In the Midst of Tribulation (19 page)

"What can I do?"
"There isn't much that can be done until we get back."
"Isn't there anything?"
"I need some sort of a sling."
"With what?"
"Take one of their belts."
Doris was tentative about touching the bodies but she took another glance at Jay's face. It was a color gray that she didn't think human beings came in. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to roll one of her attackers over. Anticipating his turn at her, his buckle was already undone. She brought belt over and helped Jay move her arm into place.
Once her arm was supported, Jay was able to straighten up. "Okay. Let's get this show on the road." The two women started to retrace their steps back to the path.
Jay had a hard time walking in a direct line. After stumbling over a root, Doris took her arm. She received a flash of smile in thanks.
On the narrow deer path, they had to walk closely together. Doris found herself taking more of the other woman's weight. "Can you do this?" she asked before they attempted the steep incline back to the road.
The throbbing of her shoulder made it hard for Jay to concentrate. Her voice breathy, she answered, "It's not like I've got much of a choice."
They were both sweating and panting when they reached the top. Jay was also shivering and mumbling to herself. At the top, her legs buckled and they both went crashing to their knees.
Looking into the glazed eyes, Doris began to feel real fear. "Should I leave you here and bring back help?" Doris asked.
"No. Don't leave me." Jay made the effort to regain her footing. With the other woman's help, she was able to stand. "I can do this."
"You're going to kill yourself."
"Nonsense. I'm fine."
"I don't believe you."
"Just watch me." Digging into her reserves, Jay lifted one leg and then the other. Slowly but surely, she lurched the remaining distance to the mountain hideaway.
Doris nearly wept in relief when she saw the house. "Oh, thank you, Jesus," she said. She supported the almost dead weight of the other woman across the clearing. "Hang on, it's just a little farther."
At the pond, she called out. "Help! Hey, we need some help out here." She was surprised that no one came to meet them, not even the dogs.
Using their last remains of strength, they made it into the house. "Hello? Anyone here? I could use a little help," she shouted. There was no response and she stood there, holding Jay upright and dithered about what to do.
"Put me down," whispered Jay.
"Where?"
"Table."
"I can't get you up on the table by myself."
"No. Sit in chair. Lean on table."
The two of them made their slow way to the dining table. Freeing one hand, Doris pulled out a seat and eased the other woman down.
"Now what?"
"Lay down."
Doris assisted the semiconscious woman in leaning one arm on the table. Gently, she helped lower her head to rest on her bent forearm. Not knowing what to do about the other arm, she left it hanging from the sling.
"Are you going to be okay?" she asked. Not waiting for an answer, she patted the dark head and turned toward the French doors. "I've got to find help, Jay."
"Go. I'll be here."
A nervous smile ghosted across her face. "You be sure to do that." Doris came out of the back door at a dead run and scanned the clearing. She didn't see anyone and felt an icy weight in her bowels. She had no idea what she would do if she couldn't find anyone.
In anguish, she headed to the top of the cliff and nearly sobbed in relief when she spied her friends and family. They were all down spreading compost and turning the soil under. For the first time, she felt truly grateful for their presence.
"Hey!" she shouted.
Martha looked up. "Hey, yourself. We didn't expect you back so soon."
"You need to help me," she called down to them.
Shading her eyes Susan studied the agitated women. "What's the problem?"
"Get up here and help me."
"What's up?" Martha asked, setting her hoe down. "Are you all right?"
"It's Jay. She's hurt." When the other women just stare up her, she added desperately. "Really bad. Come quickly."
Martha and Piper reacted immediately to the panic in her voice and led the race up the stone steps. Doris waited only long enough to see that they're responding before she turned and headed back to the house.
Catching up to her, Martha grabbed her arm. "What's wrong?"
Doris shook off the hand. "Let me go. Jay needs you."
"What happened?" Piper demanded.
"Are you hurt?"
Doris looked down at the bloodstains on her clothes and hands. "No. It's not mine."
"Where is she?"
"In the house. At the table."
"Mama," Eva cried. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine now, baby." She glared at Martha. "Please, go help her." Doris stopped walking, enfolded Eva in her arms and began sobbing.
