Emma Field Book I - coming of age in the changing times of the mid-19th century

Chapter XVIII - The Truth

Mr. Watson's horse was hitched in front of their cabin. The doctor was knocking on the door.

"There you are," he called, seeing Emma and her father at the road. "I expected that you would have been at home on such a day as this. You weren't at the church service were you?"

"We were indeed. What can I help you with, Dr. Watson? Come in. No need to stand out here in the cold."

"I need to speak with Emma for a moment, if I may, Mr. Field."

"I suppose you may. It...all right. I'll go to the barn." He shook his head in confusion.

"Let's go and talk to Lily, Emma. She likes a good conversation."

Emma rubbed her fingers against her thumbs over and over again. "What is it? Nothing more has happened to the Planks, has it, Dr. Watson?"

"No, nothing more. I just wanted to thank you for what you did. It was good of you."

"Father doesn't think so."

"I thought as much. You must understand that he doesn't know the full story."

"I know."

"You have seen an awful lot of difficult things this last week. I am concerned that you have seen more than a young woman should. Is there anything that is bothering you about what happened? Anything that gives you nightmares?"

Emma eyed him suspiciously.

"Why are you asking that? Did someone..."

"Because I feel responsible for some of this. I want to make certain that you have not been unduly harmed."

"How would I be harmed? I'm fine, really, I am fine." Emma could feel her throat tightening.

"The greatest harms are those not seen, Emma. My feeling is that there is something causing you worry. Please ask me if there is. Ask me anything. You have had nightmares, haven't you?"

Emma nodded her head. "But only ridiculous ones about Mr. Forsythe and Mr. Brown."

"There are no ridiculous dreams, my dear. They are just dreams. If you could ask me anything, what would it be?"

"If I were to ask, you would...you might just humiliate me."

"If I humiliate you then I am a man not worthy of your company. What do you wish to know?"

"Did I kill that baby?" she blurted out. "Did I?"

"So that is it. Ah, now I understand. No, you did not."

"But when I hit Mrs. Plank with my shoulder, I felt the baby. Are you certain that I didn't kill it then?"

"Emma Field, you did not kill the baby. I know that for certain. I know that we are not to speak of such things, but you need to know that Mrs. Plank brought the birth on herself. She had no help from anyone – good or bad. The baby was born with no one in that shack save the young boy. You did not kill that child. In a way, no one did. Only circumstances did. That is the complete truth."

"You really mean that, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Oh, thank you, Dr. Watson." She sighed heavily.

"Thank you," he reached out and shook her hand.

•

Ezra Bull, the kindly farm manager of the boarding school, was plucking the wooden hay fork from the wall when Emma entered the barn.