by Stephy Smith
The man nodded, permitting Lizzie and Frank to enter the grounds. Large, white columns and two winding stairways led to the second floor balcony, which stood prominent and proud. Frank followed Lizzie around to the stables where another man met them at the door. Dismounting, the man ran to Lizzie. He almost knocked her over with his affectionate hugs. He whirled and took the reins, tipping his head as he led the horses to the stalls.
“Abel can’t talk or hear. He’s worked here the longest. Father took a liking to him when he was young and gave him a name. He was living on the streets along with all of the employees. Mother took Abel under her wing and taught him to tend the horses and gardens. He has a heart most people envy. When he learned of my parents’ deaths, he broke down. I had never seen a man hurt as deeply as he was.”
Taking hold of Frank’s arm, she led him into the mansion. The house cleaner’s deafening shriek sounded throughout the house. “Miss Lizzie’s home! Miss Lizzie’s home!” She ran to Lizzie and hugged her. Tears ran down her rounded cheeks. Three more women and a man ran into the room. All embraced Lizzie.
“This is Frank Walling. He’ll be staying with us. We have been told we’re needed to help take care of the sick.”
“I have a fresh pot of tea. Why don’t you two have a seat and we’ll fill you in on what’s happening with the sick?” a thin, older woman said as she proudly walked out of the room.
The elderly man held his arm out to Lizzie. A woman not much older locked her elbow with Frank’s to guide him to the dining room.
Holding the chair for Lizzie, Frank gazed in amazement at the beautifully decorated room. The molding of roses framed the ceiling that stately held a large chandelier in its center. The windows were dressed in velvety blue drapes that pooled on the floor. White marble fireplaces with gold line swirls adorned the ends of the room. A large family portrait hung above one mantle, and a gold framed mirror above the other.
“Frank? Frank?” Lizzie’s voice broke into his thoughts. “Would you like to sit down?”
“Yes. This place reminds me of my parents’ home in Texas. It’s nice, large, cozy, and friendly.”
Lizzie pivoted back to the cook, who set the tea on the large oak table. “Now, Polly, what’s going on?”
“Cyrus went for Doc. There are several families scattered all over town inflicted with this dreadful disease. We have all taken our turns to help out,” Polly said.
“Isn’t there a hospital here?” Frank asked in earnest.
“No. Mrs. George was trying to raise money to build one, but then tragedy took her life. Everyone lost interest. The thought died with her.” Polly ducked her head as the words faded.
A few moments passed before Cyrus and Doc strolled in. “Doc, what would you say if I offered rooms in the mansion for a makeshift hospital? That would confine the sick and we wouldn’t be running all over town to help with them. It would also contain the illness to one place.”
“Are you sure, Lizzie? You need to think about what you’re offering here,” Doc said.
“I don’t need to think about it. So many rooms aren’t in use at present. We can stay on the second floor, including you. It’ll be easier to cook and clean one place as to many different places.” Lizzie searched for support from the staff.
“I vote we use it as a hospital. Lizzie’s right, Doc,” Frank said. “Remember how much easier it was to tend the wounded during the war? Here you’ll have a more stable environment to work in.”
“This is true. What do the rest of you think? After all, this is your home, too.” Doc shifted to the help.
“I’m all for it,” Polly said. “I wouldn’t have to worry about the soup getting cold when delivering the food.”
“Or the linens getting soaked from the snow and rain,” chimed Mary, the laundress.
“I can tend the visitors and keep records of the patients,” Cyrus said.
“Then it’s settled. Let’s get busy moving personal belongings to the second floor. Cyrus, take Oliver and Jonathan in the wagon and bring the sick here. I’m sure we have enough night clothes to dress them in when theirs are being washed,” Lizzie said.
Overwhelmed at Lizzie’s selfless act, Frank observed in stunned silence. She was so much the things he heard about her mother. It made his heart swell with pride. This unbelievable woman lived on a mountain, toughened by the ruggedness, prepared to die for her land, hunted and grew her own food, and dedicated her home for a hospital without blinking an eye. A day didn’t go by that she didn’t amaze him with her kindness or her fierceness. He never tired of her surprises.
