“Do you think that the new doctor will approve of this scheme? You’ve met him, Liza, is this where your idea came from?” asked Gabriel.
“No, it isn’t, Gabriel; it isn’t something I discussed with him. I met him at a rather large party in New York, but he’s very down to earth and really said that he would rather be a small town doctor than one who felt that he was just pandering to the rich who mostly didn’t really need his medical services. In other words, he would like to be a large cog in a small wheel than the other way around,” said Liza.
“In comparison to New York, this is a very small cog, but I can appreciate how he feels as I came from near New York,” said Gabriel.
“Of course you did, Gabriel, and I hope you are as pleased to be here as we are to have you. You also came from New York, didn’t you, Mr Pembroke?” said Liza.
“I think that the time has come for you to call me by my first name, Liza. It’s Leonard; or Len to my friends. Yes, I came from New York, Myra and Henry knew that I wanted the same as your doctor, so here I am,” said Leonard Pembroke.
“Benson is soon going to be made up of ex-New Yorkers. Anyway, I suppose we and the rest of the committee must get as many people signed up to the scheme as soon as we have spoken to the new doctor and explained the plan to him. I hope that it won’t put him off coming here although as yet, he still has to see if he likes us and we like him,” said Liza.
“Do we need to call a council meeting about what we have been discussing today?” asked Leonard Pembroke.
“We’ve really only been discussing figures and until we see if Dr Marsden is going to be our new doctor, I don’t think we need to bother anyone with these details, as we haven’t set anything in motion. Until we have something more concrete to tell everyone, there’s no point in having a meeting for the sake of having a meeting. We’ll all have an opportunity to see the new doctor and take it from there, although there’s no harm in setting up two accounts in the hope that they will be needed,” said Liza.
“I trust you’re going home now Liza, to put your feet up. I think you’ve done enough for one day,” said Gabriel.
Liza smiled, “Has Patrick been talking to you, Gabriel? Yes, I’m going home now to spend some time with the boys. I presume Si is also with my two, so I don’t think I’ll be getting much rest.”
“I’ll see you home and come in and shout at them if necessary,” Gabriel said with a smile which was unusual for him.
When they arrived home, the noise was deafening. Zelma was sitting reading and letting it all happen around her. The boys were running wild around the house and Liza was furious, especially as Matthew ran into her and nearly knocked her over. She grabbed him by the shoulder and shouted at the other two to calm down, which they did immediately as Liza had always had complete control over the boys, even when it didn’t appear so.
“All of you; go and get your books and come here and sit at the table and start reading, now,” said Liza loudly and firmly. The final word ‘now’ had the right effect.
“Are your books here,” Gabriel asked Si, also firmly. Si nodded and Gabriel pointed at a chair and Si sat on it. Peace reigned at last and Liza looked at Zelma questioningly to which she just shrugged and got up and offered coffee to both of them.
“No thanks, Zelma, I have some papers to sort out. Are you happy if I leave Si here, or would you like me to take him with me?” asked Gabriel.
“It’s all right, Gabriel, they’re under control now and I can assure you they’ll remain like that for the rest of the day,” said Liza.
When Gabriel had left, Liza rounded on Zelma and asked her how the boys had got so out of control and Zelma replied, “Sometimes children should be allowed to run and play and shout and laugh and have no restrictions put on them.”
“Do you think I put too many restrictions on them, Zelma?” asked Liza who was beginning to get annoyed.
“No, you don’t, but the boys try not to upset you and keep quieter than normal at the moment. It’s because they know that you need to rest much more now than at other times. They may be young, but they are well aware that you are not as fit as you should be at present and they want to keep you well, as they are looking forward to the new brother or sister and so is Si,” said Zelma.
“So, you allowed them to run amok whilst I was not here,” said Liza. “I understand your reasoning, but I can’t approve of letting children get out of control. It concerns me that they think that I’m not fit, they shouldn’t be worrying about anything such as that at their young ages and besides I am quite well.”
