Page 134 (1/2)
She still had the pot of soft yellow lye soap the landlady had given her for laundering; that would take care of it She plunged the breeks into the water, added a finger’s dollop of the soap, and began to work it into a scuh the fabric
The ’s square was lightening She cast a stealthy glance over her shoulder at her ood, she wouldn’t wake for a ti a chill colder than those that came with her fevers The thin suds that covered her hands were dark, and sh the water like the ink stains of a cuttlefish
She didn’t want to look, but it was too late to pretend she hadn’t seen She turned back the wet fabric carefully, and there it was; a large, dark blotch, discoloring the cloth just where the sea sun oozed a sullen red through the hazy sky, turning the water in the basin, the air in the roo world, the color of fresh blood
41
JOURNEY’S END
Brianna thought she ht scream Instead, she patted Lizzie’s back and spoke softly
"Don’t worry, it’ll be all right Mr Viorst says he’ll wait for us As soon as you feel better, we’ll leave But for now, don’t worry about anything, just rest"
Lizzie nodded, but couldn’t answer; her teeth were chattering too hard, in spite of the three blankets over her and the hot brick at her feet
"I’ll go and get your drink, honey Just rest," Brianna repeated, and with a final pat, rose and left the rooht, but she could scarcely have picked a worse moment to have another attack of fever Brianna had slept late and restlessly after the dreadful scene with Roger, waking to find her clothes washed and hung to dry, her shoes polished, her stockings folded, the room ruthlessly swept and tidied--and Lizzie collapsed in a shivering heap on the empty hearth
For the thousandth tiht days until Monday If Lizzie’s attack followed its usual pattern, she ht be able to travel the day after to to Junior Smoots and Hans Viorst, five to six days to make the trip upriver at this time of year
She couldn’t miss Jamie Fraser, she couldn’t! She had to be in Cross Creek by Monday, coht take, or whether he would leave as soon as it was over? She would have given anything to be able to go at once
The burning ache to o, was so intense it obliterated all the other aches and burnings of her body--even the deep heart-burning of Roger’s betrayal--but there was nothing to be done She could go nowhere until Lizzie was better
The taproo the day, and now at evening the benches were full of seaame of cards loud and lively at the table in the corner Brianna edged through the blue clouds of tobacco ser had wanted her to wear a dress, had he? Damn him Her breeches normally kept men at a safe distance, but Lizzie had washed theave one lare fit to sear his eyebrows He stopped in h the door to the kitchen breezeway
On the way back, with the jug of stea her, she e of the room to avoid her would-be assailant If he touched her, she would pour boiling water in his lap And while that would be no more than he deserved, and sos, it would waste the tea, which Lizzie badly needed
She stepped carefully sideways, squeezing between the raucous cardplayers and the wall The table was scattered with coins and other silt and pewter buttons, a snuffbox, a silver penknife, and scribbled scraps of paper--IOUs, she supposed, or the eighteenth-century equivalent Then one of the old
She glanced down, looked away, then looked back, startled It was a ring, a plain gold band, but wider than h The ring was no ht in the taproom was more than di its light in the inner curve of the golden band
She couldn’t quite read the letters engraved there, but she knew the pattern so well that the legend sprang into her mind, unbidden
She laid a hand on the shoulder of thehi as he saho had touched hieman, with a heavy-boned, handsoht green eyes that moved over her with quick appraisal
She forced her lips to s a rub for luck?" Without waiting for perave it a brisk rub on her sleeve Then holding it up to admire the shine, she could see plainly the words written inside
Fro as she gave it back
"It’s very pretty," she said "Where did you get it?"