Page 21 of Healing Hazel

The woman kept muttering, her eyes flying open and then fluttering closed. Worry and pain were etched into her face, making her brow furrow and her breath come in short gasps.

Hazel would never have believed so many people could fit into such a small space. She kept ahold of the woman’s hand, speaking softly as Dr. Jackson, the orderlies, and a few of the townspeople pulled away the chunks of debris that trapped her in place. The woman spoke in a whisper, repeating the same words over and over: “Nire haurra.”

“Don’t move her,” Dr. Jackson told the others. “If her spine is damaged, it could make her injuries worse.” He glanced at the mouth of the alley as if judging the time that remained until dark. Only a few hours, by Hazel’s estimation.

“They are nearly finished,” Hazel said to the woman. “Then we will get you out of here.”

“Nire haurra,” the woman muttered again.

“Yes, of course.” Hazel squeezed her hand. She wondered if she was telling them her name. Or perhaps she was explaining what had happened or where she hurt. Perhaps Camila could translate again once they could move the woman out of the alleyway, where the others waited.

Heaving together, the men lifted a large slab of stone from the woman’s torso, and she gasped.

They moved the slab away, and then Dr. Jackson crouched to examine her.

Over her blouse she wore a sort of vest made from a thick material that fastened up the front with laces. She had a short apron over her skirt. Her clothes were dirty, but they were not torn. The men brought a stretcher, setting it beside her and sliding her carefully onto it.

One of the woman’s shoes was missing.

The woman gasped again, pressing her hand to her abdomen, and Hazel saw worry in Dr. Jackson’s expression. Her injuries must be worse than they appeared.

The orderlies took their places at the woman’s head and feet, lifting the stretcher.

Hazel set the patient’s hand gently at her side. “It will be all right, now.” She turned, thinking to find the missing shoe.

With a surprising strength, the woman grabbed Hazel’s arm. “Haurra.” Her voice was clear and loud in the space. “Nire haurra.”

Hazel started, but she gave a smile. “Yes, don’t worry anymore.” She tried to pull her hand away, but the woman held on.

“Nire haurra.” Her voice was softer, but the words were still clear. Her brows drew together, making a deep furrow, and she tugged, pulling Hazel closer and staring hard into her face. “Por favor,” she spoke in Spanish. “Mi bebé.”

My baby.Hazel sucked in a breath.There is a baby.

Dr. Jackson stopped, his eyes widening.

Hazel darted her gaze around the small alleyway, her insides clenched in panic. The space was so small—surely the men would have found a baby when they moved the debris.

She turned back to the woman—the mother—on the stretcher. “Where? Where is the baby?” she said, knowing the mother would understand her meaning even if she couldn’t understand the words.

The outburst must have used the remainder of the injured woman’s strength. She rolled her head to the side, fluttering her fingers toward the house.

Hazel and Dr. Jackson looked in that direction as the orderlies carried the stretcher from the alley. There was no door on this side of the building, but one part of the wall had buckled where the neighboring building had crashed into it, leaving a narrow opening to its interior.

As if in answer to their query, an infant’s cry came from inside.

The sound penetrated Hazel’s heart. She turned toward the door but looked up at Dr. Jackson. “A baby,” she said, feeling an ache in her throat.

He must have seen the intention in her gaze. His eyes tightened. “No. That building could collapse at any moment.”

His words had the opposite effect than the one he’d intended, dispelling any hesitation about her course. She could not leave behind a baby—she wouldn’t.

He shook his head. “You cannot—”

Hazel rushed toward the opening. Seeing him reach for her, she pushed her-self faster. She was closer to the opening than the doctor, and she trusted the piles of plaster and loose bricks to slow his footing enough that he would not be able to stop her.

Chapter 6

“Miss Thornton!” Jim lunged towardthe nurse, reaching to stop her, but his hand caught only air.

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