Daniel McClintock

by Caroline Clemmons

  “John, we’re having a party Friday to celebrate Daniel taking steps unaided by the bars. You were instrumental in his progress by finding Clara. Please say you’ll come.”

  “He’s taking steps now? I wouldn’t miss the chance to celebrate that for the world. I can’t tell you how happy hearing this news makes me.”

  “We’re having a large group and probably a cèilidh.”

  John stopped and turned to Petra. “Mrs. Jaager, perhaps you’d care to ride there with me and spare my going alone.”

  Petra’s mouth moved but no words came out for a minute. “Ja, Doctor, I would enjoy that.”

  “Please, call me John. We’re not formal here.”

  Petra blushed like a schoolgirl. “You must call me Petra.”

  He tipped his hat. “Good, Petra, I’ll come by for you about six on Friday. Nice to have seen you ladies but I have patients to see.” He went into his office.

  Clara squeezed her aunt’s hand. “That’s wonderful. He will be interesting to talk to on the drive. Not that Gran and Grandpa wouldn’t you understand, but you will enjoy knowing this kind man.”

  Kathryn’s excitement kept her moving rapidly as they approached Roan’s Mercantile. “Red does well with my list, but I have a few items I wanted to choose myself.”

  Clara peered around the store. “Go ahead. I also have things to find.”

  Petra wandered away so Clara headed for the books. She had perused the book titles in Daniel’s room but hadn’t studied those in the other parts of the house. She’d make choices and, if necessary, depend on Kathryn to help avoid duplication.

  The store’s book selection was small, but included some recently published novels. Clara had selected a couple when Mrs. Roan approached.

  “May I help you, Miss Van Hoosan?”

  Clara faced the storeowner. “You know who I am. Ah, there are not many tall Dutch newcomers, are there?”

  Mrs. Roan smiled. “I saw you come in with Kathryn McClintock. Everyone has heard you’ve come to help Daniel and we’re all so hopeful. Are those books for you or for him?”

  “Ramona is for me. Do you know what he doesn’t have yet?”

  “He’s quite the reader, but we have new arrivals since his family last purchased for him. He’s read Tom Sawyer, but not Huckleberry Finn and they really are a pair that should both be read. Study in Scarlett is an exciting mystery by an author new to me, Arthur Conan Doyle. The Canterville Ghost is good—I have a copy.”

  Clara suppressed a giggle at the mention of Tom Sawyer, the book Daniel had thrown at her the first day. “I will take those. Are there others?”

  “These by Robert Louis Stevenson, Jules Verne, and Thomas Hardy are books he’d enjoy, as would you. I think Daniel has Mayor of Casterbridge but not The Woodlanders. Kidnapped is supposedly a young person’s story, but my husband and I enjoyed it.”

  “Then, I will take those also. He loves to read and so do Rebecca and I. In fact, these will bring enjoyment to all in the household. Daniel gets bored. Now that he is walking a bit, perhaps he will not be inactive.”

  Mrs. Roan’s eyes lit and she clasped her hands to her chest. “I had not heard he’s walking. Praise God! Oh, and you are also to receive some credit.”

  “The credit goes to God and Daniel. He takes only a few steps now, but I believe he will continue to improve.”

  “That’s wonderful news. Is there anything else for you?”

  Clara juggled the stack of books. “This is all I can carry but I also want a dime’s worth of horehound candy and a nickel’s worth of peppermints.”

  They walked to the store’s counter where Kathryn and Petra waited with their packages.

  Kathryn stared at Clara’s load. “My goodness, did you buy all of the books? Be sure and put them on our account.”

  “Mrs. Roan helped me select several that Daniel has not yet read. A couple of books are for me, but others in the family might enjoy them too. I wish to pay for them myself from the generous salary you give me.”

  Petra sent Clara a knowing look. She stepped closer and whispered, “This is the way you act professional with your patients?”

  Clara disregarded her aunt and paid for the candy and books. “Do you have other errands, Kathryn?”

