“Yes.”
“Pa, what she says—do it,” Linette Richardson said. “I trust her. She knows what she’s doing. Pa, we need to do it for Bethany.”
“Linette, you pipe down. This isn’t your decision.”
“And it’s not yours, either, Daisy Smith,” Linette shot back.
Daisy sucked in a deep breath. “That’s no way to talk to your elders.”
“You have no right to speak, Daisy,” Velma snapped. “You were giving your opinion a minute ago, but Bethany’s not your daughter. At least Linette waited until her little sis fell asleep before she spoke her piece.”
“What we’re going to do,” Taylor said in a carefully modulated tone, “is have everyone leave with the exception of the Richardson family.”
“No cause for that.” Cutter planted his feet. “This surgery belongs to the town. We all care about the girl and have—”
“—made wise provision in your deal, Mayor Cutter,” Taylor broke in smoothly, yet forcefully. “You yourself said the fathers were to make the decisions regarding their children’s care. It’s been that way throughout history, and you judiciously set that same guideline for Gooding. This decision is the Richardsons’, and theirs alone. The rest of you need to leave now.”
People started to shuffle out. Mr. Richardson cleared his throat. “Mercy, I’d be obliged if you’d stay. Not that I don’t value the doctor’s judgment, but you’ve got yourself a little girl, and since my wife’s a bit on the emotional side here, I’d like a mother’s opinion. Doc Enoch, you’ve got some medical knowledge, too. I know this here’s your sister, but I’m expecting you wouldn’t side with her just because of that. So let’s hear what’s to be said.”
Taylor nodded. She went over to the table and checked to see if Bethany was sleeping before she gestured. “What’s happened is that both of your daughter’s bones have been broken in two places—here and here. As you can see, these bones in the lower leg are very fragile and thin, especially in a small girl. If I try to put very much traction on them, they’re not going to mend properly. The leg will break, because the traction will pull it sideways. Though it would eventually mend, it won’t knit together correctly. The best way to set a fracture like this so it does align and mend straight is to have Bethany lie on the table here at the surgery for a couple weeks.
I’ll affix long, flat cloth strips going down her leg and have a rope dangling from the strips with an iron hanging from it.”
“An iron?” Mr. Richardson sounded incredulous.
“Yes, an ordinary iron.” Taylor’s voice remained factual.
“An iron,” he repeated.
Taylor went to the kitchen, picked up one of the smaller irons, and brought it back. She held it in both hands, then set it down. Next she picked up Bethany’s healthy leg, closed her eyes and balanced it in her hands, as well. “They weigh about the same. Try for yourself.”
“I’m not good at small weights,” the farmer said. “Mama, you try.”
Mrs. Richardson tried, as well. “They’re close.”
“I don’t want to be wrong on this.” He looked at Taylor. “We have a boy in town whose leg is twisted. It got broken and the last doctor did a bad job when he mended it. That boy’s always gonna be lame, and I don’t want that for my daughter. Why would this work instead of making her leg turn out?”
“Because if I apply a heavier weight, her leg’s not strong enough to handle the burden. Let me have your arm.” Taylor patiently demonstrated with a heavier weight on his arm, and then a more temperate weight, showing how his hand would either stay straight up or turn to the side.
Richardson’s brows shot up. “It makes sense!” Then he shook his head. “No one else would think to use an iron, though.”
“The shape of something often doesn’t dictate whether it can serve the purpose.”
“Papa, do it,” Linette urged him. “I’ve seen what other things Dr. Bestman’s done. You know I’ve helped with a few small things in the office now and again. If Bethany has to remain here for a couple weeks, we wouldn’t want her to be alone. You and Mama have to be home with the others, but I could stay here with her.”
The Richardsons looked back at Taylor. She nodded. “Of course we would want her to be with Bethany.”
“Then go on ahead. Setting it’s going to hurt.” Mr. Richardson drew in a deep breath. “Linette, you take your mama on outside now.”
