Chapter 25

"There you are sheriff," Gus said, pointing to a large shed. "This is as far as I'm a goin', " he said and turned his horse to head back down the trail. "Wait a minute," I said. "What're all those red pieces of material for?" I asked, noticing 10-15 torn strips of material tied to the tree branches. Gus replied, "Them's to mark a warning that this is place is infected and to turn back. Most folks bring their sickens to the edge of the path and holler out to the 'baccer barn for someone to come out and fetch the sick, and they turn and go back. It's real bad in there. Good luck," and Gus turned his horse and headed back down the trail. The sheriff and I looked at each other for a brief moment of silence then headed into the clearing. "Hello, the shed," the sheriff hollered as we dismounted and tied our horses to stakes hammered in the ground. I was pulling down my saddlebags with the medical supplies in it when we heard the door open with a loud screeching noise.

"That you doc?" Maisy said with her hand shielding her eyes. I turned to see the old woman I had become fond of standing in a shadowed doorway looking very tired and worn. "Yes, Maisy," I replied. "I've come to help you" as I hurried towards her. " 'Bout time," Maisy said, then looked at the sheriff. "The best thing you can do Birney is to mount back up and head out. Once you step in here you will be breathing in some awful powerful stuff." The sheriff turned a little pale and said to me, "Well, if you don't need me, I'll just be heading back," and mounted up on his horse. He tipped his hat to Maisy and headed back the way he had come.

"Put that bandana over your mouth and nose, you don't want to be breathing any of this," Maisy said as she pulled hers up over her mouth and nose. I followed her instructions and quickly hurried after her.

Inside the dark building he could see oil lamps lit and setting in various spots providing light to the dark interior. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness I started counting the patients lying on straw pallets on the dirt floor of the shed. The final count was seventeen people of varying ages laying side by side. Occasionally I would see women up moving between the patients offering sips of water or spooning a broth into parched mouths. Others were laying rags on the foreheads of some and smoothing their foreheads whispering words of encouragement. "Why didn't you contact me sooner?" I asked Maisy turning to look at her. "It started last week and had spread before I could get word to you. I have to be careful who I come into contact with, so far I ain't had no sign of it, but folks is still nervous 'bout comin' round me," Maisy replied.

"Follow me," she said heading toward some steps that lead up to a hay loft. "You can unpack and leave your stuff in here. We keep some food supplies up here and some pallets for the helpers to rest on in between patients. I got 4 women that have helped me since the outbreak, 2 of 'em have done raised their younguns and lost their husband so they don't have to worry 'bout puttin' no one out, one is an old maid who can't be satisfied with any man courting her, the other one is a young girl that came up with her sister and stayed to help. She's the oldest one in the whole family that has any sense," Maisy said as she gathered her skirt and apron around her to head up the steps. " 'Sides," she said "You can get a better look up here at the layout of folks and keep an eye on everybody." I followed her up the steps giving her plenty of room to maneuver her bulk up the steps and to a secure footing before I started up. When I reached the upper landing, I saw that I indeed had a bird's eye view of the inside of the shed and all of the patients. I noticed a make shift desk with a board laid across the tops of two barrels and a ladder back chair next to it. A small lamp burned low and steady. Around me were various small, hay pallets covered with homemade quilts of old gingham and denim material, small pillows had been hurriedly made from torn material hastily stitched together and packed with more hay. On the other side of the loft I could see where a few hay bales were pushed to one side allowing room for food items and hand rolled bandages and cloths. Maisy started back down the ladder to the lower floor saying as she went, "Me and the girls fixed that there desk for you to do your bookwork on, figured you would need somewhere to keep your notes. Pick any of the pallets when you get tired, we work in shifts so there is always one free. I'm going back down and send one of them up here to rest, Lord knows if they was charging for their time we couldn't afford 'em."

I unpacked my ledgers and writing instruments, most all of the medical supplies I had brought with me and in the very bottom of the saddle bag, my fingers touched a small square object unfamiliar to me. I clutched it in my hand and pulled it out to get a better look at it. It was a small picture of my wife and children smiling happily. Gabby must have placed it in the bottom of the bag when she was helping me pack. I smiled at it and positioned the picture, in its small wooden frame, on my desk near the oil lamp so that I only had to glance over to see their beautiful faces.

I had just folded the saddlebags and was headed towards the ladder when I heard footsteps wearily coming up. I stepped back and offered my hand in assistance but my hand was brushed back as a small figure made it to the top of the ladder. "Don't need no help," the small voice squeaked at me, "Men folks always wanting to help you out and nothing but sneaky thoughts is rattling round in their old empty heads." I was a little shocked when the small figure stepped off the ladder onto the floor and brushed her apron down with small hands. I saw her take a deep breath and draw herself up to her full height, which could not have been but around 4 foot 8 inches tall by my estimation. She looked up at me with bright, round eyes; sizing me up in one glance. "My name is Maedell Johnson, but you can call me Mae, most folks do. I am nigh on 80 years old and set in my ways and don't plan on changing. I have outlived 2 husbands, have 2 daughters good as gold and 4 sons headed straight to hell if'n they don't change quickly. I am pleased to help but don't take no orders. Now I am going to lay down for a bit and rest." I looked at her with a small grin and said, "Sleep peaceful Maedell Johnson," and with that, started down the ladder. I didn't see the smile that crossed her face as I looked down to place my foot on the rung, descending in to the darkness below.