Mail Order Doctor

by Cynthia Woolf

  “No.” She reached up and touched his handsome face with yesterday’s growth of whiskers still on it. She saw the dimple in his cheek and the concern in his blue eyes. “These are joyful tears. We are finally joined as one. It’s fine now. Just a little pinch, that’s all. Please move. I want you to move.” She pushed herself up against him.

  He chuckled. “All right, love. All right.”

  She heard the endearment but knew he didn’t mean it. He was only trying to soothe her.

  He moved in her and she moved with him in a dance as old as time. Together, they met and parted and met again. Fires flared to life within her, and she pushed harder against him with each of his thrusts. Then he reached between them and touched her. She shattered, her body convulsing with pleasure.

  Matthew shouted and filled her with his hot seed.

  Annulment or not, she hoped they’d made a baby. It would be her prayer every night from then on.

  Matthew lay heavy upon her, breathing hard.

  She wrapped her arms around him and when he finally raised himself off of her, she didn’t want to let him go.

  “Are you all right,” he asked. Then without waiting for an answer he rose from the bed, got a wet wash cloth and pressed it against her aching mons. The coolness felt wonderful on her heated, aching skin. “This will help you feel better in the morning.”

  “Should I leave now? I…I don’t know what to do.”

  He lay back down with her and took her in his arms, tucking her up against his side. “No, you’re not leaving. Let me hold you. We’ll rest together until Ben brings Hope home.”

  Hope, bless her, managed to give them two precious hours of sleep, but it was the best sleep Julia had had in a long time. She liked lying next to Matt, his big body warming hers. She heard the knock on the door and moved to get up but Matt kept her down. “I’ll get it. Ben is just bringing Hope home. You sleep for a while longer. You can get her next time.”

  Julia nodded, too tired to argue with him. The next thing she knew, Hope was crying and Matt was poking her in the side.

  “Your turn.” He turned over and went back to sleep.

  She got up, slipped on her chemise before going into her bedroom and picking up the baby, pillow and all and to begin the feeding ritual. When the infant was through eating and Julia had burped her, they went back to bedroom. She put Hope back in the drawer and was lost again as to what to do, where to go.

  Matthew appeared in the doorway to the guest room, naked and crooked his finger at her.

  He seemed to know she’d have the question.

  “You sleep with me, from now on. If we need to, we’ll put Hope in the bedroom with us, but we seem to be attuned to her so her cries wake us, even in this room.”

  “Matthew, you know what this means? If I continue to sleep with you, I’ll likely end up pregnant and nobody will believe our marriage was unconsummated if that happens.”

  “I know.”

  “I wanted to force you to make a choice, but I don’t want you to feel trapped. Perhaps it is best if I stay in the other room and we forget tonight happened. I picked up the papers for the annulment. I can go file them tomorrow. I won’t take Hope away from you, but I…” She couldn’t stop the tears from falling.

  “Here now, there is no need for tears. I needed the prod, so to speak, so I’d make a decision.”

  She pulled back and looked up at him, her brow wrinkled.

  “Yes, I saw you and Ben kiss. That was the first inkling I had that I don’t want to lose you. Not to Ben, not to anyone. Then, when you said you were moving away, I couldn’t let you. I want you for my wife. I won’t say that I love you, I don’t know that I do, but I care for you deeply and don’t want you to leave me. You or Hope.”

  “What about when or if, Blaine comes back to claim Hope?”

  “If he decides he wants her, and I’m sure he will, we’ll have to give her back. Then at least we’ll have each other to grieve with.”

  CHAPTER 15

  The next morning, Matthew fixed breakfast and brought it to Julia in bed.

  “Breakfast in bed. What did I do to deserve this?”

  “You came home and made me the happiest man in Tombstone. I have you and we have Hope. I think we should get married.”

  She chuckled and picked up a forkful of fluffy scrambled egg. “We are married.”

  “No, I mean for real, in front of the preacher and our friends and family.”

  Julia swallowed the egg and nearly choked. “What? You really want to do that? I’d love it, but I didn’t think you’d be interested.”

  “Well, I am. I want the world to know that you are my wife.”

  Her heart felt lighter. He may never say ‘I love you’ but he shows it in so many ways. “I’d be proud to marry you and have you for my husband.”

  Three days later was Sunday and the weekly dinner at Walt’s house. They walked in with Hope and were greeted by the old man himself.

  “Well, you’re still together, that must mean something.” Walt’s smug grin irritated Matthew, but in all fairness, he wouldn’t have Julia if not for the old man’s interference.

  “Yes, we’re together and staying that way. We’re getting married, in front of the preacher this time, on Sunday, a month from now. I just wanted to let you and the boys know.”

  Julia looked up with a lifted eyebrow. “You call your brother’s the boys?

  “I always have. It’s simply easier than saying their names each time I want to refer to them all.”

  Later at dinner, Walt stood. “May I have your attention please? Matthew and Julia have something they’d like to say.”

  Matthew stood. “Julia and I have decided to have a church wedding a month from today and we’d love it if you would all come. It’ll be a small affair. Just family and friends.”

  Daniel, William and George all cheered.

