Prudence

by Caroline Clemmons

  “Doesn’t hurt to dream, does it?”

  Laughter bubbled forth from Prudence. “We’d be crazy not to at least have a few illusions.”

  Chapter Three

  During the layover in St. Louis, another woman joined their group. Angeline Chandler was so pale she looked near death. She immediately went to sleep when they re-boarded the rail car. Her clothes were high quality, but she had only a couple of cases for luggage.

  Prudence mentally speculated on the woman’s condition but kept her opinion to herself. If she wasn’t mistaken, Angeline was pregnant. The young woman had probably been turned out of her family’s home for her indiscretion.

  Lorraine returned from the privy and sank onto the chair. “I’m glad we don’t have to cross another river like the Mississippi.”

  Prudence leaned against the luxurious plush of her seat. “So am I. While I’ve enjoyed watching the changing landscape, the trip’s newness has worn off. I’m eager to get to our final destination, aren’t you?”

  “I am, but not looking forward to the stagecoach. Lydia said the road is rutted and bumpy. Plus, how will we get all our luggage and us in one coach?”

  “I’m sure Lydia has planned everything. She’s very organized. Look how well she handled adding Josephine and Ophelia at the last minute and then Angeline in St. Louis.”

  Lorraine raised her eyebrows. “I hope so. We’ve placed our future in her hands.”

  ***

  Prudence found riding in the stagecoach hot, bumpy, and dusty torture. Thank heavens the entire trip hadn’t been like this. Lydia had reserved a nine-passenger coach, but their wide skirts, valises, and food baskets made it impossible to move more than a few inches.

  With so many trunks on top and tied to the back, it was a wonder to Prudence the vehicle didn’t tip over. The road was frightening in places. With each twist, turn, and steep incline, Prudence worried they would have an accident.

  Angeline had recovered a bit but still winced with each bump. Ophelia chose the center bench rather than sit with her back touching anything. They rotated positions, other than Ophelia. Prudence hated sitting on the center bench. Thank goodness, Prudence had heeded Lydia’s advice to leave off a bustle as had the other women.

  At last, Lydia stuck her head out the window and waved. “We’re here and there’s a welcome committee waiting for us.”

  When the women had slowly exited the stage, Prudence noted the group welcoming them consisted solely of men, handsome men for the most part. One of the most attractive rushed to Sophie and hugged her—undoubtedly her son, Riley.

  He was tall and blond with a well-groomed mustache. He smiled at Sophie and Prudence saw the love the son and mother shared. She almost stumbled because she watched them instead of where she was walking.

  She collected her wits and peered at the town. The perfect size in her opinion, Tarnation kindled her excitement. Although the streets were dirt, the businesses and homes appeared well-kept. A white church spire reached heavenward at the other end of town. Imagine, there was even an opera house.

  They followed Lydia to the most impressive home Prudence could see. Far larger than any other house visible, she wondered how a Southern-plantation-style building came to be here in this western landscape. Would she ever want to leave such a beautiful residence?

  The laughing and joking men deposited the luggage in the entry and were sent on their way with an invitation to return for a reception.

  Lydia clapped her hands. “We’ll draw for rooms.”

  Prudence was pleased she would share with Lorraine as they had become friends on the trip. Their room was beautiful. Walls were papered in pale green with stripes of pastel flowers.

  A coverlet on the bed was the same shade piped in dark green. A chair upholstered in the darker color stood by a graceful table, atop which a white lamp waited for evening. Heavy drapes parted to reveal white lace sheers gently rippling in the breeze.

  Prudence couldn’t convince herself she wasn’t dreaming. Leaving here would be difficult. Unless she found a man she loved who returned her love.

  As soon as their belongings were in the bedroom they’d share, they explored the house.

  Afterward, Rachel settled onto one of the parlor couches and echoed Prudence’s thoughts. “I’ll never want to leave here.”

  Cassandra sat beside her. “Lovely, isn’t it? Seems almost out of place here, though.”

