An Unsinkable Love

chapter 15


The cough started almost as soon as Bree set foot on the Carpathia's deck. It came in unexpected waves, erupting out of her chest in rolling surges of pain. Elizabeth became alarmed when Bree couldn't catch her breath and went to fetch a man who was treating other passengers. Dr.

O'Loughlin turned out to be a Titanic passenger who'd also been rescued. He placed his ear on her chest and tried to listen, but she broke out in another fit of coughing. He helped Bree into a seated position and folded her pillow in half, adding a blanket from nearby to the bundle, then laid her back so she half-reclined.

He shook his head, frowning. "Were you in the water, young lady?"

Elizabeth answered for her. "Yes. One of the men in our lifeboat threw her into the water and she nearly drowned."

He gave the older woman an incredulous look. "Threw her over? Why ever would he do that?"

"Bree wanted them to go back to help people in the water.

She called them cowards. It's the rest of us that were cowards, though. We sat there and let them do it. It's just we never expected—"

The doctor laid a calming hand on her shoulders. "Of course not. None of us expected any of this. The men will surely be punished for their actions before this is all over. But right now, I'm concerned about your young friend here. It's too early to be sure, but if she got water in her lungs, she'll 111

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

likely end up with pneumonia. It'll be a few days before we can get her to a hospital. I don't suppose she's going to be very comfortable in the meantime, but we'll have to do the best we can."

He started to turn away. Bree caught at his sleeve.

"Elizabeth has some broken ribs, sir. Please don't let her do anything she ought not to." Bree wheezed. The effort of talking exhausted her and caused another fit of coughing.

Dr. O'Loughlin turned and shook his finger at Elizabeth, a threatening mock frown on his face. "You heard the young lady." His attempt to reassure her fell on deaf ears as she continued to wring her hands. He patted her shoulder and smiled encouragingly. "Stay close to her. Both of you get some rest. I'll check back now and again. Try to get her to eat a bit and drink as much as possible." He walked off a few paces before being summoned by a group crouched over a supine body.

Elizabeth fetched cups and a small pitcher of water then lay down beside Bree.

Even with the coughing, Bree caught a few brief naps.

Each time she woke to Elizabeth's worried regard. "Elizabeth, you must sleep. You'll be sick too, if you're not careful."

"I've dropped off a few times, dear. I'm not used to so much noise. It's hard to sleep, but I imagine I'll get used to it soon."

They huddled together and watched the disparate assemblage of passengers spread out around the hold as the rescue ship plowed on toward New York.



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An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

Malcolm was desperate. He'd been all over the ship and had yet to find his mother. Whenever he saw anyone he knew, he asked if they'd seen her. Many of the women were in a daze, hardly acknowledging his questions, their children nestled tightly in their arms. A few managed to answer, but always with a "No, sorry." He stopped more frequently to let the headache and dizziness pass before he continued. Fuzzy shadows haloed everything and he began to run into corners and tables as his depth perception faded. He'd been searching for hours and was nearly at the end of his rope when a flash of color caught his eye. An auburn mass at the edge of his vision stirred a memory and he turned sharply, stumbling. He gazed across the room. It swayed crazily. His vision narrowed to a long dark tunnel. The tiny light at the end went out.

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113

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson