The Amish Christmas Sleigh (20 page)

His face drained of color, and tears stained his cheeks. “It hurts. It hurts.”

Charity knelt and held Josiah's arms. She willed herself to stay strong. “Can you show me where you hurt yourself?”

Knock, knock.
Beth answered the door. “Luke, Josiah hurt his finger.” She opened the door.

“His scream startled me. What happened?” He hurried over to Charity and Josiah.

Charity's lips quivered. “I'm worried sick about him.” She turned to Josiah. “Sweetheart, can you show me?” She heaved a big breath. She had to find the strength to handle whatever he was about to show her. This wasn't the time to faint.

Josiah removed one finger at a time. His last little finger hung to the side, and he cried and held it.

Gasping, her heart thudded against her chest. Dizzy, she grabbed the back of the settee and steadied herself. Her vision blurred, and she blinked to regain her composure. Her precious child's little finger had been cut off, except for a few threads of tissue still intact. She stood and grabbed a clean cloth and wrapped it around his hand. “How did this happen?”

Beth circled her arm around Josiah's shoulders. Tears wet her face. “We were in the barn jumping off haystacks, and then Josiah wanted to play hide-and-seek. I found him behind the trunk in the corner. He ran out of the barn and when he closed the door, he caught his finger in it.”

Charity grimaced and gently held Josiah. The impact must've have been shocking and painful. She moaned. “Josiah, I'm so sorry this happened to you.”

Luke opened the door. “Let's take him in my wagon to Dr. Harris. He'll know what to do.”

Josiah's lips quivered. “It hurts, Luke.” He rested his head on Luke's leg and sobbed.

Luke scooped him up in his arms and rubbed his back. “You poor child. Try to relax. I'll carry you.” He faced Charity. “My horse is already hitched to the wagon.”

Charity's mamm crossed the yard taking slow steps. “Who screamed? Is everything all right?”

Charity said, “Josiah hurt his finger. Luke's taking us to the doctor. You haven't been feeling well. You need to go back inside and rest. I'll let you know how Josiah is when we return.”

“All right, sweetheart.” Her mamm turned to go back inside her haus.

Charity followed Luke and climbed in the wagon. He passed Josiah to her, and she held him on her lap.

Beth sat close and tenderly stroked his cheek, whispering words of comfort.

Minutes later, Luke pulled the wagon in front of the doctor's office, jumped out and lifted Josiah from Charity's arms, and ran inside to Dr. Harris's office.

Beth followed on his heels.

Charity grabbed the reins and secured the horse to the hitching post. He'd left her to tend to the horse. She couldn't stand being away from her son at a time like this. She hurried to run inside. Dr. Harris already had his spectacles halfway on his nose, peering at Josiah's bloody hand.

“Ouch! It hurts.” Josiah pulled back.

She swayed, caught a chair, and fell into it. She closed her eyes a moment and put her hand in her lap. The raw tissue, blood, and gaping wound flooded her mind. Fighting waves of nausea, she swallowed over and over.

Luke sat next to her. “Are you all right? Would you like some air? I'll stay next to Josiah and Beth.”

“I'm embarrassed and ashamed. I should be comforting Josiah, but instead, I'm fighting to sit in this chair and not pass out. I've never been able to look upon blood or wounds and not get sick. You must think I'm terrible.”

He had done the right thing by rushing Josiah inside and leaving her to secure the horse. She had a hard enough time keeping herself upright.

“No, you're a sympathetic and compassionate woman. You can't stand to watch your son in pain. I understand.”

His concern and empathy touched her. The more she learned about this man, the more she liked him.

The doctor approached Charity. “I'll take your son to the exam room. My nurse will assist me. The room is not large enough for your whole family to join us. You will need to wait here.”

She bit her tongue and drew Beth to her. The man was void of emotion. She watched Josiah's back until the door shut behind him. Her heart thudded against her chest. She should be in there next to Josiah. She stood but slumped into the chair again. She wouldn't want to anger the doctor. She had frequented the Englischer's office often to seek his help for Aaron more than once. He had treated the kinner for minor cuts before, but his bedside manner had been professional and nothing more.

