After this incident, for some strange reason, Frank decided not to quit his job. Instead he vowed that when he left this place, he’d take young Henrietta with him as his bride. It didn’t matter that he didn’t care about the girl. All he wanted to do was punish Keenon and he knew the man doted on his daughter. Marrying her and taking her away was the best revenge he could think of.
And it had been. Zeb was furious and said that he was going to kill them both. Henrietta convinced Frank that her father was capable of murder so the couple left Santa Fe and headed to Wyoming. Frank had read that there was a hotel for sale in the small town of Settlers Ridge, and he knew Zeb would never find them there.
Frank knew he didn’t love the girl when he married her and probably never would, but she was easy to get along with and he figured he could have done worse. She worked hard and she tried to please him in every way she could. When he and his child-bride had their new hotel up and running, Henrietta sent her father a wire telling him that she was doing well and was a happily married woman. The return wire told her he didn’t care to hear anything about her life because he’d disowned her. Henrietta was hurt deeply, but she never mentioned it again. That night she cried herself to sleep in Frank’s arms. As he comforted and soothed her, Frank held her close to his chest and realized that was the night he fell in love with his wife.
The doctor’s voice cut into Frank’s thoughts. “Well folks, it looks like it’s going to be another rough night, but keep on doing what you’re doing now. I know it’s tiring, but the cool cloths will hopefully begin to work on this fever. Also, continue to keep everybody away from her. We don’t know how long it takes to contract the disease, but there’s no need to take chances.”
“We will, Doctor,” Henrietta said as she returned to her chair beside the bed.
“I’ll come by again tomorrow. I won’t send Esther because of the children. I don’t know if they could get the disease off their mama, but I’m not going to take any chances.” The doctor picked up his black bag.
“I’ll see you to the door, Sheldon.”
“Thank you, Frank.”
At the front door, the doctor turned to him. “Frank, I don’t want to be an alarmist, but a lot of people are in and out of here almost every day. You might need to close your dining room for a while.”
“Is that really necessary?”
“When word gets out about Sophie being so sick, I can’t guarantee that we won’t have people start to panic.”
“I understand. I’ll put a sign up that the dining room is closed. Should I close the entire hotel?”
“I don’t think that will be necessary. Not at this time anyway, but we might want to have a meeting with some of the local leaders to see what we need to do.”
“Sure. Do you want to meet here?”
“It’s as good a place as I can think of. How about we come at noon tomorrow? I’ll get the people together who I think should be here. Could you have some coffee or something?”
“I’ll have Miss Effie fix dinner. She won’t mind when I tell her that she won’t be cooking for a crowd for a little while.”
After locking the door behind the doctor, Frank printed a sign that read: DINING ROOM CLOSED BECAUSE OF KITCHEN FIRE. He hung it in the front window and after checking to be sure Teddy was in bed, he returned to his wife and daughter. As he entered the sick room, he couldn’t help thinking that Sophie was just the age her mother was when they married. He quivered to think how young and innocent Henrietta was at the time. Looking at her now, he realized he couldn’t love her more. He was a blessed man.
Chapter 3
Grace was surprised when there was a knock on her door the next morning. Unless there was an emergency, no one usually said anything to her until she got to the kitchen. She prayed a quick prayer everything was all right and headed to the door. With her heart beating a little too fast, she opened it and was startled to see Frank there. Before he could speak, she blurted, “Is Sophie all right?”
He nodded. “There’s been no change, but I wanted to let you know I’ve closed the dining room. Effie is cooking breakfast for us, and she’ll continue to make food for the prisoners, but we won’t be serving the public.”
“What’s going on, Frank?”
“I put up a note saying there had been a kitchen fire and we had to close, but I can tell you that the doctor thought it was a good idea. I’m not sure how long it will be before we can open again.”
“Is this because of Sophie’s illness?”
“Yes. What she has is contagious.” He took a deep breath. “There’ll be a group of men coming in for dinner at noon. I’ve already spoken to Effie and asked her to cook a meal. Since Henrietta is tied up with Sophie, will you please be in there around twelve and be ready to serve them when they arrive?”
“Of course.”
“Thanks, Grace. I just wanted to let you know what’s happening.”
“I appreciate that.”
He nodded. “Now, I better get back to Sophie. Henrietta is exhausted. After we eat a little breakfast, she promised to nap a little and let me take care of Sophie.”
“I’ll be glad to help look after her.”
“I know you would, Grace, but it would be more useful to us if you help Effie out in the kitchen and keep an eye on Teddy. I’ve told him to stay in the hotel today, but you know how he is. He likes to go outside and he may try to slip out.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll watch him closely.”
Frank nodded and headed down the hall to their quarters.
Grace moved back to her desk and picked up the envelope she’d stuffed with the letter to Nelda. She sighed. There hadn’t been much to tell her friend. She did describe Sophie’s illness, and she told her about the cowboy’s adventure of shooting up the town. She didn’t tell her about eating a meal with Lance. Grace still didn’t want anyone to guess she harbored feelings for the man. But those feelings she’d had for Nelda’s brother had been there since childhood. Probably will always be, but nobody will ever know.
