The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek: Chapter 18  Summary & Analysis

Cussy Mary and Doc arrive back in Troublesome Creek just before dark and take Doc’s horse back to the Carter place. Before he leaves, Doc gives Cussy two satin hair ribbons to replace the twine that used to secure her braids. She says, “thank you,” and accepts them, even though she knows that his generosity will last only as long as she complies with his experiments. As Cussy reaches the porch, Doc tells her once more that he thinks he can cure her.

Inside, Pa has fallen asleep covered in coal dust. He rouses enough to ask Cussy Mary if Doc took good care of her, and she reassures him. He also gives her a coal-blackened envelope to take to R.C. Cole. Cussy packs Doc’s medicines and the letter into her satchel, then tends to Junia. In the warmth of the evening, she goes to the creek to bathe, taking a mirror with her. She looks at her face in the mirror, feeling horror rise at seeing her blue skin. She doubts that there’s a potion strong enough to cure her, no matter what Doc says. Before she dresses, she inspects the areas where the doctors sampled her flesh using the mirror. None of the scratches are deep.

Inside, Pa is dressing for the mine, even though it’s Saturday. He’s going to a secret union meeting. When the Company catches wind of any organizing, they tend to use violence and arson to shut the miners up. Cussy doesn’t fuss at Pa but makes sure to add the pear and cheese Doc gave her to his lunch bucket. He leaves with a promise to rent a horse and clear some of the briars on her trails later in the week.

Cussy Mary eats some biscuits and starts her evening chores. While she works, her thoughts return to the hospital, and she tries to imagine what the doctors did to her. To wash away her feelings, she furiously scrubs her clothes on the washboard until her mind stills. Calmed, she prepares for her Monday route by setting aside a news article about a fire for R.C., adding a book from her mother’s collection to her satchel, setting aside a baby care pamphlet for Angeline, and packing up Doc’s medicines and some freshly cleaned bandages. These precious gifts are worth more than gold, or chickens: they are what Mr. Moffit needs to live, and the Moffit family won’t survive without them.