by Cyndi Raye
She came closer. “That’s because I only now stepped outside for a breath of air. I partook of a dance class this evening and I’m afraid it was getting a bit stuffy inside.”
The woman held out her hand to Ellie. “Hello, I’m Lily Sloan.”
“A pleasure to meet you. I’m Nurse Ellie Jacobs.”
“Soon to become Mrs. James Winters if I overheard the conversation correctly.”
Ellie blushed, her cheeks slightly red but not from the conversation. She was still tingly from the touch of the doctor’s kiss. “You heard correctly. May I call you Lily?”
“Of course and I will call you Nurse Ellie since you are becoming widely known as such.”
“Lily hears the gossip in this town mostly before anyone else,” James added. “Since the hotel has so many activities, it’s a main place to hear the latest news.”
Lily nodded. “So true. Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to show Ellie around the hotel since I’m sure you will want me to conduct the business of having a lovely reception here as my wedding gift to you both.”
Ellie tilted her head, looking to James for approval. He shrugged. “I don’t mind at all if Ellie doesn’t.”
“I’d love to see the hotel,” Ellie added. A pent up sigh was released at these words. Was this really happening and did James just ask her to marry him?
Where is your husband hiding?” James asked Lily.
The lady in red laughed out loud. “If you take a look down the street, you will see the men sitting on the front porch of Dawson’s Land Title Agency. The lantern tells me a game of chance may be in progress.”
The doctor nodded. “Ellie, I’ll be back in a half hour to escort you back to the boarding house. I’m sure Lily has a lot to show you.”
“No worries about Nurse Ellie. Now, you go on. Tell my husband we will be finished in thirty minutes. He likes to take a stroll with me in the moonlight and it’s looking like there is a full moon tonight.”
James tipped his hat, walking backwards until he turned and crossed the street towards the other men. Ellie watched until he stepped on to the porch.
A tiny cough emerged from Lily. “Nurse Ellie? Is it possible to tear yourself away from your betrothed to look at the reception area?”
Ellie giggled. “I’m sorry, it’s just that I was so worried there would be no wedding.”
Lily took Ellie’s arm and they went inside. “Oh, please. I can clearly see a man who is head over heels for you. Now, what do you think of the foyer?”
The two spent the whole half hour looking at the impressive hotel. Lily was an expert in her field of decorating, making the hotel one of the nicest places in Wichita Falls.
“And this,” she flung open a double wooden door on the second floor, “is the wedding chamber. Ben renovated two rooms, combining them in to one extra large space. There is even a balcony to look at the stars. Isn’t it romantic?” Lily swept through the room as if she were a regal queen.
Ellie followed, a bit flushed at the thought of her and James spending alone time together here.
They went through the double doors to the balcony. It was indeed a place for a couple to have their private space. The balcony was large enough for two people to stand comfortably.
Lily began to wave when she noticed her husband and James walking up the street towards the hotel. “Darling!”
Ben waved back, a smile just for her. “Are you ready for our stroll, Mrs. Sloan?” he asked.
“Why, I’ve been waiting all night long, Mr. Sloan!” She turned, her face flushed as if she were going on a first date. “I am so in love with Ben that every moment we have together feels as if he is courting me all over again.”
Ellie smiled. Lily and Ben seemed deeply in love. “How long have you been married?”
“Oh, I don’t know, a year maybe? It doesn’t matter. I’ll always feel as if we married yesterday. I’ve loved him for a long, long time.”
The two hurried down the stairs to meet the men in the foyer. “Oh Ben, darling!” Lily flew in to his arms as if she hadn’t seen him for days. Ben lifted her up and swung her around as if she were his whole world. She placed her arms around his neck, giving him a brief kiss on the lips.
Ellie looked over to see James watching her. He grinned, raising that brow slightly.
The two love birds had obviously forgotten they had company.
“We’ll be off now,” Ellie mentioned.