  Kathryn took one of the book packages. “Let me treat us to lemonade at the diner before we go home.”

  While they waited for their drink, Clara asked her aunt, “Have you found the solicitor’s letter yet?”

  Her aunt’s shoulders dropped. “I am embarrassed. The van der Mere’s were already cutting a hole in the wall when I was packing. I dumped all the papers I thought I would need plus photographs and small paintings into the bottom of my largest trunk. Such a mess I have but I will get them sorted eventually

  Clara wanted to speak sharply so she held her tongue. One day, perhaps she could go to her aunt’s and help sort through the papers.

  Later, on the way to the ranch, Kathryn glanced at Clara. “You were generous to pay for those books yourself. You should have put them on our family’s account.”

  “I wanted them to be from me. Daniel has been working very hard and doing all I have asked. Sometimes he pretends to grumble, but actually he is trying as hard as possible to regain use of his legs. The rest of your family might enjoy the books as well.”

  Kathryn sent her one of her sweet smiles. “That’s kind of you. No wonder we think of you as one of the family.”

  Her remark warmed Clara. She would love to be a member of this wonderful family. Daniel’s ardor was certain to cool once he was walking and exposed to women not in his family. She must guard her heart—but she feared she was too late.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Daniel was astonished by all the books. “I hoped for one. This is unbelievable.” He munched a piece of candy from the bag.

  Rebecca hurried in to pounce on the selection spread out on Daniel’s bed. “Mama said you have books.”

  Clara gave her the bag of peppermints. “I did not forget you.”

  The girl hugged Clara. “Thank you. Which book should I read first?”

  Clara handed her Ramona. “I really got this one for myself, but you read fast so I will wait until you are finished. Or, you might like to start with Study In Scarlett, which is a mystery.”

  Rebecca chose Ramona. “Bye, I’ll see you when I’ve finished this and the peppermints.”

  She examined the remaining books. “I might have been carried away. I love to read and I know you do also. I couldn’t resist. Too bad your town does not have a library.”

  “There’s been talk of building one.” He picked up Huckleberry Finn. “By Mark Twain, the same author as the one you stole.”

  She pretended to be insulted. “I did not steal Tom Sawyer, you gave it to me and I returned it as soon as I had read it.”

  “You live in a dream world, Clara Roos Van Hoosan, if you believe that. I won’t argue, though, since you brought all of these.”

  “First, you must do exercises.”

  “Here’s a surprise for you, Miss Van Hoosan. Rebecca watched me so I could practice walking between the bars. I exercised a long time then took a nap.” He sent her a mischievous grin. “Did you know some snails have 1400 teeth and some can even kill you?”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Who counted the teeth?”

  He burst out laughing. “I wondered that myself.”

  Clara searched her memory to recall some odd fact to surprise him. “Did you know that Romans used to brush their teeth with urine?”

  He pretended to gag. “I thought my tooth powder tasted bad. I won’t complain about it again.”

  She gathered all but one book and stacked them on the chest of drawers across the room. “I doubt that. I believe you enjoy complaining.”

  He laid his hand over his heart. “How can you say that? I am the picture of reason and amiability.” He smiled as if pleased with himself.

  She set the book he had kept to read on the bedside table.
“You have rested long enough. Get ready for your massage.”

  He stripped off his nightshirt. “Ah, your hands rubbing my skin, skimming over sensitive areas—I’m always ready for that, pretty lady.”

  She wanted to pinch him but resisted. “Do not pretend this has anything to do with male/female relations. This is strictly part of your treatment toward healing. Keep your mind centered on walking better.”

  He stretched out on his bed. “I do but there’s no reason I can’t enjoy the benefits of your massage, is there?”

  Clara helped him turn over on his stomach. “I will work first on your back so I do not have to see your smirk.”

  “Do you have trouble reading books in English?”

  She worked on his shoulders, which were knotted from work on the bars. “I read much slower than you. I have trouble with some words. Still, I enjoy reading in English more than German or French.”

