Greg nodded. “That’s all you can do. How old is your son? Will he be coming to school when we start back up?”
Albert let the April breeze waft over him, easing his heavy heart. It felt good, and calm. One way or the other, things would work out. They always did. They may not be to his liking, but then, he had to take the bad with the good. He smiled when he noticed Nate, his head barely over the bottom of the windowsill, watching them from the living room window. A blessing, to be sure.
“To tell you the truth, I’m not quite sure. I don’t even know my own son’s birthday yet. If he’s of age, and capable enough to keep up, then I’ll send him. As soon as I think he’s settled.” The sincerity in Greg’s eyes bolstered his confidence.
Greg gave him a winsome smile. “Good. I was hoping you’d say that. You know, children are a lot more resilient than us adults. Give him a few days and he may surprise you.”
“I sure hope so. Nate’s having a difficult time accepting Floria’s death. I’m not really sure how I should handle it.”
The smile slipped off his friend’s face. “He’s young. And the accident is still so fresh in his mind. He’s probably tussling with the fact that he was almost killed, as well. Give it time, Albert. Don’t rush him. With your love and support, he’ll come through, and be all the stronger for it.”
If only he could believe that. Of all of the recent happenings, his worry over the boy, and his lack of knowledge, was what had his gut in a knot. He didn’t want to make things worse than they already were. Albert reached into the back of the wagon and pulled the remaining two trunks to the end of the tailgate. He took one and Greg took the other.
Nate was sitting on the couch looking at a book that had been on the coffee table when they arrived. His eyes lit up when he saw the trunk Greg had in his arms. “That’s my trunk,” he all but hollered, jumping up. “Can ya bring it into my room?”
Albert cut an apologetic look to Greg. As soon as Nate started school, he wouldn’t be directing his teacher around quite like that.
Greg just smiled. “Sure thing, Nate. I’d be happy to.”
Albert set his load down in his own room and hurried to Nate’s.
“Nice room you’re going to have.” The room was bare except for a small dresser and bed. “Where would you like me to set this?”
Nate took a sweeping look at his four walls. Cupped his chin in his fingers, tapping as he thought.
“How about Mr. Hutton puts it anywhere for now,” Albert suggested. “Then as soon as we have everything inside, we’ll find the perfect spot.”
“Sure!”
Greg set the trunk by the wall, then went to the window that faced the back of the house. “Have you looked out here yet, Nate? Over that slight rise is a pond. My boys hunt salamanders down there.”
Albert laughed at the excitement Nate could hardly contain. Yes, moving here had been a good decision.
The rest of his belongings came off the wagon much faster than they’d gone on. In fifteen minutes, he and Greg had everything inside, including the sideboard, which they found room for in the kitchen. The place came with its own set of brown-and-white Johnson Brothers dishes that were much nicer than the ones Albert owned. A few were chipped, but that wouldn’t bother him and Nate. He left his own dishware packed up and shoved the box under his bed next to the dour-faced woman.
After some arranging, Albert and Greg glanced around satisfied. “I enjoyed living here,” Greg said, a gleam of sentimentality in his eyes. “This is where Brenna and I fell in love. When she was nursing me back from my case of measles,” he added quickly.
Albert slapped him on his back. “I remember that. You were sick as a dog for almost two weeks.”
“Yes. I’d rather not remember that part of the past. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t had a tenderhearted neighbor who wasn’t afraid of hard work. She not only nursed me, but took care of her children, and taught school in my absence. I knew if I didn’t snag her when I could, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.” He glanced out the open front door to his and Brenna’s house across the narrow dirt road.
Albert heaved a resolute sigh. “I hope this house holds as much luck for me as it did for you.” He couldn’t see Susanna forgiving him anytime soon. And Babcock was poised to swoop right in and pick up the pieces of her broken heart.
“Have faith, Albert.”
Albert shrugged. May as well. He didn’t have any answers.
“I best be going,” Greg said. He gave Albert a stern glance. “Keep your chin up. Susanna will come around. She just needs a little time.”
