Mail Order Bride: A Bride for the Doctor (Bozeman Brides Book 4) (2 page)

“
S
o you sent her a ticket
?” Theodore Jefferson asked his friend, a trace of disbelief in his voice.

“What could I do, Theo? She was the only one who replied. Better an aloof wife than none at all, right?”

The two of them were conversing in the surgery after Theo had picked up some medicine for his youngest child. The little one had kept them awake all last night with a cough.

His friend was slow in answering Geoff. “Well, I’ll pray for you. I don’t know much about women, but when Margie wrote to me, I learned more about her in half of one of her letters than in the entire contents of this one. And she wrote me a number of letters before coming, and I wrote many to her.” Theo didn’t seem too happy with his choice, but there was nothing he could do about it. Kate was coming in less than one week according to her telegram.

“Well, it’s too late now. She’s coming, and that’s all there is to it,” he replied stoically, doing his best not to despair. To distract himself, he began to reorganize the medicine cabinet by size and shape of the bottles. “Besides, she might improve upon closer inspection. Perhaps she’s just not a letter writer.”

“I hope you’re right.” Theo looked down at the letter again. “So, you didn’t receive a photo then, did you?”

“No. She seems to be in a hurry to get here, and of course there was no way of sending one before she arrived. It doesn’t matter too much anyway. Looks aren’t that important.”

Theo mumbled something unintelligible and from his face, Geoff could see that he didn’t entirely agree.

Geoff shook his head. “It won’t matter. Anyway, I’ve prayed about this relentlessly, so God will send me exactly who I’m supposed to be with.”

Theo grinned now. “I suppose I can’t argue with that. Yes, well, alright. Bring her by the house whenever you like. Just give me enough time to tell Margie. She’ll want to have something special for her.”

“I will surely do that, my friend. Now, if you’ll excuse me, Miss Buchanan’s train is arriving shortly and I want to be in good time to meet it. If it comes early, I wouldn’t want her waiting around for it.”

“No, that wouldn’t do at all. Better to start off with a good first impression. You might want to fix…” Theo pointed to his hair.

Geoff looked in the mirror and saw that despite the generous amount of pomade that he’d used, his hair was escaping from its grip and falling over his forehead. He tried to put it back into place, but saw the effort was in vain.

“Oh well. There’s nothing I can do now.” He straightened his tie and slapped on his hat. “That’s what hat’s are for anyway, right?” Even though he was a doctor, he couldn’t talk himself out of the somewhat ornate cowboy hat that he always wore outdoors. It just made him feel like he was part of the West.

“Take care and God bless!” Theo exclaimed as patted his friend on the back.

Geoff took care not to step in any puddles or anything else that might muck up his careful appearance. He walked along the dusty street, nodding to this person and that, enjoying the fact that even though he’d only been in town for a comparatively short time, he knew the vast majority of people in it. Even those who hadn’t had need of a doctor had taken the effort to get to know him. They might not be sure if he was qualified like old Dr. Green, but they respected him anyway.

It seemed like hours before the train arrived, but it was likely less than thirty minutes since he’d left the office. When the huge black locomotive finally barrelled down the tracks, he felt his heart thump heavily in his chest. It wasn’t just because he was about to meet the woman who might change his marital status; she could well be the one to change the whole course of his life. With a good wife by his side, he would finally be accepted as a reliable doctor and be able to practice here in Bozeman without obstacles, to practice real medicine and not merely play nursemaid to people with scratches and minor injuries.

The train pulled up and a few people disembarked. Miss Buchanan wasn’t hard to find. She was the only young woman who got off the train. He took a moment to observe her from a distance. As he hadn’t had the pleasure of receiving a photo, this was the first glimpse he had of her.

