Wild and Tender Care

by Haley Whitehall

  “Wait a minute,” William said, jumping to his feet. “What were you discussing about the doctor’s office?”

  Mayor Caldwell motioned for him to sit down. “That matter has been closed. Now about the schoolteacher—”

  “Oh no, you’re not going to dismiss me that quickly,” William said, raising his voice. “You dragged me all the way out to Colorado Territory. I helped deliver Mrs. Morgan’s son, I’ve stitched up cuts, set a broken arm. What more do you ask of me?”

  Mayor Caldwell swallowed hard and was unable to meet his eyes. “I didn’t think this was the right time or place to tell you, Dr. Steere, but since you asked…the town has voted and we think you should pay rent for the doctor’s office.”

  “Rent?” That seemed reasonable unless they wanted to charge an extremely high amount as a way to run him out of town.

  “Yes,” Mayor Caldwell said. “You see, the property technically belongs to the town. The rent will help pay for the schoolhouse.”

  William nodded. “I see. And what is the rent the town has decided to charge me?”

  “Five dollars a month.”

  That was doable if he kept seeing patients on a regular basis. Of course, many people didn’t pay him with money, which could make it a mite more difficult.

  “I am more than happy to pay rent for the doctor’s office. I support every child’s right to an education.” I hope this school will be more tolerant of differences than the mission.

  He turned and left, ignoring the stunned faces as he strode down the aisle.

  The men of Big Rock didn’t want him at their meeting any more than he wanted to be there. Happy to leave, he headed back to his doctor’s office. Sinking into his chair, he stared out the window at the darkness. Thankfully he had some money saved up in the bank. He knew he wouldn’t be able to build a practice overnight. He’d expected some resistance toward his doctoring because his was mother was Creek, but he hadn’t thought his choice of a wife would have made any difference.

  The following day no one came to his office. He did not have a single patient the next day or the day after that. It was then he began to worry. In the advertisement he’d answered Mayor Caldwell had made it clear the town had needed a doctor for a long time. Perhaps it had occurred to them if they’d been getting along without a doctor just fine and they could easily return to doing so. After all, it didn’t take a medical degree to deliver a baby or set a broken leg. The people would only come to him if it was a matter of life or death.

  * * * *

  Realizing he probably wouldn’t get any patients, he locked up his office and strolled down the street to Ida’s house. He could spend his time more wisely than idling it away staring at his medicine bottles.

  “I hope your business is going better than mine,” he called as he walked across the lawn.

  “People always seem to get their clothes dirty,” Ida said, hanging a wet shirt on the clothesline.

  “I thought people would always need a doctor too, but maybe I was wrong.”

  Ida frowned. “I was worried about that. They couldn’t succeed on running me out of town, so now they’re trying to run you out of town.”

  “Why? It isn’t like I robbed a bank.”

  Ida laughed and shook her head. “Now they’re probably hoping that if you leave town then I’d go with you.”

  “Would you?” The words popped out of his mouth without even thinking.

  “Well…” Ida pressed her lips together. “It has been a battle of wills between me and the people of Big Rock. I was staying just to spite them, a matter of pride you might say. But I’m getting fed up with their high-and-mighty ways.”

  William wrapped an arm around her middle and pulled her close. “I’m glad. That gives me hope. I do hope neither of us has to leave. I’m tired of moving from place to place. After the war, all I’ve wanted to do is settle down and find a wife.”

  Ida blushed and her lips descended upon his. Her sweet taste made his body hum.

  As if suddenly realizing they were out in the open, Ida got ahold of herself, stepped away from his embrace, and went back to hanging the laundry on the clothesline. “What are you going to do when a white doctor answers the new advertisement?”

  William shrugged. “I know this town isn’t big enough to support two doctors. I guess I hope I can change their minds before that happens.”

  She grunted, a clothespin in her mouth. Taking the pin out, she shook her head. “I’ve tried for months. Getting the good people of Big Rock to change their opinion of anything is like spitting into the wind.”

