A Dream Unfolding (4 page)

Running his hands through his hair, Drew realized he let his mind wander and had absorbed none of the news he was reading.
 
Placing the paper aside, he rubbed his hand along the edge of his large oak desk.
 
The prick to his finger interrupted the movement as a small sliver embedded his skin.
 
Turning his hand over, he scrutinized the sliver, too deep for him to remove without assistance.

Following the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, Drew entered the kitchen.
 
He stood silently in the door admiring his wife while she mixed dough of some sort.
 
Her long strawberry blonde hair was secured in a fashionable chignon at the base of her slender neck.
 
The work dress hung perfectly on her petite frame with the bow of her apron accenting her tiny waist.
 
Unable to resist the urge, he snuck up behind Hannah.
 
He then grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into an embrace, breathing deeply of her scent.
 
Something about just holding her calmed him.

---

Hannah welcomed her husband’s nearness, though unexpected at this time of day.
 
As she turned to face him, he held out his hand palm side up.
 
She looked from his lithe fingers to his face, raising an eyebrow in question.

He shrugged his shoulders sheepishly. “I seem to be in need of your expert nursing.”

As he pointed to his finger, Hannah saw the small sliver.
 
She ran upstairs to retrieve a needle from her sewing basket before returning to her poor injured husband.
 
He stood where she left him, still holding out his hand.

Hannah took his right hand in her left, aware of how small and dainty her hands looked against his.
 
His smooth hands bore no sign of roughness—only the gentle unmarred hands of a doctor, strong and steady.
 
Taking the needle with her right hand, she gently worked the sliver from beneath his skin.
 
Once free, she placed her lips on his long finger kissing the spot softly.
 

Drew curved his hand under her chin.
 
The sweet action caused her to slowly straighten and look into his eyes.
 
The love reflected there warmed her heart.

With his hand still resting lightly under her chin, he drew her lips closer to his own.
 
Hannah melted into his arms as he kissed her soundly.
 
She shared the love she felt for her husband by responding.
 
When Drew slowed the kiss, Hannah leaned back in his embrace.
 
She trailed her dainty fingers along his jaw line as she stepped away smiling.

Moving to the stove, she poured him a cup of black coffee.
 
Handing the mug to Drew, Hannah giggled and shooed him back to the clinic, a satisfied sigh escaping her lips.

---

Ah, he loved this woman.
 
Drew thought as he took the offered coffee.
 
Now how to provide for her with no patients and a dwindling income?

Sitting down at his desk again, he picked up the newspaper and turned to the middle.
 
An article about the growing gold town of La Paz in the new Arizona Territory caught his eye.
 
The article stated that shortly after Arizona officially became a territory in February last year, gold was discovered along the Colorado River in the southwestern part of the territory.
 
They estimated several thousand miners now lived in the area.
 
The rapidly growing town needed doctors, lawyers, boardinghouses, laundry services, and more.

Doctors.
 
Drew’s eyes lingered on the word.
 
Maybe, if they left soon, he and Hannah would still have enough money to relocate to the west.
 
If he could find a buyer for the office, then they would be in a better position to move to the territory.
 
Removing a sheet of paper from the stack on his desk, Drew started listing things they would need and estimated how much it would cost.
 
Excitement built as he thought of a new adventure, starting life over where no one knew them.
 
Or their family ties to a bank robber.
 
This had to be the answer to his prayers.
 
He would speak to Hannah soon about moving to La Paz.

Hannah finished kneading the bread dough then put the loaf of bread in the oven to bake.
 
Unlike in the past, this loaf would bake without interruption, she thought ironically.
 
As she cleaned the kitchen, she could not stop worrying.
 
She noticed the lack of patients coming to the clinic in recent days.
 
A week passed since he saw his last patient, a middle aged man who died from the infected abscess on his side.
 
No others graced the steps of the clinic since.

Emily refused to talk to her, plunging the knife of rejection deeper.
 
Last week, Hannah showed up with the small quilt she sewed for Emily’s expected child with the fabric scraps they picked out together.
 
When Emily opened the door, she crossed her arms angrily, not saying a word.
 
Hannah tried to hand her the gift.
 
Emily slammed the door shut; not taking the package from Hannah’s shaking hands.
 
She set the gift on the porch, before hurrying down the sidewalk, her vision blurred.

If Emily, her closest friend, failed to forgive them, how could she expect more from acquaintances?

She checked the bread, which browned nicely, so she pulled the loaf from the oven, filling the room with the sweet aroma.
 
Setting it aside to cool, her thoughts returned to their dilemma.
 
What could she do to convince the community that neither she nor Drew supported Thomas’s actions?
 
How could she help bring patients back to Drew’s clinic?
Lord, show us what to do.

The immediate answer she hoped for drowned in unbearable silence.
 
Had even God turned his back on them?

