Averil and her dad waved and then walked inside. Her mom rushed to her and hugged her. “We were getting worried.”
“Walking home looked like the only way to have time alone. Then I saw Sahale, and we talked. I feel better.”
“Sahale has some of his grandmother’s gifts. I’ve been told Nanna has a second sense about many things and makes the best teas around,” her mom said.
“There is something comforting about him. Talking with him helped me clear my thoughts. Next time I see Sahale I’ll ask if I can meet his grandmother. I’m thinking she might be the person Kira should talk to when she gets here. It might help Kira decide about how and when to expose herself to all of the tribes.”
Her mother agreed but added, “Don’t forget about our leader, Garth. His mother is a good witch. Have Kira meet her, too.”
Gala rode out to Averil’s ranch late in the afternoon. As she’d hoped, the workers were gone. She didn’t ride all the way to the cabin but left her horse grazing on some grass back from the house. Using gloves for extra protection, she took the coffee cup secured inside a plastic bag and gingerly crept into the cabin. It looked complete except for furniture.
Taking the cup out of the bag, she placed it on the counter. Then she zipped the bag and went back to her horse. She removed a coffeemaker and several other items from her bulging saddlebag, hanging on the opposite side of her saddle. In the kitchen, she placed the coffeepot on the counter close to the cup. Then she set a bag of coffee in front of it and put an envelope in front of the bag.
Standing back, Gala admired her handiwork. She hoped all would go as she’d planned. Averil would most likely ride by here first thing in the morning to inspect her cabin. She’d see someone had left a housewarming gift.
Hopefully, she’ll make a cup of coffee and her finger will touch the tiny spot of resin on the handle. The special concoction deposited inside the resin will go through her skin to her vital organs. But it won’t be enough to kill her, not yet.
Gala’s partner was angry that she wouldn’t kill them all quickly, but Gala wanted to see them suffer. It was her job. She’d do it her way. Back at her horse, she carefully removed her gloves and put them and the zipped bag together in a larger container. She’d hide them, but not at home. She’d found the perfect place in the back of one of Sara’s greenhouses.
When Sara saw Gala’s interest in flowers, she’d taken her on a tour and invited her to visit the greenhouses whenever she liked. It seemed poetic justice to hide the mode of their destruction in the middle of Sara’s beloved garden.
It was suppertime when Gala got to the greenhouses, so no one was outside. She slipped in and with a small shovel she had brought with her, made a hole big enough for the bucket-type container, where she had placed all her items, including the resin, plastic-covered vials, and syringes full of the poisons. After she smoothed the ground back, she moved a potted rosebush just enough to cover the spot.
There, she was done, for now. Gala was impatient for the morning. She’d be working when she got the news of how well she’d succeeded.
* * * *
Cody watched Averil practically run out of the hospital. He started to go after her, but she wanted to be alone. No one on the ranch would hurt her. Some of his anger had subsided. He wanted to kick himself. In his mind he knew it wasn’t her fault. Then why did he throw it in her face upstairs and again down here?
Because she was an easy target. I wish she’d have punched me in the face. No worry. When she gets home, her father will come looking for me and do it for her.
He’d started back upstairs when his phone rang. “Payton’s awake. He’s asking for you.” Mr. Camilius’s words sent joy into Cody’s heart.
“I’m on my way. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He got on the elevator and watched the numbers as he went up. The bell rang for Payton’s floor. He took long, fast strides to the ICU, where a nurse let him in.
“He’s in room three.”
Payton’s mom and dad were all smiles when Cody joined them. Payton lay on the bed with monitors attached all over his body, two IVs, and his head wrapped in white gauze. Payton opened his eyes when Cody spoke from the doorway and said his name. Cody hesitated then strode across the room to the bedside. “I hear they cut your beautiful hair off. You won’t be so handsome to the ladies until it grows back. Maybe they’ll look at me for a change.”
Payton spoke very softly. Cody leaned closer to hear him.
“No other ladies. Where’s Averil?”
“She was tired and went home. She came back from her trip as soon as she heard about you, and she’s been here all day.”
He took Cody’s hand and squeezed it. “You got crazy about me being hurt, didn’t you?”
Cody stared into his best friend’s eyes. “Yeah.”
“Ask her to see me, tomorrow.” Payton’s eyes closed, and his hand released Cody’s.
Payton’s parents followed Cody out of the room. “Dr. Rexford checked him a few minutes ago. All his reflexes are good, and he answered every question the doctor asked. Dr. Rexford said he’ll be fine with no deficits. If he continues to improve we can take him home in a few days. That man’s a miracle worker,” Mr. Camilius said.
“I agree,” Cody said. “I’m going to leave and get some rest. You two ought to go, too. When he comes home, he won’t be an easy patient to care for.”
“Don’t I know it,” his mother agreed. “But I’m going to be boss whether he likes it or not. If I have to tie him to the bed, he’ll do as I say.”
“I’m sure he will. See you all.” He hurried out of the hospital. Outside he took deep breaths of the fresh air, clearing his nose of all the smells he associated with sickness and death.
“Stupid, the hospital does good and cures most of our people,” he mumbled to himself. Still, he shook himself, trying to throw off the heavy load he carried on his back when he was inside one.
He thought briefly of going by to see Averil but decided he’d call early in the morning and tell her mom about Payton’s request. Tonight, he’d go home and crash.
* * * *
Mrs. Bevyns answered Cody’s call just as Averil headed to the front door. “Wait, Averil, Cody wants to tell you about Payton.” She held out the phone and Averil took it.
“You just caught me. I’m headed to the ranch and then the hospital.”
“Payton wants to see you today. I told him I’d pass the message on.”
“Thanks. It’s too early to visit him yet. Nick told my parents the cabin is finished. I want to see it, and then I’ll visit Payton. He must be doing good.”