  Silence fell over both of them. William gazed up at the sky, feeling the breeze pick up. Glancing down, he liked seeing Ida’s purple skirts being swept against her legs. Legs he wished he could straddle right now.

  “A man can’t change the direction of the wind. The wind changes in its own time. It is up to the Great Spirit.”

  “You mean God.”

  He laughed, his mouth split in a wide smile. “To my way of thinking they are one and the same. It just irritated Mr. Steere something awful when I refused to use the term God.”

  She gave him a pointed stare for a second and then threw her head back, chuckling. “You were a mischievous little boy, weren’t you?”

  “Stubborn is more like it. I didn’t live with the Creek very long before the cavalry took me from them as part of their plan to convert Indians to their way of thinking and living, but I am proud of my heritage.”

  “As you should be.”

  William put his hands in his coat pockets. “Mr. Steere didn’t think so.” A heaviness settled upon his shoulders and his chest constricted. Thinking about the sorrow and pain of the past brought him nothing but heartache. The present was much more enjoyable.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  “Not really. I had a big breakfast.”

  “We could settle for pieces of pie.”

  “Apple pie,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “You know if we eat in town people are going to stare.”

  “I won’t even notice,” he said, stepping closer to her. “You’ll have all my attention.”

  She took off her apron and tossed it into the bucket of soapy water. “How do I look? Do I need to change?”

  “You look just fine to me.” He took her arm and escorted her to the restaurant.

  Mr. Pratt, the owner of the restaurant, scowled when they entered his establishment. Still, his wife walked over and directed them to a table. Being noon, many people were eating and the buzz of conversation drowned out the sound of his racing heart.

  “Two piece of apple pie, please,” William said to Mrs. Pratt.

  “Certainly.” She offered a fake smile. “I will be right back.” William watched her disappear into the kitchen and return with a plate in each hand. “Your pie,” she said, placing them on the table. “Enjoy.”

  Suddenly the other patrons rose from their tables and lined up to pay for their meals—meals they hadn’t even finished yet. Mayor Caldwell and his wife led the charge to the exit.

  “Looks like we might have the place to ourselves,” he said, trying for a happy tone and failing. People had treated him like this in the past. If it was on account of his mixed blood he wouldn’t have been so mad.

  He didn’t know what to say. Being the only couple in the establishment made his skin crawl. It gave Mr. and Mrs. Pratt nothing better to do than stare at them.

  William rubbed the back of his neck, concentrating his attention on Ida. Picking up his fork, he took a bite of the pie. “At least it tastes good,” he said. He’d almost expected Mrs. Pratt to have sabotaged their dessert somehow.

  “Yes, it is delicious,” Ida agreed. “Although you probably should be saving your money.”

  “Saving my money?”

  “I doubt you will be getting many patients.”

  “Ah.” William straightened in his chair. He could take care of Ida even if it meant ignoring his doctoring skills and taking up another pro
fession. “I have some money saved and I’m counting on getting some patients soon.”

  “Counting on it, huh? I think it would take an act of God to make the people of Big Rock come to your office.”

  “Could be,” William agreed and took another bite of pie. “I’ve been praying hard, so don’t you worry about my bank account. A man is supposed to spend money on the woman he’s courting.”

  “Courting,” Ida repeated the word as if savoring the sound of it on her tongue. “Now that we’re not trying to hide our feelings for each other I like that term very much.”

  The two of them ate in silence, exchanging heated glances. If she wanted to get him worked up she was succeeding. Every time she fluttered her long eyelashes his body temperature rose.

  He cleared his throat and took a drink of water. If this kept up he’d be eager to escort her back to her house…and into the bedroom.

  “You’re beautiful, Miss Page.”

  She blushed, her cheeks turning a light red to match the highlights in her hair. “Thank you.” She licked a bit of crust off her lips and his cock twitched. With Mr. and Mrs. Pratt watching them so closely the last thing he needed to do was get hard.

