Chapter Thirty-Eight: Steadfast
Tuesday, August 16 to Friday, August 26, 1910
After Will and Jean left the bank, Sarah's parents chose to go for a walk. As Emily and Sarah cleaned up the board room, Sarah asked, "Did you mean what you said about Pete earlier?"
Emily thought for a moment. "When I called him, 'Old reliable'?" Sarah nodded.
Emily hemmed and hawed: "I guess. I," she looked over the remnants of the dinner. "I don't know. Maybe I don't need a boyfriend right now. Why do you ask?"
Sarah popped her lips. "No reason."
They did not speak about Pete the rest of the evening as they washed the dishes. Sarah wanted to say something but she was too intimidated and confused. When Emily left to go pick up the Clementine's wagon, Sarah helped Lynn move everything downstairs to the backdoor of the bank.
"Lynn, I've got to tell you something."
Lynn shrugged.
"What?"
Jake walked into the room. Sarah saw him.
She turned back to Lynn. "I appreciate your help tonight."
Lynn replied, "It was fun."
Jake said, "I think they liked my drawings."
Sarah shrugged. "As did I. We should have those framed. How about I take you back to my house and we can work on getting frames? You and I could go for a ride, just the two of us. Would you like that?"
Jake beamed. "I sure would!"
The wagon pulled up. Jake took his drawings and placed them in the back of the Conrad's car.
Lynn cleared her throat. "With the speed of that car you'll arrive there before Emily and I. No monkey business."
Sarah put her arm around him. "I'll try to control myself."
The girls laughed. Jake nervously so.
The car took off down the street. The wagon followed but it was easily outpaced.
As they travelled, Jake adjusted the pencils in his satchel of art supplies.
When they passed the church, Sarah saw Pete Jackson walking towards them. He waved. Sarah gave him a half-moose. Pete blew her a kiss. Sarah looked in the mirror. She said to herself, "I hope the girls don't follow too close."
Sarah sighed. "Jake, my friend, there is magic in the air tonight; a special kind of romance; a boundless love. I feel it deep inside my heart. Do you feel it?"
Jake scrunched his eyebrows not exactly sure of her meaning. "Um… I guess I feel it too."
"I feel like," Sarah motioned with her hands. "Something magical is about to happen."
Jake shifted his eyes. "Ok."
Sarah groaned, "Oh, this is all too much. Jake, I must, must tell you a secret."
"What?"
"I," Sarah trilled her lips. "Jake, I am in love with someone I am not supposed to be in love with."
"Really?"
"He's taboo. This boy is someone who is sweet and handsome and considerate but also off limits, if you catch my meaning. If I were to move too hastily," she shook her head. "Emily would be disappointed and Lynn would be upset."
The car pulled into the drive way.
Jake was still analyzing Sarah's confession.
Sarah got out of the car. When she opened the door for him she spun him around like they were doing a dance.
She looked to the sky. "You see that moon?" She draped her arm across his shoulders.
"Yeah." He said with a gulp.
"Do you hear the moon?"
His breathing became shorter. "Um… um… no."
"The moon is saying, 'Tonight is all for Sarah Conrad; the stars sing of my true love!"
Jake stammered, "Well… that's… nice."
"Nice? Nice?" She hugged him. "That's incredible!"
When she heard the clip clops of Emily's wagon, she hurriedly walked with him into the house.
"Jake, I don't know how to describe it but you and I have a special connection."
His heart was beating a thousand times a minute as he felt Sarah's tender hand caress his shoulder. "Mmm hmm."
"We'll wait in the parlor."
She gave him a friendly hug, he tried to lengthen the embrace. Sarah broke the embrace and began walking back to the kitchen. Jake took a moment to breathe. He took a hold of Sarah's right hand.
She turned to him. 
Jake asked, "Can you close your eyes for a second?"
Sarah shrugged and closed her eyes.
He whispered, "I love you" and kissed her!
Sarah tried to pull away but Jake took her leaning back as a sign to continue the kiss.
Finally, after several seconds, the kiss stopped.
Emily and Lynn broke into laughter. They were standing in the hallway.
Sarah's eyes were as big as saucers.
Emily said coyly, "And now we see the full picture!" She did a shimmy.
Lynn saluted. "Good job, Jake."
Sarah was flabbergasted. "You beast! You masher! What was that all about?"
Jake was confused. "You said that you were looking for romance from an unexpected source."
