He rounded the angle of the building to discover Meg, sitting on her shawl, now spread over a crate. "Why did you leave the party?"
"I...I don't know. I...I just needed some air."
But Gus heard the catch in her voice, so he tried again. "What's wrong? We were having such a good time—at least, I thought we were. I know, I was enjoying myself."
"So I saw," Meg said. With a scowl, she turned away.
"Meg... Margaret... Will you please tell me what's the matter?"
"I told you," she snapped, "I needed some air. Just go back to the party. I'm sure Victoria will dance with you again. In fact, I believe I'll go home. I have a headache."
"I'll walk you home," Gus told her. "If you truly want to go." He eyed her and asked, "Do you really have a headache? Or is there something else bothering you?"
"Are you suggesting I'm lying to you?" she asked, angrily.
"No, not exactly," Gus answered. "It's just I've been alive long enough to know that sometimes, people—generally, ladies—say nothing's wrong, because they think they don't want to talk about whatever it is."
He took hold of her hand and continued, "But the truth is, they really need to talk about it. So, let's just clear the air, and then we can return to the party, so we can dance and have a good time."
Meg's face flushed and she started breathing harder—as if she were getting even more upset. When she looked up at him for a moment, he could see her eyes were welling with tears. "I told you to just go back to the party—and Victoria."
"I don't want to be with Victoria, or anyone else. And, I certainly don't want to go back to the party—at least, not without you."
"Gus...please..." Meg pleaded, the pitch of her voice rising.
"Meg...look at me." When she still faced away, he took her chin, and gently turned her towards him and said, "Margaret, it's you I want to be with. How can you not see that?"
"What?"
"How can you not see it's you I want to be with?"
"I...I don't understand..."
"After all this time, how can you not know how very much I care about you?"
Still not seeming to grasp what he was trying to say, she snapped, "You looked pretty happy while you were dancing with the doctor. So, go on back."
"God forbandede! Don't you understand woman? It's you I want to be with! I've always wanted to be with you. Because...I love you! Haven't you ever wondered how it was I managed to catch you before you hit the platform? It was because I was taken with you the moment I saw you—completely mesmerized."
"But..." Meg said, incredulously, "then why—"
"Why haven't I said anything to you before? Because you were deathly ill, and awoke to find out that the man you had come to Manchester to marry was dead. Then you were reluctant to accept my help of giving you a place to live and work. How could I tell you how I felt? I didn't want you to feel obligated to care for me.
"After that you agreed to 'keep company' with Cooper. And when he left, Ma warned me off—insisting that something had happened between the two of you, and you wouldn't be in a receptive mood. It's been one thing after the other—for a year and a half now. But no more. That all ends tonight," he finished. Then he bent down and kissed her softly.
To his surprise, she said, "Kiss me again, but...but with...I don't know...with more...conviction."
So he did. He pulled her up and into his arms, held her against him and kissed her passionately—deeply.
Chapter Twenty
"Don't stop," Meg sighed, as she leaned into Gus' arms.
When Gus kissed her again, she sighed and nestled even closer. But after another deep kiss, Gus told her, "We better go back," in a hoarse whisper.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to stop kissing you—ever. And, we need to protect your reputation. At least for the next few weeks."
"Why?" she asked. "What happens in a few weeks?"
"Our wedding," Gus said, before he kissed her once last time. "At this rate, we'll be lucky to make it through even that short length of time without breaking any of the commandments. It's a very good thing Eva and Kit are there to chaperone us."
Meg looked into his eyes, and said, "Wedding... You want to marry me?"
"Woman, didn't I just tell you I wanted to marry you the moment I saw you?" He urged her to walk with him, as he continued, "Come on. We might as well announce our engagement at the party."
Margaret allowed Gus to guide her through the darkness and back to the gathering. She was still attempting to digest what happened, when Gus led her to the center of the room and called out, "Ladies and gentlemen! My friends, can I have your attention, everyone? Please!"
