Page 59 of Healing Hazel

When they stepped from beneath the trees, Jim saw the sky seemed to be a deep purple on one side, and over the next hour, it lightened until it was a lavender color. Dawn was near. They had been traveling for the entire night. The promise of morning gave Jim a newfound energy, and he stepped quicker, coming at last to the road.

“We’re close, Hazel,” he said.

“Alto!” a voice called out.

Fear turned Jim’s blood cold, but it lasted only a moment until the speaker stepped onto the road and Jim saw he wore the deep-blue uniform of the Spanish Army. He nearly sagged in relief.

More soldiers joined him, coming out from beneath the trees. They must be guarding the road.

“Doctor?” the first man asked, pointing at Jim’s coat.

“Dr. Jim Jackson, from the Red Cross Hospital.” Jim pointed with his chin down the road toward where he knew the hospital was.

Hazel doubled over, coughing, and when her fit had passed, Jim lowered her to sit against a tree. One of the soldiers brought a flask of water, and Jim helped her drink. He gave her a dose of morphine, then laid her down, putting a fold of the blanket beneath her head.

She slept immediately.

Jim explained to the men what had happened, giving a description of where his companions were being held and pointing the soldiers in the general direction of the rebels’ camp. He knew the rebels’ lookouts would hear them coming before they got close, especially with the road blocked. Hopefully they would have time to move the patients to safety.

A wagon was sent for, and a soldier brought Jim a cup of coffee.

“There are sick and injured men at the camp,” Jim told him. He turned to look squarely at the man who appeared to be the group’s leader. “I trust you will act with honor, treating fairly your enemies who cannot fight.”

“You have my word, Doctor.” The man gave a solid nod before leaving with the rescue party.

Jim sipped the coffee, feeling the warmth move through his body, along with relief. They had made it. For most of the night, he’d worried they wouldn’t, that they’d be caught by their captors or Hazel would be too weak to continue. He knelt beside her, touching her forehead. Her fever was still strong, and her breathing had not improved. The dread he’d ignored all night swelled until it nearly consumed him. His throat constricted with fear and his eyes burned. Pneumonia was a serious ailment with a survival rate much lower than Jim liked, and he knew her condition was only going to worsen.

He cleared his throat, pushing away his fear. If anyone were strong enough to fight this disease, it was she. And once he had her safely in the hospital, they would have a chance of conquering it.

Chapter 19

Hazel floated. Sometimes she heardvoices. Fuzzy images came and went, and she didn’t know whether they were real or dreamed. There were moments she felt very near to waking. But the last bit of effort required to push her completely awake was too much.

“Come, you must drink.” The voice sounded like Camila’s.

Hazel felt herself pulled forward and a cup pressed to her lips.

She sipped, tasting the cool water, and at last, her eyes drifted open.

“Oh, you are awake,” Camila said and helped her lie back again.

The act of focusing made Hazel’s eyes ache. She blinked slowly. “Camila, is that you?” Her voice sounded hoarse.

“Yes, it’s me.”

“But how... ?” she began, sorting through her memories. Camila had been left behind in the mountain with Dr. Laurent and Lucía. “It can’t be you,” she said. “I must be dreaming.” She swallowed through her raw throat and closed her eyes again, every inch of her body hurting. “Or I have died,” she muttered.

Camila laughed. “I hope not, because I thinkIam very much alive.”

Hazel peeked through her eyelids again. Camila was still there, and she appeared to be counting Hazel’s pulse.

“How?” Hazel asked. “How did you escape?”

Camila set her hand back on the bed. She took a thermometer from the side table and pressed it beneath Hazel’s arm. “Once it was discovered that you and Dr. Jackson had gone, we were shut up in the little prison.” She winced as she said the words, most likely remembering Hazel’s reaction to the place. “In the morning, Spanish soldiers opened the door, releasing us, and we came out to find the entire camp had disappeared. They must have worried you would reveal the location.” She drew out the thermometer, checking the reading and noting it on the chart. “Your fever is gone,” she said, looking pleased.

“I’m so sorry we left you there,” Hazel said. “We shouldn’t—”

“You did exactly the right thing.” Camila brought the cup of water again, helping Hazel sit up and drink. “If Dr. Jackson hadn’t taken you when he did...” She shivered and crossed herself.

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