Part 1: Chapter 14: 1887 Red Deer, Alberta
The Cavalry Arrives
May 1st, 1887
Dear Ophelia,
James and Nate spent most of the day together so that the household and I could put together a birthday celebration for Colleen. We had a tea party in our yard with the newly returned Clarke family. They are kind people! I see why they are such good friends. I made sure to stay a safe distance from them, but I drew some pictures of the party for you and Colleen. James is bringing those by on her birthday, in addition to the present Nate picked out for her.
During the party, the Clarkes offered to take Nate with them so that my health wouldn't be compromised unnecessarily. I could tell their hearts were in the right places, but my heart froze at having to give him to anyone but you and your husband. Still, we gave Nate a choice, and he chose to stay here. Everyone in the house was happy that he chose to stay.
I am sorry that Archie and Colleen are not doing any better. James and I haven't heard anything from our contacts, but when we do, James will ride out specially to let you know. Please, try and take care of yourself as well! It wouldn't behoove anyone in your family if you got more sick because of your stress!
As for your last paragraph, I thank you for your kind words. But you haven't seen me in person. I am quite weak on a good day, and on bad days I can't get out of bed. I also have physical facial deformities that scare people who don't know me. I wear wigs and veils when in company of anyone not in my household. Nate was actually the first exception to this rule of mine. But since James didn't have time to warn me about his presence, I didn't get completely covered on the day he brought Nate home.
I do want to comment on the job well done with raising Nate. I wore a wig and veil at the party. This confused Nate, but he waited until bedtime to ask about them. I told him the truth, which is that they protect me from mean people because they aren't used to my level of ugly. Nate replied firmly and sincerely that I was pretty and kind. This is the first time that anyone besides James has seen my natural looks and called me pretty. You have raised a very kind and polite little boy, Ophelia.
Send our birthday wishes to Colleen!
Your friend,
Edith N.
On May 3rd, just as Normandeau was coming out of the Mercantile with some supplies for infected families, the stage coach from Calgary was currently stopped and letting out two of its passengers. Normandeau watched them for a little bit, when he realized he knew the two women collecting their bags.
"Nurse Jones, Nurse Baker!" Normandeau greeted as he waved at them.
"Lieutenant Normandeau," Nurse Jones greeted an older, straight laced woman. Nurse Jones had worked in hospitals in Calgary her whole adult life, so she knew how to handle tough cases.
"Hello," Nurse Baker replied with a smile. She was younger than Nurse Jones, but had a more approachable bedside manner.
"When I got your letter about the Typhoid Fever business, I decided to come straight here. Nurse Baker heard about me leaving and insisted she come too," Nurse Jones said matter-of-factly.
"I figured if the letter came from you, there must be a dire need. After all, with Edith's medical history, you have pretty good running knowledge about a lot of medical issues and how to treat them from home. What is the situation here?" Nurse Baker asked.
"The Grant family, the ones I wrote about, are the first cases of Typhoid in the area. Mr. Grant and the daughter, Colleen, are almost beginning their third weeks with it. Mrs. Grant, according to the doctor, doesn't have it yet. But she is having trouble keeping up with their need for constant care. The doctor worries about her immune system becoming compromised with her stress levels the way they are," Normandeau explained.
"There is a fourth member, isn't there?" Nurse Baker asked kindly.
"Yes, Nate. He is a healthy little boy. He is staying with Edith and me," Normandeau replied with a smile of his own.
"Edith must be enjoying that!" Nurse Baker said in happiness.
"Yes, she is," Normandeau smiled fondly.
"I would like to get to the Grant house as soon as possible. If they are almost into the third week, this could be a rough time for the Grants," Nurse Jones said anxiously.
"Of course, let me get a wagon hitched up. I will take you there myself," Normandeau quickly left them to get one of the wagons from the fort.
