Page 132 of The Enchanted Land

“Adam’s sick,” Jake whispered. “Seth’s come to get Lupita.”

Paul understood what was needed. “Jake, you get some food.” At Jake’s look of bewilderment, he added, “Dump some beans on Lupita’s tortillas and get them ready to go. I’ll get two horses saddled.”

“Come with me.” Jake motioned to Seth. “You and the little gal make up?”

“Yes. I guess so. I don’t know. My head’s groggy. I can’t think. What’s keeping Lupita?” He seemed to remember Jake and put his hand on his shoulder. “I’m just worried now. I’ll come back when … when Adam’s well and I’ll visit with you then. I have missed you.”

“I understand. Here’s yourburritos. They’re not like Lupita’s, but they’ll fill you up.” He wrapped them in a cloth and Seth stuffed them in the pocket of his vest.

Lupita was just leaving her house. She carried a large cloth bag. “I am ready.”

Paul handed over the reins of the horses, and Seth helped Lupita mount. It had been a long time since she’d ridden a horse and already the muscles and tendons on the inside of her thighs hurt from the unaccustomed stretching.

“You take care of our boys, you hear, Lupita? And then you bringallof ’em back with you,” Jake called after them. He turned to Paul. “It’s goin’ be a long time waitin’ here and not knowin’ what’s happenin’.” They turned back to their work, silent.

Lupita used all her strength to stay on the horse, but even so, they had to travel much more slowly than Seth had alone. Once Seth apologized for making her ride so hard. She dismissed his statement. “For Adam it is worth it.” She tried to wipe some of the haggard, drawn look from his face. “I have seen this tick before—it is not so bad as you think. There are many medicines I can use.” Seth’s trust in her made her swallow hard. She prayed that her words were true.

They changed horses at the homestead. Seth promised to return the extra horse, and he swore to himself that the poor farmer would have some new livestock as soon as he returned to his own ranch.

The moon of the second night was high when they reached the Three Crowns. Seth lifted Lupita from her horse, throwing the reins to Donaciano. The tired woman followed, stumbling, as he led her into the big house.

“They’re here!” Morgan’s voice was incredulous. She ran to meet them, throwing herself into Lupita’s arms with such exuberance that she nearly knocked the plump woman down. “I knew you’d come. Please save my baby, Lupita, please. He’s so little…”

Lupita pushed her firmly away and walked to Adam’s bed. The child was dry and hot and his little cheeks, once so healthy, were sunken, as were his eyes.

“How long has he been like this?”

“I don’t know. Nearly four days, I think. The time is all mixed up in my mind. What do we do first?”

Lupita was studying Morgan intently. “Heat water. I am going to make some tea.”

“Tea! We don’t need tea when my son is so sick.” She was screeching.

“Seth!” Lupita turned to the weary man, slumped by his son’s bedside. “I can care for Adam, but I cannot care for both of them at once.” She nodded her head toward Morgan, who watched Lupita with an unnatural light in her eyes. “Is there someone else who can help me?”

“Me. I’ll help.” Morgan stepped forward. “I’ll do whatever you say, Lupita.”

“You! Look at you. Another few minutes and I will have two patients.”

“May I help?” Roselle stood at the door in her dressing gown.

Lupita appraised her. “Yes. I will need someone.”

“I can’t leave my baby. He needs me.”

“He does not even know you are here. Seth, take your wife to the kitchen and feed her good. And you eat, too. Then wash her, put her in a clean nightgown, and then into bed. And you do the same for yourself.”

“No, I can’t…”

Lupita’s eyes were as hard as diamonds. “You do everything I say or I will leave.”

Morgan allowed Seth to lead her from the room.

Roselle watched them leave. “You wouldn’t really leave?”

“Of course not.” The answer was snapped back.

“I’ve tried to get her to eat, to sleep, but she wouldn’t.”

---