Her sable brown hair was severely knotted back at the nape of her neck, but soft tendrils escaped and framed her long, lovely face. Her complexion was creamy, but there was just a hint of rosy coloring on her cheeks. She stood there, unsure of herself, and he could bear it no longer. He rushed forth to introduce himself, believing all the while that God had more than granted him hope for his future; he’d blessed him beyond his imagination.

K
ate stepped
onto the platform and immediately scanned the sparse crowd for Dr. Wilson. When she didn’t see him right away, she was unsure of what to do. It wouldn’t be hard to track him down. In a town this size, his was likely to be the only surgery. If he didn’t arrive within twenty minutes, she would set out to find him.

However, she had no soon located her trunk than a dark-haired, handsome man strode toward her with long, sure steps. She recognized him at once, but his appearance was much less poised than in his photo. A shock of dark hair fell from his forehead, and the face that had tried to appear serious in the picture was now openly wreathed in smiles, creating deep dimples in either cheek.

As much as she wanted to reciprocate the gesture, she felt it would be wise to remain sombre so that he would take her seriously. As the town’s doctor and a man, he was free to behave however he liked. She, however, would have to be more reserved.

“I’m so glad you arrived safely, Miss Buchanan. How was your journey?” He reached over to take the bag from her hand, but she was reluctant to relinquish it.

“It was tolerable, thank you Dr. Wilson. Please, my bag isn’t heavy and I don’t mind carrying it.” A surprised look crossed his features, but he withdrew his hand.

“Uh, certainly. As you wish. Where is your other…luggage?”

She pointed at her simple trunk which had been unloaded with the others. “It’s the plain brown one over there.”

He jogged over to the trunk and spoke briefly with the porter, presumably arranging a delivery. As he returned, she tried to compose herself. My, but he was handsome! His wife was a lucky woman indeed.

“Have you eaten recently, Miss Buchanan?” he enquired politely. She couldn’t help but noticed that he addressed her as Miss instead of Nurse. She felt hesitant to correct him for fear of appearing rude, but she would have to figure out how to rectify that problem before much longer. She hadn’t worked hard at school to be condescended to now.

“I have, thank you Dr. Wilson,” she replied, stressing the word doctor. However, he seemed not to catch the hint. In fact, the very opposite of her intention happened.

“Oh, please don’t address me so formally. You can certainly call me Geoff, given our…situation.” He smiled again and she found her mind thrown into confusion. Whatever did he mean? Was this the way people behaved in the West? Granted, the people of the fledgling town were likely to be more familiar with each other given the small population, but she couldn’t allow such informality.

“I would prefer to call you Dr. Wilson if you don’t mind,” she answered primly. “I don’t want people to get ideas about us.”

His brows knit together in confusion, but again he acquiesced. “Oh, well, yes, as you wish.” His smile vanished for a moment, making her regret her words. She didn’t want to displease him on the very first day.

“Um, maybe after we get to know each other better, I could do that, but for the time being, and certainly in front of other people, I feel that I should use titles out of respect.”

He nodded and gave her a tight smile, but she felt he still wasn’t happy. Now she certainly couldn’t insist on being addressed as Nurse Buchanan.

Drawing in a sharp breath, she looked around the town and wondered what she’d gotten herself into. She’d gone into nursing because it seemed to be such a respectable career choice, but now having travelled here, it seemed that she would not receive the respect she so desperately wanted.

“Well,” he said, his face relaxing somewhat now, “shall we go? I had lunch kept in case you wanted it, but if you don’t, you can simply rest from your trip.”

The intimacy of his suggestion startled her, but she merely nodded and followed him. Wasn’t he going to show her to her lodgings?

After walking the length of the town, she found herself standing in front of a small but neat home. It must be his. It couldn’t be a hotel or a boarding house where she presumed she’d be staying.

“Uh, is this where I’ll be staying?”

“No, of course not! That wouldn’t be proper, would it?” He was astonished at her remark, as well he should be, she thought with a blush. Now he would think her presumptuous! This was getting out of hand. “The boarding house is just across the way and down a piece. I just thought you might like some coffee or tea at least and perhaps have a look at the house.”

