by Lisa Prysock
“Very perceptive of you, Dr. Beckham,” she smiled, biting her lower lip. Then she plunged forward, tossing the twig aside she’d been twirling in her hands. “Now it is my turn.” Half of her wanted to turn the conversation away from her love for writing, and half of her wanted to divulge more.
“All right, fair enough. Your turn.” He paused since they had reached the top of the gently sloping land. Spying a garden bench near a few clumps of lilies, he invited her to sit down.
She sat down on the bench, arranging her purple skirts to be sure the crocheted trim Mama had added along the hem of her new petticoat didn’t show. General Custer sat down on the ground nearby; busying himself with a handful of marigolds he must’ve plucked from Ella’s front porch area.
Zane joined her on the bench, and she proceeded with recounting some of what she knew of him from their letters as the parrot flew to perch on a spot on the back of the bench, between them. “As you mentioned, your parents are Mary and Christian, from Philadelphia. Your father is a philanthropist. He is also a man of means with real estate and railroad investments. He is the owner of an iron foundry in Pittsburgh, and your parents have a home in both Pennsylvania cities. Your mother spends most of her time in Philadelphia, and your father spends a great deal of time in Pittsburgh tending to business matters. You have one older brother, Andrew. He is married to Priscilla. He teaches mathematics and science at a Philadelphia school. You both have an equal inheritance from your father and have been provided lives of privilege, not without its own challenges.”
She paused, looking for his approval. He nodded. “You are correct.”
Leo Tolstoy chimed in. “Philadelphia. Philadelphia. Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh.”
She laughed, and this time, Zane did as well. Then she continued. “You and Andrew have had to work and study hard in accordance with the wishes of your parents. I am fascinated with the work your father did for the Union during the war, helping to produce iron used for ships and weaponry. I was only a girl of ten when the war began, but I remember the tensions and losses colored much of my childhood and our lives.”
“Yes,” Zane nodded, appearing to study a blue jay a few yards away as it hopped along the earth, pecking at something invisible to them. “His iron foundry helped to provide iron for manufacturers of pistols, rifles, cannons, land mines, sabers, knives...not to mention locomotives and ships.”
“I find it all remarkable.” She continued. “And you studied medicine at the Medical Institute of Philadelphia, a proprietary owned school after graduating from your academic studies, while Andrew went on to study to become a teacher at a similar Philadelphia school. I should not fail to mention, you and Andrew were privately tutored as my sisters and I were, at home, prior to your training at medical school. Then, to celebrate your graduation, you went to Europe for a grand tour with your family, in 1859, prior to the war.”
He nodded, briefly interrupting to remark upon something else. “I forgot to mention that you went to Europe on your grand tour after you graduated from Miss Clara’s Finishing School of Lexington. Your mother arranged for you and Carrie travel to England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and Italy together. Your Aunt Melody chaperoned the two of you, introducing you to many of the best sights in Europe.”
She smiled, nodding. “I’m glad you remembered. It is remarkable that Ella has found two people to bring together with some similarities in our backgrounds; two families surviving the war practically unscathed. My trip to Europe has been among the greatest highlights of my life, thus far. If my father hadn’t been such a successful horse farmer and my mother so resourceful, I don’t think we’d have had the life we have been given, my sisters and I.”
“I cannot agree more with all you mention.” His hands rested on the knees of his riding breeches, and he appeared to relax, enjoying all she brought up to him.
Jenny cleared her throat. “Back to you now. You then went to John Hopkins University in Maryland for further medical training through most of the war. You did some brief training during the war as a service to your country. After you graduated from your studies at John Hopkins in only three years, you served as an intern at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. And after that, you returned to Europe to celebrate with your family once again when the war was over and it was safe to travel again.”
Zane nodded. “That is correct. I was glad to be done with school; although one is never done learning. And Father—well, he’d made a fortune in iron. There wasn’t any reason for him not to hire someone to handle his business affairs at home. Off we went, to forget about the war, school, and iron—for a little while, at least.”
