by Cyndi Raye
“I’m happy! I went shopping with Miss Addie. She says we are going to have lunch with you. I’m hungry.”
“Well, then, why don’t you come with me so I can show you something amazing while Nurse Ellie sets the table.”
Betsy forgot about acting like a little lady and jumped up and down. “What’s amazing mean?” she cried out, clapping her hands together, unable to stay still for one moment.
The three adults laughed. Ellie took the basket from Miss Addie. “Care to join us, Miss Addie?”
The older woman leaned closer. “I’m afraid I’m in need of a small nap. This child is full of energy. I find I’m good for a few hours, but now I need to rejuvenate.”
Ellie watched as Miss Addie made her way across the street to her boarding house. She didn’t look a bit tired. As a matter of fact, she had a skip in her step that Ellie hadn’t noticed before. Perhaps the small child was good for the older woman. Or was Miss Addie so jubilant because she was instigating this whole thing?
Nurse Ellie told the others on the porch the doctor was taking lunch. “He’ll be back in one hour. You may wait patiently or return at one.”
There were a few grumbles as some of the patients got up to leave. A few stayed in their seats, not wanting to give them up in case someone else took it. Ellie smiled as she closed the door and turned the sign over. At least the medical office would stay busy through out the day with all the patients waiting to be seen.
Ellie proceeded to set the table, emptying the contents of the basket. She looked out the small kitchen window when she heard Betsy scream. It was not a scary, life-threatening scream but one of surprise.
A few chicken feathers flew through the air. Ellie ran to the door, peeking out as she watched Betsy chase two chickens around the yard. “Betsy! Stop scaring the poor things!”
James threw back his head and laughed out loud. “I think the chickens are bored. They were the ones who got her so excited she began to run around the yard and now it seems to be a game of cat and mouse.”
Ellie tsk, tsked. “Now, Betsy, come along, let’s get cleaned up for lunch. I thought you said you were hungry.”
“Oh, I am hungry. Can we bring the chickens in the house?”
Ellie looked at James with a smile. “It is a legitimate question.”
“You are kidding, I am hoping.” He turned to the child. “I’m afraid my patients won’t tolerate chickens. Some people are allergic to them.”
“What’s a-ler-chick?”
“It’s when a person cannot tolerate certain substances.”
Betsy’s bottom lip puckered. She tilted her head. “What are sub-stences?”
Ellie knew James was doing well with Betsy, but this would be a test to see if he had the patience for a small child. Even though he was an outstanding doctor and seemed interested in marrying her, she needed to know he would prove to be a good father. Betsy had to be loved by both parties in order for her to seal the marriage deal. The child had been through enough losing both her parents and then living in that home without love until she came along. Her vow to God above was to never let the child go unwanted again.
He proved himself as he got down to Betsy’s level and answered her questions as if she were one of his patients. Ellie’s heart kept melting each time James did something like this. How was she ever going to wait until their marriage to tell him how she felt?
“I think we can discuss this over lunch. Are you hungry, Betsy?”
“Yes, good doctor, I am.”
James grinned at Betsy knowing she heard those words from one of the townsfolk. There were many that called him the good doctor, even Ellie herself thought of him in that way.
“Well, then, let’s go eat.” He held out his hand to Betsy. She took it without a thought as he led her through the kitchen door.
Ellie waited to see if he lost patience with the child but as minutes passed, their lunch went even better than the episode in the yard.
The man was an incredible father figure.
He would be good for Betsy.
Later, as the last patient left for the day, Ellie pulled the blind and turned the sign over for the last time. She sighed, her shoulders no longer heavy with the burden of worrying if James would accept both her and Betsy.
She knew the exact moment when he stood behind her. Turning, her eyes scanned the room to see where Betsy was. She found the little child sitting in a corner, content as she stacked empty boxes, not paying attention to either one of them.
Ellie placed her hand on his cheek. “Thank you.”
“Did I pass?” he asked, his eyes so serious it took her back for a moment.
