Winter Promise

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Winter Promise Page 9

by Martha Rogers


  “You aren’t planning to cook Daniel a meal, are you?” He’d experienced firsthand some of Kate’s cooking and didn’t envy Daniel a bit in that area.

  “No, I’m stopping by Aunt Mae’s to pick up supper if it’s any of your concern. And for your information, I am learning to cook. One of these nights I’ll invite you over and show you.”

  “That will be cause for celebration for somebody, but I’ll pass on that invitation.”

  Kate swatted his arm before heading for the door. “You’ll be sorry, Doctor Elliot Jensen.”

  After she left, Elliot finished his charts. Doc must have left because all the exam rooms were now empty and he wasn’t anywhere to be found. He’d probably already headed for a place to eat. Since Aunt Maggie was at her sister’s, mealtime found Doc and him either at Annie’s Kitchen or Aunt Mae’s for supper. He preferred the boardinghouse over the new restaurant. Soon as he washed up, he’d head on over to Aunt Mae’s. If anybody needed him or his uncle, they’d know where to look.

  When Aunt Mae saw Abigail’s cast, she made Abigail sit down to rest. “Now then, young lady, don’t you move until supper’s on the table.” She planted her fists on her hips and asked, “All right, tell me, what in the world happened to you?”

  Both Rachel and Abigail explained, and Aunt Mae shook her head. “I don’t know what we’re going to do with you, honey. First your ankle and now your wrist. You keep having accidents like this, and we just might have to make a doctor your permanent keeper.”

  Rachel laughed. “I’ll leave you two to discuss that. I’m going to meet Nathan so we can get on home.”

  Heat rose in Abigail’s cheeks as Rachel departed. “I don’t think either doctor would be interested in the job. Doc Elliot thinks I’m clumsy and stubborn, and not a very good patient. Doc Jensen’s too busy for the likes of me, so it looks like it’ll be up to you.”

  “Now that’s a job I don’t mind at all, but I figured someone younger, like Doc Elliot, would be more to your liking.”

  That would be nice, but as far as Abigail could tell, that young man had no interest at all in her as anything other than a patient. For a town full of eligible men, she’d seen precious few who had shown any real interest in her. Perhaps they were all too busy. Or maybe they were intimidated that she was a librarian. She shouldn’t care, but she did. Was it more of a pride thing or just a normal girlish desire to have some attention?

  “I see that look, and it means you’re thinking about something, and I wager it has something to do with what I said. Come on, honey, out with it.”

  No getting anything past Aunt Mae’s shrewd eyes and intuition. “It did, but the only two men I’ve had any interest in at all have shown none in me. Penelope Dawes told me that Philip has sent off for a mail-order bride for himself. Wonder if they have any mail-order grooms.”

  “Oh, pshaw, honey, you’ve been so busy with the library that you haven’t had time to think about the men in this town. Just you wait until the church has another social. I wager you’ll have several asking you to dance at that.”

  “Maybe so, but I’m not really looking for a husband right now. I’ve got a library to take care of.” That may be true, but it didn’t sound very convincing even to her own ears. How would she take care of the library anyway with her arm in a cast? And as for a social life, who would want to risk dancing with someone with a weak ankle?

  Aunt Mae hustled back to the kitchen, and in a few minutes the other residents joined her at the table for supper. Cory came up behind her and tapped her shoulder. He grinned and mischief danced in his eyes.

  “Hear tell you had a little accident this afternoon.”

  His eyes held true concern, but it only served to emphasize the clumsiness she felt next to him. Heat filled her cheeks, and her heart raced. “I . . . I did.” She felt like such a fool. First her ankle, and now this.

  He eased into the chair beside her. “I’m sorry about that. Your ankle was just getting well too. Looks like the doc took care of you, though.”

  “He did, and I’m thankful it’s my left wrist. At least I can still write and eat without a problem.”

