Free Ashley Merrick - India: Bride of Indiana (American Mail-Order Bride 19) by Ashley Merrick Page B

mother and if he came home that night, her father, too, for the next two days.
    She turned to the children. “Come back out to the buggy. We’re going to take a drive. Do you know where Sylvia lives?” she asked Julia.
    “She’s on Mason Street, just down the road from the school. She took me there one time on our lunch break. Her mother is really nice,” Julia said.
    “Good. Can you get one of those loaves of bread?” India asked. Julia got the bread and then she and Sammy followed India out to the buggy. She set the pan of soup on the floor of the buggy in the back and told Sammy he was in charge of watching it to make sure not a drop spilled. They all climbed in and twenty minutes later pulled up to Sylvia’s house. They passed the doctor on the way in and he stopped for a moment to fill them in.
    “It’s a good thing you stopped by. She’s going to be all right, but she was very weak and dehydrated. I’ve gotten some fluids into her and gave her one of my herbal tonics that should help give her some energy. She probably has a few more days still before she’s going to feel better. I’ve treated her for this before.” He had a strange expression on his face and India hoped that it was nothing serious.
    India knocked on the door and a young voice, probably Sylvia’s, told them to come in.
    “Julia!” Sylvia said when she saw her and ran over to give her friend a hug. “The doctor came and he said my mother is going to be better soon!”
    “That’s great news!” India said, and then added, “Sylvia, can you get some bowls from the kitchen? We’ve brought you some chicken soup and fresh bread for dinner.”
    Sylvia ran to the kitchen to do as India asked. India set the pan of soup on the kitchen table and then went into the bedroom to see Sylvia’s mother. She was in bed, but turned when she heard footsteps at the door.
    “Hello, I’m India Mitchell—I mean India Blake.” India automatically gave her old name at first. She still wasn’t used to the new one. “Julia goes to school with Sylvia and said you hadn’t been feeling well. I made a big pot of chicken soup today and brought some by for you both. I thought you might not feel up to cooking and we had plenty.”
    “Thank you,” the woman said. Her voice was tired and weak, but she also sounded hopeful. “Are you the one that sent the doctor?”
    India nodded. “It seemed like a good idea, just in case your husband was running late. Sylvia said she thought he might be home tonight.”
    “Tonight or tomorrow,” the woman confirmed, and then added, “My name is Jane.”
    “It’s very nice to meet you Jane. Are you hungry? Can I bring you some soup?”
    “No, I’m not hungry. But I’ll try to eat a little.” She slowly eased herself up in bed. India found a kerosene lamp and brought it into the room so she’d have more light to eat by. She ladled soup into bowls for both Sylvia and Jane and cut thick pieces of bread for both of them. She only filled Jane’s bowl halfway, guessing that she might not have much of an appetite. She brought it into her, along with a spoon and the bread and set it next to her bed on a side table.
    Jane broke off a small piece of bread and dunked it in the hot broth. She took a tentative bite and then another. She finished the bowl of soup much to India’s surprise, and she brought her in a little more and refilled her water glass.
    “Thank you. This is a wonderful treat. I’ve been useless the past few days.”
    “Do you think it was the flu?” India asked.
    Jane smiled slightly. “It felt like the flu, but no, I don’t think it was. This happened to me once before, when I was expecting Sylvia. I was horribly sick for two solid weeks and then it eased up.
    “Oh! Well, congratulations, then.”
    “Thank you. We’re hoping for a boy this time.”
    India was relieved that it didn’t appear to be anything serious and now she understood the strange expression on the doctor’s face when he said