Jenny smiled. “I know what you mean. It was such a relief when the war was over. By that time, your brother Andrew was married. His wife, Priscilla, accompanied your family to Europe then. After nearly another year in Europe, you returned home and started a medical practice in St. Paul. You were in St. Paul until about a year ago, when you decided to accept a position here in Pelican Rapids.”
Zane reached down and plucked a dandelion from the grass. He twirled it in his hands, allowing her to proceed as they observed General Custer. The chimpanzee had grown weary of his marigolds and began inspecting the dandelions, too. She continued. “You’ve wanted to settle down in a more rural area, which is why you chose this lovely small town, from what little I’ve seen of it so far. What am I forgetting? Let’s see. You are thirty-four years of age. A few of your favorite foods include oysters, roast beef, blueberries, chicken noodle soup, rice pudding, custards, and brown sugar apple dumplings. Your favorite pies are cherry streusel and pecan. You love animals and helping people get well. You have visited nearly every menagerie in Europe. You love to read and have installed a vast library collection at the mansion you’ve recently finished building, much to my delight.”
“And don’t forget my botany collection,” he added with a chuckle.
“Ah, yes. It appears we share a love for drawing and sketching things,” she agreed, smoothing her skirts again and stretching her ankles.
“I would say that about covers it. I’m surprised you were able to remember all of those details.” Zane studied her. Perhaps he was trying to commit her blue-gray eye color or the shape of her nose and nearly square-shaped face to memory. Maybe he was taking in her sandy blond, curly hair. Today it was perfectly coiffed, she hoped. She’d swirled it up into a chignon and secured it with a pair of fancy metal ornamental clasps with pearl edges in honor of meeting Zane. She’d left some curls spiraling down to her shoulders. Her hair was the same color all of her sisters and her mother shared. She wondered briefly if he liked what he saw until she realized she was blushing again as he looked at her.
“I may have read each of your letters as many as ten times each.” Jenny cleared her throat again and tore her eyes from his romantic gaze by looking for the blue jay they’d seen earlier. She had a question bothering her, and now seemed a perfect time to give him a chance to set the record straight. “My question is,” she began, “as handsome and successful as you and your family are, Dr. Beckham—I mean, Zane—how is it you have never married? Surely you have had at least several romantic interests at some points in your thirty-four years. I don’t think we ever spoke about this in our letters. I don’t mean to be forward or to pry...”
“But you would like to know.” He sighed and looked away at the pink blossoms budding on the tree nearest their bench, appearing uncomfortable with her question. The whole orchard had a sweet smell, reminding her again of the scent from the apple orchard back home in Kentucky. She wasn’t uncomfortable in the least. Her inquisitive mind wanted to know. Then she wouldn’t need to bring it up again, and the sooner they moved past this topic, the better for both of them. Some things should be discussed, at least a little if they were to marry on solid footing.
“Yes, I would like to know.” She nodded, shading her eyes from the sun with her hand. She hadn’t bothered to bring her parasol, gloves, or a hat outside. She was also res
tless, and ready to go indoors to prepare for the recital. A glance in the direction of the barnyard closer to the house, and she could see Josiah was heading inside, likely to wash up now that his day’s work was done except for perhaps a few evening chores. In fact, all of the Milton property looked neat and tidy. There wasn’t so much as a rake or any other tools left carelessly outside to rust in the spring rain, or anything out of place. Zane’s words brought her attention back to the topic she was so eager to find out about, and she turned to look at him.
“In truth, I’ve only loved three women, or at least I thought I had at the time. I was introduced to Ursula in Philadelphia while I attended the Medical Institute. We were to wed after I graduated from John Hopkins, but she grew weary of waiting and married someone else. Then there was a brief, whirlwind love affair with Beatrice in Italy. In the end, she didn’t want to come to America, and I didn’t want to live in Venice or Rome. Needless to say, it didn’t last. Bittersweet memories. I came home from Europe and met Rowena in St. Paul. I had always hoped she would get well and we would marry. Maybe if I’d been able to diagnose and treat her condition, we might have married. She died a few years ago from an undiagnosed disease—crippling to her body.”
