Caroline's Passion, page 19
part #3 of Wilderness Brides Series
“Eagle Tail’s wife has some kind of sickness that their medicine man and shaman haven’t been able to cure. They were heading to the Yellowstone to find Aimee Osborne, but his wife’s gotten worse. She’s in a lot of pain. Eagle Tail is itching to blame someone else for that, too, and he couldn’t be happier that he ran into us. If I don’t figure out what’s wrong with his wife and cure her . . .” His voice trailed off.
Caroline forced a smile. “I heard.” She glanced up to look at the Indian, who stared back at her with no emotion on his hard face.
“I am a healer, like Aimee Osborne. I’d like to take a look at your wife.”
Murmurs erupted among the men. Eagle Tail’s eyes widened slightly before his expression turned impassive again.
“You are familiar with the healing ways of the white dove, Dosa Haiwi?”
Caroline’s forehead scrunched. She glanced at Trevor for guidance.
“It’s what the Indians call Aimee.”
Caroline nodded. She straightened in the saddle and looked the warrior in the eyes. “Yes.”
Eagle Tail nodded. “You will see my wife. If you cannot cure her, Trevor Wilder will die.”
Trevor’s hand reached out and he grabbed her wrist. “Caroline, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into. Let me deal with this.”
“I have to try. It looks like either way, we’re going to die.” She smiled at Trevor. “Maybe between the two of us, we can save his wife.”
His eyes searched her face. “I’m sorry, Caroline. If I had been more aware of our surroundings, we might not be in this predicament.”
She smiled. “We’ll get through this.”
Trevor nodded, then glanced at Eagle Tail. “Take us to your wife.”
The Indians led the way to their camp, and Eagle Tail directed Caroline and Trevor inside one of the teepees, where a woman lay on a pallet. She was covered in a heavy blanket. A man wearing a headdress made of feathers and bison horns sat in the middle of the tent, chanting.
Clutching her medical bag, Caroline eyed the man, then kneeled next to the woman.
“She’s burning up.” Caroline pulled the blanket from the woman’s body.
“Most likely she’s been in a sweat lodge for a while,” Trevor offered.
The woman’s eyes fluttered open and she stared up at Caroline, who smiled at her. She mumbled something in her language. Caroline glanced over her shoulder. Trevor stood with Eagle Tail, who’d finally dropped his stoic expression. The Indian’s eyes were now filled with concern.
“Yellow Moon says her stomach hurts, and she will not eat. The earth spins in her mind and it is making her sick.”
“She’s been dizzy?” Caroline glanced at the woman’s husband. “What other symptoms . . . complaints has she had?”
Eagle Tail touched his right ear. “She has pains here, and she cannot hear.”
Caroline gently turned the woman’s head to the side to expose her right ear. She swiped away some of the dark hair that was damp with sweat. It became immediately obvious that her ear was swollen, and there was a large bulge behind the lobe. Caroline touched the area, and the woman flinched.
“How long has she been like this?” Caroline glanced at Eagle Tail again.
“For many days she has been in pain, and the medicine man hasn’t been able to chase out the evil spirits. She cannot walk or stand because the earth spins in her mind.”
Caroline glanced at Trevor, who hadn’t said a word. The look of worry in his eyes rivaled that of the Indian’s.
“She has a condition called mastoiditis.”
Trevor’s forehead scrunched. “Is there anything you can do for that?”
Caroline glanced at Eagle Tail. She stood, and stepped up to Trevor. “Can I speak to you, alone?”
“You can heal my wife?” Eagle Tail blocked her from leaving the teepee.
“I need to talk to Trevor. I know what’s wrong with her. I’m not sure if I can help her.”
Anger blazed in Eagle Tail’s eyes. “If you will not cure her, you will die. Trevor Wilder is responsible for the death of my son. I will not lose my wife as well.”
Caroline glared at the Indian. She moved away from Trevor to stand in front of him. “How can you blame Trevor for the death of your son? You should know that a bear is a deadly foe, and many men lose their lives if they confront a grizzly. Trevor tried to save your son, but some injuries are simply too great. How would killing him or me bring back your son? I know you are grieving and angry, but don’t place blame with the man who tried to help.”
The Indian stared at her. Caroline took a step back. She swallowed her sudden apprehension. Talking to him like that had probably been a mistake, but her own anger had surfaced. She made eye contact with the Indian again.
“I am going to do everything I can to save your wife, but I will tell you right now, it is going to be risky. She may not live, but at least she’ll have a chance. The only thing that’s certain is that without my help, she will die. I want your promise that, whatever happens, you will not hold me or Trevor responsible.”
Caroline held her breath as Eagle Tail stared at her. He didn’t say anything. Perhaps he hadn’t fully understood her. His glare turned to Trevor, then he abruptly turned and rushed from the teepee. The medicine man, who hadn’t stopped chanting the entire time, quieted and looked at the closed tent flap, then resumed his song.
Caroline let out a long breath. She swiped her hand across her damp forehead. The heat in this lodge was becoming unbearable.
