Hannah's Dream (21 page)

As they made their way back to the ranch in the new, big carriage James had purchased, they saw a tall man hanging a new sign in front of the doctor's office.  He saw them and nodded.  The men tipped their hats.  The sign said "Owen Wallace, Doctor of Medicine."  Hannah thought he was nice looking.

The old doctor had died six months ago and some of the women in town complained to the town council that they had better find a new one soon or else.  Adam smiled.  The women had gotten their way.

Chapter 35

Becky had been cleaning the house since sunup.  The kitchen had been scrubbed from top to bottom in preparation for next week's canning.  Baskets of harvested vegetables sat in the new root cellar James had had built for them and this week, Adam was taking Hannah and Jimmy around the valley in the wagon to farms with fruit trees.  Each day they came home with something new -- apples, pears, and peaches had been easy to find, but Hannah was overjoyed when they found a farmer selling cherries.  She loved Becky's cherry preserves!

When the kitchen was spic and span, Becky began sorting through her mason jars.  She had brought them with her from New Jersey.  Marian had told her James would be more than happy to buy her new ones, but Becky was sentimental about the jars -- the ones she had used since becoming Marian's housekeeper.

Becky had been an upstairs maid in the Hughes household when Mr. Hughes arranged Marian's marriage to Randall Dawes.  Becky hated Randall on sight.  She knew the type of man he was.  She also knew what an innocent girl Marian was, and it broke her heart to see the lovely young girl shackled to such a man.  Becky became Marian's confidante, and when she asked her parents if Becky could come with her to her new home, they agreed.

Marian and Becky were the same age.  Becky had gone into service when she was fourteen.  She had been the Hughes' scullery maid and had been promoted to kitchen maid two years later.  Then she was promoted again to upstairs maid.  Going with Marian meant another promotion -- a giant leap to housekeeper.  Randall felt one housekeeper would be sufficient as he planned to spend his time away from home.  Marian had been raised with a personal maid and the Hughes family had given Randall the opportunity to take the maid along, too, but he refused.  He thought it was a frivolous waste of money and believed Becky could fill the role.

The first year in her new position had been difficult.  Becky had no experience dressing hair or preparing the stylish dresses a society woman was required to wear.  The layers had to be assembled just so, or the outfit would look unkempt.  Becky was blessed in her lady, however, and Marian's patience that first year made the transition less arduous.  She grew to love her mistress.

When Randall died, their relationship changed.  Marian was free to do her own hair and to dress herself, with a little assistance with corset strings from Becky, and Becky was free to do what she had hoped to do when she came to the house with Marian -- keep the house!  They fell into an easy companionship of mutual respect and at times, Becky forgot she was a hired servant.  She would say things that caused Marian to blush, but she secretly admired her outspoken housekeeper.  Marian loved Becky, too, and while some of the things Becky said embarrassed her, she secretly wished she could say them herself.

Over the years they had supported each other in many ways.  When Becky refused payment for her services, saying her room and board with a small allowance were enough,  Marian at first refused to hear of it and pressed Becky to take the money, but Becky stood firm.  The balance of power shifted and Becky became Marian's friend and equal.  Now, if her bones ached and she needed to sit down in the middle of the day, she didn't feel shame -- she simply sat down.  And if Marian needed a shoulder to cry on, she didn't hesitate to throw her arms around Becky's neck and weep.

It had been difficult for Becky to see James Hughes again after twenty years.  When she was a kitchen maid in his parents' house, James had been a handsome young man with many prospects.  He never wanted for a dancing partner and was invited to the homes of families with single daughters at least once a week.  He was considered quite a catch.  With his full head of brown hair and green eyes, James cut a dashing figure in a tuxedo or morning coat.

Becky would find excuses to stand by the sink so she could watch for him out the window.  Sometimes her diligence would pay off and she'd see him astride the chestnut stallion he'd been given for his twenty-first birthday.  His leg muscles would ripple under his riding breeches and Becky would feel her cheeks grow red.

