Read Online Wagonmaster by Nita Wick - Free Book Online Page B

grabbed her arm. “Mrs. Reynolds, I need your help. Elias, my boy, is deathly sick. He’s got a fever! And I—”
    Addie stopped her. “Of course, Mrs. Wheeler. Let’s go take a look at him.” They began walking back toward the Wheeler’s wagon, and she patted the worried mother’s hand where it still clung to Addie’s arm. “Tell me more about his symptoms.”
    Reynolds joined them. “Is something wrong?”
    Addie rushed to answer, seeking to calm Mrs. Wheeler in the process. “Elias is sick, but we’ll have him good as new in no time.”
    The other two Wheeler children sat with their father outside their wagon. One of the little girls looked a bit flushed and not her usual vibrant self. Reynolds waited outside with them. Addie followed Mrs. Wheeler into the wagon.
    Elias lay on a makeshift bed atop a large trunk. Rosy spots on his otherwise pale cheeks indicated a high fever. Addie made a quick examination, noting the lack of color in the child’s fingertips when she pressed on his nails. Dry, cracked lips accompanied his shallow breathing. These symptoms of dehydration frightened her.
    She pressed her palm against his forehead to judge the severity of the fever. Addie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She couldn’t let her fear show. Mrs. Wheeler would panic, and Addie needed her to remain calm and help her treat the boy and his sister as well.
    She turned to the boy’s mother. “I’ll need to go back to my wagon and prepare a treatment for him.” Addie strode to the end of the wagon. “In the meantime, I want you to be sure that no one else from your family drinks any water from your stores unless it’s been boiled first. Do you understand?”
    â€œBoiled? What do you mean? Is our water bad?”
    Addie paused as she climbed down the ladder. “I believe his illness may have been caused by some tainted water. It’s best to be safe. Studies have shown that boiled water is less likely to make you ill.”
    Not wanting Mrs. Wheeler to ply her with any further questions, Addie jumped down from the ladder and hurried toward her own wagon. Reynolds fell into step beside her.
    â€œTainted water?” His low voice told her he realized the implications of what she’d said.
    â€œYes. The stream we used last night must have been the source.” Addie reached the steps on her wagon and started to climb inside.
    Reynolds grasped her arm and swung her around to face him. “Is it…?” He paused in his question as if he didn’t want to say the word that might mean a death sentence for the little boy. A grim expression darkened his face. He knew.
    Addie nodded. “Yes, Joshua. It’s cholera.”

Chapter Eight
    Addie boiled the water, adding a cup of sugar and a spoonful of salt. “This will help keep him from losing any more fluids. I can only hope it’s not too late. If any of the others show any symptoms, especially loose stools, I need to know right away.”
    Josh grunted. “We’ll camp here tonight. I’ll call a meeting.”
    â€œThat’s good. Everyone needs to know to take precautions with any water collected from the stream.”
    â€œWe have to keep moving, though, Addie. We may not have any more rain for days, and we won’t reach Thousand Springs for almost a week. We’ll run out of water if we don’t keep going.”
    She nodded. “Then we’ll keep moving. I’ll teach family members to administer the treatment. Those who aren’t sick can drive the wagons.” Addie pulled the pot from over the fire and poured the medicine into a pitcher. “We’ll all have to work together. Make sure they know that.” She grabbed the pitcher and took several steps before she turned around. “And Joshua, ask Mr. Fleming to hold a prayer service tonight. It’s important that everyone not panic or lose hope. Keeping