Josiah might relax more if she were in the room. She fingered the corner of her scarf. His stiff personality aside, she considered the man a gut doctor. She trembled and circled her arm around her dochder. She whispered a prayer to God concerning Josiah, and Beth leaned against her.

Luke said, “Don't worry. I'll help you with whatever you need for Josiah's care. I can handle blood and wounds. My animals have suffered injuries, and I've cared for them.”

What a relief.
“Mamm usually helps me if Josiah or Beth hurts themselves. She understands my reaction to such things, but she's not been well lately. I wouldn't want to trouble her. I'll take you up on your offer. I really appreciate it. Danki.”

Josiah's pitiful scream rang out.

She jerked, cringed, and tears dripped onto her cheeks. She stood but sat again.

Beth's tearstained face looked up at her. “I'm scared for Josiah.”

“I am, too, but the doctor knows what's best for him.”

Luke pulled a clean handkerchief out of his pocket and passed it to Beth. “I'm having a difficult time listening to Josiah's painful cries. I can't imagine what it must be like for you. I wish I could say or do something to make this easier for you and your mamm.”

Having him next to her and Beth eased the pain of the terrible accident a little. She drew strength from him. He had been such an unexpected blessing in her and the kinner's lives.

He removed his hat and raked a hand through his hair. “Sitting here is unnerving.”

Minutes passed, and she stared at the exam room door and rubbed Beth's back.

“Enough is enough.” He rapped on the examination room door. “Dr. Harris, please tell us something.”

Beth gripped her mamm's arm and stared at Luke.

Charity sat on the edge of her seat.

The nurse opened the door. “Give us a few more minutes. The doctor's almost done stitching his wound, and then you can take him home.”

She wiped tears streaming down her cheeks. How long was this going to take? Her heart ached for Josiah. Time passed slowly during a time like this. She glanced at Luke as he took a seat beside her, and his worried look and inability to sit still touched her. No doubt he loved Josiah.

She closed her eyes for a moment and breathed deeply. She bowed her head. “Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive me wherein I've failed You today. Please comfort Josiah and take away his pain. Give him strength to overcome this injury. All these things I ask and pray in Your name. Amen.”

Luke whispered, “Amen.”

The doctor opened the door and gestured them to enter. “He should be waking any minute. I put him to sleep for the time it took to amputate his finger and stitch the wound. It couldn't be saved.”

The doctor's insensitive words sent a chill through her. Her knees buckled, and she fell against the wall. Her son had lost his little finger on the hand he favored most. “How will he write or use his hand?”

Dr. Harris crossed the room and opened a cabinet door. He removed medication and supplies, then returned to her. “Have him exercise his hand and fingers several times a day. He should practice picking up and holding small objects. These tasks will be easier once the bandage on the wound is removed. Encourage him and teach him to write with his other hand.” He passed her packets of aspirin powder and supplies. “Have him keep the hand elevated and take one teaspoon of medication followed by a glass of water as needed for pain every four hours. Change the bandages each day. If the wound should become infected, come to my office immediately. Bring him back here in a week or so, and I'll remove the stitches.”

The elderly man's cold eyes and harsh voice set her teeth on edge. Did he ever show emotion to his family? The man showed no compassion for her son. She just wanted to go home and get out of this place and away from this man.

Josiah blinked his half-open eyelids. “Mamm, I wanna go home.”

The doctor helped him up. “Take it easy for the next few days. No jumping around.”

Luke carried him to his wagon. “Josiah, I'm going to help your mamm take care of you. Don't worry about a thing. Star and I will visit you each day.” He rubbed the child's back and pressed his cheek against Josiah's.

Charity and Beth followed alongside him and climbed in the wagon. She accepted Josiah from him and held him on her lap. “My sweet boy, you're so brave.”

Beth patted her bruder's back. “When we get home, I'll tell you a story.”

