Hearts Aglow (15 page)

“How is Sissy faring? Father said her injuries were terrible,”

Mara inquired.

“They were. She suffered a terrible head wound, but she is slowly improving. She’s gaining strength every day, and while her full recovery is still some weeks away, we have hope that she will continue to do well.” Deborah put aside her teacup. Mara offered her the plate of cookies, but Deborah shook her head. “Thank you, no. I shouldn’t take much more of your day. I have some books to return to Dr. Clayton.”

“Oh, might I come with you?” Mara asked. “I have a pie for him. It’s cooling on the sill.”

“Of course. That would be very nice,” Deborah replied, though she had hoped for some time alone with Christopher. Yet she knew such privacy was frowned upon. They had, in fact, caused many raised eyebrows at the Independence Day celebration when Dr.

Clayton had taken hold of her arm at an unexpected moment. Such things were usually reserved for married couples.

Mara got to her feet and collected the cups and saucers. Placing everything on the tea tray, she excused herself. “I shan’t be more than a minute.”

Deborah took the opportunity to study the small sitting room. She had been here before with her mother, but now it bore a decidedly more feminine touch. She couldn’t help but smile at the doilies that now graced the back and arms of a rather large cushioned chair. Mara’s influence had obviously taken hold.

There were other things, as well. On the fireplace mantel there was a lovely vase of flowers, and framed photos of family members sat on either side of the arrangement. Beside these were small porcelain figurines of birds.

Mara returned with her basket and hat in hand. She placed the basket on the chair she’d just vacated and secured her stylish bonnet. Her long black curls had been pinned carefully at the back of her head, and her bonnet was snug against the thick locks, leaving little ringlets to peek out at the bottom.

“There, now I’m presentable,” Mara said, adding short crocheted gloves to her hands. She picked up the basket, and Deborah took the signal as one for them to depart.

“I was just admiring your decorating ideas. You have given this home a much-needed feminine touch.” Deborah moved to the door. “Let me get that for you.” She maneuvered past Mara and reached for the handle. Before stepping through the door herself, she picked up the books she’d deposited on the foyer table.

The two ladies made their way across the street, past the church, and around the corner to the doctor’s house. Deborah commented on a variety of things from the weather to the thick smoky air that reeked of coal and sawdust before they finally climbed the few steps to Dr. Clayton’s porch.

Deborah didn’t bother to knock. She opened the waiting room door and called out. “Dr. Clayton, you have visitors.”

No one was in the outer room, so perhaps Christopher had gone to make calls on the area people. Just then, however, she heard a child crying from beyond the inner office.

“Ah, he must have a patient.” She smiled and motioned to Mara.

“Might as well have a seat. This could take some time.”

Euphanel was surprised when Sissy announced she wanted to get up and walk a spell. The woman would simply not take no for an answer, so Euphanel helped her friend into a robe and steadied Sissy as she got to her feet.

“Feels good to be up,” Sissy declared. “Me and that bed is gettin’ to where we ain’t such friends.”

Euphanel smiled. “That’s a good sign. Mother always said that when I was sick and tired of being sick and tired, I was on the mend.”

“Dat be true.” Sissy smiled and took an uneasy step. “Been lyin’ there, feelin’ sorry for myself, and the Lord done tol’ me to stop. Said He got better things for me to do and so I’s gonna do it.”

“And did He tell you what it was you were supposed to do?”

Sissy smiled at Euphanel. “He just done told me to step out.

So that’s what I’m doin’. Jes’ like Moses and the Israelites. I’s bound for the promised land.”

Euphanel put her arm around Sissy’s waist and noted that the older woman had lost a great deal of weight. “I should think that some of what the Lord has in mind is for you to have a good meal.

You’re as thin as an old barn cat after having kittens.”

Sissy chuckled. “Ain’t never been called thin, afore now. I’m bettin’ it won’t last long. Don’ you be a worryin’.”

Euphanel shook her head and helped Sissy to a chair. “You should rest a bit before we move on. I’m quite happy to have you sitting in the front room, but I don’t want you collapsing in the hall on the way.”

“I’s stronger than you know,” Sissy said, meeting Euphanel’s expression.

Euphanel grew somber. “I know you are my dear, dear friend. That gift from God has brought you through so far.”

Sissy drew a deep breath and eased back against the chair. “George used to tell me I was stronger than any man he knowed, ’ceptin’ for hisself.” She grinned. “He jes’ didn’t know I was stronger than him, too. Had to be. The Good Lord done knowed what I would be up against, married to such a man.”

Euphanel laughed and nodded. “Truer words were never spoken.”

“I’m shore thankful for this family,” Sissy said, growing more serious.

“And we’re thankful for you. I’m glad you’ve decided to stay with us.”

“Ain’t a whole lot of choices, what since the house done burned down.”

Euphanel shook her head. “You know that isn’t true. We would have happily rebuilt your house. I would just rather you live your days with us. I don’t care if you ever do another thing but sit and sing.”

“Speakin’ of singin’, what did you and Miz Perkins decide about the shape-note singin’?”

“We have our first gathering next Saturday evening. It will be interesting to see who actually turns up. We might only have a handful of folks at best.”

“And you plan to invite colored folk, too?”

Smiling, Euphanel sat on the end of the bed. “I do. Rachel and I have already discussed it. We had thought to wait until people were used to getting together and then start asking the blacks to join us, but Rachel decided we might as well just go for it straightaway. I think she’s probably right.”