Putting the letter aside to take to the post office the next time she left the hotel, Grace felt a little melancholy. She thought of how Nelda and her brother had stayed in touch after she moved away and her mind slid to her own brother. Why couldn’t Clay and I have stayed close? I know he’s seven years older than me, but that doesn’t matter. Lance is nine years older than Nelda. Why did Clay have to leave home when he was a teenager, vowing never to come back to be hit by Daddy again?
Shaking the thoughts away and putting a smile on her lips, Grace tied up her hair with a dark blue ribbon then headed for the dining room. It felt strange to see it deserted. She came into the kitchen and found Effie Vaughn setting a plate on the kitchen worktable in front of Teddy. The boy eagerly grabbed his fork and began to eat. “Good morning.” Grace grinned at the both of them.
“It ain’t so good, Grace.”
“Why not, Teddy?”
“Pa says I have to stay inside today and can’t go out and play with my buddy, Joel. Ma says I can’t make too much noise because it will bother Sophie. I don’t see why a little noise would hurt her. I’m not all that loud.”
Grace took a chair beside Teddy. “I guess they think you’re grown up enough to help by doing what they ask you to do. I’m sure you are, too.”
“How’s staying inside and being quiet gonna help anybody?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t think your parents would ask for your cooperation if they didn’t want it.”
He shrugged and stuffed egg in his mouth. He then picked up a slice of bacon with his hand and bit it.
“Teddy, just because your mother isn’t here to see what you’re doing, do you think it’s a good idea to disregard all the table manners you know?”
“Ah, Grace, I see cowboys in the dining room eat with their hands all the time.”
“Maybe so, but does that mean you have to eat that way?”
“It don’t matter because a cowboy is what I wan
t to be when I grow up.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being a cowboy, Teddy, but you want to be a successful one, don’t you?”
“Sure. I want to make a bunch of money.”
“Well now, who would you say are the most successful cowboys in this area?” She cocked her head and looked at him.
“Mr. Jed Wainwright. Then maybe Mr. Curt Allison.”
“I agree. Now, let me ask you another question.”
“Okay.”
“You’ve seen Mr. Wainwright and his wife and baby eating here, haven’t you?”
He nodded.
“You’ve also seen Mr. Allison eating here in the dining room, haven’t you?”
“Sure. Lots of times.”
“Have you ever seen either of these men eating their meat with their hands?”
He dropped his head. “I guess not.”
“Then I don’t suppose I need to say anything more, do I?”
“No.” He picked up his fork.
“Good.” She took the coffee Effie handed her. “Thank you.”
“Do you want to take your plate and eat your breakfast in the dining room?” Effie asked.
“I think I’ll eat here if you and Teddy don’t mind. It’s lonesome in the dining room and I won’t have anybody in there to talk to.”
“I don’t mind if Grace eats with me,” Teddy muttered.
Effie Vaughn said nothing, but she set a brimming plate of bacon, eggs, potatoes and biscuits before Grace then made one for herself.
* * * *
Hal Cramer, the town’s only lawyer, was the first man Frank Olsen showed into the dining room at noon. Sheriff Lance Gentry soon followed. After the two men were seated, Grace moved to the table with a coffee pot in her hand. She filled two of the cups already on the table for the men.
“Thanks, Grace.” Lance smiled at her, but she could tell from the look in his eyes something serious was about to happen in this meeting.
After filling their cups, she turned and noticed Charles Fielding, the town’s leading banker coming into the dining room. He smiled at her.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Fielding,” she said as he joined the others, and she turned to pour coffee for him.
He nodded and then turned to Lance. “Do you know who else is coming?”
“I’m not sure. Doc was the one who called this meeting, so I guess he’s the only who knows.”
Cramer only shook his head.
As Grace headed for the kitchen to help Effie fill plates for the men, she noticed, Hershel Baldwin, the mayor had arrived. Without speaking to her, he went directly to the table where the sheriff and the other two businessmen sat. She couldn’t help wondering why Mr. Olsen was having this gathering. There must be something about Sophie’s illness that caused these men to be meeting like this. Of course she wouldn’t be privileged to any such information. Men were always secretive when important things came up, or things they thought they were sheltering the women from. If they’d only use their heads, they’d realize women worried more about what was going on than they would if they knew the facts.
The last three men to come through the door and join the group were Jed Wainwright and his partner, Curt Allison. The doctor followed them.
Grace went to the table and served coffee to all of them. Each man gave her a friendly, but subdued greeting. Then she left to serve the plates. She was still puzzled, but she didn’t dare ask any questions. When she returned with a laden tray, Deputy Bryce and Frank Olsen had joined the men.
* * * *
“Well, Doc, now that Grace has served us and left the room, maybe you should tell these men why you thought it necessary to call this meeting.” Frank Olsen picked up his coffee cup.