“You just won’t accept that you have to take more care than others after what you went through a few years ago. Even Dr Steele is concerned otherwise he would not have insisted that he sees you every week but I’m not going to say anything more; you’ll do exactly as you please and I’ll let the boys let off steam when you are not around,” said Zelma.
“I’d prefer it if you didn’t. I know they need to play and relax, but running around the house and screaming at the top of their voices is unnecessary. I don’t want them to be regarded as unruly by others, it will get them disliked,” said Liza and she left the conversation there.
She had meant to see Dr Steele today, but she had been busy and not only did she have to admit to herself that she was tired but also her ankles and feet were a little swollen so she decided to go and lay on the bed for an hour or so. If there was time later she would drive out to the fort and see him, if not, she would go there the next day. It was warm and cosy in the bedroom, there was a comforting crackle from the fire and Liza found it difficult to keep her eyes open.
Patrick was sitting and watching over her when she woke up. She must have been asleep for hours, it was dark outside and she could see flurries of snow passing the window. “So, you’re finally awake, you won’t sleep tonight,” said Patrick.
“I don’t know how long I’ve been here; it was just after lunch when I came up here. I was only going to rest my feet for an hour. Have you been here long?” asked Liza.
“I’ve been watching you for about half an hour; you had a lovely smile on your face, I wonder what you were dreaming about,” said Patrick.
“I don’t remember, but it must have been you because you always make me smile,” said Liza. “I’d better go down and get your supper for you.”
“I’ve already eaten, thank you. Do you want your supper up here or will you come down for yours. The boys are in bed; they crept up quietly and peeped in at you to make sure you were all right and they are already asleep,” said Patrick. “Zelma’s gone home but she’s left your meal keeping warm for you.”
“Good heavens, I must have been asleep all afternoon and evening, what time is it?” asked Liza.
“Nearly nine o’clock. I think your meeting yesterday and whatever you were doing this morning must have tired you out, as well as your little argument with Zelma,” said Patrick.
“She obviously told you about that. It wasn’t really an argument. I just didn’t think that the boys should be allowed to hurtle around the house screeching at the tops of their voices but Zelma thinks differently and blames me for it all,” said Liza.
“No, she doesn’t blame you, she just feels that you need looking after more than most and you’re really not allowing it and she thinks that the boys feel that they have to tiptoe around you when you are here, so she lets them run riot when you are not. I’ve had a quiet word with her and there is a compromise, she’ll stop them screeching,” laughed Patrick.
“Is it snowing very much?” asked Liza, “Because if it is, the stage may not get here with Dr Marsden. He must be due to arrive either tomorrow or the next day. He’ll be stuck at the staging post for days, if not weeks, if we get snowed in. I’d much rather he got stuck here if that’s the case. I suppose he’ll stay with us whilst he’s here. His house isn’t ready for him yet and it will be cold.”
“Gabriel was saying that he could stay with him. He does have more room than we do, bu
t either way, he’s going to be made welcome in Benson,” said Patrick.
***
It snowed on and off through the night but it was not heavy enough to stop the stage from travelling and Liza hoped that Dr Marsden would be on that afternoon’s stage. The sky looked threatening but the snow held off all morning and just started lightly an hour before the stage was due in.
Liza had seen Gabriel and he was more than happy to have Dr Marsden as a house guest for as long as was needed. Zelma organised Gabriel’s spare room and although they didn’t know exactly when he would arrive, a fire was lit in the room to air it off and make it cosy for the doctor. The doctor would mostly have the house to himself during the day with Gabriel at his office and Si with Liza and the boys.
By four o’clock it was getting dark and the snow was getting heavier but in the distance Liza could hear the stagecoach trundling towards its stopping place. She grabbed her warm cloak and made her way towards where it would normally be near the hotel, all the while wondering whether Dr Marsden would be one of the passengers.
