Martha of the Mill- Chapter 4

I still don't have a title for Chapter 3. Let me know if you think of something. I've waited to post this. It is a little boring. I kind of think of it as a "bridge" chapter to kind of tie up loose ends before the next one where things really happen. And of course the next chapter is REALLY hard to write... it has so many things I want to get right. Anyway... here it is... as always suggestions are appreciated.

Chapter 4 Damaged Hand

Martha paid little attention to Savannah. Her words seemed to be insignificant to the current situation and the throbbing in her head made it difficult to focus on anything other than placing one foot in front of the other.

“Martha,” exclaimed her mother as they burst through the door. “What…” her words stopped short as she noticed the front of her dress, now covered in blood. Her apron, wrapped around the hand, was also completely soaked. Quickly she grabbed a sheet from the cupboard and began ripping it into strips. “Savannah, go and fill the basin with clean water,” she instructed.

When Savannah left, Martha attempted to tell her mother what had happened. “Shhh,” her mother soothed. “Now we just have to fix it the best we can.” Martha looked down to see, along with the numerous cuts, one finger almost cut off, and another smashed completely flat. Everything went black as she fainted from the pain.

When Martha woke up, Savannah had gone. For a moment she wondered why she was in bed, then the ache in her hand gave her a sharp reminder of the morning’s events. “What will we do, Mother,” moaned Martha.

“I just don’t know. I just don’t know,” replied her mother.

“I can help,” exclaimed her six year old brother, James. “I can be a ‘trapper boy’ at the mine.”

Martha’s mother sighed. “It might sound fun, James, but it is hard work. Also, you might spend a whole day alone, without talking to anyone.” Trapper boys worked at the coal mine closing the trap doors for cars as they passed from one chamber to the next in the mine. This process forced air in to the men working inside. “We’ll think of something else.” But the weariness in her voice betrayed the hopelessness she felt.

“It is the power of God and it can heal you.” Martha heard the words Savannah told her earlier. Although it was in her mind, she heard them as clearly as if Savannah were next to her right now, speaking them again.

“Mother, have you ever heard of the priest… Oh, I can’t remember the name, but Savannah told me about it earlier. There are men that say they work for Jesus and Savannah thinks they can heal my hand,” the words spilled from Martha’s mouth before she could think. She waited impatiently for her mother’s response.

“I don’t know, Martha. It looks pretty bad and I don’t know if anyone could make it better,” her mother replied.

“If you’ll help me find Savannah, I’m willing to try,” said Martha. She hoped her mother couldn’t sense how doubtful she really was.