Chapter 3

Jason was finally settled down that evening ready to sleep. Although his hands were healing, the damage to the skin on his hands had been deep. In a small portion of his hands, the burn had penetrated below the skin surface down to almost reaching the tendons and bones. The doctor and nurse, Rose, felt that he might not regain the full use of his hands but with therapy would be able to feed himself and dress himself. The burns on his face would leave some scars but were not deep enough to cause too much concern. The use of Carron oil (a mixture of linseed oil and flaxseed or honey) had worked to retain moisture and soften the skin on his face as well as his hands.

When Jason had recovered enough the doctor had asked him if he remembered what happened.
"I seem to remember two small children, a staircase and a wall of fire. I can't remember anything else" Jason said with annoyance. He did not like it that he could not remember much!

"That is good, Jason," said the doctor as he checked the bandages around his hands and face. You seem to have been doing remarkably well, your eyesight is good, and you still are able to smile and move your facial muscles…"

"What about my hands? I am a logger; I need my hands!" Jason said with fear and anxiety in his voice.

The doctor looked at Rose and then at Jason,

"I am afraid I am not sure. It looks as if your hands were burned deeper than we first thought. Do you remember what you did or what you were thinking?"
Jason looked at the doctor and said: " I remember seeing those two children huddling under that staircase, I looked around and saw that the entire staircase would soon go up in flames and I just dove into the fire and then, I don't remember anything except that I woke up in the hospital one day and the next time was here in my own home."

The doctor had listened thoughtfully and said he would be back in a minute. He motioned for Rose to come out of the room with him. Jason's son was there, and the doctor asked if he could go sit with his father for a few minutes while he discussed something with the nurse. Jonathan nodded and went in to sit with his dad.

"Rose, what have you told him about his prognosis?"
"I really haven't said anything because I wanted to get your opinion before we told him anything. I feel that he if he still has the courage and intention of getting well and using his hands again, it may well be that he will be able to work again. I don't think he will be able to cut any logs or do much work with his hands anymore, but I know that his knowledge is still there, and he may find that he can keep abreast of his company as he gets better."

The doctor was thoughtful, then he said to Rose: "I would like for you to stay with him indefinitely until he has completely healed in body and spirit. I realize that he must be a burden to you at times and I want you to arrange to take some time off here and there and have another nurse to come to stay with him as well when you are on a break. "
Rose looked at the doctor. She had come the realization that she was infatuated with Jason Bolt and wanted to get to know him better but also knew that he needed to be healed before she or anyone other than family should emotionally get involved with him.

The doctor looked at her, he had known Rose since the war, they had worked together many times. He too had been infatuated with her but later realized that there was someone else he wanted to be with. He never proposed to her but thought of her as a sister and an especially good nurse who would have made a very fine doctor.

"Ted, I want you to know that whatever my feelings for him I will wait to be sure that he is completely healthy."
"Rose, I knew you would say that! Do you know you have been like a sister to me and I feel like a brother to you so I want to take care of you as well? I don't want to see you get hurt or him for that matter. I will do what I can to help you financially and also to find another nurse to help him as well.
"Ted, I agree about getting someone else and that is a good idea, there are many in this town of Seattle who would help him and who have learned to care for him. His brother Jeremy and sister-in-law Candy, his son Jonathan, and many of the other women who live here who I have heard have him to thank for taking care of them as well as helping them to find husbands. "

At this the doctor looked up with a question and Rose continued

"Most if not all of the women who live here were brought about 20 or so years ago to marry the loggers here in Seattle. Jason took control and like a big brother or a father figure, made sure that each woman was able to stay for a full year and marry!"

"I seem to remember reading something like that Rose. If you can get the women and the men to help, I am sure you will get some rest as well as Jason will get cared for properly. You will have to teach them more of how and what to do. I trust that you will be able to determine who would be able to do whatever you would delegate to them. Remember, we don't want an infection or sepsis to set in, that would cause permanent damage or worse death!"

Returning to the bedroom the doctor asked Jonathan:

"Can you get the rest of your family here in an hour or so? I need to talk to them before I leave!"

Jonathan nodded his head yes and went out to let his family know to meet the doctor in Jason's room while he was out the doctor spoke to Jason:

"Jason, this is Doctor Wallenstein. You can call me Ted. Rose and I have known each other since the war, and she have worked on burn patients before…."
Jason looked at him and said:

"I seem to remember hearing this before but not sure where?"
"You have, at the hospital in Olympia. I was there attending others who had been in the fire. Your case was the worst. You have been in and out for several months. But it seems as if you are healing well. "

"So, get on with its doctor, what do I need to know, when can I get back to work on my logging?"

"Jason, you will not be able to do that yet. Your wounds to your hands need to heal some more, the scars on your face also need healing. I am not all that sure that your…"
Jason cut him off: "What do you mean I have to wait for my hands to heal! I am ready to go out and cut a few trees down, let me get out of this bed and show you!" He attempted to use his hands to push himself up onto the edge of the bed, however, the slightest touch made him wince, (he would not scream) in pain. He looked at the doctor and then to Rose…
"Jason, please sit still. I will help you lay back against the pillows! Your bandages may need to be changed, as well, since they were shifted slightly as you pushed on the bed."
He looked at her with confusion as Rose rebandaged his hands. There was some fear in his eyes.

Jason thought about the predicament he was in. What if he could not work with his hands, what could he do? Would he still be useful? His heart hurt as if it was breaking! How could he help his brothers, their family, his son? Would he spend the end of his days sitting in Lottie's and drinking and just telling stories? Where was his Shakespeare, he needed to find out what to do?"

Rose saw this and hurt for him. She could say or do nothing to help the questions he had in his mind. Rose told the doctor that she needed to leave the room for a while. When she went out to the front of the cabin, she noticed a picture of Jason, when he was younger, his eyes had a certain light, and he was smiling. He was so very handsome. She took the picture without thinking and left the cabin to go for a short walk. She had tears in her eyes and was doing her best not to cry.