The Healing Touch of his Love, page 14
“After all that you do for us here in Park County, the least I can offer is a reminder that God loves you,” Pastor Robinson said in response. Kenton had to admit that his mind was already a thousand miles away, but he managed to smile at the pastor before moving along toward the after-church crowd that was milling about on the front lawn.
As much as Kenton had truly enjoyed the service, the part of the weekly tradition he enjoyed more than anything was the socializing aspect. Back in Maine, Kenton had rushed home each Sunday just as soon as he could without causing any offense, but in his new home, he really wanted to get to know everyone in town. More than that, everyone in town wanted to get to know him.
It wasn’t just that he wanted to see Ginny that particular Sunday and apologize for his behavior the last time he’d seen her, but he had something specific in mind that he wanted to tell her. By then, Kenton had finally learned that he couldn’t deny his feelings for the young woman anymore. He was completely smitten with her, and it was time he let her know.
He caught a glimpse of what he was sure was her shoulder through the crowd and tried to make his way over to her. Before he could, however, Mrs. Martin stepped in front of him.
“Dr. Cook! How lovely to see you here. I hope that you are still planning on attending my son’s wedding this Saturday evening? Everyone will be looking forward to seeing you there,” she said with a gleam in her eye. Kenton thought it was adorable to see the sophisticated woman so filled with joy at the prospect of her son’s marriage. He kept his peripheral vision trained on the glimpse of Ginny he thought he’d caught, not wanting to lose her in the crowd again.
“I certainly intend on attending. You can count me in for any chance to celebrate love and to get more acquainted with the citizens of Park County,” Kenton replied politely.
“Wonderful. Ah, I see the pastor now. I should go and speak with him regarding the ceremony. Looking forward to seeing you in your finest, Dr. Cook!” With a bright smile plastered across her face, Mrs. Martin made her way toward the waiting Pastor Robinson.
“See you then,” Kenton murmured distractedly as his gaze turned back toward Ginny. To his surprise, she met his gaze full on with a charming smirk that made it seem she was about to tease him about something. He took the look as an invitation to approach and started making his way over to her. Beating him to the punch, however, was Ashley, who stepped in front of Ginny just as Kenton arrived.
“Have you seen how handsome a certain someone is looking today?” he heard Ashley ask her friend, and he laughed to himself when he saw how red Ginny’s face got at the question.
“Um, Ashley, maybe we could talk about something else just now?” Ginny asked, the corners of her mouth curling up in embarrassment.
“Why? You’re always such a prude about these matters, Ginny. There’s no shame in admitting that you find someone handsome,” Ashley protested.
“No, it’s not that, Ashley, it’s just …”
“Good morning, ladies,” Kenton said finally, stepping out from his awkward position behind Ashley.
“Dr. Cook ... good morning to you too. I hope you ... enjoyed the service.” Ashley’s voice came out a little too loud, causing both Ginny and Kenton to laugh.
“I’m terribly sorry to interrupt, but I couldn’t pretend I wasn’t so close by. Please, don’t let me stop you from talking about this handsome, certain someone.” Kenton enjoyed the effect his words had on the ladies, who started giggling despite themselves.
“I think I ought to be going now. I have lots of work today before the school week starts again tomorrow. The lessons aren’t going to plan themselves, are they? Very nice seeing you both, Ginny and Dr. Cook. I hope you both have a lovely afternoon,” Ashley said with an awkward curtsey as she backed away from them.
“I apologize for the ... forwardness of my friend,” Ginny said with a laugh as soon as Ashley was out of earshot.
“I ought to be the one apologizing for hovering so closely to your conversation. He’s a lucky man, whoever it was that you were talking about. To be considered handsome by two such esteemed members of Park County society must be a highly sought after distinction. While we’re on the subject of apologies, I wanted to say how sorry I was about my rushed visit the other day.”
Ginny looked down, shook her head, and waved her hand, dismissing his worries. “You’re a very busy man; you don’t need to excuse your professional behavior. Besides, Rory was your patient, not me. He’s here, somewhere. I’m sure he’ll want to thank you for your careful attention over the past few weeks.”
“I know that he was my patient, but I have to confess that it was someone else that I looked forward to seeing anytime I was lucky enough to visit the Hill household.”
“I don’t know exactly to whom you refer ... but I’m sure that she would also like to see you more often than she does …”
Kenton’s heart was beating quickly as they talked around in circles, carefully avoiding any specificity or true vulnerability. Still, he was sure that they both knew exactly who they were discussing. The sound of the church-going crowd around them seemed to disappear as the young couple got lost in each other’s eyes. Kenton knew that that was the moment he ought to tell her of his feelings, but something stopped him. He remembered what Ashley had said only moments before about how straight-laced her friend was. In Maine, Kenton wouldn’t have thought to talk to a girl’s father before moving forward with courtship, but he had a feeling things were done differently in the West. More than that, he thought that Ginny might appreciate it if he sought permission from Mr. Hill first.
