“Oh,” Susanna said. “I love honey, and I love corn.”
Kat nodded her head at the waitress and said, “Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and a biscuit are perfect for her. I’ll take the chicken and dumplings.”
“All right,” the waitress said. “Two fried chicken suppers and one chicken and dumplings, coming up. I’ll bring the little girl her glass of milk in a moment. Would either of you care for coffee or tea?”
“Tea, please,” Kat said.
“I’ll have coffee, thank you,” Logan told the waitress.
While they waited for their food, Logan asked Kat if she enjoyed living in Creede.
She smiled and nodded. “So far, I like it. The people are friendly, and Susanna seems happy, even if she does disobey and chases butterflies.”
“I’m sorry, Mama. I only wanted to see where the butterfly lived.”
“I know, dear, but you might have gotten lost, and we wouldn’t have found you, or you could have been injured.”
“No, Mama,” Susanna shook her head. “I told you: Miss Josephine was there to keep me safe.”
“Miss Josephine?” Logan asked.
“The lady in pink. She’s her imaginary friend,” Kat explained.
Logan nodded and said, “I know it’s not really my business, but I think I understand why she has imaginary friends. I think she was lonely before you moved here.”
Kat glared at Logan. “I have no idea why you would say that or why you mentioned my brother this afternoon. You sound angry. Perhaps supper was a mistake.”
Logan shook his head. “I didn’t mean to insult you, but I can’t abide people that hurt children.”
“Hurt children? Who's hurting children?”
“Susanna never told you?” Logan asked.
Kat paled. “Told me what?”
“About her uncle.”
Kat looked at Susanna and said, “What stories are you telling now, young lady? What did you say about your uncle Horace?”
Susanna’s eyes flew open wide, and she shook her head. “I’m not supposed to tell.”
The stricken look on Kat’s face nearly broke Logan’s heart, and he said softly, “She said he often grabbed her arm, pulled her hair, or made her sit in a dark closet. But look—she’s all right, and your brother is far away.”
“I never knew,” Kat said. “When my husband died, and then my father, I couldn’t stay on our farm alone. My husband’s brother thought I should marry him because I'd been his brother's wife, but he was a drunkard with a vile temper, and I know he only wanted the farm. He showed up the day after my father’s funeral with his proposal.
"Moving to stay with my brother and sister-in-law seemed like the best solution. After Susanna was born, I went to work as a nurse. My sister-in-law loved Susanna and cared for her while I worked.”
Logan smiled and said, “Sometimes we don’t know the people closest to us. You did the best you could. It must have been hard to lose your husband and father and then go to work, having to leave your child, even if it was with a family member.”
“Yes, it was. I thought it was for the best, but it seems I keep making bad choices.”
The waitress arrived with their food, and they ate their meals in silence. When the waitress appeared to remove their plates, she asked if they’d like dessert. “We have apple or cherry pie.”
Susanna wrinkled her nose, and the waitress leaned in close and whispered, “We have some sugar cookies in the kitchen—would that be better?”
“Oh, yes, please. And more milk, too, please,” Susanna said, clapping her hands.
Kat declined dessert, but Logan asked for cherry pie. After an awkward silence, Kat said, “I’m sorry if we’ve ruined your evening.”
“Not at all,” Logan insisted. “I’ve enjoyed your company. I’m sorry if I said anything to make you uncomfortable.”
“You didn’t. It was just a bit of a shock and embarrassing that something could happen to Susanna without my knowledge. I’m sure she would have told me…eventually, now that we’re away from my brother’s influence,” Kat confessed.
Logan smiled and said, “No need to feel embarrassed. We all have problems in our past, but we'll be all right if we move on. Maybe you’d allow me to escort you to church tomorrow morning? We could go on a picnic after. I think Susanna would enjoy it.”
“I’m sure she would, and so would I, but the opening of the hospital is tomorrow afternoon, and I have to be there. I don’t think Doctor Ash would approve of me taking time off on my first day at the hospital so I could go on a picnic.”
