Little Joe walked outside to where his pa was busy, saddling a horse.
"Pa, I can't get Jenny to wake up." The 10 year-old said as he walked up to Ben. "She just mutters somethin' and rolls over."
"Alright son, finish saddling Paint so you can ride her to school. I'll go get your sister." Ben said as he tied the reins of the horse to a post and then made his way inside.
Ben entered the room that his two youngest shared and he saw Jenny burrowed under the covers and he sat on the edge of the bed and gently rubbed her back.
"Jenny, time to get up or you'll be late for school." he told her and he frowned when the six year-old gave no response.
"Jennifer, come on now, time to rise and shine." Ben said in a louder tone as he patted her arm.
Jennifer softly moaned as she rolled over to face her pa as she opened her eyes, "I don't feel good pa." the six year-old rasped out, her cheeks flushed and her chestnut brown colored bangs clung to her damp forehead.
Ben frowned at the sight and her hoarse voice then he felt of her forehead and slightly raised his eyebrows, "You've got a fever, so it looks like there's no school for you today. Stay here in bed and I'll have Hop-Sing fix you up something good Jenny."
Jenny nodded and she rolled over onto her side as her eyes closed and she went back to sleep as Ben left the room, softly shutting the door.
A few minutes later Ben walked in carrying a bowl of cool water and a rag, he sat the bowl down on the table beside the bed and he dipped the rag in it. Once he had wrung the water out Ben gently bathed Jennys forehead with the cool rag as Hop-Sing came in carrying a tray that contained a bowl of rice and cup of tea.
"Here tea and rice for young missy." Hop-Sing said as he set the tray down on the top of the desk in Jennys room. "Mr. Cartwright need anything else for little missy, let Hop-Sing know." He added as he bowed and then he left the room, shutting the door behind him.
Ben couldn't help but smile at the words of his friend and cook as he placed the rag on Jenny forehead, he then reached over picking up the cup of tea and he woke Jenny, helping her to sit up and he had her to drink some before he helped her to lay back down so she could rest.
This continued on for most of the day, Ben taking care of his youngest daughter. Waking her from time to time to get her to drink some tea, or eat some of the rice.
Luckily her condition didn't seem to worsen, but it did not improve either much to Ben, and the others concerns.
That night was one of the longest nights that Ben had spent, as he worried and sat by his daughters bedside, somehow falling asleep from his exhaustion.
"Pa?" A tiny voice caused Ben to stir from his uneasy rest and he glanced at the window, seeing the earl morning sun had just risen.
He wiped the sleep from his eyes and he leaned over to feel Jennys forehead, noticing that she was awake and a broad smile came upon his face.
"There's those beautiful blue eyes, how are you feeling honey?" Ben asked as he felt of her forehead. He noted with a sigh of relief that the fever had broken.
Jennifer smiled slightly as she looked at Ben, "Better. But does that mean I have to go to school?" The six year-old asked innocently.
At this Ben couldn't help but chuckle as he smoothed her hair, "No honey, you can stay home today to rest up. But tomorrow you'll have to go to school."
At this Jenny nodded as she closed her eyes to go back to sleep, "Okay pa." she said as a smile came on her face.
Ben sighed and then he smiled softly as he stood rubbing his stiff neck, and he went to fix a pot of coffee, deciding that they all deserved a day of rest so he would let all of his children sleep in.