Just then, Mrs. Hill came up to them, squeezing her daughter’s shoulders, and the momentary spell was broken.
“Sorry to interrupt, Ginny, but your father’s anxious to have some lunch before he has to head back to the saloon. Lovely to see you again, Dr. Cook, and I’m happy that the circumstances are so much more pleasant this time! Thank you for continually coming to the rescue of my family. Thankfully, everything seems to have calmed down now, and things at the saloon have gone back to normal as well. All thanks to your quick work, Dr. Cook.”
With those final words from Mrs. Hill, Ginny flashed Kenton one more quick, polite smile, then disappeared into the throng of people. As the young doctor watched her go, he couldn’t help thinking he’d rather missed his moment with Ginny.
She seemed slightly disappointed that he hadn’t asked to see her again, but he hoped that after a talk with her father, she’d see that he meant to pursue her properly. He saw a great future for the two of them and didn’t want her to think for a second that he considered their connection a frivolous one. He had only the most honorable of intentions.
***
The saloon smelled more pleasant than it had the last time he’d been inside Manny Hill’s establishment. This time, the wood’s oakiness mingled nicely with the sweet tobacco and the sharp scent of whiskey. There was no blood in the air that had followed the stabbing incident Kenton had responded to the week before. Instead, the place reverberated with music and the sound of cheerful celebrating. Despite the dim candles dotting the tables and bar, there was still a sense of lightness to the saloon.
Kenton had come early, hoping that the place wouldn’t get too busy until later in the evening, so he’d get the chance to talk to Mr. Hill about courting his daughter. Unfortunately, it seemed as though half the town was in the saloon, and Mr. Hill was being run off his feet. Without wasting a moment, Kenton hung up his hat and coat on an available hook by the door, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to ask Manny what he could do to help.
“Mr. Hill!” he called out from the end of the bar.
Manny looked over at him, distractedly, then turned back to the pint he was pouring. “I see you there, Dr. Cook, but you’ll just have to wait your turn.” He seemed annoyed, but Kenton persisted.
“I was going to ask if you needed any help, Mr. Hill. I’m no expert, but I think I can clear some glasses and wash some dishes. If that would be useful to you at all.”
Manny stopped pouring abruptly and looked back at Kenton as if all his wildest dreams had just come true.
“Why, that would be ... yes, please! There are trays aplenty right over there, and the sink is just in the back. Sam has been helping out, but he wasn’t feeling well today, so I’m all on my own. Just a moment, Mr. Frank, your whiskey is on the way! Oh, here, for heaven’s sake, just take the bottle.”
After receiving Manny’s blessing, Kenton set about making himself useful. For the next two hours, he darted about the saloon, picking up any empty glasses he could find, taking orders when he thought his memory could handle it and washed up in the back. Finally, it seemed as if the rush was slowing, and he might just get a chance to talk to Manny without a crush of orders coming in.
“Here, have a cup of whiskey on the house. Thank you for all your help tonight,” Mr. Hill said, handing over a rocks glass of aromatic brown liquor to the young doctor, who took it gratefully.
“Ah, thank you. Seems like the worst of it is over,” Kenton noted, looking over the emptying main room of the saloon.
“We’ll get another rush before closing time, but it won’t be nearly as bad. It was awfully kind of you to selflessly lend a hand like that. I had no idea that the hippocratic oath extended to washing dishes in the local saloon.”
“I’m afraid it doesn’t, and I haven’t been completely selfless in this endeavor. I came in hoping to have a word with you. Seemed like we wouldn’t be able to talk properly until the place cleared out a bit, so I got to work. That’s the truth of it,” Kenton admitted.
“Is that so? Well then, color me intrigued. What was it that you wanted to discuss with me?” Mr. Hill asked.
“It’s about your daughter, Ginny.”
“Is that so? What about the girl? She’s been behaving herself, I hope.”
“Oh, yes, it’s nothing like that. It’s just that ... well we’ve gotten to know each other a bit now since I’ve been checking in on Rory’s ankle and after church and all that. I was wondering if I might get your blessing to start courting her. I think, if my instincts are correct, that we both have a keen interest in one another, and we’d both like to spend more time together. If it’s alright with you, of course.” Kenton felt a nervousness rise up inside him, even though the words came out of him quite fluidly.
Manny’s eyes widened as though something quite foreign was being explained to him. “You and Ginny? Oh my. I hadn’t really thought about it. I suppose I don’t get to spend much time at home anymore, so I haven’t properly talked with her in quite some time. Ever since I’ve been forced to ... well, work here in the evenings, I’ve been quite far away from home and on a completely different schedule. Forgive my surprise at this turn of events.”
