by Cyndi Raye
“I never suspected Mercy cared about me one bit,” Frank mentioned. “She’s always been quiet around me.”
“Not quiet, shy. There is a difference, Frank.” Hope collected their plates. “Now, how about we take a walk to the school for dessert? The children are expecting everyone to show up and see their art work, and they’ve decided to sing a few songs, too. It will be exciting.”
Frank pushed his chair back, pulling the napkin from his lap. He placed it on the table, offering to help clean up.
“No, you are my guest. I’ll clean up quickly. I think we should go to be sure we don’t miss the children’s presentation.”
Frank and David went out on the porch while Hope cleared off the table. It was late in the evening, and yet the daylight still filtered in from the clouds. Tall pines left shadows on the street, but it wouldn’t get dark for at least another hour.
The three hurried up the street to the school house when a joyful song floated out the open windows of the large structure. A combination of children’s voices, along with the teacher’s guiding voice, had the three anxious to get there. “We don’t want to miss any more,” Hope called, pulling her husband’s hand. Frank’s long legs kept up with them, and he was soon standing in the back of the school room as the children’s chorus sang away.
Mercy was near the front, holding hands with two small girls. They looked shy and afraid until Mercy began to sway back and forth, guiding them along. Her voice rose above the rest, its beauty and clarity not lost on the crowd. Everyone looked to watch her belt out the song.
Frank was mesmerized. He didn’t know Mercy had such a wondrous voice. But then, there were a lot of things he didn’t know about her or had even tried to get to know. Shame began to wind its way from the back of his head to the tips of his shoes.
She had been here all along. And yet, he had pretty ignored her for years, even though deep in his heart he knew she was the one he wanted. A surge of anger went through him at the wasted years, and now he wasn’t sure if she’d want him after all this time.
Hope said Mercy loved him, too. Was it true or was she simply assuming? Maybe it was time to find out. He didn’t want to scare her off with another kiss and lose any real chance of telling her how he felt.
He’d have to convince her that everything he said was the honest truth. When the music was over and everyone clapped exuberantly to show their appreciation, the guests were invited to help themselves to dessert. Frank stood in line with the everyone else, waiting his turn to be served.
He stood in the line where Mercy was handing out cake. When he stood in front of the table and reached out his hand, hers touched him by accident. She looked up and blinked several times. “Oh! I didn’t know you were attending our social. Thank you for coming.”
Frank grinned. “Did you make this?” It looked identical to the cake she had given him as a welcome home gift.
“Yes,” she offered shyly. Then, more boldly, “Didn’t you already have cake today?”
He laughed out loud and picked up a fork. Taking his time, he put a piece on the fork and lifted it to his mouth. “Yes, I sure did, and it’s so good I want more.”
As he spoke, he looked intently into her bright violet eyes. They were so different from any color he’d ever seen. Mercy’s were violet, like a dainty spring flower, and her red hair made her look unique and beautiful to him.
She clearly did not know how beautiful she was. He was going to make it a point to let her know, but she was opening her mouth to say something. He was entranced as he focused on her sweet smile.
“Doctor Mason, there are others behind you!” Her words were spoken quietly enough, but one of the children called out.
“Doctor Mason! Doctor Mason!”
Frank looked away to get a hold of himself. He side-stepped out of the way, excusing himself and moving to the back of the room. He stood against the wall, embarrassed that she caught him staring. Well, at least she’d know how he felt. But, was it too late?
Sheriff Knight and Deputy Will stood beside him, eating their sweets as well. The three watched the others from the back of the school while enjoying their goodies.
“I’m here for the desserts,” David mentioned, stuffing another huge bite in his mouth.
“Me too,” Deputy Will said. “There’s cookies with icing on top. I’ll be back.” He pushed off the wall to get more sweets.
The sheriff laughed. “Can’t keep him in shape. He’s ten years younger than me and twice the size. When I was that age, I didn’t have a gut the size of a barrel.”
Frank laughed. “I recall you had some baby fat on you.”
“Yeah, when I was ten. Deputy Will needs to cut back on the sweets. You can’t tell him a thing though.”
“Cupid will hit him on the head sooner or later, and he’ll drop weight like a squirrel running for a nut that fell from a tree.”
“You think so? As long as he can do his job, that’s all I care about. Don’t want no outlaws getting away from him if he can’t keep up.”
Frank shook his head. “Send him to Old Doc Roberts for a physical.”
Sheriff Knight laughed out loud. “If he’s not fishing. Hope tells me he is there maybe two days a week any more. She’s lucky to be working, even though I told her she can stay home.”
“Two days a week? What do the residents do for the other days?”
“If there’s an emergency they know to go find him at the lake or cottage. He has a small camp right outside of town. His housekeeper goes with him.”
Frank was surprised. “Mabel?”
David nodded. “She’s still his housekeeper, but we all know what’s going on. He doesn’t try to hide it.”
“No kidding?”
“Doc told Hope they’re too old to get married, and he doesn’t care if they live in sin. He’s in love and that’s all that is important.”
“Doesn’t he realize it’s her reputation to worry about, not his?”