Soon, the mansion was buzzing with voices and excitement as the group pitched in to convert the lower floor into a makeshift hospital.
Coming upon Lizzie, who’d changed into a light pink blouse and skirt, Frank kissed her cheek.
“What was that for?” she asked.
“Just for being you,” he said as he went on with his work.
She stared after the man she’d thought lost his mind. She reached for her cheek and sentimentally rubbed the kiss deeper into her skin.
“The patients are arriving, Miss Lizzie.” The call from Cyrus echoed down the hall.
Lizzie met the men at the door, “Take Mrs. Johnson into room one, and Jamey Roberts in room two,” she said as she led the way, pointing to the rooms as she called out the numbers and names for Cyrus to start his list of where each occupant would rest.
The next load came in. “Mr. Carpenter in room three, Johnny Green in four, Harold Williams in five, and Laura Stone in six,” Lizzie called out. “How many more do we have coming in?”
Doc set up his office in the front library. “We’ll have five more coming in tonight,” he said.
Frank helped the men change into bedclothes and put them to bed. Water was carried into the rooms and filled basins on bedside tables. Lizzie watched him perform his task. Not one complaint came out of his mouth as he hurried from one place to another. This was the first sign of real life she’d seen in Frank. Furthermore, he seemed to enjoy it.
Polly fluttered in the kitchen, cooking up a nice deer stew. Mary was busy changing the bedclothes and placed clean nightclothes in each room. She barely kept ahead of the quick-filling rooms.
“Frank.” Lizzie’s voice echoed down the hallway.
“What do you need?” His bright smile threatened to send her mind places it didn’t need to visit.
“There’s a storage building with a few chairs. Can you find someone to help you bring them in and place them in the rooms with the patients? Their families will need places to sit when they come to visit.” She touched his arm and stood on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek.
The large living area converted into a waiting room where the families with ill loved ones could venture out of their rooms. The dining room transformed to a cafeteria for families who wanted to eat with the sick.
The last three empty rooms all had double beds and Frank partitioned them off with changing screens for added privacy for families who wanted to stay over.
Doc was, in fact, making his rounds with renewed energy and happiness. Frank mentioned the lightness in Doc’s step and jovial attitude to Lizzie. They stood together to observe Doc as he gallantly walked from room to room.
“Doc needed a sense of belonging, and he is definitely feeling it now. Thank you.” He shook his head in wonderment. Polly stuck her head around the corner and called for Frank’s assistance to retrieve some large pots she couldn’t reach. Then, he headed back to the storage room for more chairs.
Mary and Lizzie were busy beating the dust off the backs and seats when Frank entered the storage building. Their smiles and giggles increased when they saw him. The two women had the room filled with dust. Frank’s laughter brought the women’s attention to his sturdy frame blocking the doorway.
His arms and broad chest filled out the doeskin shirt of her fathers. Lizzie sucked in a breath as she gazed when he heaved a clean chair and disappeared again with his laughter fa
ding through the open door.
“You are a lucky woman, Lizzie, to have a man who loves you as much as he does you.”
“He doesn’t love me. We just came to an unspoken agreement to get along.”
“That’s bull mush. That man loves you, I’ll bet my life on it. Furthermore, you love him, and the sooner you both own up to it, the better you both will be.”
“I wish it was that simple. He just got out of the war and was on his way home to Texas. He has family there and he wants to return to them.” Her voice was low and broken.
“Lizzie, I’m telling you, that man ain’t going to leave here without you. He’s in love with you. Open your eyes. Sure, he may want to go see his family, but he doesn’t want to leave you to do it.”
“Mary, are you married?” Lizzie lowered her head. What kind of employer was she? Any employer in their right mind wouldn’t have locked herself away from such wonderful people. Look at them now, helping her transform their home into a hospital. Gladly giving their time and energy to help her, and she’d abandoned them when she needed them most.
