Hope, page 5
part #3 of Brides of the Rio Grande Series
Faith rubbed her pregnant stomach with a protective hand. “What can be done, Doctor Howard? Is it—too late for my baby?” Hope saw tears forming in her sister’s eyes.
“Please, Doctor. Can you give my sister some words of encouragement?” Hope cocked her head sideways and gave the man a look that should have told him he needed to work on his bedside manner because he was scaring her sister to death. Instead, Doc Howard rummaged around in his medical bag for something yet to be determined.
“I think the thing to do now is get you out of these clothes and into a nice warm bed. I can’t be certain, but I think some rest and lots of water to prevent dehydration along with the right kind of nourishment will have you spry as a fox in no time.”
The doctor pulled a small brown sack out of his medical bag. “Here, have Sarah place some of this into your tea. Drink it three times a day and then let me have a look at you, say, day after tomorrow.”
“What is this?” Faith asked. She sniffed in the bag and shrugged her shoulders at Hope.
“It’s powdered ginger root. It has been known to quell the urge to vomit in some of the more severe cases of morning sickness. I’m not certain it will work for you, but we must try something sooner rather than later since you still have two more months and dehydration can cause many problems for both you and your baby.”
He helped Faith sit up and Hope placed the pillows Aggie had brought behind her back again for support. “Sit here for a bit and give yourself a chance to see if your pains return,” Doc Howard instructed her sister.
She nodded in agreement and sat back against the cushions. Doc Howard replaced his medical instruments into his medical bag and snapped the hinges shut. “Faith, it is very important to confide in your doctor if you are having difficulties with this pregnancy. Most women have no trouble at all, but some have a more delicate constitution. If you are one of those women, as your doctor, I need to know everything. Even the most uncomfortable topics of discussion. Your bowel movements. Your urine frequency—or lack thereof. And that includes your nausea and inability to keep nutrients in your body where they belong.”
Her sister’s face pinked under her coffee and cream skin. “It’s not easy for me to discuss such things with you, even if you are a medical person, doctor. But I promise, for the sake of my baby, I will do a better job of it.”
It had never occurred to Hope that the discussion of a woman’s ailments with Doc Howard would be difficult for some. She didn’t see him as a man. Well, she was aware he was male. He was a very fine specimen indeed. All the ladies around town said so, but she had never looked upon him as anything other than a man of medicine. She knew part of the reason was because her heartstrings were in such a tangled mess for a certain cowboy turned freight hauler. And even if she never gave in to those feelings, she couldn’t help the way she felt about Billy.
Hope glanced at her sister. The doctor had no idea how shy and insecure Faith had been only a few years ago. The poor girl was afraid of every shadow. Her own shadow at times. And now, even though her fragile sister was a far cry from the timid mouse she had been when she was forced to shoot the drunken mayor’s son in Kansas City, she still needed encouragement to speak up. And she could do that for her sister, especially if her efforts would keep Faith and her baby safe.
“I have an idea,” Hope said. “How about I monitor Faith more closely and then I can report any distress or concerns to you immediately. Is that agreeable with you, Faith? Doctor Howard?”
Relief was evident on her shy sister’s beautiful face. “Yes, that would be most agreeable. Thank you, Hope. You are a wonderful sister.” Faith reached out and squeezed her hand in appreciation.
Doc Howard nodded. “I think that is a splendid idea.” He turned to Faith and bent down and lifted her hand in his. “My dear Mrs. O’Brien, I don’t want to hear of you experiencing any discomfort simply because you are too shy to say something. There are a host of herbs I can dispense to calm any number of ailments you may experience during this pregnancy. No sense suffering needlessly. Now, I would recommend you rest here for a bit longer. I’m certain Sarah and Ms. Hanover will provide some nourishment which should help your condition tremendously. I think with a little rest and food, you will feel much better and I will reassess your symptoms again in a day or two and see how you are at that point.”
Liam stuck his head inside the parlor door. “Is everything alright in here?”