  Austin stepped inside the restaurant and William cursed his rotten timing. Just when his private time with Ida was going so well the brute would cause a scene and ruin everything.

  “I’ll show you to a table,” Mrs. Pratt said, having the presence of mind to lead him to the opposite side of the establishment from where they were sitting.

  “I’m not here to eat,” Austin said. “I’ve come to spread some good news.”

  “Good news?” Mrs. Pratt said. “We could always use good news.”

  “There’s a wagon train coming to Big Rock. I saw eight wagons, maybe ten, headed this way.”

  “Miners?” Mr. Pratt asked, leaving the till and joining his wife.

  “Not likely, they brought women and children with them.”

  Mrs. Pratt clapped her hands together. “How wonderful! More families, Jonas. The mayor was right. We really should get busy building that schoolhouse.”

  Ida cleared her throat and got William’s attention again. “I’m not sure if increasing the population of Big Rock is good news for me or not, seeing as how quickly people pass judgment.”

  “Don’t worry about them. Once people get to know you they’ll be proud to call you a friend.”

  Ida sighed. “It is the getting to know me part that seems to be the difficulty. After Mrs. Caldwell tells the newcomers all about me they’ll avoid me as if I was the daughter of Satan.”

  “Maybe I can tell them all about you first. After being on the trail someone in their party might be needing a doctor.”

  “Yes, they might,” Ida said. She rose and William stood, ready to leave if she was.

  “That means you should get back to your office. Thank you for the pie, Dr. Steere.”

  “You’re welcome, Miss Page. It was my pleasure.” He paid for the pieces of pie and Ida slipped out the door. Trying not to let her quick disappearance bother him, he strolled down the street to his office. Ida hadn’t given him the chance to escort her home.

  Was she changing her mind about them being together? No matter what these homesteaders thought of her, he would love her just the same.

  Reaching into his coat pocket, he pulled out his key.

  “Doctor,” a man said, his tone urgent.

  William turned around and saw a man at the bottom of the stairs carrying a small boy in his arms. “Can I help you?”

  “My son is sick. He’s burning up with fever.”

  “Come on up to my office,” William said, unlocking the door. A fever could mean a number of things…

  “The wagon train has been in a hurry to get to town. Folks we passed along the way said Big Rock might have a doctor. Thank the Lord it does.”

  The blond-haired boy’s skin, flushed with fever, was extremely hot to his touch. “Your son?” William asked, directing the man to lay the boy on the examining table.

  “Yes, sir. His name is Toby. He’s seven.”

  “Hello, Toby. I’m Doctor Steere.”

  The boy watched him with hazy blue eyes and did not say a word.

  “How long has he had the fever?”

  “Two days,” the boy’s father replied.

  “And the rash?” Bending down, William examined the lesions on Toby’s face and throat.

  “That just came on today. The wagon master thinks he has the chickenpox. That’s not serious, right?”

  “Most cases of the chickenpox are mild and the illness passes quickly.”

  William poured a bowl of water, wet a cloth, and ran it across the boy’s forehead and neck.

  “Oh good.” The boy’s father let out a long breath. “My name is Mike Newly, by the way.”

  William wet the cloth again and continued to try to cool Toby’s fiery skin. None of the red raised lesions looked to be crusting. Not a good sign. His eagerness for a patient quickly faded and he wished he could do something to make the little boy feel better. His heart twisted in his chest. Even after all his medical training he felt helpless.

  Memories of this familiar rash flooded his mind and he gripped the wet rag tighter. He’d attended medical school hoping to find a cure or at least a treatment for the disease that ravished his village and killed both of his parents. His cheeks heated and tears pricked the corners of his eyes. He blinked, pushing back the emotion. He needed to stay strong for Toby. “I’m afraid I have bad news for you, Mr. Newly.”

  “Bad news?” The man’s voice jumped an octave. “You haven’t even begun to examine my son.”

  “I don’t have to. I can plainly see he doesn’t have chickenpox.”

