Bride for Matthew

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Sinead stared at him for a moment, feeling the tears prick her eyes. First, he’d yelled that he’d wanted someone who would stay home and out of trouble at the office, and now he was telling her to leave? “You don’t want me?”

  Matthew grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her to him, holding her as close as he could. “That’s not it at all. Please don’t think that! I want you to visit your family where you’ll be safe. Then I want you to come back to me!”

  She shook her head. “No. Teach me to shoot a gun and I’ll carry it in my medical bag, but I’m not going to tuck my tail between my legs and run. Ever. I’m a stronger woman than that.”

  He sighed. “I know you are. I had to try. I want you safe.”

  “I’ll be safe enough. Teach me to use a gun?”

  He frowned for a moment, and then nodded. “I’ll take you out of town to where the other Mounties and I practice shooting before I work tomorrow. I have a spare handgun. I’ll make sure you know how to use it.”

  “That sounds wonderful.” She leaned a little closer to him. “Wanna know what else sounds wonderful?”

  He looked down into her big brown eyes, feeling himself lost in them as usual. There was something almost magical about this woman he’d married. “What?”

  “Running that crook out of town on a rail. Do they tar and feather people in this town? Because I think he should be tarred and feathered. Or maybe he should be tied into a burlap sack and thrown into a river like they do unwanted kittens. Don’t you think that’s a great idea?”

  “I think I don’t ever want you angry with me. Frying pans, tar and featherings, burlap sacks…you’re downright scary!”

  “Don’t you forget it either!” She stood on tiptoe and brushed his lips with hers. “I’m starting to like you a little bit, Matthew.”

  “A little bit, huh?”

  She nodded emphatically. “Maybe someday I’ll like you a little bit more.”

  “I’ll hold my breath, as I dream of that day.”

  “You should.”

  *****

  Matthew was afraid to leave her the next afternoon to go to work. “What kind of mischief are you going to get into while I’m gone?”

  Sinead made a face. “Do you realize that I’ve lived almost thirty years without ever getting into trouble? I meet you, and people assume I’ve always been a mischief maker. I think you’re a bad influence on me. It’s as simple as that.”

  He sighed, taking her hands in his, ignoring her ridiculous accusations. “Will you promise me that you’ll stay in the cabin all day and not cause trouble?”

  She tilted her head to one side as she considered the question. “I can’t make that promise.”

  “Why not?” Matthew was unaccustomed to feeling anger, but somehow, he felt it a lot when she was around.

  “Because I might get called out. If someone is sick and needs me, there’s no way I’m going to hide in this cabin from the big bad men who want to kill me for speaking the truth.”

  “If I sent Miss Hazel over to spend the day with you again? Will you let her accompany you wherever you go?”

  Sinead shrugged. “Sure. I like Miss Hazel. But if I’m in a hurry, she’ll need to keep up.”

  He sighed. “Do you have the gun I gave you in your medical bag?”

  She nodded. She’d surprised herself with how quickly she’d taken to shooting a gun that morning. She’d hit the target he’d made nine times out of ten. “I have it, and it’s loaded. I know how to use it now, thanks to you, so I’m going to be safe.”

  “I still don’t want to leave you.”

  “You’re so sweet. We’ve only been married three days, and already you can’t stand to leave me alone. What are you going to be like after fifty years of marriage?”

  “I just pray that we’ll hit fifty years after the way our marriage has started. I’m praying we hit two weeks at this point!”

  “Do you really think he’s going to risk killing the wife of a Mountie? When everyone in town knows he wants me dead? From what I’ve heard, he’s not a stupid man, and that would be a very stupid thing to do.”

  Matthew shook his head. “I still don’t trust him.”

  “Then trust me. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it for a long time.”

  “Where did you go to medical school?”

  Sinead frowned. “I went to the Ontario Medical College for Women. Women aren’t good enough to study at a medical school with men.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what possessed me to want to be a doctor, but from the time I was a tiny little girl, I knew it was my future. Thankfully I had parents who were willing to help me realize my dreams.”

