by Etta Foster
There was a pinch as Luanne started wrapping her arm with the bandage.
“Yes,” Luanne drawled. “You’ll first learn to crawl and then walk. But I’m sure any dancing skills will certainly be decrepit.”
Louise decided to ignore her sister. “I wonder how long that would take. Would your doctor know? What if we need an expert?”
Her sister jerked her head up with a strange glint in her eye. “Then go to Louisiana,” Luanne told her sternly. “Don’t you remember? On the other side of Gramercy is that healing clinic. We used to joke it was a spa,” she added.
Louise shook her head, not recalling what she was talking about. “Whatever do you mean? How do you know this?”
Her feet continued to dance beneath her. Now her free hand fiddled with her skirts, finding a loose thread to pull.
Her older sister shrugged. “I never went there, of course. But I’ve heard tell of it.
“Some type of hospital for such a thing. They treat people with odd limbs that don’t work properly. What, you think a country doctor could help? No, you need a special place for something as silly as legs that won’t work right.”
Though Luanne ended it with a note of sarcasm, Louise’s heart surged hopefully. She turned to Richard.
“That’s it,” she told him. “We can go there. You must. You want to walk again, don’t you? Perhaps they can help. Another miracle.”
“I can’t just go to a strange place and hope something like that works,” Richard shook his head. Since Mrs. Pennyworth was done, he studied his bandage and then shrugged.
Louise stood as her sister finished as well. “But we must try! Gramercy isn’t a strange place. I can - I’ll come with you and show you the town. This could work, I know it.”
Her heart soared even as Richard shrugged. “What about Jacob? This is my home. My ranch. I can’t leave Jacob. I can’t just… go anywhere.”
“You wouldn’t be going just anywhere if she knows the town,” Mrs. Pennyworth scoffed at him.
“Besides, Jacob won’t be alone,” Luanne reminded him and gestured to the housekeeper. “She’ll be here. And I can stay as well to keep them company.”
When Louise looked at her sister in surprise, Luanne merely shrugged and dropped her gaze.
She set her amazement aside. They were going to help. That’s what mattered.
The fear she had endured that afternoon was wiped clean away as she thought about Richard standing and laughing again. He would be happy and safe and well.
“It’s a wonderful idea,” she pressed. “Consider it, Richard. If you want to walk again, shouldn’t we be willing to try anything?”
Richard fell quiet.
His anger had faded during their walk. After the attack, his mood had softened. Even now, there was hardly any bitterness in his voice.
Taking a step forward, Louise prayed fervently for him to consider this. He wanted so badly to walk again.
They would have to sort out some details, to be certain. Jacob would need to talk to his brother about the ranch. And if her sister wanted to stay, then they would need to work that out.
Louise forgot about the throbbing in her arm. The pounding in her heart was much too strong to ignore. She could think of nothing else.
Richard could walk again. She just knew it.
Chapter 29
“I guess this is goodbye.”
He could hardly say the words before Mrs. Pennyworth reached for him. Richard hesitated before patting her back.
It was hard to imagine he was leaving home. Besides a couple of cattle runs, he had hardly ever left town.
This land was everything to him. It was the ranch his parents had built before he was born. He planned to live there all his life.
And now, he was leaving.
“I’ll be back soon,” Richard offered when the woman didn’t let go.
Fortunately, the woman caught on. “Soon,” she repeated purposefully. “You will return to us soon. Sitting or walking, we want you back in one piece. Understood?”
Nodding, he dropped his gaze. “Yes, ma’am.”
The last two weeks had changed everything. There had been endless discussions to consider leaving town for his health.
He hoped he had packed everything. Inside his luggage were his clothes with enough money to finance him for several months, possibly more.
But even all the luggage waiting out for him in the cart didn’t feel like enough. There was an itch in his brain as though he was certain he was missing something. Richard glanced around, patting his pockets.
“On the bright side,” Luanne offered, “you can’t possibly get any worse.”
Louise muttered something to her sister under her breath.
Richard bit his tongue to hold back a response. He had been working on that lately.
After checking every day that he could still feel his legs, it was easier to have a bright attitude. Not a lot, but enough that he was trying not to antagonize everyone.
“Are you sure about this?” Jacob frowned at him.
Shaking his head, Richard scoffed. “You wanted the ranch, so you’re getting the ranch. At least for the next couple of months. See how you really like it out here on your own.”
Luanne and Mrs. Pennyworth waved them off before they headed towards town in the wagon.
