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we go see what Mrs. Bunce has fixed for supper?”
    Lucas nodded. During the excitement of the afternoon, he had forgotten his sadness and shame about Mama’s death, and his confusion about Uncle Asa. He’d felt, for the first time since all the sickness began in his family, something close to happiness.

Six
    Lucas spent the following morning doing chores for Mrs. Bunce, and it wasn’t until the afternoon that he was able to join Doc Beecher in his office.
    â€œLucas, pull that chair over here and have a look at this,” Doc said. He was seated at his desk, examining a chart. “I’ve been keeping this record for the past—what?—sixteen years,” he explained. “It’s a record of illnesses I’ve been called to treat. Now, see here, the way I’ve arranged it according to date of occurrence. The interesting thing to me, lad, is right here. There seems to be a pattern to the—”
    At the sound of a timid tapping at the door, Doc stood and admitted a girl about Lucas’s age. She pushed back the hood of her heavy cloak, releasing black curls that sprang up all around her face. Her cheeks were red from the wind and cold, and her blue eyes were large and solemn.
    â€œYou’re one of Lewis Stukeley’s daughters, if I’m not mistaken,” said Doc Beecher. “Sarah, is it?”
    â€œNo,” said the girl breathlessly. “I’m Lydia, sir. It’s Sarah I’ve come about. She’s doing poorly, Doctor. Mama’s been dosing her, but to no good effect, and we’re afraid it’ll be like it was with—the others.” Her voice dropped and tears filled her eyes. Quickly, she wiped them away and reached under her cloak, drawing out a cloth-wrapped bundle. “I came to see if you could help. Mama sent this. It’s butter and some cheese, made up fresh this morning.”
    â€œThat was very kind of her,” said Doc Beecher, taking the package. “It was consumption, wasn’t it, lass, that took the others?”
    Lydia nodded.
    â€œI thought so,” said Doc with a frown. “Now then, Lydia, you came on foot, did you?”
    Lydia nodded. “Yes, sir.”
    â€œWhy don’t you sit by the fire and warm yourself. I’ll get my things together and Lucas here can hitch up the wagon. We’ll go out to your place, and I’ll have a look at Sarah.”
    â€œThank you, Doctor,” said Lydia gratefully.
    â€œLucas, I know you’ve not done it before, but see what you can do about preparing the wagon. I imagine Jasper and Moses are so eager to get out of the barn that they’ll just about harness themselves. I’ll be there shortly, if you run into difficulty.”
    As Doc had predicted, the horses were anxious to go. They stamped their feet, tossed their heads, and whinnied impatiently when Lucas entered the barn.
    â€œEasy, there, Moses,” Lucas said quietly, slipping the bit into the big horse’s mouth. “Yes, Jasper, you’re going, too,” he assured the other prancing animal, fitting the harness over its soft brown ears.
    By the time Doc Beecher appeared with his doctoring bag in his hand and Lydia by his side, Lucas had the wagon ready.
    â€œGood, good,” said Doc approvingly as he checked the reins. He helped Lydia up onto the seat and settled in beside her to drive. Lucas stood by, hoping that Doc wanted him to go along, too.
    â€œClimb up here next to Lydia, Lucas,” said Doc Beecher, “and the two of you see if you can arrange that blanket to keep out some of this confounded wind.”
    The horses set off at a rapid clip, their hooves crunching through the snow in a noisy rhythm. Soon they left the town of Southwick behind and were riding through the countryside. From time to time the wagon passed near a house or a farm, and Doc and Lydia talked about the people they knew who lived there.
    â€œEverett Peck’s cleared some more