While taking a walk one day in her hours off duty, Shesa wandered farther away from the hospital than usual. She was thinking of Ima. Before realizing it, she had lost her direction and found herself in a lovely little valley. The scenery along the border had been so uninteresting, with low cactus plants growing out of the sand, and scrub bushes stretching away in low irregular outline, that this spot came as a delightful surprise.
Spying a little cabin on the side of the mountain above the valley, she decided to inquire the way back, and, quickening her steps, reached it in a short time.
A slovenly woman appeared at the door. Five small children surrounded her, pulling at her skirts as they saw the stranger. The youngest set up a howl of disapproval as Shesa came nearer. In her arms the woman held a baby and in one hand a tin pan of maize or corn. A few chickens came scurrying around the corner of the house as the woman tapped a wooden paddle on the edge of the pan.
The woman stopped and eyed Shesa suspiciously as she came still nearer.
“Good afternoon,” said Shesa with a smile. “Do you speak English?”
“Howdy,” grunted the woman. “Yes. Hush up, will ye?” to the children, whose noises made conversation difficult.
“United States?” she asked as she looked Shesa’s uniform over.
“Yes, yes,” replied Shesa. “I’m a nurse.”
“Nuss?” said the woman. “Then ye’ll know what be ailing him. Come in.”