Angel of Mercy

Chapter 27

"She should be back by now." Ethan said to Huxley as he took a shot of whiskey in his study. The heat of the liquid warmed his anxious insides.

"Sometimes a woman can be in labor for days. I'm sure Miss Rhodes will send word tomorrow." Huxley calmly suggested.

Dusk has fallen and the snow continued. The roads were now impassable.

"No, that's not it. Something has happened." Ethan declared.

"Would you like me to send someone to get an update?" Huxley asked.

Ethan set the glass down. "No, I'll go."

"But sir you cannot your leg, the cast –

"We'll have to cut it off, that's all. Emma said it was time."

Huxley shook his head, "We should wait and have Miss Rhodes do it properly." Huxley said logically. 

"There's no time. Emma could be in danger! Send for Mrs. Dandridge. Tell her I require her sharpest knife."

Mrs. Dandridge was the cook at Lavender Hall. Ethan was confident she could remove the cast without harming him.

"But even if the cast is removed. You'll still be weak sir." Huxley pointed out.

"I'll make do."

"But sir –

"Huxley my mind is made up. Now are you going to help me, or do I need to fetch Mrs. Dandridge myself?"

Huxley hung his head and sighed. "As you wish sir."

Mrs. Dandridge arrived promptly and as Ethan had hoped was able to take the cast off with no difficulty. His leg was thin and pale, and it took him some time to get his bearings.

"Please sir, just let me send someone to the village," Huxley pleaded.

"No, it has to be me. Now, have Aquila saddled and I'll be off."

He still required the use of his crutches to reach the stable but once on the back of Aquila he was comfortable. He had missed riding.

"It's been a long-time boy," Ethan said, stroking his neck. "I only wish the circumstances were better."

He carried a lantern to light the way as only darkness stretched before them.

"If I'm not back in two hours, send out a search party." Ethan instructed Nathan.

"Yes, sir. Be careful."

Ethan nodded then took off. The snow felt like ice stabbing his face. He ducked his head, but it did little help. The snow was now at least half a foot high, and it was slow progress as they maneuvered their way.

All the while Ethan's heart pounded furiously in his chest. What if Emma was hurt or worse? What if he reached her too late? He didn't believe she was still in the village. He was sure she had left but something or someone had waylaid her.

As time passed, he became more anxious and stiffer. He wasn't used to sitting in the saddle so long and his poor weak muscles were quite sore.

Just as he had nearly given up hope of finding Emma, he spotted the carriage. He knew it was his from the insignia on the door. It looked abandoned and was listing to one side.

As he approached, he called Emma's name. But there was no response.

He struggled off Aquila and trudged through the snow to the door. It was layered in a sheet of ice. Setting his lantern on the ground Ethan used a rock to smash some of it off then pulled with all his might to get the door open.