“Oh, how rude of me,” Lily said even if she didn’t seem at all to be embarrassed. “It was so nice to meet you, Nurse Ellie. I’ll be in touch. You will let me know the date you’ve chosen for the wedding?”
“You will be the first to know.” The two left the hotel, their new friends still kissing in the middle of the foyer.
James placed an arm across Ellie’s shoulder. “Are you warm enough?”
“I’m fine. It’s beautiful out this evening but I best be getting back. Even though Betsy is in bed, she may cry out for me and I’d like to be there in case she does.”
“Tell me about this child, if I may be so bold. If we are to be married, I should know why she is here. You didn’t go in to detail concerning the child, except to say she was indentured to you, which I find odd.”
Ellie nodded. “I do owe you an explanation. Do you mind if we sit on the porch for a few minutes so I may explain to you?”
“Of course.” James helped her on to the porch, sitting beside her.
“Would you care for something to drink?”
“No, thank you.”
Ellie knew if she were to marry James, she’d have to tell him everything. “First of all, I want you to know I am indeed a good nurse. I’ll also tell you that if you ever ask for a recommendation from any of my former employers at the hospital, I doubt you will receive good news.”
James chuckled. “You are an independent thinker. I’m sure that wouldn’t go over well with some of those stuffy doctors back east.”
Ellie liked his modern thinking. “You are correct. I was let go not only by the Roper Hospital, but the St. Francis Infirmary as well. I’m not proud I was let go but I’m afraid they didn’t understand how strongly I felt about my work. Healing patients was a priority for me as well as making sure they stayed calm. Those in authority didn’t like I had a mind of my own. They didn’t like that I stepped up and took over when they were mistreating a patient.”
James held up his hand. “You needn’t say anything more in that matter, dear Ellie. I am from Baltimore and have seen for myself the work of these doctors. Their bedside manner can be crude at times. Speaking in the defense of my vocation, not all doctors act in such a way.”
Ellie smiled. “I recently found a rare one to work with.”
“Indeed you have.” He laughed out loud, his eyes sparkling at her compliment.
“I do mean those words. I think we work well together.”
“As I do, too. Now enough about us. Tell me about Betsy. If she is going to be my daughter, I would be honored to know the truth.”
Ellie almost gasped out loud as he confirmed her deepest wish, for Betsy to have a real father. “As you wish. Betsy lived at the orphanage where I worked prior to coming here. I trialed for a month there, knowing I would answer your mail order bride ad. I had nowhere else to turn to for work in the meantime. The practitioner at the hospital would not give me a reference.”
He shook his head as if in understanding. “Go on.”
“Betsy had no one. Both her parents died in an accident. We bonded the moment I stepped through those doors. I fell in love with her, I truly did. Falling in love with her made the time go better in those deplorable conditions. When my month was almost up, the thought of what would happen to her was much more than I could take.” A tear slipped down Ellie’s cheek thinking about that dreaded moment.
James reached up to wipe away the runaway tear. “I can see you truly love the child.”
Ellie nodded. She sniffed. “I do. The children at the home becom
e slaves. The matron puts them to work at young ages, first around the orphanage and then indenture them out. Some of the stories we’ve heard are horrendous. There were letters from children begging to return to the orphanage, but sometimes there isn’t enough staff to investigate the complaints. I knew Betsy would have the same fate in a few years. I couldn’t bear the thought.”
“You are remarkable.” His tone was soft. Like he had done with Betsy, he lifted her chin with his finger, raising her face to his. “I am proud of what you have accomplished.”
Ellie smiled. “No one’s ever told me that. Thank you.”
“Not ever? What about your parents?”
“Never. They died in a carriage accident when I was young. My aunt raised me and she was so mean and strict even the neighbors tended to keep their distance. She wasn’t a kind soul but she did spend the money to educate me because she wanted me to live on my own and not depend on her. So the moment she could, I was sent off to St. Francis Xavier’s Infirmary to be a nurse. I found that I loved the profession.”
