Miss Thorne Blossoms

by Jordan Bollinger

  "Of course. You two sign the contracts in front of me, and then we need two witnesses to sign, as well. Then I can take it with me and have my clerk double check everything and file it before we leave town in the morning."

  "Thank you," Victoria said. "Then I...well...Neil will be able to begin working on the new surgery. Although, I have no idea where I'll be practicing come November first. Even with plenty of help, Mr. Stratton can't possibly finish an entire two story building, inside and out, in less than two months. And then, I'll need to equip it." She smiled, and said, "However, if we don't stop making alterations in the plans, it will never be started, let alone finished."

  "Well," Neil promised, "we'll walk the property line again, tomorrow, and make sure we like the placement. Then I'll go over the lists of lumber and hardware I expect to need."

  "I look forward to it." Dr. Thorne stood up and asked the judge, "Do you mind if I walk to the hotel with you? That way no one has to feel they need to accompany me later."

  "I'd be honored, my dear," the judge answered, holding out his arm.

  They both said their good nights' and left, before Gus and Neil helped themselves to more coffee. Then Gus looked over at Meg and said, "Do you think it will do any good?"

  "It has to, Gus. It has to."

  Chapter Seventeen

  Victoria and Neil went straight to the building lot when they left the restaurant after eating breakfast. Once Neil pretty much healed, he'd insisted on meeting the doctor for breakfast every morning and paying for it. He also joined her for dinner each evening. However, he didn't always win that battle.

  Stratton was pacing out the depth of the lot, as the doctor stood where she imagined the door to the surgery would be, when Brent Harding came out of his building, closely followed by his dog, and joined them.

  "Good morning," he said, cheerfully. "What's going on?"

  "I've lost my lease on the surgery. So," Victoria said, as happily as she could, "I've purchased this lot. And, Neil is going to build a new two-story building for me."

  "Two-stories?" Harding repeated. "What are you planning on doing, opening a hospital?"

  "No, of course not. Kit and I will be living on the second floor." She nodded over to his building and asked, "You live on the second floor of your place, don't you?"

  "Yes. But, I have a lot of books, so I've thrown several rooms together to create a large room to house my library. Other than that extravagance, I have modest living quarters. Just the kitchen, my bedroom, a small bedroom for my manservant, and bathroom."

  Neil walked over to the pair, and asked, "When are you going to start printing your newspaper? You've been here about the same length of time as I have. Surely you must be anxious to get started. I know I'm getting more and more eager to start building."

  "Of course, I am. But, I've had nothing but bad luck. I ordered my equipment from a firm in Germany—it's the most modern and innovative—and the ship it was being transported on sank. And then, the factory had a fire. So, I have no idea when I'll get my printing presses."

  Neil watched the dog relieve himself on the doctor's property, before he turned and eyed the other man, critically, but said nothing.

  "Bear!' Harding said, and he patted his thigh. "Sorry. I'll try to keep him off your lot."

  Victoria was smiling, as she told him, "Yes. Thank you. I'd appreciate that very much."

  "Did you hear that, Bear?" Harding asked his mastiff, as if it was a joke.

  Neil was tempted to ask the other man to clean up after his beast. Instead, he went back to his pacing off the lot length and let the doctor deal with Mr. Harding, since he appeared to need the attention.

  "Oh, how terrible...about your equipment, I mean," Victoria clucked, still scowling at the dog's mess.

  After a moment, she asked, "Isn't there anything you can do in the meantime? Rent presses from Chicago, or even purchase inexpensive ones to use in the interim?"

  "No," Brent insisted, shaking his head and smiling. "I'll be patient and wait for my beautiful, top-of-the-line presses. I've spent too much time planning everything out to just make do. No, I'll wait until I get them. I know just how I want things arranged in the press room, and the outer offices, and in my own personal office. Besides, the manufacturer is sending a man to me to set up the equipment and instruct any men I hire about how to use it. So, I'll wait for what I want. And, until then, I'll just spend my free time reading...and refining my plans."

