by Cyndi Raye
She hugged Betsy even tighter, noticing the young child was sucking her thumb, her little body tucked in to her chest. “Betsy,” she whispered. “Please, don’t ever scare me so.”
Betsy looked up at her, those big brown eyes so innocent. Her little body relaxed against hers, Ellie didn’t have the heart to scold her.
Miss Addie watched from the porch, a hand over the older woman’s heart. “Oh, Ellie, is the poor child alright?”
Ellie made her way to the boarding house. “She’s fine, Miss Addie. A little spooked from the commotion. I’m sorry she ran off from you when she saw me crossing over.”
“As long as she is not damaged.” The older woman turned to the child. “Now, young lady, I suppose you think you deserve some pudding for causing such a rucous?”
Her head popped up. “Chocolate pudding?”
“I’m afraid it’s vanilla but just as good. Perhaps we can find a strawberry to flavor the top.”
“Yes, please.” Betsy tried to jump up and down in Ellie’s arms.
“Now, now, child. You can have some pudding as long as you promise me you will never, ever run out in to the street again. As long as you shall live.”
“I promise.” The smile on Becky’s face made Ellie’s heart flutter.
Miss Addie tried to look stern. “Okay, we are going to make a deal, you and I. Put your right hand up and say, I promise never to run out in to the street again.”
The two laughed as Betsy tried to figure out which hand was her right one. She finally put both hands in the air and sang her heart out, promising the world for a bowl of pudding.
The three spent the rest of the afternoon together. Betsy was so happy to have Ellie’s attention, she clung to her side and wouldn’t even go take a nap. Having Miss Addie by her side was like double the attention.
Miss Addie smiled at the girl. “I think Betsy will be a joy to have here in Wichita Falls. Now, would you like to explain where she came from and why you have a child that is clearly not your own.”
They were in the parlor watching Betsy play on the floor by Ellie’s feet. She spoke softly so the little one wouldn’t hear her mention the orphanage. Ellie wanted her to forget that place ever existed.
“As you know I worked at the Children’s Orphan Home for one month prior to coming here. This child was alone in the world. No one to take her. I couldn’t leave her behind so the only way to give her a better life was to offer to indenture her.”
“They agreed to indenture a child this age? That is preposterous!” Miss Addie spoke softly as well, but the outrage on her face showed.
“I’m afraid it may have started something in Charleston. I told the matron how other cities started adapting a mercy train to send poor children with no homes to the west to be taken care of. She thought it would be good for them to be recognized as a facility that does the same. They already apprenticed girls at age twelve and boys at fourteen, so when I asked for Betsy to be indentured and let me teach her the ways of a nurse as she got old enough, they hesitated at first. Then I reminded them about the mercy train, and they thought she would be a model child to start their own mercy train system as well.”
“I understand. They didn’t care what was best for the child, did they?”
“Not at all. I knew if she was ever to get away from there, she would have to come with me. This was the only way.”
Miss Addie nodded. “What are the requirements?”
“Each year I must write a letter of progress. I am also required to clothe, feed and house her until the indentured period is over.”
“I see.”
“Upon her eighteenth birthday, she will receive monies and tools of her trade, which will be the skills of nursing. Most girls learn how to be a seamstress. I will teach her those skills, however, she will be the best nurse the west has ever seen.”
“This you agreed to?”
“Yes, like I said, I had no choice. I don’t plan on turning her out at the end of the period. Betsy will be my daughter as well. I can only hope Dr. James will accept her.”
Miss Addie smiled and patted her hand. “Don’t fret, dear. The way he rescued her this afternoon was simply wonderful. It won’t take him long at all to fall head over heels in love with the child.”
“Thank you, Miss Addie. I can’t express enough the kindness you have shown me, even though I deceived everyone.”
“This was something that was out of your control, my dear. God has plans for each one of us. Your journey is beginning. Now, come help me get supper started. I’m going to have some hungry guests in a few hours.”
Ellie watched over her shoulder as Betsy played on the floor in the parlor as she helped make dinner. She was starting to roll the dough for some fresh baked biscuits when the little one saw what she was doing. “I help, too?” her little voice suggested.
“Come on over here.” Ellie helped her on to a chair. She wrapped a towel around Betsy’s waist and handed her the old wooden rolling pin. They spent the next hour tossing dough in the air and rolling it out until Miss Ellie noted it was time to clean up and set the table.
Several times after supper Ellie gazed out the front window to see if the doctor’s office was still filled with patients. Slipping outside on the porch, she peered down the street. There were three customers waiting, which meant two others were inside in the waiting room. Ellie sighed. It was getting late.
Would he make it here by eight?
Betsy fumbled at the front door, looking for her. “Nurse Ellwee, where are you? Look what we have!”
Miss Addie was right behind with a tray. “We’re having some lemonade. Join us, Miss Ellie.”
The three sat on the porch, sipping lemonade, laughing and talking. Ellie kept gazing at the doctor’s building, noticing there was no longer anyone sitting on the porch waiting. That meant the good doctor would be closing shop soon.
