Mary's Blessing, page 11
Indeed, Daniel had swept the floors, dusted the displays and shelves, straightened the merchandise, checked the inventory, and counted the money in the till. “Yes, sir.” Daniel couldn’t keep a smile from creeping onto his face. “But I finished quite a long time ago.”
His father clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m proud of you, son. I know I don’t tell you as often as I should.”
Daniel wasn’t expecting that reaction. But he liked it. “If you’re here to stay, I’ll head out to check on Mary and her father.”
“You go right ahead. I need to put these things away.” Father turned toward the box.
Whistling “Clementine,” Daniel headed toward home. After stopping there to pick up the pot of food, he drove his buggy to the doctor’s house. The enticing aroma of Mrs. Shelton’s chicken and dumplings made his stomach rumble.
He tied up his horse behind the clinic and entered through the back door. Mrs. Childress was folding sheets in the workroom.
“What are you carrying, Daniel?” She took a deep breath. “It smells like one of my favorites.”
“I remembered that it’s a favorite of Mr. Murray as well.” Daniel set the covered pan on the other end of the table. “I thought maybe we could entice him to eat more than he has been.”
“That’s a good idea.” She set the final sheet on the stack and went over to a cupboard to retrieve a couple of bowls and spoons. She dipped some of the food into a bowl. “You can take it into his room. I’ll bring another serving for Mary too. She hasn’t left his side for more than a couple of minutes today.”
Balancing the bowl in one hand, Daniel quietly opened the door to the room Mr. Murray occupied. Mary had her head bowed, and she clasped one of her father’s hands in both of hers. Probably praying. He knew she had been doing a lot of that. He moved across the room toward a shelf near the bed. With his second footstep, the floorboard squeaked.
Mary’s head shot up and her eyes turned toward him. “Daniel, I’m so glad you’re here.”
“How is your father?” He set the bowl down. The man didn’t look a bit better than he had yesterday.
“Seems to be the same.” She huffed out an exasperated breath and stood. “What do you have there?”
“Some of Mrs. Shelton’s chicken and dumplings.”
A low moan emanated from the bed. They both turned to look at Mr. Murray. His eyes were open. “Chicken…and dumplings?”
“Yes, sir.” Daniel dropped into the chair beside the bed. “I thought you might like some. Maybe we could get you up sitting in the chair, so it will be easier for you to eat.”
When Mary glanced at him, worry lit her eyes. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Of course it is.” Mrs. Childress entered with another bowl of food for Mary. “My dear husband would like nothing better than getting Kenneth into a chair. That would show real progress in his recovery.” She set the second bowl on the shelf and leaned closer to the patient. “How about it? Will you let us help you up?”
Mr. Murray gave a slight nod. Hope lit a flame in his eyes.
“Alrighty then.” Mrs. Childress took charge. She picked up one of the bowls and handed it to Mary. “Mary, dear, why don’t you take this into the kitchen and eat a bit to give you some strength. Daniel and I will get your father into the chair.”
Daniel could tell Mary wanted to object. He moved closer to her. “We’ll get you back in here when’s he’s settled.”
He turned her toward the door. She gazed back over her shoulder before leaving the room.
Mrs. Childress had Daniel move the deeply upholstered wingback chair close to the bed. They eased Mary’s father up, and with their arms around his back and supporting his legs, slid him over to the waiting chair. Then the doctor’s wife grabbed a quilt and covered the man up to his waist.
“Are you all right, Kenneth?” Mrs. Childress hovered around like a mother hen.
“Yes…thank you.” He leaned his head against the back of the chair and closed his eyes for a moment before he opened them and stared up at Daniel. “Now…where are those…chicken and dumplings?”
After pulling a straight chair next to the patient, Mrs. Childress retrieved the bowl and sat down. She quickly lifted a spoonful of the delicious soup and fed it to the man.
His lips closed around the loaded spoon, and a smile lit his eyes, bringing new color to his face. She withdrew the utensil, and he slowly chewed.
He swallowed and sighed. “So…good.”
Mrs. Childress gave him another taste. “This is wonderful. We’ll have you strengthened in no time at all.”
Daniel went after Mary. He opened the door and found her leaning against the wall in the hallway, enjoying her own food.
“Is he in the chair?”
“Yes, and Mrs. Childress is feeding him.” Daniel was glad he had good news.
Mary’s face revealed her high hope for her father’s recovery. She had never given up on him, even though at times Daniel had doubted the man would even live. He wanted to take Mary in his arms and hold her close to his heart—forever.
“He’s letting her feed him?” Incredulity threaded between Mary’s words.
“I think he’s finally hungry.”
