by Cyndi Raye
“I’m so sorry.” She pushed a strand of hair back before letting out a puff of air. Her pulse was racing so hard it felt as if it’d pulse right through her skin. “I was visiting with Hank and didn’t realize what time it was.”
“Old man Parley! I hear he’s gotten so miserable no one will talk to him anymore.”
Martha waved and gave her a smile while Frank ran a hand through his hair.
“I go see him so the rumors are not true.”
Frank nodded, still a look of concern on his face. A small crease ran across his forehead. She hadn’t noticed that before. “Sit down, Mercy.”
Mercy joined Martha at the table, sitting alongside of her. “Hello, Martha.”
The other woman’s hands were clasped in her lap. Mercy felt compassion for her, she was so nervous. It was probably from living day to day in fear of her husband. Thank the Lord he was gone. Mercy made a vow to help her in any way she needed. Dear Lord, help me to be a good friend.
After listening to Frank explain the roles both women would play in his practice, he asked if there were any questions. “If not, I’ll see you both at seven sharp tomorrow morning. We may as well get this room in order for next week’s patients.”
“I have some time now, Doctor Mason. If you’d like, I can start today.”
Frank nodded. “That’s fine. Where is Carson?”
“One of the lovely ladies from town is sitting with him. Hope, the sheriff’s wife, offered to attend to him today. She said since the doctor has practically put her out of a job, she needed to spend her time doing good deeds. I was happy for the help.”
“Hope is a kind person,” Frank told her. He turned to Mercy. “Do you want to start today also? It’s fine if you have other plans.”
“We are a team so I’ll help all I can,” she told him, giving him encouragement. She was supposed to visit with Thomas Rider today, but was glad to miss the visit. The man kind of made her feel uneasy anyway. The last time she was over to help with his flower beds, he got way too close, brushing against her arm with his and lingering there. He had offered to make lemonade and tried to talk her into going inside. Luckily, the next-door neighbor stopped in at the same time so they sat on the back porch having a cool drink instead. Mercy was reluctant to go back over again this afternoon and now she had a good excuse not to. She wanted to be courteous and let him know. “I must quickly run down the street to Thomas Rider’s house to let him know I’ll help with his garden another day.”
Frank tilted his head. His gaze moved slowly to her hands, which were twisted together. She hadn’t realized she was behaving so peculiarly. The thought of Thomas did make her worry, especially since the last time she was there. He was a strange neighbor who had only moved into the neighborhood this past month. Everyone was trying to be kind to him since he lived alone in a house that needed so much work. Several people had already offered to help him. It was what the townsfolk did, help each other.
“I can go tell him if you want to help Martha,” Frank offered.
Relief that she didn’t have to face him today surged through her. Mercy was grateful. “If you don’t mind. Let him know I’m helping to get the office opened up, so I’ll help with his garden soon.”
“Certainly. Thank you, ladies. I appreciate the help.” Frank walked to the front door, then turned around, his eyes on her.
“Was there something else, Frank?” she asked.
He shook his head, then turned around and left.
Martha stood. “We better get started.”
They gathered strips of material and a bucket to wash down the walls of the parlor. There was thick dust on shelves of bookcases and around the edges of the furniture, causing a cloud of dust in the air when they wiped it down. Frank had set a bottle on the counter to add to the wash water. He mentioned it would sanitize the room.
Pouring some of the disinfectant in as instructed, the women got busy wiping down walls. There wasn’t much furniture in the parlor any more. Mercy remembered it being wall to wall settees and chairs in here. She wondered if Frank had given things away to someone in need before he left for medical school. He had the same type of kindness inside of him that Mercy did. If she saw someone needed something, she’d do whatever she could to help them.
It was refreshing to know Frank was still the same, even after being away four years. “Frank told me yesterday that Doc Roberts will be dropping off some medicines and supplies to get him started. The doc should be here within the hour,” Martha told her.
