“You’re probably right, but just in case let’s not add to his concerns,” said Liza. “We’re going to miss you Tom, we’ve got used to you already. I can’t wait to see your wife again and meet the children. You know that this town appreciated how you jumped in and helped the other day, I know that we feel that we will be in safe hands when you finally get here.”
They walked home and Tom borrowed the buggy as he wanted to see Dr Steele before he left the next day and also to see how Rachel was progressing.
Zelma and the boys were back from their visit to ‘uncle’ colonel and Ada and had been fascinated by the baby. They spoke to Rachel and their opinion was that she was ‘all right for a girl’. They were disappointed that Dr Steele wouldn’t let them see her wounds, but when she was better they were going to ask him again. Liza marvelled at how the boys liked to look at unseemly things.
“How was Dr Bridges?” asked Zelma.
“He seems quite settled where he is. Mrs Henshaw seems to have him under control most of the time,” said Liza.
Zelma looked at her quizzically. “Did he shout at you again Liza?”
“He didn’t shout, but he was giving me the same message as before, which does become a little unnerving. I don’t want Patrick to know about it though; he has enough to worry about,” said Liza.
Patrick was home early and everyone was pleased but surprised to see him. Dr Tom was at Gabriel’s packing his case and he and Gabriel would be joining them for supper in a short while.
“How did you get on with Dr Bridges this afternoon? Did he give you any problems? Did he say anything nasty to you?” asked Patrick.
“No, he was fine,” said Liza.
Patrick turned and stared at her as she tried to busy herself organising supper. She felt his eyes burning into her.
“Don’t lie to me Liza,” he said firmly. “You promised you would never lie to me, but you’ve just done it and you are not very good at it. You have really annoyed me; what did he say to you, Liza?”
“Oh Patrick, I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to worry. He said the usual things. Dr Tom says that he fixates on one thing from the past and probably can’t remember the present. Please don’t be annoyed at me; you’ve never really been annoyed at me. Also, I think it’s unfair if you are,” said Liza pouting.
Patrick was frowning at her, but gradually his frown turned to a smile as Liza looked up at him with her big green eyes and the pout on her lips, all of which was just like Matthew when he was in trouble
“I’m sorry Liza; I am annoyed but I know why you didn’t want me to know. I do get annoyed easily these days and I get anxious for you. I can’t wait for you to have our baby safely but also I wish you weren’t having it at all because it frightens me. Frank Wyley has a great deal to answer for and so does Dr Bridges, but so have I because I have never had the strength to stop sleeping with you when I should have done,” said Patrick and there was a sob in his voice.
“Neither did I, Patrick; I’m just as much to blame for my condition as you are, probably more so as I know that there have been many times when I have tempted you. Patrick, I don’t want the boys to see us upset like this, let’s go upstairs for a while,” said Liza and Patrick nodded.
They sat on the bed and a few tears were shed by both of them. It had been a difficult few days all round and they needed to regain their composure before going down to supper.
“We just need a little while to get ourselves together before supper and then we need to have a time when there are no dramas or anything nasty going on, then we will be fine and you can start looking forward to being a father again,” said Liza.
“I am a father Liza; Matthew is just as much mine as yours and John is now ours and I will love our child just as much as I love Matthew and John. I know that Dr Bridges has a very unsettling effect on us and I’m pleased that we are going to have Dr Marsden to look after you,” said Patrick.
They were both looking and feeling better and Liza decided to change for supper as it was Tom’s last evening with them for a while, and Patrick decided to do the same, so he put on one of his better uniforms and he looked very handsome so Liza told him.
The three boys were very lively and enjoying the fact that they were joining the grownups for supper and they helped Liza and Zelma to set the table, all the while telling them all about their afternoon with ‘uncle’ colonel and Ada.
Tom and Gabriel had arrived; “I understand that you saw Dr Bridges today, Tom. Liza finally admitted to me that he did his usual tirade against her. Did she ask you to keep that to yourself by any chance? Don’t worry Tom, I asked Liza if the doctor had said anything disagreeable to her and she is absolutely useless at lying to me. Anyway, do you think that he is calming down a little?” asked Patrick.
“Yes, he is mostly calm now. He didn’t shout at Liza, he just talked to her quietly but it did upset her, although she pretended that it was just nothing to worry about. He does unsettle her and I would suggest that between now and when your baby is born she is kept away from him whenever possible. He is quite harmless but he does voice his thoughts a little too readily,” said Tom.
“I believe Liza feels the same and I’m sure she will avoid him where possible. He does seem to get very agitated when she is around; I wonder if he feels an underlying guilt when he refused to help her a few years ago. I believe you know what I’m talking about as you appear to have an understanding of why we are all so concerned about her. I find it incredible and very touching that the whole town, as well as all those at the fort, seem to want to make sure she is well and cared for,” said Patrick.
“She does a lot for the community Patrick and it is appreciated. Nobody will starve whilst she is around, she knows what to do with her money, but she doesn’t give it away, she creates employment which allows everyone to keep their dignity,” said Tom.
Liza brought some plates for the table in and their conversation stopped and she wondered what they had been talking about, she would ask Patrick later. “I’ve written a few letters, Tom, would you mind letting Henry have them, he’ll know what to do with them,” she said.
