Sarah and the Doctor (Prairie Tales Book 1)

by Kit Morgan

  Sarah watched as Nanette went to each and whispered something in their ears. She then retook her seat, a wide smile on her face. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes. Should I begin with any one in particular?”

  “No, pick anyone you’d like.”

  Sarah eyed the others as if she couldn’t decide, then fixed her eyes on Elizabeth.

  Elizabeth giggled in response and clapped her hands again. She really was having a good time.

  “Elizabeth Chambers,” she said in a deep voice. “Tell me about yours.”

  “Well, let me see. Oh, dear. I’m not sure what to say.”

  “Give only hints,” Nanette reminded her. “Tell her a detail or two but without giving the answer away.”

  Elizabeth put a hand to her chest. “Oh goodness, very well. Um … mine has eight.”

  Oswald laughed. “Do you have a pet spider?” Elizabeth looked at him in mock horror. He laughed, and his eyes brightened.

  At least he looks and sounds more cheerful, Sarah thought. “Mr. Petite …”

  “What? Me?” He sighed in exasperation. “Oh, all right, if you must.”

  Sarah leaned forward in her chair, noted that Mr. Waller watched with interest, and drawled, “Tell me about yours.” Her stomach did a funny little flip. She saw Mr. Waller smile, his attention glued to her. What could he be thinking?

  “Hmm,” Oswald mused. “Mine is made of stone.”

  Sarah started. She’d been so busy observing Oswald and Elizabeth’s behavior (not to mention Mr. Waller’s) she hadn’t paid much mind to their clues. “Stone, and eight,” she repeated. “I have no idea.”

  “You have three more clues to gather,” Nanette reminded her. “Ask Mr. Waller next. Or me if you prefer.”

  Sarah glanced between them, her eyes settling Nanette. “And yours?”

  She bit her lower lip and stared at the ceiling. “Let me see, mine has three.”

  Sarah blew out a breath. “My goodness, this is harder than I thought.”

  “You have two more clues, Miss Clemmons,” Mr. Waller pointed out.

  “Yes, and I hope you make this easy for me. Tell me about yours.”

  “Well,” he said with a grin. “Mine has two.”

  Sarah fell against the back of her chair. “I haven’t a clue! Nanette what was the word?”

  “Oh, no you don’t, you have to guess. At least try.”

  Sarah sat up again. “Eight, stone, three and two? Can’t I have another hint?”

  “Mine is made of logs,” Mr. Waller offered before Ned could chime in.

  The others stared at him. Oswald openly gawked.

  Mr. Waller glanced around the room. “Well, it is.”

  “Logs?” Sarah said, still confused. Unless …

  Oswald laughed. “Certainly you jest, man. Where are you from?”

  Ned coughed into one hand.

  “My family and I hail from just outside Gettysburg.”

  “Gettysburg?” Nanette said in surprise.

  “Why would anyone have a country home all the way down there?” Elizabeth asked and then quickly covered her mouth.

  “House!” Sarah said in triumph. “The word is house. Which means that Elizabeth’s must have eight bedrooms?”

  Elizabeth giggled and nodded.

  “And Mr. Petite’s is made of stone. Nanette, yours has three stories, and Mr. Waller’s…”

  “Is a two-bedroom log cabin outside of Gettysburg,” he stated calmly.

  Oswald snorted, picked up his teacup and took a sip. “My, my,” he said and set down his cup. “This game is entertaining. Informative too. A log cabin, you say? How quaint. Were you raised there?”

  “Yes, of course. Didn’t Ned tell you?”

  “No,” Ned said with a sheepish smile. “I didn’t. What was the need?”

  Mr. Waller sat back in his chair and sighed. “It’s interesting that people are shocked to hear where I was raised.”

  Elizabeth’s eyes darted around the room. “Maybe that’s because you act like …” she looked at everyone again. “… a gentleman? That’s not to say that …”

  “I’m not?” Mr. Waller finished for her. “No, I’m afraid I’m just a poor country cousin here visiting my rich city relatives.” He eyed Ned and then looked at Sarah. “But a doctor doesn’t care about such things. His only concern is healing the sick. Remember that when one of you are ill and you need one of us. Without physicians in the city, where would you be?”