“I’m excited for this new venture, aren’t you, Martha?”
“I’m scared to death. I’ve never been on my own before.” The woman brushed a curl from her eye.
Mercy gave her a hug. “It will all work out. You are not alone, Martha. The town of Belle will make sure nothing bad ever happens to you. We’ll all help you as much as we can.”
“I appreciate the kindness, believe me. No one has ever done so much for me before.”
Mercy smiled, dipping her rag in the bucket. “Well, that’s why you wound up in Belle. We all help each other no matter what. And there may be a time someone needs your help as well. I’m glad you are here. Doctor Mason will be a good employer to you.”
Mercy just wondered if the same doctor would be a good employer to her?
<><><>
Frank strolled a few blocks down the street until he came to the old mansion. The yard was overgrown with weeds on one end, while another side was cleared away. A small garden enclosed by a black wrought iron fence about two feet high encased several rows of vegetables that had been planted recently. Some of the plants were weeded out while the other parts still needed done. This must’ve been what Mercy was working on.
The atmosphere around the property felt as eerie as a story Frank once read as a child. Tall pines stood towering over the back of the property line while overgrown bushes and trees grew throughout the yard. Frank took a few steps at a time, noticing how the wooden stairs creaked under the weight. No wonder Mercy was nervous when she mentioned this place.
The door flew open the moment he knocked as if the man was expecting someone. He was probably waiting on Mercy. Then Frank looked into his eyes and saw anger flash there when he realized it wasn’t her. At least that’s what Frank thought. The man gave him a look of utter surprise. “May I help you?”
“Are you Thomas Rider? I’m here for Mercy.”
Thomas’s eyes shifted back and forth, shocked that she wasn’t standing in his yard. “I’m Thomas. Where is she?” he asked, a desperate note in his tone.
Frank stepped closer, perusing the man. There was something off about him, although he wasn’t able to pinpoint the exact issue. Frank had studied psychology in medical school and noticed how he shifted his eyes back and forth. The desperation in his eyes when he realized Mercy wasn’t at the door made Frank question his sanity. Those were signs something was off about him.
Instinct told him this man was not to be trusted and he was surprised no one in the neighborhood had noticed. That was unusual for Belle.
“My name is Frank Mason. Dr. Frank Mason. I’m opening a practice to help Doc Roberts a few days a week, and Mercy is going to be my nurse. She wanted you to know she can’t help you today.” Or, any day if I have any say in the matter!
Another flash of anger crossed Thomas Rider’s eyes before he tried to hide it. “Do you know when she will be able to come back?”
Frank hesitated. He didn’t want to lie to the man, but he didn’t want Mercy coming back here, ever. “I’m not sure. I have a lot of work to do to get the office ready. It will be awhile before she can help her neighbors again.”
“Do you mean a few days? A few weeks? What exactly do you mean?” he asked, his tone of voice sounding almost desperate.
Frank leaned in. “I do not know, sir. But I will tell you this; Mercy means a lot to me. We’ve been neighbors for a long, long time. I’m right next door to her and I care deeply for her well-being. I just want to ma
ke that clear.”
He didn’t wait for the man to say anything since it looked as if he meant to argue with Frank. His training told him to assert himself and move on. That’s what he did. Stomping across the yard, he went through the gate, closing it behind him.
The man called out. “You can’t keep her from coming here.”
Frank swung around. “She’s going to be working. I’m sorry but she’ll have to help you another time. Is there a problem with that?”
The man raised a fist and shook it. “I mean it, Doctor Mason. You can’t keep her from me.”
Frank kept walking. She was not going back there. He wasn’t going to mention their conversation to Mercy, but now he knew he had to. He swung towards Main street to talk to the sheriff first.
David Knight was busy speaking with a tall woman so he waited outside until she left. When he said hello, she looked terrified before nodding to him. He went inside to find David and the deputy discussing the last visitor.
