Sarah's Choice (6 page)

T
he next morning as Sarah was about to join her children for breakfast, she heard the familiar moaning of a conch shell.

“Oh no,” she said with a groan. “Another boat’s coming through.” She’d begun working at five thirty and had already opened the lock to six boats.

The conch shell blew again, and Sarah knew that even though Betsy hadn’t arrived yet, she really must go.

“Sammy, keep an eye on your sister and brother,” she instructed.

“Okay, Mama.”

“And don’t any of you leave the house,” she said as she hurried out the door.

Sarah’s fingers felt stiff and cold as she struggled to put the pin in the wicket.

Suddenly, before Sarah realized what had happened, she was jerked backward and fell on her back. A stab of pain shot through her ribs. She was sure they must be broken. She tried to sit up, but the pain was so intense, all she could do was lie there and moan.

Elias had been walking the towpath since yesterday morning, and he was beginning to have an appreciation for how hard young Bobby worked. The boy was feeling somewhat better today, but was still too weak to walk. So Elias had decided to lead the mules again, as he was determined to see that Bobby got the rest he needed.

As Elias approached the Walnutport lock, he was shocked when he saw Sarah Turner get knocked to the ground.

“We need to stop!” he hollered at Ned.

“What for?” Ned leaned over the boat and glared at Elias. “I thought we was supposed to be goin’ through the lock.”

“The lock tender’s been hurt!” Elias pointed to where Sarah lay on the ground. “I’m going over there to check on her.” He secured the mules’ lead rope to a nearby post and dashed over to where Sarah lay.

“What happened? Are you hurt?” he asked, squatting down beside her.

“I…I was pulling the pin from the wicket and ended up flat on my back.” She curled her fingers into the palms of her hands tightly, obviously trying not to cry. “I think I may have broken my ribs.”

“Let me help you into the house, and then I’ll go into town and get the doctor,” he said.

She shook her head. “I can’t go in the house. Someone has to let your boat through the lock.”

“I’ll have Ned secure my boat, and then he can tend to the lock if any other boats should come through.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t expect him to do that. I need to—” She flinched as she tried to stand.

“You’re in no shape to be working right now. I’m taking you into the house.” Gently, Elias slipped his arm around Sarah’s waist, and then he walked her slowly toward the house. They were almost there when Betsy Covington, the preacher’s wife whom he’d met at Cooper’s store the last time he’d stopped, showed up. When she looked at Sarah, her face registered immediate concern.

“Sarah, what happened?”

Sarah explained what had happened to her, and then Elias told Betsy that Ned was going to take care of the lock while he went to fetch the doctor.

“That’s so nice of you,” Betsy said. “Let’s get Sarah inside so she can lie down.”

They stepped into the house, and Elias helped Sarah into the parlor and over to the sofa. “I’m going out to tell Ned what he needs to do, and then I’ll head to the doctor’s office.” He paused and looked at Betsy. “I’m not that familiar with Walnutport yet. Where is the doctor’s office anyway?”

“It’s on Main Street, next to the barber shop.”

“Thanks.” Elias turned and hurried out the door.

When he stepped outside, he found Ned standing by the post where he’d tied the mules.

“Sarah may have broken some ribs, so you’re going to have to act as lock tender while I get the doctor,” Elias said.

Ned’s bushy eyebrows furrowed. “You’ve gotta be kidding!”

“You told me once that you’d worked as a lock tender for a while.”

Ned shrugged. “So?”

“So I’m sure you know exactly what to do.”

Ned motioned to the boat, which he’d tied up. “What about our load? How are we gonna get that delivered to Easton if we waste time hangin’ around here?”

Elias’s spine stiffened. “Helping someone in need is not a waste of time. And for your information, I’m wasting time right now, standing here arguing with you when I should be on my way to the doctor’s office.”

Ned grunted. “You’re a do-gooder, just like your grand-pappy was.”

Elias smiled. He saw being compared to his grandfather as a compliment. “Are you going to tend the lock or not?” he asked Ned.

Ned released a noisy grunt. “I’ll do whatever you say, but only because you’re the boss.”

W
hen Elias returned with Dr. McGrath, Pastor William was at the house. “How’s Sarah doing?” he asked Betsy, who sat at the kitchen table with the children.

“I fixed her some tea, and she’s resting on the sofa, but every time another conch shell blows, she gets upset and says it’s not right for someone else to be doing her job.” Betsy rose from her seat and came to stand beside him. “I’m really concerned about her. She pushes herself too hard and is doing the work of a man when I’m sure she’d rather be taking care of her children.”

“Sarah needs to provide for them,” Pastor William said. “And she’s been doing a good job of it, wouldn’t you say?”