“Yes, of course. Come in, Liam. I’ve instructed your wife to get plenty of bedrest and nourishing meals. If she continues to be sick, I need to know sooner rather than later.”
Liam rushed into the room and sat next to her on the sofa. He gathered Faith into his arms and held her close. “You have my solemn vow my wife will do exactly as you instruct.”
Faith nodded in agreement. “Thank you, Doctor Howard. I can’t tell you how grateful I am—”
Hope heard the emotion in her sister’s voice. She could only guess what Faith must have been feeling in that moment.
Doc Howard smiled, and patted Faith’s hand. Hiram and Aggie peeped inside the open door. “Is everything alright in here?” they asked in unison.
Hope grinned at the pair and motioned them inside the room. “Yes, Doctor Howard said Faith just needs more rest and a lot more food. It seems she has been experiencing a severe type of morning sickness and she didn’t bother to share that information with anyone.”
“Not even her husband,” Liam chided his wife.
Aggie breathed a sigh of relief. “Well that is certainly something we can fix. Sarah is the best cook in Creede and we will be more than happy to see to it that Faith has three square meals every single day.”
“Thank you, Aggie. I don’t know what we would do without you and Hiram.” Faith’s voice broke again. “Now, my dear husband. Can we please go home? If I’m going to be bed bound, I’d rather be in my own bed and not lying about cluttering the Hanovers’ lovely parlor.”
“Of course, darling. I would like nothing more than to get you home and in bed myself.” Hope watched her brother-in-law’s Irish complexion pink with embarrassment as the portent of his words reached his own ears. “Ah, what I meant was—”
Hiram’s belly laugh bounced off the parlor walls. “We all know what you mean my good lad. And not one of us has any disagreement with it. Now, let me get your wrap, Faith, and I will meet you both at the front door. I’ve asked Angus to bring around the carriage. I know it is only a few blocks to home, but one can never be too careful when an expectant mother is about.”
Hope watched Hiram send a tender look to his wife and Hope wondered what the meaning was behind it. Had Hiram and Aggie experienced the loss of a child? She would have to ask Aggie about that someday. Right now, she needed to see to her sister’s welfare.
“Faith, stand here for a bit to give your stomach a chance to settle,” Hope advised. “We wouldn’t want you falling off your feet again or I fear your husband will never get you home—to bed.” Hope grinned at her sister’s husband. His blue eyes sparkled with humor in return.
Satisfied his patient was in capable and caring hands, Doc Howard nodded his goodbye. Hope followed him out of the parlor and to the front door. He reached for the massive front door’s handle, but hesitated a moment and turned to her.
“Hope. I watched you with your sister in there. You have very good instincts when it comes to helping people and easing their fears. I don’t suppose you would be interested in a position of employment, would you?”
Billy guided his team of six down a side street in Creede and pulled them to a stop in front of Mr. Matthew’s goldsmith shop. He had been gone a week hauling freight from South Fork to Creede and back again for another load. Three trips in a week was pushing it. The team was exhausted and so was he. And right now, there was nothing more on this earth he wanted than to see Hope—except maybe a bath and some clean clothes. He might even scrape some of this week-old beard off his face. But first, he had a very important errand to take care of.
He climbed down from the freight wagon’s hard bench seat and stretched his legs. Every muscle and bone he possessed had an ache to be rubbed. But the hard work was paying off. He had a pocket full of cash and this week’s pay was more than enough to buy supplies to finish his home in the mountains and make the final payments on that special ring he had picked out well over a year ago. His life was looking up for a change.
Tying off old Gus to the hitching post, he patted the horse on his soft nose. The horse nuzzled his coat pocket for a treat. “Sorry, old boy. I don’t have anything for you now, but give me five minutes and we’ll head to the Nelsons’ nice warm barn where you and your buddies can eat and drink and rest until your big ole’ hearts are content.”