David shrugged. “She doesn’t seem to mind. You know the folks here. Everyone has some quirks, and we don’t judge like they do in the big cities. I guess they all feel the same way about the doc. As long as he does his job, no one is complaining.”
“Good for him. He’s been single for a long, long time. He’s dedicated his life to this town.” Frank wondered if he’d ever be able to stay in one place long enough to feel that way.
It wasn’t long before the children began to leave, some complaining until they were led outside by the stern voice of a parent. The sheriff stayed to make sure everyone got home safely so Frank stuck around, determined to walk Mercy home.
When she was packed up and ready to leave, he went to her. “Do you mind if I escort you home?”
She looked around to make sure he was talking to her. “If you’d like to. You don’t have to though.”
He didn’t understand why she’d say that. “I want to Mercy, and I‘d be obliged if you’d say yes.”
She nodded. “Yes.”
As they left together, he intended to make it clear that he had his mind set on making Mercy his wife. If she’d have him.
Chapter 3
Mercy wasn’t sure what Frank’s intent was, but she liked the company on the way home. Sometimes it was darker than she liked when she was on her way, even though nothing dangerous ever happened in Belle. It was a relatively quiet town. Except for last year when the bells were stolen. That was another story, though.
She was content to walk beside him, not speaking. It felt natural to have him here. They had known each other since her family moved here when she was about eight years old. She knew almost everyone in town except for some of the newer residents. “Do you ever miss them?” she asked.
“My parents?” He nodded, immediately knowing who she meant. “I do. I want to go visit their grave before I leave.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Not for a while. Sooner or later, I have to accept a position somewhere. I didn’t go to medical scho
ol to come home and be idle.”
She understood. He was probably anxious to get started. Mercy sighed. There was no sense getting herself in an uproar over him. He wasn’t planning to stay. She had to be strong enough to accept his friendship and not fall in love.
It was probably too late not to fall in love.
She didn’t remember a time she didn’t love him.
But now, she had to let him go. It was time to make peace with the past and move forward. Maybe even marry someday. Yet, the thought of marrying someone else made her stomach upset. She placed a hand over it.
“Are you ill?” he asked.
Why did he seem to notice every little thing about her? “No. I probably did too much today after just getting over a cold.” At least that would give her a good excuse if she had to get away from him. Feigning sickness was a valid and appropriate excuse, wasn’t it?
He tucked his arm through hers. “Let’s make sure you get home safely,” he told her, his voice stern. The shock that went through her at his touch made her even more woozy. By the time she got home, she’d be so dizzy he’d have to carry her inside!
It didn’t happen that way, of course, but he did walk her to the door. When she looked into his eyes, she knew he was going to say something. Did she want to hear what he had to say?
“Mercy, I came home because I had to make things right.”
“From what I understand, you did. Hope and David appreciate that you asked for their forgiveness.”
“How did you know?”
She didn’t know what to say. Everyone was talking about it. “I heard it mentioned at the school before the dessert social.”
“Did that town gossip stand at David’s door listening to me? I came straight from the stage to the sheriff’s office.”
She shook her head. “No, I believe she mentioned she was walking down the alley and accidentally heard you as she walked by the kitchen window this evening on her way to the school.”
It was spring, the signs of warm weather stayed well into the evening. A window or two open sent a breeze through the homes this time of year. It didn’t surprise him that their voices carried outside. But the sheriff’s home was beside an alley and she happened to be walking by? Frank sighed. “I’m sure she accidentally heard my words.”
Mercy laughed. “Well, let me see if I can recall the order of things. Lucy Mae told Charity when she went to the café, who told Natalie’s grandmother as she was dining there. Then, Ruth Winslow from the boarding house came in to buy some sweets and was told. From there, Mildred at the newspaper found out, and low and behold the teacher Grace Winkleman mentioned it this evening. I overheard everyone talking about you.”
His eyes were filled with humor. She felt quite bold when he gazed at her and she couldn’t help but smile back. Before she realized his intentions, Frank lifted the back of his hand and ran it down her cheek. She ached to lean into it but knew better. This was not going to help her when he left.
She turned away, reaching for the door knob. “Goodnight, Frank.”
<><>
“Wait, Mercy! Did I say something or do something wrong?”
It was time to explain. “Frank, you left here to go to medical school engaged to Hope. You’re back now and will leave someday, probably very soon. I’m not sure why you are attaching yourself to me, but I honestly don’t think you should. Goodnight.”
“I didn’t want to marry Hope! It was a foolish mistake when I promised her mother that I’d take care of her. I didn’t mean I’d marry her. I meant I’d help to look out for her, you know, like a good neighbor. In her will, she had it written differently, and I didn’t have the courage to contradict a will! I’m sorry, Mercy, it was you I’ve loved all along!”
He was standing facing a closed door. She had already gone inside. Had she heard anything he said? He knocked on the door, then turned when he heard a voice from the street.
“Everything alright there, son?” One of the neighbors from the end of the block stopped.
“It’s fine. I had to escort Mercy home as she wasn’t feeling good.”