  Prudence didn’t care whether it fit the surroundings or not. She was grateful for a chance to experience living in this luxury. What would the others think of her if they knew she’d lived in a tiny cabin smaller than this parlor and with dirt floors?

  ***

  Riley Gaston gritted his teeth. If he had to listen to another word of praise for Miss Prudence Lynch, he would explode.

  “Yes, mother, you’ve made your approval of Miss Lynch clear. Do you mind if I form my own opinion?”

  “Of course not, Riley. But, you won’t find anyone more perfect for you than Prudence. You and she could work together and help many more people.”

  “I appreciate the discomfort you experienced traveling to and from Richmond on my behalf. That stagecoach ride is wretched. Nevertheless, I am determined to select my wife unaided by you or anyone else. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Extremely.” She sent him the smile she’d used for as long as he could remember to say he was wrong. “Mark my words, son, you’ll see.”

  He hated that superior smirk of his mother’s. Worse, more times than not, she proved to be right. This time, though, she was dead wrong.

  Riley was not encouraging a backwoods folk healer to set up in Tarnation. He especially didn’t plan to marry one. His mother was the one who’d see what was what.

  He appreciated that since his father’s death his mother lived with him and ran the house smoothly while cooking delicious food. The aroma of a peach pie drifted through the house. Certainly he was luckier than any of the other bachelors in town.

  That fact didn’t give his mother a right to dictate his personal life. He stalked out and went to visit the sheriff. Adam ran a clean town and there were seldom any prisoners in the town jail.

  Adam’s feet were propped on his desk. He looked up from reading Frank Leslie’s Monthly Magazine. “What put that scowl on your face? With seven young women to court, seems to me your problems are over.”

  “If one of them chooses me, and that’s a big if.” Riley poured himself a cup of coffee and sat in the chair beside the desk. “The problem is Mother will not stop pushing one of them at me. She is convinced the blond named Prudence Lynch is The One for me.”

  “Any reason she chose her?”

  A sip of the brew singed his tongue. “Apparently Miss Lynch can walk on water—or nearly. According to Mother, Miss Lynch is terribly sweet, considerate, and is a midwife and folk healer. A folk healer! Can you believe it?”

  Adam laughed and laid aside the magazine. “What’s the matter, can’t take the competition?”

  Riley slapped the desktop. “That is exactly the problem. There is no competition. She’s nonsense and I’m a doctor. She might be good at midwifery, but at healing, not a chance. And if people listen to her she might cause harm.”

  “Hey, you don’t know yet whether she’s any good at healing.”

  “Don’t you see, she can’t be? I’ve been to medical school. She gathers herbs and who knows what they are?”

  Adam’s finger formed a steeple on his stomach. “Say, did I ever tell you my sweet old grandmother was a folk healer?”

  Riley wanted to bang his head against the sheriff’s desk. “No, you did not. Are you pulling my leg?”

  “Grandma was a folk healer and a good one. Kept me well and mended all my scrapes and breaks. Birthed half the babies in the county.”

  “If I find you’ve been pulling my leg, I swear I’ll punch you.”

  Adam grinned. “Have to arrest you for assaulting an officer of the law.”

  Riley pointe
d at the sheriff. “I knew you were fooling me, weren’t you?”

  Adam spread his hands. “Maybe. What if I wasn’t? You think there aren’t any bad doctors? The one in the town where I grew up was seldom sober. He probably killed as many patients as he helped.”

  “I’m aware there are good and bad physicians. There are good midwives, too. What I can’t accept is that there are reliable folk healers, and that’s that. They give false hope and keep the sick from seeing a doctor who could help them.” Riley stood and rinsed his cup out before placing it back on the shelf by the stove.

  Adam raised his eyebrows. “Leaving so soon?”

  “I need some air.” He left to the sound of Adam’s laughter.

  ***

  Time for the reception arrived. Each girl wore one of her finest dresses. For Prudence, that meant the only one of her three nice enough to wear for church. She’d have to wear the same dress for every occasion.