“She wasn’t sure who but thinks someone has been watching her house.”
Frank caught the last part of the conversation. “Where does she live?”
“Oh, hey Frank. That’s Mrs. Smith, one of your neighbors on the far end of Tall Pine Lane. Lost her husband a few years back and lives alone with her two children. Have you noticed anything out of place on your street since you returned?”
“I think I may be able to solve this mystery. Mercy has been helping the man that moved into the old mansion, Thomas Rider. I volunteered to let him know she won’t be coming today since she’s helping Martha get my office up and running. He seemed frustrated and upset that she wasn’t going to be there. His beady eyes were darting all around looking for her, and he told me I can’t keep her away from him. I thought that was unusual.”
“That a fact?” the sheriff said, standing up from his desk and staring out the large window. “Why would he get upset? The neighbors have been helping him with the yard. Mildred has taken him some baked goods a few times.”
“I don’t know. I got a bad feeling when I was there. I don’t want her going back.”
“A man’s intuition is nothing to frown upon,” David told him. “We’ll be keeping an eye on him. Do you fear Mercy is in danger?”
Frank shrugged. “I can’t rightly say, but I know he was upset that I showed up instead of her. I’ll keep close watch on her to make sure she goes nowhere near that place. I let him know she means a lot to me.”
The sheriff nodded. “Thanks, Frank. If you keep an eye on Mercy, I can concentrate on keeping watch on Mrs. Smith’s house. Perhaps it’s time to make a house call myself, let him know we’re watching his every move. Nobody gets away with crime in Belle.”
Relief went through Frank’s whole body as he walked home. The sheriff was tough. He didn’t put up with any nonsense. It made a man feel good about his home town knowing the law was doing its job.
Now all he had to do was convince Mercy she needed to listen and stay away from that mansion. He knew she liked helping others always had. She was the perfect nurse.
She was the perfect woman.
Chapter 6
Frank seemed to be taking a long time to speak with Thomas Rider. She turned to Martha who was finishing up the last wall. “Don’t you think Frank’s been gone awhile?”
“Doctor Mason? I hadn’t noticed.” Martha watched her reaction and then smiled. “Oh, Marcy. You like him, don’t you?”
She had never revealed to anyone her feelings for the doctor. Martha was so kind and seemed like the type of person that didn’t judge others. “I think I do.”
“You think so? Well, you either do or you don’t, Mercy. There’s no in-between with love.”
She sighed, pushing another loose tendril from her brow. “I suppose you can call it love then.” She glanced up to find Martha smiling and shaking her head. “What is so funny?”
Martha picked up her bucket and the pile of rags. “I believe the good doctor may have the same feelings, dear. He seems enamored by you. I’ve caught him staring at you when you aren’t looking.”
Martha’s words made her blush. “Even so, I worry that he will leave here when he finds the right position. So, I don’t want to tell him my true feelings, though he did mention something the other night about me being the one for him.”
“What!”
“Well, through a closed door. He doesn’t know I heard him.”
“You haven’t told him you know how he feels? Oh, Mercy! He is clearly in love with you. What are you waiting on?”
“I’m not sure. It’s a long story.”
“Well, I’ve got plenty of time. We’ll talk tomorrow since your doctor is back. I see him coming down the street.”
Mercy looked out the window and watched Frank swaggering down the street like he owned Tall Pines Lane. She gave Martha a quick smile. “He sure does have the looks, doesn’t he?”
“If you like his type,” Martha laughed. “I best be heading home to Carson.”
Frank came inside, a frown on his brow. He nodded to the ladies before looking around the newly washed parlor. “It’s starting to smell so much cleaner in here. Thank you, ladies.”
“I must be getting back home to Carson, Dr. Mason. Is there anything else you need from me today?”
Frank shook his head. “Not that I can think of. We’ll start again at seven sharp tomorrow morning. You can bring Carson if you need to. I have plenty of books to keep him occupied.”