After the noisy talking softened to murmuring, and then to silence, Gus said in a loud, clear voice said, "I have the pleasure to announce that Miss Strong has done me the great honor of agreeing to become my bride."
A loud cheer rippled through the assembly. Meanwhile, Ma, Eva, Kit, Victoria, and Neil congregated around the couple. Men kept coming up and slapping Gus on the back, while the women congratulated them both.
Once everyone returned to their conversations or food, Gus leaned into and whispered to Ma, "We're planning on getting married as soon as possible—no more than a few weeks. If I were you, I'd speak to Eva and her swain. And, if they're serious about each other, you should have them marry the day after our wedding. Then the boy can just move into the workroom living quarters with Eva."
"Now wait just a minute, Gus—"
"Ma, it really is the best idea. They'll be safely married and well situated. And then all you'll have to do is sit back and wait for the grandbabies to arrive."
"But..."
"You told me you and Ben didn't have anything, and you two did fine. Eva and the boy both have jobs, and they have a place to live."
"I suppose," Ma said, with a sigh.
"She's a good girl," Meg told her. “And she'll make a good wife and mother." Then she hugged the older woman. "But, we'll have to find a place for Kit to stay."
But something occurred to Margaret. Turning to Gus, she asked in a whisper, "What about my business? What about the spinning and weaving business?"
Gus looked at her and asked, "What about them?"
"We didn't talk about me staying on. We didn't talk about anything, really. I...I don't think I want to stop—"
"The only thing that will be different is someone will drive you to the workshop and pick you up after work. Ma will take care of the house, and you'll continue to take care of the workroom."
"Thank you, Gus," Margaret said, before she stared up into his face, with a wistful look.
"Behave, Miss Strong," he whispered. "Or I might be tempted to kiss you again. Right here, in front of everyone."
"I don't care," she answered.
"That is what worries me."
*****
Neil and the doctor walked Kit back to the workshop in silence. It seemed Meg and Gus' news gave everyone something to think about. But, as Stratton walked Victoria to the hotel, he asked, "You talked to Harding for quite a while..."
"Yes, until he suddenly left." She stopped, turned to face him, and said, "He kept asking about when we were going to start building—even after I told him Gus had promised to have a new load of lumber by Tuesday sometime. It was as if he didn't hear me, or understand. I found it annoying. However, he is a very good dancer," she added, grinning.
"Well," Neil said, "I apologize if I trampled on your feet."
"You didn't." She felt her cheeks burn and told him, "I didn't mean you weren't a good dancer. I was...was just making a statement."
"I was teasing you," Neil told her, chuckling. "You take everything too seriously. It's all well and good to be all solemn when you're working, but you aren't working now. Relax."
"I did...I am," she insisted, as she walked on. They continued walking in silence, for several minutes before she asked, "How do you feel about the sheriff's news?"
"Frustrated! It's been
months, and we've discovered nothing, except that these two sisters were virtually sold to work in a commercial laundry that doesn't exist."
"Yes," Victoria agreed. "And I have an awful premonition that if we don't find this brothel soon, there will be more poor girls left damaged—perhaps, even dead."
*****
Gus kept his promise and delivered the replacement lumber late Monday afternoon. He and Neil helped his men unload and pile it. Then left one of them there to guard it with a shotgun.
Granted, they'd taken the precaution of loading the shells with dried beans, since they were more interested in questioning anyone who might try and sabotage the new surgery again, rather than kill them.
He and Neil even discussed camping out in the workroom, which was across from the building lot. In the end, they decided the lumber was being protected and Neil needed to be in the current surgery, since they still didn't trust Brumbell from pulling some stunt.
When Gus arrived with his crew the next morning, he called out, "Hello!" to Jessie, whom he'd left on guard the night before.
