The Promise of Morning by Ann Shorey Page A

it’s needful.”
    He seized his brown leather satchel and followed Matthew into the chill April afternoon.

    When the two men stopped their horses in the Craig farmyard, Matthew noted with thankfulness the presence of Arthur New-berry’s horse and buggy tied behind the house. He hadn’t been altogether sure whether Ruby would be willing to mend the rift between them and make the trip to see her niece.
    Karl dismounted and followed Matthew through the back door.
    Ellie raised her head, desperation in her eyes. “Thank God you’re here.” She held Julia toward Karl, still supporting the child’s head.
    Matthew saw that nothing had changed in the time he’d been gone. Their baby drooped in her mother’s grasp, her blonde brilliance dulled.
    Karl crossed the room and took Julia in his arms. “Someone bring a cloth for the table. I want to examine her here where the light’s good.”
    Ruby ran upstairs and returned carrying a dark blue coverlet, which she flipped over the tabletop. She looked at the doctor. “Anything else?”
    “Not now.” He laid Julia on her back, pulling her nightgown up to her chin. The child’s legs flopped open. “How long has she been sick?” he asked Ellie.
    “It started a couple of days ago with her not wanting to eat. Then I noticed that she wasn’t . . . uh, needing her diaper changed.” Ellie put out a shaky hand and stroked the blonde wisps that fell across Julia’s forehead.
    Karl raised the baby’s knee and then let go of it. As soon as he moved his hand away, her leg dropped back into its sprawled position. “What about this?”
    “Just since this morning.” Ellie’s voice quavered.
    Matthew moved closer and put an arm around her. Arthur and Ruby stood behind him, Ruby’s hands resting on Maria’s shoulders. As one, they searched the doctor’s face for a sign of good news.
    Karl ran his hands over Julia’s body, lifting each arm in turn. He tested her vision by moving his finger in front of her face. Placing his ear against her chest, he listened to her heartbeat. Finally he pushed one of his knuckles gently into her mouth.
    “Why are you doing that?” Matthew asked.
    “To see if she’ll suck it.” He shook his head. “She didn’t.”
    He drew Julia’s gown back over her feet. “She didn’t get into anything outdoors, did she? Maybe putting leaves in her mouth?”
    Ellie looked offended. “Of course not. I watch her very carefully. You know that.”
    Matthew studied his wife’s face. She looked more pale than Julia. Her blue eyes were reddened with fatigue.
    He knew he’d have to be the one to ask the question. “Well, Doc?”
    “Could be brain fever—I don’t know.”
    “Is she going to get better?”
    “I don’t know that, either.” Karl scrubbed his fingers across his face. “I’m sorry.”

    After Karl left, Ellie carried Julia upstairs to the bedroom and sat with her in the low chair next to the fireplace. Laying her head against the baby’s soft curls, she rocked and hummed. Julia’s eyes drooped shut. Her body relaxed.
    The door creaked on its hinges. Ellie glanced up and saw Aunt Ruby hesitating on the threshold.
    Ellie lifted a finger to her lips and whispered, “She’s sleeping.”
    “That’s good.” Aunt Ruby kept her voice low. “Doc said rest would be the best thing to bring her around.” She tiptoed into the room and perched on the edge of the bed. “What can I do to help? Do you want me to sit with her?”
    Ellie shook her head. With the baby’s eyes closed, and her body tight against Ellie’s, she didn’t look sick at all. But as soon as she was placed in the crib, the illusion disappeared. Julia’s head rolled to one side, her limbs splayed as though she had no bones.
    Fear rose in Ellie’s throat like bile. She turned toward the door, motioning Aunt Ruby to follow.
    When they were in the hallway, Aunt Ruby opened her arms and Ellie pressed into her embrace, clinging to her the way she had as a little girl.