“What can we do?” Susanna couldn’t hide the fear in her voice.
“It will be important to keep her warm and propped up. Also strong black coffee. She’ll need to drink strong black coffee several times a day. The hot liquid will help, but moreover the coffee has properties in it that will speed up the blood and help open the lungs.”
Susanna nodded. “I can see to that for certain. Is there any medicine she might take?”
“I have some cough syrup if the strain gets to be too much, but we want her to cough out the mucus so she clears her lungs. You can give her willow bark tea for the fever.”
“I will.” Susanna looked at her mother, who looked so helpless. She’d never witnessed her sick like this in all the times her mother had made a fuss about her health.
“I’ll come check on her this evening,” the doctor said.
“Thank you. What do I owe you?”
He smiled and put away his stethoscope. “We’ll settle up when this is done with. The missus and I will be praying for her.” He glanced down at Mother, who had already fallen back asleep. He gave a little nod and picked up his bag. “Keep her comfortable. Try to get her to take some broth later. She needs to keep up her strength. Chicken is best, but oxtail is a good alternative.”
Susanna saw him to the door and then went to tell Lia what the doctor had said. Lia was so understanding and helpful. She promised to be there as much as possible.
“The boys will be home from school at four. I’ll need to be there until LeRoy gets home around four thirty. After that I can come over for a few hours.”
“I’d appreciate that. Just until we get some sort of routine figured out. I need to let my father and brother know what’s going on too. We’ll have to find a way to take turns taking care of her, but having you to help us will make all the difference.” Susanna gave Lia a hug. “You truly are like a sister to me.”
Lia nodded. “We’ll be praying too. I know pneumonia is serious. Would you allow me to let the ladies from our quilting club know? They will get the word out to pray.”
“I would love that very much. Thank you, Lia.”
Susanna made her way back to her mother’s bedside. She pulled up a chair and took hold of her mother’s hand. She hadn’t expected this simple movement to wake her mother, but it did.
“Susanna.”
“I’m here, Mother.”
The older woman struggled to breathe. The wheezing was terrible, and Susanna couldn’t help but think back to Mark. He had been sick like this. His fever had raged, and his breathing had been so labored. Willow bark tea hadn’t helped. Neither had the mustard plaster, nor the peppermint tea. Nothing had helped. Would it be that way again?
Her mother opened her eyes. “I’m afraid.”
Susanna could see the sincerity in her eyes. “I am too. I’m praying for you, however. And Lia and I are going to nurse you the best we can. I’m going to make you some strong coffee. The doctor said it will help.”
“What if . . . I don’t get well?”
“Oh, don’t talk like that. I’m sure you’ll recover.”
Her mother shook her head. “I’m . . . not healthy.”
“You’re better than you think. The doctor is coming back to see you tonight, so let’s show him what we can accomplish. I’ll get you some strong coffee, and after that some willow bark tea. We need to keep you drinking fluids. It will help bring down the fever.”
Mother grabbed at Susanna. “But . . . what if God . . . is punishing me?”
Taking her mother’s hand, Susanna did her best to offer comfort. “He’s here for you, Mother. Just put your trust in Him.”
“I was . . . cruel. Said things . . .” She gasped for air. “I’m not . . . good.”
“No one is, without Jesus.”
“Send for . . . the preacher . . . and your father. I need . . .” She fell into a coughing fit, and Susanna helped her sit more upright until the spasms were over.
“I’ll send for them, Mother.”
She helped her mother lie back and then hurried to where Lia was finishing the laundry. “Mother wants Pastor Lewis and my father to come. Do you want to stay with her while I go get him?”
“Of course.” Lia pinned the last sheet on the line. “I’m done here.”
Susanna drew a deep breath and let it go slowly. “Dr. Sanborn said to get her to drink strong, black coffee. Would you make some and, if I’m not back when it’s done, try to get her to drink it?”
“I will.” Lia smiled. “Try not to worry. You’ve said yourself that she is a strong, healthy woman. We’ll see her through this.”
“I just keep thinking of Mark—my husband. This was how it was with him.”
Lia took Susanna’s hands in hers. “This isn’t Mark, but if the worst happens, we’ll all be here for you. You won’t face it alone.”
“I know that, but what I don’t know is if Mother has made her peace with God. I think that’s why she wants the pastor. I think she knows she may die.”
Susanna went to find Pastor Lewis only to learn he was out at one of the ranches and wouldn’t be back until late. Susanna considered finding another preacher but went back to the house instead. She had a strange feeling about her mother’s condition. She’d had the same feeling when Mark died.
Father had come to check on Mother and then gone back to work, according to Lia. There was also a visit from a couple of women from church. They had heard that Mother was sick and wanted to help in any way they could. Susanna was touched by their kindness. No one in Topeka from their large church had bothered when Mark was ill.
The evening wore on, and Susanna continued to check her mother’s condition and to wipe her brow with a tepid cloth.
“I’m going to . . . die,” her mother whispered.
Susanna touched the cloth to her cheek. “No, you aren’t.”
“I’ve been such . . . a terrible person, Susanna. I’m going . . . to hell.”
“Not if you put your faith in Jesus. You know what the Bible says. You’ve listened to the pastor’s sermons. God doesn’t want you to be afraid and alone. He’s always been here for you.”
“I don’t deserve . . .” She began to cough, and Susanna helped her sit up for a moment.
“Mother, none of us deserve anything good. We’re all sinners, the Bible says. You can put your trust in Jesus, though, and He will save you from hell. He openly welcomes each of us to seek Him—to trust and love Him.”
She helped her mother ease back against the pillow. “You don’t have to be afraid, Mother. Just pray and tell Jesus that you believe in Him and that you repent of your sins.”
“But my sins . . . are too many. I’ve been . . . terrible.”
“Your sins are no worse than anyone else’s, and God forgives them all. You mustn’t tax yourself on this. Simply pray and be saved.”
Her mother looked at her for a moment as if trying to ascertain the truth of the matter. Susanna wished she could ease her mother’s fears. She prayed silently for God to reassure her mother that this was the only way to be saved, and that He very much wanted to save her.