  Neil glanced at the newspaperman as he walked the property and scribbled notes. Then he looked from Harding's direction, to the doctor, and announced, "I think I'll plan for a fence, as well."

  Harding, apparently decided to ignore this last comment. Instead, he turned to the doctor and asked, "Are you going to the church social next week?"

  "Oh yes. I'm hoping to meet some people I haven't had a chance to yet. As well as, have some fun, of course. Will I see you there?"

  "Yes. In fact," Brent said, smiling, "I was—"

  "I look forward to seeing you there," Victoria said, "and I hope your machinery arrives soon, because I'm looking forward to reading your paper. However, if you'll excuse me, I need to go back to the surgery."

  She looked at Neil and said, "If you need to ask me anything, we'll need to speak about it later. I just caught sight of Mrs. Williams riding into town with her husband, and I'm sure she's coming in to see me. Good morning, gentlemen."

  *****

  Victoria stepped out from behind the curtain which separated the examining room from the outer office when she heard the outer door open and then close, to find Neil standing there, grinning.

  "I can't wait to get started on the building. But," he asked the doctor, "that means we really have to finish up the plans tonight. As it is, even with Gus supplying the lumber and men to help, I don't see how we can get this completed before the end of October. Not unless we begin immediately. You'll be having consultations and treating patients in the hotel lobby or Meg Strong's back porch, if we don't get started."

  "Yes, I know. You're right. I must commit to a plan, so you can begin."

  "Good!" Neil responded. He looked like he was about to say more when the outer door swung open, and Mr. Brumbell stood silhouetted in the door frame.

  "Miss...I mean, Dr. Thorne, I wonder if I could speak to you for a moment?" he said, in a remarkably civil and modulated tone.

  "Ah...perhaps I should leave," Neil said.

  However, Brumbell put up his hand and said, "You're welcome to hear what I came to say."

  "Mr. Brumbell," Victoria began, "if you're here to consult me about a health issue, Mr. Stratton has no business being included. However, if you're here to give me more orders, I would, indeed, prefer he stays. That way I have a witness to any more of your bullying and threats."

  "I assure you, Dr. Thorne, I am here to neither bully nor threaten you. Quite the opposite, in fact."

  "Oh..." Neil said, as he moved to stand between the doctor and land baron.

  "Yes. I have come to realize I misspoke at our last...ah...discussion. When I purchased this property, as well as several others, it was with the understanding that the current leases be honored. When I'm wrong," he said, "I admit it." Although, his voice had become a bit higher and more brittle, he continued, "I was wrong to tell you that you have to vacate these premises by November first. You have another twenty-two months of Dr. Cooper's original lease. So, you only need to begin paying the monthly rent as of November first."

  "Ah," Victoria said, glancing at Neil, before she continued, "well, we have little a problem. You see, you served me with a notice of eviction. And, based on that, I have purchased land and am about to break ground on my own new surgery and residence."

  "But...but...you can't. We...we have an agreement." Brumbell stuttered.

  "I don't believe we do. At least," she insisted, "any more. You were most clear about me being out by November first. And, although you didn't inform me in writing, you did it in Mr. Stratton's presence."
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  Brumbell glared at them both and then said, "You're right, I didn't serve you any written notice. So, it's just your word against mine."

  "I suppose," the doctor conceded. After several moments of silence, she added, "Of course, we aren't the only two people who know about your previous visit."

  "What? What do you mean?"

  "I mean that I...we...immediately spoke about it to Gus Gunderson, and Meg Strong...and I believe," she paused, looked at Neil and added, "Sheriff Dunkirk was there, as well."

  Neil smiled in agreement and nodded, "Yes, I believe he was."

  "But...but...here I am trying to be nice...and you are saying you won't honor the remaining lease?"