Sarah growled, "I didn't mean you, you little twit! I meant…" she paused and looked to Lynn and Emily who were intensely curious as to whose name Sarah would mention. "I meant another boy, any other boy besides you!"
Lynn and Emily were now cackling so hard they had trouble breathing. Jake was bewildered.
Sarah huffed. "You lewd little creep! You planned all of this to humiliate me, right?"
Jake shook his head. "Sarah, you're the one who kept touching me."
"Ach!" Emily playfully cackled.
Lynn was bowled over. "This is so funny!"
Emily added, "Sarah, you wanted a man, and well, you're half-way there."
Jake said, "You said I was taboo."
"That means 'Forbidden!'"
"Then why'd you ask me to kiss you?"
Emily and Lynn were having a hard time breathing.
Sarah was furious. She grabbed Jake's right wrist and gave him the ulnar pinch that Lynn had taught her. He fell to the floor, screaming. When she released him, he was still screeching.
Lynn smirked. "Jake's shows over."
He was twisting on the floor, reeling in pain.
Sarah was getting nervous. "Jake? Jake?"
He was hyperventilating and holding on to his wrist.
Emily was worried. "Jake, buddy, are you alright?" She got down and held him. He continued wailing.
Emily said, "Show me where it hurts." When he turned his hand over, it was blue.
Sarah was terrified.
Lynn grabbed Sarah's arm. "What did you do to him?"
Sarah did not know how to answer.
"Don't just stand there go get your car and we'll take him to Dr. Westbrook."
Sarah was petrified. Lynn gave her a slight shove. "Move!"
Lynn picked him up.
Sarah ran out of the house to get the car.
Emily gave Jake a damp rag to scream into.
Sarah yelled, "Emily, stay here. When my parents come home, explain what happened."
Jake placed his head in Lynn's lap as they raced to the Westbrook's office. Sarah rang the emergency bell. Dr. Westbrook picked up Jake and placed him on an examining table. "What happened?"
Nurse Westbrook joined them. 
Sarah was babbling. "I gave him the ulnar nerve pinch that Lynn taught me."
Jake would not stop screaming. Dr. Westbrook looked at his hand, it was purple. His fingers were cold.
Dr. Westbrook mumbled to himself, "Oh no. Oh no, the poor boy."
He gave Jake a tranquilizer. He passed out.
He said to Sarah, "Show me what you did to him."
"I don't want to hurt you too." 
"Don't give me as much pressure as you gave him. I need to know what happened."
Sarah complied and gave Dr. Westbrook the same pinch only softer.
He asked gravely, "You did it harder?"
Lynn growled, "Ten times harder."
Sarah winced and hid her face in her hands.
He turned to his wife. "Lynn, Sarah, and I are going to River City General. Maude, phone ahead, we need an anesthesiologist and an orthopedic trauma surgeon."
Sarah was beside herself. "Is he going to be alright?"
Dr. Westbrook replied sharply, "I don't know, Sarah. Let's get going!"
They headed to the car. Within 20 minutes they were at the hospital. A team of doctors was waiting. They put Jake's limp body on a gurney.
Dr. Westbrook walked with the medical team. "A young girl pressed down on the ulnar artery on his right wrist. She caused a laceration of the palmar vascular arch and possibly a decompression with anterior transposition."
"Got it. I'm Doctor Shuster, I'll do the operation."
They walked into a surgery prep room. Dr. Shuster began washing his hands. Dr. Westbrook continued, "He was screaming like a banshee when they brought him to my clinic."
"We'll have to operate immediately. I need to know exactly where and how hard she pressed."
Dr. Westbrook grabbed the surgeon's wrist and imitated the move. "Maybe ten times harder."
Dr. Shuster shook his head. "The poor boy."
Dr. Westbrook helped him put on a surgical gown and mask.
"She was angry at him. The boy wants to be an artist and… he's right handed."
Dr. Shuster's face fell.
Dr. Westbrook asked cautiously, "Will he…?"
"I don't know." Dr. Shuster sighed. "Put the girls in the waiting room. I might have to talk to the one who hurt him. Keep them calm but do not, repeat, do not give them any guesses, promises or false hope."
"Yes, doctor."
"You're welcomed to join me."
"I might do that, thanks."
Dr. Westbrook ran to get the girls who were still waiting in the car. Dr. Shuster headed into the operating room. Jake's father was out of town, but Lynn wasn't sure where. Jake's mother was called and informed of the situation.