  “About time you came to your senses,” said Daniel. “If you hadn’t one of us would have married her, just to keep her in the family. You see,” he turned to Julia “none of us were willing to let you go.”

  Tears made trails down Julia’s cheeks. “Thank you Dan. You have no idea how much those words mean to me. I haven’t had a family for a long time. My parents died about ten years ago. I’m honored to be a part of this family.”

  “Here! Here!” everyone cheered.

  Walt got up. “I know I was wrong to have gotten you together like this, but I’m glad to see that you didn’t let my stupidity ruin what you two have together. While I own up to my own mistakes,” he looked at each of the brothers in turn. “I married each of you to women. They are coming from New York, just like Julia did. I’ll make sure that each of you has the annulment papers you need to nullify the marriages. I’m sorry I meddled.”

  “Walt,” said Matthew. “Didn’t you learn anything from this?”

  “I did. That’s why I told the boys what to expect. The girls will arrive within the next two weeks. I’ll give them the annulment papers and send them on their way or pay the hotel for them, should they decide to stay.”

  “Wait a minute,” said Dan. “I think I might like to meet this girl. If you’ve done as well for me as you did for Matt, I’m liable to be a very lucky man.”

  “I think so, too.” William agreed. “At least let us meet them.”

  “Not me,” said George. “I’m too young to get married and I haven’t met the right girl. Just because Walt got lucky once, doesn’t mean he will again.”

  Walt, who had been grinning, frowned. “That’s your choice, son. I don’t blame you.”

  “That’s right, my choice.” George threw his napkin on the table and walked out.

  “Don’t worry about him,” said Dan. “He’ll come around, especially after he meets the girl.”

  * * *

  July 16, 1882

  Julia dressed with care in her new wedding gown. She’d been extremely lucky. She scoured every mercantile and dress shop in town for a wedding dress. Finall
y found one at Clara’s Dress Shop. Clara had ordered the gown for another woman whose wedding was called off at the last minute when the groom ran away with one of the actresses from the Bird Cage Theater.

  Julia bought the gown and all the necessary undergarments, including a corset. She hadn’t worn a corset in weeks, and now she remembered why. The contraption was difficult to put on and was terribly uncomfortable. But she had to admit, when she’d seen it at her last fitting, it made her dress look wonderful.

  The dress was in the latest fashion. Made of cream-colored silk the gown had a tight bodice and was sleeveless but had a jacket with tight sleeves that buttoned just to under her bosom so the neckline was exposed. Said neckline was low and U-shaped, outlined with delicate lace and lace to match at cuffs as well. She had to wear a crinoline under the dress to achieve the full-skirted bustle look the dress required.

  Tradition stated the bride and groom shouldn’t see each other before the wedding, but since she and Matthew were already married and she needed his help getting into the corset, they eschewed that tradition.

  “Matthew.” She stuck her head out the bedroom door. “Matthew. I need your help.”

  He came in, looking debonair in his black three-piece suit with white shirt and black tie.

  “What do you need?”

  “I need you to lace up this corset for me, so I can get in my dress.”

  “I don’t see why you would have a dress made that requires one of these contraptions. The lengths women go to for fashion is ridiculous.”

  He pulled on the ribbons in the back of the corset until the garment looked the way Julia wanted.

  “It makes the lines of the dress much crisper,” she said breathlessly. She couldn’t take a deep breath, so it was hard to talk, at least until she got used to wearing the piece of clothing.

  Once he saw her in the corset and her stockings and nothing else, he said, “I have to admit, you look pretty good.”

  “I don’t feel like I look good. As a matter of fact, I don’t feel very well at all.” She lifted a hand to her head and then Julia fainted.

  If Matthew hadn’t been there she would have hit the floor.

  “Sweetheart. Julia.”

  He undid the infernal corset and let her have some air.

  She came to with a gasp.

  “What happened?”

  “You fainted. You are not wearing that corset. It’s too tight.”

  “I don’t think it’s the corset that made me faint.”

  “What else could it be? Trying to wear that thing in this heat is ridiculous.”

  She smiled. “I think I’m pregnant.”

  “Pregnant? But how? I mean…”

  “You’re a doctor. You must have known that one of the times in the last month and a half would take. Well, it did. I think, actually, it was the first one. Now hush and help me back into that thing.”

  “No. Absolutely not. You are not wearing that contraption. You’re pregnant. Think about the baby.”

  “I can’t get into the dress properly without the corset.”

  He set his mouth in a thin line. “I don’t care. You are not putting that thing back on. To prove his point, he took out his pocket knife and slit the ribbon up the back.

  She reached out to stop him but was too late. “You’ve ruined a perfectly good piece of clothing.”

  “Clothing? Ha! Torture equipment is more like it.”

  “What am I to wear now? It’s my wedding day.”

  “Can you put the dress on without the corset and then put on the jacket, so no one will know that you can’t button it?”

  “I don’t know.”

  He helped her slip the dress over her head and he buttoned it up as far as he could. Then he held the jacket for her.

  She put her arms in the coat and, unable to button it, looked at herself in the mirror.

  “It doesn’t look half bad,” she declared. “And I have to admit it’s much more comfortable.