Logan laughed. “No, I don’t think he would. What about going on a picnic on your first day off?”
“I’d like that, but my days off aren’t set. I might have to work odd hours, especially until the new nurse arrives. Angel and I will be busy.”
“You let me know when your first day off is, and we’ll go on that picnic,” Logan told Kat.
“But you might be working.”
Logan shook his head. “You forget that I work for my brother. He’ll understand. And if he doesn’t, I’ll challenge him to a duel with wooden swords like we did when we were kids.”
Kat giggled. “You really are a knight, aren’t you?”
Logan just smiled as did Josephine, who had been watching them from her corner in the dining room.
Chapter 9
Doctor Ashworthy was pleased that Reverend Theodore had mentioned the hospital would be open for a tour after church services. As he looked at the group of people filling the hospital lobby and many more waiting outside, he knew most everyone who'd attended church had come for the tour.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of Creede," Doctor Ashworthy began. "Thank you for coming to the opening of Creede’s new general hospital. My name is Doctor Calvin Ashworthy, but I prefer to be called Doctor Ash or just Ash, if you prefer. Before I begin our tour of the new hospital, I would like to introduce the nurses that will be here to care for your needs.”
Doctor Ash motioned for Kat and Angel to step forward, and he said, “I would like to introduce you to Nurse Angel Thorne and Nurse Katerina Lorbiecki. We will have a third nurse arriving in Creede soon, but until then, Nurse Thorne and Nurse Lorbiecki will be here to assist me to remedy any and all health needs you may have.”
The group of citizens smiled while listening to Doctor Ash’s speech; most of the men were smiling at Kat and Angel.
Kat was acutely aware that Logan, who had accompanied his brother to the opening, was watching her. He smiled at her each time she glanced his way. Once, he winked. Not knowing what to do with his intense attention, she did her best to not look in his direction.
Doctor Ashworthy continued, “I believe you will all be well-pleased with this new addition to Creede. We are currently standing in the lobby of the hospital. Behind me is a long hallway. If you follow me, I will show you the general layout of the hospital.”
Doctor Ash turned and walked through the doorway and into the hall. He turned back, held out his arms, and said, “On either side of this hall are the examination rooms and wards. To my right is the female ward, and to my left is the male ward. Each ward contains eight beds, and the wards can be divided into two smaller wards to accommodate children. Or, if there is a large incident in which quite a few men or women are injured, different sections of the wards can be closed off and used for either female or male patients.”
Murmurs and nods of approval went up in the crowd as individuals stepped forward to peek into the two wards. Kat felt Logan watching her closely as she walked down the long hallway with Doctor Ash and Angel.
Doctor Ash pointed behind him and said, “At the end of the hall to my right is the nurse’s quarters. And to my far left is my office. I have a cot in the office in case I’m needed when we have patients admitted to the hospital requiring constant care. In the center, between the nurse’s quarters and my office, is the surgical suite.”
A man, dressed like a miner, steppe
d forward and asked, “What kind of surgery are you gonna do in there?”
Doctor Ash smiled and said, “I’m able to do any surgery required, from setting a broken bone protruding from the skin to removing bullets or other objects; from repairing internal injuries from a knife wound to amputations or more complicated surgeries needed to save patients with infections. I also deliver babies.”
The man nodded his head and mumbled, “I think he’s gonna do a good job here.”
Doctor Ash accepted the compliment and continued with the tour. “Our laboratory is housed in the basement, along with the morgue and kitchen. Our hospital will serve only nutritious meals to our patients, prepared here, on the premises.”
Doctor Ash looked around at the faces of his future patients and smiled again. “The second floor of the hospital is still under construction. When it is finished, it will have semi-private and private rooms for contagious patients or those who prefer or need a quieter atmosphere for recuperation.
"Are there any questions?”