Doctor Sheldon Wagner cleared his throat and began. “Some of you may already know that Olsen’s daughter is sick.” A couple of the men nodded. The others shook their heads.
Doc went on. “She has a bad case of the measles. She’s running a dangerously high fever and she’s covered in red bumps and blotches. This is a sure sign that it’s serious.” He looked at each man. “If you don’t already know, there’s no cure for this disease. All we can do is keep patients as cool and comfortable as possible, try to get liquids in them and give them something to help them rest. Then we sit back and turn things over to the good Lord. Sometimes when things seem hopeless, the fever will break and the patient will be able to fight off the infection. At other times…let’s just say we always hope for the best.”
“What has all of this got to do with us, Sheldon?” Hal Cramer asked.
“I don’t want to alarm anyone, but the measles are highly contagious. They’ve been known to practically wipe out a town. We don’t have any medicine that can cure or prevent it from happening. Sometimes when a case breaks out, it spreads quickly and unfortunately, many people die. If at all possible, I want to stop a widespread breakout in Settlers Ridge. I also want to prevent panic from invading our town when everyone hears that Sophie has come down with them.”
“Of course I see what you’re getting at, Doc, but are you sure she has the measles?” the mayor asked.
“Yes, Hershel, I’m sure. But thank goodness she’s the only case I’ve seen in town so far.”
“Do you expect other cases to crop up here?” Hershel asked.
“Since they’re so contagious, I’ve never known of a town having only one case.”
Jed Wainwright frowned. “Have there been any cases out on the ranches and farms?”
The doctor nodded. “I was out to the Clayton place early this morning. Their eleven-year-old boy has them as bad, if not worse, than Sophie.”
“Hell and damnation,” Hal’s voice was sharp. “Why did you let her go out on the streets, Frank? She could have infected half the young people in town, including my daughter while she was traipsing about.”
“She seemed fine until day before yesterday.” Frank sounded defensive.
“Don’t start shooting off your mouth, Hal.” Lance raised an eyebrow. “Nobody had any idea that somebody was going to get the measles. Anybody could have brought them to town, including your daughter. Didn’t she just get return to Settlers Ridge from St. Louis? She could have brought them with her. Maybe one of us has them right now and doesn’t know it.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my Juliette. She’s fine and she didn’t bring anything except herself and a lot of bags to town.”
A couple of men smiled and Bryce asked, “It doesn’t matter now how they got here, does it, Doc?”
“Not really. The measles are here and I’m trying to keep them from spreading. That’s the reason for this meeting.”
The mayor said, “We’re not children. We can’t get them.”
“You’re wrong, Hershel.” The doctor shook his head. “An adult can get them, though they seem to hit children and young people more often. It’s a good thing, too.”
“Why’s that, Doc?” Curt Allison asked.
“Because more children and younger people survive than adults.”
“So,” Hershel asked, “you’re saying anybody can get them?”
“Yes they can. The medical profession is not sure what causes the measles, but we have learned the best way to prevent them is to keep everyone you can away from the infected person.”
“So you’re saying we need to watch our families closely and maybe stay away from other people until this thing is over.”
“That’s right, Jed. Frank closed this hotel because I didn’t want his customers to come in contact with Sophie. I’ve also told him to keep Teddy away from his sister. He’s been feeling poorly, but he hasn’t shown any signs of the measles yet.”
“What about his wife? Surely Sophie has to have somebody look after her?” Hal looked confused.
Frank spoke up. “Of course, she’s looking after Sophie. She’ll hardly leave her bedside. I’m helping as much as I can, but Henrietta insists on doing most of the nursing.”
Lance spoke up. “I don’t think
Sheldon called this meeting to discuss how the Olsens were taking care of their child. I think he wanted to see if we could ward off a panic in town.”
“You’re right, Lance. I know it won’t be easy, but I want each of you gentlemen to use your influence to make sure as few people as possible walk about the streets. It would be best if everyone stuck close to home for a little while.”
“Are you talking quarantine, Doc?” Bryce asked.
“Not yet, Deputy, but it could come to that. For the time being, I’m asking all of you to keep your families at home and tell your friends to limit their time in town. Tell everyone to make quick purchases when they need supplies and to stay out of crowds as much as possible.”
“How about the saloon? I bet there’s no way we can keep the people from going there,” Hershel said.
Jed nodded. “You may be right, Mayor, but I intend to caution my men. I’ll even lessen my rule about them drinking in the bunkhouse. They can share their whiskey and play cards there as well as they can in town.”
“I’m going to do the same, Jed,” Curt said with a half-smile. “Of course I don’t know what I can do if they think they have to have one of the saloon women.”
“There are some activities you’re not going to be able to stop unless we do have to impose quarantine on the town. I don’t want to do that unless it becomes absolutely necessary. I’m just asking all of you to do what you can.” Sheldon sighed. “Maybe this will turn out to be unnecessary and we won’t have any more cases of the measles in Settlers Ridge.”
There wasn’t a man at the table who believed him as they came up with the steps they would try to put in place to keep the town safe for the next few days.
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