She wondered, though, if this news would put an end to her work with the doctor. Mother would need her here to help with the house and garden. Sissy was only just getting to a place where she could do simple chores like shelling peas and peeling potatoes without tiring too quickly. She had trouble remembering things, and often garbled her words, but Christopher said that in time it would either straighten itself out or not. There wasn’t really anything they could do.
Tomorrow, she decided, she would go and speak to Christopher and let him know the situation. He would understand, and perhaps even have some thoughts as to how she could continue to work with him. Maybe on days when the men were home or Mara came to help, Deborah would be able to slip away and attend patients with Christopher.
To her surprise, however, Deborah didn’t have to wait until the next day. A knock at the door soon revealed the doctor himself.
He’d come to see Deborah, but she knew once he saw her mother’s cobbler, he’d happily postpone their courting.
“We’ve just heard the good news about the babies,” Deborah announced.
“And the bad news about me going to bed,” Lizzie added.
“Ain’t bad news if it keeps you and the babies safe,” G.W. added.
Mother nodded. “That’s right. Dr. Clayton, you just sit yourself down. I’ll get you a plate,” she said, getting to her feet. “I know you have a particular fondness for rhubarb cobbler.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Christopher agreed, taking a seat beside Deborah.
He was quickly rewarded with a heaping portion and smiled with great satisfaction as Deborah passed him the cream.
“If you’d timed your visit a little more carefully, you could have had supper with us, as well,” Mother told him.
“I’ll try to remember that next time,” he said, pouring thick cream on the cobbler.
“We were mighty happy about the news,” Arjan joined in. “Our Lizzie is having twins.”
Christopher nodded. “That she is.” He looked to G.W. “Many congratulations.”
“Thanks, Doc. I have to say, the news just about made my whole year.”
“I’m pleased to hear it.” Christopher dove into the cobbler and smiled with great satisfaction as he enjoyed the first mouthful.
“We will see to it that Lizzie spends her remaining confinement taking it very easy,” Mother added. “I hope you’ll give us any special instructions we need.”
“The important thing is the rest, which will lessen the strain on the uterus.” He looked around the table rather quickly. “Excuse me for being so blunt.”
“It’s not a problem,” Mother insisted. “We are all quite capable of hearing the truth. Rest assured, we shall watch over Lizzie with great care.”
“I’ve no doubt about that.” Christopher refocused on the cobbler.
Deborah watched him enjoy the dessert and took joy in his pleasure. It seemed it took so little to make him happy. She supposed that if she were to take her courtship seriously, it might behoove her to hone her cooking skills. Maybe staying at home was just the right thing to get Christopher more serious about their marriage. After all, he’d really not spoken of such things in months. Maybe he’d changed his mind.
She frowned. Would he tell her if he had?
Soon enough, the coffeepot ran dry and everyone, including Christopher, had enjoyed their share of dessert. Mother smiled as she got to her feet and suggested Deborah and Christopher might like to take a walk.
“Now that the sun is starting to set, the air won’t be so heavy,” she told them.
Christopher nodded and helped Deborah to her feet. “I had just such a thing in mind.”
Deborah didn’t even bother with a shawl. The heat would still be too much to have need of it. She made her way outside with Christopher and waited for him to point the direction.
They walked slowly, as if heading to town. Overhead, the large pines swayed in the light breeze. The air wasn’t nearly so humid, and Deborah breathed deep of the heavy pine scent. She had missed such things when she’d lived in Philadelphia.
“What are you grinning about?” Christopher asked, smiling.
“I was just thinking of how much I love it here,” she replied. “I missed my home when I was in Philadelphia. It can be overbearingly hot here, but so can the city.”
Christopher said nothing, and Deborah wondered if she’d somehow caused him to think of his own home. She moved the conversation on. “I suppose you realize I’ll be needed at home more now that Lizzie will be confined?”
“Yes, I suppose I do.”
They continued walking in the fading light. Deborah longed to take hold of his arm, but refrained. It seemed every time they touched, something stirred deep inside that left her with even greater longing.
“We shouldn’t venture too far,” Christopher said, turning back toward the house. “You never know what kind of trouble might lurk.”
“It’s true,” Deborah replied and quickly matched her steps to his. “But we needn’t rush.”
He smiled. “Trying to keep me out here, all to yourself?”
She felt her cheeks grow hot, but returned the tease. “Of course.
Isn’t that what courting couples do?”
He gave a low chuckle. “Some do much more than that.”
Now she really felt the heat on her face. “Dr. Clayton, what a bold thing to say. You have me blushing.”
Stopping, he stunned her to silence by taking her in his arms.
“Then this should positively turn you scarlet.” He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. For a moment, Deborah forgot where and who she was. She felt as if her heart was aglow – growing brighter by the minute.
Pulling away, Christopher had to steady her before she lost her balance. Looking up at him, Deborah could only stare openmouthed. She tried to speak, but the words seemed stuck in the back of her throat.
“I hope I haven’t offended you,” he said with a hint of a grin. “I’m not the least bit sorry I did that, but I would hate myself if I upset you.”
