Mercy's Gift

by Cyndi Raye

  “What if the pastor can’t marry us on Sunday?”

  Frank shook his head. “That is not a possibility. I’ll tell him if he doesn’t marry us, we have to live in sin. Then I’m sure he’ll get the job done.”

  “So, are you saying it is a job to marry me?” She looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. Frank was not much of a joker. He was a serious doctor who needed to relax and laugh more. He was the kind of man who got things done in an orderly fashion. He liked to be in charge and move mountains.

  Today seemed quite different, even with the upsetting incident earlier. Mercy was surprised when Frank looked at her and piped out, “Ah, Mercy! We can’t get married. I already have a job, and two jobs is way too much for me to handle.”

  She was going to answer his retort but instead burst out laughing at his remark. Soon, the four of them walked towards Mercy’s house laughing so hard a man grumbled from behind. Mercy looked back to see Old Man Parson walking down the street, his cane keeping him steady, although steady to him looked awfully wobbly.

  She stopped to let him catch up. “Mr. Parson! I’m so happy to see you out in the sunshine.”

  “Where do you see a sun? There’s nary a ray of sunshine in that miserable sky!”

  “Well, sir, it depends how you look at things. Would you care to walk with us?”

  “I’m fine as dandy by myself.”

  Mercy knew how to handle him. She’d be sweet and kind no matter what he said. If it got out of hand, she always reminded him she spoke to him because she wanted to and that usually softened him a bit. He was such a sour apple at times. “I’d like to introduce you to the new doctor in town. This is Dr. Frank Mason. He’ll be standing in for Doc Roberts a few days a week.”

  Frank held out a hand. Parson lifted heavy lids to stare point blank at the doctor. “A doctor, eh?” The old man’s shaky hand reached out to meet with Franks. Mercy let out a small sigh. That was a relief. At least he was being slightly cordial today.

  “Yes, sir,” Frank told him, using a loud even voice. Right away Mercy realized that her husband-to-be knew how to deal with old, grumpy men. He had even raised his voice to accommodate the man’s loss of hearing.

  “Well, you got a bunch of patients here in town who say they’re sick, but they just take time away from those who are. Be careful, doc, or you’ll be treating people without ailments.”

  Frank nodded at his advice. It was almost as if he was truly paying attention to the old man’s every word and taking him seriously. “Thank you for the tip. As a physician, I noticed your hands, Mr. Parson. I believe I have some ointments that may give relief to those painful-looking knuckles. May I come over in an hour to give you an examination?”

  The old man was clearly surprised that anyone took an interest in his wretched, crippling fingers. He was quiet for the first time since Mercy got to know him. This was highly unusual. “Mr. Parsons, I’ll come along if you’d like. I’m going to be Doctor Mason’s nurse.”

  The old man stared at her. “I’d say you’re more than his nurse.” He shrugged bony shoulders. “Sure. Why not see what this young quack can do?”

  Mercy looked at Frank trying not to grin.

  “We will see you then.” Frank held out his hand again and this time the man gave it a good shake.

  He nodded to Frank. “Don’t be late!” he grumbled, right before he walked off in the direction of his home.

  Mercy watched him shuffle his feet. “I’m sorry about the name calling, Frank. He’s a bit vicious with words.”

  Frank held out his arm for her to take. “No need to worry. I’ve heard worse in my four years in medical schooling.” As they walked, he told her stories of terrible patients at the hospital there.

  When they got to Mercy’s house, she showed Martha and Carson where to put their belongings. It would be nice to have the company, she thought. Although, after Sunday, she hoped to be married and living with her husband. She hoped the pastor felt the same way and didn’t insist they wait to marry. With Frank’s tenacity, she was pretty certain he’d talk the pastor into marrying them on the spot.

  A smile slipped across her face.

  Things were finally falling right into place.

  And she was falling more and more in love with the man who always had her heart.

  Chapter 8

  “Martha, will you be okay here for a few minutes? I want to go with the doctor to exam Mr. Parson.”