She longed to talk to him, if only for a minute, but James had no cause to enter the kitchen and she never entered the main house.  She had to content herself with glimpses of him riding by, or at dinner, when James sat on the right-hand side of the dining table.  If she opened the dining room door a crack, she could watch him from inside the kitchen.  When James left for Colorado, Becky had mourned the loss for weeks, but she couldn't tell a soul.

Now she saw James every day.  His boyish face had grown more masculine from days spent on a horse under the sun.  He was tanned and sported a full mustache.  When he smiled, the skin around his eyes would crinkle, and he had maintained his strong white teeth.  When she saw him at the station, Becky almost swooned.

But the puzzling thing about James Hughes was the attention he paid to her.  Becky didn't have much experience with the opposite sex, but she was sure James was flirting with her.  It vexed her.  His attentions prompted her to look in the mirror.  She looked the same as she always had -- hair pulled back in a neat bun, blue eyes, clear skin.  There was nothing special about her face.

She reasoned he had been on the mountain too long pining for the company of a woman.  Whatever it was, she didn't feel comfortable about it.  She had been a servant in his parents' home.  He was the master's son.  Even her easy relationship with Marian hadn't changed the reality of her station.  In her heart, she would always be a servant, and he would always be the master's son.

Chapter 36

Three weeks after she arrived, Louise received a telegram from New Jersey.  The man in the telegraph office sent a boy to the ranch when it arrived, but in his haste, the boy had forgotten to bring it with him.  Hannah, who had become adept at handling the reins on a horse, took Louise to town in the carriage to collect it.  The young women parked the carriage at the livery and walked to the post office.  The postmaster gave them a packet of mail.

They left the post office and went to the telegraph office next to the railroad station, and the man behind the counter handed Louise a telegram marked URGENT in an envelope bearing the Western Union logo.  Louise held it in her hand and looked at Hannah.

"I can't do it," she said.  "Please open it."

Hannah took the telegram and opened it.  She read it and bit her lower lip before looking in Louise's eyes.

"Mrs. Mason has passed," she said.

Louise gasped.  "How?"

Tears were forming in Louise's eyes and Hannah felt her friend's pain.  She, too, began to cry.  Mrs. Mason had been a true lady.

"She suffered a heart attack."

"When?"

"Last Monday.  A week ago."

Louise was crying harder so Hannah put her arm around her and led her out of the telegraph office to a bench in front of the barber shop.  They sat together while Louise read the cable several times.  She shook her head in disbelief.

"It's from her lawyer," Louise said.  "He says I must return immediately.  He's sending Jenny to accompany me home."

"It's odd that he's sending Jenny," Hannah said, but Louise was silent.

Hannah went inside the train station to read the train schedule and left Louise sitting on a bench on the platform.  Her tears had stopped.  She felt numbed by the shock of the news.

"There's a train leaving Thursday," Hannah said when she returned.  "We'll have just enough time to get you packed."

Hannah felt sad.  She didn't want her friend to leave.  Louise was unresponsive.  Hannah sat down next to her and held her hand.

"It's been so good having you here," she said.  "I'll miss you terribly."

She squeezed Louise's hand and they sat there together for a long time before going back to the livery to fetch the carriage.  As they passed the dry goods store, Louise fell against Hannah's shoulder.  She looked at Louise and saw that she was unconscious.  Hannah pulled on the reins and stopped the horse.

"Louise!" she cried.  "Louise!"

She shook her but Louise didn't wake up.  Hannah looked toward the doctor's office.  She remembered seeing the man putting up the new sign and, taking hold of the reins, urged the horse to move forward.  She stopped the carriage in front of the office, jumped out, and ran into the office.  There was a sign on the inner door advising that the doctor was attending a patient and to please be seated.  Hannah ignored the sign and knocked on the door.

"Please," she said.  "I need help!"

The man Hannah saw putting up the sign opened the door.  This close, he was even better looking.  Hannah was taken aback.  He seemed too refined for a country doctor.  She gathered her wits and began to speak.

"Please, my friend is in the carriage.  She's swooned."

The doctor strode past Hannah and out the door while his patient, an elderly man, stared at Hannah from a chair in the examining room.  She followed the doctor and watched him lift Louise out of the carriage and bring her inside.  He took her into the examining room and laid her on the divan.