Josiah murmured and closed his eyes.

Charity avoided touching his bandaged hand, relieved he'd fallen asleep on their way home. How would Josiah handle this change in his life? Obedient, kind, and compassionate, her boy possessed a gut nature and took things in stride. She would do all she could to make this easier for him.

The sight of the bandage sent waves of nausea to her stomach. She couldn't expect Luke to come over each day. Mamm wasn't well. She wouldn't want to bother her. She'd have to muster the strength to examine the stitches and wound herself for Josiah's sake, in order to check for infection and change the bandages. She wrinkled her forehead. This would be one of the most difficult tasks she'd ever done.

Luke glanced at her. “When I said I'd help you with Josiah's care, I meant each day. I'll change his bandages and train him how to use his hand.”

She put a hand to her heart. “Danki.”

He'd stepped in and handled this situation as if he were a part of their family.

“You're kind. I'll cook supper for you in return.” She liked having Luke's influence in Josiah's life. She relaxed a little. She and Josiah would benefit from Luke's help.

Luke dismounted, tied the horse to the hitching post, and scooped Josiah from her arms. He carried him inside and lowered him to his bed. He removed his coat and shoes and then pulled the covers up to Josiah's chin. He kissed him gently on the forehead.

Josiah moaned, but his eyes remained shut.

Charity put Josiah's coat on a peg in his room and put his shoes by a small chair in the corner. His hat must've blown off his head during the incident. She'd search for it later. As she gazed at him, curled in his bed, her heart ached and she kissed his forehead. Her son had suffered such a traumatic injury.

She studied him for a moment, then tiptoed out of the room behind Luke and Beth. “Danki, Luke. There aren't enough words to express how thankful I am for your thoughtfulness today.”

“You find me anytime you or the kinner need anything. I'll be back tomorrow to visit Josiah. If he wakes in pain, please come and fetch me. This is traumatic for both you and him.”

She studied his face and held his gaze. Her breath caught. He reached for her cheek but then withdrew his hand.

Beth had gone to the kitchen, but she returned. “Are you leaving so soon?”

Her heart sank. Would he have touched her cheek if Beth hadn't come in? She hoped so.

Luke dropped his hand to his side. “I'll be back tomorrow. Your mamm's letting me change Josiah's dressing.”

“I'm glad you're coming to tend to Josiah. Mamm gags if we cut ourselves. She can't look at blood. I don't like for Mamm to get sick if I have to show her a cut. Grossmudder has to take care of us when we get hurt, but she's not feeling gut right now.”

Charity's cheeks warmed. “I wish I could conquer my bad reaction to such sights.”

Luke stooped to Beth's level. “Not everyone can handle the sight of blood and wounds. They have big hearts and don't like to see people in pain or suffering. She loves you, and it hurts her when you or Josiah experience pain. You and I need to help her take care of Josiah, all right?”

Beth clasped her mamm's hand. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.”

“I accept your apology.”

She dropped her mamm's hand and faced Luke. “What can I do to help Josiah?”

“You can be my nurse.”

“Maybe I'll be a nurse when I grow up.”

Charity patted her dochder's shoulder and pointed to Josiah's room. “Take a peek at Josiah. If he's sleeping, don't disturb him. If not, maybe you can tell him your favorite Bible story about Moses and the burning bush.”

“Gut idea.” Beth scampered down the short hallway.

It had been a long day, but Charity wasn't ready for Luke to leave. She had a glimmer of hope after the moment they'd shared. “Would you like some hot coffee or tea?”

He shuffled his feet. “No. I must go home to do chores and feed my animals. I'll come by tomorrow. I'll go to your mamm's next door, too, introduce myself, and tell her Josiah is home.”

“Danki. I appreciate all you're doing for us.”

“I'm sorry you've had such a terrible day. Try to get some rest.”

She eyed his back as he left. She wouldn't ask inappropriate questions, but she wanted to find out more about him. She'd asked him about Lancaster, but he refused to open up about his past. Maybe her mamm would have some suggestions.