The Pattern

by Jane Peart

  Elly threw Johanna a hopeless look. No prisoner on the way to the gallows could have looked more desperate. Before Elly reluctantly followed Miss Minton’s rigid back down the narrow hall, Johanna gave her a little wave and a sympathetic smile.

  Outside in the crisp winter morning, Johanna walked briskly toward the center of town. She had no particular place in mind to wile away the hour Elly was enduring her music lesson. Johanna window-shopped at the milliner’s and manteau maker’s, then went to the stationer’s. Browsing the displays of handsome desk sets, she wished she could buy one for her father as a Christmas gift. Of course, they were all much too expensive, some elaborate silver ones consisting of inkwells, sealing stamps, quill holders. She sighed. She would probably have to finish embroidering the spectacle case she had started and never completed, for his birthday, and give it to him for his Christmas present.

  Outside again, she walked slowly down the street, in the direction of Dr. Murrison’s residence. A wooden sign with his name and the words “Physician and Surgeon” underneath swung on the gate. In smaller letters, another name—Dr. Ross Davison—had been painted by a different hand. She put out a tentative hand and traced the name over a couple of times with her gloved finger.

  “Miss Shelby!” a deep male voice called and she whirled around. Ross Davison was running out from the side entrance of the house, without his coat, his hair tousled by the wind. Johanna felt her face flood with color.

  When he reached her, Johanna saw obvious happiness in his face. He leaned forward on the gateposts. His eyes shone, his smile wide.

  “Miss Shelby, what brings you out this chilly morning?”

  “Yes, it is chilly.” She raised her eyebrows, noting he was in his shirtsleeves, as if he had come flying out when he saw her, in too much of a hurry to put on his jacket.

  To her amazement he stated, “I saw you from the window and was afraid you might pass by without my having a chance to speak to you.”

  What honesty! What lack of pretense or guile! Johanna thought of all the silly chitchat most young gentlemen dealt out in conversing with young ladies. Ross Davison was certainly different.

  “As to what I’m doing out,” she replied, “I’m on my way to fetch my youngest sister from her music lesson.” Johanna laughed. “Actually, I should say rescue her. She was very reluctant to go, and only the promise of a treat afterward would persuade her.”

  Ross was spellbound. Just looking at her, her lovely eyes sparkling with merriment and her cheeks as glowing as twin roses, listening to her voice, her laughter, made his heart happy. As a doctor, he was aware of his own physical reaction at the sight of her. His heart rate had quickened alarmingly, and probably his blood pressure rose as well. Diagnosis: decidedly unmedical. He knew he was in fine health, so there must be another explanation.

  A little uneasy under his steady gaze, Johanna said, “I must be on my way. It should be nearly time for the prisoner’s release.”

  “Can you wait until I get my coat?” he asked. “I’d like to accompany you, if I may? Maybe buy both of you a treat?”

  “Why, thank you, Dr. Davison. That would be very nice.” Johanna was too delighted to dissemble.

  “Good. Then, I’ll be right back,” Ross promised and, turning, ran back to the house. A minute later he emerged, still thrusting his arms into his coat sleeves. He twisted a long knitted scarf around his neck and fell into step alongside her, breathless.

  “My goodness, Dr. Davison, you could win a marathon!”

  “I’m what town folks call a ‘ridge runner,’” he laughed heartily, turning the word used often as a derogatory name for mountain folk into a matter of pride.

  On the short walk over to Miss Minton’s, they talked and laughed easily, as if they had known each other a long time. Being with Ross was so natural, Johanna felt relaxed and happy. Elly, her snub nose pressed against the window next to the front door, was already anxiously awaiting Johanna’s arrival. Her coat was buttoned crookedly, her bonnet jammed on her head, its strings tied carelessly into a crooked bow.

  Miss Minton stood behind her, arms folded. Seeing that Johanna had not returned alone but accompanied by a young man, her eyes sharpened disapprovingly behind her spectacles.

  Johanna made quick work of the introductions, then took Elly’s hand, and the three of them hurried down the path and out the gate. “Dr. Davison has kindly offered to stand for our treat, Elly,” Johanna explained.