“I don’t know what came over me. I think I may have made things worse by talking to Eagle Tail the way I did. He looked like he was ready to murder me on the spot.”
Trevor’s hands wrapped around her upper arms. He grinned as their eyes met.
“I don’t think he’s ever been talked to like that before. He had no idea what to say or do. This is exactly how Aimee would have handled it. You proved to be a formidable foe, something he didn’t count on.”
“I hope I got through to him.” Caroline glanced over her shoulder at the moaning woman on the pallet. “Now, I have to save her life.”
“What do you have to do?”
Caroline stared up into Trevor’s eyes. “Cut a hole in the mastoid bone behind her ear. She has an infection, and if it doesn’t drain, it will go into her brain and kill her. It might already be too late.”
“Cut a hole in her skull?” Trevor’s eyes clouded with worry and disbelief. “Are you sure there isn’t anything else that can be done?”
Caroline shook her head. “It’s the only way to drain the abscess. If you’ll help me, we can do this. I have a bottle of chloroform in my bag. I’ll soak some cotton with it, and you’ll hold it over her nose. That way, she’ll be asleep and won’t feel any pain.”
Trevor shook his head. “I trust you to know what you’re doing.”
Caroline emerged from the teepee and was met by the hopeful eyes of Eagle Tail and Trevor. Three days ago, she’d performed her first mastoidectomy. She’d seen the procedure performed while in medical college, and she’d hidden her fear of the surgery in case Eagle Tail would stop her from doing the operation on his wife. He could have easily decided to simply kill her and Trevor, and if she had showed any hesitation, that’s probably what he would have done.
“She’s resting comfortably. Her fever is gone, and the wound is healing well.”
She smiled at the Indian, whose concern for his wife was evident whenever she looked at him.
“She will live?”
“At this point, I can say with confidence that she will live. Keep giving her willow bark tea for the pain, and keep the wound bandaged until it is fully healed. If you’d like, bring her to Harley’s Hole in a month or so and I will take another look at her.” Caroline tilted her head and narrowed her eyes. “That is, if you’re going to allow us to leave.”
Eagle Tail actually smiled. He turned to Trevor and shook his hand. “Your wife is a powerful healer and medicine woman. She is also a fearsome warrior.”
Trevor reached for Caroline’s hand and pulled her to him. “Yes, she is. Her passion for healing and helping people is one of the many things I love about her.”
“Be on your way, Trevor Wilder, and take your woman to your valley. Soon, many will know there is another white woman in the mountains who has been given the gift of healing by the spirits.”
An hour later, they rode from the Shoshone camp. Trevor guided his horse next to Caroline, and took her hand. “Are you ready for your medical practice in the wilderness? You just saved your first of many patients, Dr. Wilder.”
Caroline smiled at him. “As you said, I have a great passion for healing and helping people.” She leaned over in the saddle and kissed her husband on the mouth. “But it pales in comparison for the passion I feel for you.”
Epilogue
“That was quite a homecoming. The look of surprise on everyone’s faces when we announced we were married is one I will remember for a long time.” Caroline’s wide smile lit up the small cabin brighter than any lantern.
“I didn’t think Anna and Cora would ever stop feeding us.” Trevor pulled his wife into his arms, and together they lay under the covers of the first real bed either one of them had shared since staying in Fort Laramie.
“It’s so good to be sleeping in my own bunk again, but I think we may need a bigger one.” Caroline raised her chin and smiled up at him.
Trevor kissed the top of Caroline’s head. “I rather like this bed. It keeps you close to me.”
“If Josie were here, we would have had to find other accommodations. You’d better get busy building that cabin you promised me.” Her smile widened. Her head rested against the crook of his bare shoulder. Trevor stared up at the shadows cast on the ceiling by the fire in the hearth.
“I know you’re disappointed Josie wasn’t here to greet you.”
Caroline nestled up closer against him, and draped a leg across his thigh. Trevor tightened his hold around her as his pulse increased. He’d planned to wait until the fire in the hearth died down to create some sparks of their own, but Caroline seemed to have other ideas. He smiled as contentment flowed through him. The last time he’d been home, it hadn’t felt like home, and he’d been angry and bitter.
“I know I’ll see Josie soon. I’m glad she doesn’t spend all her time at Harley’s Hole. She’s happy to have left civilization behind, but she can’t hide from people for the rest of her life. It’s good that Harley was able to persuade her to go with him to the trading post at Fort Hall.”
Trevor chuckled. “She’s probably glad to get away for a while, too. It’s sure gotten busy here with Cora’s three children, and Anna’s two. It can make for some noisy homes.” He pulled the blanket further up to cover Caroline more fully while stroking the coolness of her arm. From one of the other cabins, the faint cry of a child broke through the stillness.
Caroline’s fingers traced small circles on his chest. Trevor glanced at the hearth. The fire was almost out.
“Now that I’m home, I’ll be able to help Cora with the children. She’s got her hands full with the new baby. Noah and Nellie are such good little kids. I’m so glad I’ll get to spend time with them and watch them grow. It’s one more thing I would have missed out on if I had remained in Boston.”
