"Robbie-Jessie wakes," she said, and rose to stand above me.
Her face was crevassed with deep wrinkles and her eyes were light blue. I stared up at her, terrified.
"Do not be afraid," she said, and smiled at me, a toothless crone's smile. "I am Old Creek Woman. I bring medicine to Robbie-Jessie."
Why did she address me thus? I wanted to call for Rabbit, or for Robbie, or anyone to come, but I could not find my voice. As I stared, I heard movement, and saw Rabbit come into the room.
"Miss Jessie! You awake! How you feel, madam? You feel better?"
I nodded my head. I looked toward the old woman, but she was gone. I looked at Rabbit again.
"That's the Injun woman what brought you medicine," she said. "Master Robbie ask her to come. Her medicine has made you better." She straightened my covers."I go get Master Robbie."
"Wait, Rabbit," I whispered. "What time is it? I mean, what day?"
"It's the tenth of September," she said.
I stared at her. "September," I said, but my voice held no sound. I cast about with my mind. I remembered that I had gone swimming with Cathy and August beneath a waterfall just the other day . . . but no, it was not August and Cathy, it was Mary Ellen, and Celia. Who was Mary Ellen? I felt suddenly frightened. I did not remember how I had come to be here. I did not know where I was.
"Rabbit," I whispered, staring up at her, "Where am I?"
"Lawd, Miss Jessie! You in your cabin! I go get Master Robbie now." She ran from the room.
I heard boots running up the steps, heard the door open, and turned my head.
Robbie came quickly to the bed.
"Jessie!" he said.
He knelt beside me, kissing my hand.
"Oh, lass, lass," he said. "Thanks be to God!"
His voice was so tender, it was as when we were children, and he had comforted me while I wept from a skinned knee, or a fall from a horse. I knew that I should feel glad; but I could feel nothing. I didn't want to wake, didn't want to face Robbie or anyone else; I did not care. I felt only a faint wish that I had died.
__________________
As the days passed I began to grow a little stronger, and to receive visitors. Celia came, and Mary Ellen; I did my best to smile at them.