  “What would you say to a candied apple on a stick, Miss Elly?” Ross asked. “When I was in the bakeshop earlier, they were making them. And the smell of brown sugar, cinnamon, and apples was almost too much.”

  “Sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?” Johanna squeezed Elly’s hand.

  Elly’s eyes lit up and she smiled shyly, nodding her head.

  The trio were blissfully ignorant that behind a stiff, lace curtain, the watchful gaze of Miss Minton was following them.

  Miss Minton’s mouth pressed in a straight line. What a bold baggage Johanna was! And that young assistant of Dr. Murrison. Shouldn’t he be tending sick folks instead of gallivanting around with that Shelby girl? Miss Minton intended to pass on her opinion to the next mother who showed up today with one of her pupils.

  Outside, the subjects of Miss Minton’s negative consideration were having a merry time. They stopped to get their candy apples, then walked down to the duck pond while they ate, the sweet, sticky coating blending deliciously with the tart taste of the juicy apples. The three of them carried on a jolly conversation. Both Johanna and Ross included Elly, giving her attention as an equal.

  Finally Ross said he had to go back to his office. “But I’ve had a wonderful morning, thanks to you two. You don’t know how much it means to a doctor to be with healthy, happy folks for a change.”

  Elly looked wistfully at the tall departing figure and sighed. “Isn’t he nice? I’d like him for a beau, wouldn’t you, Johanna?”

  Out of the mouths of babes! But Johanna didn’t dare admit her wholehearted agreement with Elly’s opinion. The little girl might just pop out with something at the wrong moment. For now, Johanna wanted to keep her still uncertain feelings about Ross Davison to herself. So not answering, she just gave her a quick hug and said, “Come on, Elly, I’m cold. I’ll race you home.” Then picking up her skirt, she started to run, forgetting altogether that she was now a young lady and this was unseemly behavior for someone who was eighteen.

  For the next few days, Johanna’s thoughts swirled, circled, and whirled around Ross Davison. It was a delicious secret that she hugged close, too precious to share with anyone. Was it real, had it truly happened? Her inner happiness softened and sweetened her, touching everything she said and did with a remarkable gentleness.

  Rebecca thoughtfully noted this “weather change” in her oldest daughter. Perhaps some of Miss Pomoroy’s influence had taken its hoped-for effect on Johanna. Usually when Johanna was home, she created all sorts of small tempests. Frequent spats between her and Cissy, careless neglect of household duties, a general disregard for anything but her own pleasurable activities. Maybe all the trouble and expense she and Tennant had lavished on Johanna was at last reaping some benefits. Johanna certainly seemed to be maturing. Of course, she had always been generous, cheerful, maybe too fun-loving but certainly a joy to be around. Now if she could just become more interested in the womanly skills that would be necessary assets when she married. Of course, there was still time for that. Johanna had another year to complete at the academy…

  Unaware of her mother’s concern, Johanna was fully enjoying her vacation, free from ringing bells, boring lessons, required stitchery classes. Every day, she received fistfuls of invitations to holiday parties. Each one a potential chance of seeing Ross Davison, now a part of the social circle of Hillsboro’s young people. Whatever people like the snobbish Archers might say, an eligible bachelor was always welcome, and as the respected Dr. Murrison’s assistant, Ross had an assured acceptance.

 
; As she wrote her replies to these invitations, Johanna could never have guessed that her next meeting with Ross would be pure “happenstance” or that it would have such unexpected repercussions.

  Two days before Christmas it snowed. Snow in Hillsboro was unusual. Snow of this depth and of such lasting quality was really rare. The temperature dropped and the foot or more of snow that blanketed the town formed an icy crust, perfect for sledding. Elly was beside herself with glee, and Johanna was still young enough to love the snow and see its possibilities for enjoyment.

  Excitedly they got out the seldom-used wooden sled and waxed the runners. Bundled up with scarves and mittens, Johanna and Elly went to join some other adventurous ones who had made a sliding track on the hillside.