“What do you mean?”
“With her?” He nodded towards the child.
Ellie got up on her tip-toes and brushed her mouth across his cheek. Perhaps it was forward of her to do so but she couldn’t resist. Her tenacity to take action before thinking was one of the reasons she was labeled as unruly in Charleston. It didn’t seem to matter all that much here. “You passed. How did you know what I was thinking? That I wanted to be sure you would be a good father?”
He linked his fingers with hers. “You were watching me like a coyote watches his prey. Ellie, I don’t want to wait much longer. Let’s get married right away.”
Ellie placed her free hand over her heart, trying to keep it from beating out of her chest. “Right away?”
He nodded. “I want to be married before the week is out. How about Saturday?”
“Your Aunt Lucy wants to be here for the ceremony. Do you think that will be enough time to fetch Ben?”
“She told me before leaving she’ll be back Friday morning. That gives them enough time to get here for our wedding.”
Ellie tilted her head, staring up at the man she was about to spend the rest of her life with. “You had this all planned out? Does Lily and Ben know we plan to wed so soon? How will we get it all done by Saturday? They have to get the ballroom ready!” Ellie was afraid she’d panic after all.
He placed a finger over her mouth. “Shh, it’s okay. I spoke with Miss Addie early this morning. She was on her porch having coffee, as she is every morning before the sun is up. She said she’d schedule our marriage ceremony at two in the afternoon on Saturday.”
Ellie studied James. His dark hair was unruly, perhaps he hadn’t even combed it today. She reached up to push back the strays from his brow. “What if I had wanted to wait a bit longer?”
He shook his head, took a quick peek to make sure Betsy was occupied and landed a kiss on Ellie’s lips. His mouth was so warm and soft Ellie held her breath, wondering if his kisses would be the same after they were married.
“You came here to be my mail order bride. We probably waited too long. Most folks get married the moment the bride-to-be hops off the train.”
Ellie giggled. “Is that a fact, good doctor?”
He ran a finger across her chin, tracing the line of her bottom lip. “It’s the truth. For now, I’ll have to be content with another one of those kisses until then.”
“Perhaps one kiss.”
“Why are you kissing the good doctor?”
Ellie looked down to see little Betsy at her feet, her small hand reaching out to cling on to her gown. A puzzled look was on her face. She glanced at James who stood there grinning, his one brow raised. “Betsy, I have some good news.”
“You do?” She started to clasp her hands together when Ellie picked her up and set her on the doctor’s table. Betsy screamed in delight as she laid on her back and began to wiggle her feet. “Now you have to fix me!”
“Betsy, sit up here. Come along now, child.”
Reluctantly, Betsy sat up, no longer smiling. “Am I a bad girl?”
“No, no. We have some good news to share with you and want your undivided attention.”
Her little mouth began to form words but before she could get them out, Ellie jumped in. “That means I want you to pay attention to what we say, alright?”
&n
bsp; James stood behind Betsy, his arms crossed, a grin on his face. “You best tell the child the news, she is about to burst!”
“I’m going to burst open?” Betsy looked horrified.
“No, dear Betsy. You won’t. It means you are so excited you can barely contain yourself.”
“Oh!”
Ellie smiled at James, knowing the child would always be filled with questions. She loved how he was so patient with her. She took Betsy’s little hands. “Now, Betsy. You and I, we’ve come a long way from the orphanage, haven’t we?”
“I guess so.”
Ellie could see the girl was losing interest fast so she got right down to business. “James was kissing me because we are going to be married on Saturday. So he will become your father and I will be your mother. We will be a family.”
Betsy pulled her hands away and clapped them together. “I don’t have to go back to the orfin-ich?”
Ellie gave her a hug. “Never, darling. You and I will live here in the doctor’s house as a family.”
Betsy squealed in delight. She placed little hands around Ellie’s neck. “I love you, Nurse Ellie.”
“I love you, my Betsy.”
