Dear God. Forsythia snatched the little girl up and held her upright against her own body to help her breathe. “There, little one. Sythia’s here. Try to breathe, Sofie.”
The coughing eased slightly, and Sofie drew several shuddering breaths, then started to cry.
Del sat up on the other side of the bed. “Is she all right?”
“I’m not sure. She was coughing dreadfully.” Forsythia rocked the little girl in her arms. Almost immediately, Sofie started to cough again, hacking barks that made Forsythia wince at the sound. “Del, can you get her some water?”
Del scrambled to her feet and lit a lamp, then dipped a tin cup into the water bucket they kept near the stove. “Here, little one.” She brought the cup near.
Sofie tried to drink, but she just kept coughing. Water spilled over onto her nightie and Forsythia’s.
“Can you get Lark?” Forsythia wrapped a blanket around the little girl and rubbed her back, trying to calm her. Crying certainly didn’t help the coughing.
A moment later, Lark knelt beside them. “Sounds like croup. I remember Jonah had it when he was little, and the coughing comes on sudden in the night. Ma used steam to calm Jonah’s down.”
“Let’s boil some water, then. Put some lavender and rosemary in the water from my kit. Those are supposed to help with breathing. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil.”
Lilac was up now and put a kettle on the stove. Thankfully, Robbie and Mikael still slept.
When the water boiled, Forsythia held Sofie so the fragrant steam could rise into her face. Lark settled a towel over their heads to hold in the steam. Though the coughing eased a bit, fits persisted, only giving the little girl a minute or so break between paroxysms. Her breath started to come in high-pitched wheezes.
“Try some warm water.” Lark added some hot water to the cold in the cup and offered it to Sofie.
The little girl choked, water dribbling out of her mouth. Grimacing, she twisted against Forsythia, fighting for breath.
“She’s not getting better.” Panic rose in Forsythia’s chest. “What else can we do?” She ran through her list of medicinal herbs in her head, but nothing else came to mind. Plus, if Sofie couldn’t drink, what good would they do?
“I don’t know.” Lark sat back on her heels. “I don’t remember Ma doing anything else, but I was still young at the time.”
Another coughing fit shook Sofie. Forsythia set her mouth and stood, hugging the little girl to her shoulder. “I’m taking her to Dr. Brownsville.”
Lark pushed to her feet. “Wouldn’t it be better if I fetch him here?”
“I’m afraid there might not be time.” Speaking the words gave shape to her fear, but her gut said she needed to go. Now. “It’ll be quicker just to take her there. Will you harness Starbright for me?”
“Of course. And I’ll drive.”
Del held Sofie while Lark and Forsythia yanked on dresses and boots, then they bundled Sofie into a blanket on Forsythia’s lap on the wagon seat.
“We will pray.” Lilac squeezed her hand, then let go. “Go with God.”
Lark clucked to Starbright. “Come on, girl. Show us your speed.”
Holding Sofie upright to help her breathe, Forsythia prayed with every step of the horse and jolt of the wagon. How could two miles seem so long?
At last the darkened shapes of buildings rose in the moonlight. Sofie’s coughing fits had grown weaker, the space between them longer. Forsythia kept feeling for the little girl’s breathing, her own breath fast with fear. Was she growing worse?
Please, Lord. Please, Lord.
25
A pounding downstairs jolted Adam awake.
His heart pumping hard, he yanked trousers over his nightshirt and clattered down the stairs. Midnight hammering on a doctor’s door was never good.
The knocking came again. Adam fumbled to light a lamp in his office, hurried to the door, and flung it open.
Larkspur Nielsen stood on the doorstep, a shadowy horse and wagon behind her. Was that Forsythia on the wagon seat, a bundle in her arms?
“Sofie’s got croup,” Lark said. “She’s not responding to anything we tried.”
“Let’s get her inside.” Adam strode to the wagon and reached up for Sofie. Cradling the child, he carried her into his office, followed by the sisters.
“Can you light another lamp, please?” He set Sofie on the examining table and loosened the blanket. “Let’s take a look at you, little one.”
Lark brought another kerosene lamp close.
“The paroxysms seemed to ease on the drive, but I don’t know if that means she’s better or worse.” Forsythia stayed close at Adam’s side. “She was having such a terrible time getting air before that we couldn’t even get warm water down her.”
Adam grabbed his stethoscope to listen to the tiny chest. Sofie lay quietly, her breathing hoarse, but it seemed to come without too much effort. She scanned the shadowy, lamplit office with wide eyes.
“She has some lung congestion, but I think you’re right, her breathing has eased.” Adam removed the listening pieces from his ears. “Cool night air can often calm an attack of croup. Taking her for a ride outside was probably the best thing you could do for her.”
“Really?” Forsythia pressed a hand to her mouth. “So we didn’t need to disturb you after all. I was so frightened.”
“No, I’m glad you did. Acute croup is nothing to be careless with, and children do die of it.”
Sofie coughed but not into a fit.
“That’s so much looser than it was.” Tears in her voice, Forsythia stroked Sofie’s hair. “Oh, thank you, Lord.”
“Let’s try some warm water or tea for her now.” Adam turned to Lark. “Would you stir up the fire in the stove? The kettle on top should still be full and perhaps warm.” He’d made tea himself in the evening, staying up late to plan for the town meeting he and Caldwell were putting together. He’d only been in bed an hour or so.
“Of
