Page 33 of Healing Hazel

Hazel’s face was pale. She breathed deeply, as if trying to calm herself.

“What is the meaning of this?” Jim said in Spanish. “Explain yourself, sir.”

“I will not allow this nurse to treat my son.” He jabbed his finger toward Miss Thornton.

“And why is that?” Jim asked.

“I heard her speaking with the soldier.” He pointed with his chin toward the patient in the bed beside Mikel’s. It was Private Jenkins. “She is working with the enemy.” Mikel’s father glared at Miss Thornton. “Británica!You stay away from my son.”

Lucía stepped further in front of Miss Thornton, and Camila moved so she blocked the young woman as well. Lucía spoke again in Basque, and although Jim couldn’t understand her words, by her tone, he knew she wasn’t complimenting the man’s red beret.

Mikel’s father argued back, pointing to the British soldier and back to Miss Thornton as he did.

“Enough,” Jim said. “This is a hospital, sir, and the only reason you have been allowed to remain here with your son is because of this nurse’s wishes.”

Mikel’s father started to argue again, but Jim cut him off. “¡Alto!” His voice echoed through the high ceilings of the stone hall. “Check on the baby, if you please, Miss Thornton,” he said in English.

She edged between the beds, keeping her distance from the angry man. When she passed Jim, their gazes met, and he smiled, hoping to reassure her.

The corners of her mouth moved very slightly, but he recognized the gratitude in the expression. She set the cup and pitcher on the table and hurried away.

Once she’d left, Jim sent Lucía for the orderlies and rounded on Mikel’s father. “If you wish for your son to remain in the care of this hospital, you will both respect this staff.”

“This staff?” Mikel’s father’s face reddened further. “A British nurse, an American doctor, and Spanish nurses...” He snorted. “How can I trust my only son to your care?”

Although he acted aggressive, there was fear in the man’s eyes.

Jim reined in his own anger, calming his voice. “I promise you your son is safe here. The International Red Cross chooses no sides. We assist without discrimination. Within these walls is only neutrality.”

The man’s eyes narrowed. “And what happens when he leaves? Theliberaleslie in wait to take us prisoner when we return to the hills.”

Jim hadn’t known that. But it made sense that the Spanish Army would intercept the returning soldiers. Part of him wished to say that what happened outside of the hospital was not his problem, while another part wanted to reassure the man that he would find a way to return them safely to their camps. Neither one felt right. “Mikel is safe here,” he repeated. And for now, that was all he could promise. “But the other patients as well as the medical staff must feel safe as well.” Seeing the orderlies from the corner of his eye, he motioned the men forward. “And for this reason, I will not allow any more visitors.”

The men escorted Mikel’s father from the ward.

Luckily, aside from some colorful insults, he didn’t put up a fight.

Jim wondered briefly where the man was living if he could not return to the Carlist camps, but he did not let himself think about it for long. The hospital was his primary concern.

He turned to Mikel, noticing the young man’s pallor compared to his flushed father. “If you wish to remain under my care, you will treat the staff and the other patients with respect. Do you understand?”

Mikel nodded.

“I have your word?”

“Sí.”

Jim studied the man’s expression but saw no sign of defiance. He actually looked too exhausted to argue.

“Good.” Jim glanced briefly over the young man’s chart. He was healing, but his pain level was still high. Hardly surprising. He considered the limited supply of morphine locked in the apothecary cabinet and wondered when it might be replenished. He tapped his pencil on the chart as he made calculations. They would surely run out within the next few weeks. A shipment could come at any time. But if it didn’t... He blew out a breath and made a note in the young man’s chart to increase his dosage. It was just another decision that felt like a gamble.

Lucía returned, and Jim gave her the chart.

Her brows raised when she saw the change, but she didn’t comment.

“The patients need to be separated,” Jim said. “The Carlists have a difficult time trusting, and with good reason. Have the English and Spanish soldiers moved into the West ward.” He glanced along the row of patients and saw Dr. Laurent speaking with Miss Westbrook. “And English civilians as well.” He didn’t want a repeat of the anger that had been shown to Miss Thornton directed at her older friend. Searching for the young nurse, Jim looked toward Jakinda’s bed, but Miss Thornton wasn’t there.

He found her, finally, in the cloister. The night was brisk, but she wore a shawl. She sat on the bench, where he’d found her before with Miss Westbrook. Moonlight glowed off the rows of white sheets that rippled in the breeze, and off Miss Thornton’s apron and nursing cap, turning them a silver-blue color. Overhead, the stars were bright. Jim stepped lightly on the path, not wanting to make a noise that would disturb the serenity of the setting.

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