“Pa, I’ll stay and help Dr. Bestman. Mama’s going to need to lean on you.” Linette went to her sister’s side. “I’m going to be taking care of Beth, so I ought to see how everything’s rigged up from the start.”
“That would be wise.” Taylor motioned to her. “Loop your arms beneath Bethany’s and clasp your hands together over her heart. We’ll slide her up higher on the table. . . .”
They set the leg and put it in traction. As soon as they finished, Taylor ordered, “Go home to your wife and daughter, Enoch. It’s Christmas.” “We’ll bring Christmas supper over here.”
“Don’t.” She tilted her head toward Linette and Bethany. “Just soup and maybe a few cookies. Thanks for all your help.”
He shook his head. “You did this on your own.” Enoch turned to the Richardsons. “Don’t stay too long. Remember it’s Christmas, and you still have your other girls.”
Mr. Richardson smiled sadly. “It doesn’t feel like a very merry Christmas.”
Taylor looked at him. “It was the best Christmas of my life when I realized your daughter was breathing and could move everything.”
Finally. The Richardsons left, and Karl yanked on his coat. He didn’t really need it, but if things went the way he hoped they would, he’d be glad to have it in a short while. That morning he’d wanted to start off Taylor’s Christmas with the news of him reconciling with God. Piet had tagged along like a lost, starving puppy and wouldn’t give them a minute alone. The words that needed to be said were private. Now he’d go say them. He thought to sit out back to ensure their privacy.
“Karl!” She tipped her head to the side. “Are you worried about little Bethany?”
“I thought to come check on her and share some coffee with you.”
“I’ll get the coffee.” While he prayed over Bethany, Taylor took a pair of mugs out the front door. A smile kicked up the right corner of his mouth. Let others see him with her. They’d know soon enough that she was his woman. He accepted the coffee, but before taking a sip, Taylor looked at him. Fatigue painted her features, but she’d never looked more lovely to him. “I’m not sure whether Gooding Th C S is going to give me a chance to prove myself. The resistance shown to me as I rendered emergency care today was significant.”
“You’re here for a reason. God brought you here.” To become my bride.
She set aside her coffee and turned toward him. “You’re an extraordinary friend. I recently came to a startling realization. It’s logical when I think of it, but—” Color filled her cheeks and she dipped her face.
On the pretext of warming her, he’d adjusted the collar of her pelisse in the recent past. Now he didn’t bother with subtlety. Sliding a hand along her jaw, he marveled. His rough, callused hand against the silk of her skin drove home the vast differences between them—differences like education, refinement, and wealth she never seemed to notice or care about. Desperate to know what she thought, he rasped, “What?”
“Please don’t take this the wrong way.”
Dread swamped him. He drew his hand away.
“Enoch was always my best friend. Since we came here and he met Mercy, his attentions shifted—as well they should. I knew that day would come. He’s still more dear to me than I can express. It makes sense, you know—that having a man for my best friend all those years, it would be natural for me to be comfortable with a man becoming my best friend and confidant again. Of everyone in Gooding, you know more about my daily life and what’s really happening. I know I can trust you. It’s not something I see men do—to speak of having a be
st friend—women do it as a matter of course. And even though I’ve built strong foundations for friendships with Millie, Sydney, and Hope, I still know the truth. You’re my best friend, Karl Van der Vort. Today you stood in the breach. You helped me get to Bethany and stood like a guardian angel so I could do my best for her. I want you to know how very much I appreciate not just all you’ve done, but how you’ve lent your kindness and strength and offered your friendship regardless of the opinions of others.”
Taking a long, scalding gulp, he let her words sink in. At first, when she’d spoken of her brother, he’d felt sick that she only held a brotherly affection for him. Then, as she went on, hope sparked. She’d acknowledged her trust in him, that he meant more to her than anyone else. Yes, even if he followed her reasoning, he meant more to her than her own twin. The woman loved him back! He just had to get her to realize it.
