Bride for Matthew

by Kirsten Osbourne

  “Absolutely. I’m always looking for other medical professionals to join my team. The local midwife won’t help me at all. Refuses to believe in the curative properties of the springs. With you being a midwife as well, maybe we could work together.”

  Sinead frowned. “I’m sorry, Dr. Jenkins, but you must have misheard. I’m not a midwife at all. I’m a doctor, with a medical degree.”

  Dr. Jenkins threw back his head and laughed. “Who would teach medicine to a woman?”

  She sighed. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Dr. Jenkins. Perhaps you have an opening around ten?”

  “I take my lunch at noon. You can talk to me during my lunch, but I don’t have any free time otherwise. I have patients to attend to.”

  “I’ll bring my lunch and eat with you. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to me.” She smiled sweetly as she turned away, but inwardly she was seething. She had to get over her anger and remember that anger only hurt the person who was angry, not the people around them.

  Chapter Three

  Sinead walked back home alone. She wanted to think on her strategy when she talked to Dr. Jenkins the next day. While she was thinking, she decided to bake bread. She’d done it a couple of times at Miss Hazel’s place, and she had detailed instructions to follow. She knew she could wait for Molly, but she decided she was more interested in learning what she could do on her own.

  So she mixed the bread dough and then stood at her work table, kneading the bread. Kneading bread was harder than it looked. It was physical work, which was good, because her brain needed to be focused on the problem at hand.

  As the dough was rising, she made herself some of the leftover stew from the night before for lunch. She still wasn’t sure what to make for supper that night, and she really hoped that Molly would get back soon to help her.

  As soon as she’d eaten, she took another walk through the town. She was feeling restless already, and that was never good.

  She met up with Molly. “I have bread rising in my house. I had no help.”

  “You’re getting better at this housewife thing!” Molly grinned at her. “What are you making for supper tonight?”

  Sinead raised her hands palm up. She had no idea what to make for supper. She’d already cooked the only meal she knew how to make by herself for her new husband for breakfast. As much as he liked her pancakes, she just didn’t see him enjoying them for every meal.

  Molly looped her arm through Sinead’s. “Come on, Doc. I’ll help you figure something out.”

  With Molly’s help, there was a pot roast with potatoes, gravy, and carrots for supper. And fresh bread, of course.

  Matthew came in earlier than expected so he could help with supper. When he stepped into the cabin, he could smell the wonderful aroma of supper in the air. He looked around, smiling.

  “You cooked!”

  Sinead laughed. “I only did the bread by myself. Molly helped with everything else. She’s a good friend to me.” Sinead hurried to put supper on the table, pleased that it was done early. The real reason it was finished so early was that Molly had to go get supper ready for her husband and couldn’t dawdle all day with Sinead. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  “Famished!” While he washed his hands, she set the table and loaded it up with the feast she and her friend had made. Never in his life had Matthew felt more pride for anyone than he did his little doctor bride at that moment. He sat down at the table and watched her finish serving everything. “It smells delicious.”

  “It should be delicious. Left to my own devices, supper would be acceptable. With Molly’s help, I can make a feast you’ll never forget.” She poured them both glasses of water and sat down across from him. “What did you do today?”

  He sighed. “Well, there was a complaint filed by one of the patients at the sanitarium. He claims that he was told that the waters would be magic, that he would be able to walk without a limp after soaking in them and drinking their water for three weeks. When that didn’t work, the doctor sold him some of his patented medicine, and that did nothing. So the man is out a whole lot of money, and he got nothing for it. Dr. Jenkins claims it’s because he didn’t believe strongly enough in the cure.”

  Sinead sighed. “Did you tell him that you have a real doctor who would be happy to examine him?”

  “I did. He said he’d already had enough of doctors, and he was getting on the train in the morning to head back to Toronto.”

  “That’s sad.” She shook her head. “I wish I could have at least talked to him. I hate that the ‘medicine’ around here is so worthless!”