James took both the girl and Ellie into his arms in a big hug. “Until Saturday, ladies. Can we eat dinner now?”
They all laughed as they made their way to the kitchen. Miss Addie had sent so much food there was enough for another meal. Ellie had found a man who seemed to care for her even with her flaws and accepted Betsy as his own, even though he didn’t have to. What could ever go wrong?
<><>
Saturday came fast. Their wedding day went off without a hitch. Miss Addie had given his new bride a pure white gown to borrow. James pondered for a moment where the older woman may have gotten a wedding dress since word was she had never married. He pushed it aside as his new bride walked with him down the street towards the reception hall.
She was a beautiful bride. Their kiss had been short and sweet, but the look in her eyes told him they would truly become man and wife tonight after the reception was over. To be honest, James had no desire to mingle with the townsfolk. He wanted to take his bride home and have her all to himself.
Reverend Conner’s wife was a quiet woman who stood behind her husband as he got the ceremony under way earlier. James had watched as she had lifted a bouquet of flowers to hide the grin on her face. It had been the first time James ever saw her react to anything. She was always so stoic and serious.
Everyone in town and from miles around were here for the wedding. He had never seen Wichita Falls quite so populated. Patients he normally saw in their work clothes now wore their Sunday best. Men with striking hats tipped the rim as he escorted his bride to the hotel. Even Wichita Fall’s new neighbors in Mill Ridge decided to spend the day here for a wedding.
Then he saw Miss Addie and Ben’s wife Lily, making gestures to guests entering the ballroom. He grinned. Between the two ladies, they had indeed pulled it off.
Ellie gasped when she saw the decorated ballroom. “They did this for us?”
“It appears so. This town loves a party,” James told her. It was true. The ladies went all out this time. Streamers dangled from wall scones, long tablecloths covered huge tables that were filled with so much food there would be more than enough for everyone.
“Look at the cake!” Ellie cried. She had tears in her eyes. James reached over and wiped a tear before it slid down her cheek. “Mrs. Winters, don’t cry. This is supposed to be the happiest day of your life.”
“Mr. Winters, it sure is. I must speak with you about something that I’ve been holding in all week.”
James pulled her aside, against one of the far walls where they were alone. “What is it?” He was hesitant. Had she changed her mind? It was too late to do that, wasn’t it? They were married now. He was the decision maker and if she wanted out of the marriage, he could just refuse. Except in his heart he knew he’d give her whatever she wanted. Dread filled him up where he stood, frozen, waiting.
“James! Don’t look so worried. I’m not going to give you bad news.”
Relief washed over him. “That’s good to know. What did you want to tell me.”
She smiled at him. Her face lit up. Those lovely eyes glistened with tears. Then he saw it. The love she was trying to convey was right there on her face. How could she fall in love so fast? Maybe the reason was because he felt the same way. Just as fast as she had, maybe even more so.
“Ellie,” he whispered, his throat hoarse.
He didn’t wait for her exact words. James pulled her close and crushed his mouth to hers in front of the crowd of onlookers.
A few gasps rent the air. Ellie’s heart raced so fast against his he feared she’d pass out in his arms. Reluctantly, he pushed away, realizing he may have embarrassed his new wife.
“Couldn’t wait for the wedding night?” he heard one of his regular patients shout out.
“Aww, leave the kids alone. That’s what happens when you first get hitched. Got a little kick in your boots. Just wait. Ten years from now they’ll be wondering what the heck they were thinking.”
A few onlookers clapped.
“I’m sorry. I had no choice,” he said, his voice low for Ellie’s ears only.
She pulled herself together real fast. She looked at him and grinned. “Nurses know how to fix anything, even embarrassing moments. Let’s have some cake.”
Just as she promised, Ellie led the way to the decorated table a few feet away. She picked up the knife and smiled at the crowd. “Who wants cake?”
Chapter 7
Ellie was deliriously happy. How did all of this happen, she wondered. After the hospitals let her go, she honestly didn’t think she’d ever be this happy or blessed. “It’s been a few weeks since we were married, James, and I want to shout it out to the whole town of Wichita Falls how grateful I am to have found you.”