It was a blistery day, but the sun was shining again, and the snow was melting. His legs tingled and the cuts on his arm were healing well.
Maybe it was a miracle.
The hope in his chest dampened as they reached the train station.
Scooting to the end of the wagon, he grudgingly accepted himself to be carried to his chair. Jacob didn’t bang his elbow or legs this time.
Still neither of them was comfortable about the chore.
Wrapping his coat tightly around him, Richard shifted to get comfortable. In the process, he could feel eyes on him. The itch slowed him down.
He squirmed and couldn’t resist taking a look around. There were folks around the train station and in the street. Most were familiar faces he had known all his life.
“Jacob, is that you?” a familiar voice called.
His brother helped Louise down before he turned. Richard looked up to see the pastor’s wife and her twins coming from the haberdashery.
“Mrs. Roberts,” Jacob nodded to them. “Rachel. Johnny. It’s good to see you all. How was your Christmas?”
The woman beamed up at him, nudging her young teenage children. “Just lovely. It’s been a beautiful, spiritual time.
“You missed my husband’s last sermon, did you not? Just last Sunday. We missed you in the crowd.”
“Oh.” Jacob glanced back at Richard who had his head down. He didn’t know what to say to them and from the side glances they tossed, they didn’t know either. “We decided it was best to stay home.”
Richard wished he hadn’t put it like that. Now it forced the Roberts to look at him.
Mrs. Roberts’s eyes softened as she bent forward like he was a child she had to crouch down to see eye to eye.
The woman breathed softly. “Yes, Richard. We heard about the accident. My family and I are all so sorry for your accident. It’s a terrible happenstance.”
His mouth grew dry as he tried to think of something to say. “Thank you,” he managed.
But that didn’t feel right. There was nothing to thank them for. There was nothing they could do to help him.
An awkward silence began to settle between them.
It was Louise who stepped up. “I’m sorry to interrupt,” she offered politely, “but I think it best we turn to the train’s platform. We don’t want to have to rush later.”
“Oh?” Mrs. Roberts asked. “Are you going somewhere?”
“Not me,” Jacob shook his head. “They are. Louisiana.”
Richard inhaled sharply, wishing his brother wasn’t telling everyone the news. But it was too late.
“To a healing facility,” he explained as he threw his
brother a look. “For my legs.”
Mrs. Roberts clutched her heart. “Oh, that is just darling! Why, I do believe that’s wonderful. We’ll pray for you.” She smiled cheerfully before falling quiet. Then she turned to her children. “Well, we had best be on our way. It was lovely running into you.”
They left but the awkwardness lingered. Richard rubbed his legs, then his face, then his hands.
He cleared his throat. “Get me out of here.”
It wasn’t fast enough. There were other people who stared at him, familiar faces who offered their condolences and pity.
Before they made it up the platform, Richard had a pounding headache. All of it reminded him why he had avoided town since the incident.
“Did you tell everyone?” He threw Jacob a look once they were settled on the platform. “Why does everyone know?”
Jacob shrugged as he pulled off his hat to wipe his damp brow. “I don’t think so. No. I don’t know? It’s not like it matters. People would talk about anything.”
He bit his tongue to hold back the sharp words. It was only the whistle of a train coming around the valley that held his thoughts back. Richard shook his head and sighed.
“You don’t have to sound so thrilled,” his brother said.
Richard just glared. No one else could understand what it felt like to be stared at like such a helpless mess.
After working all his life to be a good man, a helpful man, he was now as helpless as a baby.
No one gave him respect, just pity.
The train pulled up and people stepped down. Then there were a few folks who climbed on.
He stared at the stairs and realized he hadn’t thought about those. There was a bitter taste in his mouth as he held back a groan.
His brother sighed and turned away as Louise murmured, “I forgot about the stairs.”
She stood beside him, hands clasped, as they looked for where Jacob had gone.
Richard hoped it had been to find a ramp. But his brother came back with two strong men who were willing to help him up.
It was embarrassing as strange gentlemen carried him onto the train.
He wanted to close his eyes to block it out. But he couldn’t trust them and forced himself to keep his eyes open until he was securely settled onto a rail bench.
The men nodded to him and disappeared.
“Send me a wire if you need anything.” Richard glanced up to see Jacob rubbing his hands together. “Or a letter. Let me know how it… how everything… Well, you know.” Jacob hesitated. “I hope it works, you know.”
Richard remembered his brother’s confession. He wondered what Jacob really wanted.