  “I bet they were proud when you graduated.”

  “Of course they were. They knew exactly what I’d gone through to become a doctor. They knew that I had to be stronger than even the other women because of my mixed-race heritage.” She shook her head. “I’m proud of what I’ve done, but I wish I could get more patients.” She didn’t wish she hadn’t had to move West to get patients, though, because somehow, she was falling for Matthew. He was exactly what she needed to feel strong and independent.

  “I’m proud of you, too. I wish you’d be more careful, but I’m very proud of you for sticking up for your beliefs.”

  She smiled. “I’m glad. Now go to work. I’m going to be fine. I’ll go over to the hotel and find Miss Hazel, and we’ll spend the day together.”

  “You’ll do no such thing! I’ll stop by the hotel on my way to work and ask her to come here. You’re not walking around this town alone any time in the near future. Got that?”

  She shrugged. “I’ll do my best to obey you.”

  “Meaning what exactly?” Matthew couldn’t believe what a stubborn woman he’d had the fortune to marry. He could see now that if he’d married the homebody he’d been looking for, he wouldn’t have been nearly as happy. Where would the challenge be in that?

  “Meaning if someone comes with a medical emergency, I’m leaving and taking care of whomever it is. I’m not going to sit around picking my nose just because I’m safer here. You’ve given me the gun. You’ve done your duty. I’m sure if someone kills me, Miss Hazel will find you a new bride.” Sinead waved her hand toward the door. “Off with you!”

  He kissed her quickly, hurrying toward the door. He couldn’t be late. He was never late for anything. “Be careful. I beg of you!”

  “I knew I’d be able to make you beg!” She laughed to herself as he left and she started on the lunch dishes. His hours were odd, but she was getting used to them. They woke for breakfast, spent the morning together, had lunch together, and he went off to work…while she caused trouble. She grinned. Never in her life had she thought she’d be in a position where she could say what she thought was right and feel safe doing so. Being married to a Mountie really did have its advantages.

  Miss Hazel was there thirty minutes later, and she found Sinead sitting at the table, cleaning her medical instruments. “Wow, you keep them very clean. Your floor could use a good sweeping, but that little doodad you’re holding is spotless.”

  “Your welcome to sweep the floor if it offends you. I want my tools of the trade to be perfect.” Sinead didn’t even glance up as she continued polishing.

  “I could. But then I’d be depriving you of the pleasure of making a perfect home for your husband.” Miss Hazel sat at the table with her. “What are we going to do today? Do you want to learn to play more poker?”

  Sinead laughed. “You look much too sweet to be able to teach anyone to gamble. I’m not sure how Matthew would feel about it.”

  “Matthew seems to turn a blind eye to your eccentricities. He’s starting to really care for you.”

  Sinead shrugged. “I’m not so sure. He tried to talk me into going back to Ottawa with you. He said it was for my safety, but I have to wonder.”

  “He really is concerned for you, Sinead. That’s why he went to the health institute to get me this afternoon
. He didn’t want you to be alone. He thinks everyone needs to surround you for the next little while. Until there’s proof either way of Dr. Jenkins being a doctor or not.”

  “Have you been taking advantage of the hot springs?” Sinead asked, looking up from her polishing for a moment.

  “You bet your medical bag, I have! I love how it feels when I soak in there. I don’t expect it to cure me of anything, and I’m not drinking the water or that nasty elixir of his. I’m just soaking for the sake of soaking.”

  Sinead nodded, pleased that Miss Hazel had been honest about what she was doing. “That’s fine, as long as you’re not expecting some miraculous cure for your hot flashes or anything else.”

  “Expecting? No. Praying like a mad woman? Of course I am! I have got to get past these flashes or I’m going to die!”

  “Die? You think? I think you’ll just be uncomfortable. Hot flashes are not life threatening, though I’ve been told they feel like it at times.” Sinead finished polishing the last thing, put it into her medical bag, and snapped it shut.

  “Maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but not very much. I hate hot flashes.”