“What scheme do you have in mind now, Liza,” asked Patrick.
“Well,” she said and Patrick raised his eyes knowing that she was about to start something else. “You know that we have to spread the word about the Health Scheme; it would be so much easier if we had a printing press. I know it’s going to be a little late for the Scheme, but for future announcements it would be wonderful if Benson had its own newspaper. Anyway, I’m asking Henry for costs for a press. It’s all thoughts for the future.”
“I wondered when you’d get around to that, Liza,” said Gabriel. “Have you found premises for it yet?”
“Yes, I have, but it’s only an idea at the moment,” said Liza.
“No it isn’t. I think we can guarantee that by this time next year Benson will have its own newspaper,” said Gabriel.
Patrick and Tom nodded in unison.
“Who’s going to run it for you Liza, because you are going to have your hands full for a while?” asked Patrick.
“Greg Long,” she said.
“Does he know that yet,” asked Patrick.
“No, not yet, but if it comes to fruition, he’ll love it. We’ll just have to find someone else to help out at the general store, but I’m sure we can do that easily,” said Liza.
“One day you may be able to switch off that brain of yours,” said Patrick and then he added, “no, of course you won’t.”
“You wouldn’t want me to become a boring stay-at-home person with no thoughts outside the home, would you Patrick?” asked Liza.
“At this moment, yes I would and I think that the doctor and everyone else here would also,” said Patrick.
“Don’t worry, Patrick, I’m only getting costs at present and I’m going to do nothing about it until well after the baby is born. I truly feel that you are all right and I’ve got to look after myself more than I have been doing
, although I don’t want to have nothing to do. I think I’ll concentrate on organising the town council and of course, I do have a great deal of correspondence from both Belfast and New York. I’ll just work at that for the next few months,” said Liza.
“I trust you’ll also have time to look after your two boys and your husband over the next few months,” said Patrick.
“That goes without saying as you well know,” said Liza.
The evening was a very happy one, although they were all sorry to see Tom go, but pleased that it would only be a few weeks before he was back in Benson with his wife and family.
“I believe the weather is going to hold for your trip back Tom, but our Indian scouts are forecasting heavy snow coming from the mountains in five or six days. We’ll get it first so you should have a chance to reach New York before you see any of it,” said Patrick. “I think it’s going to be a cold journey for you. Have we got any spare blankets that you could let Tom have Liza.”
“Yes, of course, I’ll sort them out for you later and they’ll be there for you tomorrow. I know that the stagecoach will be cold, but the bedrooms at staging posts can be frigid even during the summer,” said Liza.
“I know that the wagon train won’t set out until the weather improves, so really I’m not sure exactly when I’ll manage to get back here. As you know, I had hoped that it would be in February, but it may be into March,” said Tom.
“It does warm up quite quickly once the snow disappears. We’ve been snowed in until March and then it is incredible how quickly the flowers appear,” said Liza. “We’ll keep your house warm throughout the time though and make sure everything is ready for you no matter when you get here.”
“I will be here well before you are due Liza, I think I can guarantee that for you,” said Dr Tom.
The boys were tired and the next day was going to be their first day back at school, so Gabriel took Si home and Liza and Zelma got Matthew and John ready for bed. Tom and Patrick sat comfortably in the rocking chairs by the fire.
“Have you ever thought of leaving the army Patrick?” asked Tom.
“I did just one time a few months ago. I stupidly decided to leave Liza in New York because I felt that I was holding her back from a life that she wanted. She had reassured me that here was where she wanted to be, but I found it so hard to believe that she didn’t want all that she had in New York and Belfast. There were her businesses and her charity and she thrived on everything that she was doing,” said Patrick.
“Yes, I remember seeing her going here, there and everywhere in New York but you obviously saw the light and realised that she was much happier here with you,” said Tom.
“I was on the train travelling back and I had been gone a day, and whilst I was getting further and further away from her I realised that I couldn’t leave her and if it meant giving up my army career then that was what I would do and happily, so I turned around and travelled back to New York. Somehow she knew I was coming back and when I told her that I would leave the army she laughed and told me that there was no need and besides she had fallen in love with a soldier and that’s what she wanted,” said Patrick.
“Was that when you married her for the second time?” asked Tom.
“Yes, Liza told me that it was the first time that I had been truly romantic. I got down on one knee you know, which surprised me more than it seemed to surprise her,” said Patrick.
Tom laughed, “It was a beautiful day and you both were really happy. That was when I mentioned to Liza that I envied her living in a small town and it was what I would love to do. I also told her that I was going to adopt two of the children from her charity, and she proceeded to tell me all the pitfalls to doing that.”
“Yes, that sounds like her. Actually, she is busier here than she was either in New York or Belfast, but of course she does have people working for her there whereas here it all seemed to be down to her, until the town council that is,” said Patrick.
“Everybody seemed really happy for you that day and envious,” said Tom.
“Well, there was one who was upset that I had returned, but he disappeared before our wedding and reception,” said Patrick.