  The man’s hazel eyes bore into him. “What are you saying, Doc?”

  William pressed his lips together and eyed the boy. “I’m afraid, sir, your son has smallpox. I’ll have to put him in quarantine.”

  “You’re not taking my son away from me!” the man shouted.

  Tears flooded Toby’s eyes and he reached out for his father. “Pa!”

  “Shh, calm down,” William said to the boy, hoping Mr. Newly got the message as well. “I’m not separating you two. You’ll both go into quarantine.”

  “Go? You mean we can’t stay here?” Mr. Newly asked.

  William shook his head. “I need to get both of you outside of town.”

  “In what, a tent? Sleeping under a wagon? What do you have in mind, Doctor? My son is ill.”

  “I can’t have him infecting all of Big Rock.” If I can help it. “I’ll make sure you’re both comfortable.”

  Bile burned his throat and he tasted the acid in his mouth. His prayer for patients had been answered. In the blink of an eye he could have an epidemic on his hands.

  Chapter 10

  Smallpox in Big Rock? Ida couldn’t believe the news. The town was in an uproar and for once it wasn’t about her. She stood on the sidewalk outside the mercantile watching some of the people drive their wagons out of town, loaded up with everything they could pack in a couple of hours. They felt safest running away from the disease as fast as they could. Smallpox decimated populations from cow towns to mining camps.

  Ida wrung her hands in the folds of her dress. Some of the good citizens clamored outside of Dr. Steere’s door, begging him to do something to save them before they were all infected. Such a sudden change of heart. They all believed in him now, needed him now. But were they willing to help? Not a soul had volunteered to help tend to Mr. Newly and his son and the others from the wagon train who had come down ill.

  Two-faced hypocrites! Ida wanted to call the mayor and the rest of the good Christian folks names except it wouldn’t help the situation. Reverend Wade had called everyone to the church saying this was a time for prayer, but few people bothered to go with him. It seemed in the face of an epidemic they’d lost all their faith and were now ruled by fear.

  “Mr. Newly, his son, and others from
the wagon train showing symptoms are in quarantine. All I can do is try to prevent further spread of the disease,” William said for the hundredth time.

  The crowd didn’t want to hear that. They wanted confirmation none of them had been infected, something he couldn’t give.

  His patience looked to be wearing thin. Even from this distance she spied his tense facial features. Poor man. They’d badgered him ever since he’d alerted them to the outbreak.

  William let out a long sigh, a thick book in his hands. “I am reading up on smallpox. If I learn anything I will let you know. For now try to stay calm and go about your lives. Let me take care of the sick.”

  “Take care of them?” Austin said. “We should burn them out. The only way to prevent the spread of the disease would be to kill the source.”

  Ida shrieked. Of all the barbaric things, even for Austin. Heaven’s sakes, Toby was merely a child.

  Some of the people turned to look at her. Seeing nothing was wrong, they went back to badgering the doctor.

  “We should burn their wagons too,” another man suggested. “I’m sure they carry the disease.”

  “There will be no burning them out,” William said, pushing his way through the crowd and walking down the street. “If I see any man come near Miss Page’s house who doesn’t claim to have smallpox, I will shoot him. I don’t believe in guns, but it is a doctor’s duty to protect his patients.”

  The crowd fell silent, feeling the barbs in his threat.

  “I haven’t ordered their wagons burned. If you torch them it will be arson and I’ll make sure you are held accountable.”

  “How can you protect them?” Mrs. Caldwell said, joining the throng of men. “You should be protecting us, Doctor.”

  “I am trying to, ma’am.” He took a deep breath and then looked her way. “Are you ready to go, Miss Page?”

  She nodded and hurried to catch up with him, a large basket of food on her arm. She hadn’t actually met Mr. Newly and his son yet. When he’d brought the patients by, he instructed her to leave out the back door. The thoughtful man had given her a choice. When she accepted his plea for help she’d seen both relief and fear in his eyes.