  While Martha worked in the kitchen to start the makings of supper, Frank and Mercy went to see the old man. They had to walk by the mansion, so Frank instructed her to stay close and not to look towards the house.

  Frank noticed Deputy Will on his horse, tucked away in a small alley off of Tall Pine Lane. He was relieved to know the sheriff took the threat seriously and had a man watching the old place.

  With Martha and her son staying with Mercy, and now Thomas being watched, Frank was able to relax his mind to concentrate on his job. He tried to hide how worried he was for Mercy’s sake. Frank had looked into Thomas Rider’s angry eyes. He wasn’t right in the head. Last year Frank had to do an internship at The Institute of Philadelphia Hospital for the insane. It was a large farm and he had spent every single day there for two months. He felt like he knew a little bit about the insane from those months.

  The sad part was many of the patients weren’t really insane. Frank had tried to speak with other doctor’s about his diagnosis, but he didn’t get too far. Most of the elderly were put there since they were poor and had nowhere to go. He had met grumpy men like Mr. Parson who were in pain, not demented.

  The worst of the patients, the ones who were truly insane, had the same look in their eyes as Thomas Rider. Empty. Cold. Evil. He pulled Mercy closer. They had to get rid of this man who was now living in their town.

  But, how? Could they throw him out of town for shouting at a women?

  Would a woman’s claims hold up in front of a circuit judge? Even if they did, it may be a year before one came through their small town. Where would this man go? To another town to create havoc for others?

  Frank knew it was his duty to examine the man. If he proclaimed him insane, it would get him off the streets of Belle. He would speak to Doc Roberts about it when the elderly doctor came into town on Saturday.

  “Here we are,” Mercy said, pointing to old man Parson’s house. The old man was sitting on the porch waiting.

  “Just what I suspected.” He pulled a stop watch from his pocket, his hand shaking worse than before. “You’re late!”

  Frank held out a hand. “Better late than never. Shall we go inside and take a look at those hands?”

  Mercy helped him up, holding onto his arm as they made their way inside. Frank noticed the old man had a decent view of the whole street from his window inside. He had the old man sit at the table while he did a thorough exam. “That’s quite a view you have.”

  Parson nodded. “It is if you’re interested in what’s going on outside, which I’m not!”

  Frank almost laughed. He took the old man’s wrist to check his pulse. “Ever see anything strange going on at the old mansion?”

  His pulse quickened. Strange, Frank thought, since Parson just said he had no interest in looking outside. This meant he did look outside all the time. He probably had nothing better to do since it was undoubtedly painful to move much at times.

  “The times I do have to look out, the only strange thing I see is the owner. He’s an odd bird.”

  “He is that,” Frank agreed. “Will you do me a favor and let us know if you see anything odd or anyone there that shouldn’t be there?”

  The old man nodded. “Heard the gossip in town already, doc. Wish my hands didn’t hurt so much, I’d fire my old six-shooter at him the next time he stands on the edge of his property staring at the ladies as they walk down the street. Although it hasn’t happened in a day or two. Guess that’s ‘cause everyone knows he is a snake in sheep’s clothing.”

  Frank looked at Mercy
to find a surprised look on her face. She spoke up. “Mr. Parson, that’s the most I’ve heard you say in a long time.”

  It’s because they were making him feel needed. Just asking him to keep an eye on his next-door neighbor made the old man a part of something important. Frank opened the medical bag he set on the table when they first came in and took out a tin. “I’m going to put some of this on your hands for now. It should give you some relief right away.”

  “What’s that, doc? You get that from one of those traveling medicine shows? It looks like something that quack had when he came through last year, selling wondrous nostrums for female complaints and other gregarious nonsense!”

  Frank tried not to laugh at the old man’s choice of words. “I promise you it isn’t from a traveling medicine show. This is liniment for Rheumatism and Catarrh.” Frank showed him the lid.

  “C-a-t a- what? I can’t even spell that word let alone say it. I’m pretty sure I don’t have that!” He pulled his hands back.

