Page 22 of A Secret Heart
“Lean on me. There.” Rebekah had an arm around Kaitlyn’s waist, helping her out the door. As they passed Ed, Rebekah lifted her brows in a worried expression.
How long could this last? Everyone had grown so weak from loss of fluids.
The endless rounds of damp cloths, drinks of milk, and runs to the privy were interspersed with the scrubbing of laundry on the washboard out back. The stench was lessening as Rebekah took it on herself to clean out the soiled clothes and sheets. Ed kept pushing fresh water to anyone who was awake, making the rounds and worrying over his family.
As he hurried out the front door with Nick leaning heavily on his side, he spied Rebekah scrubbing up the floor where Drew hadn’t been able to make it outside.
Ed rubbed the palm of his hand across his stomach as he leaned against the privy. At least he’d been spared the worst by running all over town taking care of Rebekah these last few days. He had to give it to Rebekah. She could have just gone home. But she’d stuck with him. Jumped in to help with all the tasks, pleasant or unpleasant. Mostly unpleasant. When she’d even gone so far as to start washing, he’d thought she was worrying too much about cleanliness—until he noticed how much better the place smelled. He guessed folks would recover faster if they breathed fresh air instead of stench.
After Ed settled Nick back in the sickroom with Drew and David, he returned to the living room to hear Tillie’s quiet “I want my mama” and the soft sobs that followed.
“I have an idea.” Rebekah bent over Kaitlyn, changing out the cloth on her head. When she turned toward Tillie, Ed couldn’t help noticing the weariness in her eyes. “How would you like for me to rock you while I sing a little song?”
Tillie’s face brightened amidst the paleness of her skin. She scooted away from her stepmother to where Rebekah took a seat in the rocker. Probably the first time Rebekah had even sat down since they’d arrived back here. She reached down to help Tillie up into her lap, placing a cooling cloth on the back of her neck in the process. A gentle hum left Rebekah’s throat. Jo sighed with weariness as she walked over to sit at Rebekah’s feet. Even David perked up, listening.
A sweet melody left Rebekah’s lips to float around the room. It filled every crevice with its soothing softness. Ed spied a mess on the floor and set to mopping it up as he listened. He remembered her singing the song back in school. Remembered his young schoolboy infatuation with the fiery-haired Rebekah. Remembered her kindness to the littler children and her sweet, sweet voice.
Out the window behind her swayed the laundry she’d hung on the line. The gentle breeze lifted it as if in time to her singing as the sunlight faded. She’d worked as hard as he had today to care for those dearest to him, without even having to be asked. This must be what having a partner felt like. Someone to share your burdens. Someone to lighten your load. Someone who understood you in a way no one else did.
To think he’d hurt her so long ago without even giving it a thought. Rebekah more than deserved that long-overdue apology from him. She deserved his friendship.
“Uncle Ed.” The now familiar cry escaped from David as he hurried for the door.
Ed rose to follow. For a moment, his eyes met Rebekah’s. His apology would have to wait a little longer.
* * *
Darkness had settled over the homestead hours ago, but only in the past hour had the endless trips outside slowed. Rebekah moved to stand by the kitchen window as the chorus of crickets chirped on. She tucked a stray curl behind her ear, weariness threatening to overtake her. The children’s fevers had broken, but Rebekah was worried for Kaitlyn. If her fever kept on, that couldn’t be good.
Ed must be as exhausted as she felt, maybe even more so. Yet he’d gone over to see about the animals at her aunt and uncle’s place after most of the sick had drifted off to sleep.
The aroma from the coffeepot she’d placed on the stove earlier told her it was ready. Reaching up on her tiptoes, she pulled down two coffee cups. The front door closed with a creak, and soft footsteps approached in that easy cadence she knew so well. Only this time, they stirred a sense of comfort in her instead of bristles.
“All the animals were fine at your uncle’s place. I checked on ours too. All good.” Ed spoke in low tones. He threw a glance over his shoulder to where the family slumbered. “Think I should go for the doctor?”
“Everyone has been calm this past hour. For the most part.” There had been that last trip with Tillie. But Ed appeared so weary that she’d hate for him to ride out without a chance to rest. “At least they can sleep.”
His blue eyes fastened on her as he moved to wash his hands. “It’s the fever I’m worried about.”
Rebekah poured the coffee in silence. Nothing in her dared voice her own concerns. Ed needed good news. “You’ve done all you can for now. Perhaps the fever will break in the night.”
He didn’t answer as she moved from the kitchen out to the table. As she sat, she placed one cup opposite her before taking a sip of her own coffee. A rustling sound escaped the kitchen. Maybe Ed had finally decided to get a bite to eat.
In a matter of minutes, he emerged with a plate of cheese sandwiches. He blinked as if startled to see her still there, waiting at the table.
Where did he think she might’ve gone? It was a sign of his exhaustion and worry that she’d surprised him.
“I figured you might’ve taken one of the girls’ empty beds upstairs. Want a sandwich?” He scooted the plate across the table at her as he sank into a chair. Only then did his eyes shift from cup to cup, realizing she’d made him coffee. The corner of his mouth lifted as if in surprise that she’d thought of him.
She took the offered sandwich as he sipped the coffee, then she pushed the plate back his way. The softness of the bread blended with the cheese to satisfy the hunger she hadn’t stopped to recognize before. They’d worked in tandem all afternoon. Most of the night too. Mixed with the pleasant food was pleasant company. Odd how agreeable his company had become in so short a time. The irritation that had stung so badly this morning had faded as they’d worked together.
“This sandwich is perfect.” She watched him smile a weary smile as she took another bite. This comfort in someone’s presence. This knowing how to work together. It was what her imagination conjured up for her every time she wrote a letter to Isaac. Every time she read his responses.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you something.” Ed shifted in his seat. Was he uncomfortable? He scanned those sleeping in the living area as if to be sure they were all still deep in their slumber. With the cup at his lips, he took another sip, then leveled his eyes on her. “About that incident in school.”
“Do we really need to talk about it?” That day intruded on the peace of this moment, threatening to evaporate the camaraderie between them and making it the last thing she wanted to discuss.
Ed stared into his coffee cup, fidgeting it back and forth before raising his gaze again. The faint light of the lamp softened his features. “I shouldn’t have done what I did. I wasn’t at my best back then.”
