In Search Of Love: The Story of A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Bride Series) (9 page)

Waking in the sleeping loft, Katerina had a brief moment where she didn’t realize where she was.  Looking around in the darkened room, she realized,
I’m home.  I’m in my own home. The bed’s empty.  Where’s Patrick?
She pulled on the robe she had left lying across the foot of the bed, she went to the kitchen.  It was toasty.  Patrick had started a fire and made a part of coffee, but he was not in the area.  She went to the back door and peered into the darkness.  Seeing the dark glow of a lantern, she went out and to the barn.

“Do you get up this early every day?” she asked of her husband.

Pausing from his task of pitching hay for the horse and cow, he answered, “Yes, I do.  The animals are dependent on me feeding and milking them.”

“Then I’ll be getting up with you to fix your breakfast,” she said.  “You have to start your day with a hot meal.”

“When I finish the feeding and milking, I’ll come back in to eat.  How about that?” he asked.

“Okay, sounds like a plan.  Another thing I need to do is to write Papa and let him know we arrived safely.  We can mail it the next time we go into town for supplies.”

Later, at breakfast…

“What would you think about my teaching in the city schools?” she asked.  “There isn’t going to be a lot for me to do here, unless I work in the fields with you.”

“I wouldn’t want you to do that,” he said.  “It’s hot, hard and dirty work.”

“Teaching would bring some extra money in, and besides, it’s something I enjoy a lot and I am good at it.  Would you mind if we checked on it when we are in town,” she asked. 

“Not at all,” he said.  “If you do that, you will need to learn to handle a horse and wagon.”

A week later…

Patrick’s mother and sisters came to check on them a week after their arrival from Ohio.  When Katerina heard the clatter and creaking of a wagon in the yard, she went to the back door.  She clapped her hands in delight when she saw it was Mama Murphy, Mary Margaret and Martha.

“What a treat,” she exclaimed.  “Our first guests!  I’m so glad to see you.  Come in, come in.  Can I get you anything?” she asked.  “I can make a pot of coffee,” she offered.

“Patrick is out mending a break in the fences,” she said.  “I don’t know when he will be in.”

“That’s okay,” Mary Margaret assured her, “We didn’t come to see him anyway.  It’s you we came to visit.”

“Whatever the reason, I’m glad you’re here.  It gets lonely during the day when he’s out working.  Back home, I could always go downstairs to the shoe shop and talk to Papa.  Here, there’s nothing but the chickens, when the cow’s out to pasture.”

“What you need is a baby,” Mama Murphy said.  “That would keep you occupied.”

“One of my dreams is to be a mother,” Katerina said.  “Some day, Lord willing.”

“Amen to that,” chorused her guests.

“Now, is there anything we can help you with?  Any questions?” Patrick’s mother asked.

“Can you teach me how to cook Patrick’s favorite meals before he gets home,” she asked.  “I’m afraid the only thing I know how to fix is German food, and I don’t have much experience at that.  Mama didn’t like for anyone to be in her kitchen.”

“We can’t do it in one day, but we can make a start.  Patrick would eat dirt if you fry it,” his mother laughed.

Mama Murphy and her daughters helped Katerina prepare several different types of meals before they left.  “Thanks folks,” Katerina said as they climbed into the wagon to head for home.  “Now maybe Patrick won’t die of starvation before we come over Sunday.”

Patrick returned home just before sundown.  “Something sure smells good in here,” he said.
 

“That would be me,” his wife said, preening.

“I was thinking it was probably the apple cobbler,” he laughed.

“I had a cooking lesson today from your mother and sisters.  You get to share the benefits of our labors.  Well, except for one thing,” she said.

“What would that be?” he asked. 

“The fried dirt.  Your mother said you would eat it, if it was fried.  Now kiss me hello,” she said.

“By the way, we’re invited to dinner this Sunday.”

“Great,” he said.  “Sunday dinner is always a big thing at our house.”

Friday in Oregon City…

Katerina mailed the letter she had written to her parents, telling them of their safe arrival, and how enjoyable the trip was.  She told of meeting
his family and the warm welcome she received and how much she liked the area and her cabin.

While in town, they went to the Oregon City Public school office and met with the Superintendent of Schools, Paul Jenkins.  After introducing herself, Katerina presented her teaching certificate from Ohio, along with her diploma from The Columbus Teaching College.  “I would appreciate being considered for any openings you might have come up.  Most of my teaching was done at the elementary level and I do enjoy working with the younger children.”