“I . . . uh . . . I just thought our first kiss would . . . well . . . be . . .”
“Be what?” He frowned. “Wasn’t it good? I mean, I liked it very much.”
“It was wonderful,” she managed. Touching her hands to her cheeks, she couldn’t imagine anything more delightful. “I suppose I didn’t expect it to be so . . . stimulating.”
He roared with laughter and swung her around in a circle. “You never fail to amaze me, Miss Vandermark. I’ve wanted to kiss you for a very long time, and while I know it’s completely inappropriate with the standards of proper etiquette, I want nothing more than to do it again.”
He stopped and lowered her back to the ground. His expression suggested he was seeking permission. Deborah nodded and closed her eyes. “Me too.”
CHAPTER 14
Christopher looked at the letter once again and felt the same sense of discouragement. His mother wrote to give him the news as she did every month, and it only seemed that things were worse than ever. Two of his brothers were in trouble for fighting. They’d been expelled from school with the suggestion that they were incapable of learning. The youngest two had caught the mumps, but were recovering. His father was his usual angry self, insisting his wife bring him liquor instead of food.
Daily he curses God, his mother wrote. He says such hideous things that I cannot bear to listen. I spend less and less time with him, and I know he hates me for deserting him. God is all I have to cling to these days.
Christopher could just imagine his father’s tirades. The man had given up what faith he’d had in God after the accident that crippled him; Christopher could still hear his father bellow, “God clearly doesn’t care about the likes of me and mine.”
He glanced back at the letter, and this time, his mother’s voice drowned out the bitterness of his father. I know these things will never change. I used to have hope that they would, but it takes too much of my strength. Christop
her hoped the money he sent would be enough to ease her burden, but that was foolish. Some miseries couldn’t be alleviated with money.
He pushed the letter away and stared at his empty coffee cup. Maybe it had been a mistake to come to Texas. Perhaps his mother would have fared better if he’d set up practice in Kansas City. Of course, that would have brought its own share of difficulties.
Pushing back his chair, Christopher stood. He reached for the letter and folded it carefully before replacing it in the envelope. He’d reply later tonight. It would give him time to consider what he wanted to say.
“Hello? Christopher?”
He smiled and cast the envelope on the table. “I’m back here in the kitchen.”
Deborah wasted no time in joining him. “How are you? I haven’t seen you for so long. Lizzie is doing well, but we’ve been so busy.”
Christopher picked up his coffee cup. “I think there’s still some coffee, if you want a cup.”
She shook her head. “No, I was just hoping to go with you on your rounds. In some ways, I feel like Lizzie’s confinement is my own.”
“It won’t be long. Besides, this is good practice for you. For you to tend an expectant mother is something that women will not balk at. Tending a woman who is to birth twins will be excellent to add to your list of experiences.” He put the cup on the counter. “Now, if you’ll give me just a moment to gather my things, we’ll head out.” She followed him from the kitchen and back into the exam room.
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No, most everything is ready.” Christopher went to the cupboard and pulled out several small bottles to put in his bag.
“I saw you had a letter on the table. News from home?” she asked.
He turned and looked at her with a frown. “Yes, but not as good as I’d hoped.”
“Oh, I am sorry. Can you speak of it?”
Deborah moved toward him, then stopped. Christopher thought she looked genuinely concerned. No doubt, she would ask him questions. He probably should have remained silent.
“It most likely wouldn’t help anything if I did.”
Her expression changed from concern to frustration. “You never talk about your family. You know everything about mine, and I know very little about yours. Don’t you trust me to be discreet?”
He considered her question. Perhaps now was the time to tell her the truth. “It’s not a matter of trust,” he began. “I suppose there are things about my family of which I feel guarded – though not because of any flaw of yours.”
Deborah moved a bit closer. “Christopher, we all have our secrets. I’m sorry if I made you feel bad for yours.”
Smiling, he reached out to touch her cheek. “I appreciate your understanding. In time . . . well . . . I want you to know.”
“Doc! Doc! Come quick.”
“That sounds like . . . ” Deborah jumped back just as G.W. limped into the room.
“It’s Lizzie. She’s having pain, and Ma says it may be time for the babies.”
“Goodness, she was just fine when I left to come here.”
G.W. looked at Deborah. “It started just after you left. She thought at first she’d just turned wrong, but the pain continued.”
Christopher grabbed his bag and motioned Deborah to the door. “Come on.”
They raced to the wagon, with G.W. doing his best to keep up with them. Climbing into the wagon seat, Deborah moved to the far side to give her brother room as Christopher took his place in back. G.W. managed to take up the reins and release the brake very nearly at the same moment.
He quickly turned the wagon and headed the team down the road, ignoring the greetings of folks who walked along the way. Christopher took hold of the back of the seat, and Deborah glanced over her shoulder at him. She looked worried. Knowing the truth about medicine was that way. She would have to learn to conceal her fears, or her patients would suffer. If G.W. hadn’t been there, he would have said as much, but the poor man was already a wreck.