“I’m sorry to hear about all of these situations,” Jenny said softly, feeling genuinely sad for what he had suffered in love, but thankful he had been set aside for her through these events. She released a barely audible sigh of relief, inwardly glad to have this frank discussion out in the open. At least now she knew. One hadn’t been faithful, another hadn’t been committed, and the last had faded away like the crumpled dandelion in his hand. It was time this man had a wife who was healthy, who would make him laugh, and one who would be faithfully committed to him. For some reason unknown to her, she could feel her heart wrapping around him in a way it had never done for any other. They had some things in common, and enough differences that she could see how it might actually work. Perhaps Ella Milton had indeed done well in her job of matching them together.
“I guess I’ve been collecting animals ever since...” His voice trailed off, and this remark made her chuckle. She was happy to hear his voice and demeanor brighten a few seconds later. “It took me a while, but I am resigned to these losses. They were obviously not what God had intended for my life, and now I have the opportunity to marry a woman as lovely as you. We will have a lifetime to get to know one another and build a deep and abiding love.”
“That is my hope, too. My thoughts concur, Dr. Beckham.” Jenny’s voice was soft again, and she looked away. Shyness had overcome her for a moment, which was so unlike her. Then she smiled up at him, waiting for his next words, knowing what they would be. It was his turn to ask hard questions of her.
He placed his warm, large hand over one of hers, sending a little tingle of attraction through her. “And what of your beaus? I’m sure you’ve had some offers of marriage you must have turned away for some reasons unknown to a number of heartbroken gents.”
She laughed. “Benjamin was too young. Louis was too much of a friend, and Gerard, he was too much of a Confederate Kentucky boy, and rough on the edges.”
“I see,” he laughed with her.
Then they heard a wagon to their left, driving along the road across a meadow. The road led to Ella’s drive and ran parallel to the orchard. From the bench, they could see everything, the road, the drive, and the house with the wraparound porch, and the barn and sheds, located a short distance beyond the house.
“I see some guests will be arriving. It must be time for the recital. Last one to the porch must kiss the other!” She jumped up from the bench laughing, and raced on ahead of him, determined to reach the porch first and win a kiss from the handsome doctor. A glance over her shoulder as she glided down the slope of the apple orchard made her laugh to see General Custer, Leo Tolstoy in flight, and Dr. Beckham all in pursuit, but not too far behind. He could have easily overtaken her, but judging by the grin on his face, it was fair to say her fiancé wanted to be the one to give her the kiss and had slowed his start a little on purpose.
Chapter 4
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV
HOW AT EASE THEY WERE with each other, Zane thought as he reached the front porch and pulled Miss Lindford into an embrace. He suddenly didn’t care if anyone was looking, or laughing at him for running through Ella Milton’s yard as if he was a schoolboy. A glance at the drive, and he could see the wagon was still too far away to observe them. Thankfully, there was a smattering of trees preventing a clear view of the front porch. Before he changed his mind or she hers, he pressed his lips to her pursed ones and gave her a soft and tender kiss that stirred a passion in both of them—at least judging from the sparkle of contentment in her blue-gray eyes. He hoped he wouldn’t have to wait too many days to hold his bride in his arms.
Soon the guests arrived, and after a great many greetings and introductions, they were seated near the front and center of the entertainment as the guests of honor. Minnie, Ella’s cook, kept busy laying out refreshments on the dining room table, now moved to the far side of the room to create space for a few rows of chairs. While Minnie Jacobs arranged molasses and oatmeal raisin cookies on a glass tray beside a bowl of fruit punch, Miss Flora Cunningham introduced herself as the piano teacher.