“We would certainly consider someone with your background as a viable candidate for our schools.  When would you be available?” he asked.

“When does your next term start?”

“It begins the week after the Christmas holidays, however, one of our teachers is expecting, and would like to take some time off.  You could fill in after we verify your credentials, and your curriculum vitae.  You will find we are a very progressive district, and since we’re relatively new, we’re not constricted by old traditions.

Addressing Patrick, he asked, “Did you attend our schools?”

“I did the elementary schools, but I finished at Saint Mary’s when they were admitting boys, since my family is Catholic.”

“Are you Catholic, Mrs. Murphy?” he asked.

“No, my family is Lutheran.  My parents immigrated from Germany,” she answered.  “Would it make a difference if I were?”

“No, no.  Some of the finest schools in the country are Catholic.  Their University of Notre Dame is among the top universities in our country,” he answered.

“I’m glad to hear that.  There is talk of integrating the Teaching College into Ohio State University.,” she said.

Patrick said, “Before Katerina can begin, I need to instruct her in the handling of a horse and wagon.  Her family lived in Columbus and had little need of an animal.”

“Mrs. Murphy, when you are in town next, stop in, I may have verification by then.”

“I will do that, Mr. Jenkins, and thank you for your time.”

From the school office, they went into the mercantile and loaded up on canned goods, as well as dry goods, such as beans, flour, and salt.

As they were headed toward the edge of town, Patrick wheeled the carriage around and went to the livery stable.  Helping Katerina down, he sought out Mose, the owner of the stable, whom he had known for years.

“Mose, this is my wife, Katerina.  Honey, this is Mose Crabtree.  Mose, Katerina is probably going to be teaching in the school.  I wonder if we could come to some sort of arrangement for you to take care of the horse and wagon while she’s in school and have it ready for her after school.”

“Wal, I reckon we can come to some sort of accommodation,” he said.

“Good, I’ll get with you when the time comes,” Patrick said.

“Now, all we have to do is get you familiar with the horse.  When we go to the homeplace Sunday, I’ll talk to Papa about one of the gentle horses.”

Katerina patted him on the hand.  “You’re a good man, Patrick.  I love you more each day that passes.”

A pleased smile flitted across his face, “And I, you, Katerina,” he said.

Two weeks after her initial meeting with Paul Jenkins of the Oregon City Public Schools, Katerina met with him again.  She was offered and accepted a teaching position, to begin with the second semester in January.

Patrick had spent several hours with Katerina handling the reins of the horse hitched to the wagon.  He made arrangements with his father to borrow a docile mare for her to use traveling to Oregon City for school, and to leave the rig at the livery stable during school hours.

Teaching a class of fifteen children in the eleven and twelve year age range was perfect.  The school was using several of the books she had used in Columbus, and some newer ones she had not previously seen.  The children showed an eagerness to learn and responded well to Katerina’s methods.

The daily ride into Oregon City normally took thirty minutes. It was a time she used for reflection… thinking of her lesson plans, the schedule and any students that were struggling. 

Two months into her routine, she was on her way from school, when one of the wagon wheels struck a rut in the road caused by a recent heavy rain.  The wagon lurched and tossed her from the wagon seat like a rag doll.  Her head struck a rock on the roadside, knocking her unconscious.

The now unguided horse continued on its way home.  Home for the horse was the farm belonging to Michael and Margaret Murphy and not Patrick.  The horse pulled into the yard unnoticed until James went to the barn for the evening milking. 
I wonder why the mare is here?
I guess Patrick and Katerina are here.
He finished the milking and pulled some hay for the cow before going back in the house.

“Are Patrick and Katerina here?” he asked his mother.

“No, why do you ask?” she asked.

“The mare is in the barn, so I figured they had come over,” James said.

“No, they’re not here.  Oh dear, I hope something hasn’t happened.  You’d better go check,” she said.

James tied his horse to be wagon and drove the wagon over to the next farm.  Patrick was in the kitchen.  “What brings you over today?” he asked James.

“The mare and wagon showed up at our barn, and you weren’t there, so we decided I had better check to see if everything’s okay.   Where’s Katerina?” James asked.

“She’s not home from school,” Patrick said.  “Oh God, something must have happened, unless the mare got loose at the livery, but I can’t see Mose letting something like that happen.

“Will you go with me to look for her?” Patrick asked.

“Yes, Let’s go,” James said.

The wagon tore out of the yard, heading toward Oregon City, with each man scanning the trail in front of them.  Three miles from the farm, Patrick shouted, “There, over there!  I see something.”

