconversation she wanted to have.
“How did the fire start?”
Allison licked her dry lips. “I don’t know.”The thought of being arrested for starting the fire and murderingGrier landed on her like a gravestone. Were they alreadyinvestigating? Was there a constable waiting to talk to her? Mrs.Brown radiated calm. She didn’t act like a lawman was breathingdown her neck. “Are they talking about the fire?”
“I suppose. Fires are always big news, but Ihaven’t left the house since George brought you here.”
“Oh.”
