***
Sarah finished placing the small apple pie she had baked into her basket. She couldn’t believe that last Sunday Jenny had proposed a box lunch idea to the town. Yet here they were fixing to have their first ever box lunch in town. She had been excited all week wondering what she would prepare and who would purchase her basket. She had settled on fried chicken, mash potatoes and green beans. She would never admit to anyone that she hoped the good looking doctor purchased her basket.
“You are seriously going to do this?” Mary asked from where she sat at the kitchen table.
“Of course I am. You have to admit that it will be fun.”
“Sarah there is nothing fun about this idea.”
“You are telling me that you refuse to make a basket and participate?” Sarah came over to the table and sat her finished basket down.
“Why should I help this town raise money for anything?” Mary looked up at her. “The men will be purchasing the baskets and then the girl has to eat with that said man. Look I am forced to spend time with them in the saloon, but I refuse to be bought on Sunday by any of them.” Mary stood and stormed from the room.
Sarah stood there alone and realized Mary was right. She hadn’t looked at it like that and now that she had, the happiness inside her faded. Maybe she should just stay here today and avoid the whole box lunched thing all together.
Doris called out that it was time to head to church. She looked at her basket, picked it up and headed out of the kitchen to follow Doris to church. No she had given her word and she would not break it. Even if the thoughts Mary put in her head soured her mood.
She sat through the service barely able to concentrate on the sermon. Her mind kept wandering to the good looking doctor sitting up in the front pew with Clyde Washington. His kindness to everyone around him amazed her. She had never in her life met anyone as kind as him. Most people who were kind always had an anterior motive. Yet he seemed to not have one. At least not that she had discovered yet.
After services had ended everyone made their way to the room off the church. Instead of the usual layout for the potluck, the long tables held the decorative baskets. Butterflies took up flight in her stomach. This was it. Soon one man in the room would buy her basket and in a sense buy her for a lunch date. Until Mary mouthed off earlier she had saw it as innocent fun. Now it held something darker she couldn’t shake.
She took a seat next to Doris at the table they always sat at. Jenny Bennett stood up in front of all the baskets facing everyone. She was talking with Reverend Mitchell, their voices so low Sarah couldn’t hear them.
“Alright ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for participating in the box lunch. I am sure we can raise some good money for the new pavilion. So how this works is I will hold up a basket and if a man wants to eat what is inside then he calls out the price he will pay. If two men want the same basket then we will auction it off.” Reverend Mitchell said before he stepped away and left Jenny up there all alone with the baskets.
Jenny picked up a basket wrapped in red and blue plaid cloth. “I don’t know who made this but it sure smells good. Do we have a buyer?”
“I want it. I have a dime,” seven year old Bobby Smith called out.
“Well that basket is mine,” Mrs. Smith called out. She stood and went and retrieved the basket from Jenny. “Looks like I will be having lunch with my favorite little man today.” She handed Jenny the dime before walking back to where her son sat.
When Jenny stepped up to the basket Sarah had made, Sarah’s stomach began to churn. The other woman held up the basket and commented on smelling what might be pie inside. For a moment no one said a word.
“I want it. I’ll pay a dime,” Sheriff Jameson said.
Her stomach knotted inside. She had no desire to eat lunch with that man. He was a regular at the saloon and cruel as the day was long. She felt sweat trickle down the back of her neck.
“I will pay a quarter,” Matthew called out.
She let out the breath she was holding.
“I will pay two quarters,” Sheriff Jameson called out. She saw him smile at Matthew.
“I will pay a dollar,” Matthew called out.
“A dollar and the two quarters,” Sheriff Jameson called out. His smile getting bigger.
“Four dollars,” Matthew said.
She heard everyone around them gasp. Four dollars? That was a lot of money to pay for a simple lunch. Did he even know who’s basket it was? Maybe he thought it was Amelia’s and he was trying to ensure he got to eat lunch with her?
“That is more than I can afford. Looks like you win, Matthew dear boy.”
“Alright it looks like this basket is sold. Will the lady who prepared it please come collect her basket?”
On shaking legs, Sarah rose and went forward. She could fill the eyes that bore into her back as she walked to the front of the room. She took the basket in her hand and turned around. Matthew wasn’t far behind her, he reached where she stood and handed four dollars to Jenny who’s eyes where still the size of dinner plates.
Matthew led her to an empty table in the back corner of the room. When she sat down, she turned and saw Amelia glaring at her. Something triumphant sparked inside her. While she was sure Matthew hadn’t purchased her basket on purpose, it still felt good.
“I was beginning to think I was going to lose out to the sheriff,” Matthew said as he took his seat.
“There were still other baskets up there,” she said as she unloaded the basket onto the table. “Surely you could have purchased any one of them for less money.”
“Yes but I wanted this one,”
She stopped and cocked her head to the side and just stared at him. He laughed and leaned forward.
“I must admit we weren’t suppose to know who made which basket but I caught a glimpse of you working on yours when I came to the boarding house yesterday.” He leaned back in his chair with a wide smile on his face.