Why should she want to do that? However, given the poor first impression she was making, she decided to hold her tongue. Nodding, she walked up the front steps and entered the foyer of the immaculate home.

“It’s a very fine home,” she proclaimed somberly. “I’m glad that you are able to live in such a place.”

“Do you really like it?” he asked eagerly. Much to her confusion, his smile appeared once again as he sought her approval. “I had it built just two months ago, right after I put the advertisement in. I was sure that…well, you know.”

She didn’t know, but she smiled nonetheless. “And your surgery?” she enquired. “Is it attached to the house?” Perhaps that was why he’d brought her here.

“Well, no. I realize that many small town doctors have their house and surgery together, but my surgery was already set up in town, so I thought that I would keep business and home life separate.”

The house was very quiet. Either his family was out of town or…was it possible that he wasn’t married? She couldn’t fathom the idea, but she hated to ask for fear of seeming too intrusive. She would hold her tongue and let the information present itself naturally. It really wasn’t her business anyway.

“I appreciate your showing me the house, Dr. Wilson, but I would really like to go to my room now so that I can rest.”

He appeared disappointed. “Don’t you want to see the rest of the house?”

She swallowed hard and then nodded reluctantly. “If you want to show me.”

They walked around the small house and he pointed out various features to her, but all the while she couldn’t help but suspect that he was either not quite right in the head or that she was missing something important. Did he expect her to be a regular visitor here? Again, she wished she’d done more research on the customs of the West before she’d come. Perhaps this was normal here.

After seeing each room downstairs, much to her horror, he began to ascend the stairs. “Oh, no, Dr. Wilson,” she protested. “I couldn’t possibly go up to your…personal space.” The words came out strangled, but she couldn’t imagine what he was thinking. How would it look if someone were to come upon them alone in his rooms upstairs?

He frowned a little, but then nodded. “Yes, I suppose you’re right.”

Suddenly, she was glad she’d suggested a month’s trial before agreeing to the position. This entire situation was making her feel very uncomfortable.

“The house is very sparse, but I didn’t want to decorate too much. It really needs a woman’s touch,” he declared.

“I’m sure,” she murmured. What did that mean? Was his wife not living with him now, or was this a hint that he wasn’t married at all. She was hesitant to comment on the issue any further. “Do you think you could take me to the boarding house now? I’m really very tired and would like to rest.”

Again, he looked dejected. “I was hoping we could spend some time together, but I suppose I’m being thoughtless. Of course you’re tired.” He paused as though organizing his thoughts. “Well, how about if we meet for dinner in say, three hours? Would that give you enough time to rest?” A kind light entered his eyes, and he looked both apologetic and hopeful.

She found she couldn’t resist his charm. Perhaps she would dine with his family and thus put her doubts to rest. “Yes, that would be fine.”

They walked over to the boarding house, and she found her trunk had already arrived and been placed in her room. Dr. Wilson saw her to her door and reminded her that he would call for her around five o’clock.

“Yes, that’s fine,” she murmured, inclining her head and practically closing the door on his face. He gave her another quick smile and then turned to go.

Once she was alone, she sank down onto the bed and tried to collect her muddled thoughts. Had she made the biggest mistake of her life, or was she just tired and misinterpreting things? Pulling off her gloves and placing her small hat on the bedside table, she tried to sort out what had happened. For whatever reason, Dr. Wilson seemed intent on being much friendlier than she anticipated. Could she bear that? After all the very professional interactions she’d had with doctors in New York, his warm and effusive manner put her on her guard.

She decided that Dr. Wilson was very young and probably had never had a nurse before. Starting with dinner tonight, she would instruct him on how to behave. And if that didn’t turn out, well, she had a month to try to improve him. If that didn’t turn out…well, she didn’t want to contemplate that now.

