Married By Midnight(50)
Garrett scooped the boy into his arms, wrapped him against his chest under his greatcoat, then began the difficult trek through the woods and back to the main road. The wind was against them and every step forward was like walking through water. Visibility was poor and it seemed to take forever to reach the road.
Jameson opened the door of the coach and helped Garrett lift the boy inside. He was so very heavy because of all the water in his clothes.
Garrett set him down on the seat. Dr. Thomas entered behind them, removed the boy’s sodden coat and shirt, then shrugged out of his own coat and wrapped it around the boy.
“Where do you live?” he asked the younger brother while he retrieved his black leather medical bag from under the seat. As he withdrew his stethoscope he asked, “How old are you and what are your names?”
“I’m Joshua Callaghan and I’m eleven,” he replied. “My brother is Marcus. He’s thirteen and we live at the end of Jacoby Lane, near the river.”
Dr. Thomas glanced at Garrett. “How far is that?”
“Not far. About two miles.”
“Is that the nearest cottage?” he asked.
Garrett turned questioningly to Jameson who was now standing in the snow outside the door.
“It’s closer than the village,” Jameson told them, “but I don’t trust that old cart road. The storm is getting worse. It might be best to stay on this road and return to the village. We could go straight to the local doctor.”
“Does he have a well-stocked medical office?” Dr. Thomas asked.
“I believe so, and he should be there, as he lives on the upper floor.”
“That sounds like the best option, then,” Dr. Thomas replied. “Take us there, Jameson, as quickly as possible, if you please.” Then he glanced across at Garrett with some concern. “I fear you may be late for your wedding.”
Garrett laid a comforting hand on Joshua’s shoulder. “Anne will understand.”
“But your inheritance... Perhaps you could take one of the horses and go on yourself.”
“No,” Garrett firmly replied. “Jameson will need both horses to bring this coach to the village. I won’t leave you, sir. Or them.” He glanced down at the two young brothers.
The coach rumbled forward into a clearing where Jameson turned them around to head back in the other direction.
* * *
They were halfway to the village when Dr. Thomas checked Marcus’s pulse again.
He leaned down to listen at the boy’s mouth and nose, then tore the extra coat off him to listen to his chest.
“What’s wrong?” Garrett asked.
“He’s not breathing.” Dr. Thomas placed the stethoscope over his heart. “I’m not hearing a heartbeat.”
Joshua began to weep. Garrett gathered the younger boy into his arms. “There must be something we can do. When I was in your office this morning, I read something about resuscitating drowning victims. If we blow into his mouth, won’t he start breathing again?”
“He didn’t drown,” Dr. Thomas replied, shaking Marcus violently. “There is no water in his lungs. It’s the cold. It has slowed his body functions. Now his heart is not circulating his blood. Getting him warm again is our best hope.”
Garrett frowned. “Surely there must be some way to revive him?”
Dr. Thomas shook Marcus again. “His heart needs to beat. Wake up, Marcus! Wake up!” He laid the boy down, leaned over him, pressed a fist to his chest and began to push in a steady rhythm.
“What are you doing?” Garrett asked.
“I’m trying to help his heart. Come on Marcus!”
Garrett watched, transfixed as Dr. Thomas continued to push on the boy’s chest repeatedly with the heel of his hand. Then he grabbed hold of Marcus’s shoulders, sat him up again, and roughly shook him.
“Have you ever done this before?” Garrett asked.
“No.”
“You’re hurting him!” Joshua cried.
Dr. Thomas laid Marcus down again, applied the stethoscope, and listened. For a long moment he was quiet, then he blinked a few times. “There! I heard a beat! A single heartbeat!”
They all stared in silence with breath held, waiting...
He said nothing for a few more seconds.
“Another!”
Dr. Thomas turned to Joshua. “Come here, boy. Take off your jacket. Lie beside him and hug him as tight as you can.”
“But he’s dead!” Joshua sobbed.
“No, his heart wants to work. We just need to get him warm. Come on now, that’s a good boy. Hold him tight. Don’t let go.”
Garrett moved to the window and wiped his sleeve frantically on the foggy pane. “We’re almost there. Just another few minutes...”