Billy looked up and down the boardwalk for late afternoon foot traffic. There weren’t many businesses on this street, just the goldsmith and a few old buildings someone had bought and was in the process of tearing down to build new ones. But he wanted to make certain a very special someone didn’t happen by the goldsmith’s shop and see him. It would spoil his plans. He had thought long and hard on the many trips to South Fork about how he wanted to propose to Hope. He wanted the once-in-a-lifetime moment to be something special. Something he and Hope would talk about for the rest of their lives. Something they could share with their children as an example of how mommas and daddies were supposed to love each other. He would do everything he could to see to it his children grew up in a home with a loving momma and papa—not like his parents, that much he vowed without hesitation.
Shaking off those hated memories, he knocked on the merchant’s door. Mr. Matthews kept his front door locked and only opened it to people he recognized through the iron grate covered peep hole at eye level. He said the locked door made a man think twice before he decided to risk spending the rest of his life in jail for robbery, or worse, six feet under arm wrestling with the devil for his soul.
Mr. Matthews opened the door with a pistol in his hand.
“Hello, Mr. Buchanan. Is this the day?”
Billy grinned. “Yes, Mr. Matthews. Today is the day. I have my final payments for you. I’ve come to get that ring.”
Mr. Matthews smiled at him and let him in, careful to lock the door behind them. He set the pistol back on a shelf underneath the counter and pulled out a big leather binder from the same place. He took the money Billy offered, counted it, and wrote out Billy’s receipt. He closed the ledger with a thud. “Good for you, my man. Now let me get that beauty for you.”
Billy waited for Mr. Matthews to retrieve the ring from the large safe in the next room. The goldsmith returned with a deep purple velvet drawstring pouch. He opened the pouch in front of Billy, spilling the ring onto the leather mat resting on top of the glass display case.
Billy took a moment to admire the ring where it lay. The facets of the small diamonds surrounding the main stone were exactly as he remembered. The large blue sapphire complimented the gold band. It was every bit as beautiful as he remembered.
“May I look at it closer, Mr. Matthews?”
“Of course. It’s yours, bought and paid for.” The man with the slight build slid the leather mat closer to Billy. The ring rested in the center.
Billy picked up the ring, admiring the way the stones sparkled when he turned it this way and that. It was simple but breathtaking. Just like his intended.
“It’s everything I remember, Mr. Matthews. It is beautiful.” Billy rotated the ring again. “And you are certain it is the correct size?”
“Yes, I measured the ring you brought me, and I made this ring the exact same size.”
Billy grinned at the goldsmith. “Yeah, that was a friend of mine’s idea. John Malone,” he added since he wasn’t certain Mr. Matthews knew what friend he was talking about. “He had my special lady try on a ring he was buying for his wife. Since it was the perfect fit, I knew I could get you the right size.”
Billy looked at the ring again. “Thank you, Mr. Matthews. I appreciate you letting me make payments on it.” Billy slipped the ring back inside the velvet pouch, pulled the drawstrings closed and pushed it down deep inside the front pocket of his dungarees. “Now, not a word until I can ask that girl to marry me—again.”
“Of course, Mr. Buchanan. My customers can count on me to use the utmost discretion.”
Billy nodded and grinned at the man. “Then I’ll be on my way. I need to get cleaned up before I pay a visit to my bride-to-be.” He patted his pocket just to make certain the beautiful ring was still there. He was happy beyond words.
Billy continued to grin from ear to ear when he stepped outside into the bright late afternoon December sunshine. He couldn’t believe his good fortune and happiness. He was going to marry the woman of his dreams and live a happy-ever-after kind of life up on his mountain. That kind of luck didn’t usually visit itself on a Buchanan.
4
Hope pondered Doctor Howard’s comments all morning. The man’s comments were unexpected, but not unwelcomed. Hope had been thinking long and hard about what she wanted to do besides help Sarah and Aggie around the house. She needed something more. Something worthwhile. Something that could make a difference in someone’s life—like the Hanovers had made in the lives of her and her sisters. She wanted something that would give her respectability in the Town of Creede. Something that would force people to forget where she came from.