He wanted to choose the right words, say the things a woman would want to hear. A man making a declaration need not get down on his knee. That was reserved for proposing. Then again, depending on how things went, he might wind up doing just that. . . . For now, he covered her hands with his. “I’ve never been more proud to be a best friend. You’ve earned my admiration, Taylor.” He purposefully left out any other hint of his emotions. “Everything you do, you do with all your heart. You’re that way in your professional life, in your friendships, in your love for your family, and in your walk with the Lord.”
“No, Karl. I fail. Often, I fail. I’ve spent plenty of time repenting and apologizing. Probably not as much at either as I ought. It’s because of the very intensity and zeal with which I do things that when I’m wrong, I’m terribly wrong.”
As you were about going off on house calls at night all by yourself. He didn’t remind her of that. He wanted to keep the discussion channeled in another direction. “Taylor, I want you to know something. Suddenly everything has come into focus for me. I can see how I’ve wasted years of my life, and I don’t want to waste any of my future by having the wrong priorities. It’s important for you to know I’ve reconciled with God.”
A beatific smile lit her face, and her green eyes shimmered as they filled with tears. For a moment, she was speechless. “How wonderful! I’ve been praying for you to find the peace that passeth understanding. Our heavenly Father must be delighted to see his son return home.” She disentangled her hand and opened her chatelaine purse to pull out a hanky. Wiping away tears of joy, she let out a blissful smile. “This has to have been the best day of my life.”
“Is that so?” Should I propose now, Lord?
“The cliché is ‘saving life and limb,’ ” she said. “We saved Bethany’s limb together today, and something even more precious than life—your soul—has been restored. Yes, this was a perfect Christmas!”
How I love her! She finds the good in everything and makes me want to be a better man.
Cold reality washed over him. He couldn’t ask her to be his wife until she no longer felt at risk. It wasn’t fair to taint what was to be a woman’s most special time with memories of fear. His Taylor trusted him. As a friend.
Lord, I’ve seen those advertisements about asking for something for Christmas. They disgust me. But here I am, and I’m going to give you a whole list. Please safeguard Taylor and help me catch whoever is causing her problems. Take off the blinders so she sees the love I have for her and let her return it.
“Karl, I can’t tell you how happy I am. Every Christmas I’m going to remember the special joy of this time we’ve had and the wonderful news you shared.”
Sliding his hand over hers, he nodded. “Ja. Memories—they are like a forge where bonds are joined. The goed feelings, the happy and sacred ones we share now—those are ones I would want joined together in our hearts and minds.”
The next morning Taylor came downstairs to the smell of something baking, but she couldn’t be too excited, because Linette’s cooking meant a little girl was hurting.
Linette might make a good nurse. If she were interested, I could send her back to Chicago to attend a nursing program. If she chose to go away for a while on such an adventure, how wonderful would that be? Her sisters were getting married and no one was interested in her. It might soften the rejection and equip her with a way to provide for herself in the future. But how would Taylor explain that to Mercy? She counted on Linette’s help with the boardinghouse and baking. The smell of the breakfast sure sweetened the deal. With a full stomach, Taylor figured she could get along with just about anybody.
She walked over to Bethany and smoothed back her hair. The little girl moaned restlessly in her sleep. Adults could endure pain; children, on the other hand, were so very innocent and helpless. Pain bewildered and scared them. Taylor bent down and pressed a kiss on her forehead, readjusted the blankets, and went into the kitchen. “She’s still sleeping.”
“I know.” Linette took muffins from the oven. Their aroma blasted through Taylor, making her mouth water. Oblivious to the effect her baking was having, Linette continued on, “The mud in her hair is dry now. Later this morning I’ll brush out the dirt.”
“It’s a going to take a while. Her hair’s a rare mess.”
Shuddering, Linette nodded. “I’ll get to it straight off. Mama will have a conniption if she sees just how filthy Bethany’s hair is.”