Mary placed her hand on his arm, branding him through his shirt sleeve. “We owe all this to your thoughtfulness, Daniel. I don’t think I would have made it these last two weeks without you.”
“Anything for you, Mary.” He meant every word. Maybe today he could finally share his plans with her and her father.
Mary followed Daniel into her father’s room. Seeing him sitting up in a chair and eating almost brought her to tears. For the first time since the accident, instead of flapping around in her muddy thoughts, her hope took wing.
Since both of the chairs were being used, she sat on the side of his bed. “Isn’t this food delicious?” She put another spoonful in her mouth, and this time she really tasted it. “Since you like it so much, I’m going to have to ask Mrs. Shelton for her recipe.”
Pa turned his head toward her and gave her a tentative smile. Was he tiring out? Did they need to get him onto the bed? She finished eating and set her empty bowl back on the shelf, then went to stand beside his chair. She wanted to hug him, but she didn’t know if it would hurt him.
“Here, Mary.” Mrs. Childress held her father’s bowl out for her. “You can help him finish this, and I’ll change the sheets on his bed. That should make him more comfortable.”
Mary sat in the chair she vacated and offered Pa another spoonful. “You’re really looking better.”
She noticed tears pooling in his eyes, but she didn’t say anything about them. She didn’t want to embarrass him. A man had his pride.
“Good…food.” He turned his attention toward Daniel. “Thank you.”
Daniel hunkered beside her father’s chair. “I know how much her dumplings make me feel better when I’m not well. Happy to do it for you, sir.”
“You’re a good man…Daniel Winthrop.” His voice trembled on the last word. “Glad Mary…has you.”
“I’m the one who is blessed to have Mary.” Daniel glanced up at her and gave her a wink.
She couldn’t help smiling at him. That wink sent a shiver through her. How had she ever caught the eye of such a wonderful man?
“When I’m better…we’ll talk again…about your waiting time.” He gave Daniel a teary smile. “Make it shorter.”
Mary gave him another bite before dropping the spoon into the empty bowl. A shorter waiting time. Does he mean we can get married sooner? She hoped so. Nothing would make her happier.
“Your bed’s all ready, Kenneth.” Mrs. Childress headed toward the door. “I’ll get Clyde, and we’ll get you cleaned up as well.” When she reached the door, her husband stood in the opening. “Look who’s here.” She glanced toward Mary and Daniel. “You can go out into the waiting room. We’ve closed the clinic for the day. You won’t be disturbed.”
Mary rose to her feet and kissed Pa on the cheek, a cheek with more color in it than he’d had since the accident. “We’ll be back soon.”
He nodded.
Daniel followed Mary out the door and closed it behind him.
He put his arm across her shoulders. “We have a lot to talk about.”
“Yes, we do.” They went into the waiting room, and she dropped into one of the chairs.
Daniel pulled another one facing her so they would be closer. “I have so many plans for us.”
“Plans?” This sounded intriguing to Mary. “What kind of plans?”
“If your father cuts down our waiting time, we could get married soon. The Harrison house now belongs to me. There are a few things I want to have done to it before we move in, but we can set up our household there.” He stared at his hands. “I can hardly wait until we’ll be together as husband and wife. You can have servants, so you won’t have to do so much work.”
Mary was stunned. Was he completely oblivious to reality? Even though her father had finally turned a corner in his recovery, he had a long way to go. She wouldn’t want to be in Oregon City in some mansion far too large for two people while her father needed her.
“Daniel, it could take months, or even years, before Pa will be completely well.”
“Then we could marry, and he and your sister and brothers can move in with us. Maybe they could sell the farm—”
Mary quickly stood. “Pa won’t want to sell the farm. He wants it to be an inheritance for the boys.” She paced across the woolen rug.
Daniel stood, too. “They won’t need an inheritance. I’ll have enough money to give your family a good life.”
She whirled toward him. “The farmhouse is the only home the children have known. We can’t take them from their home. They’ve lost so much already.” She couldn’t stand still, so she once more moved across the room. “Besides that, Pa won’t want to leave the farm and move into town.”
“But what if he can’t ever do all the work that’s needed to run the farm?” Was that the sound of desperation in Daniel’s voice?
“With me there with him, we’ll work it out somehow.” She crossed her arms and clenched her fists. “Tony Chan has been doing a good job.”
Daniel raked his fingers through the waves in his dark blond hair. “I know. I’m paying him to do the work. We could keep him on the farm to help your father.”
“You don’t understand, Daniel. Frances, George, and Bobby will need me during this time. I’m the only mother they have.” She stopped and whirled to stand in front of him. “We could live on the farm with them. My family is very important to me.”