Pursing his lips, Richard turned away. “We’ll see.”
Before his brother could respond, Louise reached them. The young woman was flushed as she smiled shyly. “I’m ready if you are,” she offered.
“Right.” Jacob shrugged. “About time you two left,” he said bitterly.
Louise watched him go before she slid onto the bench beside Richard. She smelled sweet and fresh. It was almost too much for him to bear.
Richard tried to scoot further down the bench, but there was limited space. Annoyed with strangers, his brother, and now a woman who could never understand, he wished he was back alone in his bedroom.
Louise noticed something was off. “Richard, are you all right? Is something wrong?”
He turned towards the window. “Fine.”
“It’s going to be all right,” she offered in an encouraging tone. “I know this is the right choice. They can help you. You’ll only need help for - for a short time. And then you’ll be walking again.”
Already he knew that her eyes would be opened wide and hopeful. She would be thinking too many cheerful thoughts.
They couldn’t have so much hope.
She had so much that it was dancing off her like the brightness of the sun. He could hardly stand it.
Richard focused his gaze on the world outside the window. The day was still clear and bright, shining above them. It used to be his favorite way to start the day.
But now, he wasn’t certain. It was too bright. So bright that it irritated him.
His eyes darted about, not even pausing as the train started to roll. Soon, the world was flying by. It was mostly white. But there were flecks of color that caught his attention.
He could feel the beating of his heart fall in sync with the wheels of the train beneath them.
The irritation flooding through his system slowly slipped away. Everything disappeared. Richard was in his own world all alone.
Perhaps there, he would learn to stand and walk again.
As he closed his eyes, Richard prayed that it was possible. Some way in some day. It had to be.
He leaned against the bench to think. And in the back of his mind, he could hear a familiar sweet voice humming.
Chapter 30
Her first train ride had not been very pleasant.
Louise could still remember sitting anxiously, twisting her hands and fiddling with her bag. Luanne had been there. She had not been very supportive.
Now, her second train ride was quiet. There were several children at the front of the car, but they never came over by her.
Louise tried not to be disappointed.
Again, she was seated on the end of the bench by the aisle, eyeing everyone curiously to bide her time.
She hummed and she watched.
Eventually, the snow faded. There were mountains they passed, and then hills. The outside world turned brown and green. Louise wondered if she was imagining a familiar scent or if it was just her knowing she had returned home.
Home. A shiver ran down her spine.
She loved her parents but found herself reluctant to return. She wondered what they would think.
Luanne had written their parents a letter to explain their new situation, but Louise realized she didn’t know how her sister had phrased everything.
She supposed that either way, she would find out soon enough.
Her thoughts consumed her as they made their way off the train with the help of kind strangers.
Richard fumbled grumpily with his things but said nothing. They looked around for several minutes before realizing they hadn’t planned a way to go anywhere.
Louise thought of the healing center, called McCoy’s. They had a meeting the following morning. But not wanting to be rushed, they had decided to arrive the day before to settle themselves.
“Ah.” Louise cleared her throat and turned to Richard. It didn’t look like he had rested during their journey. “I suppose we should employ a cart.”
He nodded. “We have enough bags that we need the help. Are there any boarding houses by McCoy’s?”
She stared at him in confusion.
“I - I thought we would stay at my parents’ house?” she offered. It had not been said aloud, but she thought it was assumed. “They live just south of here. We’ll be quite welcome.”
But as she explained, a shadowy expression crossed Richard’s face.
He shook his head. “We will not be staying with your parents.”
“Why not?” she asked in dismay. They didn’t have anywhere else to go. “Richard, they have the space. I know we won’t be very comfortable there, but it shouldn’t be for long.”
“I don’t want to,” he told her.
“I know I haven’t always spoken kindly of them, but they are good people,” Louise offered. “There’s enough space and food, so there’s nothing to worry about. I’m certain my parents will be more than happy to have us.”
He shook his head adamantly. “I will not meet your parents as a cripple. Not yet, not until I’m walking as a proper son-in-law.”
His words were forcefully said, but it wasn’t the tone that caught her attention. She paused, not wanting to make a big deal out of it. After all, she could see the shame in his eyes.
But he had hope that he could recover. Her heart skipped a beat. He had fait
h for a recovery and a future marriage.
Slowly, Louise nodded and let out a deep breath. He had certainly surprised her. She licked her lips and tried to think.
Though she had hoped he felt that way and prayed daily for his spirits to lighten, Louise wasn’t certain of his thoughts about their future.