Page 67 of All In Good Time
Chapter 17
Hurrying into Dunaill Castle, Logan and Sara brought with them the pouch filled with plants and other debris that Logan had collected at the sight of Rory’s accident. They handed it off to Edna and Dr. Ferguson.
“Edna, there’s one thing in there that I know is poisonous,” Sara said.
“How did ye recognize it?” Edna asked.
“Oleander is a plant we see a lot of in California. It grows alongside almost every freeway. My grandfather even used to have an oleander bush in his yard. He was always really careful when he was pruning that bush. I didn’t understand why at the time, but then I read a book about someone killing their husband with oleander tea.”
“Well, yer right. It is poisonous,” Edna agreed. “Do you think it’s possible that he was impaled by the bush and it somehow poisoned him?” Sara was pinning all her hopes on the fact that they’d found the key to helping Rory’s recovery.
“’Tis a good point, but I’m nae so sure it would have had this kind of effect on him. Let me see what other items are in the bag.”
Sara’s heart sank. She had so hoped she’d be right. Edna went through every single leaf and clod of dirt with Dr. Ferguson, but they came up empty. The only thing in the bag that was at all poisonous, to their knowledge, was the oleander.
“Do ye think it was perhaps tetanus?” Edna asked.
“’Tis possible, but would be deadly. There’d be nothing we could do to save him. Let’s hope that’s not it,” Arthur said.
“Rabies. He could have been bitten by something as he lay wounded,” Edna was clearly puzzled.
“I didn’t see any bite marks anywhere on his body when I examined him,” Arthur replied.
“What about a strain of strep?” she asked. It was obvious that Edna was desperately trying to find an answer.
“Also possible, but I would have thought the antibiotics would have taken care of it.” Dr. Ferguson’s face was a map of concentration.
“Nick, could I speak with yer healer please? I have a question.” Dr. Ferguson had a hopeful look on his face, which helped settle Sara’s anxiety over the situation.
“I’ll send fer her.” Nick immediately left the room in search of his healer.
“What do you think it could be?” Edna asked. “Well, we ken that certain plants have poisonous qualities, I’m concerned that this poultice may contain oleander. It would certainly account for the verra slow heart rate and the intermittent palpitations.”
“I hadn’t thought of that, but you could be right,” Edna said.
“The problem with that theory is I don’t have an antidote for it.”
Sara’s anxiety returned full force with that statement.
“That could be where I come into play. My magic may be able to help, that’s if I know what I’m battling.” Edna put an arm around Sara. “All will be well, my dear.”
“Well, let’s see what the healer has to tell us.” Dr. Ferguson paced back and forth waiting for Nick to return.
Aisla joined them. “Rory’s asleep again. ’Tis worrisome to me.”
“We may have discovered what ails him, lass,” Edna told her. “We’ll ken it soon enough.”
* * *
Logan stoodin the doorway as they continued speaking. He didn’t wish Sara to see his despair. He needed to remain strong for her and for Aisla. He hoped Edna was right and that she could cure Rory, but it all seemed impossible to him.
It seemed fate had played a cruel trick on Logan. Giving him the good fortune of meeting Sara and then taking her away from him. He’d found her again at the worst possible time and had fallen hopelessly in love with her and now fate was intervening yet again, trying desperately to keep them apart. As devastating as this was for him, he could see it was tearing Sara apart. Sweet, sweet Sara. It was clear to him she was the one he was meant to be with. The one who made him happier than he’d ever been. So, why was it, then, that things may not turn out the way he wanted them to?
His gaze followed Sara as she moved about the room. He couldn’t imagine letting her go again. He had to dig deep to find that small light of hope to hold onto. She glanced his way with a sad smile on her lips. He beckoned her to come to him, which she did. He held her in his arms, his chin resting atop her head, breathing in the scent of her, memorizing the feel of her and waiting for some sign that his love for her wasn’t in vain.
* * *
It wasn’t longbefore Nick returned with the healer, who appeared quite nervous.