“Such a pity about your parents, I’m truly sorry. I had a wonderful family. My father encourage me to become a dentist until he realized I wanted to be a doctor. My mother and father died overseas. They had taken a trip to England and never returned. It was why I decided to leave Baltimore. Too many memories there. I wanted a chance to do some good somewhere, like they had always done.”
Ellie smiled. “I am sure they would be proud of what you’ve done here.”
“Perhaps. Coming here wasn’t by accident. My aunt has lived here for many years. She lives a few doors down when she isn’t on her long hunting jaunts. She encouraged me to join her here to make a difference. Although she is quite the busybody, I’m sure you will grow to love her as well.”
“I’m sure I will if she is anything like you.”
James grinned. “Wait until you meet her. She’s quite a lady.”
Ellie was in heaven. This day was ending well. James wanted her to stay, to become his wife. It was like a perfect day in the life of someone who was so blessed to be alive.
What could possibly go wrong?
Chapter 5
Ellie was a nervous wreck. The doctor’s notorious aunt had returned to Wichita Falls. There was a bit of whooping and hollering early this morning when she had arrived. Ellie’s bedroom was in the front of the boarding house, so when she heard the noisy clip-clop of hooves echoing in the quiet street, she slipped out of bed to see who was up so early. When Ellie peeked out of her bedroom window, dozens of townsfolk came out of nowhere to form a barrier around the new arrival. Straining her neck, Ellie tried to place an ear against the window pane but the crowd was too far away to hear any coherent words.
“Nurse Ellie.” The sleepy words formed on Betsy’s puffy lips.
“I’m here, sunshine.” Ellie sat on the edge of the bed while Betsy wiggled her way from under the covers. The little girl squatted down on the bed and then jumped up, landing in Ellie’s lap. The two fell back on the bed, giggling like crazy.
Betsy wrapped her arms around Ellie’s neck. “I’m hungry. Can we eat breakfast?”
“Why don’t we go see if Miss Addie would like some help in the kitchen?”
Betsy clapped her hands together. “That would be fun! Can we?”
“Of course we can.”
Betsy slid off the bed, standing at attention, her little arms plastered tight against her sides. She stood tall, as tall as her little frame would go, placing a serious look on her face, clenching her mouth together so hard Ellie thought the poor girl’s teeth would crack.
Ellie’s heart tightened. In the orphanage, the matron had forced everyone, even the youngest, to stand at attention for long periods of time beside their beds until they were excused. Sometimes it took a long time and the ones who didn’t stand still were punished. She slid to the floor to be eye level with the child. “Betsy, there is no need to stand by your bed like that ever again. You are not in the orphanage any more.”
Betsy, her little eyes rounding like saucers, formed a big O with her mouth.
Ellie suppressed a laugh. Betsy was adorable. It was why she fell in love with the child. Once James got to know her, she was certain he’d fall in love, too.
“What if they come here and take me back to that place? Would you come, too?”
Ellie scooped the child in her arms and stood up. “There is no way anyone is going to take you away. You are mine now. Do you hear me Betsy? You are my little girl and I will take care of you forever.”
A small hand cupped her cheek. Betsy tipped her head, her eyes going wide again. Little curls bounced with every move. “Forever?”
“Yes. Forever.”
“How long is forever?”
“It is so long, you will grow up and get married and have little children of your own to take care of. You may even get gray hair that’s how long it is.”
“Okay.” Betsy slid out of her arms so fast she almost fell to the wooden floor. Ellie reached out to grab her to no avail as the child took off her nightdress and began to pull clothing from the bottom dresser drawer. Ellie thought the lower drawer made it easier for the child to learn to dress on her own.
Ellie hurried Betsy along as intense flavors of bacon and eggs wafted to the second floor. She also wanted to offer help to Miss Addie as thanks for keeping an eye on Betsy. Except she hadn’t realized how long it took for the two of them to dress. By the time they made it to the dining area, everyone was already at the table, eating from their own plate. Determined to pay back the owner in any way possible, she decided she would help with the dishes then.