“Thank you, sir. I may have to do that.” The door closed softly when Martha left. Mercy gathered up the bucket and took it out back to dump the water. When she came back inside, Frank still stood in the same place, staring at the wall of the far side of the parlor.
“Is everything okay, Frank. You look perplexed.”
He turned to her, a serious look on his face. Was he going to fire her? Already? She put the bucket away and wiped her hands, worried now that she did something wrong.
“We need to converse, Mercy. Do you mind taking a seat?”
“Certainly.” She sat on the edge of the settee in the parlor. Frank sat beside her and took her hand. Oh dear, here it comes! He’s been gone all afternoon. What did he want to tell her?
“You’re not going to be pleased when I tell you this, but I had to go see the sheriff today.”
Relief struck her like a fast-moving winter storm. “You’re not firing me, then?”
He smiled. “No, Mercy. I’d never fire you.”
“Will you tell me what is wrong?”
When Frank looked into her eyes, she realized he was deeply concerned. “I went to speak with Thomas Rider, and his reaction to you not coming today has me worried about you going back there.”
The moment Frank mentioned Thomas Rider’s name, her shoulders tensed and she began to bite the inside of her mouth. “What did he say? Or do?”
Frank hesitated, as if he didn’t want to tell her at first. “He was angry that you hadn’t shown up today and informed me that I can’t keep you away from him.”
Her hand flew to her throat. She felt her pulse thumping away below her fingers. “He makes me very nervous,” she admitted.
Frank tensed. “Has he ever done anything inappropriate?”
“He kept inviting me inside, but I always refused. Then he’d brush his arm against mine.”
“He touched you?”
“No, it may have been an accident. We were working side by side.” She didn’t want to accuse the man if she wasn’t sure. How would she know unless she went inside and that she wasn’t about to do?
“Did it make you uncomfortable, Mercy?”
“Very much so,” she admitted. Maybe she should not have told him. The look in Frank’s eyes worried her. They were on fire.
“I promised the sheriff I’d keep you close and watch your house. I’m afraid he’s going to be busy watching a neighbor’s houses since Mrs. Smith complained someone was snooping around her place last night.”
“Oh!
Do you think it was him?” This wasn’t good news. From the feelings she got when she was at the mansion, Mercy swore she’d never go back there. “I’ll never go near that man again. Do you think he’s watching my house, too?”
“I don’t think he has been.”
Mercy gave him a look. How would he know? “We can’t be sure though.”
“I can. I’m the only one watching your house at night, Mercy.”
“Oh!”
“I wake up several times during the night and wind up staring out my window. Your house is right in my path of sight. I’d know if someone watched you.” He took both her hands in his. “Mercy, I care for you so much. I want you to know how much you mean to me. We’ve been neighbors for so long and I’ve ignored you for years growing up, but all I wanted to do was study and read. I’m sorry for not paying more attention to you.”
Mercy was surprised at his admission. She gave him a nervous smile. “I forgive you, Frank. We are friends now, after all.”
He brought his handsome face closer. “Is that all you want from me, Mercy? Just to be friends?”
Dare she admit how she felt? Did she tell him she already knew he admitted how much he cared for her? She took a deep breath and held it in for a moment, contemplating what to say next. She closed her eyes, unable to look him in the eye for her next admission. “I heard you through the door, Frank. I heard you say its always been me you loved.”
The room went quiet, not even the breeze through the window made the curtain flap. Mercy was afraid to open her eyes. What if he had changed his mind?
A deep guttural sound came from his chest. He lifted both her hands and placed them in his. “Mercy, look at me. Open your eyes.”
Her lids fluttered open. When she saw the way he was watching her, those deeply intense eyes filled with a warmth she couldn’t decipher, a tear slid down her face. She wanted to swipe it away but he had her hands in his and wouldn’t let go. He leaned down and kissed her hands, one at a time and then pulled them to his chest.