She sighed in relief. It was best they discuss their situation and get it over with sooner than later. If he didn’t want to marry her, she could always offer her skills as a nurse anyway. She loved her work and if he turned her away, Ellie wasn’t sure what she would do.
“What’s on your mind, my dear?”
Ellie smiled at the older woman. They had bonded quickly. There was something so motherly about this woman, she had made Ellie feel right at home. “Thank you for taking me in, Miss Addie.”
“Your welcome. I’m happy to have you and Betsy. Are you concerned about the good doctor?”
Ellie clutched the glass of lemonade. “I swear you can read my mind.”
“It is an observation I have made over and over again in my quest to bring people together. Perhaps it is a gift.”
“Perhaps.”
The lights went off in the doctor’s building. “Doctor James will stopping by to discuss our situation. I think Betsy is ready for bed. Would you mind checking in on her on occasion please?”
“Why, of course, my dear. I’ll take her in now. She’s all but fallen asleep on the bench. Take a look.”
Ellie’s heart raced when she looked at the sweet child. “She’s beautiful.”
The little girl’s eyes were drooping, her mouth hanging open and her head tilting to the side. Miss Addie scooped her up while Ellie opened the door, closing it softly behind them.
She stood on the porch, her arms crossed, watching as the doctor made his way across the street and strolled towards her. With each step he took, her insides began to flutter more and more. The closer he came, the more nervous she got.
Ellie wanted to belong to this town. The moment she stepped off the train, she found home. This was where she was supposed to be, she knew. The big city of Charleston wasn’t where she was meant to be, it was why she had answered the ad in the first place. Her gut instinct was usually correct.
If he didn’t accept her and Betsy, she would still carry on. Yet, she hoped he wouldn’t push her away. Ellie wanted a life with the good doctor.
She shivered at the thou
ght of the things they could do with medicine in this town. The opportunities here were endless and he knew it, too. He was a man of modern medicine. She noticed right away the dozens of books and manuals in the parlor. He did have some good books like the British Medical Journal of 1840 that was loaded with information. Perhaps he would let her read it sometime.
What she really wanted to get her hands on was his copy of William Smellie’s Treatises on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery. She had never helped bring a child in to the world. It was a part of nursing Ellie knew she’d want to be involved in. At the hospital, they never let her get near the children’s ward. She was good at helping with surgeries so they had kept her there, working with those insufferable doctors who didn’t care one bit about the patients considerations.
Ellie wanted a chance to help deliver a baby.
“Good evening, Nurse Ellie.”
“Doctor.”
“Would you care to take a walk?” He held out his arm.
Before tucking her arm in his, she looked back to see Miss Addie peeking out the window. She waved her hand in understanding. Nodding, Ellie walked down the street towards the center of town, knowing the older woman would keep the child safe.
There were a few couples enjoying the evening. A man went around turning on the gas lights that would give illumination to the darkening sky. “Interesting that you have gas lights so far west,” Ellie mentioned.
“I was pleasantly surprised myself when I came here six months ago. The fact is Max Ward has one of the wealthiest ranches in the area and he contributes to the betterment of Wichita Falls.”
“They have gas lights in Charleston, of course. Although I heard rumors of a man who is testing a new invention.”
“Ah, yes, Thomas Edison. He is an inventor of sorts. I’ve heard his named mentioned in Baltimore circles as well. Not sure what he is going to call this new invention, but I hear it will eliminate the use of gas completely.”
“Oh my, that sounds so hard to believe. I wish him well, then, as anything innovative and helps progress, I am all for.”
James nodded. “Agree. Now, can we sit out here on this bench for a moment? I’d like to discuss our predicament.”
Ellie knew this conversation was forthcoming. The problem was she was having such a good time enjoying the evening with James, she didn’t want to explain her situation or come to any agreement.
“If we must,” she told him.
“It’s been pleasant, but I’d rather get this out in the open first-hand.”
Ellie cringed. He was going to rebuke her and send her packing.
A dread so strong grabbed a hold of her throat.
Chapter 4
Ellie reluctantly sat on the wooden bench in front of the Wichita Falls Hotel. It was the biggest structure in town besides the saw mill with two sturdy gas lights directly out front on long, thick poles.
“Are you sure you want to discuss our situation out in the open like this?”
James shrugged. “Ben recently placed these benches out here for his customers and patrons to enjoy, but there’s always some type of activity inside, so that’s where everyone goes. We may as well get some use out of them.”
She tried to change the subject, not ready yet to begin their talk. “Who is Ben?”
“He is the owner of the hotel. Along with Lily, his wife, they run this hotel together. Lily loves to throw parties and entertain, along with her desire to teach children and townsfolk to read. Since I’ve been here, there have been all kinds of hoe-downs, dances, library contests, auctions, and more town meetings than you can imagine. Everything they do helps the town in some way or another.”
Would she ever get to meet the notorious Ben and Lily? Not likely if he were to send her back to Charleston. Could he do that? Just rebuke her and make her leave here? She knew in a heartbeat the Orphanage would take her back, but there’s no way she’d subject Betsy to that horror ever again.