Betsy nodded. “But now that she’s been hurt, she may not be able to work at all.”

“Ned’s helping out,” Elias interjected.

“That’s true, but he can’t tend the lock indefinitely,” Betsy said.

Pastor William slipped his arm around Betsy’s waist. “Let’s wait and see what the doctor says. In the meantime, the best thing we can do for Sarah is to pray.”

“Well, your ribs don’t appear to be broken,” Dr. McGrath said as he examined Sarah. “However, they are severely bruised. I’ll give you some liniment to put on them, but you’ll need to rest for the next few days to give your ribs a chance to heal so you don’t injure them any further.”

Sarah shook her head. “I can’t lie around here and rest. I need to tend the lock.”

“I’ll be right back.”

When Dr. McGrath left the parlor, Sarah leaned her head against the arm of the sofa and listened to the wood crackling in the fireplace. If not for the pain in her ribs it would have felt nice to lie here and relax.

A few minutes later, the doctor returned with Betsy, Pastor William, and Elias.

“The doctor told us that he wants you to rest, and I think I have an answer to your problem,” Elias said as he approached the sofa.

Sarah tipped her head. “What’s that?”

“My mule driver’s sick right now, but if I can find someone to fill in for him, then I’ll leave Ned here to tend the lock and I’ll head to Easton with my load of coal. By the time I get back, you may feel up to tending the lock again.”

“I’ll lead the mules for you,” Sammy said, rushing into the room.

Sarah shook her head vigorously. “Absolutely not! I won’t have any child of mine walking the towpath for hours on end.”

“We’ll go slow and easy,” Elias said. “And I’ll make sure to keep a close eye on the boy.”

Sammy took a seat on the sofa beside Sarah and clutched her hand. “Please, Mama. I know I can do it. It’ll make me happy to do somethin’ helpful while you’re here gettin’ better.”

Sarah looked up at Pastor William, whose deep blue eyes wore a look of concern. “Will you please tell my son what a bad idea that is?”

“I can do it, Mama,” Sammy said before the pastor could respond. “I’m good with animals, and I’ve walked the mules a bit when some of the boats have stopped at Uncle Mike’s store.”

Sarah frowned. “What were you doing walking the mules?”

“Wanted to see what it was like, so one of the mule drivers let me try it awhile.” Sammy puffed out his chest. “Leadin’ the mules wasn’t hard a’tall. Fact is, I kinda liked it.”

Sarah shook her head again. “I said no, and that’s final.”

“But, Mama…”

Holding her sides, Sarah gritted her teeth and pulled herself off the sofa. “I’m not seriously hurt, and there’s no need for Ned to stay and tend the lock.”

Betsy rushed forward and took Sarah’s arm. “You heard what the doctor said. You’re not up to working yet.”

Pastor William nodded. “My wife is right. You need to spend a few days resting so your ribs can heal.” He turned to Elias. “If your offer’s still open to leave Ned here to tend the lock, then I’ll head back to town and see if I can find a mule driver for you.”

Elias nodded. “My offer’s still open. I’ll go explain the situation to Ned, and then I’ll move my boat over to Cooper’s store, because I need to get some supplies.”

“Want me to lead the mules so ya can get the boat over to the store?” Sammy asked.

Sarah held up her hand. “No! You need to go to school.”

“But I’m already late, Mama. Can’t I stay home today and help out around here?”

“Betsy came here to help. Now I want you to head for school right now.”

Sammy frowned. “Don’t see why ya hafta treat me like a baby all the time. Don’t see why ya don’t want my help.”

“It’s not that I don’t want your help. I just don’t think you should miss any school.” She motioned to the kitchen. “Now go get the lunch I made for you earlier and be on your way.”

With shoulders hunched and head down, Sammy shuffled out the door.

Pastor William gave Betsy’s shoulder a squeeze. “I’m off to see if I can round up a mule driver for Elias, and then there are a few members from our congregation I need to call on. I’ll see you at home this evening.”

Betsy smiled. “Have a good day.”

Elias looked over at Sarah. “When I go to the store for supplies, I’ll ask Mike Cooper if it’ll be okay for Ned to bed down in his stable when he’s done working for the day. But he’ll be back over here early tomorrow morning, ready to tend the lock.”

Sarah managed a weak smile. “Thank you, I appreciate that.”

After Elias and William left, Betsy turned to Sarah and said, “I’m going out to the kitchen to check on the children, and then I’ll make us a pot of hot tea. While I’m doing that, why don’t you lie down and rest?”

Sarah heaved a sigh. “Oh, alright. I can see with you all ganging up on me that I really have no other choice.”