Kara touched Rowan’s hand, her fingers grazing her own mark. “There’s a code embedded in the ink. It’s a sort of tracking device. We adopted it a few years ago, actually, Silas made it mandatory when his wi…”
“Kara,” the doctor called from behind them.
Both Rowan and Kara turned to find the doctor standing in the doorway.
“Come inside and help me with Charlie,” he said, his gaze suspicious on Rowan who dropped hers to the ground. Kara noticed it too and just touched her hand lightly.
“I’ll come back in a while,” she said, then: “Don’t be hurt, they don’t know you, is all.”
Rowan nodded and watched them disappear into the clinic. Kara had just been about to tell her something about Silas when they’d been interrupted and she made a mental note to remind her later. For now though, she went directly to where she had seen the selenium plant creeping along the wall. She plucked a handful of leaves and tore them. It would be easier to take in a tea but for now, she just had to swallow the bitter leaves as they were. She couldn’t take a chance on being pregnant already and so she stuffed the leaves into her mouth, making a face as she chewed and forced herself to swallow. She spent the next hour walking through the garden taking a mental inventory of all they had. If they knew how to use the abundant herbs she saw here, they wouldn’t be quite so reliant on the colony for their medicines.
“I brought you a glass of water.”
Rowan jumped when she saw the doctor approaching. She had been so absorbed in what she was doing that she hadn’t even heard him approach.
“You startled me,” she said.
“I didn’t mean to,” he said. “Here.”
She took the glass of water and thanked him, then drank it down. He stared at her all along and she tried to remember that he likely hadn’t seen someone like her before.
“I’m Dr. Leonard Stone,” he said, holding out his hand.
Rowan looked at it for a moment before sliding hers into it. “I’m Rowan. I don’t have a second name.”
“I wanted to thank you for your help with little Charlie. He likes to think he’s the man of the house now and sometimes forgets he’s just a child.”
“He’s a sweet boy,” she said. “Isn’t there anyone in your village who knows how to use these herbs for medicines? You have an abundance.”
Dr. Stone’s gaze traveled the length of the garden. “We keep it up but since Old Freya passed away, there’s been no one. I’d like it if you’d teach us what you know. Me and my staff.”
“I’d be happy to. Would it be all right if I took some of the plants to replant at Silas’ home? You can cook with many of them as well.”
“Yes, help yourself. In fact, shall I get you something to collect them in?”
“Yes, please.”
She spent the next few hours plucking leaves from plants to dry for the clinic as well as making a list of concoctions she would teach them how to make. Then she chose her own plants, making sure to take enough of the selenium along with the simpler herbs. By the time her bucket was full, it was late afternoon and the sun was high and hot. She went into the clinic to find either Kara or the doctor. Kara had taken Charlie home and the doctor was in with a patient. She turned to the only nurse there.
“Do you know when Silas will be back for me?” she asked, feeling strange but knowing she was to stay here and wait for him.
The nurse glanced at her but Rowan could see it took some effort to hold her gaze. “I don’t know.”
“Can I talk to Dr. Stone?”
“No. He’s in with a patient and he’s expecting me. Excuse me.” By the time she said that, she had all but left the room already and Rowan looked down at her bucket of plants. They would die if she didn’t get them planted soon. She made one more attempt but the other nurse simply rushed by her. She glared at the back of the woman’s head. What was she supposed to do, stand here all day waiting? She was hungry and hot and all her effort would be wasted if she didn’t plant the herbs soon. She looked down at the selenium plant that was at the top and decided she would have to deal with Silas’ anger when the time came. This was too important.
She walked quickly through the village, grateful to have remembered the path, and not ten minutes later, she was standing outside in the little garden behind Silas’ house. She found some garden tools and, after choosing a spot for her herb garden, began to dig up the earth. Taking her time, she planted everything, taking special care with the selenium. After that, she chose another corner farther off, dug a hole and dropped some of the pomegranate seeds into it, hoping for a tree, realizing she might not be here to see it if it did take root and grow but wanting to do it just the same. It was a lonely thought but it was the reality of things at the moment.