  "I realize that, Mr. Brumbell." She gave him a sanguine smile and continued, "Now, I don't know if you spoke too early, or are now speaking too late. Nevertheless, I'll be happy to continue paying the rent, on a month-to-month basis, after October thirty-first—for as long I as I occupy the building. However, I wouldn't count on it being for another twenty-two months. In fact, it probably won't be for more than six months, at the very most."

  "But... Now, you listen here... I came here to do the right thing, and you...you are just being unreasonable. I expect you to honor the monthly payments, one way or another." Then he left, huffing and puffing, his pudgy, round face red and sweaty, slamming the door behind him.

  Victoria stood there with her mouth hanging open. "What do you think that was about?" she asked Neil, as he slid into the nearest chair.

  "I have no idea." He stared at the door before he turned and looking at the doctor, asked, "Don't you think his change of attitude is a bit odd?"

  "I do in indeed" she admitted. "Maybe the judge put a flea in his ear, before he left town?"

  Shaking his head, Neil argued, "No. Judge Preston notarized the deed transfer. He knew what you were planning. Even if he hadn't, I'm not at all sure he would have spoken to Brumbell. Not after we told him about the girls, and what we suspected."

  The doctor wore a pensive look, as she agreed, "Yes, you are most probably right. Still...it does seem odd."

  "Don't worry about it anymore," Stratton told her. "I need you to concentrate on your new building. We need to finalize the plans, so why don't we take the plans to dinner with us tonight?"

  "I suppose..." she answered, as she frowned at the door.

  Neil looked over and asked, "How was Mrs. Williams?"

  "She's doing fine. Although, I wouldn't be surprised if she had this baby a bit earlier than we'd figured. In fact," she added with a sly grin, "I wouldn't be surprised if she had twins. But, I didn't tell her that. She's excited enough about this baby. And, her husband, Jay, is even more anxious."

  "Well, I'll add them all to my prayers," Neil said.

  "Are you implying I'm not a good doctor?" Victoria asked, grinning.

  "No, of course not," he answered, before he realized she was teasing. "You know I have complete faith in you and your doctoring abilities. You made me a convert. However," he added, "praying couldn't hurt."

  "No, you're right." She brought out a pot of warmed over coffee, set it on the table, and asked, "Do you find it strange that Mr. Harding is so very willing to wait for this mysterious equipment before starting up in his business?"

  "Well..." Neil punted, as he poured out coffee for the both of them.

  "I mean," she continued, as she added cream and sugar to her mug, "it would seem to me that even if you were willing to wait to start up the newspaper with these marvelous, new, imported printing presses, things are bound to go wrong. At some point, something's going to need repairing, and I would think he'd want to have cheap presses as backup. So, him buying them and using them temporarily would at least get his business off the ground, and have backup equipment when the inevitable happens."

  "I agree. He's seems nice enough, although I hope he got the message about keeping his dog in line. Or, I really will add a fence around the property and send him the bill for the labor and supplies. I also wonder if he's serious about this newspaper, or if he just is wealthy and playing at being a businessman."

  "Yes," she said, thoughtfully. "I suppose he could just have money—or, perhaps he gets money from his family based on his 'startup business.' I grew up with such people. You know, their families have built their wealth on their sweat and the younger generation doesn't quite have the same work ethic. So, they make these elaborate business plans and hope that their relatives don't realize nothing is really happening."

  Neil looked over his coffee mug at her, cleared his throat, and wearing a silly grin, asked, "Ah...you do...you do realize he was working up to asking you to the church social? You know, as your official escort?"

  Victoria's head snapped up, as she said, "What? No...you must be mistaken," she argued, shaking her head. "Why would he?"

  "Do I really have to tell you 'why?'" Stratton asked, smiling.

  "What..."

  "He...he admires you," Neil stated. "You must have noticed how he's always so cordial to you. Haven't you?"

  "He's just as cordial to you," she insisted.

  Neil was taking a gulp of his coffee when she said this. And, the comment must have taken him off guard, because he choked on his coffee, and turned red, before he managed to say, "No, he isn't. Not at all."

