“Son, I’m crying because I’m so happy you’re alive. Dr. Sutton is one of the best doctors in New Orleans, and he’s going to get you up and around before you know it. Then you can come home with us.”
His father leaned over and grasped Stefan’s shoulder. “We know the extent of your injuries. The doctor told us that your hat protected your head from the heat and flames, but where were your gloves? They would have protected your hands.”
Stefan searched his memory for what had happened. “I remember taking them off to get my jacket off to beat the flames in the wagon. I did feel the heat on my face and hands, and flames did hit the side of my face as I fought.”
“Taking them off is what caused the injuries on your hands, especially your right hand.”
Stefan glanced down at the bandages covering that hand completely. The fingers on his left hand extended from the gauzed wrapped there. If the burns were that bad, what use would his right hand be? The pain in his cheek reminded him of the burns there, and he winced. What kind of scars would be left to endure?
“You do know this is going to end your military career. I’m more than sorry about that, but it’s to be expected with the injuries to your hands.”
Stefan choked back a sob. Discharge from the army had been inevitable, but no one had spoken of it before he left the fort. To hear it now from his father’s lips added to the despair gnawing at his gut. If he didn’t have the military, what did he have?
A doctor edged his way to Stefan’s bedside. “Hello, Lieutenant. I’m Dr. Sutton, and I am going to get you up and about in no time.” He turned to Stefan’s parents. “You may want to leave the room for a few moments. I’m going to take off the bandages to check the wounds. The bullet wound is healing well. His chart tells me that only soft tissue was damaged with no major blood vessels, organs, or bones affected. I’ll know more after I check it all.”
Mother opened her mouth to protest, and Stefan almost laughed when his father clamped his hand on her arm. “Not now, my dear. Let’s go into the hall and wait for Dr. Sutton to call us back.”
Trust his father to spare his mother any more grief. After they disappeared into the hall, another doctor who had remained to the side, his back to Stefan and his parents, turned around and stood beside Dr. Sutton.
“Hello, Stefan.”
Stefan gasped and shook his head. “Andrew? What are you doing here?” He hadn’t been an imagination or hallucination after all.
After a cursory glance through the envelopes and finding them all addressed to her father, Molly tossed the mail on the entryway table. It was still too early to expect a letter from Stefan or her mother but she could always hope. She laid her purse and gloves aside and turned toward the kitchen.
Three figures stepped in front of her. Her two youngest sisters stood with hands on hips and frowns rearranging their mouths. Danny stayed behind them, but from his expression, he was none too happy either.
“Now, why all the glum faces? Did I forget something?”
Alice huffed out her breath. “You sure did. You’re supposed to take us out to the ranch. Aunt Hannah and Aunt Ellie said we could go out there and ride horses today.”
Danny nodded his head at such a rapid rate, Molly feared it’d come loose. “You sure did, Molly, and it’s not fair for you to go running all over town and not take us. Why didn’t you get Clara to fetch the mail?”
“I’m sorry, it did slip my mind.” She grinned at them and picked up her handbag. “Okay, then let’s go. If we hurry, we can be there in time for lunch.”
Clara pushed through the door from the kitchen. “I was hoping you’d remember, so I have the wagon all hitched and ready to go.”
“Well, aren’t you the smart one.” She herded her brother and sisters in front of her. “Let’s hurry along now and take advantage of Clara’s thoughtfulness.” Maybe a good ride out to the country would take her mind away from Stefan and the uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right.
The girls all chattered away in the back of the wagon, but Danny rode up beside her. He didn’t talk all the way to the Gordon home. Molly cut her eyes to gaze at his profile. When had he grown up? He may be only twelve years old, but already he was as tall as Molly and Clara and needed only a few inches to catch up with his brother. His arms had begun to fill out and weren’t the scrawny ones of last year. All too soon he’d be a young man and not a little boy any longer.
Molly sighed and glanced over her shoulder. At least the youngest of her sisters still had her childhood. Their innocent giggles and whispers filled her heart with love. If she moved away to be with Stefan, she’d sorely miss them, but then she’d start having babies of her own.
Heat rushed to her cheeks. She shouldn’t be thinking such things. She didn’t even know if Stefan still cared about her, much less wanted her for a bride. Best not to get too far ahead of God with her dreams and plans.
When they pulled into her aunt’s yard, Grace ran from the house to greet the girls with Joel, Joshua, and Jeremy close behind. That meant Ellie had arrived, and Molly savored the opportunity to visit with her teaching partner.
Grace hugged Molly around her waist. “I’m glad you were so brave and saved Starlight. I couldn’t stand the thought of losing him.”
Molly hugged her cousin. Bravery had nothing to do with it really, but Grace’s gratitude helped with the bad memories. “I’m glad, too. He’s a beautiful horse.”