"Mr. Pinkerton, do you mind leaving us alone?"

"I was here first," Mr. Pinkerton said.

"And she is unconscious.  Leave, sir.  I'll attend to you later."

The old man grabbed his hat and, after glaring at Hannah, left, but he sat in the outer office.

"Close that door," the doctor told Hannah.

"How long has she been like this?" he asked.

"Not long.  We were riding home and I felt her head on my shoulder."

"Get me that blanket," he said, indicating a folded blanket on the shelf behind his desk.

Hannah retrieved the blanket and unfolded it as she walked to the divan.  He took it from her and threw it over Louise.

"What happened before she swooned?" he asked.  He was holding Louise's wrist.

"She heard that her benefactress had died."

"Then it's shock from the news.  We have to keep her warm.  Get me the smelling salts in the top drawer of that cabinet.  They're in a yellow box."

Hannah rushed to the cabinet, found the smelling salts, took the small bottle out of the box, and brought them to the doctor.  He opened the bottle and placed it under Louise's nose.  She began to cough and opened her eyes.

"How do you feel?" he asked.

"What happened?" Louise said.

"You had a shock and swooned," he replied.

Louise tried to sit up, but the doctor put his hand on her shoulder.

"Stay there for a while," he said and she obeyed.

Louise could see Hannah as she stood behind the doctor.

"You look white as a ghost," Hannah said.

"I feel strange," Louise said.

"That's why you have to lie still for a while," the doctor said.  "You may be dizzy for a bit and I don't want you falling."  He turned to Hannah.  "Sit with her while I talk to Mr. Pinkerton."

Hannah sat next to Louise and held her hand.

"I feel so foolish," Louise said.

"Why?  You had a shock."

"But I've caused all this trouble."

"Oh, pish posh.  I'm just glad we were in town by the doctor."

"I can't believe she's gone," Louise said.  "She was so good to me."

"She was better to you than your own family."  Hannah's cheeks reddened.  She saw the look on Louise's face and wished she could take back her words.  "I'm sorry, Louise.  I..."

"Oh, don't be sorry.  You're right.  They were harsh."

The doctor returned and checked Louise's pulse.

"It's returned to normal," he said.  "And the color has returned to your cheeks."

"Thank you, doctor..." Hannah said.

He smiled and his blue eyes were warm.  "Owen Wallace," he said.  "And you are?"

"Hannah Dawes, and this is Louise Weise."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," he said.

Hannah's cheeks reddened again as the doctor appraised her, so she looked at Louise.  Louise saw the exchange between them and thought of Adam.

"We have to get home," Louise said.  "I have to pack."

"Sit up and see how you feel," Owen said.  He held out his hand and Louise pulled herself up.  "How does your head feel?"

"Fine," she replied.

"When you get home, loosen your corset and rest."

The women blushed.

"Miss Dawes," he said.  "Stop at the drug store and get her something to drink."

"I will, doctor," Hannah said.

"Call me Owen," he said smiling.

"I'd prefer Dr. Wallace," she said.

"Of course," he said.  "Miss Weise, if you have anymore symptoms, come back and see me."

"I will, Dr. Wallace," she said.

She stood and stayed in place.  When she felt confident her head was fine, she nodded to Hannah.  Owen followed them to the outer office and they stopped at the empty reception desk.

"How much do we owe you, doctor?" Hannah asked.

"Ordinarily, I get two dollars for an emergency, but she recovered so quickly, I'll only charge one."

Hannah had no idea a doctor's services were so dear.  She had only brought a dollar with her and he had asked her to take Louise to the drug store for a drink.

"I have it," Louise said.

"But you're my guest," Hannah protested.

"I have it," Louise repeated, taking the silver coin from her purse and handing it to Owen.

"Thank you, Miss Weise," he said.  "Good day, ladies.  Mr. Pinkerton, if you would."

The old man groaned as he got up and followed Owen into the examination room.  Hannah and Louise went to the carriage and climbed inside.

"The doctor is nice looking," Louise said.

"Is he?  I was more interested in you.  I didn't have a chance to look at him closely."