The next day, at 3:00 in the afternoon, Jake awoke. He was very woozy from the medications.
"Mom? Momma?" His eyes brightened.
She smiled. "Hello, Sweetie."
She kissed him on the cheek.
Lynn asked, "How ya doin' there, buddy?" 
Jake did not give an answer. He just stared at his immobilized right hand. He mumbled, "I'm scared."
Emily stuck her head around the corner.
Lynn smiled: "Come on in."
Emily and Sarah walked in the room.
Jake's mother stuck out her hand. "Emily? Sarah?"
Sarah nodded. "That's right."
"Mildred Watson. I'm Jake's mother. He's written me about how you've been so nice to him."
Emily broke the tension. "How are you feeling?"
Jake said nothing; he just turned back to his hand.
They walked up to his bed. Emily brushed his hair. "Good to see you're still in one piece."
Sarah said, "Hey, Jake, I got you a present."
She placed a small wrapped package on his lap. He tried to open it but he could not move the fingers in his right hand.
Sarah took it. She said in a jittery tone, "Here we go. Look it's a fancy pencil box. It says 'Jake Watson, artist'."
Jake looked at his hand; he was sullen. He turned to Sarah. "I thought you were in love with me."
Sarah closed her eyes and swallowed, "I meant, another boy." She cringed. "I am so sorry, but, as you can see, this was just a misunderstanding on your part."
Jake's eyes bulged. "Misunderstanding?" He just stared at her for a moment, bewildered. He looked down at his new pencil box. He picked it up with his left hand and threw it against the wall. It shattered into a million pieces.
His mother gasped. "Jake?"
Emily pulled Sarah away from the bed. "Come on, let's go."
Sarah resisted: "Jake is there anything I can do for you?"
He yelled, "Yes, there is, you little twit! Cut off your right hand and give it to me!"
Lynn put her hand on his shoulder. "Jake, calm down."
"It might be paralyzed because of you!"
Emily jerked Sarah away and they left.
"I hate you Sarah Conrad! I never want to see you again. Scram!"
As Sarah and Emily were leaving, Dr. Shuster walked into the room. They stood right outside the doorway. Emily strained to listen to the surgeon's report with Lynn and Jake's mother. Sarah wouldn't stop babbling.
Emily shook her. "Get a hold of yourself! Be quiet!"
Emily leaned against the door. She heard the doctor say, "I don't know yet. For now, he has paralysis in his right hand."
Sarah wailed, "No!"
Emily whispered, "Quiet!"
Sarah was shaking her head. "Oh, no, no, no. Dear God, please, please fix him."
Because Emily was comforting Sarah she missed most of what the doctor's prognosis.
Emily said, "Sarah, go wait for me in the lobby."
"No. Emily, don't leave me alone."
Emily growled, "Sarah! Go wait in the lobby!"
Sarah went down to the lobby. As the surgeon was leaving Jake's room Emily stepped back in.
Jake barked,
"What is she doing here?"
His mother replied, "Jake, Emily is your friend."
He shook his head. "Where one is the other is as well. Hey, Emily, I'm half a man?"
Emily whispered, "I'm sorry." She turned around to leave.
Lynn said, "No! Emily, stay a minute more." She stopped.
Lynn rubbed his cheek. "Jake, please, this is tough on everyone."
He tried to recompose himself.
His mother said, "Lynn told me what happened. Sarah was upset. I am not excusing what she did, it's just that, well, people do and say dumb things when they're upset."
Emily asked Jake's mother, "How long before they know for sure?"
"We're not sure. The surgeon said there were three possibilities. If the hand remains paralyzed, then there is nothing they can do. Or, he could end up with CTS, Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, it's a pins and needles sensation in the fingers often associated with limited mobility. The third option is… he could be just fine. For what it's worth, you girls acted quickly. He was here less than an hour after it happened. I'm proud that you kept a clear head under the circumstances."
She turned her attention back to Jake. "Sweetheart, Sarah overreacted. There was nothing malicious involved in this incident. Now I know you're upset but please, please keep in mind that these girls are your friends."
Jake stared straight ahead. "They aren't my friends. Emily makes fun of me. Sarah lies to me. I hate their guts."
His mother was disappointed. "Sweetheart?"
Emily shrugged. "I'd better get going."
