Chapter Seventeen Stirring Up a Hornet's Nest 17/21

They raced into the house and met his brothers in the foyer. Elizabeth took the stairs two at a time. Audra and Isabella were in the hall teary. She burst into the room with Jarrod right behind her. Dr. Merar was by her bedside with a crying Katarina and worried Victoria. Camellia's face was swollen beyond recognition and her breathing was labored. Both of her hands were swollen and the doctor was putting ice on them.

"What happened?" she cried.

Katarina answered with pain in her voice, "She saved Tab's life. They were playing catch and the ball hit a hornet's nest in the woods. They swarmed and attacked. Camellia threw herself on him. Dr. Merar says he wouldn't have survived it. Valeria is in the next room with tens of stings herself. She told us what happened. She carried both children to Rosa and collapsed herself. Camellia hasn't been conscious and Rosa said she stopped breathing a couple of times."

"Oh dear God please" was all Elizabeth could say.

Jarrod asked Dr. Merar, "Howard?"

He took Elizabeth's hand. "It's touch-and-go. I have done a tracheostomy to help her breathe. Her throat was closing up with all the swelling." and he lifted up the linen cloth covering it to show them.

Elizabeth gasped and her knees weakened. Jarrod caught her and sat her by the bedstead.

"I will stay the night. You may need me, Jarrod. Also, Victoria, send someone to the ice house. We will need it and more cold compresses."

"I am going to check on Tab. Nick is with him. He has about ten stings." she looked at Elizabeth, "She saved him. His little body couldn't have withstood what she and Valeria did" and Katarina ran out of the room crying.

Nick was holding Tab and rocking him as he slept; He couldn't quit trembling himself and kissing his son. He had faced death and a gun pointed at him more times than he could recall, and he was reduced to sheer fear of almost losing his son.

He looked at Katarina as she entered, "Nicholas, it does not look well. They have cut her neck for her to breathe...a tracheostomy" with her lilted Russian accent.

"Oh dear God" and Nick closed his eyes.

Valeria's hands and eyes were swollen but she was able to talk. Rosa was putting cold compresses on her but she wanted to go check on Camellia. She blamed herself despite the fact that she likely saved both children by getting them to the house so quickly despite her own stings. Rosa had counted at least 50 marks on the young girl.

Isabella and Audra were going between the rooms to help and deliver cool compresses for the patients.

Eugene and Heath went out to feed and help the men bring the animals around for the evening. They unhitched the buggy and brushed the horses down. Anything to keep busy

Jarrod just sat quietly beside Elizabeth holding her hand as Dr. Merar and Victoria ministered ice and cold compresses for several hours.

"Mother, why don't you get some rest? It's going to be a long night". Jarrod put his arm on Victoria. She shook her head "but I will go check on the others"

She found Nick and Katarina in bed holding a sleeping Tab between them. Rosa was still beside Valeria as she had finally drifted off the sleep. Her face was unrecognizable with swelling still.

The midnight found Camellia breathing better and trying to open her eyes. Elizabeth sweetly sang over her while Dr. Merar administered a sedative. "She needs to rest so her body can heal. I don't want her touching her face or throat "

Jarrod asked Howard as he stepped out, "She's better right?"

"Ask me in the morning, Jarrod"

Elizabeth had never sung around Jarrod before. They had all heard Isabella's clear, amazing soprano but Elle's deeper alto voice was extraordinary. Jarrod thought he could listen to that voice forever and he planned to.

Camellia immediately calmed with her mother's voice and reached her swollen hands toward her. Elle held them and kept singing until the sedative took hold.

Jarrod took over the cold compresses while Elizabeth dozed around 3 am. He found himself praying over this small child. It had been a long time since he talked to God in such a personal way and it felt so right. She was meant to be his daughter.

Morning broke and Howard was able to remove the cannula he had put in. He stitched her up and bandaged her neck. The sooner he could get it out the less chance of infection could set in

"She won't be able to talk much for a day or two until the healing starts. After that, a whisper or so. I am going to check on the others and head home. I will be back around supper time. Tell Silas to fix me a plate "

Jarrod felt much better with the doctor making a joke. He knew that most of the danger had passed. "Bring Iva, we would all like to see her."

He did take him aside, "You might want to prepare Elizabeth that there is going to be an ugly scar. It will heal up but it won't go away. But Jarrod, I was losing her."

Jarrod nodded in understanding, "We are just grateful you saved our little girl."

Nate, Todd, and Ben headed back to the Cattleman's for the weekend. They did not want to impose on this family in a time of crisis. They did return later in the weekend to check on Camellia with a new doll, suckers, and a book from the general store.

Isabella was asleep in one of the recently vacated guest rooms and Valeria was in the other. Jarrod finally got Elizabeth to agree to a nap. She had been sleeping on the trundle and he was in the armchair. He took her to his bedroom and turned down the covers.

"Just sleep in here for a nap. I will have someone get you if there is any change, I promise. I will be just down the hall in Heath's bed."

He kissed her on the forehead and said, "Sweet dreams my love, our little girl is sleeping well." and he closed the door.

She rolled over and smelled Jarrod's pillow. It smelled like his bay and cigars. She got up and took her corset off. It was pinching her as she lay down. While removing it, she saw Jarrod's burgundy velvet robe over the chair. She went over and picked it up. It smelled just like him too. She put it on over her chemise and went to sleep holding his pillow.

By Sunday, all three patients were sufficiently healed enough for Howard to pronounce, "They have turned a corner.".

Camellia's tracheostomy scar would take days to heal but she had already reduced the number of sedatives. She was staying awake for longer periods too and wanting to move around. Eugene brought out his puppets from the attic and would converse with her in nonsensical words as long as she stayed quiet. They made up hand signals. Jarrod kept her still by reading Black Beauty to her for hours. Tab came down with his parents to check on his friend almost hourly. The twins even calmly sat on the bed and sang her a ditty they learned. Heath and Isabella snuck the kitten up to her room for an hour. Victoria would have a fit if she saw a cat in her house. Audra brushed her hair out and brought her a new nightdress she cut down the night before. And Valeria would come with Rosa to feed her broth. And Elizabeth sat in the big armchair, watching it all, and her heart was full, this is what family feels like.

Late Sunday night, the young attorneys and Nate came out for supper and to decide what to do about the case. Jarrod was ready with the others to ask for a continuance.

Elizabeth disagreed. "I feel like I can leave Camellia with the ladies. I want to get this over with."

They all went over Jarrod's closing statements to make sure all the charges were covered. He had the copy of the deed ready and all of his notes. They would take Nick, Eugene, and Heath with them in case of trouble. Ciego and McColl could guard the ladies as they watched the patients.

It was time for this to end.