Albert gave an agreeable nod, even though he wasn’t sure that what Greg said was true. “I appreciate the help more than you can know, Greg. And the friendship. I’m feeling pretty much like a leper these days. Say hello to Brenna.”
As Greg descended the porch steps, Albert wondered at how fast his life had changed. In the span of a heartbeat, just like the train accident.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
As the day was drawing down, Susanna went about her errands knowing this was the last free time she’d have to tie up the loose ends still on her list, after which she’d head home to fix a light supper. Tomorrow, she’d start back at the restaurant, since all the patients at the infirmary were gone. There was still the question about Julia. If only Susanna’s home were a mite larger, she’d be happy to take the girl in. As it was, she hardly had room to turn around in her thimble-sized cottage.
The afternoon sun glinted off the shiny glass of the haberdashery’s front window, and the soft call of a mourning dove drew her attention to the cemetery. She glanced at the path that led to the church. She wanted so badly to shed this cloak of sadness. She wasn’t a quitter, or a victim. She couldn’t have traveled by herself with such an attitude. The path up to the cemetery was deserted, and most everyone in town was inside preparing to close up for the evening. She had every right to walk right up there and look at the graves. And, by golly, that was exactly what she was going to do.
It took several minutes to reach the top. A few mourners scattered around glanced up at her appearance. She proceeded down the row of newly dug graves until she reached Floria’s. None had headstones yet, just freshly mounded dirt in a nice even row.
She stood there quietly for a few moments, her thoughts calming. She looked up to see a man a few graves over. He gave her a nod, then proceeded to blow his nose on his handkerchief.
Albert hadn’t said much about how he’d met his wife, or why their marriage had failed. Just that he’d been twenty-four and she’d been nineteen. Six years younger than Susanna was now. A tiny seed of suspicion tickled her mind. Had they planned a reunion? Surely, Albert couldn’t lie his way out of that. She would have been able to tell. He said he hadn’t known about the boy. So many unanswered questions, and Floria wasn’t going to share any of her secrets.
The woman was dead. Nate had lost his mother, and Albert his wife. She searched her heart until she found some charity to soothe her aching soul. She’d get through this, just like she had so many other tough times in her life. Thank heavens for her good friends, old and new. Like Julia. She and Gabe had likely finished their deliveries long ago, and the girl must be fretting over her future and where she was going to live.
She’d scoot down the hill and catch Tabitha in her bookstore before she closed. The apartment over the shop had an extra bedroom, and Tabitha had expressed interest in finding a female boarder to help pay off the loan she’d taken out from the bank. Julia didn’t have a way to pay rent just yet, but Susanna would tackle that problem next.
Arriving at the bottom of the path, she was just about to go left when she heard voices in Dr. Thorn’s waiting room. He’d been absent when she’d dropped off the linen earlier, so she decided to stop in to be sure he’d seen that she’d put the sheets in the proper cupboard, out of sight. Inside she found her friend Nell with Maddie, her blind stepdaughter.
“Susanna,” Nell exclaimed.
Her jeans and cowboy-style shirt always brought a smile to Susanna’s face, as did the hat hanging down her back on a rodeo string. Her thick head of curly hair was as unruly as ever. “I’m delighted to run into you. How’re things?” Nell’s concerned gaze searched Susanna’s face, just as all her friends did, thinking they’d find answers about her and Albert there.
Susanna shrugged. “I’ll get through.” She smiled, not wanting to dampen Nell’s enthusiasm. “Don’t worry about me.” She knelt down to speak with Maddie. “How’re you, Maddie? I hope you’re not having any problems, and that’s why you and your ma are here in Dr. Thorn’s office.”
The darling girl who had stolen the hearts of the whole town when she’d arrived last year alone on a stagecoach, smiled happily. Her hair was braided down the back in the way Nell often fixed her own hair, but Maddie’s had a pretty pink bow on the end. That was something Nell would never do.
Maddie pointed to her knee. “I fell down and cut my knee.”