Liza waited anxiously chatting to the hotelier as the stage came to a halt and there was Dr Marsden stepping down and being handed his luggage. He turned and saw Liza standing in the snow waiting to greet him with one of the most pleasant smiles on her face that he had ever seen.
“I hoped you would be on this stage,” said Liza. “Welcome to Benson, Dr Marsden. Let’s get you out of this weather; I’m just down the road.”
“It’s good to see you, Mrs Kelly and I shall be very pleased to get my feet firmly on the ground. The journey hasn’t been too bad, but the last leg seemed to go on forever,” said Dr Marsden. They walked the short distance to Liza’s house where Zelma had a roast chicken dinner almost ready for everyone. Patrick would not be there for a number of hours as he was on a rather long patrol and Liza hoped that the weather would not keep him away until very late, so it had been arranged that Gabriel would be joining them shortly for a meal.
Liza explained that although he would be having his meals with them, he would, in fact, be staying next door with Gabriel who was the town’s lawyer as it was felt that it would not be quite so cramped for him. She also explained that the two families spent a great deal of time in one another’s homes.
Zelma had been introduced and Dr Marsden was charming to her. The boys, including Si, came down from their room to say hello and Matthew introduced Si beautifully to the doctor who already knew Matthew and John. Liza and the doctor went into the sitting room to relax before dinner and Zelma brought them coffee. The fire was crackling cosily and Liza could see that Dr Marsden was appreciating the warmth.
“I can’t help noticing that your family will be increasing Mrs Kelly. When is it due? Possibly July or August?” he said.
“No, it’s due in May, doctor,” smiled Liza but there was concern in her eyes and the doctor noticed this and kept his own counsel on the subject. He wasn’t going to upset her.
“I thought that tomorrow I would take you to the doctor’s house and surgery so that you can see what is available to you. I hope you won’t be disappointed as it is certainly not like New York properties. Then I will show you around the town and then out to the fort to meet the colonel and Dr Steele, the army doctor who has had to take charge of all medical problems in the town as well as his normal duties. Whilst we are going around, I will introduce you to the various members of our town council,” said Liza.
“You have a town council; I didn’t expect you to have that. Not many towns do yet,” said Dr Marsden.
“Well, it’s only in the last few days that it’s been formed. The alternative was always calling a meeting of all people of the town which could get out of hand,” said Liza.
“Are you on the council?” he asked.
“Yes, I’m the chairman for my sins,” laughed Liza.
“Having heard a speech or two from you in New York, I would have expected nothing less,” he said.
“Well, I can shout louder than anyone else, so I was chosen in my absence. I hadn’t put myself forward for any position, but I was elected in any case,” she smiled at him and he was mesmerised by her green eyes.
Liza was surprised as Patrick came into the room. “I didn’t expect you until very late tonight Patrick, but I’m pleased you’re here. Is the snow getting very thick now? As you can see, Dr Marsden arrived this afternoon.” And then Liza noticed that Patrick had something on his mind.
“Yes, I’m pleased you made it here, doctor; the roads are beginning to get a little difficult to travel. We’ve been looking for a family who are missing on their way here. We could see very little when it became dark, so we’ll have to start early tomorrow and hope that they have found some shelter overnight. The snow is much worse nearer the hills so I hope they haven’t taken shelter there. I can’t understand it, they didn’t have too far to get to here,” said Patrick.
“I hope they’re all right, you say they were travelling to get to Benson. Where have they come from?” asked Liza.
“Somewhere north of here, I’m not sure where. I understand they are a very straight laced family. I don’t believe they are from any particular sect, but they don’t mix that well,” said Patrick.
“That’s not very conducive to the way we are in this town, but live and let live and as long as they are happy, it doesn’t matter,” said Liza.
“Good to see you, doctor. I’ll just get tidied up and I think Zelma has everything ready for us. Gabriel has arrived and the boys are drooling over the smell of chicken. Did you enjoy all the meat stews on the way here, doctor?” smiled Patrick and he left the sitting room.