Lynn reassured her: "He should be released in a couple of days. They'll know more next week. Please, tell Sarah and everyone back home to pray for Jake."
Emily sniffed: "I will." She nodded and then left the room. She told Sarah the prognosis as they home.
On Friday, Sarah walked over to Lynn's house. As she came through the gate Ross Watson stepped on to the porch. Sarah stood still.
He quickly walked down the steps and hugged her. Sarah was crying.
"It's ok, Sarah, I know you didn't mean it."
She recomposed herself. "I brought flowers."
Mr. Watson thought for a moment.
"I'll say it's from the Conrad family."
"Was he glad to be home?"
Mr. Watson looked down and slowly shook his head. "As soon as we brought him in he started ripping his drawings off the wall. I stopped him before he got more than three or four. I told him, 'Son, your cousin Lynn and I will take care of these for you.' He cooled down. We put them in a box downstairs.
Sarah, you didn't mean any harm. You were upset. I hold no ill will towards you."
Sarah whispered, "I have been so sick these last few days."
"I envy you Sarah. I'm not a praying man. I don't know why would God let this happen? I don't have faith. You believe that God is good and He will take care of His own, right?"
She replied, "With all my heart."
"You've been praying for Jake?"
"Fervently."
Ross nodded. "Would you do me a favor? Please, when you talk to God, remember Jake's mother and I.
She's staying at the Grand; pray for us too, please. Seeing her is uncomfortable; we have a sordid history, which I will not go in to, but, let's just say, a lot of hurt went around on both sides."
Sarah held his hands. "I'll pray for you right now."
Ross bowed his head. "Thank you."
The days passed slowly. Paula insisted that Sarah attend the mothers/daughters events. Sarah went, albeit reluctantly. Peggy Watson brought Mildred Watson as a guest. Even though she had no daughters, Peggy knew Mildred would benefit from the influence of church friends. She told Sarah that she did not hold any grudges against her.
Aside from helping Emily at the bakery, she had little interest in stepping out of the house. Jake allowed Emily to visit him, knowing that Sarah would appreciate any update.
On Sunday, August 21st, Jake went to church.
For the first time in his life, he sat on a pew with his mother on one side and his father on the other. He liked all the attention he got from his cast. The Conrads sat in the back. Sarah watched Jake from a distance. He ignored her.
Jake's mother said, "Sweetheart, you have many friends here; people genuinely love you. Don't spoil it by being bitter."
He shrugged. "I'll try."
Ross added, "Jake, listen to your mother. She loves you very much and wants the best for you."
He nodded. "Ok, dad."
On Thursday, the 25th, a hard rain fell on Eagle Creek. The storm bent the trees and frightened the horses. The windows rattled. Sarah sat alone in her bedroom praying. She was emotionally drained so she took a nap. About 3 o'clock the gale was over. A magnificent rainbow appeared over the valley.
Sarah awoke when she heard a knock at the front door. She hopped out of bed and ran down the stairs. She saw a piece of paper in the door. It was a drawing of her. "Sarah Conrad, the woman I love."
She looked up and there stood Jake, waving with his right hand, moving each finger. 
Sarah was overjoyed. She ran down the steps. They hugged and wept as close friends should.
Sarah framed the picture and hung it on her bedroom wall above a photograph of Simon. The next day she went to Lynn's house. Sarah and Jake played badminton. They drank lemonade and ate chocolate cake. Prissy even stole the birdie one more time. Jake never again mentioned the injury.
As the day drew to a close, Lynn, Jake, Sarah, Emily, Tommy and Pete all climbed Darling Knob to watch the sunset over the valley.
As they watched, Jake wondered what the new school year might bring; classes would begin in three days. Lynn and Sarah looked forward to their senior year. Jake was a little anxious.
"Jake," said Sarah, "you have nothing to worry about. You already know half the kids in your class."
Jake swished his mouth. "But, what'll I do about… girls?"
"Just be yourself, Jake, and I know you'll do fine. God always takes care of us."
As the sky slowly changed hues, Jake smiled. "He sure does."
Lynn looked north towards the future city of Lassiter. "The future is nothing to fear."
"Just like the past is nothing to idealize" added Sarah as she looked to her house.
Emily walked up behind them. She signaled for Lynn and Sarah to join her… alone.
The girls separated themselves from the boys.
When the boys were out of earshot Emily said cautiously, "We need to talk."