  Everyone stared. Even Sarah was at a loss for words. She had no idea the man was poor. Nor did she have any idea he possessed such gumption. She liked it. A lot.

  “Oswald Petite,” Abijah said as he and Ned returned home. “What a fop.” They went into the library. A warm fire burned in the fireplace. Both gravitated to it as it started to rain on their way back from the Olson’s.

  “That fop, as you call him,” said Ned, “happens to be one of the most eligible bachelors in the city. He’s rich, he’s handsome, and …”

  “He’s a fop,” Abijah finished. “I don’t like men who try to control people, commanding respect when they’ve not earned it.”

  “You’re upset the ladies discovered your origins?”

  “No. Why would I be? If they don’t like where I’m from, then I pity them. I don’t care where any of them came from.”

  “What about me?” Ned asked, his expression somber.

  “Don’t look at me like that. And don’t think I hate your family because you’re wealthy and mine isn’t. I’ve had a good life. It may not have been filled with privilege and parties and plentiful food, but we got along fine. And we never asked your family for help.”

  “No, not that you or I know of,” he said. Ned drummed his fingers on the mantle a few times. “You could stay with us, you know. Finish your time with Dr. Campbell and start a practice here. You probably know as much as he does at this point.”

  Abijah laughed. “Perhaps in another year I’ll know enough to strike out on my own. But I don’t want to practice in a city. Not when there are so many places in need of a good physician.”

  Ned sighed. “But where? And what about a family one day?” He plucked a book from the mantle, leafed through it, and put it back. “I was rather hoping our children would grow up together. You are, after all, the only cousin I’ve got.”

  Abijah smiled. “That would be nice, wouldn’t it? But I’d deny my call if I stayed here. I feel led to go to remote places with no doctor. Can you understand?”

  “I understand I was led to get you that position with Dr. Campbell last year. I’ve hardly seen you since.”

  Abijah crossed to the other side of the room and, hands in his pockets, stared out one of the floor to ceiling windows. “I’m sorry, Ned. But my studies must come first. I’m trying to learn in two year what others have learned in over three. I have to take as much information with me back to Gettysburg as I can.”

  “Gettysburg? You’re going home to practice?”

  “No,” he said and turned to face him. “I’m only stopping there for a time. I’m going west to the Missouri territory.” He shrugged. “Maybe even someplace further. I’m not sure yet.”

  Ned came away from the mantle, his mouth open in shock. “But Abijah, that’s so dangerous.”

  “Yes, and no. Don’t worry, I’ll get along.”

  “But I thought you wanted a wife and family one day. You can’t take a woman into that sort of country.”

  “I don’t plan to. I’ll go alone, serve where I can and maybe one day come back and find myself a wife.”

  Ned arched an eyebrow. “What did you think of the ladies today?”

  Abijah shrugged. “They were nice.”

  “That Miss Chambers would keep a man on his toes. But she’s young. Not a woman yet.”

  “How would you know?” Abijah asked with a smile. “She certainly looked womanly enough to me.”

  “I’m talking about the way she acts. If I had to choose, I think I’d keep my eye on
Miss Olson. Now there’s a fine woman. And that Miss Clemmons ...”

  “What about her?” Abijah asked. He clasped his hands behind his back and turned to the window again. He couldn’t see Ned, but swore he felt him smiling. Hmm …

  “Yes, Sarah Clemmons. Now there’s a match for you.”

  He glanced over his shoulder. “How so?”

  “She’s not afraid to speak her mind and is certainly no wallflower. And, of course, you know she volunteers at the orphanage twice a week. Nanette … I mean Miss Olson, told me that Miss Clemmons does a little doctoring of her own there.”

  Abijah caught the slip, smiled and faced his cousin. So, Ned had set his cap for Miss Olson already. Good. Pursuing her would give him something to do. “Smart woman, that Miss Clemmons. And you’re right. She does know a thing or two about doctoring. Too bad they don’t let women assist at the college. Maybe they ought to change the rules.”

  “Quiet, cousin!” Ned said and glanced at the door. “Before someone hears you.”

  Abijah laughed. “So, what if they do? A woman like that is rare. She’s not afraid to get her hands dirty.”

  “You like her,” Ned stated and pointed at him.