Betsy slid in to the special chair Miss Addie pointed to. It had some extra padding on the seat so she could sit at the table with the adults.
“Thank you for that,” Ellie told her hostess.
“The girl should be able to eat with the rest of us.”
“I hope it isn’t too much bother.”
Miss Addie shook her head. “Of course not. Why, I am enjoying this small child immensely. Feel free to leave her with me any time you need to help with the good doctor.”
“I’ll have an announcement to make then,” she told Miss Addie, lowering her voice.
Except it didn’t matter how softly she spoke. The noise level came to a sudden stop. Forks scraping plates were non-existent as each head at the dining table turned to stare.
One of the ladies at the table put down her fork and lifted her chin. “Go on then, make your announcement.”
“An-a-noun-cement? What’s that?” Betsy inquired right before scooping a forkful of eggs in her mouth.
Ellie rung her hands together. This wasn’t the way she wanted to tell anyone but working in a fast-paced hospital as a nurse conditioned her to adapt quickly. “Well, uh, I wanted to invite all of you to a wedding.”
Miss Addie inclined her head, nodding as if she already knew what Ellie was going to say.
“What’s a wedding?” Betsy said, her mouth full of food.
Ellie pursed her mouth. “Now, Betsy, we do not speak with our mouth full. Please finish your food before speaking again.”
“Yes, Nurse Ellie,” she mumbled while busily trying to swallow. A chorus of soft laughter was heard around the table.
“There is a congratulations in order. Ellie, may I help you with your wedding preparations? I’m almost certain Lily will insist on having the reception at the hotel.”
Ellie smiled. “Lily already knows and offered. James and I were discussing our plans on the bench in front of the hotel when she appeared out of nowhere, overhearing our marriage plans. I had a tour of the facility already.”
Miss Addie nodded. “Good, that will save tons of time. Now, let’s all congratulate the intended bride and get back to eating before my breakfast runs cold.”
Murmurs from around the table escalated as Ellie joined them. She was unable to wipe a smile from her face. This all seemed too good to be true. Marriage to a doctor who will allow her t
o also practice modern techniques was unheard of. While she learned to become a nurse at St. Francis Xavier’s Infirmary, the nuns were strict. They taught all the nursing students to follow orders and stand behind a doctor, only speaking when spoken to. It was her downfall when she started to practice the skills she had learned in the infirmary and from the many books she had read.
Two months later, she was told to leave and never return. All because she had tried to calm a man who was crying out in pain because the doctor was hurting more than helping.
Instead of standing behind the doctor, Ellie went to the patient, speaking in low tones to calm him while the doctor became furious. He had yelled at her, ordering her to leave the facility. The nuns at that point didn’t have any choice.
Sister Rosa, one of the nuns who had always been tolerant of her behavior, slipped her a hand written note. It was to be given to the head nurse at the Roper Hospital, which had landed her a job for a short time until Ellie had done it again.
At least Doctor James wasn’t a bully like the other doctors. He had allowed her to help the moment she tried to take over his office yesterday.
With all the bad luck she seemed to draw, would this spurt of good luck last?
“Nurse Ellie?”
Betsy was calling to her. Ellie smiled. “What is it, child?”
“What’s a wedding?”
Ellie realized she hadn’t answered the child’s earlier question. “A wedding is a ceremony when two people get married.”
“Oh. What’s a cer-ah-mony?”
A few smiles were cropping up at the long table.
“It is an act or ritual performed in front of lots of people.”
“Oh. What is a rich-you-well?” Betsy reached across the table to secure a piece of fresh strawberry, plopping the juicy piece in her mouth.
Miss Addie answered with a smile. “It is a party. There will be lots of happy faces and all the food you can eat. There will be dancing and merrymaking.”
Betsy’s eyes got so wide Ellie was afraid they would pop out of their sockets. “I want to party!” The curls began to bob up and down.