Soon Normandeau, Constable Jilot, and the nurses, drove the wagon into the Grant yard and pulled up to the outside of the house. Constable Jilot went around the back to take care of the animals, while Normandeau and the nurses put on masks. Normandeau then knocked at the front door. No one answered. He knocked again and called out to Mrs. Grant. She still didn't answer. Normandeau tried the door, but it was locked. He went around the back and tried that door. But it was locked as well. He then tried to see if any of the bottom windows were open or unlatched. The only one he could find unlatched was one too small for him to crawl through and not near a door. So he got out his lock picking kit and went to the front door again.
"MRS. GRANT?" Normandeau pounded on the door again, before trying to break in.
She still didn't come to the door. So he used his kit on the front door. The door was soon open, and he stepped through the door and looked around. The house was quiet and still. There was no sign of Mrs. Grant downstairs, and it looked as if she hadn't come down yet today, which was odd for that time of day.
"Mrs. Grant?" Normandeau called out into the house.
"Mr. Norman?" Colleen's voice called back.
"Ms. Grant, is your mother with you?" Normandeau asked through the door.
"*cough, cough* No, I haven't seen her today," Colleen replied.
"Ms. Grant I am sending a nurse in to help with you right now. I have another nurse with me, and we will find and help your mother, okay?" Normandeau said.
"Oookaay…" her voice trailed off in sleepiness.
Nurse Baker, didn't need any further instructions and went into the room where Colleen was.
"Hello, Colleen. My name is Nurse Baker. I am going to take a look at you and see how things are going," she said as she had entered then shut the door.
Normandeau walked down the hallway to the next sets of doors. This is where the guest room and the bathroom were located. The bathroom door was partially open and Normandeau could see a pair of slippered feet laying across the floor.
"Mrs. Grant?" Normandeau asked while knocking on the door. The door stopped against a heavy object, and he heard a moan inside. Normandeau slipped inside and found Ophelia Grant laying weakly on the floor. She wasn't sweating, so no fever, but she had dark circles around her eyes. She didn't look like she was focusing on anything at the moment.
"Nurse Jones, will you take a look at her?" Normandeau asked.
Nurse Jones quickly traded places with Normandeau. She checked her vitals and reflexes. Ophelia Grant was, thankfully, not suffering from Typhoid Fever.
"Lieutenant?" Nurse Jones asked him back inside the bathroom.
"Yes?"
"Will you get her downstairs? She needs to sleep," Nurse Jones responded.
"Can't sleep, gotta take care of…" Mrs. Grant mumbled.
"The nurses are here to help, Mrs. Grant. You need to rest," Normandeau replied.
"I can't get up," Mrs. Grant whispered.
"I can help you with that," Normandeau said as he picked her up to carry her to the makeshift bedroom in her living room. Nurse Jones followed them down the stairs. Once Normandeau put her on the couch, Nurse Jones pulled out a pill bottle and shook it into her hand.
"Mrs. Grant, this will help you sleep," Nurse Jones said as she handed one to Mrs. Grant. "I want you to sleep while I look at your husband and daughter."
Mrs. Grant nodded drowsily. Nurse Jones pulled up the blanket to cover Mrs. Grant's body. Normandeau put the letters from Edith on the desk. Then Normandeau led her upstairs to where Mr. Grant was sick in bed.
"Do you need assistance?" Normandeau asked.
"No, I will do what I need to do alone. But check on Nurse Baker and Colleen," Nurse Jones said as she got ready to help Mr. Grant. Normandeau nodded; then walked to the other doorway again. He knocked before entering.
"Mr. *cough* Norman. How is *cough* mama?" Colleen asked when she saw him. Little Colleen looked weaker than he had ever seen a person, including Edith. He was glad for his training as he would have visibly and audibly startled seeing such a strong, spirited girl so emaciated. Her brown hair was shiny with sweat and oil. Her face and little arms were gaunt and skeletal. Colleen was only sitting up since the pillows were propping her up.
"Your mother is very tired, and she needed to rest," Normandeau replied. "Happy birthday, by the way."
Colleen gave him a half smile in response. She quickly fell asleep. Normandeau and Nurse Baker left the room and stood in the hallway.
"How is she?" Normandeau asked shakily.
"Better than most six-year-olds are at this stage. But the next two weeks are definitely a turning point for her. A lot can potentially happen," Nurse Baker whispered. Normandeau sucked in a hard breath as he fought back some tears.