The ride to the Vandermark place took less than half the time it would normally have taken. Despite the conditions of the road and other folks using the same path, G.W. managed to keep them moving. When they pulled up to the front of the house, he reined back the horses hard.
“Easy, G.W,” Deborah said, climbing down from the wagon. “Don’t take it out on the team.”
Christopher followed suit with G.W. beating him to the porch by inches. “She’s right, G.W. Don’t give in to worry just yet.”
G.W.’s piercing blue eyes fixed Christopher with a hard stare. “You will take care of her.” It was more a statement than a question.
Giving the poor father-to-be a brief slap on the back, Christopher smiled. “Absolutely.”
Rob had just finished loading the last of the logs onto the train car when he noticed Zed Perkins in the camp. Handing the mule team over to one of the other men, Rob went to where Uncle Arjan stood talking to the mill owner.
“Howdy,” Rob said, joining them. “Good to see you, Mr. Perkins.”
“You may not think so when you hear what I’ve come to say. I was just telling Arjan that my situation has changed, and I felt it important we discuss the particulars.”
Rob looked to his uncle. “In what respect?”
Mr. Perkins looked uncomfortable. “Well, the fact is I’ve been having a little difficulty with the banks. The money promised for the final steps of my expansion has been refused.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Would you like to sit and have a cup of coffee?” Uncle Arjan asked.
“Sittin’ in the shade would be good,” Perkins replied. He took off his straw hat and wiped his forehead with the back of his shirt sleeve. “Mighty warm today.”
“That it is.” Arjan led the way to where they’d had lunch earlier. The few campstools made a decent place to rest.
“I know this comes as a surprise to you,” Mr. Perkins continued, repositioning his hat. “It came as an even bigger surprise to me. I went to Houston, thinking I was securing the revenue needed for my mill, and instead, I found myself facing a bunch of two-timers.”
“How will this affect your plans?”
Tucking his hands deep in his coat pockets, Mr. Perkins looked even more distressed. “Well, the thing is, the situation has forced me to take on some investors.”
“Investors?” Rob questioned.
“Partners, actually. Look, I wouldn’t have done this if I didn’t have to. I want you to understand that up front. If there had been another way to manage things, I would have.”
“Zed, what’s the problem here? We have no say over whether you take on partners.”
Rob could tell the answer wasn’t going to be good. Mr. Perkins was nervous about the situation. He wouldn’t have taken all the trouble to come clear out here if the matter weren’t critical.
“I . . . well . . . ” Perkins fell silent, then drew a deep breath. “The fact is, I was approached by someone who had been here before – last year. Mr. Albright.”
Rob wasn’t sure he’d heard him correctly. “Stuart Albright? The fella that was supposed to marry Lizzie?”
“That’s right. He came to me with his father-in-law while I was in Houston. I don’t know how he knew about my troubles, but he did. They came to my hotel and presented their proposition.”
Arjan looked to Rob and then back to Zed Perkins. “Which was what, if I may ask?”
“They would provide the capital I needed for the final stage of my expansion.”
“No chance Albright was doing it out of the goodness of his heart. What do they get in return?” Rob asked.
Perkins looked at the ground. “I had to make them partners.”
“Partners?” Arjan questioned. “You mentioned that before. Are you saying they now own half the sawmill?”
“Only until I can pay back the loan. We agreed it would be a short-term scenario.” Mr. Perkins seemed desperate to ease their minds. “I had no other choice. Without the expansion, I
can’t hope to produce the promised lumber. I’m sorry if this is going to cause problems between us, but I’m hoping you’ll understand.”
Arjan put his hand on Mr. Perkins’ shoulder. “You did what you thought was best. I’m sure it will all work out.”
“That’s my prayer,” the older man said. “I never wanted to compromise our business dealings, however. That’s why I came to you today.”
“We appreciate your openness, Zed,” Arjan told the man. “I always like it best when folks deal honestly with me. We’ll let the family know what’s going on. I can’t imagine that we have anything to worry about. Seems to me that Albright fellow was all about making a dollar. If he’s that way, then your benefit will be ours, I’m sure. We’ll keep providing all the logs you need. Just let us know if anything changes.”
Rob heard the hesitation in his uncle’s voice, but he waited until Zed excused himself and headed back to town before asking about it.
“You’re lookin’ a mite concerned. Do you think there will be trouble?”
Arjan shrugged. “I’m not sure. Seems strange that Albright would even concern himself with this part of the country. Maybe he was intrigued by Perkins’s situation, but it just smells a bit sour to me.”
Rob nodded. “I agree. G.W. ain’t gonna like hearin’ about this. Not one little bit.”
“No, I’m sure he won’t, but we have to tell him nevertheless.” The train whistle blew and Arjan jumped up. “Come on. Let’s hitch a ride.”
Rob thought about Mr. Perkins’s announcement all the way back to the house. Perkins knew there had been bad blood between the Vandermarks and Mr. Albright. Seemed to lack consideration for his friends and neighbors that he would partner with the man, but Zed Perkins was obviously concerned for his own business.
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