“Thank you, son. I guess I should call you doctor now.”
“It’s fine, sir. I don’t need to be called doctor in my home town.”
“Have a good night now,” he told Frank, standing there while Frank took himself off the porch and started across the grass. He turned back once to see the man and his wife waiting until Frank opened his own door and went inside.
He may be from this town, but there were some here who still didn’t trust him. Especially now that his name was being mentioned all over town thanks to that gossip. He ran a hand through his hair, took off his jacket and went back outside to sit on the front porch.
Except there were no chairs outside to sit on. Standing by the porch railing, he gazed over at Mercy’s home. It was dark except for one small lantern glowing through the upstairs window. Her house was neat and tidy, the rows of flowers along the side starting to bloom. Pink, lavender and yellow colors were hidden by the darkness of the night. Frank knew they were there. Every single year those same flowers had sprung up. He remembered looking at them while he waited to see when Mercy left her house.
Why hadn’t he ever mentioned to her that he was interested? He shook his head, shoving his hands deep in his pockets. Leaning back on the balls of his feet, he stared up at the night sky, its tiny stars peeking through the darkness. It sure was beautiful here. Not like the city.
He had missed home. The last four years had been hectic and rough and he barely had time to look up and enjoy city life. He thought he’d want to stay there and become a surgeon someday.
Yet, standing here made him realize he’d be content living out his life in Belle.
As long as he had someone to come home to. He glanced up at her window again. It was now dark, but he swore there was a slight movement, unless the curtain caught a light breeze. Except, there was no breeze this evening.
Frank’s mouth turned up slightly before he turned in for the night.
Maybe there was hope after all.
<><><>
Frank woke to the harsh sounds of banging at the front door. “Doctor Mason! We need some help!”
He quickly got dressed and ran downstairs, buttoning his shirt as he swung open the door. Mercy and another woman stood alongside a small boy, no older than ten. She was holding his hand and steered him inside.
“What’s going on?”
“This young man fell and the doctor is away. Can you help him?” Mercy asked, begging him with a look of desperation.
There was no way he’d ever be able to refuse her. “Of course! Let’s get him on the kitchen table and see what’s wrong.” Frank scooped him up, now seeing that his arm was wrapped.
A whimper came out of his small mouth. His mother tried to comfort him. “It’s fine, he is a doctor.”
The boy stared at Frank as he sat him down and began to unwrap the cloth.
“Are you really a doctor?” he asked, his bottom lip trembling with fear.
“Yes, I am. What’s your name, young man?”
“Carson.”
Frank noticed the paleness of his skin. He didn’t want the boy passing out. “Well, Carson. What do you want to be when you grow up?”
The boy shrugged. “I’m too little to know.”
Frank tilted his head, trying to get the boy’s attention away from the bloody cloth. “When I was your age, I wanted to fish all day and night and catch the biggest fish ever.”
The boy’s eyes got huge. “You did?”
“I sure did.”
“Did you ever catch it?”
Frank had been concentrating on the boy’s arm so hard, when he looked down he found to his surprise that Mercy had filled a bowl with water. She set it alongside the boy on the table and handed him a clean cloth, then answered for him. “I don’t believe he’s ever caught the biggest fish,” Mercy added, smiling at the tear-stained face.
She gave Frank a con
cerned look. The boy’s arm had been sliced open and the blood didn’t want to stop. He shook his head slightly to let her know she didn’t have to worry. Frank looked at the boy’s mother, whose face was drawn and pale. He nodded to Mercy to help the woman into a chair. “Let’s give the doctor some room to work,” he heard her say.
Carson’s big brown eyes were on Frank. He sighed, knowing the boy was about to hurt more. “It looks like you sliced your arm pretty good, young man. How about we put some stitches in there and make it better?”
“Will it hurt?”
Mercy took his other hand. “It may hurt a little, but I’ll be right here to help you get through and then you’ll feel so much better.”
Carson looked for his mother to make sure she was still in the room. When he saw her sitting on the chair, he turned to stare at Mercy with curiosity. “You have bright hair!” he whispered.
The tension in the room softened. Frank was threading a needle while Mercy spoke to the boy, trying to keep his mind occupied. He wondered if she knew how good of a nurse she made.
At the first stitch, Carson cried out but Frank had no choice. If he didn’t stitch the boy’s arm, he’d bleed to death. That wasn’t going to happen in Belle. He tried to help calm the little fellow. “Carson, would you like to go fishing with me?”
His eyes widened? With pools of tears in his eyes, he nodded, his lower lip puffed out. “Can she come, too?” When Frank looked up, he watched how the boy was hanging onto Mercy’s hand.
“Yes, if she wants to.” He had to put another stitch in and concentrated on doing his job. He smiled when he heard Mercy say she’d be happy to go fishing with them.
After putting in several more stitches, he cleaned the area and wrapped it well in case the boy got into any dirt. His mother had finally come to her senses and kept thanking Frank.
He held up a hand. “It’s fine, ma’am. He must keep the bandage on until I can take a look at it next week.”
“I appreciate all you did for him, Doctor Mason.”