  “So do I. I’m not sure you’re going to be able to change anything, so don’t go pushing your way into a place you’re not wanted.”

  “I have a lunch meeting with Dr. Jenkins tomorrow.”

  He tossed back his water as if he needed something stronger to drink. “And what will this lunch meeting consist of?”

  “I’m going to ask him how he runs the sanitarium. What ingredients are in his medicine. Why he thinks that the springs will cure everything.”

  Matthew groaned. “The entire economy of Cougar Springs is based on the medicinal aspect of those hot springs. You’re going to make a lot of enemies very quickly if you keep walking down that road.”

  Sinead shrugged. “It’s for the good of the people who come here. You can’t tell me you think it’s all right for wealthy people to be swindled by a man who calls himself a doctor!”

  “Of course not, but he’s not doing anything illegal…exactly.”

  “I do believe the springs can help with aches and pains. I would have no problem if that’s all he said. But he’s claiming the springs can cure everything from leprosy to scarlet fever!” She shook her head. “He’s going to allow people who need to see a real doctor to come here for a fake cure. That’s not all right.”

  “No, I agree it’s not. I don’t know what to do about it, though.”

  “That’s why I’m taking my lunch and eating it in his office tomorrow. We will calmly discuss the problem. If he doesn’t think there’s a real problem with what he does, I’ll come up with another plan. So many sick people come to this town…it needs a real doctor. I can be that real doctor, if people will just allow it.” Sinead was getting louder and louder as she spoke. She felt so passionately about what she was saying that she was almost shouting without even realizing it.

  “I think I need to go with you for this little meeting of yours. I don’t think it could possibly end well.”

  Sinead shook her head adamantly. “That would look like I can’t think for myself—needing to bring a lawman, who also happens to be my husband, with me for a simple medical meeting. No, I will not be known as the doctor who hides behind her husband’s red serge jacket!”

  He sighed. “I’m going to make sure I linger in the hallway outside his office, anyway. I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Hurt? Do you think he’ll actually raise a hand to me?” She wasn’t sure what he meant.

  “No, but the sanitarium employs Pinkerton agents to help keep the peace. You are talking about very vocally disturbing the peace of the health institute.”

  Sinead made a face. “I’ll tread carefully—well, as carefully as I can. I feel so strongly about the subject that I may just start shouting whether I intend to or not.”

  “That’s exactly what has me worried. Remember, being angry doesn’t hurt the people around you. It only hurts you.”

  She frowned. “I know. I’ll do my best not to get angry.”

  “Can Molly go with you on your little adventure?”

  “I don’t know. She’s starting her job at the hotel soon. I think. I know she applied, but she didn’t say exactly when she’d start. It’s probably best if I go on my own.”

  “I’m going to put all the Mounties on high alert. We don’t want you hurt in any way.”

  She shrugged. “Are there more Mounties in town, or Pinkerton men?”

  “Th
e Pinkertons outnumber us three to one, but we have better training, and we fight for what’s right.”

  “I’ll do my best not to make your job harder, but there’s injustice going on—medical injustice—and I won’t turn my back on it.” Sinead had taken an oath to help wherever she could when she’d graduated from medical school, and she took it seriously.

  “Just watch out for yourself, and let me watch out for me.”

  Sinead stood, carrying her plate to the basin. “Do you want more to eat?”

  “I would love some more, if you don’t mind.”

  She took his plate and filled it. Taking her place across from him, she studied him. “What can you tell me about Easton?”

  He shrugged. “He’s a good commander. He’s a little odd. He has this thing about hating anything being even a little bit out of place. I have no idea how he’s going to do with his new bride.”

  Sinead frowned. “I hope Molly knows about it so she doesn’t inadvertently upset him.”

  “I hope so, too. He doesn’t handle any kind of change well at all. I don’t know what he was thinking, sending for a mail order bride like he did.”

