Weidel’s countenance was no longer the mottled reddish purple it had turned earlier. “Before we get into the exact details,” he said, sitting back, “I understand there is a little event you are hosting tonight.”
“Yes. I’m introducing a few new pieces of Vesper jewelry. I need to show the public that the Vesper collection has not come to an end.” Otto smiled. “It’s been of great concern to many women.”
“I’ve also heard it bandied about that you, and not your brother, are responsible for the designs.”
Otto pretended for a moment he might deny this. “Well . . . I don’t know. . . .” He shrugged. “What can I say? Adolph wasn’t the creator, but he was very good at marketing the jewels to those of high finance. He had a way about him, and people trusted him.”
“And now they will have to trust you,” Weidel said, smiling. “Just as I trust you. Let us hope that our trust in you is not misplaced.” He got to his feet. “I plan to be in attendance tonight. In fact, I’m escorting your sister-in-law’s mother, Mrs. Oberlin.”
This news didn’t surprise Otto. Weidel put his business around town, and everyone knew he was wealthy and powerful. What nobody suspected was that he was responsible for much of the sedition going on in the city. Perhaps that was the way to rid himself of the strain Charles had put on him. If the authorities knew that Charles Weidel was suspect in his loyalty, it might very well tie up the old man for some time.
“I will look forward to seeing you tonight. I’m sure by then you’ll see the importance of our plans.”
Hours later, long after the party to show off the Vesper pieces Otto had rushed his staff to complete, he was still contemplating whether or not supporting Germany was all that important to him. In the beginning he had been certain Germany would win the war. Now he wasn’t so sure. When America had remained neutral, there was hope that the kaiser would best the world and then reward those who had been faithful to help. Now there was talk of Germany backing down merely because America had entered the war. Some thought there might even be discussions of peace before the first American troops were sent. At least this was the topic of discussion among the very wealthy that evening.
It seemed to Otto that it would be better for him to play both sides of the field. He went to his bedroom writing table and took up a piece of paper and a pen. Perhaps a nice anonymous letter to Mr. Badeau would lessen the attention focused on the Vesper business and put it on Weidel. With Weidel caught up in a pesky investigation, he’d have little time to torment Otto. With any luck at all, it would postpone activities at the naval yard until much, much later. If they took place at all.
15
Dr. Cosgrove finished cutting the last few inches of the body cast. The moment had arrived for them to see exactly how well Curtis’s back had healed. The doctor removed the top portion.
“Now, I think the easiest way to get you out of the back part of this cast is to have you sit up. I’m going to help you to sit, but we need to take it slowly. We want to make sure that we don’t do any injury to the spine. Also, we need to be mindful of your leg.” Although the doctor had taken off the traction, the leg was still casted from his foot to the top of his thigh. “Are you ready?”
“As ready as I’ll ever be.”
Even with the help of the doctor, Curtis found it more difficult than he’d imagined. The body cast had weakened the muscles of his torso, and the cast on his leg made sitting up straight rather painful. He couldn’t suppress a moan.
“Just a little more,” Cosgrove said. The doctor persisted in his manipulation of Curtis and the cast. “There.”
Curtis felt the cast separate from his back. Despite the discomfort—pain if Curtis was honest—he was grateful to be rid of the plaster prison.
“How does that feel?”
“Better than it was.”
Dr. Cosgrove came around behind Curtis and began to run his hand down the center of Curtis’s back.
“Your hand is cold.”
“Well, at least you can feel it,” Dr. Cosgrove said. He momentarily left Curtis to retrieve his medical bag. “I’m going to check and see what else you can feel.”
Curtis tried to remain patient as the doctor poked, prodded, and tortured him. “Well, what do you think, Doc?”
“The swelling is gone, as well as the bruising. You have some sores where the cast rubbed, but that’s easy enough to fix. I have some salve that Mrs. Sersland can put on you.” The doctor came back to face Curtis. “As I told you before, I wasn’t certain about the back actually being broken, but the damage done to you indicated the possibility.”