  “I said nothing of the kind, cousin. I… admire her.” He went to the mantle and leaned against it. “We both know she’s out of the question.”

  Ned gave him a solemn nod. “You and Miss Clemmons would make a fine match if it weren’t for the social chasm between you.”

  “Perhaps so. But that chasm, as you call it, is wide. Very wide.” In fact, judging from the Olson’s home, Miss Clemmons was so far above him, most would be shocked to see him in the same room with her. When he received his invitation to tea, he had to admit, he was surprised. But, until today, not many knew where he was originally from. He was Ned Fielding’s cousin, and no one questioned further. “I have studying to do,” he said to change the subject.

  “Very well, I won’t keep you,” Ned told him. “Oh, by the way, there’s a ball next week I’d like us to attend. Some people will be there I think you should meet.”

  “Who?” Abijah asked with a sigh. He’d been social enough as far as he was concerned. Parties and balls with the elite were tiresome. Thankfully, he hadn’t had to attend many.

  “The Millers. Their ball is the height of the season. Besides, you can’t spend all your time up in your room with those books and papers.”

  “I don’t. I spend half of my time down here.”

  Ned laughed. “Yes, but with those same books and papers!” He went to a wing chair and sat. “Really, Abijah, I think you’ve been working too hard. Dancing with some beautiful ladies would do you good.”

  “Being in a room full of highborn ladies and gentlemen is not my idea of a good time, Ned. You know this.”

  “True,” his cousin agreed. “But why not let Oswald Petite see that a country lad from Gettysburg can hold his own in Philadelphia?”

  Abijah shook his head. “Are you trying to convince me, or yourself?”

  “Abijah, you know I didn’t mean it that way …”

  He raised a hand to silence him. “I know that I’m an embarrassment to you at times.”

  Ned jumped out of his chair. “Now see here. I never said you were.”

  “I’m simply stating facts.”

  Ned marched to the mantle where he stood. “You’re just as good as they are!”

  Abijah looked at him and laughed. “According to people like Oswald Petite? No. Not after the looks he gave me this afternoon. Not to mention the others. The only one that saw me as a human being and not a pauper was Miss Clemmons. I could see it in her eyes.”

  “There, you see,” Ned said and returned to his chair. “Your station doesn’t matter to her.”

  “That may or may not be true, cousin. But it would definitely matter to her parents. Drop this notion of yours, whatever it is, before it gets you in trouble.”

  “Oh, no,” Ned said with a wag of his finger. “I fully intend to get you in trouble. Maybe you’ll even fall in love.”

  Abijah shook his head. Trying to convince his cousin he wasn’t interested in women at the moment was like trying to convince a hawk not to prey on a chicken. Why did Ned want him to court in the first place? He was too busy. Besides, this particular woman was so far removed from him, he hadn’t a chance in the world and they both knew it.

  “I’m proud of who I am,” he stated.

  Ned looked at his hands and nodded. “I know you are, but people talk. And sometimes,” he looked at him. “I let it affect me.”

  So, he was right. Abijah went to the chair and put a hand on his cousin’s shoulder.

  “They say confession is good for the soul. I hope you feel better now.”

  Ned reached up and smacked his hand. “Thanks, Doc. I guess I needed that.”

  Abijah laughed. “I know you did. Now let me get to my studies.”

  Chapter 6

  The Millers’ ball was the smartest ball of the season and everyone who was anyone was in attendance. There were carriages and people Sarah didn’t recognize. But that didn’t come as any surprise. If not for Oswald’s invitation, she’d never set foot on the Miller estate.

  “Oh, look, there’s Elizabeth Chambers,” Oswald said brightly as he helped Sarah disembark from his carriage. He offered her an arm. “Shall we go say hello?”

  Sarah gave him a half-smile. “Of course. I’m sure she would love to see you.”

  Oswald gave her a sidelong glance. “Do you think so? It’s been nearly a week since our time at the Olson’s.”

  “Hmm, whom do you think Elizabeth is attending the ball with?”

  “Why, her family of course,” he said.

  “No, silly.” She gave him a playful smack on the arm. “Who is escorting her?”