  Frank reassured him. “Mr. Parson, Catarrh simply means an inflammation, mostly from congestion.”

  “Are you sure?” He squinted at the tin sceptically.

  “I assure you.” Frank wondered what he’d say when he gave him some Willow Bark to chew on. He rubbed the ointment on his knuckles where he noted the worst of the arthritis was. “If you do this twice a day, it will give you some relief. It’s not a cure, but along with the Willow Bark, you’ll start to feel better.”

  Frank pulled out a small sack with several pieces of the analgesic.

  The older man’s eyes got huge. “What in tar-nation is that?”

  “It’s Willow Bark. You chew on it. I promise it will relieve the pain.”

  Mr. Parson shook his head, letting out a big laugh. “Chew on it! You are a quack! Your ointment is soothing my hands but now you have me chewing on tree bark! You may be worse than old Doc Roberts!”

  Frank didn’t budge from his treatment. “I promise you will feel better. We have to go, but remember what I said. Chew on that when your hands get to feeling poorly and rub the ointment on tonight before you go to sleep. I’ll be back to check on you tomorrow.” With that, Frank closed his medical bag and nodded to Mercy. He knew it was time to leave quickly before more questions were asked and the man would reject everything.

  They made a quick exit. As they walked back to Mercy’s house, her shoulders began to shake again. When Frank looked at her, the laughter in her eyes had him letting out a burst of laughter as well.

  They passed the mansion, not even bothering to look that way. They were still laughing at the old man’s reaction to modern medicine.

  When they got back to Mercy’s house, Martha had supper ready. Frank ate heartily and enjoyed his evening. They sat on the porch sipping lemonade Mercy had made earlier in the week.

  He hated for the night to end. Martha and Carson had gone to bed. Frank stood. “It’s time for me to go, Mercy. Thank you for a lovely evening.” With that, he wrapped her in his arms and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth.

  She sighed.

  He took in a deep breath.

  “I can’t wait until Sunday,” he murmured, stepping away. “Go on inside and lock up.”

  He hated to remind her she wasn’t safe outside by herself as the serene look on her face fell. “I almost forgot about that man.”

  “I know, but we can’t forget. I’m afraid he is a danger to you and other women. I believe the Sheriff is taking care to make sure he doesn’t bother anyone.”

  “How will he do that?”

  “ A good, old fashioned talking to, I assume.” Frank wasn’t sure it would be enough.

  “I hope so. Good night, Frank.”

  “Good night, Mercy.”

  Her soft voice stayed with him even while he watched through his window during the night. If he had to stay up until daylight, he was going to make sure Thomas Rider didn’t bother her. Ever.

  <><><>

  Frank had gone to see Mr. Parson first thing in the morning. The ladies were still setting up his shop, doing last minute preparations for when it opened on Saturday morning. Doc Roberts was planning on stopping in when he returned from an extended fishing trip with his housekeeper Mabel.

  When the townsfolk found out Frank was opening his own practice, several townsfolk visited to make sure they would be able to be seen. They wouldn’t believe he was opening a new clinic until they saw it with their own eyes.

  “I’m amazed at how many people stopped in today,” Martha announced. “It’s like a door that never closes today.”

  “Everyone is just curious.” Mercy was trying to keep her mind on her work. It was so difficult because hopefully Sunday would be her wedding day. She had been secretly working on adding some lace to one of her good gowns to make her walk down the aisle. She even made a thin veil for her hair.

  Martha stopped what she was doing and stared at Mercy.

  “What?”

  “I don’t believe you have your mind on your job at all, do you, Mercy?”

  “Oh, Martha! I’m so excited and scared at the same time.” She put down a vial of laudanum Frank instructed her to keep on the top shelf. “What if I don’t please my husband? I’m not sure what to do.”

  The other woman gave her a reassuring smile and a hug. “The love between you and the doctor is so strong that no matter what, it will all work out. It’s a natural thing that occurs and you can’t be frightened of it.”

  “Still, it worries me.”