  The air was as keen and stimulating as chilled wine, stinging the eyes and turning noses and cheeks red as ripe cherries. Up and down the winding hill the girls went, swooping down the slopes and shouting at the top of their voices as they sped to the bottom.

  It was when they reached the bottom for about the fourth time and were starting the slow climb back up to have another spinning ride that Johanna spotted Ross coming along the street. Holding on to the brim of his tall hat with one hand and his doctor’s bag with the other, his head bent against the wind, he plowed along the path through high drifts on either side.

  Unable to resist the impulse, Johanna bent over, quickly scooped a handful of snow, formed it into a ball, and sent it winging through the air. It hit its target exactly, knocking Ross’s hat clear off. Startled, he halted and spun around, looking for the culprit. Then he saw Johanna and Elly holding on to each other as they convulsed with laughter. His first puzzled expression instantly broke into a wide grin. “You rascals!” he shouted. Dropping his bag, he swiftly rounded a ball of snow with both hands and threw it. It landed on Johanna’s shoulder as she turned to avoid being his target. There followed a fierce snowball fight, two against one. Elly and Johanna alternately fashioned snowballs and pelted Ross while he struggled valiantly to return as good as he was getting. Finally it ended in a laughing truce, with Ross pulling out a large white handkerchief and waving it. He retrieved his hat, dusted the snow off its brim, and picked up his medical bag. Smiling broadly, he approached the two girls, who were still laughing merrily.

  “Enough! I surrender. I have sick people who are down with the croup, chills, and fever!” Ross pleaded submissively. “How can you two justify delaying me on my rounds of mercy, waylaying me and attacking me so viciously?”

  For an answer, Johanna reached down and molded another snowball and tossed it with all her might, only to be hit by one herself as she turned her back and started running out of range. Her laughter was ringing out in the air when unexpectedly she heard her name spoken admonishingly. She whirled around to see Emily and Mrs. Archer approaching along the side of the street. Emily’s mother had a shocked look on her face. Johanna blushed scarlet, feeling like a child caught with a hand in the forbidden cookie jar. Not only was she positive Mrs. Archer would relay this escapade she had observed to everyone, including Johanna’s mother and aunties, but Johanna knew Emily was delighted to have a spicy tidbit to pass along to her chosen friends. Johanna Shelby and the young doctor carrying on in broad daylight on the street! Emily’s eyes were wide with curiosity as she and her mother came to a stop within a few feet of both Johanna and Ross.

  Johanna attempted a semblance of poise and started to make introductions but did not have a chance. With lifted eyebrows Mrs. Archer said coolly, “Oh, we’ve met Dr. Davison, Johanna. I wasn’t aware you two were acquainted.”

  Emily interjected too sweetly, “Don’t you remember, Mama? Johanna and Dr. Murrison were the last left playing musical chairs at the Chalmerses’ party.” She glanced over at Johanna with the look of a tabby cat licking a bowl of cream.

  Johanna flushed, gritting her teeth. That Emily! What a spiteful person she was. However, Ross, unaware or undisturbed by the fact that Emily was trying to embarrass them, bowed slightly, acknowledging Mrs. Archer. Then he laughingly declared, “That was the most fun I’ve had since I was a tadpole.”

  Mrs. Archer gave him a cold look that might have chilled a lesser individual. “Really? How odd, Dr. Davison.” Then, turning to her daughter, she said, “Come along, Emily. We must get on with our errands.” She added pointedly, “Johanna, do give your dear mother my kind regards.” With that parting jab they walked off. Johanna bit her lip in frustration, knowing for certain she would hear about this later.

  Ross seemed hardly to notice their departure. His mind was too taken up with Johanna. Did she have any idea how pretty she was? Her dark curls escaping from the red knitted cap tumbled onto her shoulders. The rosy laughing mouth. The blue, blue eyes shining with fun.

  After exchanging a few more silly jests, Ross set his hat straight and gave them a small salute. “Good day, Miss Shelby, Miss Elly. Regrettably, I have work to do while others may play!” He made an exaggerated bow. “And may I take this opportunity to wish you both a very happy Christmas.”

  “I like him,” Elly declared as she and Johanna started back up the hill.