“Why?” Taylor looked at her in absolute amazement. “Haven’t you all been that dirty before?”
Linette reared back. “Of course not.”
“What’ve you been doing with your time?” Taylor grabbed a muffin and tossed it back and forth between her hands because it was far too hot to hold. She noticed with delight that it had raisins in it. “If I’d been living out here, I would have been swimming in the creek and sledding down that hill back there in the mud. I would have gotten filthy twenty times over by now.”
Linette tried to muffle her laughter. “You wouldn’t have!”
Taylor cocked an eyebrow and said nothing.
“You really would have?”
“Linette, worrying about what people thought would have prevented me from becoming a doctor. Some things you do because they’re the right things to do—and you always do them. But there are other things you do because your spirit needs to take flight or you feel called. Becoming a doctor was both of those things for me—it was in my heart and soul.” She pointed her muffin toward the window. “You’ll see Widow O’Toole go by in about three seconds, and I don’t doubt for a second that her spirits soar when she rides her velocipede.”
Linette’s eyes got big. “Does everybody have something they want to do that’s different?”
“Mmmm. This muffin is delicious. Yes, everyone has desires. Some fulfill them, while others deny themselves and never reach for their dreams. Instead of ridiculing someone for being different, I admire them for their courage.” She took another bite. “Ohhh, this muffin is good. God bless the hands that prepared it!”
Laughing, Linette put two bowls of oatmeal on the table. After they both sat down and prayed, Taylor swirled her spoon in the bowl—brown sugar and a big chunk of butter, just the way she loved it. “So, Linette, what’s the thing you’ve always wanted to do?”
“I’m not real sure. We get the newspapers and I see things that other women do, like the suffragettes. Or you. I didn’t know women could be doctors! Other than being schoolteachers or working in the mercantile or sewing, women don’t have jobs around here. Those are the only choices I have since—” She sucked in a quick breath and blurted out, “I’m not getting married because nobody wants me.”
Bethany moaned and let out a sharp cry.
Immediately Taylor left the table, and Linette followed after a few seconds.
“I hurt,” Bethany whined.
Linette petted her. “I know you do, sweetheart.”
“Of course you do, Bethany. What little girl wouldn’t?” Taylor made a face. “After all, you had a whole horse and . . . and . . .” She stuck her forefinger in the air an
d spun it around like a wheel, trying to get Bethany distracted.
“Buckboard?” Bethany said.
“Buckboard! Yes. Thank you. You had a horse and buckboard roll over you and break your leg. Accidents like that kill grownups, but Jesus and the angels were taking very good care of you. You’ll stay here for maybe two weeks. After that, I can put a cast on your leg. Since you’re on this special table bed here, during the daytime, I can tuck some pillows under you so you can look out the window. Sometimes we’ll shut all the curtains and you can take a rest or we’ll just have some fun all to ourselves. And other times when I need to work, we’ll make sure you have wonderful books to read.”
“Can I have my friends come see me?”
“Yes, your friends may come pay you visits. Linette, how many hundreds of friends does your sister have?”
Linette got into the spirit of things. “Let me see.”
Bethany laughed. “You’re silly.”
Taylor got down next to her and held her hand. “Okay, Bethany, I’m done being silly. Now I’m going to tell you what to expect, because big girls deserve to know what’s going to happen.” She explained about traction and boredom and discomfort. “In the end, it’ll be worth it because your leg will grow nice and straight and beautiful.”
“So I can dance with a prince on my wedding day?”
Linette leaned forward and gave her sister a kiss on the cheek. “Yes, so you can dance with a wonderful man on your wedding day.”
What must it have cost for her to say that to her little sister? Especially after what she just said in the kitchen.
“I’ll lay on the hard table if I get to have a pretty leg, then.” Suddenly Bethany’s eyes got big. “We’re not supposed to talk about legs with men around. So what do we say if somebody comes to see how I am?”
That Certain Spark Page 20