“Everyone’s glad you decided to come home.” Trevor shifted onto his right hip so that he faced her. He kissed her lips, and brushed some of her long strands of golden hair from her face. “And I’m glad we have this cabin to ourselves,” he murmured.
Caroline and Josie had shared this cabin after Anna had married Ethan, and then Josie had occupied it alone. At least for now, it offered him and Caroline a few days of privacy, but she was right. He had to get started on their own cabin, not only so they wouldn’t live under someone else’s roof, but also because winter was fast approaching in the valley. If things had turned out differently, he’d most likely have remained at Fort Laramie for the winter.
“I know you don’t like to mention his name, but do you think William got back to Boston safely?”
Trevor frowned. William King was definitely not his favorite topic of conversation. The city doctor had cared for Caroline, but due to his arrogance and controlling nature, he’d lost her respect.
“I’m sure he’s home safe and sound.”
“I don’t understand why he was so set on marrying me that he went to such great lengths to force it upon me.”
Trevor chuckled. “That’s one thing about the man I do understand. You’re a beautiful, passionate woman, Caroline. He did love you, he just went about showing it in the wrong way, which is fortunate for me.”
“His father was very rigid, and the family always had to have the best of everything. William could have his pick of women in Boston.”
“You’re the one who caught his eye, and if it’s like you say with his family, it was hard for him to accept that you didn’t want him. I hope he’s learned a few lessons about how to treat people with a bit more care and decency.”
“I’ll never stop apologizing to you that I didn’t see his true character right away. I guess I didn’t know him well at all, until we had to spend more time together on the journey west.”
Trevor caressed her cheek, then weaved his fingers through her hair. He inhaled the soft fragrance of lavender. “You have nothing to apologize for. If I hadn’t been such a coward, I would have tossed you over my shoulder and carried you off.”
Caroline laughed. “You really think that would have been any better?”
He chuckled. “It worked for Lucas Walker.”
Caroline raised her head. Her hand came up to touch his cheek. “I’m glad you’re not like Lucas Walker.”
“I may not be, but I worry about Travis. He’s always looked up to Lucas and still can’t get over that his friend is now a family man. He thinks he’s lost his best friend, and now me because of you wily women.” He leaned over her and brought her fully beneath him. “I don’t think he realizes what he’s missing.”
Caroline laughed softly, clearly not ready to end the conversation. “Did you notice how quickly Travis ran from the cabin when Nathaniel looked at him and pointed out that he was the only brother left who wasn’t married?”
Trevor chuckled. “He might be my twin, but I don’t see him getting hitched anytime soon.” He stroked his hand along her hip. The last of the wood had burned to embers, throwing the cabin into darkness. Caroline’s breathing increased. Her hands explored along his back, and she murmured against his chest.
“For being twins, and looking so much alike, the two of you sure are very different.”
He touched his lips to hers. If she didn’t stop talking soon, it would drive him mad. “He doesn’t have a girl he’s been in love with for many years.”
“It seems like all it takes is the right woman to tame you woodsmen,” she murmured. “I wager someone will come along for him when he least expects it.”
Trevor shifted above her with the intention to fully claim her lips. “I won’t hold my breath, and I’m not going to worry about my brother. For the time being, we have a cabin to build, and you’ll be busy with your patients in the wilderness, but right now, let’s get started on our next anatomy lesson.”
“As your wife, not as your doctor.”
Caroline wrapped her arms around his neck, drawing him to her, and Trevor complied without resistance.
Thank you for purchasing and reading CAROLINE’S PASSION. I hope you enjoyed it. The next book in the WILDERNESS BRIDES Series is tentatively titled JOSIE’S VALOR, and will be available in 2018.
If you missed the previous book in the series, you can download ANNA’s HEART.
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DEAR READER
The Wilderness Brides Series is a spin-off series from the Teton Romance Trilogy and the Yellowstone Romance Series. Characters frequently get mentioned and cross over, and storylines even get inter-woven occasionally.
Aimee Osborne, the healer who told Caroline to go to medical school is the main character in Yellowstone Heart Song. Her son, Matthew Osborne, has his own story in Yellowstone Homecoming.
The Teton Romance Trilogy is about the Walker family, and Lucas Walker who is mentioned in Caroline’s book, has his story in Teton Sunset.
Click here to download a list of all the titles currently available in the Yellowstone/Teton/Wilderness Brides Series if you are interested in reading the books in a timeline order to make one all-encompassing series.
For a complete list of my books, please visit my Amazon Author Page
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One of the reasons I love writing historical romance is because I get to learn so much about how things were back then. For this book, I did a lot of research on medical practices back in the 1800’s, and I’m sure glad for modern medicine today in many instances. Here are some of my research notes:
New England Female Medical College (NEFMC), originally Boston Female Medical College, was founded in 1848 by Samuel Gregory and was the first school to train women in the field of medicine. It merged with Boston University School of Medicine in 1874.
The school was mainly founded so that women could be trained to assist in childbirth. The founder of the school believed that male-midwifery was unnatural and improper. He believed that women should be allowed to have medical education in order to become certified midwives and attend to women’s medical issues.