  “I do, too,” said Johanna, knowing it was much more than that.

  “He doesn’t seem at all like a stuffy old doctor, does he?”

  “No,” replied Johanna. They went back to sledding, the playful incident with Ross part of a happy day. A day when Johanna had seen yet another side of Ross Davison. A side that appealed to her own fun-loving self.

  This year Christmas dinner was at Aunt Bee and Uncle Radford’s home. Since it was also their twentieth wedding anniversary, the whole family was in an especially festive mood for the double celebration. As they gathered around the table for dinner, Aunt Hannah’s husband, Uncle Roy, who was an elder in church, was asked to say the blessing. All heads bowed as it was ponderously intoned, and afterward the light buzz of conversation resumed as plates and platters were passed.

  Then something happened that startled Johanna. During one of those lulls that sometimes occur even in the most congenial company when everyone is simply enjoying the good food, Aunt Hannah remarked, “By the way, Johanna, Emily Archer’s mother said the strangest thing to me when I saw her the other day.” Aunt Hannah pierced her with a sharp look. “She mentioned that she had seen you and Dr. Murrison’s assistant in quite a rowdy display, throwing snowballs at each other in broad daylight on the street! I told her she must be mistaken, that I thought it unlikely that a girl with your background and breeding and so recently come from Miss Pomoroy’s establishment would be making a spectacle of herself in public!”

  The silence that followed was so absolute that one could have heard the proverbial pin drop. Johanna felt her cheeks flame as everyone either looked at her or avoided doing so. Worst of all, she felt her mother’s gaze rest upon her. What could she say in her own defense? Besides, it was true. It had happened, there was no use denying it. Johanna opened her mouth to explain, but as it turned out, it was Elly who did.

  “Oh yes, Aunt Hannah. It is true! Johanna and I both did. It was ever so fun! Dr. Davison is so kind and jolly. Johanna and I had such a good time.”

  Aunt Hannah looked a trifle sheepish at the little girl’s enthusiastic explanation, but she still had the last word. Giving a little clucking sound of disapproval, she said, “One would hardly expect a physician to engage in such sport.”

  “And why not?” boomed Uncle Matt. “He’s a young fella, even though a man of medicine! I admit to feeling like frolicin’ myself sometimes in the snow!” he chuckled heartily.

  There was a murmur of amusement at this around the table, then a general, noncontroversial conversation continued.

  Johanna cast her uncle a grateful look, then glanced at Aunt Hannah. Known in the family for a talent of turning a joyous occasion into something else, she had certainly been true to form today. Thankfully, Uncle Matt, was jolly enough to make up for it.

  Johanna avoided her mother’s questioning eye, knowing she woul
d have some explaining to do later. Inwardly she fumed. The Archers had wasted no time carrying their tidbit of gossip to willing ears. However, evidently Aunt Hannah’s informant, Mrs. Archer, had failed to tell her that her younger sister was there, too.

  Although the meal proceeded without further ado, Aunt Hannah’s acid remark about Ross had spoiled the family holiday dinner for Johanna. Auntie Bee’s lemon meringue pie could have been cardboard for all Johanna could tell.

  At least her little sister had saved the day. And Uncle Matt’s comment had dashed some cold water on Aunt Hannah’s criticism. But only temporarily. Back at home, as Johanna had known she would, Rebecca came into Johanna’s bedroom. “Why didn’t you mention seeing Dr. Davison and having a snowball fight the day you took your sister sledding?”

  “I didn’t think it was important.” Johanna shrugged. “It was just a silly game—”

  “It seemed important enough to Mrs. Archer for her to speak of it to Hannah. You know how it upsets me to have my daughters the subject of criticism or comment.”

  “Oh Mama, you know Emily’s mother is a terrible gossip. She was just trying to find something to talk about. Why is she so interested in what other people do? I say she’s much too inquisitive. She should mind her own affairs.”

  “Don’t be disrespectful of your elders, Johanna,” her mother corrected sharply, then added with a raised eyebrow, “Besides, the only people who mind others being inquisitive are those who have something to hide.” She paused. “Do you have anything you’d like to tell me, Johanna?”