"Believe
me, I don't intend to. But I do intend to marry Dollie as soon as we
can, decent like. Don't want nobody thinking it's a have-to."
The
doctor nodded, hands in his pockets. "Well, sir. You take it
easy the rest of the day. Sleep and keep that hand elevated. Will,
you make sure he does everything I said."
"I
will, Doc. He'll behave if I've gotta sit on him."
The
doctor laughed as he saw them out. They were a little surprised to
see that chapel was ending and everyone was heading down to lunch at
the dining hall. Will drove his brother down to see Dollie and tell
her about Luke being sick. She and Patty said they'd be up to see
them soon.
"We'll
drive up in my car," Dollie said excitedly. "You haven't
seen it yet!"
"I'd
like that a powerful lot," Luke said quietly. "I love you,
Dollie."
"I
love you too." She kissed him. "You're burning up!"
"I
know. Doc give me a shot and told me to drink a lot of water and Ma's
soup."
"Good
advice."
The
men left, driving slowly up the mountain to their mother's house.
Will helped his brother to bed and got him a glass of cool water from
the kitchen. He and Luke had saved up money to buy their mother an
electric refrigerator after the county had decided to wire houses in
the district and supply them with power. Electrical lines came up the
mountain from the school. Will and Luke wired the house themselves.
Lucius
drank the water and sank back on the pillows with a sigh. Still
feverish, he fell into a deep sleep. When his mother got home, she
prepared a fever tea for him and forced him to drink every drop
before she was satisfied.
The
family took turns sitting with him, waking him from time to time to
drink something. Rachel made chicken soup. When Dollie arrived, she
spoon fed him a bowl of the hearty, rich broth. Afterward, it was
time for another cup of fever tea. She persuaded him to drink that
too, though he made awful faces over it.
"You
look dreadful," Dollie said quietly, taking his hand. "You're
so hot."
"I'm
better than I was this morning. At least now I don't feel like I
drank a gallon of Granddaddy's brew." He flopped on the pillow.
"Only half a gallon," he muttered, trying to laugh.
"You
rest now, Luke. I'll be right here." Her hand felt cool on his
feverish brow. She washed his face with a damp cloth.
He
fell into another deep, fever induced sleep. When he woke the next
time, it was dark in the room. Someone lay in the bed beside him, but
it didn't feel like Will's body. The person was too small and soft to
be his older brother. He shifted restlessly, having lain in one
position too long. The person next to him moved closer.
Leaning
up on her elbow, Dollie smiled down at him. Her face was mostly in
shadow, though enough light came in from outside for him to see her
smile. Her hand on his face felt wonderful.
"You
feel better," she murmured. "Your fever broke. You've
soaked your sheets."
It
was then he felt a cool breeze from outside and shivered. His pajamas
and pillow were damp. His hair stuck to his head. He tried to get out
of the bed, but became dizzy and light-headed. He flopped on the bed
like a rag doll.
"You
lie there and I'll get Will. We'll get the bed changed."
"Where
are the boys?" He looked around at the empty room.
"Doc
and Mrs. Starbuck are keeping them for the night. The girls are down
with Patty at our place."
"Why?
I'm not contagious."
"Oh,
I know, but your mama thought you could use some quiet. We thought if
the boys got a special night out, the girls should too. Tomorrow will
be a hard enough day...."
Luke
had forgotten that tomorrow was his father's funeral. He rolled on
his side as Dollie went to the bedroom door. She put on a robe before
opening the door and calling softly to Will. The older Henry brother
came in, smiling. He held a pile of clean sheets and a chair. He
helped Luke into the chair and gathered up the damp sheets that
Dollie had stripped.
Together,
they made the bed with fresh sheets and Will even gave Luke a
different pillow, leaving his to air by the window. Dollie went out
to fix a cup of fever tea and Will winked at his brother
"Boy,
I can tell you're sick as a dog. Got a beautiful woman in the bed
with you and can't do shit."
Luke
groaned, sitting heavily on the edge of the bed. "Don't remind
me! My own body betrays me. Nothin'...." He sighed as his
brother laughed. "You wait till it's your turn," he griped.
"Here
we go," Dollie said as she carried in the tea. "Drink it
all," she admonished Luke as he took the first sip.
"It
tastes horrible, Dollie."
"I
know, but you need to take it all."
"I'd
drink it a whole lot better if it tasted as good as you."
Dollie
giggled, blushing. "You ought not to say things like that,
Lucius Henry."
©
2019 Dellani Oakes
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