“I’ve been away from Pelican Rapids tending yet another ill relation this past year, but having recently returned, find myself delighted to have resumed the duties of the local schoolmarm. I have missed you all so much. I very much enjoy teaching some of our students the finer arts of music and song in addition to their academics. We hope you will enjoy this afternoon’s performance, in honor of welcoming Miss Lindford, the fiancée of Dr. Zane Beckham, to our community.” Miss Cunningham paused while the parents and other guests clapped. She continued. “I would also like to thank Ms. Ella Milton for lending us the use of her piano and dining room for this event, and for the purpose of lessons and practicing their skills.” Another round of applause.
Jenny glanced over at General Custer on the other side of Zane. “Look Zane, he’s clapping,” she whispered, all agog with smiles and giggles about his talented chimpanzee. If she kept up with this much delight for his favorite pet, he would not be able to resist falling in love with his bride at a much greater speed than he had previously anticipated.
Miss Cunningham and Ella took turns introducing the various students throughout the performance. One of the male students, a young man named Fred, began to play “Yankee Doodle” on the piano to open the recital. Everyone clapped again, including Custer, and they settled into a lively event. However, Zane and Miss Lindford kept stealing glances at each other. He made sure to sit as close to her as he could, placing his wooden chair as near to hers as possible without appearing too improper.
The next song performed was “Reuben and Rachel,” played on the piano by a student Ella introduced this time, as Juniper. She was a shy girl who played well, accompanied by a student singing the words, introduced as Ida. Ida sang a good deal off-key, but he and Miss Lindford barely noticed. They were far too taken with sitting next to each other in the midst of their first public appearance together.
In fact, all sorts of things went wrong which they barely noticed. While Ida was singing, one of the Milton cows began mooing in agony from the pasture behind the house. Because the kitchen was directly beyond the dining room, everyone could see and hear the cow through the open kitchen window. Apparently the cow could hear Ida through the open window as well. This caused a good deal of laughter, but nothing could dampen Ida’s enthusiasm, or his and Miss Lindford’s enjoyment.
He overheard Ella Milton whisper to her son, Josiah, “Could you please take Pansy to the barn?”
Josiah nodded and quietly excused himself from the recital. Minutes later, Ella’s son could be seen through the kitchen window leading the cow o
ut of the pasture toward the barn as it continued to moo and moan in agony, prolonging the scene displayed in view of those present. For some reason, Josiah seemed to have a bit of a struggle with Pansy. Nonetheless, the event continued.
Some sheet music turned up missing for the third student, and during the fourth student’s outstanding violin performance, there was a distraction caused by a few chickens ganging up on a goose in the front yard. During the very last song, there was another incident as an energetic white Maltese appeared out of seemingly nowhere and began tugging at the freshly laundered linens hanging out to dry on the clothing line—also located beyond the kitchen. As the student scaled “Für Elise” with the impressive skill of a concert pianist, the Maltese managed to finally yank a bedsheet off the line with its teeth. This scene caused a great deal of glee, but thankfully, the student at the piano didn’t lose any concentration.
However, Minnie lost her concentration. To the cook’s horror, as Zane knew she’d recently completed the laundry task while they’d had tea earlier in the afternoon, the dog kept a firm hold on the prize in her mouth. She began running around the country farmhouse, dragging the white linen along in a trail behind.
Looking through the hall to his right and into the parlor from his seat in the dining room to see if he could spot the dog making the lap around to the side of the pleasant house, Zane recognized Captain Caleb Brooks come into view outside the parlor window. He was chasing the dog, who continued to grasp the sheet firmly in her teeth as it trailed behind. Soon everyone could hear Captain Brooks hollering through the windows at the white Maltese, which Zane now recognized to be Lottie’s beloved pet from Georgia. This fact, he’d learned while invited to dinner some months prior at the Brooks’ home, Lady Slipper Cottage Farm.