Exchanging glances at the uncharacteristic plea and emotional outburst, Piper and Martha delayed no longer. They sprinted to the house and into the kitchen. They came to a stop over the huddled form in the dining room. The back of her shirt was almost entirely crimson and the feathered haft of the arrow vibrated slightly as Jay drew breath.
"I'm going to be sick."
Martha looked at the white faces of Cody and Carol. She knew that the best thing for everyone was to give them something to do. "Okay, you two start some water boiling. I need some scissors and for someone to go downstairs and bring up some bandages from the first aid closet."
She went down on one knee and felt for a pulse on Jay's neck. She swallowed in relief as the woman moaned softly in response to her touch.
Piper took the scissors from Cody and gently cut away the bloody shirt, starting at the collar. Exposing Jay's back, she could hardly see skin for all the blood. Biting her lip, she pressed on the area surrounding the entrance of the arrow. She felt the bone give beneath her fingers as Jay shifted in agony. "Her shoulder is in at least two pieces," she said, wincing in sympathetic pain. Looking at Martha, she asked, "Are you ready to check out her front?"
"Yeah. We'll need to turn her slightly and support her head."
Jay's other hand scrabbled across the surface of the table as she felt herself falling back. She blinked into Martha's startled eyes. "Whoa," she whispered.
"Whoa, yourself. You been awake long?"
"Don't think so."
"How are you feeling?"
"Dizzy." Jay tried to stifle a cough. "Hurts to breathe."
Martha and Piper cut the rest of her shirt away from the broken end of the arrow. "What happened?" asked Martha.
"These guys. They came out of the woods. It was horrible." Doris was standing in the doorway, her arms tight around her midriff. She began to cry and was taken into Susan's arms. "Oh, dear Lord. This is all my fault."
"Shh," soothed Susan. "You didn't make them shoot her. It's not your fault."
"She wouldn't have been out there if it hadn't been for me."
"Hey, neither of you would have been anywhere near there if I hadn't made you run." Piper's voice was filled with self-loathing.
"We can assign blame later," Martha said. "We've got a few more important things on our hands right now." She watched as Doris pulled out of Susan's arms and went out the back door. Knowing she couldn't deal with her sister right then, she stiffened her back. "Have you ever dealt with something like this?" she asked the room.
"Not without knowing an ambulance was screaming to my location." Piper's voice shook. "I don't know where to start."
"There's always the ABC's."
Both of the women turned their attention to Susan. Piper asked, "What?"
"You know, airway, breathing and circulation."
"Yeah but what about after that?" Piper was still very frightened.
"Maybe Jay can help." Martha leaned forward. She lightly tapped Jay's cheek and waited for the eyes to focus on her. "Jay, I need your help."
"What?"
"I need to you stay awake and tell me what to do."
"Why now…all of a sudden?"
Martha was about to respond sharply when she saw the slight smile on Jay's lips. "I know that asking for help is out of character," she responded. "But this is a little out of my league." She took the cloth that Carol gave her and gently wiped at the dirt and sweat soaked face.
"It's gotta come out."
"Yeah. I kind of figured that. Why didn't you take it out when it happened?"
"Thought I'd bleed to death if I did." Jay blinked slowly.
"You were probably right about that." Martha touched the broken end sticking inches out of her chest. "Just pull?"
"Your guess as good as mine."
"All right. What about afterwards? You're going to do all that bleeding now. And infection, too."
"Should cauterize it."
"How are we supposed to do that?"
"A screw and pruning shears. Cut haft close…to skin…and…put in the screw. Heat it, red hot."
"Pull it out the back or front?"
"Pull it out the back," Jay panted, coughing weakly. When she tried to speak again, they could see blood on her teeth.
Concerned, Martha pulled out a stethoscope from the medics bag. She closed her eyes when she heard the wet crackling from the injured woman's lungs. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself down.
"What?" His voice cracked on the word. Cody was close to tears and his mother enfolded him in her arms.
"Diminished breath sounds on the left." Martha's face was grave as she met Jay's eyes. "That's not good."
Jay nodded and winced. "Yeah, think it nicked my lung."
"This is going to be bad."
"I…know…Might crash…"
"Crash?"
"Her heart might stop," Martha spoke over her shoulder. "We can do CPR."
"Don't," Jay murmured, her head lolling against Piper's supporting hands. "No extraordinary measures."
"We're not going to just let you die."