“Yes. I have two children. Boys, they’re the spitting image of their father.” Lizzie couldn’t miss the love and pride in Mary’s eyes and voice. Her opportunity for a life such as Mary’s would never come about.
“When did you marry, and who is he? Do I know him?”
“Abel. We were married right after your parents died. We tried to tell you, but you were in such a state. I guess we forgot you didn’t know since you spend your time at the cabin.” Mary’s forgiving hand jutted out to pat Lizzie’s arm.
“Abel? From the stable?” Lizzie’s jaw dropped.
“Yes. He has learned to read and write. He works so hard with the horses. People from all over town bring their horses to him when they get sick or need shoes replaced. He takes a portion of the money and we buy the kids clothes, shoes, and food. The most part of it goes into the mansion account.”
“Why the mansion account? Why don’t you keep it all? Abel is the one doing all the work. He deserves to keep it.”
“Abel said it was only right to help support the mansion since the mansion gave him a life off the streets. He tends to your family’s graves and won’t let anyone else help except our sons, Samuel and David.”
“You named your sons…” Lizzie fought a gulp.
“After your father? Yes, and if this child is a girl, Abel wants to name her Elizabeth Ruth, after you and your mother.”
“I, I don’t know what to say. I’m flattered.” Lizzie hugged Mary. “Congratulations on the new one. I can’t wait to meet the boys.” She fought the tears threatening to reveal her guilt of ignoring her friend’s lives. A wave of remorse flooded across her rattled soul.
“I don’t hear two teenagers in here beating the stuffing out of chairs and giggling. Where did you two send them off to?” Frank forged ahead for more chairs.
Mary and Lizzie glanced at each other and flailed away at the next two chairs. “Are we full yet?” Lizzie asked.
“Doc said there’s one more due to come in. He said it was Mrs. Garrett. Word spreads fast around here. People are walking in the front door to see Doc for everything from infected splinters to black eyes. I think you hit on something here, darling. Before you know it, you will have the money to build the hospital your mother was working for.” Frank’s eyes gleamed with appreciation.
Motionless, Lizzie paused, and then spoke. “You’re right. We can call it the Abel George Foundation. What do you think?”
Mary’s mouth flew open and her hand twisted the ribbon on her dress. Tears rolled down her cheeks and, once more, she reached out to hug Lizzie. “Wait until I tell Abel.”
“No!” Frank said. “How about letting him pull the cover to reveal the sign and surprise him? Do you think he would like that?”
“Do you know how much money he put into the mansion account? We’ll use that to go to the new hospital. We’ll have more parties like mother had to raise money to help fund it.”
“Sounds to me like we’re all going to keep busy for a long time.” The twinkle in Frank’s eyes as he leaned down to kiss her cheek again caught Lizzie’s heart.
He hefted another chair to take with him. Mary held Lizzie by the arm. “I told you. The man’s in love with you. You need to talk to Doc and listen to the man. He’ll tell you of Frank’s turmoil. You helped him put that behind him and gave him a chance for a future.”
Arm in arm, the women walked back to the mansion with their own little secrets embedded in their souls. They passed through the door smiling. A slew of welcoming people greeted the pair.
“What’s going on?” Lizzie asked.
Stacks of linen, nightclothes, blankets, and baskets of fruit and vegetables lined walls as town people came in to donate items to the hospital. Volunteers signed up to sit around the clock with patients. The aroma of home baked cookies and bread filled the mansion. Jars filled with money sat on tables.
Lizzie threw her hands to her face. Frank stood beside her to steady her wavering stance. She choked back her emotions as more and more citizens entered through the doors of the mansion. Her composure returned long enough to thank each person properly.
Mary busied herself finding homes for the items in the pantry and laundry room. Lizzie glared at Mary’s back when she obtained the opportunity to escape the crowd and left Lizzie to face the town people. Mary deserved a break to digest the news she had to keep to herself until the time was right.
Doc found the couple relaxing at the dining table. A kerplunk echoed when he sat in one of the chairs. He glanced over at Lizzie. “Thank you for bringing me life.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I was lost. I didn’t have a sense of belonging anywhere. You gave that to me this afternoon. You and Frank brought me a life I haven’t seen since before the war.”