G
eoff exited
the boarding house and blew out a long breath. Despite her lovely appearance, Miss Buchanan was so prim and proper that he wondered how she could ever have entertained the idea of travelling thousands of miles to marry a man she’d never met. In his estimation, a woman had to be rather adventuresome to do such a daring thing. However, his potential future bride seemed nothing of the sort.

He pondered her demeanor. She seemed very detached and had no interest in the house that he’d so anxiously built. Was she not satisfied with it? He’d purposely left it rather bare for her sake. He’d thought that she would want to choose the furnishings and such, but now he looked around and saw how cold and barren it appeared. Had she been disappointed? He would attempt to clarify things at dinner tonight, and then perhaps she would be a little happier.

As he went over each moment of their meeting, he realized that she had hardly smiled at all the entire time. Was she unhappy with the town? With him? The matter puzzled him completely. Surely she hadn’t expected a very fine house in such a small town. Had she known that it was small? She must have!

The thought that she could be disappointed with the arrangement unsettled him completely, and he resolved to do anything in his power to change that. He knew he wasn’t the most handsome man who’d ever walked the Earth, but surely he wasn’t repulsive, and he had sent her a photo after all! Was it something in his manner? Maybe she was overwhelmed by him, what with her being so demure.

Well, he would be more reserved this evening and hopefully she, in turn, would come out of her shell.

“Please, God,” he prayed aloud as he entered the empty surgery, “don’t let me make a fool of myself and have her running scared back to New York. I feel such an attraction to her and even somehow protective already even though I barely know her.” He thought back to her lovely pale blue eyes…or were they gray? They seemed to flicker back and forth between the two colors.

He spent the remainder of the afternoon seeing patients and praying. He hoped that Miss Katherine Buchanan would feel more at ease after her rest. She seemed to be very much on edge and wary around him, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out why.

Finally he decided that he would attribute her bizarre behavior to being tired and confused after a long trip. That was certainly reasonable. Tonight would be different. He would be so tender and charming that she would let down her guard and allow him to see who she really was. He was determined to believe that.

The surgery was empty once again, so he hung up the closed sign with a note on where to find him in case of an emergency. He’d made a reservation at the Bozeman Hotel, hoping to impress Katherine with a nice dinner.

As he walked over to the boarding house, he continued to pray because that was the best thing he knew how to do.

A
slight knock
on the door roused Kate out of her deep slumber. She’d just meant to sleep a little, but exhaustion from the long journey and her distress upon meeting Dr. Wilson had worn her out. Now, rumpled and discombobulated, she pushed herself off the bed and trudged toward the door. On the way, she caught sight of herself in the mirror and received a small shock. She certainly couldn’t answer the door in this state.

“Miss Buchanan?” the doctor’s soft voice called. “Miss Buchanan, are you awake? It’s past five o’clock.”

She walked over to the door, but didn’t open it.

“Uh, yes, Dr. Wilson, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to dine with you after all. I’m much more tired than I expected. I’m very sorry.” She endeavored to put some warmth in her voice because she realized that she’d been cold to him in her determination to be professional. Perhaps she was the one who needed to change, not him. After all, she was coming to his town.

“Oh, well, okay. I understand. Um, shall I collect you tomorrow for breakfast, or would lunch be better?”

What did he mean? The boarding house provided breakfast and a bag lunch. “No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll meet you at your surgery when you open. What time would that be?”

There was a brief pause. “My surgery?”

“Yes, what time do you open?” She wasn’t sure why he sounded so perplexed. Maybe it was talking through the door that made him sound that way.

“Uh, I usually go in around nine o’clock.”

“Perfect,” she replied, trying to sound animated. It was clear from his earlier behavior that he was a friendly man, and she could surely muster up a bit of cheer for him. “I’ll see you there.”

Silence rang out for another moment before his reply came. “Alright then. If that’s what you want. I’ll see you there.”