A checkup for a tiny wound with one stitch? Susanna wondered if something else was going on. After a soft caress of Maddie’s cheek, she stood.
“Yes, and we’re glad it’s tiny,” Nell said. “Still, you should have seen Charlie. He was a wreck when he saw all the blood.” Nell placed her hand tenderly on her stepdaughter’s shoulder, then looked at the closed door to the back room. “Dr. Thorn’s in there with the guard they pulled out of the train. He said he still hasn’t come around. I guess Albert comes here every day to check on him.”
She hadn’t known that about Albert. “Right now it’s this little girl that has me worried. How is she getting along at the ranch?”
Nell’s face darkened “It’s been six months since we moved to the ranch. The changes we’ve made have kept her safe so far, but it’s a constant worry. I’ll feel better when I find someone to come and watch over her when she’s not in school. We’re doing it all on our own.”
“Any promising prospects after the original tutor took ill and wasn’t able to travel to Wyoming?”
“No. And now that Maddie’s hurt herself, Charlie’s more anxious than ever. With all we have to do, and how active Maddie likes to be, it’s more of a challenge than I’d anticipated.” She gazed down at Maddie patiently waiting for her turn with Dr. Thorn. “And with the spring cattle sorting almost upon us, and breaking the new colts, we’re determined to find someone.”
What if . . . ?
Excitement zipped through Susanna. “What if I told you I may have the answer to your problem today?” Unable to stop herself, she lifted Maddie into a hug, squeezing her as they twirled around. The child laughed with abandon, bringing giggles from both the women.
Nell stomped her boot. “Tell me! Don’t keep me guessing.”
Julia was the perfect candidate. She was one of the kindest young women Susanna had ever met. And Maddie could help her past the hurt she felt from losing her aunt Biddy.
“Susanna, you’re being cruel.”
“I have a young patient whose arm was broken in the accident. Her guardian was killed and now she doesn’t have a home to go back to, and the relation they were intending to move in with was only taking them in because she had to. Julia doesn’t know quite what to do. She needs a place to live. And after her arm is completely healed, a job.”
Nell grinned from ear to ear. “She sounds perfect. How old is she?”
“Seventeen. She’s soft-spoken and seems to have had a good education. I really think she and Maddie would hit it off, if given the chance. What do you think?”
“I’d like to meet her. I know Charlie will want to as well, and of course, Maddie. Where’s she staying now? Hannah’s?”
“No, she’s been at the infirmary the whole time. Dr. Thorn couldn’t set the arm right away since he had so many critical patients, so she’s had a bad go of it. Really, today was the first day she’s gotten out of bed. I sent her on a mission with Gabe, so she could meet someone her own age.”
Nell gave a small laugh. “That was good thinking. The guest room at the ranch is fixed up real nice if she agrees to come out.”
“I’ll have to speak to her first. See how she feels about living out of town.”
Maddie reached up and tapped on Susanna’s arm to get her attention. “I’ve walked to town with my pa lots of times. It’s not far at all.” Her childish voice held mounds of hope.
At that moment, Dr. Thorn came through the door that led to his patient’s room. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Nell,” he said, surprise pulling his lips into a smile when he saw Susanna. “I wondered who else was out here. Susanna, you’re doing way too much. I found the linen you put away. Thank you.”
Dr. Thorn was always so appreciative of any help. “You’re welcome. I just stopped in to see if you had any other chores that need doing.” So I can avoid going home where I’ll have nothing to do but face the hurtful truth.
“I sure don’t, but thank you.” His gaze dropped to Maddie. “Come on, Maddie. Let’s have a look at that stitch.” He took her hand and led her to the examination table on the opposite side of the room. Lifting her up, he pulled the glass magnifier on his head over his eye, and bent close to her knee.
“This looks just fine, Nell, not ready to be removed, but soon. I see no signs of infection at all. Now, young lady, I’ll have a quick look at your eyes, all right?”
She nodded seriously.
