Love's Sporting Chance: Volume 2: 5 Romantic Sporting Novellas

by Cynthia Hickey

  ~

  Jay took care of a couple of errands after leaving Mizz Bell’s house. The second took him past the house again. He kept turning around to look until the house vanished from sight. With that, he sprinted down the street and arrived at the office with a slight sheen on his forehead. Several wagons waited outside, and Pa would be upset at Jay’s late return.

  He took the easy way out: he went to the back door.

  It didn’t work. Georgina Cook, his father’s assistant, opened it as he came in. She held onto his arm as he walked down the hall. “How are they? Tell me all about Laura and Eliza.”

  Jay knew he could trust Mrs. Cook’s discretion, but he dodged the question. “To listen to you, there’s not a single lady my age in all of Plymouth.”

  Mrs. Cook put her hands on her hips. “None that you look at. Now answer my question.”

  “They’re—all right.” He couldn’t possibly describe the sisters in the limited time he had.

  “You like one of them.” Mrs. Cook grinned. “It’s about time.”

  “Stop playing matchmaker.” Jay walked past her. “Right now, I have a room full of patients I need to see.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll handle them.” Mrs. Cook walked with him to the front room. “It’s a good thing you arrived when you did. Your father got called to a birthing after you left.”

  Jay surveyed the people waiting. Miss Murphy came in at least twice a week with imagined complaints. Mrs. Cook would spend time with her and call him in if necessary.

  He didn’t know what everyone else needed. Young Eli Morgan was here for his monthly check up on his asthma. Although he was sick, waiting awhile wouldn’t make a different.

  While he was studying the day’s patients, Mr. Bailey, a local farmer, stumbled in. Blood poured from a mangled arm. Jay rushed him onto his examining table in his office. His wife held on to his uninjured hand, her face calm in spite of the fear that must be consuming her. Her presence, at least for now, was a powerful medicine. He had seen it on the battlefield, where men clutched a memento of their loved ones to their chests as they died.

  Jay gritted his teeth as if he could chew up and spit those memories as he checked Mr. Bailey’s injury. His left arm dangled lifelessly from his shoulder, bones jutting out at awkward angles. More dangerous still was the deep cut on his forearm. “What happened?”

  Mrs. Bailey described the accident with a saw while Jay set to work. As blood continued to flow from Eli’s arm, he paled and passed out.

  “How bad is it, Doc?” Mrs. Bailey asked.

  How Jay hated that question. “It might be best for you to wait in the front room.”

  Fear flashed in her eyes, but she agreed. “I can pray out there as well as in here.” She squeezed her husband’s hand, kissed his forehead, and left.

  The instruments came to Jay’s hand without thought. First, he administered laudanum to ease the pain. After that, he got the bleeding to stop, sterilized the wound and sewed it up.

  Only time would tell if he had done enough, soon enough.

  He paused long enough to wash his hands and arms and take a drink of water before he set the arm. He was pouring a glass of water when the door opened.

  Jay turned as Pa studied the pile of red-stained sheets in the corner, Eli’s blood-soaked clothes, and the careful stitches along the cauterized cut. “You did well, son. I couldn’t have done this.”

  Jay was too tired to acknowledge his father’s praise. “I could use your help setting his arms.”

  Half an hour passed while they did what they could with his arm. If he lived, it would hang awkwardly, but he might be able to use it again someday.

  Mrs. Cook knocked at the door as they finished. With one look at Jay, she shooed him from the room. “I’ll clean up and make sure everything is sterilized. You give Mrs. Bailey the news and catch your breath before you see anyone else.”

  Mrs. Bailey, of course. How long had she been waiting? Jay walked into the front room.

  “Doc Jay.” Mrs. Bailey jumped out of her chair. “How is my husband? Did he … make it?”

  “Yes.” Jay wouldn’t tell her of the dangers ahead. Time for that if they developed. “But I would like for him to stay here overnight, maybe longer.”

  She made arrangements with Mrs. Cook to spend the night with her husband while Jay moved on to the next patient. The day passed quickly in a haze of infections and minor ailments. Finally, as he said goodbye to the last patient, Mrs. Cook bustled in. “Miss Murphy said she’d come back another day. Everyone has left.”