“Won’t be to the likin’ of some folks. Might cause some trouble.”

“We’ll put that in the Lord’s hands,” Euphanel declared. “He holds the future for all of us – black, white, red, or brown. I can’t see worrying about it until it’s time.”

Sissy smiled. “Even then, ain’t no sense worryin’.”

“You’re right,” Euphanel replied. “Now, come on. Let’s get you up.”

C
HAPTER 12

“Well, this is a pleasant and fortuitous surprise.” Christopher smiled at Mara and then turned to Deborah. “I have a case I’d like you to see.”

“And what might that be?”

Christopher motioned. “Come and see for yourself.”

“What about Mara? She’s brought you something.”

Christopher motioned them to follow. “You can both come. I’m sure the patient won’t mind – she’s only five.”

He led them back into the examination room. “Miz Pulaski brought little Mary in with a sore throat and difficulty swallowing.”

Deborah nodded at the young mother. “I remember speaking with you at the Independence Day celebration. You are opening a new dressmaking shop.”

The blond-haired woman smiled. “Mighty kind of you to remember me.”

Moving to where the child sat on the examination table, Deborah reached out her hand. “Miss Mary, I’m sorry to hear that you’re feeling bad.”

“My froat hurts,” the girl replied.

Christopher brought a lamp closer. “Pick up that mirror and you’ll be able to angle the light down de" class.map="tx">The little girl nodded. “Ahhhhh.”

Deborah peered into her mouth while Christopher depressed the child’s tongue. “Can you see the problem?”

“Her tonsils are quite swollen. It appears that an abscess is starting to form.” Deborah straightened. “Quinsy?”

He nodded. She was smart to be sure. He had figured her to easily see the enlarged tonsils, but the abscess was in the very early stages and not fully formed.

“What will you do to treat this?” Deborah asked.

Christopher smiled and replaced the lamp on the counter. “Well, I was just telling Miz Pulaski that since this is Mary’s first time to have this trouble, we will treat it in the most widely accepted manner. Dover’s Powder will help with the pain, warm apple cider vinegar gargles will hopefully eliminate any further development of the abscess, and plenty of fluids and rest will help with the rest of her miseries.”

Deborah nodded. “I would have suggested the same thing.

Maybe even a muellein poultice.”

“I agree.” He smiled and looked to where Mara had retreated to a chair across the room. “Remember when I asked you about quinsy that day at the celebration?”

“Indeed. I, however, could never have known what to do for such a matter. Miss Vandermark certainly has a mind for such things.”

“Are you a doctor?” the child asked.

Deborah looked at Christopher and then at the girl. “Not exactly, but I’d like to be one day.”

“Ain’t never heard of no lady doctors,” Mrs. Pulaski remarked. “ ’Ceptin’ for midwives.”

“Yes, well, times are changing,” Christopher said. “There are many fine physicians of the female gender. The world is starting to see that women are just as capable of learning as men, and women are being admitted into more and more fields. One day maybe Mary will be a doctor.”

Mary’s eyes widened. She shook her head. “Ain’t gonna be a doctor. I wanna sew dresses like my mama.”

Mrs. Pulaski smiled and came to the child’s side. “That would seem far more fittin’ than bein’ a doctor.”

Christopher shrugged. “I think Mary should be whatever she desires. First, however, we need to get her well.” He went and retrieved the medicine. After instructing the mother on how to measure out the medicine and administer it, Christopher sent the Pulaskis on their way.

“I hope that’s her last bout,” he said, coming back to where Deborah stood, “but I doubt it will be. She’s at the right age to start having these problems, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she hadn’t already had several bouts of tonsillitis before now. She probably never saw anyone unless it was Miz Foster.”

“No, the Pulaski family is new to the area,” Deborah said, shaking her head. “Mrs. Pulaski was mentioning that at the party.

Her husband has been hired on at the mill with the expansion.”

He nodded. “Just the same, I’m thinking it’s possible the child has suffered this before. Either way, only time will tell if the tonsils need to be removed.”

“Have you done that surgery before?” Deborah asked.

“I have on many occasions.” He grinned. “But you haven’t, so that will be something of an experience.”

Mrs. Foster entered the examination room door without so much as a knock. She seemed surprised to find Deborah there and lost little time in commenting. “Are you sick?”

Deborah shook her head. “Not at all. We were merely discussing a case.”

“Ain’t no reason for you to be talkin’ about patients,” the older woman countered. “Doc has my help, and that’s all he needs.”

“Now, Mrs. Foster, I told you that Deborah wanted to train to become a physician.”

“Deborah, is it? Seems like you two have gotten mighty familiar.

I heard you was a-courtin’. Seems to me that workin’ together would be uncalled for. Ain’t right for you two to be alone together.” She looked to Christopher and waggled her finger. “Things get out of hand mighty easy.”

“Well, they weren’t exactly alone, Miz Foster,” Mara Shattuck said, standing to join the group. Margaret Foster seemed surprised to find the young woman present but said nothing. “I baked Dr.

Clayton a pie, and Deborah was kind enough to accompany me here for the delivery.” She smiled up at Dr. Clayton. “I do hope you like pie.”

“Absolutely,” he replied. “Deborah . . . ah, Miss Vandermark, would you show her where to leave it on my desk?”

“Certainly.” Deborah led Mara back the direction they’d come.

Christopher looked at the accusing face of Mrs. Foster and smiled. “You really needn’t worry. Nothing is amiss here.”