The doctor tested the reflexes in Curtis’s arms and then touched a needle to each of his fingers. “Can you feel this?”
“Yes, just as I did before.” Curtis knew his tone was one of irritation and quickly apologized. “I’m sorry, Doc. I’m just tired of all this.” He still wasn’t willing to admit he was in more than a little pain.
Cosgrove smiled. “I’m sure you are. You’ve been in casts for nearly two months now. However, given the extent of your injuries, we had to be careful.” He straightened and studied Curtis for a moment. “You don’t have to pretend it doesn’t hurt.”
“I don’t intend to give in to it.”
“Nor would I want you to. However, you are going to have some discomfort and pain for some time. Maybe always.” The doctor put things away and returned to Curtis’s bedside. “Let’s have you lie back now.”
Curtis was glad the doctor insisted on helping him. Otherwise he felt as though he might have simply fallen back against the bed. He was disgusted by the weakness in his abdominal muscles and frustrated by the fiery pain that shot up from his hips.
“I know you were hoping I’d remove the leg cast as well, but the injuries there were much more severe, as you know. We were lucky to save your leg and may yet have to operate.”
“So how much longer?”
Dr. Cosgrove smiled. “Well, I’d like to leave it casted at least another two weeks. After that, I’ll remove the cast and then we’ll see. I know that’s a disappointment. However, I do have a bit of good news.”
Curtis bit back a snide remark. “What’s that?”
“I’m not going to put you back in traction.”
“That is good news.” Curtis felt the gloom lift a bit.
“And I’m going to allow you to sit up in bed for half an hour, three times a day for the first week, and then we’ll increase the time to five times a day for the second week and maybe even let you sit in a chair. With the leg elevated, of course.”
“Of course,” Curtis muttered.
The doctor ignored him. “Then I’ll be back and we can see how you’re doing.” He closed his bag. “If you’re just patient for a little while longer, this will soon be behind you.”
Curtis nodded. “Is there anything else I need to know?”
Dr. Cosgrove took on a serious expression. “Not at this time. As I told you before, given the damage done to your leg, I’m not sure what to expect when that cast comes off. I’d like to believe you will eventually be able to get back your full use of the leg. However, we will have to wait and see. I don’t want you discouraged, by any means, but I do want you to look at this realistically. You may have to go to one of the larger hospitals in the state to set that leg properly. We can only wait and see. Just remember, you’re lucky to be alive.”
“I don’t know how lucky it’ll be if I can’t walk.”
“I feel confident in time you will walk.”
Just then Clara appeared at the door. “How’s the patient?”
Dr. Cosgrove smiled. “Ornery as ever. But otherwise doing well. As you can see, we’ve removed the body cast.”
Clara came to Curtis’s bedside. “I’m sure that feels much better.”
“I was just instructing Curtis as to what he can and can’t do.”
“I’m certain, knowing Curtis as I do, that he doesn’t feel there should be any limitations.” Clara looked at
Curtis with a raised brow. “Am I right?”
The doctor laughed. “I’m sure you are, although Curtis pretends to be the most cooperative of patients.” He moved to stand beside Clara. “I want to show you how to help Curtis sit. I want him to sit up in bed three times a day, but no more. If you have some extra pillows that may help.”
“I’ll get some right away.” She disappeared from the room but was back in a flash. She held four pillows in her arms. “Will this be enough?”
“I believe so.” The doctor took the pillows and put them behind Curtis at the head of the bed. “Now, Curtis’s muscles are quite weak from not being used, so he will definitely need help to sit. Not only that, but the leg cast will make it somewhat difficult.” He showed her how to take hold of Curtis. He watched as Clara attempted the job.