Molly led the girls to the barn and the horses there. Clara waved to Molly. “You go ahead and visit with Hannah and Ellie. I’ll take care of the others.”
Molly laughed and waved back. Not until then had she noticed Clara had worn her split skirt for riding. No wonder she had been anxious to get started. Her sister was almost as crazy as Grace about horses.
Hannah and Ellie waited for Molly on the front porch of the huge ranch house. At two stories high and on a slight hill, it rose with majesty and dignity. Mrs. Gordon joined her daughters-in-law and greeted Molly with a hug.
“How are you doing, my child, with your mother gone?”
“We’re getting along fine. Haven’t heard yet from Mama, but we should have a letter soon.” Molly returned the hug and followed the ladies into the house.
Leather chairs sat on either side of the stone fireplace dominating that side of the room. The stairs to the second floor rose from the center of the expanse, making a nice divider between the parlor and dining area, which had ample room for the ever-growing Gordon clan.
Hannah and Mrs. Gordon headed for the kitchen to finish preparations for lunch. “Shouldn’t we go help them? I hate to come out here and then do nothing to help when I brought five extra mouths to feed.”
Ellie shook her head. “No, I’ve already tried. They shooed me out of the way. I did bring dessert, so that will be my contribution.”
“I hope it’s some of your berry cobbler. I saw an abundance of the berries last week when I was out riding.” Ellie had a magic touch when making pastry. Her crusts were so flaky and tender they all but melted in one’s mouth.
“It is, and I made plenty. We even have fresh cream for it.” Ellie leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. “Tell me how you are since that business on the
Fourth.”
Had it really been only a little over a week since the incident in the livery? “I’m fine, really. In fact better than fine. That little scare made me realize how unrealistic I’ve been about guns and such. That was what kept me from giving my love completely to Stefan. I couldn’t stand the thought of him in the military.”
Ellie’s eyes sparkled, and she grinned. “And now?”
“I’ve already written to him and told him of my change of heart and how much I want to be with him no matter where he is or what he does.”
“I’m so proud of you. Takes courage to admit you’ve been so wrong about something like that.” Ellie rose and came over to hug Molly.
“We’ll see. I haven’t heard back from him yet, and it may be that he doesn’t care for me that way at all.” She had to accept that possibility, but if that last kiss was any indication then he loved her as much as she loved him. The days ahead loomed as eternity. When would she hear from him again?
CHAPTER 29
STEFAN PEERED AT Andrew as Dr. Sutton completed his examination. What was the meaning of Andrew’s presence? He hadn’t answered Stefan’s question, and wouldn’t look at him. Instead Andrew concentrated on everything Dr. Sutton did as he removed bandages.
“Andrew, why are you here? Why aren’t you in Stoney Creek?” Stefan winced as more bandages came off his burns.
Dr. Sutton stopped and glanced from Stefan to Andrew and back again. “You two know each other?”
Andrew nodded. “Yes, Lieutenant Elliot and his family visited Stoney Creek a few weeks back and we became acquainted then.” He glanced down at Stefan. “I’ll explain what I’m doing here after Dr. Sutton is done.”
“I see.” Dr. Sutton continued his examination. “You have what we call second-degree burns on your face and hands from the heat of the flames. You’ll have scars, but I’m more concerned with your right hand. It’s had more severe burns that have damaged your fingers.”
Stefan’s heart pounded against his ribs and bile rose in his throat. “Exactly what does that mean?”
Dr. Sutton placed his fingertips on Stefan’s chin and turned his face to have a better look at the burns there.
“That depends on you, young man.” He touched the area around Stefan’s right eye. “I’m going to remove this patch from your eye. Tell me what you see.”
Stefan braced himself against the removal, but the gentle touch of the doctor lifted the bandage with no pain to Stefan. He blinked his eye and hazy images formed, but no focus. “I see color and shapes, but nothing clearly.”
A grin spread across the doctor’s face. “Excellent. That means your eye wasn’t damaged by the burns. The burns are mainly confined to your right cheek below the eye and down onto your neck.”
“But I can’t see anything but blurs and haze. How can that be good?” Stefan continued to blink in an attempt to focus.
“Your vision will return. I’ll leave the patch off now, and possibly by the end of the day you’ll see more clearly.” He turned to the nurse who had come back to the bedside. “I need new dressings for the bullet wound.”
She nodded and left to fulfill his request. “I’m going to leave the burns on your face uncovered for now and let them heal, but we’ll keep a close eye on them to make sure no infection occurs. Your left hand is healing well, but your right hand needs the bandages.”
Stefan nodded as the doctor explained. That right hand was the main cause of his discharge from the service. Disappointment and pain clogged his throat. Not a physical pain, but one of failure. Of what use would he be to anyone with a hand that couldn’t control a rifle?
