The Vicky Series: Book 1: Chasing a Dream

Chapter 55

Vicky stared in disbelief as the bandit's arm shifted to the left. Terror tore her gaze from the bandit as she realized his aim shifted to Naomi Beth!

"No!" she threw herself toward the baby. She felt her body jerk as she hit the ground. Her shoulder shook with the impact.

"Victoria." A woman's voice reached her. Vicky scrunched her face in a moment's confusion. As the shaking continued, she heard her name again, more clearly this time. Her eyes fluttered open and she met the concerned gaze of her mother.

"You were dreaming and from the looks of it, it wasn't a good one. It must have been awful for you, the whole ordeal. And then to be shot..." her voice trailed off and Vicky saw the fear in her mother's eyes.

"I'm fine. Just a dream. No real harm done." She saw her mother's arched eyebrow and pointed gaze at her shoulder.

"Well, nothing permanent anyway." She amended then asked "Where is Naomi Beth?"

"Lizzie has her for the rest of the day. You need to get up dear. You're getting married in a few hours' time."

"Jeremy?" she tried not to let the panic seep into her voice. When she'd finally gone to bed last night he hadn't come back from Boston yet and there had been no word.

"He arrived a few hours after you went to bed. He's with Joseph and your father. And before you ask, your other guests have all arrived and a telegram came just a few minutes ago. Mr. McClintock was scheduled to arrive late last night. He gave explicit instructions that YOU be told all is well and he will be here in plenty of time."

"That's a relief. Jeremy would have been disappointed if he wasn't able to make it."

"Yes, it is fortunate. I understand he was instrumental in securing your safe return."

"It's true. Jeremy and I owe him a debt of gratitude. But more than that, Quinton is family now, Mother. Jeremy loves him like a brother."

"Of course dear. Now," she patted V icky on the leg, "you must hurry. We have a wedding to get ready for."

Vicky groaned but obeyed. She no longer enjoyed hours of preening, but a smile tugged at her lips. She would be married in a few hours and she was looking forward to her wedding night.

---

Jeremy buttoned his waist coat and shrugged into his jacket.

"You seem thoughtful." He observed.

"I am. I've treated many cases in my years, Mr. Kelly. I've never seen a case of smoke inhalation that had such lasting effects. There are, of course, any number of possible explanations."

"You have my full attention, Dr. Baker."

"Though you suffered only minor burns on your extremities, your prolonged exposure to the heat and foul smoke damaged your lungs."

"What does that mean, for me? For my recovery?"

"There is really very little I can do for damaged lungs, except to treat the symptoms. Shortness of breath and persistent cough? Any fever or other symptoms?"

"No sir. Otherwise, I feel fine. But this shortness of breath makes it difficult to do much physical work. I find myself huffing like an old fat man after a few moments. I also seem to tire more easily, but I think maybe that's because of not being able to breathe well."

"Do you have any conditions from before the fires?"

"What do you mean?"

"Were you ever sick before? As a youth perhaps? Have your lungs maybe been damaged earlier in your life? Pneumonia perhaps?"