  Pa stepped into the room with Mrs. Cook. “I’ll take the first watch with Mr. Bailey, son. Go get some rest.” He patted Jay on the back.

  Too tired to argue, Jay walked to the back room and stretched out on his cot. Before he fell sleep, Laura Evans came to mind. She had been through a day like today with her sister, and she’d survived. He held onto that thought as he closed his eyes.

  CHAPTER THREE

  When Laura awoke the following morning, her surroundings confused her. Then she remembered. Nebraska. Aunt Minnie. She sprang out of bed, headed for the window, and opened it an inch. Through her shivers, she thought she heard grasshoppers. Grasshoppers, in September? It seemed unlikely.

  After a few moments, she realized the sound came from a sparrow perched on a tree branch outside her window. A grasshopper sparrow, she decided to call it. How comforting to have two familiar things on her first morning, a bird and a sound she recognized, if not together.

  Instead of pine and salty air, she smelled dust and what she could only call sunshine. When they’d left Maine behind, she’d wondered how much she would miss the sea. Her aunt said winters were still fierce, but they were different from New England’s.

  Laura hadn’t been in Nebraska long enough to decide whether or not she liked it as well as Maine. But Eliza had already perked up, and she was the reason why they’d come, after all.

  The young Dr. Andrews was another definite plus. She hadn’t had a lot of time for men. One young man, crippled in the war, had asked to court her. Laura’s face still flamed when she thought about the way she’d treated him. He’d mistaken her pity for his condition for affection, but she’d rather remain single than marry a man she didn’t love or one who didn’t love her sister. And now, as old as she was, she had resigned herself to life as a spinster, taking care of her sister.

  From what Aunt Minnie had said, most of the residents of Plymouth would stop by over the next few days to inspect the new residents. Apparently, they were friendlier than Mainers. Laura wished all the visitors would give them time to settle in. She preferred to meet people in small groups of two or three. Travelling side by side with total strangers across country had drained her desire to be social.

  A look in the mirror in daylight confirmed her suspicions. In spite of the sponge bath she had taken last night, a thin layer of dust coated her face and neck. Would it be terribly selfish to take a bath today?

  Laura had unpacked her Bible the night before and set it on her bedside table, reminding her to begin her day with God. But through the door she heard noises in the kitchen, and she felt compelled to help Aunt Minnie with breakfast and get Eliza ready for the day. Forgive me, Lord. Later, I promise. She pushed aside memories of too many broken promises.

  When Laura enter the kitchen, she found Aunt Minnie speeding around, everything she needed within easy reach. Bacon sizzled in an iron pan and a bowl of johnny cake batter waited. Among other things, a large water pot bubbled on the stove. “Good morning,” Laura said.

  “Aren’t you the early bird.” She nodded toward the boiling water. “I thought you and Eliza might enjoy a warm bath after your long trip.”

  “Very much. What can I do assist you?”

  Aunt Minnie put her hands on her hips. “Why don’t you help Eliza? You can show me how to do that later.”

  Her aunt wanted to help take care of Eliza? Laura had expected to take care of both of them.

  “I�
�ll get her out here in time for that delicious meal.” Laura shook her head, still wondering how her invalid aunt expected to help.

  Laura was surprised to see Eliza sitting up in bed, reading her Bible, journal in hand, making notes as she read. She glanced up when Laura came in. “Good morning!”

  “How—what—?” Laura couldn’t put her question into words.

  Eliza laughed. “Look at this.” She pointed to a bar hanging over her bed. “I wondered all night what this was for. This morning I decided to see if I could reach it. The next thing you know, I had dragged my back against the headboard. Why, I think, with practice, I might be able to sit on the side of the bed. Even—transfer to the chair.” The longer she talked, the faster the words came out.

  Laura let the words wash over her, neither supporting nor denying her sister’s unrealistic dreams. “Let’s get dressed, shall we? What do you want to wear?”

  Eliza giggled. “Did you look in your closet? Check mine.”