While the doctor and nurse tended him, thoughts and images raced across the windows of his soul and collided with such force they scattered like leaves in the wind. Nothing came together except the fact he would no longer wear the uniform of the United States, and could not carry on the legacy of his father and grandfathers before him.
The one image he refused to acknowledge was that of Molly. He’d be of no use to her now, and the less he thought about her the easier it would be to forget her. What had once been a bright future lay dark and hopeless in the ashes of his injuries. He reminded himself once again that she deserved more than a scarred face and a crippled hand.
As the doctor completed his work, Stefan stared at Andrew, still seeking answers, but Andrew remained silent. Stefan clenched his teeth then relaxed as that action sent needles of torture to his face. “Are you going to tell me why you’re in New Orleans? Does Clarissa know?”
Andrew blinked and nodded. “As soon as Dr. Sutton is done, we can talk.” He glanced at the doctor. “If that’s all right with you?”
“Yes, I’ll go out and speak with his parents then you can rejoin me for the remaining rounds.” Dr. Sutton turned and headed for the door.
“All right, I guess you do deserve an explanation. I had no idea you were here, and I’m deeply sorry for your injuries.”
Stefan opened his mouth to ask again about his presence, but Andrew held up his hand. “No, don’t talk. Just listen. We have only a few minutes before your parents return. Neither they nor Clarissa know I’m here. Dr. Whiteman secured permission for me to come here and meet with Dr. Sutton about the possibility of my serving on the staff at Charity. Since I didn’t know how it would turn out, I didn’t inform your parents or Clarissa. If things do work out, I’m hoping to seek your parents’ approval to ask Clarissa to be my wife.”
Stefan’s eyes widened. If Andrew moved to New Orleans, then his parents shouldn’t have any objections to the relationship. “That’s splendid, Andrew. When will you tell her?”
“As soon as I know more about my duties and responsibilities here and if it’s what God wants me to do.” He cocked his head to one side. “Mrs. Whiteman is in St. Francisville with her mother. Does she or her family, more specifically, Molly, know about your injuries?”
“No, and you must not tell them. I can’t let Molly see me like this. This is exactly what she worried would happen.” He wouldn’t be able to stand seeing the expression on her face when she saw him.
“Molly’s changed, Stefan. Some things have happened since you left that—” The voices of Stefan’s parents rose outside the door. “I have to leave now. I’ll keep your secret if you’ll keep mine. Agreed?”
Stefan nodded. “But you’ll come back later and finish this?”
“Yes, I will.” Then he grabbed a chart and strode toward another patient across the room to escape the entrance of Stefan’s parents.
His mother gasped and stifled a sob when she saw the burns on his face. “Oh, Stefan, I’m glad you’re alive. Things may look bad now, but you’ll recover. We’ve faced hard times before and we’ll get through this just as we did then.”
“She’s right, son. No matter how dark this looks now, life will return. Don’t think for one minute we’re disappointed in you. You did what you had to do. Yes, it’s sad that you won’t be able to serve in the military, but you’re alive and well. That’s the important thing now.”
Tears threatened Stefan’s composure. The love of his parents filled him with hope that perhaps he had a future after all. He’d been angry with God for the past week, bu
t God hadn’t caused the attack; and even though good men had been lost, He had chosen to spare the lives of others. Something good had to come from that.
His parents then left him to rest. They planned to return home, make arrangements for a longer visit, and then come back to be with him until his release. The only request he made of them was not to tell Mrs. Whiteman of his injuries. He prayed they’d keep that request, especially Clarissa. Keeping secrets was not her forte.
At the soft knock on the door frame, Sallie glanced up from reading the Bible on her lap. “Yes, Flora, what is it?”
“Miss Clarissa Elliot is here to visit with you and your momma.”
“Mama’s asleep right now. Tell her I’ll be right out. We can sit in the parlor, and a pitcher of tea would be nice.”
“Yes’m, Miss Sallie. I’ll see to it.” She turned and shuffled her way to the kitchen.
Sallie bit her lip. Flora had been around as long as Sallie could remember, and she’d been friends with Flora’s daughter Lettie since childhood. Flora and George were getting too far along in years to take care of this big house and the land around it. Even though it’d been her mother’s childhood home, it had never been home to Sallie. That had been in Mississippi, where Papa had his cotton exchange.
If Tom or Will didn’t want to move back here, then they may have to sell it after Mama was gone. That sent an ache to her heart because of her love for her grandmother and the wonderful childhood memories held within these walls. Aunt Abigail had passed on last year, and her son now lived in Magnolia Hall. Sallie’s cousin Peggy had moved to Baton Rouge with her husband, so with Hannah and Sallie in Texas, no one in the family was left for the home.
Sallie sighed and laid her Bible on the table. No need to keep Clarissa waiting. She bent over and kissed her sleeping mother’s forehead. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
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