Luke rode up to his house shouting for Anyata and the woman came out on the porch. "What is wrong?" She saw the baby and ran to take her.
"You said you're a healer. Can you help this child?" Luke tumbled off his horse and hurried to open the door for the woman.
Anyata laid the baby on the table and peered at her closely. "There is something that might help." She turned to rummage in the boxes and bundles she had brought to the house from her father's wagon. Sarah started coughing again and Luke picked her up, gently patting her on the back. The sense of helplessness was overwhelming and he closed his eyes and prayed.
"Here!" Anyata held up a small bag. "Is powdered ipecacuanha. I will prepare, then we will see." She pumped water into a pot and set it to boil, then stirred some of the powder in and left it to simmer.
Mark pulled up just as Anyata was giving Sarah the first dose. The baby screamed and cried and Luke said nervously, "She doesn't like it."
"Is not for liking," said the woman exasperatedly. Sarah started coughing again, then spewed up mucus. "Is for that." The baby's breathing seemed a little easier.
Mrs Hamilton rushed into the house, Burrage and Mark right behind her. The doctor watched closely as Anyata forced another dose of medicine down the baby's throat. Sarah brought up more mucus. "What are you using?" asked Burrage.
"Ipecacuanha." The woman laid a hand on the baby's chest. "It clears mucus. See? She breathes now."
"Ipecacuanha." Burrage smiled. He explained to the others, "What we call syrup of ipecac. I've used it myself but with so much croup going around, I ran out. I ordered more but it hasn't arrived yet."
"Gajo uses gypsy medicine?" Anyata shrugged. "I did not think there was such wisdom in your world."
Mrs Hamilton picked up Sarah and the baby sighed and snuggled close to her mother. "Is she going to be all right?" Her question was directed at Anyata.
Luke met Anyata's eyes and she hesitated, then tossed her head. "Your doctor can say."
Burrage listened to the baby's lungs with his stethoscope. "Her lung sounds are better. I think the ipecac did the trick!"
The happy moment was broken by the sound of angry voices outside. Luke grabbed his rifle and went out on his porch. More than a dozen townspeople were in front of his house. Micah was with them and he came up to stand next to his friend. "I'm sorry, Lucas boy. I couldn't stop them."
Luke snapped at the crowd, "What are you all doing here?"
"We came to see that no harm comes to the Hamilton baby!" shouted Toomey. He was flanked by Nils and Sweeney. Eddie Halstead was there as well among the men milling around.
"Come to harm!" Mrs Hamilton came out on the porch, her eyes on fire. Anyata followed with Mark. Luke pulled his son behind him and made way for the baby's mother. "Now you listen to me! My daughter Sarah was dying! If it wasn't for this woman, I'd be coming to you, Mr Toomey, for a coffin." Her small hands balled into fists. "Sarah is sleeping peacefully now and I don't want anything to wake her so all of you get out of here! Now!"
The men shuffled their feet and looked sheepishly at each other, then slowly walked away into the night. Luke blew out his breath. "Mrs Hamilton, I wouldn't like to take you on even with this." He held up the rifle.
She laughed through the tears in her eyes. "Lucas, you don't have to worry. Mr Hamilton and I will never be able to thank you enough, or your friend Anyata."