offer,” Doc said. “Let’s get those babies in the cradle, and you take a nap.”
She gave a weary smile. “All right. But just a short nap.”
Doc nodded to Maggie. She removed the sleeping babies to the wicker basket and snuggled them tightly in blankets. They barely stirred.
“Are we really staying the night?” Maggie asked as they slipped out of the alcove that served as a bedroom.
Doc gave the children a quick glance then nodded to the door. “I’d just as soon.”
He and Maggie stepped onto the stoop and closed the door. A stiff breeze had kicked up, carrying with it the smell of rain.
Maggie bundled her heavy wrapper around her. “You’re worried about her.”
“Yep. She tore inside. I’m afraid the packing won’t hold and she’ll start bleeding.” Doc frowned up at the dark clouds scudding across the sky.
She shivered at the thought. “When will she be out of danger?”
“If the bleeding stays through the night, she should do fine.” She caught his barely perceptible wince and could only guess at the pain such exercise cost him. Yet he hadn’t given up his vocation. Dedicated to the soul.
“It was the most wonderful thing to witness,” she said.
“That it is, but it can be a challenge too.” He made a face. “Before long my own infirmities will force me to retire. Don’t know what folks will do then without a doctor.”
The same thought had crossed Maggie’s mind when she saw how badly Doc’s hands had been affected by arthritis. If he hadn’t been here to guide these twins into the world, would they have survived?
Surely another doctor would come along to take his place. Doc must have connections to the fine medical school in St. Louis. He should be able to persuade a young doctor to come here and take over his practice.
“What did they do before you came here?” she asked.
“Prayed for the best, since doctoring was left to the barber and an old woman who served as midwife.”
That combination of Wild West doctoring saved some and buried far too many. Even good nurses were nigh impossible to find.
That was part of the reason that her foster parents had chosen her off the orphan train. She was a tall sturdy girl. They believed she’d be able to “assist” their crippled daughter in her daily tasks.
She tipped her head back and drank in the wild beauty around her. Even during the years she’d lived with Harlan Nowell, she could look out a window anytime and enjoy the mountain vista.
“It’s a fact I’ll miss living in the mountains.” But to stay would place her at great risk.
She’d made enemies of two powerful men. Both had the reputation of leveling swift retribution on their adversaries.
A wry smile played over the old doctor’s mouth. “You’ll be a great asset to the profession. Why I’d hire you right off, though I couldn’t afford to pay you near what you’d earn in a hospital.”
She’d be happy being his nurse. “If I thought Whit would give up looking for me, I’d take you up on your offer.”
Doc scowled at his gnarled fingers. “Maybe he will in time.”
She doubted it. From all she’d heard over the years, Whit didn’t forgive easily. She knew Harlan Nowell was the type to carry a grudge to the grave. By running off, she’d not just ruined Whit’s plans for a partnership with Nowell, she’d cost Whit a small fortune.
Whit would want to ruin her. Nowell would likely want to see her dead, and would level the same punishment on anyone who dared to help her. That’s why she couldn’t stay here and bring trouble on Doc Franklin.
“I should see to supper,” Maggie said, and Doc Franklin gave a weary nod.
“You go on. I’ll be in directly,” he said.
Maggie watched him amble off toward the barn before she turned and slipped into the cabin. The eldest Orshlin girl, nearly eight years old by Maggie’s estimation, had placed a strange array of food on the table and had begun peeling potatoes.
“What are you making?” she
She gave a weary smile. “All right. But just a short nap.”
Doc nodded to Maggie. She removed the sleeping babies to the wicker basket and snuggled them tightly in blankets. They barely stirred.
“Are we really staying the night?” Maggie asked as they slipped out of the alcove that served as a bedroom.
Doc gave the children a quick glance then nodded to the door. “I’d just as soon.”
He and Maggie stepped onto the stoop and closed the door. A stiff breeze had kicked up, carrying with it the smell of rain.
Maggie bundled her heavy wrapper around her. “You’re worried about her.”
“Yep. She tore inside. I’m afraid the packing won’t hold and she’ll start bleeding.” Doc frowned up at the dark clouds scudding across the sky.
She shivered at the thought. “When will she be out of danger?”
“If the bleeding stays through the night, she should do fine.” She caught his barely perceptible wince and could only guess at the pain such exercise cost him. Yet he hadn’t given up his vocation. Dedicated to the soul.
“It was the most wonderful thing to witness,” she said.
“That it is, but it can be a challenge too.” He made a face. “Before long my own infirmities will force me to retire. Don’t know what folks will do then without a doctor.”
The same thought had crossed Maggie’s mind when she saw how badly Doc’s hands had been affected by arthritis. If he hadn’t been here to guide these twins into the world, would they have survived?
Surely another doctor would come along to take his place. Doc must have connections to the fine medical school in St. Louis. He should be able to persuade a young doctor to come here and take over his practice.
“What did they do before you came here?” she asked.
“Prayed for the best, since doctoring was left to the barber and an old woman who served as midwife.”
That combination of Wild West doctoring saved some and buried far too many. Even good nurses were nigh impossible to find.
That was part of the reason that her foster parents had chosen her off the orphan train. She was a tall sturdy girl. They believed she’d be able to “assist” their crippled daughter in her daily tasks.
She tipped her head back and drank in the wild beauty around her. Even during the years she’d lived with Harlan Nowell, she could look out a window anytime and enjoy the mountain vista.
“It’s a fact I’ll miss living in the mountains.” But to stay would place her at great risk.
She’d made enemies of two powerful men. Both had the reputation of leveling swift retribution on their adversaries.
A wry smile played over the old doctor’s mouth. “You’ll be a great asset to the profession. Why I’d hire you right off, though I couldn’t afford to pay you near what you’d earn in a hospital.”
She’d be happy being his nurse. “If I thought Whit would give up looking for me, I’d take you up on your offer.”
Doc scowled at his gnarled fingers. “Maybe he will in time.”
She doubted it. From all she’d heard over the years, Whit didn’t forgive easily. She knew Harlan Nowell was the type to carry a grudge to the grave. By running off, she’d not just ruined Whit’s plans for a partnership with Nowell, she’d cost Whit a small fortune.
Whit would want to ruin her. Nowell would likely want to see her dead, and would level the same punishment on anyone who dared to help her. That’s why she couldn’t stay here and bring trouble on Doc Franklin.
“I should see to supper,” Maggie said, and Doc Franklin gave a weary nod.
“You go on. I’ll be in directly,” he said.
Maggie watched him amble off toward the barn before she turned and slipped into the cabin. The eldest Orshlin girl, nearly eight years old by Maggie’s estimation, had placed a strange array of food on the table and had begun peeling potatoes.
“What are you making?” she
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