  After their supper, she did the dishes, then they walked together. “We’re not going to be able to take these evening walks for much longer,” he told her. “I hope you enjoy them while we can. I have to return to my regular work schedule tomorrow, which means not coming home until ten.”

  “Am I allowed to bring you supper at work?”

  “Sure. But it’s also about to get really cold around here. You may want to stay inside instead of traipsing through town to bring me food.”

  “Cold has never bothered me much. I know how to bundle up.” Sinead couldn’t believe he thought cold would bother her. She was a Canadian!

  He laughed. “It’s colder here than it is in Ottawa. You’re going to want to be careful talking about what you’re afraid of and what you’re not until you know what’s coming at you.”

  “Well, I’m going to enjoy it while I can then. I do love a good brisk walk on a cold winter night, but this weather doesn’t even feel like winter! Where’s the snow?”

  He laughed. “I’m not sure we need snow to enjoy ourselves.”

  She stopped short, pointing off into the distance. “What kind of animal is that?”

  “It’s a reindeer.”

  “It looks so sweet. It’s almost like he’s watching us.”

  “I think he probably is. He wants to know if we’re friend or foe. It’s hard to tell from a distance at night.”

  Sinead looked at him skeptically. “And he can tell from a distance during the day? Really?”

  “I like to think so. I think animals have a sense that tells them when someone is a predator. I think most people do too.” He slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him. “I’m glad you came here to marry me, Sinead. Even though you are a doctor.”

  She grinned, resting against his shoulder. They’d known one another only one day, and she was already getting used to his touch. “You love that I’m a doctor and want to take on the evil doctors who are trying to steal from people all the time.”

  “I do? I’m more worried about what’s going to happen. Sinead against the Pinkertons…sounds a bit overpowered their way.”

  “Not at all. Because I have all four of you Mounties on my side, don’t I?”

  He nodded. “Of course you do!”

  “Then how can I be worried? My Mounties trump their Pinkertons any day of the week.”

  *****

  Matthew barely slept through the night because he was so worried about Sinead’s meeting with Dr. Jenkins, who was well known by the Mounties in the area for his crooked ways. At breakfast—pancakes again—he brought it up to her.

  “I’m really worried about your meeting today. Are you sure I can’t go with you?”

  “I would so love to say yes, but I really can’t hide behind you. This is a medical matter, and I’m a doctor. I’ll deal with him.” Sinead loved that he cared already, but she really did need to handle it on her own. There was no other way to do it. Besides, she was pretty sure Dr. Jenkins would use the meeting to try to recruit her as one of his employees. He’d said as much.

  After Matthew left the cabin, he went straight to Easton’s house, where the man was looking around at his place in confusion. Obviously, Molly had left something in a way he disapproved of. “We might have a problem.”

  Easton looked up at his friend. “What’s that?” He seemed genuinely relieved not to have to worry about his own troubles.

  “Sinead has an appointment at lunchtime to see Dr. Jenkins. She’s planning to tell him that the way he’s swindling the guests here is wrong.”

  Easton whistled softly. “That’s not going to go over well. What do you think we should do? Did you try to talk her out of it?”

  Matthew nodded in frustration. “I tried to talk her out of it. I tried to talk her into letting me go with her. I tried everything I could think of. I plan on patrolling the hall outside his office until she leaves.”

  “That’s a good first step. Maybe you and one of the other men can do it together, in case some of the Pinkertons show up. Do you want me to go with you?” Easton was obviously taking the threat just as seriously as Matthew was.

  Matthew thought about the offer for a moment before nodding. “I’d like that a lot. I’m really worried she’s going to get in over her head with him.”

  “There’s no doubt in my mind.” Easton shook his head. “You’ve got a stubborn one there, Matt.”

  “I know I do. She’s strong, and she’s smart as a whip. But stubborn doesn’t begin to describe her. She says it’s her duty to try to intervene.”