  “But you might need help at the library. Maybe I can stop by and check to see if there’s anything you need me to do . . . like climbing or reaching.” His grin broadened and he winked.

  Heat flooded Abigail’s face again, and she bowed her head to escape those twinkling eyes. Her heart slowed, but the pounding remained in her ears. Cory may tease her, but it didn’t annoy her like Daniel’s teasing. In fact, she rather liked it.

  When the prayer for the meal ended, Abigail cut her gaze to Cory and turned on what she hoped would be a brilliant smile. “You really would come to help me? I think I’d like that.”

  No sooner had she said the words than her gaze strayed to Elliot, who sat across the room. Why had she not noticed when he came in? The look he gave her didn’t give a clue as to what he thought or felt, but for some reason, she was intrigued. She still wanted to get to know him better.

  Cory spoke beside her, and her head jerked. Here he sat close enough to touch, and her thoughts had gone across the room. What was the matter with her? How could she have interest in both men? She was being as bad as Rachel when deciding between Nathan and that Edward fellow in Boston. It was time to get her head on straight.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  THE NEXT WEEK flew past with Abigail able to carry out her responsibilities as librarian despite the cast on her wrist. Here it was on toward the end of September, and after just a few weeks, the library was a rousing success. She unpacked a new box of books she’d ordered and checked them against her list. Nathan and Daniel had both been such a big help in bringing over the goods as they arrived by train and putting them where she could easily reach them.

  Rachel sat across from her making a list of overdue books. Abigail didn’t worry much about the list. Most people returned their books on time, but a few of the ranchers and their families didn’t always get them back. Perhaps she should allow them more time rather than imposing any type of fine. “You know, Rachel, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the diverse reading interests of people here. They ask for classics as well as books about the history of our country and even books on cooking.”

  “With most of the people from somewhere else, like we are, that’s bound to happen.”

  “I’m glad I decided to join Daniel out here, and I’m especially blessed that you and Nathan are here.” Having her best friend close by had been one of the reasons the move to Texas had been appealing in the first place.

  Abigail shelved a few books then returned to the front desk manned by Rachel. “It’s so slow during the week. Only a few people come in, and of course the children after school. I wish we had more days like Saturdays. Then I’m busier than a bee in a hive.”

  Rachel stood and stretched. “Maybe those who live in town will start coming during the week to avoid the crowds on Saturday.” She glanced at the watch pinned to her bodice. “Say, isn’t it time for you to go to the doctor?”

  Abigail jumped up. “Oh, my, yes, I clean forgot the time. Can you stay here and take care of this while I run over there? It shouldn’t take long.” With all the conversation Doc Elliot provided, she’d be back in less than ten minutes. If only she could get him to talk to her. He was a nut she’d like to crack open to see what he was like inside.

  “Take your time. I’m perfectly content sitting her and sorting out these books.”

  Abigail nodded then headed across the street. Try as she might, nothing had worked in grabbing the attention of the doctor on the few visits since her broken wrist. On top of that, she never saw him anywhere except in the infirmary.

  When she entered the waiting room, Doc Jensen greeted her. “Hello, Miss Monroe. Elliot is in the storeroom. You go on into that room over there, and he’ll be right in. Kate’s here, and she’ll be out to see you too.”

  He disappeared through a door, so she made her way to the front examination
room and stepped up on the little stool to sit on the examination table. Elliot appeared a few moments later with Kate right behind him. Kate said, “I told Doc Elliot that you’d been behaving yourself and taking good care of your wrist.”

  “Thank you, Kate. I don’t want to make it worse since my . . . never mind.” She held up her cast for Elliot to check. She wasn’t about to tell them that her ankle still hurt some when she walked on it. She’d been foolish with that injury, but she’d be more careful this time.

  “I’ll leave you two to take care of business. I’m going down to the mercantile to pick up those drugs your uncle ordered.” With that Kate swept from the room with her skirts rustling.