“I figured you would have wanted Ms. Washington’s basket.” She worked on fixing his plate, then handed it to him.
“She is husband hunting and I have no interest in a wife. Plus I enjoy the company of someone who is real, not fake and pretentious . I can get enough of women like that back in Chicago.”
They sat in silence as they ate their food. Once in awhile he would break the silence to compliment her on her cooking. She felt so bad that he thought she was real. No she wasn’t real at all. She was the biggest fake in the room and the good man couldn’t see it.
Chapter 7
Danielsville, Missouri May 1863
A couple of months had passed since he first arrived and Matthew truly felt a part of this community. The summer town picnic celebrations were being held in just a couple of days and he was excited. Once again, Amelia was trying to find a way to spend time with him. He had once again, tactfully, managed to dodge her advances. He wondered how much longer his luck would hold out.
He knew the box lunch event had hurt her feelings when he hadn’t purchased her basket. He doubted she knew that he had purposely purchased Sarah’s basket. Mr. Washington had even voiced his displeasure over the whole ordeal. After all, Mr. Washington seemed to fancy the idea of the two of them possibly courting. He was beginning to think maybe he wasn't chosen because he was viewed as a good doctor and asset to the community. It seemed more that he was chosen because he was viewed as husband material for the man's daughter.
The door opened with a jingle and he stepped into the foyer. Just inside the door stood two Union soldiers. They were holding up a very sick-looking young man. Motioning them to follow him, he led them to the exam room.
"What happened to him?"
"He’s burning up and not breathing well," one of the soldiers said.
Matthew went to work, examining the young man. He was feverish and drenched in sweat. Listening to the man breathe, Matthew could hear the man's shallow breaths. The raspy rattling sound in the man's lungs worried Matthew. Pneumonia could
be deadly. Needing to remove the excess fluid, he went to the medicines on his counter and located the mercury and antimony. Grabbing two empty bottles, he poured a small amount of mercury in one and antimony in the other. Turning back to the soldiers, he handed them the bottles.
"Give him a small amount of antimony to induce vomiting in the mornings. At night, give him a small amount of mercury." He looked down at his patient. "If he is not getting better, come and get me in a couple of days."
The men grabbed their friend and together, supported his weight as they left. He hoped that the medicine worked and that it was not too late. Pneumonia was one of the deadliest of diseases. He would have preferred to keep the young man here and monitored him at least overnight. However, he could not guarantee the man's safety. Especially after the failed attempt to gain control of the Union fort out near Patterson. He had heard several men talking and complaining about how the raid had failed. The Union soldiers had fled and then the Confederate General Marmaduke had returned to Arkansas, leaving the Union soldiers to take back control of the fort. He was a doctor and would treat any man, woman, or child from either side. However, he knew the way people thought and behaved enough to know they would storm his office for the young man. He was safer back at the fort, guarded by his fellow soldiers.
He was cleaning the exam room when the door jingled again. Dropping his rag on the exam table, he went to the foyer. Jacob stood just inside the door. He had looked for the man for several months to no avail. Now here he stood, and Matthew wasn't sure he wanted to go asking questions of this man.
"I saw them there Yankee leavin' 'ere." He said nothing more and didn't make a move to come any farther into the room.
"Yes. They had a sick fellow with them that needed a doctor." Matthew stared at the large man. A feeling of unease settled in him and he wished he had not left his weapon upstairs. He may have vowed to do no harm, but he was no fool. There was a war raging across the land and no one was spared the nightmare it brought.
"You patch him up?"
"Yes, I did. The best I could. Do you have a problem with that?"
"Nah, no problem."
"Jacob, why don't you come upstairs and I will fix some coffee? Maybe we can have a chat?"
"Now why would I be doing something like that?"
"Well, you came in here. So unless you are sick, I figure you came to talk." Matthew turned and started up the stairs. Midway up, he stopped and looked back at Jacob. "Well, come on, old man."
A strange laugh escaped the man. When he stopped laughing, he followed Matthew upstairs. Matthew put a pot of coffee on as the man sat at the small kitchen table. They were both silent until the coffee was finished. With the coffee served, Matthew looked at Jacob and raised one eyebrow. He hoped the man would actually tell him something that made sense and not any of the usual ramblings.
"It seems strange to me that you would help that Union soldier and be working for the devil himself. He is true to the Confederate."
"You keep calling Mr. Washington the devil. What has the man done that makes you hate him so much?"
"The question you should be asking is what hasn't he done. That list would be shorter." Smiling, he bobbed his large head.
"Everyone in town seems to love and respect the man. You are the only one who has a problem. So, Jacob, why don't you tell it straight?" Matthew was beginning to suspect that Mr. Washington's list of sins were all in Jacob's head. The man seemed to be a bit unhinged.
"You want facts, why not ask those brides of the devil himself? Ask them what a great man he is?"
"What brides?"