The man came out from behind a tall pile of lumber and answered back, "Morning. There was someone poking around last night—must have been about three. They were carrying a small torch. But, when I called out, whoever it was dropped it, and it went out. They seemed to just stand there, so I warned them I'd shoot if they didn't leave."
"And?"
"They didn't move, so I raised the gun. They turned, but then stopped again. So, I fired. Got them in their backside. Somewhere, someone is very uncomfortable this morning. I bet he's not going to be eating his meals sitting down for a while."
"Good!" Gus said, just as Neil walked up. When he gave Gus an inquisitive look, he explained, "Jessie stopped someone up to no good last night. Shot him with a cartridge filled with dried beans. Expects them to be standing up to eat for a while."
Jesse joined the two older men and said, "Whoever it was, was definitely up to no good. They didn't seem to carry the small torch for light, so I suspect they were going to start another fire."
"Well, you go back to the ranch and get some rest," Gus said.
As he walked towards the livery stable, Neil asked, "They were going to burn this new order of wood, as well, huh? But why?"
"For whatever reason," Gus told him, "someone does not want the new surgery built."
"Again, why?" Neil asked. "What is it they either don't want us to find, or make it impossible for them to retrieve? There's no silver or gold here in Iowa. What about a robbery? Any chance that someone buried something on the lot, and won't be able to recover it when the building is finished?"
"You mean like a body? Or, something of worth?"
"Could be anything. Perhaps," Neil said, "we should rethink digging out a cellar? I know you said it would put us dangerously behind in getting the outer building constructed before snow falls. But, at least we'd know if there was anything hidden there."
"You know," Gus answered, "I think you may right. Perhaps, we should?" He turned around and called out, "You, men, go and get a couple of pickaxes and shovels and start working where Stratton tells you to."
He walked from Neil, heading for his horse, Loki, and mounted him. Before he rode off he called out, "I'll be back with a full contingent of men, pickaxes, and shovels, as soon as I can. Meanwhile, you layout the outline of the main part of the building and get these men digging."
"Will do," Neil answered. And before Gus could even ride away, he was shouting out directions to the men.
Chapter Twenty-One
Victoria was surprised to find so many men working—and digging a cellar, at that. Then Neil took her aside and explained about yet another attempt to sabotage the building supplies.
"So, we thought perhaps there's something hidden in there. And, hopefully, the cellar will either reveal whatever it is, or relieve whoever's so worried we'll find something. Then, they just might leave us alone."
She let out a long sigh and asked, "But, do you and Gus still believe the surgery can be completed before the snow flies? I mean, the outer shell?"
"We'll do our best. That's why Gus sent in more men—to get this cellar dug as quickly as possible. And, perhaps," Neil told her, "he'll allot me more construction workers. It's still only the middle of September, but I—for one—feel the winter's chill sneaking up on us."
"Yes," the doctor began, "well not to add to your burden, but I noticed several people at the party the other night, who seemed to have had very red cheeks. I put it to the heat of all of us crowded together and all the dancing. But, I've had two families with sick children in to see me this morning. And, I'm very much afraid they have scarlet fever."
"Scarlet fever!" Neil said, in a loud, excited voice. "That's bad, isn't it?"
"It can be," Dr. Thorne answered. "If we're lucky, these several children will be the only cases, and I've instructed their parents on how to treat them, and sent them home. Kit can drive me out tomorrow to check on them. But," she continued, "if there are more cases, it can't be allowed to run rampant through the town's entire populace."
"What can we do?"
"Nothing, right now, except to hope for the best and pray." She saw the concern in Neil's eyes, and tried to reassure him, by adding, "While we might have a lot of sick people on our hands, as far as illnesses go, this is one that shouldn't be devastating. Typhoid or typhus would be much more worrisome."
"Still, it makes it even more important to get this surgery built."