  Elliot held her arm just above the cast and tested her fingers. It didn’t hurt, so she kept quiet, but she liked the gentle way he probed and examined her hand. “You know, Elliot, God gave you an amazing talent. It’s wonderful to see you using it to help people.”

  Startled eyes met hers, and the tips of his ears reddened. “I went to school to learn all I know. God didn’t teach me.”

  What a strange reaction to a compliment. “But He gave you good hands and a caring heart. He’s helped you develop your skills to be the doctor you are today. Some of what you do can’t be learned in books. God gives the talent, then man makes use of it. I say you’ve done quite well in that area.”

  Darkness filled his eyes, and he let go of her hand. “It looks good, Miss Monroe. Another four weeks or so and I’ll remove the cast.”

  “That long?” She sighed and slumped her shoulders. “It doesn’t hurt anymore, so I thought it might be well.” Then she straightened up and smiled. “Does that mean I need to come every week to have it checked?”

  “Not really. Unless something happens between now and then, you won’t need to come back until the cast is ready to come off.”

  So now she had no excuse to come see him, and he kept to himself when he wasn’t in the infirmary. She tilted her head and peered at him with her eyebrows knit together. “Why haven’t I seen you at church? I’ve been here for over a month and haven’t seen you there at all. Are you on duty every Sunday or something?”

  Doc Elliot ducked his head and became busy with writing on a tablet. “I don’t care much for church gatherings.”

  Abigail decided to keep pressing. “Oh, my, that’s a shame. My friend, Reverend Winston, is a good preacher, even if I am a little biased in his favor from having grown up with him. You really ought to try it unless you don’t believe in God or something.” She stopped short. Now she sounded like an interfering busybody. That must be the reason for his response to her compliment, but if it was, she had to find a way to talk with him about spiritual matters without making him angry. The purpose was to help him find God, not to turn him away with her comments.

  Before she could apologize, Elliot frowned. “Reverend Winston is very good. I heard him once after he first came to Porterfield, but what he has to say has no bearing on my life or what happens in it.”

  “Doc Elliot, you can’t mean that. God has every bearing on our lives. He brought me here to Porterfield once I’d prayed about it, and He made great provisions for all of us to come from Connecticut.” This was going to be a much more difficult task than she first thought, but leading someone to find Jesus was too important just to leave hanging like this.

  “That’s fine for you to say. Believe whatever you want. I’m not interested.” He stood and held out his hand to help her down from the exam table, clearly dismissing her.

  Abigail blinked her eyes and reached for his hand. When his fingers grasped hers, a warm feeling flooded her arm up to the shoulder. What a sturdy, healing hand he had. He lifted his head, and their gazes locked. Neither said a word, but Abigail nearly gasped at the depth of pain reflected in his eyes. A lump formed in her throat, and she bit her lip. Something terrible had happened to this young man.

  He jerked his head and looked away, and as quickly as it appeared, the pain was gone, replaced with an expression she couldn’t quite determine. But that brief contact touched a spot deep within in Abigail, and she determined to find out all she could about Elliot and his past.

  Elliot cleared his throat and let go of her hand. “Just remember what I told you about trying to lift anything very heavy with that wrist and hand before it has a chance to heal properly. You can still use your fingers, but don’t grip too tightly with them.”

  “I understand.” She hesitated a moment. If only she could think of something to let him know she cared about him and hadn’t meant to pry. She wanted to help him as he had helped her. “Thank you for all you’ve done for me. You are a wonderful doctor, and Porterfield is very fortunate to have you. Do drop by the library sometime and see what all is there.”

  He walked with her to the waiting room. “I might do that.” He stopped, and she proceeded on out the door.

  On the boardwalk, she slowed her step. Something had happened in that examining room that had nothing at all to do with her injured wrist, but everything to do with a doctor who bore an ache in his soul. She prayed God would use her to help ease the pain.