  “Then I guess it’s our duty to patrol the hall and make sure she doesn’t get hurt. We may need to put her on a twenty-four-hour guard.”

  “I hope it doesn’t come to that. She promised that she’d try to be careful how she said things and not to be too accusatory. Knowing her passion for the subject, I’m not sure if she can do that. She was yelling at me while we were discussing it over supper. I don’t think she even realized she raised her voice.”

  Easton sighed. “Molly isn’t going to be happy with me if I let her friend get killed right after they arrive. She’s already mad enough.”

  “Why is she mad at you? What did you do?”

  “I got angry with her for making some changes to my cabin. They were big changes!”

  “To you, moving a plate an inch to the left is a big change. Have you told her how important it is to you that things stay the same?”

  “Well, no, because I don’t want her to think I’m crazy.”

  Matthew chuckled. “And you don’t think yelling at her over something minor is going to lead her to that conclusion? I think you need to talk to her about it. I don’t think you’re crazy, and I’ve known about it for years.”

  “I don’t know about that.” Easton shrugged. “I worry what she’ll think of me. I don’t want to ever yell at her again either, though. That was awful of me. I actually went to the saloon and ordered a beer afterward.”

  “Wow.” Matthew knew his friend rarely drank. “You were that upset?”

  “I sure was. Didn’t know what to do with myself, and I had to get out. Being married is harder than I thought it would be.”

  Matthew shrugged. “I’m not having a terrible time of it. I see everything with humor. My wife knows how to make one meal. Pancakes and bacon. So, I’m teaching her to cook and trying to talk her out of having meetings that will make people angry. The latter doesn’t seem to be working, but I’m at least trying.”

  “Trying is good. It’s very good actually. I will follow your lead and try not to yell at my wife if she changes anything else. I know she has to change some things. She wears a dress and I’ll see a dress lying around. Or her shoes. Something!”

  “That’s the spirit.” Matthew clapped him on the back. “What time do you think we should head over
to the hotel?”

  “I’d say we need to be there by half past eleven. Then we know we’ll be there when she arrives.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Matthew eyed the clock, knowing he’d be glancing it at nervously all morning. His sweet wife was going to be the death of him. He could feel it in his bones.

  Chapter Four

  Sinead cleaned her kitchen and hurried through the house, making sure everything was perfectly clean. She didn’t know how long her meeting would be, and she wanted to make sure she’d done as much as she could to get her work completed for the day. Matthew had asked for a wife who stayed home, not a doctor—and certainly not a doctor who set up meetings for the express purpose of taking another “doctor” to task.

  She put on her best “doctor clothes” and made sure every wisp of hair was pinned atop her head as it should be. Being a female doctor was difficult in the best of circumstances…but when a female doctor called an established male doctor out for his business practices, she needed to be dressed her best and feeling her most confident.

  At half past eleven, she began her short walk to the hotel, with her lunch in hand. She carried her medical bag, and she even had the proof of the credentials she’d earned in medical school with her. She refused to allow the man to suggest she might be a midwife again. She had no problem with midwives, of course, but she had studied for too long for her medical degree for anyone to think she was anything but a fully qualified medical doctor.

  Sinead knocked on Dr. Jenkins door at noon on the dot, waiting for him to come to the door. She had passed Matthew and one of his Mountie friends on the way in, but she’d simply shaken her head at them both, hoping they would do nothing to interfere with her meeting.

  Dr. Jenkins opened the door, nodded at her, and invited her inside. “It’s good to see you again, Miss? I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

  “It’s Dr. Montgomery, though my credentials say Dr. Williams. I married just this week.”

  “Montgomery…did you marry that pesky Mountie, Matthew Montgomery?”

  “I did! I’m so glad you know him.” She didn’t wait to be asked to take a seat, but sat down and opened her lunch pail. “So I’d like to hear about your health institute, Dr. Jenkins. What can you tell me about it?”