  “There you go showing me up again. Soon you’ll be reading in Spanish as well. Here I am stuck with only English.”

  She laughed at him pretending to feel outdone. “You have no need to read in languages other than English. I had to learn at school. If I had stayed in Amsterdam, that would have been useful. Here, I do not need that skill.”

  “I don’t know, may come in handy sometime. We have a lot of nationalities here. There’re a lot of German’s in Texas and one or two German couples in town. Probably French around, too. A lot of people in Louisiana speak French as well as English.”

  She had not heard about the French. “I did not know this. How far is this Louisiana?”

  “From here, I guess about five hundred miles.”

  She helped him turn over onto his back. “I have trouble conceiving the enormity of this country. I loved looking out the window of the train, at least until we were near here and I was too eager to arrive. Even then, I could not imagine that all I saw was one country. I do not know all the states’ sizes.”

  “You’ll learn.” He met her gaze, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Did you know that medieval English longbows could fire an arrow further than three hundred yards?”

  She shook her head. “Where do you get these odd facts? Hmm, let me see if I can remember one. Do you know that dolphins sometimes rescue stranded swimmers?”

  “No, but then I’ve never seen a dolphin or the ocean.”

  That surprised her when she had grown up taking the sea for granted. “Is the sea far from here?”

  “Gulf of Mexico is over two hundred seventy-five miles. I’ve had no reason to go there.”

  “That is far but at least there is a nice river near town.”

  “The Medina River, and it also runs through the ranch. I’ve seen that.”

  She laughed. “Of course you have.”

  “I’ve ridden across it and even gone swimming in the river. There’s a good swimming hole on the ranch.”

  “Swimming hole?”

  “Where the river forms a sheltered pool. Nice sloping beach on one side but the other side is hard to climb.”

  “When—if—I build my clinic, I will include an indoor pool with warm water for patients’ exercises.”

  “Does Dr. What’s-his-name’s place have one?”

  She ignored the snide part of his remark. “I do not know but I imagine so. You can ask Dr. Arnoldson when he comes.”

  He shook his head. “Oh no, not me. I won’t speak to him. He’s all yours.”

  “How nice of you to give this man to me. Do you not think he will have something to say about that?”

  “Don’t care what he thinks. He has his nerve coming here to try and steal you from us.”

  She changed her massage to his left leg. “Daniel, he is not stealing me from anything. Soon you will not need me to help you walk. You are doing very well and I am proud of you.”

  “Then stay here. You have a room and your aunt is here.”

  “Please be reasonable. I can’t live in the room next door to yours forever. I can’t live with my aunt forever either.”

  “I told you Pa will give you forty acres of the ranch down by the river. That’s a real pretty sight. Peaceful, too.”

  She switched to his right leg. “And would I have my clinic in a tent?”

  “Think about it, will you?”

  “Your father is generous to offer the land. I will think about this place. Think is all I can do, though.”

  “Did you find out about your inheritance from your aunt? Maybe there’s enough to build your clinic.”

  “I cannot imagine there is. My aunt is having trouble finding the papers. She is not used to conducting business and is unorganized. This is a surprise because always she kept her home immaculate and well managed.”

  “You should help her look.”

  “I will offer to do so but she is not likely to welcome interference.”

  “Damn, Clara, it’s not meddling. The money is yours and you deserve to know how much there is.”

  She finished and moved to stand near him. “I will try, Daniel. Do not get upset with me.”

  He took her hand and guided her to sit on his bed beside him. “I’m not angry with you. I don’t want you to leave me. I have money in savings from my share of the ranch profits and I can add that to whatever you have coming. We could be partners in the clinic and in life.”

  She framed his face with her hands. “You are a wonderful man, Daniel. When you are well and have been surrounded by other women, you will see that you no longer care for me as other than a friend. I cannot be locked into a partnership with a man who no longer cares for me.”

  He gripped her shoulders. “Listen to me. I will never stop loving you. You are the only woman I want or need by my side for the rest of my life.”