Curtis was determined to do as much for himself as possible. The moment Clara touched him he couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion course through him. This wasn’t going to be a good situation at all. Madeline was still slated to be gone for another four days, and even if he demanded that Joe or Phil return to help him, he had a feeling no one would listen. A moan escaped him once again as the muscles and nerves contracted.
“I’m so sorry. Did I do something wrong?” Clara asked, looking first to Curtis and then to the doctor.
“He’s going to have pain. Back injuries take a long time to heal, and even then they often leave the patient with lifelong pain.”
“Well then, I will do all I can to ease it,” Clara said, smiling.
Curtis couldn’t seem to look away. He wanted nothing more than to reach up and touch her cheek. He drew in a deep breath to steady himself. This was no doubt Madeline’s conspiracy with Clara to put them together as much as possible. He grimaced as Clara reached around him to position the pillows.
“There.” She looked at the doctor.
He nodded and smiled. “Now help him ease back a bit.”
She reached for Curtis and he tensed. Her face was only inches from his, and he could smell the scent of roses in her hair. Thankfully she accomplished the task quickly.
“All right, Curtis. Now that I have you in capable hands, I will let Mrs. Vesper know how to care for your other needs.” He turned to Clara. “Why don’t you walk me to the door and I’ll fill you in. I’m going to need someone to massage his back every morning and evening. He’ll also need hot compresses. All of this will require turning him on his side until the cast comes off the leg.”
Clara nodded and followed the doctor from the room. Curtis gritted his teeth at the thought of Clara touching him again. It was one thing for her to help him sit up, but massaging him was an entirely different matter. He couldn’t allow that.
But what else am I supposed to do? Madeline had gone with Paul and the others to shear sheep. Even Joe and Phil had gone up to the shearing site to help for a few hours. This left Curtis very much alone with Clara and her children. Even if Curtis wanted to refuse her treatment, he couldn’t. Not if he wanted to heal and get back on his feet.
He was still contemplating this when Clara returned. She looked quite happy. “I would imagine you’re over the moon.”
Curtis met her gaze. “I’m glad to be rid of that body cast. Glad too that Doc says I can spend some time sitting. But you need to know that I won’t allow you to give me any kind of intimate treatment like massage. It isn’t appropriate.”
Clara shook her head. “No, it isn’t. I’ve already considered that. I think we can get Joe or Phil to help with it. Besides, they have stronger hands and will be able to massage your muscles easier than I could.” She smiled. “Now, I’m going to go fix your lunch tray. I figure while you’re sitting up it will be the perfect time for you to eat. It will be much simpler than before. After lunch, when your half hour of sitting is complete, I’ll help you to lie back down. Then when Joe and Phil return, I’ll let them know what’s to be done.”
As Clara exited the room, Maddy appeared. She walked to his bedside and without warning climbed up on the bed beside him. She was no more the hesitant child he’d first met.
“You don’t have that cast anymore,” she said, pointing to his bare chest.
“No. The doctor took it off.” He had a blanket that covered his lower body but allowed for his casted leg to remain out. He pointed. “Just this cast is left.”
She nodded. “So when will you be well?”
It surprised him that Maddy was concerned with this, and he couldn’t help but question her on the matter. “Why do you ask?”
She shrugged. “We keep praying for you every night. I’m just wondering when God is going to answer.”
He couldn’t help smiling. “God is already answering. The doctor says I’m much better, and in another two weeks he hopes to take off the leg cast.”
“Will you be able to get up then?”
“I hope so, Miss Maddy. I’ve been in this bed for almost two months.”
“That’s a long time. Does it hurt?”
“What? Being in bed that long? It’s definitely not comfortable.”
“No, I mean your leg. Does it hurt?”
Her concern touched him. “It did, but not so much now.”
“My father died when he got shot,” she said matter-of-factly.
Curtis found it surprising that she should mention such a thing so bluntly. “I’m sorry. You must miss him.”
She shook her head. “No. He never came to the nursery. Nanny Mim said he was real busy. I saw him when we went to church, but he always wanted us to stay with Nanny Mim.”