  “Escort!” For a moment, his face held a horrified expression, then just as quickly disappeared. “Why, she’s too sensible to accept invitations from gentlemen to this sort of affair.”

  “You mean a single-gentleman such as yourself? You asked me.”

  “Yes, but … but this is different,” he stammered.

  “Really?” She drawled, brows up. She hadn’t planned on teasing him, but this was rather fun. “And how is this different, Mr. Petite?”

  He smacked his lips before speaking. She had him cornered and he knew it. The only reason he asked her was to please her parents. Oswald was rich enough to have any woman he wanted, including Elizabeth Chambers. Well, maybe. She had enough money of her own. She was an heiress after all and didn’t have to think twice about telling Oswald “no.”

  Oh heavens, she thought to herself. Does that make me desperate? Perhaps not. But, as Fiona said, her parents were.

  “I think it a fine thing to attend a ball with friends, don’t you?” Oswald asked.

  She blinked a few times in confusion. What on earth was he talking about? She then noted his eyes were glued to Elizabeth. Oh dear. She could tell he was going to abandon her at some point in the evening. She might as well help things along. “Mr. Petite, isn’t this Elizabeth’s first time at the Millers’ ball?”

  “Yes, I believe it is,” he said with interest.

  “You on the other hand have attended every year for, my goodness, how long?”

  “Long enough to receive a standing invitation.”

  “Exactly. Don’t you think she would feel comfortable conversing with us?”

  “Why, Miss Clemmons, you’re absolutely right. Let’s take her under our wing and spend the evening together, shall we?”

  Sarah put a gloved hand over her mouth to hide her smile. “Oh yes, we should.”

  They approached Elizabeth and her parents. There were a few other relatives milling about and waiting to get through the front doors and be announced. Aunts and uncles from the looks of them. Plenty of people to chaperone.

  Elizabeth was one of the youngest, if not the youngest and richest lady in attendance. The fact she wasn’t yet of marriageable age didn’t matt
er. Suitors would begin lining up regardless and probably already had. “Miss Chambers, how lovely to see you again,” Sarah greeted.

  Elizabeth took one look at Oswald and smiled. “Miss Clemmons, Mr. Petite, good evening. Mr. Petite, you know my parents, of course.”

  “Delighted,” he said. He took Mrs. Chambers gloved hand and kissed it.

  She giggled. “Oh Mr. Petite, good evening to you. I’m so looking forward to Elizabeth having a good time. It’s her first time at the Millers’.”

  “Is it?” His eyes lit with mock surprise.

  Sarah did her best not to smile as Mrs. Chambers turned her attention on her. “And you are?”

  “May I introduce Miss Sarah Clemmons,” Oswald said with a smile.

  She looked at them with a huge – and very knowing – smile of her own. “So happy to see both of you here.”

  Sarah flinched. Oh dear, what had her mother been telling people? Surely Mrs. Chambers didn’t think she and Oswald were courting. Did she?

  Sarah studied her a moment. Blast. Judging from the knowing look on the woman’s face, that’s exactly what she thought.

  As did Elizabeth. She took one look at her mother’s expression and her eyes misted with tears. She quickly turned away. “Mother, Father. Can we go inside now?”

  “Of course, dear,” her mother said. “Come along, Franklin.” The crowd on the path thinned, allowing the family access to the main doors of the mansion. Their relatives followed along with several other newly arrived guests.

  Sarah watched them go before scanning more newcomers for a familiar face. Nothing. Maybe Nanette was inside. She hoped so. She wanted to enjoy this. She’d never receive an invitation of her own. Besides, if things went well, Oswald would be calling on Elizabeth tomorrow.

  They made their way into the house, let the butler take their cloaks, and were announced. After the Millers received them, they proceeded to the ballroom. It was the biggest Sarah had ever seen. There were scores of people and if not for the open doors leading to a large patio, the room would be stifling. Thank Heaven it was early May.

  “Sarah! Oh, Sarah!” Nanette called through the crowded guests.

  Sarah watched her friend make her way to them. She wore a beautiful green gown trimmed in white lace. She smiled as Nanette approached and heard a few stray violins tune. By the time Nanette reached her, the music began. Sarah smiled at the thought of dancing. She glanced at the dance card in her hand and wondered whom to put down for the first dance.