  Victoria just smiled and shook her head. So Stratton asked, "My good doctor, you do still remember you're a lady? And, a most handsome lady, at that. Harding might be cordial to most everyone, but he is especially so to you. And, most warmly, at that."

  "I think you're being silly," Victoria said. "It's far more likely he just wants to make friends. After all, how many times have I come into the surgery and found the two of you talking?"

  "Oh, he comes in," Neil conceded, "but he's coming in to talk to you. You just have this uncanny way of never being here. Once he's inside, he can either lie and say he's ill, or pretend he's come for a chat with me."

  "I still say you're being foolish. Now, take my hand," the doctor instructed, "and squeeze it. And, as hard as you can—without actually hurting me."

  When Neil had done as he'd been told, she smiled and announced, "You are officially healed. So, now, you can to work on my new surgery."

  But he didn't release her hand.

  After a moment, as she extracted her hand, she said, "You know...I have been thinking that it still might be a good idea to have a...a night watchman, of sorts in the new surgery. So, I've been making a little adjustment without telling you."

  She spread out her copy of the building plans—which now barely resembled Neil's. "See," she said, as she pointed to a new ell at the back of the first floor, "I've added a little apartment. I know it's not much, and you have to share the surgery kitchen and bath. But, you have your own entrance and a little sitting room, besides the bedroom. I even thought you could have your own stoop."

  "When did you do this?" he asked, as he bent over the plans.

  "Oh, the other night. After all, where are you going to go, once we vacate this place?"

  "And, how," he added with a frown, "do you think the ladies of Manchester will feel about this...ah...arrangement?"

  "Nothing! I think it will be fine. After all, Kit will be living on the second floor with me."

  "I see..." Neil said. Then he shook his head and added, "I think this is something we need to give serious consideration to, before we do anything."

  "But," the doctor insisted, "you need to have a place to live."

  "I understand that. And, I thank you for the offer, even if nothing comes of it. However," he continued in a serious voice, "I believe we need to give this some more thought. What I will do is make sure I don't do anything that would make adding this apartment difficult."

  "I suppose I'll have to make do with that—for the time being."

  *****

  "So," Dr. Thorne began, as Ann refilled everyone's coffee cups, "what do you all think about Mr. Brumbell's sudden change of heart? And then, subsequent anger when I told hi
m I would not be staying for the remainder of the lease?"

  "I think the man is just mean-spirited, ill-tempered, and out to make as much trouble as he possibly can," Gus said.

  "Well," Frank began, in a tempering voice, "I'm not sure about that. Although, to be fair, he does seem to stir up a lot of emotions."

  "And, all of them bad," Gus added, shortly.

  "It just strikes me as odd," Neil insisted, "that he comes to say he was wrong and then becomes so angry when he discovers the doctor's taken him at his earlier word."

  "I agree," Meg added, "it's almost as if he wanted you to stay. But why?"

  "I see it differently," Victoria announced. When all heads turned to face her, she explained, "I got the idea he doesn't care about me staying here or not. It's more about preventing me from moving to the new lot."

  "But why?" Gus said.

  "No idea," the doctor answered, 'but he's not decided to extend the lease from the goodness of his heart. No, there's some other reason. A more sinister reason."

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jonah came into town the next day with a wagon load of lumber for the foundation of the new surgery building. There was a lot of discussion about adding a cellar. However, to excavate an entire cellar would have taken a least a week—probably more. So in the end, they decided to build the surgery as Gus' workshop had been—just three feet or so off the ground, and to dig a small cellar off the back.

  The two men unloaded the wagon, stacking the lumber carefully on the far side of the property—away from Harding's building. Then they measured and staked off the footprint of the structure.

  The plan was for several more of Gus' men to arrive the next morning and begin the footings for the building. Once that was done, they would help Neil with the basic construction. However, he would be doing all the interior work, by himself.

  Neil was anxious enough to get started, but the doctor was nearly jumping out of her skin. And he knew she wanted to be in on every step of the process, so of course, this was the morning Mrs. Williams' baby decided to arrive.