She nodded at the closed door, more for her own sense of rightness than to confirm the appointment. Now she was content. Things were finally headed in the right direction.

T
he next morning
, Geoff opened his surgery a little earlier than he’d told Katherine. Although she’d not given him permission to call her by her first name, he did so in his mind. If she was to be his wife, he couldn’t very well keep calling her Miss.

He arrived early to make sure the surgery was in order. It was an odd request to him that she made last night, but perhaps she was interested in his work. He had mentioned that he needed someone to help him with his practice in the ad, but that was more for the future when he believed that he would be busy. He fully expected things to pick up once he married.

At precisely two minutes before nine, there was a rap on the front door, and when he went to open it, he was so shocked at what he saw that he couldn’t speak.

“Good morning, Dr. Wilson,” Katherine proclaimed as she sailed in past him. “I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to have dinner with you last night, but I feel much better today and I’m ready to put in a full day. I realize that it will take a while for me to get used to your routine, so perhaps today I’ll mostly observe and take notes. Will that be satisfactory to you?”

Geoff was speechless. Before him, stood Katherine Buchanan dressed in formal nursing attire. Her dress was long and dark, her apron was stiff and white and on her head was perched a frilly white cap that appeared to be in danger of falling off at any minute. If he weren’t so dumbfounded, he might have burst out laughing at the sight. Through his confusion, a shred of sense began to stir.

“You’re a nurse,” he said stupidly.

“Clearly,” she stated, looking somewhat perturbed. “Why else would I be here?” The emphatic nod of her head caused the hat to waffle about precariously and he found he was mesmerized by it. Her miffed look combined with the silly hat tickled his funny bone. He made an effort to suppress the grin that was attempting to spread across his face, but then his belly began to shake and he couldn’t control himself.

“Oh, Miss Buchanan…uh…Nurse Buchanan I suppose, I should say…” He attempted to control himself, but it was in vain. His face strained with the effort of not laughing.

Her perturbed look changed into one of great vexation and her eyes took on a dangerous glint. “I’m not sure what is humorous, but if you don’t care for my uniform, I can certainly change it.”

“It’s not…that…I… just…” he gasped. It was in part the uniform that made him laugh, but the absurdity of the entire situation overwhelmed him. Everything fell into place now, her behavior and her coldness toward what he had hoped was charming behavior, her indifference toward the house. He released a loud burst of laughter.

“I can only surmise that you find my uniform unsuitable,” she said frostily. “So if you would kindly inform me as to the part that you find particularly offensive, I make an effort to accommodate you.” Her voice was so chilly that it could have frozen a warm lake on a summer’s day.

“It’s…not…you. It’s…me,” he managed to say. Finally, the laughter subsided, but when he looked at the ridiculous cap, the hilarity threatened to bubble up again. “Oh, well, maybe your…cap?”

Quick as lightening, she whipped it off her head. Her eyes turned stormy, and he swallowed hard in the face of her anger.

“I assure you that this is the uniform that is worn at the Brooklyn State Hospital, but I can see now that it was a mistake to wear it here in this...town.” Her implication was clear. Bozeman was incredibly backward in comparison with New York. “I had nothing else in my belongings, but if you would like to tell me how you think I should attire myself, I will see what I can do.”

Her voice was like cold water thrown in his face. With the cap removed, he was able to focus on the situation, but in his mind, he was still in awe of the situation. The misunderstanding would have to be clarified.

“I apologize, Miss…uh, Nurse Buchanan,” he began and was glad to see her posture relax slightly. “I need to explain something and hopefully you will see the humor in the situation.”

“I doubt it,” she replied stoically, still not completely mollified by his change in attitude. “But go ahead.”

He leaned back against his desk and crossed his arms over his chest in a relaxed manner. He smiled warmly and regarded her with kindness. “It’s clear now that you came west searching for a position, but Nurse Buchanan…I placed an advertisement for a wife.”