"Those women over at the boarding house. Those ain’t no ladies there. No shuree, those there are saloon girls." He took a sip of his coffee then stared down into the cup. "He tricked those girls into coming here. Then put ‘em to work right there in the saloon. He does it all sneaky like though."
"The women have never said one word to me."
"Why would they be telling you? You work for the man. How don't they know that you won’t run back and tell on them? It ain’t love or respect they have for the man. It is cold, hard fear." He stood and downed the rest of his coffee. Setting the cup back on the table, he turned and headed back downstairs.
Matthew jumped up. The chair crashed to the floor as he rushed to chase Jacob. He made it to the stairs just as the man was going out the front door. Shocked at how fast the big burly man could move, he headed back to his small kitchen and poured another cup of coffee. Could what Jacob said be true? Could those women be saloon girls? He had never once seen them enter the saloon or leave it. He knew he couldn't come out and ask them or Mr. Washington. No one would tell the truth. He also couldn't just walk up into the saloon. His contract stated that the saloon was off limits during his term. The only thing he could do was hide in the shadows and watch the back door to see if any of the women from the boarding house entered the saloon.
Even if they did work at the saloon, what business was it of his? He was hired to provide medical care for them, not judge them for their choice in how they earn their wages. Jacob had said they were tricked into coming here. Now that meant something entirely different. If he could prove they worked there, he could confront them and if needed, help them. That was, if they wanted his help.
Leaving his living quarters, he headed to the general store. Once inside, he headed to the wire office located toward the back of the store. The man looked up at him and smiled.
"I need to send a telegram to John O'Brian in Chicago."
"Yes, sir. What would you like it to say?"
"Mr. Clyde Washington is a fine employer. I am very happy with accepting the job offer. How is Ronny Drew doing?"
He paid the man and left to head back home. The code at the end was one the brothers always used to signal something was wrong. He knew John would know he needed information. Out of all his brothers, John could ferret out information on anyone. That ability made the man a successful Pinkerton detective. Now all he had to do was wait. One way or the other, Matthew would know the truth about his employer and the ladies at the boarding house.
Chapter 8
Matthew sat in his private quarters unsure what to do with his day. The town council decided to call off the summer picnic celebrations in light of the war raging on around them. So many lives were lost on both sides, and he wondered if there would be anyone left alive by time it was over. So far he had not receive any news on his two brothers who were fighting in the war. He often wondered how they were fairing. His mother would remind the family time and again that no news was good news. Unless they heard otherwise, they were to continue on as if both boys were doing well.
He had looked forward to a day of celebration, a day to escape the reality of the war. Now there was no celebration. No escape. Even though it was a Saturday, he was not required to provide medical services at the boarding house due to the holiday. He wondered if he would be turned away if he decided to pay a visit to Sarah. Ever since Jacob told him that the women worked at the saloon, he had thought to stand outside and watch to see if they arrived. Each night he couldn't bring himself to do it, though. Maybe somethings were better left unknown.
Leaving the building, he walked past the saloon and wondered what really went on inside beyond swinging doors. He decided to put everything Jacob said to rest. The man was unstable and there was no credibility to what the man said. With that, he continued on to the boarding house. Despite the cancelation of the celebrations, there were several people out and about, going about their business. Children played in yards and women sat visiting on porches. All in all, it was a beautiful day. The war had not touched this very small community of God-fearing people. How long it would last he was unsure. He prayed many times that the Union soldiers at Fort Benton would leave, and then this place would possibly remain untouched. The attempted raid on the fort had gone terribly wrong, but at least no lives were lost in its failure.
Stepping up to the door, he grabbed the brass knocker and
waited. After a few moments, he grabbed the knocker and knocked harder. A few moments later, Doris answered the door. Her eyes grew wide when she saw him standing there.
"Miss Doris, I have come to call on Sarah."
"Doctor O'Brian, that is absolutely not possible. Now go away."
She moved to close the door, but he stuck his booted foot out quickly, stopping her progress. "Please. Just a short visit in the drawing room should be considered proper."
"The women who board here are not allowed gentlemen callers. Now please, you need to go."
Nodding, he turned and walked away. The fear on her face struck him as odd. Frustration he could understand. After all, he was sure many gentlemen have tried to call upon the beautiful women who lived there. Keeping the rules intact must be a difficult job for her. However, fear wasn't what he expected. What could have her so frightened at the prospect of him calling upon Sarah?
***
"Doris, was that Dr. O'Brian?" Sarah stepped into the foyer.
"Yes. I sent him away."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because this wasn't a professional call. He came to call upon you."
It warmed her heart for a brief moment. The gorgeous doctor was interested in her. That warmth was replaced by the feeling of icy fingers trailing down her spine. Shivering despite the heat of the day, she eyed the closed door. Nowhere in her life was a gentleman caller permitted. She remembered how the last doctor went away without a word. He had tried to help them, then grew distant. And he vanished not long after that. She didn't believe that the man left town of his own accord. No, somewhere in the vast emptiness around the town, she knew the man had met his fate. The same fate the good doctor would face if he got too close to her.
The Devil's Bride Page 4