  Martha smiled. “I wish I could reassure you that it’s a wonderful experience, but I did my duty and produced my son. At first, my husband was sweet and kind and I enjoyed the marriage bed with him. Later, when he began to drink more, it was awful. I’m not a good person to discuss these things with.”

  It was Martha’s turn to be hugged. Mercy held her for some time until one of the neighbors started towards the doctor’s house. “I’m so sorry you had to go through what you did, Martha. I will pray you will find happiness with someone soon.”

  She shook her head vehemently. “There’s no way I want another relationship. Ever! My son will be enough for me. Now, let’s see who is here this time.”

  They spent the rest of the day putting finishing touches on the office to open first thing in the morning. Tomorrow would be a busy day. Even so, Frank kept finding patients along the route from Mr. Parson’s house who claimed to need help right away. He had made three house calls by the time he got back in the late afternoon.

  “I think we are going to be quite busy tomorrow,” he noted, sitting at the head of the table. “Mr. Parson is almost out of his ointment, too. I promised him I’d stop after the office closes for the day.”

  Mercy looked up from her plate of leftover chicken and dumplings from yesterday. It was easier to heat it up since they had so much to do. “Seems like an awful lot of ointment to use up so quickly.”

  Frank shook his head. “Mr. Parson had the idea to double the dosage since I told him twice a day. He figured if he put it on four times, it would work twice as fast.”

  Mercy grinned. “I believe we have our hands full with Mr. Parson.”

  Frank agreed. “I told him I’ll make one more trip there and then he has to come to the office for more. That way he will walk every day. Part of his problems can be solved if he is more active.”

  “Getting exercise sounds reasonable,” Martha chimed in.

  She had almost forgot Martha and Carson were sitting at the table. Her eyes had been on Frank ever since he got in the door.

  An idea arose. She wanted Martha as her next-door neighbor when she married Frank. “Martha, I’d like it if you stayed on at my house after my marriage to Frank. Aren’t you renting your house from Chester Reynolds, our banker?”

  Martha nodded. “I was worried about paying the rent since it is due soon. I only have half.” Then she burst into tears. Frank was quiet while Mercy gave her a hug. When the woman was done sniffling, her son slipped from his chair a
nd hugged her waist. “It’s okay momma. Don’t cry.”

  She quickly sobered, making sure to give her son a great smile. “I’m sorry, Carson. I’ll bet you are excited about going fishing next week.”

  His head bobbed up and down and his good arm went in the air as he pretended to hold a fishing pole. They all laughed to change the mood.

  Mercy took her new friend aside. “We’ll work out details later, Martha. I’ll help you move all your things early in the morning and get you settled here. I promise you won’t be charged an arm and a leg. Plus, now you have a true job and can pay your own bills. This is truly a wonderful life.”

  Martha smiled but it didn’t reach her eyes. Mercy knew she was worried and didn’t blame her. The prospect of raising a child alone had to be hard.

  Frank sat on the porch with her later that evening before he headed home for the night. “It’s such a clear night, Frank. Look at the stars peeking through the trees.”

  “Shall we take a short walk?”

  They walked to Main street and back, enjoying being the only ones out. The sheriff’s office was closed for the night. Mercy glanced toward the mansion when they got back on Tall Pine Road but it was dark inside. She didn’t want to think about that man tonight.

  Frank dropped her off at her front door, reminding Mercy to lock up behind her. She gave him a sweet kiss and waved goodnight. From the corner of her eye she thought she saw a shadow and gasped. Then she discounted it when she looked again to see nothing but a small bush in her neighbor’s yard.

  “Everything okay, Mercy?” Frank was attentive to her every move. She was glad he was going to be her husband.

  “I guess I’m still not quite back to normal after the Thomas Rider scare. He hasn’t bothered anyone today, and I swore I saw a shadow. I think it’s only that bush over there.”

  Frank ordered her inside while he investigated. She didn’t obey, peeking her head around the corner of the door while he crossed the yard. When he came back with the good news no one was out there, she felt quite silly. “I’m sorry. I guess it’s time for me to get some sleep.”