Hannah poured herself a cup of coffee as tears pooled in the corner of her eyes.
 
As they spilled over, she brushed the moisture away.
 
Opening the back door to the porch, she sat in her favorite rocking chair coaxing it into motion with the slight push of her foot.
 
Sounds of the busy street out front floated back to her hidden retreat.
 
The August breeze blew a few tendrils of her hair loose kissing her skin softly with a hint of the cooling temperatures to come.

Slowly rocking back and forth she considered what she and Drew might do.
 
The sick and injured needed good doctors, especially since so many doctors left for the war.
 
Any town with a reasonable population could support a doctor.
 
Perhaps she and Drew could find such a town nearby in southern Indiana.

While not the same as Ohio, Indiana might be a suitable substitute.
 
Hannah always dreamed of raising her children in the same town where she grew up.
 
Yet, her barrenness greeted her daily, taunting her with the hopelessness of never seeing her dream fulfilled.
 
And, now the current situation made staying in her homeland nearly impossible.
 
Yes, perhaps Indiana would suffice.

Slowly she stretched, letting her fears and disappointment melt away as each muscle pulled taut before releasing refreshing relief.
 
Getting up from the rocking chair, she headed back into the kitchen to put the finishing touches on dinner.
 

The hearty fragrance of beef stew and freshly baked bread usually brought Drew into the kitchen before supper, but not today.
 
She set the table then went to his office to fetch him.
 

As she crossed the threshold from their living quarters to Drew’s office, she saw him bent over his desk studying something on the page before him.
 
So as not to startle him, she gently laid her hand on his shoulder.
 
Almost unconsciously, he reached up and softly caressed her hand, his eyes never leaving the paper.
 
After a few moments in silence, he dropped his hand and pushed back the chair to rise.

“Supper is ready,” whispered Hannah.

“Shall we, Mrs. Anderson?”
 
Drew winked, then offered his arm in the manner he did when they were courting.
 
His eyes twinkled with mischief.

“Let’s, Mr. Anderson,” she replied with a smile as they headed to the kitchen table.

After Drew finished saying grace, he began, “I’ve been thinking about what we can do, since so many of our patients are now going to Doc Henderson.
 
I read in the paper a few days ago that there is a need for doctors elsewhere, and I thought— ”

“Maybe we should move,” interrupted Hannah, pleased that he came to the same conclusion as she had moments ago.
 
“I’m sure there is some small town in southern Indiana that would be perfect for us.
 
I mean, I don’t want to leave, but things are not turning around.
 
People are just not willing to forgive us for Thomas’s involvement in the bank robbery,” she stammered to a halt.

Drew paused, spoon half way to his mouth.
 
A puzzled look wrinkled his brow.
 
“I truly did not think you would be willing to leave.
 
I, too, was thinking we could relocate…but a little farther west…to the Arizona Territory.”

Clank!
Hannah’s spoon hit the side of the bowl before dropping down into her lap leaving a dark trail of stew on her green calico dress.
 
She paused for a moment to recover both her spoon and her senses.
 
Arizona Territory!
 
That’s so far away.
 
What is he thinking?
 

Trying to keep the panic from her voice, she asked, “Why the Arizona Territory?
 
Why not some place closer?”

“I agree that we could go some place closer, but I don’t believe that is where God is calling us.”

Of course he would bring God into this, she thought wryly.
 
Not that she would discount God’s prompting—she just hated to leave Ohio.

Drew continued, “There is a gold mine town called La Paz along the Colorado River in the western edge of the territory.
 
The town is growing rapidly and is in need of doctors.
 
If we leave soon, we should have enough money to get there.
 
If we can sell the house before we go, we would be in better shape.”
 

Drew reached across the table to squeeze her hand.
 
Hope and excitement graced his features.
 
His voice pleading, “Don’t you see?
 
We could start over.
 
A new life.
 
No one will know us or our past.
 
Or Thomas’s past.”

“But don’t you want to be close enough to support Thomas as he goes to trial?” she squeaked, trying to find some way to stay closer to her beloved Ohio—where both her parents were buried, where she met Jesus, where she hoped to raise her children.

Drew frowned at her suggestion, withdrawing his hand.
 
His voice took on a hard edge as he replied, “He made it clear that he no longer wants my support or, as he would see it, interference.
 
He is a grown man and he needs to manage his own life.
 
I refuse to let his actions destroy our future.”
 
His voice softened, “Moving west gives us the anonymity we, and our future children, need to be free from what he has done.
 
I think it is for the best that we move to La Paz.”

Hannah paused, several emotions filling her heart at once.
 
She grieved for Drew’s lost relationship with his brother.
 
She feared the unknown dangers they would face on such a long journey.
 
She would miss her home and her friends, even if many were no longer acting like her friends.
 
Could she live in a gold town?
 
What kind of rough men would be there?
 
Would there be any reputable women there?