Dr. Thorn gently picked up one eyelid, and brought his face very close to hers. Susanna wondered what he was looking for. Pulling back, he snapped his fingers in front of one eye, and then the other. Lastly, he went to the sideboard for something. “Maddie, I’m going to light a match just like I’ve done before. Don’t be frightened. I won’t burn you.”
“But the ph-phosphorus will smell funny,” she said softly.
An endearing smile stretched his face. “You said that long word very well. And that’s exactly right.”
He gathered a box of matches and returned to the child. He lit a long wooden match and held it in front of her left eye for several seconds, then moved it around to several different positions.
Maddie sat stone still except for wrinkling her nose at the pungent odor filling the room. Dr. Thorn lit another match and continued his examination.
“What’s he doing?” Susanna whispered to Nell.
“He does this every few months. You know Maddie lost her sight after the wagon accident that killed her mother. Well, we don’t mention this to Maddie, but, Dr. Thorn thinks there’s a very slight chance she could regain it someday.” Nell gave a heartfelt sigh. “It would be so wonderful if that happened. Not only for Maddie, of course, but Charlie, too. He feels responsible that he let Annie drive to town alone.”
Susanna squeezed her hand. “I didn’t know.”
Dr. Thorn blew out the match and lifted Maddie to the floor. “Very good. Your eyes look as healthy as ever.” He glanced at Nell with a shake of his head.
“You take good care, Nell,” Susanna said softly, feeling deeply for the family. “I need to get going. I’m sure Julia thinks I’ve fallen off the face of the earth. If she hasn’t eaten supper yet, I’m going to take her to Nana’s Place. If you want to stop by there and meet her, perhaps we can get everything arranged this evening? For her, the sooner the future is worked out, the better.” She gave Nell a hug, and hugged Maddie as well. “And for you, too.”
Before she could exit, Dalton stepped into the room. He removed his hat, and murmured hello to the women, his eyes lingering on Susanna.
“Mr. Babcock,” Dr. Thorn said. “What can I do for you? I hope you’re not in need of my services.” His tone was light, but something about his expression made Susanna wonder.
“No, not at all doctor. I stopped by to see how Evan is, and look in on him.” He took a step toward the back room. “He in here?”
The doctor ambled in front of the door. “You can’t see him just yet, Mr. Babcock. He’s close to coming around, and any disturbance at all might set him back. I hope
you understand.”
With a perplexed expression, Dalton gazed past the doctor at the door. “No, that’s fine,” he said. “I can come back another time. By the looks of it, he’s not going anywhere soon.”
He turned and smiled again at the women. So far, he’d fulfilled his heartfelt promise to keep Susanna’s history to himself. A history they’d shared—one that didn’t hold any hurtful surprises for either of them.
She thought back on the pleasure of their walk home in the moonlight, and it prompted her own smile—the warmth of which surprised her.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Whaddya say we go out for a bite to eat, Nate, before we return the buckboard to Win? I think we’ve both worked up an appetite. Besides, we don’t have a crumb of food in the kitchen.” Nate had been a real trooper. He’d done everything Albert had asked of him without complaint.
“Sure, Pa!” Nate scampered back into his room and returned with the pint-sized, felt cowboy hat, more toy than the real thing, he’d had packed in his trunk. He plunked it on his head and tucked in his shirttails. “I’m ready to go.”
Albert chuckled. “Not quite, son, follow me.”
Conscious of the time, and how soon he needed to be back at the bank, Albert hurried to the kitchen. It took several minutes working the pump before a moderate flow of water appeared. Taking a dishcloth, he held it under the stream, then wrung out the excess moisture.
Nate watched with suspicious eyes. “What’s that for?”
“To wash your face. It’s a bit grimy from all the work you’ve done. You want to look respectable when we go back into town, don’t you?”
Nate began backing up.
“Nate?”
The boy was almost out the door. Albert had to do something quick to divert him from making a scene.
“Watch, I’ll go first.” Albert washed his face, making sure to scrub his forehead, go over his eyes and cheeks, and even around his ears. He dared a glance at Nate who had stopped in the doorway between the kitchen and the living room. “This cool water feels good. Real refreshing.”
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