Kenton wasn’t quite sure how to proceed. Part of him wanted to ask for some clarity on what exactly it was that had forced him to manage the saloon by himself instead of hiring on workers as he used to. Ginny, too, had alluded to some kind of painful Hill family history. In the end, he decided not to pry.
“There’s nothing to forgive, really. I was just hoping that I could get your blessing, in a sense, to proceed. If you think it wouldn’t be a good idea, I completely understand …”
“No, no, it isn’t that I think it’s a bad idea at all! I just ... well, the truth of it is, Dr. Cook, my daughter is an independent soul. She doesn’t need my permission or anyone else’s to do just as she likes. She’s always been that way, you know. With her sewing projects and all that. She’s her own person, and I’ll leave it to her to make her own decisions when it comes to her heart.” Manny downed his whiskey and picked up a cloth to start polishing the other glasses.
“That’s exactly what I like about her so much, I think. I hope you don’t believe that I would ever try to hold her back, either. I know she’s been saving her money to travel someday, or maybe even go to college. I wouldn’t dream of ever telling her that she should or shouldn’t pursue her dreams. I only hope to get to know her better and be a part of her life however I can be. She deserves support in all her passions,” Kenton said, trying to reassure Manny of his understanding of Ginny. He was met with a confused look.
“Saving money to travel? Go to college? Well, this is the first I’ve heard about this. Just how exactly is she planning on coming up with the funds?”
“From all the sewing she’s been doing. I have a feeling I wasn’t supposed to say anything. Please, don’t mention to her that I brought it up, and don’t take it out on her. She ought to have been able to tell you in her own time.” Kenton anxiously started unrolling his sleeves, feeling like he’d really bungled the situation.
Manny, on the other hand, appeared to be quite pleased. “Well, would you look at that. I seem to have inspired some kind of wanderlust in her. I traveled when I was young, you know. I don’t know how she plans on doing it all by herself, but I’m proud of her either way. She must be nervous to tell me, that’s all.”
“I’m sure she will let you know about her plans sooner than later. Sounds like she looks up to you in more ways than one. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’d inherited some of your entrepreneurial spirit,” Kenton added, anxious to get the conversation back on track.
“I can only hope to have had such a positive effect on my children. I know I need to be spending more time at home than I do, but I just can’t afford to unless something changes. Ah, looks as though the second rush is starting to trickle in. I can hear Mr. Martin’s cart coming down the street. I could recognize that sound anywhere. You’d better get out now, or you’ll be stuck with me all night,” Manny said with an affectionate smile. Kenton felt as though he was preparing to leave the saloon with less clarity than he’d had upon entering the establishment. Instead of securing Mr. Hill’s blessing, he’d accidently let slip one of Ginny’s secrets and was still unclear as to whether her father approved of the match.
“Right, yes, I’d best be going. I have an early morning ahead of me. Thank you for the whiskey and the talk.”
“Yes, best get your rest. We’re all depending on you. Dr. Cook?”
“Yes, Mr. Hill?” Kenton responded, turning back before heading for his coat.
“I maintain that all romantic decisions are for my children to make on their own account. For the record, however, I think Ginny would be a fool to turn you down.” After a pointed wink, Manny moved away to the other end of the bar, where a new customer was waiting for some attention. Kenton smiled to himself. The confusion that had been clouding his mind finally cleared.
It had meant the world to hear that Mr. Hill approved of him pursuing Ginny’s heart. All that was left was to speak to the young woman herself. He hoped to himself that such a conversation wouldn’t be half as nerve-wracking as the one he’d just had, but he knew it only would be more so. One look from Ginny left him breathless, and that was how he knew he wanted her in his life.
Chapter 14
As she finished the Sunday School lesson, Ginny looked up anxiously at the clock standing in the corner. The second hand was edging closer to eleven o’clock, signaling the time when she and the children would get to rejoin the rest of the adults after the sermon. She wasn’t doing a very good job of hiding her impatience and knew the children could tell, but she didn’t care. Every bone in her body just wanted to have another chance to talk with Kenton.
It had been a full week since she’d seen him, though she’d been expecting that they would have run into each other sooner. Ginny had made a point of wandering into town as much as possible, hoping that she would see Kenton, and the two of them could strike up a conversation. Last they’d talked, Ginny had gotten the distinct impression that he’d wanted to tell her something more. Perhaps even that he cared for her in a more-than-friendly manner? Alas, they’d been rudely interrupted by her mother.
Since then, she hadn’t seen hide nor hair of Kenton. She was beginning to lose hope that he did, in fact, wish to start courting her. If so, wouldn’t he have found a way to see her sooner? She had to concede to herself that Kenton was a busy man, and therefore might not have had the opportunity to rearrange his schedule just to incorporate calling on her.