  A new calico dress, the colors of the Nebraska prairie, hung in the closet, along with a few unmentionables. “This will look lovely on you. Aunt Minnie has prepared a bath. Do you want to go first?”

  Eliza thought about it, and shook her head. She’d had a couple of baths on the journey, since they hadn’t wanted to risk her health. Getting in and out of the tubs was an ordeal she preferred to avoid. The soft cotton slid over her body easily. She insisted on brushing her own hair, twisting it into a simple bun at the back of her neck.

  Before long, Laura placed her hands on the back of the chair and wheeled Eliza into the sitting room. Laura hadn’t changed from her dressing gown, since she planned to take her bath after breakfast.

  Someone knocked at the door.

  “That’s probably Jay.” Aunt Minnie called over a whistling tea kettle. “He comes by for breakfast most mornings.”

  Laura stared at her dressing gown. She was in no shape to see a man.

  Eliza poked her arm. “He’s a doctor. He’s seen worse.”

  He hadn’t seen her like this. But either she answered the door or was rude to a man who had been nothing but kind to her.

  To her surprise, Jay looked even worse than she felt.

  ~

  Jay had awakened early, head pounding, bones and muscles reminding of the nights on the cold, hard ground during the war. He started coffee while he scrubbed himself from head to foot at the sink, almost rubbing his skin raw, as if bathing could wash away the bad memories.

  After Jay dressed, gulped down two cups of strong coffee, and checked on Mr. Bailey, he felt strong enough to take his morning stroll. Since his move to Plymouth, he had taken long walks while he talked things over with the Lord. Slivers of silver light slipped into the night sky, and the moon hovered low in the west. He loved this time of day.

  Did God get tired of the repetitive nature of his prayers? Over and over again, they had the same conversation. Lord, will I ever forget the past? Will I ever be free from the haunting nightmares? He pumped his arms in time with his legs, loosening the tension that had built up overnight.

  Sometimes God was silent to Jay’s pleas. Today he heard that still small voice. I’ve turned those experiences into good. You helped Eli yesterday because of that war. You’ll be able to help Eliza Evans.

  Jay had learned surgery during years at the warfront. On some days, he could even thank God for it. Today he wanted it to change, or least to be able to put it behind him.

  By the time God had filled his heart with peace, sunrise had brightened the streets, and he went to his place of refuge. He turned off the main street and headed for the Bell house. He knocked and waited. Usually Mizz Bell took a few minutes to walk to the door from the kitchen. Instead, the door was opened only a moment later. A startled Laura Evans stared at him as if he were Jacob Marley.

  She hadn’t changed out of her dressing gown. Her hair, not yet arranged, fluffed around her face. Her dishabille only increased her attractiveness, but her face turned a bright red. “Doctor—Jay. Come in.” As she turned, he could see her buttoning the dressing gown up to her neck. “Aunt Minnie is fixing a delicious breakfast.”

  Eliza sat by the table, stretching her arms to fix an extra place setting. Mizz Bell had never fixed so much food—flapjacks, fluffy eggs, sausage links and crisp country ham. For her company, of course. He should have stayed away now that her nieces had arrived.

  Jay stopped without entering the kitchen. “I’m sorry for disturbing you today. Call me if you need me.” Although he spoke to Mizz Bell, he looked at Laura, as if asking forgiveness.

  She pushed her hair behind her ears. “Aunt Minnie fixed enough for an army.”

  Jay winced at the word army.

  “So please stay. I know Eliza has questions about the bar she found over her bed.” When Laura’s lips parted in a tiny smile, the tautness of her face suggested she didn’t smile much. A terrible shame, considering how it brightened not only her face but the entire room.

  A desire to make her smile from ear to ear seized him. If she smiled, then maybe he could forget the latest nightmare. “I accept.” He took the seat next to Eliza and across from Laura. He looked into her cool blue eyes. Speaking to Eliza, he said, “You found the trapeze bar, then.”

  “Trapeze bar?” Eliza’s forehead wrinkled. “Isn’t that a circus act, where they fly high above the ground?”

  “That’s one use for it.” Which sometimes resulted in paralysis for the performers. “But it’s also good for people in your situation. Since you can move your arms, you can grab ahold of it and maybe move your body a little. You can do more than you know with your arms.”