"Good to hear. Just don't…kill yourselves." Jay's eyes fluttered closed and she sagged sideways.
Chapter Sixteen - There is a Balm in Gilead
There is a balm in Gilead
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead
To heal the sin sick soul.
Words & Music: Unknown
"Jay!" Martha shouted.
Piper moved one of her hands and felt for a pulse. "She's still with us."
Martha stood up and shook out her hands. Taking a deep breath, she dried her suddenly damp hands on her slacks and began to issue orders. "Okay, we've got to collect things." She pointed at Cody. "Run down to the garden and get a set of pruning shears. You know what they look like?" At his nod, she turned to Susan. "I don't know how much blood there will be. We'll need towels and a lot more bandages if we're going to perform an operation."
"What about me?" Piper asked. She continued to hold Jay upright against the back of the chair. Her hands tightened as Jay coughed again and shifted in pain.
"Keep her still. I'm going to go downstairs and get a screw and the propane torch. I'll come back and wash my hands and then I'll relieve you and you can do the same."
"What can we do?" Carol asked, indicating her and Eva.
"Clear off the table. We'll move her there after we get the arrow out. Then get her bed cleared off upstairs."
Everyone dispersed to their tasks. Susan leaned out the back door and looked for Doris. She was sitting on one of the lounge chairs with her head in her hands. Unsure of whether she should go out and comfort her, Susan decided to wait until the operation was over.
Once everyone had returned from their errands, Martha looked around at the pale faces. "Gang, this going to be hard. If you don't think you'll be able to handle it, you need to leave now. There is no shame in it. Heck, I think I'd head for the hills if I could." There were a few smiles at the comment.
"Let's hope they're right that laughter is the best medicine, cause we are sure short on any other kind." She looked around and saw fierce determination in every face. "Well, let's get to it then."
The extraction was every bit as bad as Martha had imagined. The smell of burnt flesh was nauseating and everyone was close to exhaustion before Jay was breathing on her own again. They wrestled the unconscious woman upstairs and laid her on her bed.
Susan tucked the sheet around on the limp figure and smoothed the bangs on the damp forehead. "I think she's running a fever."
"Some of that could be her body trying to heal but we won't know for sure for another few hours. We need to have nursing shifts. She shouldn't be left alone." Piper flipped to a blank page of Jay's bedside journal. She made three columns and labeled them Pulse, Resp, and Temp. "We should fill this out every few hours to track whether she's actually getting better or not."
Martha continued to dry her already dried hands on a towel. "What for? It's not like we can do much more than we already have."
"Don't say that," Susan's voice was harsh. "Recovery is partially mental. We need to think positive."
"You think you can just will her better?" Martha scoffed.
"If you've got a better plan, I'm willing to listen."
"Easy, both of you." Piper interrupted. "You're both right. Jay's a fighter but this is bad. We don't have much more than hope and good thoughts to give her."
"Sorry."
"Don't sweat it. We're all a little tense from the strain. Why don't you two go and I'll take tonight."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'm not particularly tired." She pushed a pile of clothes off the chair that was sitting by bed and sat down in it. "Go on and get some rest. Tomorrow might be pretty rough but that operation took a lot out of her. I doubt she'll be any trouble."
It was hours later when Piper was roused from her half sleep by noises from the bed. Jay had kicked off much of the covers and her head was rolling back and forth. She stiffened and opened her eyes when Piper touched her wrist. "Who?"
"It's me, Jay."
"Water?" Jay licked her dry lips.
"Sure. Here you go. Please take small sips." Piper lifted her up a bit and held the mug of cold tea to her mouth. Trickling only a small amount of the liquid at a time, Piper was able to get most of the cup into Jay before she slipped back to sleep.
Jay did not stir again for the rest of the night. The next morning, soon after Martha had started her shift, she had a coughing fit. Things went downhill from there. By lunch, she was breathing in short pants. Anytime she tried to take a deep breath, she would begin coughing.
Martha had the idea of raising her upper body up on a stack of pillows. Once they lifted her up, she didn't seem to struggle as much. As the hours passed, though, her temperature rose.
It was late when Susan jerked awake, wondering what had disturbed her. She looked over at the bed and saw the wet glistening of Jay's open eyes. Jay started when Susan leaned on the bed. "Easy, easy," she whispered as she leaned close. "How are you feeling?"