Memories of this morning tumbled through her jumbled thoughts. Before she had a chance to ask more questions about Doc Howard’s job offer, the carriage had arrived and Liam and Doctor Howard had helped Faith up and into the covered carriage for the ride home.
After the house was once again quiet, Hope told Hiram and Aggie about the doctor’s offer.
“Doctor Howard is offering you a position of employment?” Hiram was instantly in legal mode. Hope hadn’t minded at all. Whatever Doc had in mind, she would value Hiram’s input.
“Please come to my office. I want to hear what kind of job you’re speaking about. I’m certain it is something interesting and appropriate for a woman of your age. I know Doctor Howard well enough to know he would never suggest something that would compromise your reputation, but I would like to know more about it.” Mr. Hanover nodded his head in her direction. “That is, if you don’t mind a doddering old fool butting in to your affairs.”
Hope grinned at the man’s comment. The man was a legal genius, and everyone knew it—including himself. He was anything but a doddering old fool, and she welcomed his input because she knew she could trust his judgement. “I do not mind one whit, Hiram. Not one whit at all.”
Hope followed the portly man into his office and took the seat in front of his massive desk.
“There wasn’t much time to discuss the details, but he did managed to say he was looking for someone who can handle the minor medical emergencies when he’s called away from his office seeing to more complicated cases or serious emergencies. Like now, for instance. He is leaving for South Fork to care for an injured man at the lumber mill, and while he is gone, there is no one else to care for his patients. They just have to fend for themselves, I suppose.”
“Do you know anything about medicine, my dear?” Mr. Hanover turned to her in question.
“No, I mean I’ve treated minor injuries, stitched a few cuts, and dressed a few stab wounds when I worked at Rosie’s saloon. I’ve settled a few intestinal problems, but I have no medical knowledge. None at all.”
Hope was surprised at the disappointment she felt at her self-assessment. The doctor’s offer had come as a total surprise, but she realized the position seemed…right.
“He said not to worry,” she went on. “That he would teach me all I needed to know and all I would need was common sense and a willingness to help relieve people’s minor pains and fears. He said I had a talent for putting people at ease.”
“And what did you tell him?” Hiram asked.
“I told him I would think about it.” Hope didn’t know what to else to say. There were very few people in her life who had ever given her intelligence or her abilities a second glance. This very respected man was offering her a leg up into this town’s respectability. Could she do it? Could she live up to his expectations?
“He told me to come by his office tomorrow about mid-morning. He said he should be back from South Fork by then.”
Hiram nodded in agreement. “This is an unexpected surprise and you, my dear, have a great deal of thinking to do before tomorrow’s meeting. I think this is a wonderful opportunity for you, if you have a mind to accept Doc Howard’s offer of employment and I’m certain whatever you choose to do, you will be a wonderful success at it. You are a very smart and caring person, Hope. You deserve whatever good things that come your way.”
Hope’s brain spun inside her skull. She had never dreamed that someone would think her capable of doing such an important job.
She sat in her chair, soaking up Hiram’s kind words. For a moment, she allowed herself to bask in his much-respected praise. So, this is what it feels like to belong to a family. She had to admit to herself—it felt pretty damn good.
She was still lost in disbelief that anyone would ask her to take on that kind of responsibility. After all, she wasn’t anyone of importance, nor was she from a respectable family. That is, if you didn’t count her connection with the Hanovers. Perhaps that was the reason why the doctor offered.
“I’m not sure I’ve done anything to deserve good things. I mean, no one has ever made such an offer to me before. Most people think because I lived and worked in a saloon, that I’m not very bright. Some would even say I’m a certain type of woman. Perhaps he has misjudged my abilities.”
“My dear Hope. I fear you are the one who has misjudged your abilities. It is true your beginnings were not of a conventional sort, but it isn’t where you begin life, it isn’t even where you end life, it is the middle that defines who you are.”
