Malachi awoke with a shiver, burning up in the thick layers of his frock. He lifted his head and, upon making (some) sense of where he was and seeing Nettie at the table, pushed himself up to sit at the edge of the bed for a few moments.

Somehow his entire body felt even worse.

With a wince, Malachi moved to the table. He looked distractedly through the supplies before setting a gentle hand on Nettie’s shoulder, and saying, “Nettie?”