“Ah, you mean Lord Edgeworth. Yes, I believe he would have liked to have stepped into your shoes, but he didn’t stand a chance,” laughed Tom.
“No, you’re right, he hasn’t stood a chance. The poor chap has known Liza since she was seventeen or eighteen and would have liked to have married her, but she has always had other ideas, I’m pleased to say,” said Patrick.
Liza and Zelma joined them and after coffee Tom left saying that he would see them before he left the next morning, and Zelma went home leaving Patrick and Liza once again sitting in their comfortable rocking chairs, discussing the events of the day and the fact that they were going to miss Tom and were looking forward to him returning with his family.
“I hope we don’t get snowed in for too long this year,” said Patrick. “What are your plans for tomorrow, Liza, nothing too strenuous, I hope?”
“I’ve got to get the boys to school tomorrow and see Tom off on his journey. I do want to see Bea as she wants me with her when she asks Rachel about whether or not she has any other family. Once I’ve done that I shall be home and after that I do not intend to undertake any further tasks, so let us hope nothing serious happens that I have to deal with,” said Liza.
“Do you have to go tomorrow? You need to be back by the time the boys get back from school as it’s their first day,” said Patrick.
“Yes, I know, but I know the snow is coming and although the fort is near enough, I would like to get this over and done with before it gets difficult to travel. I don’t want any accidents,” said Liza.
“Good girl, Liza. Come on, let’s go up to bed. It’s turning quite cold,” said Patrick.
The next morning Patrick took the boys to school and Liza and Zelma organised blankets for Tom to travel with. The stagecoach arrived at ten o’clock and Tom climbed aboard saying his goodbyes to everyone and he was gone. Liza felt quite emotional which she thought was very silly of her as he would be back within a few weeks, but she had liked him and felt safe when he was around.
Patrick went to the fort saying that he would probably see her there later. Liza and Zelma went through the cupboards to see what they should get from the general store for when the snow came, because everyone knew that it would be coming and it would be heavy when it did, so they needed to make sure that they had enough for many days. Zelma then went to organise a delivery and Liza took the buggy to the fort to see Bea and Rachel.
Ada was with Bea when Liza arrived, “Have you broached the subject of her family yet, Bea?” asked Liza.
“No, I haven’t but she hasn’t mentioned anyone either. I would have thought she might have said if she had any other family,” said Bea.
“Are you not going to ask her then, Bea?” said Liza.
“Yes, and I suppose now is as good a time as any. Shall we go and ask her,” said Bea to both Ada and Liza.
Ada said, “I think that three of us could overwhelm the poor girl. Why don’t you and Liza go and I’ll look after the baby.”
Liza looked at Ada thinking ‘why me?’ and Ada just shrugged her shoulders. “Come on, Bea; let’s go then, unless you want to do this yourself.”
“I think I will do it myself, but will you come to the hospital with me please, Liza. You can see Dr Steele whilst you are there and I can call on you should I need you.”
“Is Marshall going to be around should you need him, Bea? Does he know that you are going to ask her today?” asked Liza.
“No, he doesn’t,” said Bea.
“Well, I think you should tell him, and perhaps he’ll be with you when you go to see her now, after all it does concern you both,” said Liza.
“I think that’s a good idea, Bea; why don’t you go over and see if he’s free?” said Ada.
“Yes, I think I’ll do that,” said Bea. “Will you still go and s
ee Dr Steele, Liza? I would like it if you are around also.”
They made their way out of Bea’s quarters and she went to see the captain and Liza carried on to the hospital. Dr Steele was pleased to see her, but before she was examined by him, she went to visit Rachel to see how she was. The little girl seemed so much better and was sitting up reading Liza’s Charles Dickens book.
“That’s very good, Rachel, I thought the book may be too old for you,” said Liza.
“This is the first book I have ever read. All I was allowed to read was the Bible and I was taught to read when I was very young,” said Rachel.
“Are you enjoying the book then, Rachel; I have plenty more that you can borrow when you have finished that one if you like,” said Liza.
“When I get home to my new home, will I be in trouble for reading this book? I would have been in bad trouble at my old home if I had been found reading it,” said Rachel.
“No Rachel you won’t be in any trouble for reading it, that I promise you. Anyway, here are some special people to visit you and I’ll see you later,” said Liza as Bea and the captain walked towards Rachel’s bed.
Liza went towards Dr Steele and left Bea and the captain to talk to Rachel alone. Dr Steele knew what was going to be asked of Rachel and he ushered Liza into his small office to give them privacy.
“How are you feeling Liza; you’re looking quite well, considering you have probably been doing too much as you always do. Has Dr Tom left?” said Dr Steele.
“Yes, he went this morning. He’s not sure when he will be back, it all depends on the weather, but he should be back sometime in March unless the weather improves considerably before then,” said Liza.
“I understand you both went to see Dr Bridges. How was he? I hope he didn’t shout at you again. Ah, I can see from your face that he did. I’m sorry Liza. He really doesn’t know what he’s saying and you mustn’t take any notice of him. He was a very old fashioned doctor and didn’t understand that many cures for various ailments had been found and operations perfected. So you mustn’t take anything that he says to heart,” said Dr Steele.
Against All Odds Page 40
