Tracie Peterson - Dawns Prelude

The soldiers approached and quickly recognized Kjell. "What's wrong?" one man called.

"My wife and her aunt have been wounded. Someone broke into the house." He stepped over the hack of the seat and into the wagon bed. "They need a doctor!"

The soldiers helped Zerelda from the wagon. Seeing she could walk with help, the man in charge issued an order for one of the privates to aid her into the building. Next, he turned to help lift Lydia from the wagon, but Kjell pushed him back.

"I've got her. You lead."

By the time Kjell cleared the door, Mrs. Ensign, one of the doctors' wives, was there pointing the way. "They've taken Zerelda to the dispensary. Follow me."

They moved quickly down the west hall until they reached the end. Two orderlies followed behind with a long table. They assembled it in the middle of the room at the doctor's instructions. Mrs. Ensign quickly covered it with a sheet and motioned to Kjell.

With great care, he deposited Lydia on the table and then stepped back. The scene was terrible. Blood was caked and clotted on her neck and blouse. She was as white as the sheet upon which she lay, and there was only the tiniest hint of her breathing.

Dr. Ensign joined them. He turned to the orderlies. "Clean Miss Rockford's wounds while I see to Mrs. Lindquist."

The men nodded and immediately went to where Zerelda sat. Kjell turned his attention back to Lydia. Dr. Ensign began carefully pulling away the fabric of her blouse. "Bring the scissors." His wife went to fetch them while he cast a quick look up at Kjell. "Arc you injured, too?"

Kjell followed the doctor's gaze to his chest. He was drenched in rain and blood. "No. I'm fine. I wasn't there when it happened."

"And exactly what did happen?"

"I don't know. I came home to find them both injured. Zee remembers some men coming in. They were after the baby."

"The baby? Where is he?"

Kjell shook his head. He felt sick inside. "I don't know. He's been taken."

Disbelief rang clear in the doctor's voice. "Taken? You must be mistaken."

"I'm not. Whoever did this took my son." Water dripped down Kjell's face and he wiped it away with the hack of his sleeve.

"Orderly, get this man some dry clothes. Kjell, you need to change or you'll catch pneumonia," the doctor insisted.

"I won't leave. I can change here."

The doctor nodded at the orderly and turned hack to Lydia. Kjell had never felt so helpless in his life. He tried to pray but found that words escaped him. He tried to focus on anything but the sight of his wife.

The room was cold and sterile. It had been organized and arranged with all that the doctor would need for immediate care. There was a glass-front case with bottles neatly arranged. The shelves to the far side were just as well ordered. The room was probably the cleanest of any in Sitka.

He looked hack to Lydia and felt a sensation of hopelessness wash over him. "Will she… live?"

"I don't know, Kjell. She's lost a lot of blood. The freezing air helped to slow the flow, however." He had removed her blouse and corset and was just cutting away the last of her chemise. "She's been shot, you know."

"I presumed as much, but I didn't know for sure," Kjell admitted. The orderly reappeared with a stack of dry clothes.

"Step behind the screen over there and get out of those things," the doctor ordered.

Kjell quickly did as he was told. He stepped out with only the dry trousers on. Clutching the shirt in his hand, Kjell came back to the table and finished dressing at Lydia 's side.

"The wound on her shoulder isn't that had. The bullet only grazed her." Dr. Ensign motioned to his assistant. "Hold this dressing in place while I assess her other injuries."

Kjell could see that the neck wound had begun to bleed once again. Dr. Ensign worked quickly to clean the site and survey the damage. "The wound is thawing. Kjell, you'll need to go. Wait outside."

"I won't leave her. If she's going to die, then I'm going to be at her side."

"Very well just stay hack over there." He cocked his head toward the door.

There was a chair not far from the counter. Kjell took a seat and watched and waited while everyone else bustled around as a team. They all seemed to know their duties and attended to his wife without having to be instructed.

When the doctor set the scalpel to Lydia 's neck, Kjell nearly came up out of his seat. He calmed himself, however, realizing that the doctor knew what he was doing and only cared about saving Lydia 's life.

But what if he couldn't? What if she died-died like Raisa? Kjell wasn't sure he could take another blow like that. Then he thought of Dalton. There was no telling where the child was. He wanted to go and search for his son, but he couldn't leave Lydia 's side. Whoever had taken the baby had done it on the orders of Marston Gray-of this, Kjell was certain. And if Marston had taken the child, at least he would not he harmed. So for the time, Kjell reasoned, it was better to stay with Lydia.

He hadn't realized that Zerelda had come to join him until she touched his shoulder. The orderly set a chair for her beside Kjell, and she reached out to take hold of his hand. "We should pray," she whispered.

He nodded but felt completely helpless. "I don't have the words, Zee."

Zerelda, now sporting a bandaged head, bowed. "I believe God hears your heart."

Evie Gray Gadston looked across the room at her husband. The man was surrounded by his friends and business associates and had no interest whatsoever in his young wife. She kept her feelings carefully masked so that no one would realize how miserable she truly was. She had been married for nearly a yearthe twentieth of February would mark her anniversary. Evie had hoped with time, her husband would show more interest in her. So far, that hadn't proven true.

He was more married to his business dealings than to her. In fact, while he had consummated many new business arrangements over the last year, Thomas Gadston had failed to do the same for his marriage.

At nearly eighteen, Evie didn't know whether to be happy or sad about it. She hadn't wanted to marry the man in the first place-he was twenty years her senior, and they shared no common interest. From the first night she'd moved into the Gadston house as his wife, Thomas had shown her little regard. He hadn't even bothered to show her around the house-he'd left that to the housekeeper.

Her bedroom, appointed with everything a young woman could desire, had never been visited by her husband. Evie would spend many a long evening in the quiet confines of her suite while Thomas entertained businessmen in the rooms below. She had once approached him on the matter, only to he waved away with his reproach. "You are mine to do with as I wish," he had said, "and if I wish to preserve your chastity and virtue, it is of no concern to you."

"This is a wonderful party, don't you think?" Jeannette declared as she approached Evie.

"I suppose so. The men seem to have no interest in discussing anything but politics and financial interests, while the women stand idly, gossiping about whose family scandal is greater."

Jeannette frowned. "Honestly, I cannot understand you. You have everything. This glorious home-one of the finest in Kansas City. You're married to a man who was known to he the best catch in six states." She giggled as she looked over her shoulder at Thomas. "And he is the most handsome by far."

"Maybe you should marry him," Evie said, rolling her eyes.

"As I said, I do not understand you. Look at you. You're wearing the very latest fashions, in the finest silk money can buy You're positively dripping in jewels and-"