A short, white-haired man raised his hand and asked, “This is a pretty fancy place. What if I’m sick and I don’t have any money?”
Doctor Ash answered, “That’s an excellent question, and I want each one of you to know that anyone who walks in the door of this hospital in need of care will not be denied. I’m here to care for your health and wellbeing and not to get rich. I left New York to find a quieter life with people I could truly care for. Do not hesitate to come to us for help.”
People quietly applauded.
The same small man said, “All right, but I’d feel bad not paying. Would you take a chicken if I don’t have any money?”
Doctor Ash nodded. “Of course. We can use it to make chicken soup in our kitchen for the patients. Chicken soup is good for what ails you, my mother always said.”
This brought a round of laughter from the crowd as they moved back to the lobby.
“One last thing: if there aren’t any patients in the hospital, I might be at home. Do not let that keep you from coming here for care. If one of the nurses isn’t here, we will always have a person at the front desk to show you to a room to rest while they summon me. Care is available twenty-four hours a day.”
People shuffled around, watching Doctor Ash and admiring the calm, ocean scene paintings gracing the lobby walls. “Again,” Doctor Ash said, addressing the people in the lobby, "thank you for coming. Please feel free to have cake, cookies, coffee, or punch. There is a table set up outside. While you enjoy the refreshments, the others waiting outside will be able to have a tour. Enjoy your day.”
Doctor Ash noticed several women speaking to Angel and Kat as most of the group moved outside. He knew the women were more comfortable speaking to the nurses about women’s issues, but he was confident that, in time, everyone in Creede would come to trust him, and the ladies would come to the hospital to have their babies delivered.
A second wave of citizens filled the lobby, and Doctor Ash repeated his tour. When he was done, these people also drifted outside to enjoy the refreshments. Everyone, that is, except for the elderly, white-haired man who had asked questions earlier.
“May I help you?” Doctor Ash asked.
“Yeah, Doc, I don’t feel so good. It started last night after I had a few drinks.”
Concerned there might be an outbreak of illness caused by bad alcohol, Doctor Ash asked, “Were you drinking in the saloon?”
“Nah, I can’t afford that. My neighbor makes his own, and I bought a jug yesterday. I think it didn’t cure right,” the man said, rubbing his stomach.
“Have you eaten anything today? Drank some water?”
“Water? No. I had a cup of coffee but nothin’ to eat.”
Doctor Ash saw Logan standing near the hospital's entrance and called him over. “Could you get a few cookies and a large glass of water for this gentleman?”
Logan nodded and hurried off to get the requested food and water.
Doctor Ash said, “Nurse Kat, would you help this gentleman to a bed and get his history?”
“Yes, Doctor. Please, come this way,” Kat said to the man.
Logan returned with six cookies and a Mason jar full of water. “They didn’t have any glasses, just small cups, so I brought you a jar of water and an empty cup.”
“Thank you. Follow me.” Doctor Ash spun on his heels and entered the examination room.
Doctor Ash read the notes Kat had written from the information the elderly man had shared. After examining the man, Doctor Ash said, “First, I would advise you not to drink any more homemade liquor. Second, when drinking alcohol to excess, you need to drink clear, clean water in the morning to keep your body hydrated. Third, you must eat something, even if you don’t feel hungry. I would advise toasted bread, crackers, or even a few cookies. Stay away from bacon and eggs or fried potatoes until lunch.”
“All right, Doc, I can do that. I’m not buying any more alcohol from my neighbor. Do ya think he poisoned me?”
“No. From what you told Nurse Kat, you drank enough to make you ill, especially if it wasn’t the best-made alcohol. I had Logan bring you a few cookies and some water. I want you to eat as many cookies as you need to feel full but not overly so. First, drink a cup of water. Drink one while eating the cookies, and one after you finish, then lay here for a while until you feel better.”
Doctor Ash watched Logan bring in the cookies and water and hand them to Kat. Logan winked at her before he left the room. He hoped one of his new nurses wasn’t planning on marrying and leaving the hospital short-handed.