  What man would give her a second glance with her dressed like this? Granny had insisted that the man for Prudence would see past her clothes to the person inside. So far, Granny had been right, but this was one time Prudence had no faith in her grandmother’s prediction.

  Precisely at four, Lydia’s housekeeper, Mrs. Murphy, opened the front door to admit the men who waited on the steps. Prudence fought to remember names but she was too conscious of the blond man she’d seen with Sophie. She was certain a more handsome man never existed.

  The doctor smiled, but not with his eyes. “Ah, Miss Lynch. My mother has raved about you.”

  Prudence didn’t understand the edge to his voice. “She’s a lovely woman. I enjoyed her company on our trip.”

  “I’m afraid I don’t agree with her assessment of old wives’ healing methods. I prefer modern scientific medicine.”

  “The two balance one another, Dr. Gaston. I had great success working with the doctor where I lived before coming here.”

  “I hope you won’t expect that from me. I don’t hold with folk remedies.”

  She stood with her mouth agape as he moved down the reception line. What an absolute ass. She wanted to knock that superior expression from his face.

  Prudence had never hit anyone in her life. That this man created the need to punch him set guilt pummeling her. Granny would be so disappointed in her reaction to the doctor. She took a deep breath and smiled at the next man in line.

  He wore a knowing smile and a badge. “Adam Penders, the sheriff. You really shouldn’t punch the doc with me present.”

  Surprise swept over her. “I’m pleased to meet you, Sheriff, and shocked my reaction showed so plainly.”

  “Just for a second. Doc’s a good man and he’ll come around. Takes him time to accept change, but he will. Welcome to Tarnation.”

  “Thank you.” Still, she couldn’t recover from the slight dealt her by the doctor.

  During the reception, she spoke to each man although she noticed the sheriff stuck close to Lydia.

  At the refreshment table, Dr. Gaston sidled up to her. “I’m sorry if you think I was rude.”

  She met his gaze with frank words, “Think? You were rude, Dr. Gaston. There’s no other way to explain your words to me.”

  “That wasn’t my intention, I assure you. I-I had a bad experience while in medical school and it colored my opinion.”

  “I accept responsibility for my own actions, but I refuse to be held accountable for the failings of others. Do you want to be tarred by the same brush as bad physicians?”

  His eyes widened in astonishment. “No, of course not. Could we start over?” Dolt. Hadn’t he considered there were bad doctors?

  Could they begin anew? She took a deep breath. “I suppose.”

  He stuck out his hand. “Hello, I’m Riley Gaston, the local doctor.”

  She couldn’t prevent a smile. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Prudence Lynch, midwife and folk healer.”

  “What do you do when you’re not working?” He helped himself to refreshments.

  She accepted a plate from him. “Mostly I make quilts for the poor. Also, I grow and gather herbs. What about you?” Mmm, her sandwich was delicious.

  “I’m building on to my house. There’s no hospital near and I’m adding a room I can use as a ward. Currently I have only a small room that holds one bed.”

  Concern caused her to overlook his earlier slight. “Oh, that’s not enough if you have an outbreak of influenza or if there’s a stagecoach wreck or something serious like that.”

  He gestured while holding a cookie. “I’m including room for six beds. The single room will then be for someone who’s contagious or too ill to be around others.”

  “You’re forward thinking. When will the new facility be ready?”

  “I’m not sure. I’m also adding a couple of rooms to my home, which adjoins my office. The builders are hoping to be finished in two months.”

  “Your mother said she lives with you.” She took another of the small sandwiches.

  “She has since my father passed. The arrangement’s handy when I’m on a call and someone needs me. At least the office is available for people to wait until I return.”

  “Sophie is such a kind woman. She made coming here easier. You see, my grandmother had just died and I had no one in the world. When Lydia told me I could come here, I was so relieved.”

  Concern showed on his face. “Your parents died some time back?”

  “Twelve years ago when I was ten. Their carriage careened off a bridge into a swollen river during a storm and they both drowned. Granny raised me and saw I had a good education in spite of the tiny school in our village. Granny had high standards, for which I’m now grateful.”