“Hmmm, of course, you have done that trip, haven’t you? I’ve been dreaming of chicken since I walked into your house and could smell it. Do you know what meat it was that was stewed at the various posts?” asked Dr Marsden.
“We found that it was better not to ask,” said Liza. “We’ll go through in a minute and I’ll introduce you to Gabriel, our town lawyer who is also Si’s father. We are on first name terms here, doctor, so please we are Patrick and Liza.”
“Of course, I’m Thomas, Tom to my friends, and I’d like to class you as my friends,” said Tom Marsden.
“Before we go in to dinner, Tom,” said Liza. “Can you tell me about your family? I don’t want to show any awkwardness in front of everyone.”
“We now have a family, Liza, thanks to you,” he said as Liza brushed off his thanks. “We have twins, a boy and a girl who are around four years old.”
“Oh, that’s absolutely wonderful. Nobody needs to know anything further. As far as this town is concerned, you and your wife have two children,” said Liza.
“We also have a ‘niece’ who’s around fourteen years old. She refused to leave the twins; she guarded them with her life and smuggled them out of where they were, ending up at your house in Belfast, looking for the tall American soldier. Your housekeeper took them all in and called the doctor to help her. She still refused to leave them, and when it was decided that they would have a good life with us in America, she told the powers that be that she was going with them to America and she would work her passage and then when she had made sure they were safe, she would get a job somewhere and live somewhere. She hadn’t worked out the last bit very well. With such dedication, we couldn’t leave her to her own devices.”
“Is she their mother? No, she can’t be. That would make her only ten when she had them if that were the case,” said Liza.
“No, she’s had no children; I know that for a fact, but she has been abused. She prevented the little ones from being touched, or should I say, from being touched too badly. They are young enough to forget. It will take her time to forget if she ever does, but she’s with us now and she is part of our family. She’s very good at helping my wife organise our move here, and she’s very excited about it. New York is also too big for her,” said Tom.
Liza looked at him and finally said, “You haven’t even seen the place yet, how
do you know you are going to like it?”
“I know I am, Liza. The only obstacle is whether I am liked by the town,” said Tom.
Liza just laughed. “Come on. Let’s go in and rescue the chicken from the oven, and you still have Gabriel to meet. Everyone will know that you have twins and a niece who lives with you. Nothing else needs to be known. The boys will love having two younger ones to boss around, and I’m trying to think who will befriend your niece; probably one of Greg’s sisters. But that will be sorted out when you finally get here.”
Gabriel was in the process of telling the boys to sit down at the table and be quiet when Tom and Liza walked in. She introduced them to one another and Patrick finished changing and joined them. Liza told the men to sit down and she and Zelma put the food on the table. Patrick carved the two chickens and Liza helped the boys to their meals and Zelma put meat on the adults’ plates, leaving everyone to help themselves to vegetables. They didn’t often drink wine but they felt that tonight was a special occasion.
To Liza’s relief, the boys acted impeccably at the table and she smiled her approval at them. Even Gabriel joined in the laughter about the unknown meat used in the never ending meat stews on the way to Benson; after all, he also had experienced the journey. Zelma had excelled herself, the chicken was delicious and the vegetables were done to perfection. For dessert, it was Kathy’s apple pie with something that looked like custard, but didn’t taste like it, although it didn’t detract from the pie and was perfectly edible. Liza would ask Zelma about that later realising that it was something that she had experienced in the Indian camp.
Liza had been right, the boys were thrilled that there would be two smaller ones to take under their wings, and everyone was fascinated that they were twins, especially the boys who had not come across two born on the same day before. Patrick knew better than to ask too much about Tom’s niece and Gabriel naturally only asked questions when they were necessary.
With the meal over, the boys went up to their room to play for a while before bedtime. Liza and Zelma cleared the table and the men went into the sitting room and were soon joined by Liza.
Against All Odds Page 35