  “I don’t blame you.” Sinead looked up at Miss Hazel, her eyes full of mischief. “Let’s go for a walk and see if we can find more sick people.”

  Miss Hazel laughed. “You’re the only doctor in the world I know who gets excited at the thought of sick people.”

  “Do you have any idea how long I went to school for the privilege of healing people? Or what it cost my parents? If I didn’t love what I do so much, there’s no way I ever would have done it.”

  Miss Hazel patted Sinead’s hand. “I do understand. I was just teasing you.”

  “So you’ll go for a walk with me? I’d love to get close to the hot springs, so I can find out what people need help with and actually help them. Unlike what Dr. Jenkins is doing.”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I promised Matthew I’d do my best to keep you out of trouble today.”

  Sinead frowned. “We could go to the train station and look for tourists who are there for the hot springs. I could help them before they ever even get to him.”

  “Another bad idea. You’re just full of them today, aren’t you?”

  “I guess I am. I want to do something. Sitting here is going to make me crazy pretty quickly. You’ve heard of cabin fever, haven’t you?”

  “I have, but I don’t think that’s what your problem is. Why don’t I go to the store and get some fabric, and we can sew curtains and table cloths? That will keep us busy and out of trouble.”

  Sinead wrinkled her nose, but nodded. “I have to go with you, though, because I’m not allowed to stay here by myself. What if something terrible happened to me?”

  Miss Hazel sighed. “All right. Let’s go. Are you taking your medical bag?”

  “Of course I am! That’s where my gun is. If we don’t find someone who can be a patient, I’ll just shoot a random person and then heal them.”

  “You have a warped sense of humor, Sinead Montgomery!”

  Sinead grinned. She did have a warped sense of humor, and she was mighty proud of it. She wasn’t sure why Miss Hazel thought it was a bad thing, but she loved it with everything inside her.

  Chapter Seven

  When Sinead and Miss Hazel reached the general store, Sinead immediately went to Amanda to see how she was feeling. The other girl nodded. “So much better. That herb you gave me has me feeling like myself again.”

  “I’m so glad!” Sinead squeezed Amanda’s hand. “Okay, I’ll shop then. Remember to come see me if you need me again.”

  “I won’t forget!”

  Sinead headed to the back of the store where Miss Hazel was already perusing the fabrics available. “I like this flowery print.”

  Miss Hazel picked up the fabric Sinead had indicated. “It’s nice, but with as light colored as it is, it’s going to show stains. That won’t matter on your windows, but it will for your table cloth. Maybe we could use a dark blue that matches this part of the flower for your table cloth and this for the curtains.”

  Sinead shrugged. She really didn’t have a lot of opinions on how a home should be decorated. “I think that would be fine.”

  “Sinead! Miss Hazel!” Claire, the bride who had come to marry Nathaniel, called across the store to them.

  Sinead turned with a smile. “Claire! I haven’t seen you since we got off the train. How are things going with Nathaniel?”

  “All right, I think. Still trying to get to know each other.” Claire had a hand over her eyes, shielding them from the light in the store.

  “Are you feeling all right? Is the light bothering you?”

  Claire shrugged. “I sometimes get headaches, and the light always makes them worse.”

  “I could give you something for that.” Sinead dug through her bag. “Well, I think you’ll have to come back to the cabin with me.”

  Claire frowned. “Sinead, are you carrying a gun in your purse? Whatever are you thinking?”

  Miss Hazel hugged Claire. “She’s thinking that she needs more patients, so she was going to shoot someone while we were out today. At least that’s what she told me.”

  Sinead made a face at Miss Hazel. “My life may be in danger. Why don’t you come back with us? I’ll tell you all about it, and I’ll get you something for those headaches. I don’t want you suffering with them if I can do something about it.”

  Claire looked relieved. “That would make me very happy. I don’t want Nathaniel to think I’m weak so I haven’t mentioned them yet, but this is the second day in a row I’ve had this headache, and my house isn’t as clean as I’d like it to be. I just can’t do as much when I feel so badly.”