"All right, then," Victoria said, "I'll leave you to it." She started to walk away, but stopped, turned back to Neil, and leaning in, added, "But watch for any men complaining of sore throats, or their underarms or groins hurting. And send anyone with bright red, rosy apple cheeks to see me, immediately. The sooner we segregate anyone with the disease, the less people they can pass it on to. However, I'm very much afraid that that's like closing the barn door after the horse has run away. Too many people were in close proximity to one another Saturday night.
"But, this is between the two of us. Later, we'll tell Gus and Meg. After all, we don't want to start a panic."
"No, of course not," Neil agreed, before he turned back to supervising the diggers, and the doctor walked back towards the surgery.
"Kit," Dr. Thorne called out, as she entered the surgery, "are you here?"
"Yes, ma'am," Kit answered, as she popped out from the kitchen. "There's someone else here with a sore throat. I put him in the room and put a cool cloth on his head. I would have gone to look for you as soon as I'd finished putting on some pots of beef and chicken stock. I mean, he has those same bright red cheeks that all them kids had this morning. So, I figure we're in for it, and I better start preparing for a mess of sick people."
"I'm very much afraid you're right, Kit. I'll go look at him. And, I need you to find Gus. If he's not in town, go and get him to come into town. Then ask the sheriff to meet us at the workshop, and go for Miranda."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Now, I'll go check out our new patient," Victoria said, as she watched Kit leave.
Then she pulled back the curtain separating the outer room from the little treatment room with its cot, and said, "How do you do? I'm Dr. Thorne. Now, what's bothering you?"
"I'm Fred Johnson, doctor. I heard there was a lady doctor, but I didn't believe it. There was a time I might have said I didn't want no female treating me, but the truth is I feel so bad right now, I don't care no more. My throat hurts, my head's pounding, and I have this rash on my neck."
The doctor laid her hand on his forehead and then gently felt the glands beneath his throat. "That hurts, as well, doesn't it? Now, please unbutton your shirt, I'd like to see if the rash has spread to your chest and back."
He did as she asked, unfastened his shirt, and pulled it and his undershirt off, revealing a rash on both his chest and back.
She pressed his underarms. When he flinched, she didn't need to ask whether that hurt or not. Obviously, it did.
/> "Could you lie back for me?" she asked in a soft voice. He did so and she leaned over him. "Now, I'm going to press your groin, just as I did your under arms. I'm not trying to hurt or embarrass you. I'm only trying to access how ill you are." And before he could protest, she lightly pressed around his pubis.
He wore a surprised expression, but he didn't object or resist. However, he did flinch in pain. So she asked, "Who do you live with, Mr. Johnson?"
"I live alone. Just me and my animals."
"Well, we'll have to arrange for someone to take care of them for you. Because you are going to have to stay here, in town, for a day or two. I'm sorry, but you'll have to stay here," she said, indicating the cot, "at least for a few hours. I'm going to try and make some arrangements so we can make you more comfortable.
"Now, just slip back into your shirt, and then lie down and try to rest, while I'll go see what I can do. But, I'll leave you a pitcher of water beside the bed. Drink as much water as you can. It will help keep your fever down."
"Yes, ma'am. Just as you say."
*****
Meg opened the door, even before Victoria was on the steps. "Gus is here, he said that Kit had summoned him on your orders. Then the sheriff arrived. What's going on?"
"I'm afraid we have a small crisis, and I thought we could meet here. That is, if it's all right with you?"
"Of course," Meg answered, as she stepped out of the way. "I've taken the precaution of sending the girls home for the day. And once Gus told me Kit said she was going to fetch Miranda as well—on your orders, I put on some coffee and tea water. Now, what's going on?"
The doctor plopped down in the nearest chair, and said, "There's no easy way to say this, so here goes. I'm very much afraid we're in for a medical crisis."
"What?" Frank and Gus asked in unison.
"As I told Neil earlier, it could be much worse. As sicknesses go, scarlet fever can be bad, but nowhere near as dangerous as other epidemics."
"Epidemics?" the sheriff asked.
Miss Thorne Blossoms Page 11