"You seem closer to this family than others," Nurse Baker observed as she put a calming hand on his arm.
"The Grants are a special family. They were the first to be kind to me in Red Deer. And seeing them interact with each other and with others, is inspiring. Colleen and Nate are very close. I can't imagine the pain Nate would go through if she were to pass away," Normandeau explained.
"Nate has become quite close with you?" Nurse Baker observed as well.
"Yes. With all of us," Normandeau replied.
Nurse Baker nodded in understanding, but their conversation was interrupted by Nurse Jones coming out of Mr. Grant's room.
"Let's go downstairs," Nurse Jones suggested as she closed the door behind her.
When they got downstairs they found Ophelia Grant sitting up and reading the letters from Edith.
"Mrs. Grant, I told you to sleep!" Nurse Jones reprimanded.
"I have gotten used to napping for about twenty minutes and waking up to continue on my work," Ophelia replied, exhaustion still lacing her voice.
"Which is why you collapsed in your bathroom, Mrs. Grant," Nurse Jones added.
Ophelia Grant and Nurse Jones stared at each other for long moments.
"How is Mr. Grant?" Nurse Baker asked.
"He is at a critical point. He is starting to develop bronchitis, and he will need almost constant care for the next two weeks," Nurse Jones explained matter-of-factly.
"Colleen is not developing anything like that yet, but she is also still very weak and wants to sleep," Nurse Baker added.
"Are we splitting shifts then?" Ophelia asked.
"Mrs. Grant, you are suffering from exhaustion," Nurse Jones said.
"I know I am tired, but I can still help," Ophelia said.
"No, exhaustion is a medical diagnosis. It means that your body needs sleep and rest and care, or it will start to fail you," Nurse Baker replied kindly.
"What does that mean?" Ophelia asked.
"You can't help us take care of Mr. Grant or your daughter until you have overcome the exhaustion diagnosis," Nurse Baker said.
"How do I do that?"
"Bed rest, proper meals, no stress," Nurse Baker replied. "Your recovery time will take as long as Colleen's and Mr. Grant's most critical times with Typhoid."
"Actually Mrs. Grant, I want you out of the house while you are on bed rest," Nurse Jones spoke harshly.
"Why?" Mrs. Grant replied.
"Because we cannot trust you to follow the directions we give you. You won't have the stress of hearing what is going on upstairs, nor the temptation to go up them. I have seen people break rules for less," Nurse Jones replied.
"I would worry about them, though," Mrs. Grant argued back.
"But it would not be so easy for you to go to them," Nurse Jones replied.
"Where am I supposed to go?" Mrs. Grant asked in annoyance.
"You can stay with…" Normandeau started.
"NO, absolutely NOT! I will not put your wife at risk. The whole reason you have Nate is because we could get him sick! NO!" Mrs. Grant interrupted.
"Mrs. Grant if you haven't contracted it yet, then it is unlikely you will. However, you can stay at an inn for a few days, just to make sure," Nurse Baker said.
"Will the inn suffice, Mrs Grant?" Normandeau asked her.
Mrs. Grant took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
"Yes, I can go to the inn. I will need some simple, easy foods to feed myself because I don't want to expose anyone unnecessarily," she finally replied.
"I will go speak to them this afternoon. Tomorrow morning, I will come back to take you to the inn," Normandeau replied.
"We will help her pack her bags later," Nurse Baker smiled at everyone.
May 3rd, 1887
Dear Edith,
Today, I collapsed in the bathroom. Your husband and two nurses found me. The nurses seem helpful enough with Colleen and Archie. Nurse Jones immediately took over and set up a schedule for the two of them to take care of things in the house. I had to show them where our stove was and our bathroom's tub. I also showed them where we do laundry. They are very efficient at what they do. Synchronized. However, I cannot help but dislike Nurse Jones. She is a hard woman, and she has stated things to me, about my own diagnosis, that rubs me the wrong way. Nurse Baker is sweet. It is a good thing they work together, because I think I might have thrown Nurse Jones out!