“The doctor said he’ll be fine. He doesn’t have any cognitive or physical deficits. He’ll go home to his mom’s in a few days.”
“That’s wonderful news.”
“It is. See you.” He hung up.
Averil handed the phone to her mother. Apparently he had said all he wanted to say. She hugged her mom. “You heard my end of the conversation. Payton is doing well. I might stay at the hospital for a few hours. Love you.” She hurried out to the mare her father had saddled for her.
This morning her spirit was much lighter, and the ride helped further clear her head. Since Payton’s accident and her interactions with Cody she was beginning to realize how important they were to her. Even if Cody wasn’t being particularly friendly. He’d been upset about Payton. She did care for them. But she wasn’t ready to admit it out loud. She’d have to be much more certain of her feelings before telling anyone.
When the cabin came in view, she urged her mare to go faster. At the rail she’d had built in front of the cabin, she tied the reins and went inside. It was lovely, just as she’d imagined. She wandered through the rooms, ending up in the bright, sunny kitchen. Her eyes spotted the coffeepot and the card at once.
She opened the envelope.
A welcoming gift for your new home. May you find much happiness here. A friend.
Without a name she couldn’t thank the thoughtful person. But she’d find out. Sooner or later they’d forget and mention the gift. Glancing at her watch, she decided she had time to brew a cup and christen her new home.
The smell of coffee brewing permeated the kitchen, making the cabin feel homey. Averil went back around to all the rooms to picture what furniture she needed. Mom had some she’d give her, but other items she’d buy in town.
Averil strolled back to the kitchen, poured herself a cup of coffee, and leaned against the countertop while she drank it. She rinsed the cup and left it in the sink. She’d unplug the coffee, but maybe she’d come back later today and warm what was left.
It was time to get to the hospital. Hopefully she’d arrive after Cody had visited and gone.
As she rode along, the coffee didn’t settle well in her stomach. She started to sweat and was relieved to see the hospital in sight. Stopping at one of the rails where she could tie her horse, she started to get off. When she moved her head, she got dizzy and fell to the ground.
Cody yelled her name and came running to her. He knelt at her side. “What happened?”
“Just my luck, you’re my rescuer.” But the words came out slurred.
“Are you drunk?”
She tried to say,
of course not
, but the words wouldn’t form.
* * * *
He picked her up in his arms and ran to the emergency room. Her body had started to tremble when a doctor took her from Cody and ran into an exam room. He waited in the doorway. His heart was beating double-time, and his whole world was crashing down around him again.
The medical staff ran around him, going in and out of the room. They were frantically working on Averil, starting IVs, putting a monitor on her heart, and drawing blood. Dr. Jack came running to the room.
“Get out of here, Cody. You can’t help, and you’re in the way. I’ll come out in a few minutes and tell you what’s going on.”
Cody staggered back and felt his way along the wall until he got to the waiting room and collapsed in a chair. Whatever was wrong with her, it was bad. If she died before he could tell her he loved her and how sorry he was about his recent behavior, he’d never forgive himself.
He put his head down between his legs and took deep breaths as the world swirled around him. A nurse walking by stopped to check him.
“I’ll be all right in a moment.” He tried to grin. “Hospitals have this effect on me.”
“You don’t have to explain. Some people won’t even visit a family member because of their phobia about anything medical.” When he was able to straighten up, she hurried on down the hall.
Cody took out his phone and called Averil’s parents’ number. Her mom answered. “Mrs. Bevyns, this is Cody. I think you and Mr. Bevyns better come to the hospital. Averil wasn’t feeling well when she got here. I took her in to the ER.”
“What’s wrong with her?”
“I’m not sure what’s going on. Is Mr. Bevyns there? If not, I’ll come get you.”
“He was just going out the door. We’ll be at the ER in a few minutes.”
“All right, see you then.” Cody snapped his cell shut just as Dr. Jack came into the waiting room.
“She’s better. We gave her medicine and stopped the seizure. She’s waking up, but she’s confused about what happened.”
“Do you know what caused this attack?”
“No, but the STAT blood work shows all of her levels are crazy. Nothing is normal. We can’t figure out what would cause those type of symptoms. Did you call her parents?”
“They’ll be here in a few minutes.”
“Then I’ll wait around until they get here. I need to know what she ate today and if she did anything different.”
“She told me she was going by her cabin and then coming here.”
“That’s the type of information I need. I’ll send my wife, Ellen, and several of the other scientists out there to check it out. Right now we’re blind. We have no idea what to look for and that’s not good.” Dr. Jack walked back toward Averil’s emergency room.
His words had only ratcheted Cody’s fear to a higher level. But this was one time it wasn’t going to control him. Averil needed him to be alert and on the watch. Why would she get sick and her parents were fine? He had an uneasy feeling in his gut that whatever it was, it wasn’t an accident.
When Averil’s parents arrived, Cody used the waiting room telephone to call and alert Dr. Jack they were here. He came right away to see them.
After Dr. Jack explained what had happened, he started to ask them questions. “Did anything unusual happen this morning?”
“No.” Mrs. Bevyns shook her head. “In fact she seemed to be in better spirits than she has in several weeks. I think hearing Payton was better eased the guilt she’d been carrying.”
“Did you all eat the same food and drinks last night and this morning?”
“Yes. My kitchen and refrigerator are clean. You can check it. Anything to help my daughter.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Bevyns. I wasn’t insinuating anything, but we need to check everywhere she’s been in the last twenty-four hours. If this hits your daughter again”—he hesitated—“she might not survive.”
Mrs. Bevyns grabbed her husband’s hand. “Jack, please call me Ava. You’re telling me this was that bad an attack, whatever it was?”