Ellie pressed her hands together to suppress the nervousness that abounded from inside.
James noticed. “Ellie, there is no need to be nervous.” She noticed he hadn’t put Nurse in front of her name. Was this good news after all?
“Doctor. Ma’am.” A couple stopped to greet them.
“Daniel. Charity.” James tipped his hat to the couple. “This is Nurse Ellie.”
“Hello. Pleased to meet you,” Ellie added as she stood up to greet the pair. The lady smiled back even though Ellie could tell she was in agony. As Ellie was trained, she scrutinized the woman in pain from head to toe, and then realized why.
Charity was going to have a baby!
In this town!
Ellie widened her smile to the young mother-to-be. As long as Doctor James kept her here as his nurse, she would be able to help in the delivery of this child. Excitement zapped through her like a shot of lightening ripped across the top of a tree. It was her deepest desire to help deliver a baby, something the hospital never allowed her to do during her short time there.
Determined, Ellie knew she could be of some help and the chance to show James she was indeed worthy to be his wife and his nurse. She rose and went to the ailing, pregnant woman. “Charity,” she said softly, her voice soothing. “It looks like you may be in some discomfort.”
Charity nodded. “Nothing I can’t handle. Except when the little wild thing inside starts to push against my ribs. It makes me almost double over in agony.”
“I learned a breathing technique in Charleston. One of the nurses who was experienced delivering babies showed it to me. Are you in pain now?”
Charity gritted her teeth. She nodded.
Immediately, her husband showed concern. “Sweetheart, why didn’t you tell me? We didn’t have to go out tonight? I’d be just as happy if you stayed home to rest. You better sit down for a moment before I escort you back home.” He placed an arm around her shoulders, guiding her to the bench, insisting she sit down to catch a breath.
James moved away from the bench, allowing Charity and Ellie to sit there. He conversed with Daniel, their heads close together in a serious conversation.
Ellie explained to Charity how to place both hands on her growing belly and move them in a circular rhythm. Then how to close her eyes and take tiny breaths.
“That’s it, Charity. Keep going. In a moment you will feel some relief.”
Charity moaned, in a good way. The torture on her face was gone and she sighed. “Thank you. This helped me so much.”
“Shh, don’t speak. Let’s do some short steady breathing, and keep your eyes closed.”
Ellie looked up to see the two men had stopped what they were doing to stare at them.
Daniel spoke, surprise in his deep voice. “Thank you, Nurse Ellie. I haven’t seen her so relaxed in ages. I’m looking forward to the birth so I can have my Charity back.”
Ellie could feel Charity immediately tense up. She glanced at James to see he observed the same thing as well.
“I’d like to offer some help, Daniel. As a doctor, I’d advice you to speak only positive things for these last few days. Women in this state are known to get upset at the simplest measures.”
Ellie smiled to herself. She was certain Daniel was as stressed as Charity. She moved away so Daniel could replace her on the bench. “Perhaps you can help her to relax when the baby makes her uncomfortable. Let me show you how.”
Nurse Ellie was in full control, showing Daniel how to place his hands on his wife’s stomach and gently help her to breath. They were such good students, Ellie clapped her hands. ‘You two will be fine.”
“Thank you so much. May I call you Ellie?” Charity stood up with the help of her husband.
“Of course. If you need anything, you may call on me at the boarding house any time.”
Charity squeezed her hand.
Ellie watched as the two strolled back to the newspaper hand in hand.
“That was kind of you to show her those important breathing techniques. I’ve heard of th
ese modern exercises but since no one here needed any maternity care yet, I’m afraid I brushed over the article in my monthly medical journal I receive in the mail.”
Ellie sat back down on the bench. “Perhaps you should read them. It helps tremendously, as you are aware and saw for yourself. I’ve never been with someone through their child birthing labors, however, I’ve been assured it is known to help dull the pain. I think we can agree on this since it helped Charity dramatically. ”
James sat down beside her. He turned to Ellie and grinned. “Perhaps you’d like to stick around here as my wife. This town also needs a midwife and I’d say from watching you deal with Charity, this town needs your services. We don’t have one, you know.”
Charity cocked her head. “Did you say as your wife?”
He nodded, grinning. When James grinned, his one brow shot up a little higher than the other. She wanted to reach up and smooth the line on his face. “Are you certain, Doctor James?”
He reached out and took both her hands in his. “Ellie, please, call me James. If you are going to be my wife, then first names are appropriate.”
She closed her eyes and nodded. “Yes, yes! I will become your wife!” Leaning forward, Ellie placed a kiss upon his cheek. She shocked herself being so forthright but then he turned his cheek and caught her mouth with his, hesitating a moment before deepening the kiss. A spark erupted from the mid section of Ellie’s belly. She pulled back, covering her mouth with her hand, a bit shocked.
“Did I hear a wedding is in the future for the two of you?”
Ellie stood up too quickly, dropping James’s hands to see who was imposing. A beautiful dark haired woman in a lovely deep red gown stood on the steps of the hotel.
James stood up when Ellie did. “I’m sorry. We didn’t see you standing there.”