Lizzie suspected Mary had put Doc up to the confession. She could see the clear, crisp honesty in Doc’s eyes and knew Mary couldn’t have prepared the words to say. Doc was speaking from his heart.
The front door opened, and Lizzie held her breath, wondering who the next family to fall victim to the disease would be. Lizzie put a smile on her face and walked to the lobby with Doc and Frank following behind her.
Five strangers froze in the foyer; tears slid down their cheeks as a cold swoosh passed between Doc and Lizzie. Frank and the strangers embraced, hugged, kissed, laughed, and touched each other’s faces. Tears ran and non-stop chatter filled the area. A tantalizing fear crept down Lizzie’s spine.
She glanced at Doc in confusion. Doc leaned down and whispered in her ear, “One good turn deserves another. That’s his family. They came here to see him. I wired them on his whereabouts. We’ve been planning this for days. I just didn’t know they would arrive on such a momentous day.”
Lizzie stood on tiptoes and kissed Doc’s chubby cheek. “What would I do without you, Doc? I know you’re the one who brought the trunk to the cabin.” She winked.
Chapter Eleven
“Lizzie.” Frank motioned for her to join the celebration. “Doc, you too. Mom, Dad, this is Elizabeth George and Doctor Elijah Simpson. This is my mom and dad, Doctor Bart and Hannah Walling, my brother Marcus, and sisters Jean and Betty.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Frank slid his arm around Lizzie’s waist. She held out her hand to his family. “Welcome to our home.”
“I have two rooms upstairs ready for Frank’s guest. Abel is bringing in the luggage. He’ll carry it to the rooms. Frank, would you like your brother to room with you?” Mary diverted her attention to the opened front door. Frank moved swiftly to help Abel with the luggage.
“Would you care for something to eat?” Polly’s happy voice came from behind Lizzie. The family accepted the warm, fresh cooked food after the long trip.
Abel and Frank managed to haul the luggage up the stairs. Frank joined his family in the dining room. He sat beside Lizzie with his arm draped across the back of her chair.
In the span of a few days, the comfort had returned between the couple.
Lizzie held back her amusement. She wondered if anyone else had noticed Betty and Doc eyeing each other. Adoration beamed in their eyes as they stared, oblivious to the rest of the family sitting around them. Betty propped her elbow on the table and let her chin rest in her cupped hand. Doc’s head tilted to the side, his mouth slightly open. The conversation at the table never broke the trance between the two.
“I’m sure you’re exhausted from the trip, as we are from the day of opening up the hospital. We should call it a night and visit tomorrow,” Frank said.
“I agree wholeheartedly, son,” Bart said. “Mother has had a long day. She didn’t think the train moved fast enough.”
On the second floor landing, they bid each other good night.
Lizzie sighed. A comfortable peace fell over her as she thought about the day’s accomplishments. Pride filled her heart. The staff had made the project a big success and she mentally adjusted their incomes with a bonus for the extra work. Weary legs carried her to her old room where the feather mattress invited her worn out body to rest. She lay down and drifted to sleep.
The new day brought the newly born atmosphere of life to the mansion. Dr. and Mrs. Walling found their way to the dining room where Frank and Lizzie sipped cups of coffee over a light conversation.
“Good morning, Mom, Dad.” Frank stood and held the chair for his mother. His dad patted him on the back, then Frank kissed his mother’s cheek. He took his seat next to Lizzie. “Our day has been calm this morning. No new patients anyway. I would take you and show you the town, but I’ve never seen it.”
“We would love to help here in the hospital today if you’ll allow us to do so.” Dr. Walling raised his brow.
“Yes, and Betty has her heart set on becoming Dr. Simpson’s nurse.” Hannah gleamed.
“Betty? A nurse? When did this happen?” Frank asked.
“Jean, too. They attended school together and are now certified nurses. Marcus is studying to become a children’s doctor.” Hannah straightened with pride.
