Watched.
Waited.
Worked.
At some point Samuel fell asleep in a chair.
Ellie did not.
Near midday, Jasper’s fever worsened.
He began speaking to someone who was not there.
“Ma.”
Ellie placed a wet cloth against his forehead.
“Jasper.”
“Don’t close it.”
“What?”
“The door.”
His eyes moved beneath the lids.
“Don’t lock her out.”
Ellie looked at Samuel.
Samuel had awakened.
His expression became sad.
“His mother?”
Samuel nodded.
“Died when he was seventeen.”
Jasper murmured again.
“Ruth.”
Samuel went still.
Ellie looked at him.
“Who is Ruth?”
Samuel shook his head.
“Don’t know.”
Jasper suddenly grabbed Ellie’s wrist.
His eyes opened.
Wild.
“Don’t leave.”
Ellie leaned close.
“I’m here.”
“Promise.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
His breathing slowed.
“Promise?”
“Yes.”
Ellie brushed damp hair from his forehead.
“I promise.”
Jasper stared at her.
Something in his expression changed.
The delirium softened.
His hand loosened.
“Angel.”
Ellie swallowed.
“Sleep.”
He did.
Samuel watched her.
“What?”
He smiled.
“Nothing.”
“Then stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you know something.”
Samuel stood.
“I know Jasper Cain hasn’t called anyone an angel since I met him.”
“He’s delirious.”
“Maybe.”
“Definitely.”
Samuel carried the bloody water outside.
Ellie looked down at Jasper’s sleeping face.
Then immediately returned to work.
He survived the first night.
Barely.
The second day was worse.
Jasper vomited twice.
His fever climbed.
At sunset, Ellie genuinely wondered whether she would lose him.
Samuel saw the fear.
“You said you’d save him.”
“I said I would try.”
“You said save.”
Ellie looked at him.
“I say many things to dying men.”
Samuel sat heavily.
“He saved me once.”
Ellie continued preparing broth.
“You mentioned.”
“River ice broke.”
She listened.
“I went under.”
Samuel stared into the stove.
“Jasper crawled across the ice on his belly and pulled me out with a rope.”
“When?”
“Four winters ago.”
Ellie handed him a cup.
Samuel continued.
“Other time was a logging accident.”
“You do seem determined to die.”
“Bad habit.”
Ellie sat.
Samuel looked toward Jasper.
“He doesn’t think much of himself.”
Ellie frowned.
“That man?”
“Biggest fellow in three counties.”
“That has nothing to do with self-worth.”
Samuel glanced at her.
Ellie knew the look.
She said quietly, “People assume size creates confidence.”
Samuel looked ashamed.
“I didn’t mean…”
“I know.”
She stood.
“Get some sleep.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll sleep after his fever drops.”
“When will that be?”
Ellie looked at Jasper.
“I don’t know.”
It was nearly dawn when the fever finally changed.
Not vanished.
Dropped.
Half a degree.
Then another.
Ellie checked again because she did not trust the first reading.