  Elliot stared at the closed door, his heart thudding much faster than normal. Every time he found himself near Abigail, something happened deep inside. She stirred longings he’d successfully buried over the past few years. He didn’t want them to break through and resurface because he couldn’t bear the hurt that would come with them.

  He shook his head to clear it and turned to his desk. The door to his uncle’s office where he held private consultations with his patients stood ajar. Doc’s voice filtered through the air, followed by Kate’s. He put his hand out to open the door to join them but jerked back when he heard Kate speak his name.

  “Elliot is unhappy. I can see it in his eyes when he doesn’t think anyone’s looking, and I don’t think it comes from feeling sorry for a patient.”

  What were they doing discussing him? His business was his own. If his uncle shared his secret, he’d leave Porterfield on the next train. The good people of the town didn’t need to know he’d let a patient die back in Cleveland.

  Then his uncle spoke. “I’m not at liberty to say what happened, but Elliot does have some issues he needs to work out.”

  Kate said, “I’ll pray that whatever is bothering him will be resolved. He’s a handsome young man and would make some lucky woman a good husband.”

  “And Daniel’s sister may be just the one to help him. That’s why I’ve made sure he’s the one to treat her every time she comes in.”

  Bile rose in Elliot’s throat. Who did they think they were? They were as bad as those meddling people back in Cleveland, the ones he’d run away from. He didn’t need the frowns, whispers, or pointed fingers from the people here.

  He started to barge in and let them know his life was none of their business but stopped short. He clenched his hands into fists at his side and turned to race up the stairs to the privacy of his own room.

  Once there he collapsed on the bed. Every moment of that horrible night came rushing back to him in a wave that washed over him with despair and grief. If only he could go back and undo all that happened. If only he could have saved her.

  Of course her parents blamed him. Elliot blamed himself. As her fiancé, he was supposed to take care of Angela and protect her, not let harm come to her. How could people believe in a loving God who took the lives of young people before they could have a chance to live? He’d seen mothers lose their babies during birth and babies who didn’t live for many days or hours after birth. A loving God wouldn’t do that. No matter how hard he prayed for Angela to live, God didn’t answer and let her die.

  Doctors were supposed to save lives, but that didn’t happen with Angela. Despite the fact that he’d taken care of many others here in Porterfield with great success, guilt over Angela would forever be a part of his soul. God hadn’t helped him when he needed it, so why would God help him now?

  He’d given up on ever having that happen. E
lliot did just fine without Him these days. He shoved the other memories back in the dark recesses of his mind. No need to think about such things now. What was done had been done, and he couldn’t go back and change events no matter how much he wanted to, but he could control his future and make sure he didn’t fall in love with another woman the way he’d loved Angela.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  MOVING DAY HAD finally arrived. They had scheduled it for the first Saturday in October, hoping the weather would be cooler, and it was. Not only that, but the house was finished and Aunt Maggie had everything packed and ready to go. Elliot stacked a few boxes in the waiting area of the infirmary. Donavan was coming into town to help move furniture along with Cory, Daniel, and Reverend Winston. The ladies were to help Aunt Maggie.

  The door from outside opened, and he glanced up from his chore to find Rachel and Kate striding across the room.

  Kate waved as they passed and headed up the stairs. “We’re here to help your aunt. The men will be right behind us.”

  “We’re here.” Daniel and the others entered the room. All had their shirt sleeves rolled up and wore denim pants for working.

  Elliot grinned and pointed up the stairs. “Doc is up there with Aunt Maggie. All the furniture is ready to move, as are these boxes.”

  Daniel headed for the stairway. “Then let’s get going. We have two wagons to fill.”

  After greeting Elliot, the others followed Daniel upstairs for the larger pieces of furniture while Elliot moved the smaller boxes out to the boardwalk to be loaded on later.

  Across the way Abigail hollered his name and waved. He breathed deeply and waved back. Just seeing her did things to his insides he couldn’t control.

  “You all excited about the move to your new house? I’ll be coming by with some refreshments after I close the library for dinner.”

 

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