“He never played with you and Hunter?” She shook her head. Curtis couldn’t help thinking that if Hunter and Maddy were his, he would want to play with them—be with them as much as possible.
“Mama came to the nursery to see us. Sometimes she read to us or we had a tea party. She even played with Hunter and his toy soldiers.”
“She loves you a great deal.”
Maddy nodded. “She loves you too.”
Curtis was taken aback. What could he say? What should he say? He had thought to let the matter lie but found his curiosity wouldn’t allow him to. “Did she say that?”
“I heard her say it when she was praying,” Maddy replied. “She didn’t know I heard her.”
“I see. Well, you know it’s never good to eavesdrop.”
“I know.”
She offered no other excuse or comment but merely watched Curtis as if trying to figure out something. Uncertain of what she was thinking, Curtis was careful with his next comment.
“Your mama loves a lot of people. She always has. Did she tell you that she knew me when she was a young girl?”
Maddy nodded. “She told us that you used to go for walks and rides on the horses.”
“We did.” Curtis felt a sense of relief that she was no longer speaking of love.
“She told God she wants you to walk with her again.” Maddy’s brow furrowed as she frowned. “She didn’t ask God about riding horses.”
Curtis vacillated between the amusement he felt at the child’s commentary and the discomfort of how much he knew Clara was pining for him. Though if he was honest, it was certainly no more than he was pining for her.
It’s your own fault that you’re pining. It’s your fault that she’s pining too.
He sought to change the subject. “So are you having fun here on the ranch, or do you miss the city?”
“I don’t miss our old house. Mama’s happy here, and I hope we don’t ever leave.”
I hope you don’t either.
The thought came like a punch to the gut. He didn’t want them to leave.
“Here we are,” Clara said, carrying in a tray. She smiled at Maddy. “Sweetheart, would you bring over that wooden platform so I can put the tray down?”
Maddy hopped off the bed and retrieved the piece. Curtis took it from her and positioned it over his lap. Clara then deposited the tray.
“I hope you enjoy this.” She looked the tray over.
“Do you see anything that’s missing?”
“If it was missing, how could I see it?” Curtis automatically countered.
She laughed and it was like music. Curtis met her gaze. She looked so angelic—so at peace—yet he knew inside her was a turmoil that he had caused. Finally she looked away, leaving Curtis with his guilt and frustration.
“Well, if you think of anything else you need, just ring the bell.” She handed him the bell from the nightstand. “Maddy, your lunch is on the table. Hunter is already there, so why don’t you go and join him. I’ll be there shortly.”
Without a word, the little girl did as Clara instructed. Curtis thought to himself just how well behaved the children were. Hunter had a bit of a wild streak, but Curtis figured that was because he needed a father’s strong hand to direct him. Maybe once he was out of this bed he could . . .
“I can’t think that way,” he muttered.
“What was that?” Clara asked.
Curtis hadn’t realized he’d spoken aloud. “I’m sorry. I was just thinking about something.” He looked down at the tray. “This looks real good.”
“I’ll be back to check on you.”
Curtis nodded and watched her go. He had to admire her trim little figure. She had dressed in a long brown skirt and calico blouse of yellow. She looked very much like she belonged on the ranch instead of among the high society of New York City.
She was definitely happy. That much couldn’t be denied. The children were too. At least they seemed to be. Maddy had said she hoped they’d never leave. And the truth of the matter was that when Curtis wasn’t working so hard to guard his feelings, he had to admit that he didn’t want them to leave either.
Lord, I don’t know what to do with all my thoughts and feelings. I’ve wanted Clara back in my life for so long. I prayed she’d never marry. I hoped she’d run away and come back to me and then we could marry and no one would ever be able to separate us again. But, Lord, I’m in no position to take a wife and be a father to those children. He shook his head and sighed. I don’t know what to do.
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