  “I pulled myself up in bed this morning.” She straightened in her chair.

  “Eliza.” Laura sounded scandalized at the mention of her bed.

  “That’s a very good sign,” he said. One question answered. Eliza wanted to do more for herself. Now to cut the cord that bound her to Laura, whose desire to help kept Eliza from taking care of herself? Soon he hoped to examine Eliza in the office, to begin the process of rehabilitation.

  Conversation turned to the sisters’ descriptions of the trip west. “Maine is full of lakes and rivers. But I never saw anything like the Mississippi,” Eliza said.

  They had crossed the river between Illinois and Iowa. “It was so wide, I could imagine crossing the ocean.” Laura’s eyes sparkled like the sun bouncing off rippling water.

  “Have you ever been east of the Mississippi, Jay?” Eliza asked.

  Mizz Bell’s eyes opened wide. She knew his past enough to know how that question might open old wounds. He kept his answer simple. “During the war.”

  Eliza’s face paled. “Of course. I’m sorry.”

  He shook his head. “It’s not a problem. Before the war, the farthest I’d traveled from home was medical school. After that, I became a wanderer until I joined Pa here in Plymouth.

  “The fact Plymouth had two such fine doctors was one of the reasons I moved here.” Mizz Bell took a tray of pancakes from the warming oven. “Does anyone want some more of these blueberry johnny cakes? What a treat. Laura brought the berries all the way from Maine.”

  Jay had never eaten johnny cakes with blueberries in them before, such tiny purple berries that packed so much flavor. “They’re delicious.”

  His hostess beamed.

  Laura didn’t look as pleased. “If only we could have brought more, we could have enjoyed all those wonderful blueberry dishes, pie, and muffins, and…”

  Mizz Bell interrupted. “We needed to use them quickly before they spoiled. We’ll enjoy the blueberry jam you brought all winter.”

  “Would you like to take a jar to bring home with you?” Without waiting for an answer, Laura disappeared into the pantry. She brought out a jar of dark bluish purple that almost matched her eyes when she held it up against her face.

  Blueberry eyes. He’d have to remember that. “Thank you very much.” Their hands brushed when she gave him the jar, sending a tremor
up his arm.

  He had to get out of there, before this woman with the frightened face and blueberry eyes turned his heart upside down.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Laura spent breakfast trying not to stare at their guest. She should have become used to that handsome face by now, but she found her eyes constantly wanting to see if the reality matched the image in her mind. Every glance proved he was more handsome than she could even imagine.

  Jay wiped his mouth. “Thanks as always for the delicious breakfast, Mizz Bell, but I better get to the office.” He stood and turned to the sisters. “Hope to see you at church tomorrow, Miss Eliza, Miss Laura.”

  Was it her imagination, or did he look at her for an extra second before he stepped out the door?

  Laura looked at her aunt. “Did I say something wrong?”

  Aunt Minnie shook her head, a funny look on her face. “If I had to guess, I would say he’s smitten.”

  Eliza giggled, more carefree than she had sounded in ages. “He likes you, Laura.”

  Laura shook her head, loosening her bun so that her hair tumbled down her shoulders. “Don’t be ridiculous. If he is, he has a funny way of showing it. Does he often show up without warning?”

  “He does.” Her aunt closed her mouth as if to ward off further questions. “I expect you to welcome him as a member of the family. He means a great deal to me.”

  “Why is he going to the office on a Saturday?” Eliza asked. “Doesn’t he take the day off, except for emergencies?”

  Laura looked at the tub of water ready for her bath. “After I’m dressed for the day, why don’t we go see while we’re checking out the town?”

  While Laura fixed the bath water, Eliza said, “So you like him too.”

  Laura ignored the comment, gathering towels, soap, and clean clothes before she stepped in the tub. Ah, this was heavenly. She soaked in the warmth, recharging her tired body and letting her mind wander.

  Nebraska was working wonders for Eliza—or maybe it was Jay. She had grabbed the trapeze bar like a toy and chattered like a jaybird. She hadn’t been so lively since her accident.