“How long do we wait?” he asked.
“Half an hour, then she can release. Her temperature should be normal then. If so, then she’ll just need some rest but it will be over. I’ll be back in half an hour.”
“It’s late. Why don’t you go home. I’ll take her temperature and if it’s not back to normal, I’ll send for you.”
“I don’t mind…”
“I think she’s had enough,” Silas said, cutting him off.
When Rowan heard those words, the thought of Silas actually taking her temperature was set aside and she felt comforted and cared for. He understood her embarrassment and she didn’t get the feeling that he was angry with her. Not anymore. But the next emotion that came was guilt. She thought of his son, Tobias, of Kara, Charlie, and Dr. Stone. Of all the other villagers whose lives she had put in danger with her actions. Without a thought to any of them, she had taken the selenium with the selfish idea to save her own life over theirs. She knew Commander Norrin’s ways well enough, knew how ruthless a man he was, and she had single-handedly given him cause to punish them all, her friends, people who cared about her and whom she realized she had come to care about.
“I’m sorry,” she said to Silas once everyone was gone and he came to sit beside her. “What I did was selfish and I’m sorry. I never meant for your son or anyone else to pay any price for me. I just didn’t think… no, I only thought of myself and I’m sorry, Silas.”
All the while, he pushed the hair gently from her face. He didn’t respond right away and she could see the sadness in his eyes.
“Shh, just close your eyes for now and try to rest.”
She nodded and did as he said, or tried to. With her belly as full as it was, rest was difficult.
Silas got up off the bed and went out the back door. She remained lying there, her hands on her belly, waiting. She knew what he was doing, she was sure of it, and when he finally came back inside, the dirt on his hands proved it. He washed his hands and returned to her.
“I pulled everything out. If you’d like to plant herbs, you’ll only be allowed ones that I know of. Tomorrow, I’ll have Kara pull the selenium from the clinic’s garden.”
She nodded. “Don’t be angry with Kara.”
He sat back down on the bed. “You could have died, Rowan. She should have told me what she had learned.”
“It’s not her fault. She had nothing to do with me taking it.”
“I’ll deal with Kara once I’ve got you settled here.”
“You’re going to punish her?” she asked, sitting up a little but immediately having to lie back down.
“I’ll take care of Kara, I think you’ve got enough to worry about.”
“But…”
He checked the time. “I’ll help take you into the bathroom.” He ended the conversation when he pulled the blankets away and carried her into the bathroom. He set her on her feet but she had to keep one hand on him to remain steady.
“Lean forward. Put your hands on the tub. I need to take the plug out.”
Her face turned red but the discomfort of her situation overrode any other emotion and she turned and bent forward. He pulled her bottom cheeks apart and slowly removed the plug then sat her down.
“I’ll wait outside,” he said.
She nodded, just barely able to wait until he had gone.
* * *
Silas waited for her, giving her privacy but standing close enough that if she needed anything, he would be there. She was still weak.
After some time, she called out to him. Her face already had regained some of its color and he smiled.
“Let’s get you back into bed.”
“I feel better,” she said, but didn’t struggle against him when he picked her up and carried her to the bed.
“Good.” He lay her down and picked up the thermometer Dr. Stone had left.
“Roll over, let’s get this done so you can get some rest.”
Rowan looked at the thing and groaned. “I don’t want to. It’s enough and I feel better.”
Silas’ expression grew more stern. “Turn onto your belly, Rowan.”
“No.”
Silas inhaled a deep breath and counted to ten but when by then she had neither moved nor looked any more willing to do as he said, he placed one knee on the bed, one hand on her hip and rolled her onto her belly.
“Let me go! Haven’t you done enough?”
“Not nearly,” he said, straddling her so that he put some of his weight on the backs of her thighs and held one wrist at her back. “And I’m not the one who got you into this mess.”
“Leave me alone!” she struggled, wiggling about. One hard smack to her hip halted her movements though.