  “I’ll help you!” Sinead happily linked her arm with her friend’s. “Want to give your opinion on the color of drapes I make? And the color of tablecloth I make to match?”

  Claire nodded. “I’m happy to.”

  Ten minutes later, the threesome was on their way back to the cabin Sinead shared with Matthew. Once they were inside, Sinead insisted Claire sit down so she could do a proper examination. She looked into her eyes, listened to her heart, and carefully pressed different places on her head to see if she could make the pain worse or better. When she was finished, she gave Claire a packet full of powder. “You’re going to want to brew this as a tea. Anytime you feel the headache starting, you should make it immediately. The most important thing with your headaches, though, is for you to lie down with a cool cloth over your eyes. It will make a world of difference.”

  Claire nodded. “As long as Nathaniel isn’t around, I’ll do just that.”

  Sinead sighed. “You need to swallow your pride and tell your husband about the headaches. Do you think he’ll like you less?”

  “I’m not sure what will happen, but I don’t want him to know.”

  “All right then. For now, I want you to go lie down on my bed with a cool cloth over your eyes. I’ll let you know when you can get up. Anytime the pain gets bad, come to see me, and I’ll help you.”

  Claire accepted the cool cloth Miss Hazel handed her. “Thank you.”

  Sinead nodded. “I wish you could talk to your husband about it, but if you can’t, then just come here. It’s not a problem at all.”

  “Sounds good.” Claire wandered into the partitioned off area to lie down on the bed, while Sinead picked up the fabric they’d purchased.

  “I’m going to start on the curtains,” she told Miss Hazel. “I’ve made curtains before, and I actually enjoy sewing.”

  “All right. I’ll start on the table cloth then. What are you planning to fix for supper?”

  Sinead shrugged. “I have no idea. Maybe pancakes and bacon.”

  Miss Hazel shook her head. “That’s what you’ve made for breakfast the last two mornings, isn’t it?”

  “Sure. But Matthew says I make them really well.”

  “You can learn to make something else tonight then. Why n
ot chicken and dumplings? I bought a chicken while we were at the store, thinking I’d teach you to make something out of it.”

  “That sounds good to me.” Sinead shrugged. “I’m not very particular when it comes to what I make for supper. I’m sure Matthew doesn’t care what he eats.”

  Miss Hazel shook her head at Sinead. “You need to work harder to fix him good meals, Sinead. He works hard all day, and he deserves it.”

  “Soon, I’ll be working hard too, and he already knows how to cook better than I do.”

  “That’s not the point.” Miss Hazel got up and walked to the ice box, removing the chicken. “We’re going to boil it first. Have you ever boiled a chicken?”

  Sinead sighed and put the fabric down, obediently wandering over to learn how to make chicken and dumplings. She didn’t understand why her career needed to take a backseat to Matthew’s career, but for now, she’d at least listen.

  An hour later, the chicken was boiling on the stove with spices, and she went to wake Claire. She put her hand on the other girl and said softly, “You can get up now.”

  Claire blinked a few times. “Headache’s still there, but lots better.”

  “Let me brew you a bit of the tea, and then I think you’ll be ready to go home.”

  Claire smiled. “Thank you for helping me, Sinead. What do I owe you?”

  “Not a thing. You’re my friend, and I’m happy to help you.”

  “How do you expect to make a living as a doctor not letting people pay for anything?”

  Sinead frowned. “I don’t want to take your money.”

  Miss Hazel called from across the room. “Her floor needs to be swept, Claire. Sweep and you can call it even.”

  Claire nodded, hurrying to the corner of the cabin where a broom was propped against the wall.

  Sinead started to argue, but the floor did need to be swept. She brewed the tea, and as soon as Claire was done had her sit down to drink it. “This doesn’t work for everyone, but if it works for you, I’ll make sure you have a good supply of it.”

  “I’m happy just to know about lying down with a cool cloth. That alone helps it some.” Claire smiled up at her.