James stopped the wagon, and both men ran to the side of the road.  Katerina lay in the grass, unmoving.  The grass beneath her head was dark with coagulated blood from the cut on the back of her head.  Her blonde hair was matted with blood from the wound.  Patrick put his head to her chest and said, “She’s breathing.  Get me some water, hurry!” 

James ran to the wagon and came back with a canteen of water.  He held the canteen to her lips and tipped it so some of the water could trickle out.  Patrick took the bandana from his neck and soaked it with water from the canteen.  Rubbing it gently across her forehead, he saw a slight flicker in her eyes. 

“Katerina?  Katerina?  It’s Patrick.  Can you hear me?  Katerina, can you hear me.  Say something, please Katerina, talk to me.”

“We had better get her to the doctor, Patrick.  Carry her to the wagon.  Be careful, support her head,” James said.

Sitting in the bed of the wagon, cradling his wife, Patrick’s eyes were filled with tears as he said a prayer for help.   With his other hand, he kept rubbing her forehead with the damp cloth and talking to her.  He desperately wanted to have her open her eyes, but it didn’t happen. 

Wheeling into town, James pulled to a stop in front of Doctor Carmichael’s office. He took Katerina from Patrick while Patrick got out of the wagon, then he carried her into the doctor’s office. 

Doctor Carmichael took in the gravity of the scene.  “Put her on the table there while I wash my hands,” he said.  He listened for a heartbeat with his stethoscope, shaking his head.  He took her pulse, and pronounced it thready.  When he exposed her eyes to the light, he saw a response.  He gently probed the area around the wound on her head.  “I don’t feel a fracture, but she probably has a concussion.” 

“Shouldn’t we give her some water, to replace the blood she lost?” James asked.

“No, never.  It might cause her to vomit and could cause breathing problems.  For now, we watch. If a change for the worse appears, we’ll need to get her to St Vincent’s in Portland, as soon as possible.”

“Would it be better to go ahead and go to Portland?” Patrick asked.

“The trip to Portland would be a last ditch effort, a risk itself,” the doctor said.

Patrick scarcely left the bedside of Katerina for the next 36 hours, and then only when absolutely necessary.  The doctor was constantly checking her eyes, and her blood pressure. 

Sitting by the bed, with his hand resting atop Katerina’s hand, Patrick felt a twitch.  He looked anxiously at her face, where one eye fluttered open, then the other.  She looked wildly around the room.  “It’s all right, Katerina.  I’m here,” he said.  He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.  “I’m here.  You’re at the doctor’s in Oregon City.”  Stroking her hand gently, he continued talking to her.  “You had a nasty spill.  You’ve really had me scared.  I was afraid I might lose you. I’ve been sick with worry.”

Turning his head, he called out, “Doctor, she’s opened her eyes.”

The doctor came hurrying into the room.   He checked her pulse and her blood  pressure, nodding as he did so.  “It’s better,” he said.  “This is a big step forward,” he said.  “She still needs quiet and rest though.  Sometimes, the symptoms can last for days.  Even longer.”

Her eyes closed and she went back to sleep.  Patrick laid his head on the bed and he too fell asleep, and suddenly jerked awake.  He looked into two of the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen.  “Patrick,” the word came out raspy, the voice had not been used in two days.  “I love you,” she said.

Standing, he leaned over her bed and kissed her pale cheeks.  “Honey, you gave me the fright of my life.  We didn’t know whether we would lose you or not.  The doctor says you are going to be all right, but you may have symptoms for some time from it.  You had a concussion from your head hitting a rock.  Do you remember anything about the accident?”

“No, nothing,” she rasped.  “I remember leaving school and the next thing was just now.  How long have I been here?”

“Nearly two days,” Patrick said.

“You’re kidding!  To lose two days of your life with no memories is a weird feeling,” she said.

“Do you feel up to a visitor?  Or a horde of visitors?  The clan Murphy is here, but wanted me to ask first.”

“Of course, bring them in.  Bring them all in,” she said.

The room filled with the Murphys.  On the advice of the doctor they didn’t stay long, but as they left, Mama Murphy turned and said, “Katerina, the doctor said you should be able to leave in a couple of days, but your side effects are going to be with you for a while.  You’re going to stay with us until you’re fully recovered.  It’s not open for discussion.  You can bring a friend if you like.”

“Thanks, Mama,” Katerina and Patrick said in unison.

Laughing, the family left the doctor’s office…