James wrapped his arms around her, placing a kiss on her forehead. “I think if you do that, Ruby will find another reason to throw a party. She’s had two other parties in the short time we’ve been wed.”
Ellie smiled up at him. Ruby did have a habit of finding reason for a get together. “I know but they do break up the monotony of everyday life, don’t you agree?”
She felt him breathe in her scent, nuzzling her neck before letting go. “The truth of the matter is I want to spend all of my free time with you and Betsy. I don’t need to go to parties.”
Ellie giggled. “Oh, James, you make me blush. But the gatherings are fun for Betsy. She thinks she is so special being able to stay up so late.”
James grinned. “You are right, I guess it’s not a bother to indulge with others. And yet, having a small child along gives us a good excuse to leave early.”
It was early morning, the two were in the kitchen when a pounding on the door shook the windows on the house. “Doc!”
Ellie bustled through the house, urgency in her step. The office wasn’t officially open for another hour and a half. Someone was in need and it was their job to serve the folks of Wichita Falls.
As she flung open the front door, the newspaperman stood there, fear mixed with urgency all over his face.
“What’s wrong, Daniel? Is Charity alright?”
Daniel, usually a confident man, began to pace back and forth. “I need the doc. My wife is going into labor. I don’t know what to do!”
Ellie reached for her wrap hanging on the hook. “Daniel, I’m going to help. Go inside and tell James. Have him drop Betsy off at Miss Addie’s boarding house first.”
“Wait, she needs a doctor not a nurse!”
Ellie raced towards the newspaper office, ignoring his statement. She let the estranged man standing there in the doorway, hoping he calmed down enough to go get James and follow directions.
Not many townsfolk were on the streets this early in the morning, but Miss Addie waved from her front porch as Ellie raced by. Ellie didn’t have time to chat. “Miss Ellie,
I’m going to help Charity. James will bring Betsy if that’s okay!”
Ellie didn’t stop to dally, the words flew out of her mouth as she lifted her skirts to hurry to the pregnant woman’s side. When she approached the newspaper office, it only then occurred to her the door may be locked.
Turning the knob, Ellie breathed a sigh of relief as she pushed her way inside.
The office was empty.
There was a door along the opposite wall so Ellie headed for that, opening it to reveal a staircase. She ran up the steps, calling out Charity’s name.
“I’m in here,” a pained voice cried out.
Ellie stopped in her tracks. Charity sat on the floor in a wet puddle. “Your water broke. Let’s get you up.”
“It hurts. I can’t seem to move.”
Ellie thought it was a good time to have some morphine to ease the woman’s pain but hadn’t thought far enough ahead to bring any along. Perhaps she’d have time to go for some later. “Can you latch onto my arm?”
“Daniel ordered me to stay sitting but I had such sharp pains that I had to get up and walk. Now here I sit, on the floor in a puddle of liquid!” Her voice shook, tears streamed down her face. The woman was too stressed.
“Let’s get you in bed.” Ellie spoke soft words to Charity, helping to relax her enough to get her up from the wet floor. A contraction hit right then as she clutched her stomach, sweat dripping from her forehead.
“Ooh, this is awful! I can’t take this pain!”
“You can, Charity, there is no other choice. Look at me. Remember how we breathed on the bench in front of the hotel? Do that now. Right now, Charity, focus.” Charity opened her eyes to stared at her nurse, mimicking her tiny breaths until the contraction subsided.
“Thank you. I need to remember to breathe. I remember now, the technique you showed me. I get so wrapped up in the pain.”
Ellie helped her to the bed. “Let me get this wet gown off. You stand still while I do.”
As Ellie worked the buttons, she slid the wet gown off and found a night dress for the mother-to-be. “Charity, you have to get a grip right now. There’s no time for worry. It is your job to bring a little infant in to God’s beautiful world. Can you do that?”