  The banker, she thought his name was Tucker, clapped the doctor on the shoulder. “Can’t monopolize this lady, Doc.”

  The doctor, who she already thought of as Riley, gave a slight bow. “Miss Lynch, I look forward to talking to you another time.”

  Watching Riley move to speak to Ophelia, she wished Mr. Tucker had kept his distance. The banker was handsome with black hair and a neat mustache and wearing what appeared to be an expensive suit. He wasn’t the one for her, she was sure. She’d already made her choice.

  Later, after the reception ended, Prudence listened to feminine chatter. Each of the women who’d come with Lydia had selected one or two men as her target. None mentioned the doctor, a fact that greatly relieved her.

  That night in their room, Lorraine sat on the bed and removed her shoes and stockings. “Men can be so stubborn.” She massaged her toes.

  “You, too? I’ve never wanted to hit anyone as much as I did today. Riley Gaston told me folk medicine was nonsense.”

  Lorraine collapsed onto her back against the mattress. “You’ll bring him around eventually. I may kill Grant Pettigrew before I convince him a woman can write for a newspaper.”

  “Won’t he be surprised and embarrassed when he learns how wrong he is? Seems we have to show these men they’re wrong.”

  Prudence had been taken into Lorraine’s confidence and knew she’d had articles published in Frank Leslie’s Monthly Magazine as well as numerous other publications, including the New York Times.

  Lorraine sat up. “You’re right. We just have to show them who we are and that we’re the person each needs.”

  If only Prudence knew how to go about proving herself to Riley. She couldn’t allow his disdain to rule her. Tarnation was her home now and she’d make her place here whether Riley Gaston approved or not.

  Chapter Four

  Riley and Adam Penders walked with Michael Buchanan toward town. Dadgum but his mother was right again. No, he’d fight his attraction to Miss Lynch. After all, there were six other women.

  Adam hooked his thumbs in his pants’ pockets. “You fellows meet the woman of your dreams?”

  Michael hesitated only a second. “Might have. Too soon to tell but I’m hopeful.”

  “What about you, Riley?” Adam asked.

  “I’
m not commenting.”

  Adam laughed. “So, it’s Miss Lynch, is it? You mother will be happy to learn your choice.”

  Riley narrowed his eyes and glared at the sheriff. “You keep your opinion to yourself.”

  Michael gestured at the mercantile he owned. “Sorry to part company, but I see a customer waiting at the store.” He jogged toward his business.

  Riley watched his friend hurrying away. “Too bad he had to close to attend the reception.”

  “He needs a wife to help him. Would be nice if he found one he could love.”

  “Why aren’t you and Lydia married?”

  Adam growled, “Mind you own business.”

  “Aha! Different when the tables are turned, isn’t it? Instead of meddling in my business, you should be proposing to the woman who loves you and who you love. Everyone in town is ready to lynch you for not marrying her.”

  “You see where and how she lives. What can I offer her? She’d be crazy to link herself to a man who makes what I do every month.”

  “Except for the fact that she loves you. All she wants is for you to marry her and love her in return.”

  “Naw, things are more complicated than that.” Adam turned into his office at the jail and closed the door firmly behind him.

  Riley agreed life was complicated. He wanted a wife, needed one. Now he had enough to support a family and would soon have a home large enough to provide plenty of room for children.

  He pictured Miss Lynch—who he’d already come to think of as Prudence—in his home. She wouldn’t have trouble getting along with his mother. But she thought she could help people with folk medicine.

  Why did life have to be so difficult?

  ***

  Prudence weathered the following dances and receptions without displaying her desolation at the doctor’s continuing attitude. The only thing she could do is soldier on as if she preferred remaining unwed. Perhaps she could establish her business and get on with life.

  She noticed a small vacant building across the street from Riley’s office. Inquiries led her to the home of Judge John Hunter. His wife, Victoria, answered her ring.