  “Are we ready?”

  She came over and straightened his tie. “We are. You look very handsome by the way.”

  “And you’re gorgeous. I’m the luckiest man in the world.” He leaned down and kissed her.

  Julia smiled. “Shall we get Hope?”

  Hope had a crib in the guest bedroom now, having outgrown both the drawer and the cradle. She was a chubby baby, smiling all the time, as well as sleeping most of the night. Julia and Matthew felt extremely lucky to have her.

  Julia picked her up and cooed. “What a pretty baby you are. Are you going to be good for Uncle Ben so Mama and Daddy can get married? Hmm. Yes you are. You’re a good baby.”

  “You talk to her like she can understand you.”

  “Who’s to say she can’t. I think she’s very smart.”

  “Have you heard from Blaine?”

  “Not since he got to, White Bear, the town closest to his mother’s and said he was almost there. That was a little more than two weeks ago. Even if he’d turned around and came right back, I don’t expect to hear from him for another two weeks or more, depending on weather.”

  “Well, I think everyone is here. Let’s get this done and get the party started.”

  She smiled. “Yes, sir.”

  They walked out of the room, through the house and out to the buggy.

  Julia laid Hope on the seat, while Matthew helped her climb in. She picked the baby up and sat down.

  Matthew came around, climbed in and snapped the reins. The horses started walking. He smacked the reins on the horse’s butts and they started trotting. That was as fast as he would go in town. And that was probably faster than he should, but he was in a hurry to make this woman his wife. His real wife, in front of God and everyone.

  Matt pulled to a stop outside the church, where they were met by Ben and Walt. Ben took Hope and Walt took Julia’s arm and walked up to the church.

  “You look beautiful, girl. Have I told you thank you for letting me give you away? I never had any girls, so this is a first for me.”

  “Well, you sort of gave me Matthew; I guess it’s appropriate that you give me to Matthew.”

  “I’m so happy the situation worked out between you two. I knew it would if he wasn’t so bullheaded.”

  They reached the door and halted.

  Walt looked down at her. “You ready?”

  Julia took a deep breath, happy she could take one. “I’m more than ready.”

  Unable to bear the infant’s cries, Julia turned and walked down the aisle. “Here let me have her. She just wants to be involved.”

  As soon as Julia picked her up, she quieted.

  Everyone laughed.

  “Do you Matthew Walter Reynolds take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, through sickness and health, for richer or poorer as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do.” Matthew’s voice was clear and strong.

  “And do you Julia Margaret O’Brien Reynolds, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, through sickness and health, for richer or poorer as long as you both shall live?”

  “I do.” There was no hesitation, no second guessing. This was what she wanted, what she came here to Tombstone for.

  “Then, by the power vested in me by God, the City of Tombstone, and Cochise County, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Matthew took Julia in his arms and, with Hope between them his kissed his beautiful bride. Then he bent and kissed his baby and tickled her under the chin.

  “Are you happy now, Little Bit? You are part of this family and had every right to be in the ceremony.”

  “It’s one we’ll never forget,” said Julia.

  Matthew turned to face the crowd. “There’s a party at Walt’s place, I hope everyone will join us.”

  He took Julia’s elbow and together they walked out of the church.

  When they got home, Julia changed into something more comfortable. While she was changing
Matthew came in. He walked up behind her, while she stood in her chemise and stockings. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled her close to his body and kissed her behind the ear.

  “Let’s forget about the party and stay here. We could make love all afternoon.”

  Her heart filled with happiness, she angled her neck so he could kiss her again. “I’d love to, but we have obligations that must be seen to. We’ll leave the party as soon as possible and come home. Just the three of us.”

  “All right. Do you need help getting dressed?”

  “Not this time. But, you could change the baby and make sure she’s clean and pretty.”

  “She’s always pretty.”

  “I know. She really is isn’t she?”

  A knock rapped on the door.

  “I’ll get it.” Matthew let Julia go and left the room. He returned a short time later, a telegram in his hand.

  “It’s for you.”

  “Me?”

  She took the envelope and opened it. “It’s from the sheriff in Cheyenne, in the Wyoming Territory. It says Mrs. Reynolds. I regret to inform you that Blaine Carstairs was killed in a bar fight in Cheyenne on July 1, 1882. Yours, Sheriff Mitch Rogan.”

  “Oh, my God.” She sat on the bed, hand to her mouth. “Poor Blaine. He must have been on his way back but I can’t imagine how the Sheriff knew to contact me.”

  “Maybe he didn’t die right away or had a letter to you in his belongings. There’s any number of ways and reasons that he would have known.”

  “I wanted to adopt Hope but not this way.” Julia burst into tears and reached for her husband.

  “Shh,” soothed Matthew. “We’ll make sure Hope always knows who her father was, and that he loved her very much.”

  “I can’t go to our party now. How can we celebrate when there is such a tragedy?”

  “Because we have a new life and a new family. Now Hope really is ours and though this isn’t the way we would have chosen to get her, it’s happened. We can’t change that, but that’s no reason not to celebrate our marriage. If Blaine was here he’d tell you so.”