They said I am suffering from exhaustion as a medical diagnosis, not from Typhoid. And they said that I cannot stay in my own house while I am recovering from it. Your husband is checking with the inn about me staying there. I will probably be there tomorrow.
Colleen loved her picture of Nate and the Clarke sisters you drew! And Nate's birthday present! She was more like her old self for a few minutes. (I had only been allowed up stairs to see Colleen because Colleen is sleeping in my bed, and I needed to get to my clothes.) She put the picture where she would see it when she wakes up. I have to say that Nate looked adorable in his outfit! Colleen and Archie are both at a turning point in the next few weeks. It sounds like Colleen's chances of survival are higher, though.
As for me not having seen you in person, Edith Normandeau, I am not the type of person to give false hope about these things! Archie and I tried for years to have a baby! I had so many miscarriages in the early days of our marriage. We always lost them in the first trimester. When Colleen's pregnancy finally took, I was ecstatic! Then Nate came! We lost another one after Nate was born, so we decided to stop at that point and just be grateful we were blessed with two. But before Colleen was born, we had been seriously looking into adoption. This is how I know what orphanages look like in cities. I know that they try to find families with good, stable, caring homes. While you can be weak, you have your family to help you with it! I know this because of how much care and love I see you put into the effort of taking care of Nate. I truly believe adoption is the pathway for your third goal of motherhood.
Thank you for the compliment, but I am going to say what Nate couldn't. You are not ugly, Edith, because you have a beautiful soul. Nate has always been an excellent judge of character, and he sees that in you. So, naturally he would see you as pretty. I am sorry people are cruel to you without knowing you! But Nate is right. Especially when he describes you as kind. You have taken in a strange child and taken the time to write to me everyday. You also made sure that Colleen's birthday was celebrated, something you most certainly didn't have to do! I don't know anyone who has as generous a heart as you!
I will be staying at the inn as of tomorrow, so I think you will be hearing about my family's progress sooner than I will! I would still like to write though. It will give me something to do in this boring time, where I will be on bedrest. Give Nate a lot of hugs and kisses from us!
Sincerely,
Ophelia
James Normandeau watched as his wife read Mrs. Grant's letter multiple times, as she was trying to process everything that Ophelia had said and not said, but inferred in the letter.
"James, what didn't she say about the collapse?" Edith asked.
"She had been on the floor most of the morning and didn't have the strength to get up. I had to break into their house in order to get inside," James replied. Edith's eyes went wide, then reread the letter again.
"James, have you seen Colleen or Mr. Grant?" Edith asked.
"Only Colleen," James replied with a sigh.
"How is she?"
"Obviously very sick. She hasn't been eating properly and sleeps most of the day and night," James replied as he got a far away look in his eye.
"What do the nurses think?"
"Colleen is doing better than most girls her age, but the next two weeks are critical. Her chances are about fifty-fifty."
"What about Mr. Grant?"
"Worse. He is developing bronchitis," James replied.
Edith reread the letter again.
"Nurse Jones knows that Ophelia loves her family so much that she would put her own recovery and health at risk to take care of them. That is why she ordered Ophelia out of their house. But putting Ophelia in an inn by herself is crazy! She would have nothing for a distraction. No one to check on her."
"Ophelia requested that she be put alone at the inn. She doesn't want to possibly contaminate anyone else," James replied.
"Of fiddle faddle!" Edith responded.
"She is serious about this."
"Is the inn okay with her staying there?" Edith asked.
"It took some convincing, I will admit. And they are probably going to over charge her," James replied.
Edith looked pensive for a moment.
"James, Ophelia Grant is not staying at the inn! At least no longer than necessary. She can stay until they are confident that she doesn't have Typhoid Fever. In the meantime, we will prepare our other bedroom for her. What do we need to do to make the house safe?" Edith asked firmly, a fire of determination he hadn't seen in her eyes in quite some time.
I just wanted to say thanks for the kind words from last week's post! I also wanted to remind you that this is the last weekly post I will be posting for a while. I am working on the story, but I will be working pretty much everyday now (teaching and retail!).
Let me know what you think of the chapter.
Best,
DragonHeart2006