  Tears overflowed from her eyes. She laid her head on his chest. “I want that to be true but I’m afraid. Patients have had crushes on me before until after they leave the clinic. Then their ardor fades quickly.”

  He cradled her, caressing her back. “Aw, sweetheart, don’t cry. Please believe my love is genuine and won’t lessen over time. Give me a chance.”

  She raised her head and pulled out her handkerchief and dried her tears and blew her nose. “It is time for your rest. Then we will get busy with your exercises so you can amaze your guests on Friday.”

  ***

  Friday afternoon, Daniel’s stomach tied in knots no amount of massage could ease—if he could have convinced Clara to work on his abdomen. The thought of walking in front of his extended family filled him with dread. What if he fell? Besides, he walked so slowly people would think he’d made no progress worth mention.

  He knew how much he had advanced. He’d gone from having useless legs to being able to stand on them and force his feet to move forward one slow step at a time. Would he ever be able to walk faster? To climb steps?

  Not that he was complaining. After two years as an invalid, he welcomed the movement he had. But, to perform in front of a crowd scared him spitless.

  He levered up and pulled his pillows so he was sitting. Using what he called baboon movements, he scooted back against the cushions. With the sheet off, he stared at his feet.

  They appeared normal now. He appeared normal. This evening, he’d wear his old clothes and maybe his boots. He knocked on the wall separating his room from Clara’s.

  Soon, she popped her head around the door frame and grinned. “You summoned me with the royal bell pull, Your Majesty?”

  “Will you help me pull on my pants and then my boots? I want to wear them tonight if I can walk in them.” So far he’d only worn socks for his steps.

  She hurried into the room and sorted through his belongings. “There is not much time to practice. Here is your pair of good pants. Oh, here are the boots. My, they are very fancy. Oh, I dislodged something.”

  Dadgummit, she picked up a book he’d hidden behind the boots in his armoire.

  Advancing on him, she asked, “What is this? A Thousand Unusual Facts to Amaze Your Friends: B
e the Life of the Party. ” She held up the book as if she were showing it to him. “This is where you get all those weird items you tell me.”

  He grinned at her. “I told you I read them somewhere.”

  She laughed and returned the book to its hiding place. “Daniel McClintock, you are incorrigible. But, you have shared interesting things with me. I suppose I cannot be angry.”

  “I hope you’re not. I need help getting these boots on my feet. After all this time, not sure they even fit.”

  “Start with the pants.” She handed him his best pair of tan twill ranch pants.

  He wriggled and struggled until he could fasten the pants at his waist. Not that they were too small. Quite the opposite.

  Taking one boot, he tugged until his foot slid inside. Then, he pulled on the other boot. Damn, but it felt good to be wearing them again. He almost felt like his old self.

  “Get rid of the nightshirt and wear these.” She handed him one of his favorite shirts, a blue plaid, and his brown vest.

  He tucked in the shirt.

  “Try standing while I am beside you.”

  Tentatively, he rose from the bed and reached for the bars. The boots took getting used to again. He stumbled and without the bars would have fallen on his face.

  “Do not be discouraged. Keep trying.” Clara moved ahead and motioned him toward her.

  He let his hands skim the bars without gripping them. “Darn it, I’m determined to go to the party wearing these clothes and these boots.”

  Carefully, he walked toward Clara. Another misstep sent him grasping the bars but he didn’t fall. When he reached her, he slowly turned and she ducked under one bar to get in front of him again.

  When he looked up, his parents stood in the doorway. Tears ran down his mother’s face and his father appeared about to shed a few also.

  Mama clung to Pa’s arm. “I don’t know when I’ve been so happy. You look like your old self, Daniel.”

  “Mama, don’t you see how slow I am? This is not as I was. Still, after all this time I’m sure not complaining.”

  Pa took out his handkerchief and blew his nose. “Don’t care if you move at a snail’s pace, you’re moving on your own two feet.”