Chapter 10
Two weeks later
Kat enjoyed her day at work, even though only one person showed up for care. Peaceful days at the hospital were far and few between back home. She also knew it would take a while for people to trust Doctor Ash and the care they would receive at the hospital.
Kat delighted in the fact that a small Western town would have the luxury of bathing before leaving home after a hectic day at the hospital. Before she entered the bathing area, she pushed open the rear door leading from the back hall to a small area behind the hospital that would eventually have plants and flowers and chairs in which employees could sit to and take a break. Kat heard Leer’s voice. She took a step outside to see him and Logan unloading a wagon of supplies into the storage room. Kat had enjoyed the last two weeks of picnics and suppers with Logan, and Susanna adored him. She didn’t want to interrupt their work, but she couldn’t help overhearing part of their conversation.
Leer laughed. “Oh, I nearly forgot,” he said. He pulled a yellow sheet of paper out of his pocket and waved it at Logan. “Your fiancée is looking for you. You must have mentioned I was in Creede because she sent me this telegram, asking me if I knew where you were.”
Kat stepped back into the building and quietly closed the door. Fiancée? Logan had a fiancée. That wasn’t possible, was it? She had opened her heart and taken a chance on him. He was gentle, attentive to Susanna, and charming. He couldn’t be like most of the men she'd known in her past.
She fought back tears, silently chastising herself for being so stupid as to trust a man—any man. Kat hurried through the nurses’ quarters, out to the hospital proper, and exited via a side door to keep her from seeing either Leer or Logan.
Logan pulled the telegram from Leer’s hand and read:
Sean O’Leary
Creede Colorado
Terrible accident STOP
Husband dead STOP
Logan still holds my heart STOP
Do you know where he is STOP
Ewa Palbarch
San Francisco
Logan crumpled the telegram in his fist and scowled at his brother. “You didn’t tell her I was here, did you? Because if you did, I’d have to leave, and I don't want to do that after meeting Kat.”
Leer continued to laugh as he shook his head. “No, don’t worry. I didn’t answer the telegram. The last thing we need is Ewa here, looking for you. I sti
ll don’t understand what you saw in her.”
Logan blew out a breath. “Thanks. I was lonely, I guess. You have to answer to tell her I’m not here.”
“That would be a lie. Remember what Ma used to say about telling lies?”
“Yeah, it’s a sin, but it’s also forgivable if it’ll save my life,” Logan pleaded. “I can’t have her turn up here.”
Leer seemed to do his best to control his laughter at his brother’s situation and said, “Listen—I could send her a telegram and say I heard you'd headed back to New York. That was what you were going to do in the first place—leave when construction was finished—but then you met Kat. I could tell her you have someone else…”
“No,” Logan shouted. “That woman is crazy. She’d come here and cause trouble. She’s not even using her married name. Maybe she killed him. He had a terrible temper. I can see her shooting him if he tried to hit her.”
Leer held up his hands. “All right. I’ll send a telegram saying you headed back to New York. It's only a small lie.”
“Thanks. She might come here and shoot me, otherwise,” Logan said, stuffing the yellow slip of paper into his pocket. “We better get these supplies unloaded.”
When they were done, Logan drove the cart behind the storage shed and unhooked the horse. A young co-worker took the horse to the small stable near the workshop, and Logan hurried home to clean up and change; he was taking Kat and Susanna to supper, and he didn’t want to be late.
Less than thirty minutes later, he knocked on Kat’s front door.
Kat opened the door and looked him straight in the eyes, “May I help you, Mister O’Leary?”
“Mister O’Leary? What happened to Logan?”
Kat raised her eyebrows and continued staring at him. “Did you need something?”
Logan frowned and said, “Did you forget? I’m here to take you and Susanna to supper.”
“No, I didn’t forget,” Kat countered. “I believe it is you who has forgotten something.”
Charming the Caregiver Page 5