Chapter Fifteen
At long last, the group gathered in Rachel’s parlor heard the guest room door open and footsteps descend the stairs. Louise reached for Cassie’s hand, while Teaspoon and the boys stood to hear the news from the doctor.
Rachel appeared by herself in the parlor. “Louise, Doc Barnes’d like to speak with you,” she said softly.
This can’t be good! Lou instantly worried. “Rachel?” she questioned hopefully.
“Just go on now,” Rachel prodded.
Louise felt ill again. She already knew what the doctor was going to say. It was something awful, she was sure of it. She shakily stood and crossed the room to join Rachel, but her fear overcame her. She knew then that she was about to be sick, and she ran past Rachel, out the front door and down the porch stairs before losing the little she had eaten that morning on the front walk. Embarrassed, Lou picked up the hem of her filthy skirt and wiped her mouth. Looking up, she couldn’t help but notice the blood stains in the yard not 30 feet from her, evidence of the morning’s nightmare. Overcome by feelings of fear and despair, she felt her legs give way and she passed out, crumpling to the ground.
Rachel had followed her out the door and saw what had happened. “Buck!” she hollered. “Buck, I need some help out here!”
Buck dashed through the front door and saw Louise lying on the front walk passed out. He walked to her, crouched down, and carefully picked up her tiny, limp body.
“Let’s take her to my room,” Rachel suggested, leading the way.