CHAPTER 85

Jack hadn't seen his wife for two days, she was locked up at school, and from what Carson had said, the situation there was still not good. The outbreak had reached more villages, and Jack, along with Jessy, set up mountie tents where they sheltered the sick.

Abigail and the bar manager were providing all the food for the sick and whoever was working. Frank, as the town's only pastor, was talking to the families, talking about God and his purposes and trying to bring peace to the hearts of those who had lost loved ones during the chickenpox outbreak.

Two children, the sons of farmers from the neighboring town, and six adults from Hope Valle had died and Frank and Bill had to arrange the burial.

Frankison and Uncle Wynn searched for food or even medication in other towns when they ran out. The situation was serious.

Henry was recovering well, after having experienced a great wave of high blood pressure, which worsened during the days when he had a very high fever due to chicken pox.

At Rose's house, she and Lee fought valiantly to take care of Lucas, who for six days had a very high fever that resolved nothing, and that even Carson was already worried about.

That town was going through a time of pain and illness that no one had ever imagined, but they came together and knew the strength of a great community. There was a nation made by God, people who had faith and respect for God in their hearts and loved God above all things, as well as loving their neighbors as themselves.

And that's how that community came together and fought for everyone. As long as there was a breath, there was a reason to fight for that life...

Carson and Faith split into a thousand, they never rested and only stopped to eat when Bill, Jack or Abigail forced them to.

Carson commented that Elizabeth had completely organized the school. Boys and girls were separated, and the best and worst were separated, so that they could give more care to those who needed it, and her students, Emily and Opall, were still in a serious condition. Robert had won this fight, and from what Charlote told me, it was thanks to Elizabeth.

Wynn's wife, Elizabeth Delayne, as well as elderberry tea, makes a soup with dried meat that she asked Abigail for, mixed with cassava to make a thick, nutritious broth, and Elizabeth, with her hands on her waist, makes everyone eat... even I had to join in and eat... laughed Carson.

- I miss her so much, Carson. Said Jack, crushed by nostalgia and tiredness.

- We know, Jack.

- Carson... I never imagined I could love someone as much as I love that woman. My world revolves around her.

- Jack! That's beautiful, my friend. Elizabeth, you really are someone very special.

- What's more, I'm incredibly proud of her. The work she's doing to save the lives of sick students is admirable. She's an incredible person.

- She certainly is. Jack; it's wonderful to see her commitment to making a difference to these boys' lives.

Meanwhile, at the school, three children were in serious condition... Emily, Josef and Lianh, the two children of that family who had gone against Elizabeth in Charles' case. Elizabeth knew that as well as the children, her father was ill and her mother was looking after him and an elderly relative. Elizabeth liked all of her students, even those two who were always disrespectful to her, but she knew that everything they said or did was influenced by her family and unfortunately she couldn't force everyone to like her.

- Charlote... I'm worried about these three children, they're getting worse and worse, and their wounds have become infected... even with Carson's medication, it's not working or reducing their fever.

Aunt Elizabeth, who was already tired, sat down next to him and spoke:

- Besides, Charlotte, they're so weak that they only sleep.

- Yes, they're more serious. Their chickenpox has progressed rapidly, and we're doing our best to control the situation. Charlote said:

- Besides, Elizabeth, you're doing your best. You're amazing to be here fighting for their lives. Aunt Elizabeth had tears in her eyes.

- Charlote, aunt... I promised you that I would do everything in my power to save these boys. I won't give up. We'll keep treating them with care and hope.

Charlote looked at Elizabeth, it was a source of pride to welcome this woman as a daughter into her family. Jack couldn't have made a better choice.

- You are an inspiration to us all. Emily, and all those children are very lucky to have you fighting for them. We'll get through this together. These children deserve a chance to live.

After three days of intense fighting, the children recovered, most of the sick adults did too, but there were still four more deaths. Inside that school, there were three exhausted women... they cleaned the whole place and took care of all the sick children, all the while it was the hardest mission they had ever had in their lives.

Josef and Lianh's mother, on hearing that the teacher who was looking after her children, had a crying fit. Unfortunately, her husband had died that morning and she had to recognize the value of the woman who had fought with all her might for her children's lives.

The woman she had always criticized, humiliated and even denounced to the council as immoral, was there fighting for the children.

And that's how Elizabeth Thorton received the family's request for forgiveness.

All the children were released to their homes. Wynn, Frankison, Jack and Bill were arriving to pick up their warrior women, who had fought hard against death in there. They knew they were exhausted, and all the men had left everything ready for them to eat and rest.

Charlote, Aunt Elizabeth and Elizabeth Thorton smiled as they finished sanitizing the place and together they left for the school steps. At the sight of the men, they smiled... The smile of victory, the smile of hope, when they heard a woman's voice shouting:

- Elizabeth, you're going to die! Julia Thatcher screamed out of control.

In that scene of tension and despair, where Julia's voice, with its threatening words, echoed through the school garden, a gunshot tore through the silence, cutting the air with its violence. Julia, determined to eliminate her sister Elizabeth Thorton and avenge Bille's death, saw her plans fall apart when Bill and Frankison, who were closest to her, quickly immobilized and captured her.

In the midst of the chaos, the shot unexpectedly found its target. It was Aunt Elizabeth Delayne, who, in a heroic act, leapt forward to protect Elizabeth, paying a price for her act of courage. The bullet had luckily grazed her arm, leaving it sore and burning, but she knew she would go through any pain to save her Beth.

Wynn ran to his wife when he saw her wounded and bleeding and, as he hugged her, he heard her say softly:

- Wynn... Beth's protection is our top priority. I can face the consequences, no matter how painful it would be to save her.

Wynn, looking into his eyes, spoke:

- I know, love... we'll take care of her, our little girl, our daughter. We'll give her all the love and protection, everything she's never had and has been denied.

Julia was detained in a corner of that place, she would face the consequences of her actions and the justice system would take the necessary measures to judge what happened in that violent scene.