Chapter 404: Chapter 404: Stench 2
Evelyn Ford nodded. "Exactly. Everyone should try to stay inside the cabins, except to use the restroom."
"The sun is so scorching, and now there’s this stench. This is just miserable."
"Are the horses in the stable okay?"
"I went to check. The horses aren’t affected by the stench."
Everyone felt a little relieved to hear that from Evelyn Ford.
After the sun set, the stench faded a bit. Still, Evelyn Ford felt like the smell was clinging to her body. After a while, she even found it a little hard to breathe.
That night, Evelyn Ford lay in bed, unable to sleep. She felt as if the stench was everywhere.
"Ronan Kendrick, are you okay?" Ronan’s sense of smell was more sensitive than a normal person’s. He was surely suffering more than anyone else.
Ronan Kendrick chuckled. "I’m fine. I can hold my breath."
"Do you think this stench will dissipate?"
"It definitely will. The stench faded after sunset, which proves it’s triggered by the intense sunlight. If it rains, or even if we get a blizzard, the stench will vanish on its own."
Evelyn Ford sighed. "I just wonder when it’ll rain. This weather could turn into a long-term drought."
Ronan Kendrick gently patted Evelyn Ford’s back. "Close your eyes and get some sleep. Don’t focus on whether you can smell the stench or not. Just get some rest, and you’ll feel better."
Soothed by him, Evelyn Ford soon fell asleep. At three in the morning, however, a sudden cry jolted both her and Ronan Kendrick awake.
"That sounds like Wyatt Vaughn. I’ll go take a look."
Ronan Kendrick got up to get her slippers. "I’ll go with you."
Outside, a distraught Quincy came knocking. He looked on the verge of tears when he saw Evelyn Ford emerge.
"Evelyn Ford, Zoe was just foaming at the mouth and her whole body was convulsing!"
Evelyn Ford nodded. "Okay, calm down. I’m coming to take a look right now."
Grabbing her medical kit, Evelyn Ford went to Quincy and Wyatt Vaughn’s room. Wyatt was holding Zoe in her arms. The child was struggling frantically—kicking her legs, flailing her arms, and still foaming at the mouth.
Evelyn Ford quickly took Zoe from her. The toddler’s face had turned a dusky blue. She was over a year old and already had several teeth, so Evelyn, worried she might bite her tongue, quickly stuffed a wad of cloth into her mouth.
"Don’t just stand there. Come here and massage her arms and legs. Gently," Evelyn Ford ordered Quincy and Wyatt Vaughn, shooing everyone else who had crowded into the room out the door.
Once Zoe’s limbs relaxed, Evelyn Ford removed the cloth and gently patted her on the back.
"Evelyn Ford, why did this happen to Zoe?"
"It could be poisoning from the stench combined with sun poisoning. Or it could be something with her health. The way she was acting just now... it resembled a seizure."
Wyatt Vaughn’s legs gave out, and she slumped to the floor. Miles Vaughn quickly rushed to support her.
Evelyn Ford cleaned Zoe’s mouth and nose. The toddler had started to come around, but her color was still poor and her lips were pale. She was waving her little hands, looking for Wyatt Vaughn.
Wyatt Vaughn was off to the side, wiping away tears. Evelyn Ford sighed. "Nothing is confirmed yet. Come comfort her for now. I’ll see what kind of medicine I can prepare."
Wyatt Vaughn took Zoe and pressed their foreheads together. Zoe could already say "dada," "mama," "uncle," and "auntie." Although Wyatt had never imagined herself as a mother, she couldn’t help but feel happy whenever Zoe called her "Mama." A love that transcended blood bound them tightly together.
Evelyn Ford glanced at the pair, then pricked Zoe’s finger with a needle to collect a few drops of blood.
"I’m going to take this back to observe the blood for any changes."
Quincy walked Evelyn Ford out. "Evelyn, thank you."
Evelyn Ford waved a hand. "Go back and take care of Zoe."
Seeing Quincy’s terrified expression, Evelyn Ford couldn’t help but sigh. ’It’s a scary thing when a carefree person suddenly has a weakness.’
Back at their cabin, Evelyn Ford handed Ronan Kendrick a small cap containing the fresh blood from Zoe’s finger.
"Without any instruments, how can I determine if Zoe was poisoned or if it’s epilepsy? Should I leave it outside to see if any black grit settles out?"
Ronan Kendrick took the cap, looked at it for a few seconds, then pricked his own finger and let a drop of his blood fall into it.
Zoe’s blood immediately turned black and began to emit a faint, foul odor.
"It’s poisoning from the stench."
Evelyn Ford gave him a thumbs-up. "Your blood really is a cure-all."
Ronan Kendrick smiled. "Have you figured out an antidote yet?"
"No." Evelyn Ford looked troubled. ’I’m not some top-tier doctor, and I can’t solve every problem. I was completely at a loss with this stench today, totally clueless about what to do.’
"I have an idea, actually."
Evelyn Ford looked at him. "Don’t tell me you’re thinking of using your blood to save someone."
’If it creates a dependency, or if other people find out about this, the consequences are not something I want to face.’
"It’s not that." Ronan Kendrick chuckled. "I’m your personal, mobile blood bank, and yours alone. Though, you haven’t been drinking my blood lately."
His words were rather creepy; anyone who didn’t know the context would think Evelyn Ford was a vampire.
"I’m perfectly healthy now. There’s no need for me to drink blood."
’To be honest,’ Evelyn thought, ’drinking his blood feels like it could become an addiction. That’s why I forced myself to break that terrifying habit.’
Evelyn Ford quickly nudged him. "Stop changing the subject. Tell me your idea."
"To counteract the poison from the stench, perhaps all that’s needed is plain water."
Evelyn Ford froze. "Just plain water?"
"We’re in a drought, and we’ve got the intense sun poison and now this stench. The stench seems terrible—it causes dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and even foaming at the mouth—but drinking plenty of water to keep the body fully hydrated might be enough to detoxify naturally."
After he finished, Ronan Kendrick smiled. "The idea just came to me when I was drinking water. Not warm water, it has to be ice-cold. It would probably be best to steep some mint leaves or plantain in it."
Evelyn Ford immediately took a bucket of water from her space and went to distribute it to everyone.
’Ronan would never joke about something like this.’ Evelyn Ford trusted his judgment.
"Can drinking cold water really counteract the stench poisoning?" Everyone was skeptical.
"I’m not sure about that, but we should all give it a try. If it doesn’t cure the poison, well, the worst that can happen is we die. Adding a few mint leaves might improve the effect." Evelyn Ford shrugged, left the water for them, and returned to her cabin.
Early the next morning, Wyatt Vaughn came to tell Evelyn Ford that Zoe was already doing better. After drinking the cold water, everyone else’s dizziness and nausea had surprisingly lessened as well.
"Drinking plenty of water is definitely beneficial. No need to boil it, just drink it cold. Eight glasses a day for everyone."
As soon as Evelyn Ford said this, everyone went to fetch water.
Before the sun rose, Ethan Dawson appeared again. He was still bundled up tightly and had arrived on horseback this time.
By the looks of him, he had just recovered from the sun poisoning, only to fall victim to the stench poisoning.
"Master Ford, so your farm stinks too, huh?"
Evelyn Ford saw his face had a bluish tint and took a step back. Although the stench poisoning didn’t seem to be contagious so far, she was afraid Ethan Dawson might suddenly vomit.
"What do you want now?"
Ethan Dawson looked utterly miserable. "I think I’m poisoned again. Help me!"