“That’s not what I have planned for us. I want to give you a better life.” His words were so insistent, as if only his ideas had merit.
“Maybe your idea of a better life and my idea of a better life are totally different.” She thrust her fisted hands onto her hips and glared at him.
He stared at her with a look akin to horror on his face. “I can’t believe you’re saying this. I can give you everything.” His eyes bored into her, almost burning a trail.
“Maybe I don’t want everything you can give me.” She knew her voice had gradually risen to a shout during the conversation. But she didn’t care. He wasn’t listening to her. He only wanted his own way without taking her thoughts into consideration. Was that how a marriage was supposed to work?
Her words hit him hard, because he flinched as if they were stones she had thrown at him. Maybe she didn’t really mean them the way they sounded, but how could he not understand how important her family was to her? How could he even consider her abandoning them when they needed her so much?
Without another word, he turned and slammed out the front door.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. What just happened? Everything had been going so well for her and Daniel. Now she didn’t know where their relationship stood. She didn’t even know if they still had a relationship.
The front door opened. Daniel reentered. “My buggy is in the back.” He bit out the words like bullets.
He stomped through the room and down the hallway. She felt each of the heavy footsteps on her wounded heart. Why had she let all her anger and frustration boil over onto Daniel? She regretted every angry word she’d hurled at him. Surely he would come back, and they could apologize to each other. Couldn’t they?
Chapter 13
DANIEL COULDN’T BELIEVE he’d been such an idiot. To storm out the front door of the doctor’s house when he had parked the buggy at the back. Going back inside to get to his buggy took much of the power from his exit. At the ripe old age of twenty, he wanted everyone to know he was a man. He was thankful no one else witnessed this embarrassing event, and he hoped Dr. and Mrs. Childress hadn’t heard the argument.
He couldn’t imagine what had gotten into Mary. Never before had he seen this side of her personality. He thought she loved him for who he was—and for his wisdom. Couldn’t she see that everything he had planned for them was in her best interest as well as his own? How wrong he had been. Each time her voice raised another notch, it fueled his anger. Why did she do that to him?
Dr. Childress came through the back door behind him. “Could I have a word with you, Daniel?”
Forcing an insincere smile to his face, he turned. “I’m sorry about—”
“I didn’t want to intrude, but there are a few things I can’t tell Mary about her father. I felt that you should know, since you’re courting her.” Frown lines emphasized the man’s concern.
Daniel stuck his hands in the pockets of his slacks. “Yes?”
“I’m pleased that Kenneth roused so well today, but he’s not out of the woods yet…and he may never be.” He stared intently into Daniel’s eyes. “I cannot take away Mary’s hope, but someone needs to know that there’s a strong possibility her father may never be able to work the farm again. These things need to be considered when making long-term decisions.”
Daniel nodded. “Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate your candor with me.”
After a moment, the other man pivoted and reentered the house.
At least the doctor respected him as a man. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have entrusted this information to him. This just reinforced the turmoil raised by their disagreement. Perhaps he wouldn’t have any choice in the matter, and marrying Mary would mean living and working at the farm. Could he face that? He felt a growl deep inside, but he silenced it with his will. Everything was so out of his control.
He untied his horse and climbed into the driver’s seat. He really didn’t want to go home while he was in this frame of mind. And he didn’t want to answer any questions his parents might have about his foul mood. He turned the buggy away from town and drove into the country.
Even being in the buggy instead of riding his horse raised his ire. If he were riding Sultan, his Arabian stallion, he’d run him full-out.
The only reason he chose this conveyance was so he could drive Mary home in comfort. He had planned to spend time with Tony Chan, checking on how the work at the farm was progressing. He would iron out any problems the man might have while Mary visited with her siblings, bathed, and dressed. Then he would return her to her father’s side.
Thinking back, he realized that their misunderstanding probably started when Mary didn’t agree with him about getting her father out of bed. After all, he was trying to follow the doctor’s orders to move Mr. Murray’s recovery along. He’d been taken aback when she hadn’t agreed. Then from that moment, everything took a downward spiral.
Mary had been disrespectful, and she shot down his plans and dreams about their life together. She wasn’t willing to marry him and live in town while they helped her family with the farm, and she wouldn’t consider not taking care of them herself. Any other woman would have jumped at the chance he offered her.
He wanted to build a life with Mary, but it didn’t include starting that life in a country farmhouse with an ailing old man and three children around. Besides, a man and his wife needed privacy in their home at the beginning of their marriage, didn’t they?
What could he do about it? He wanted her to understand that he would be the head of their family from the very beginning of their marriage. But he didn’t know how he could approach the subject with her. Not in her present state of mind. Or his.
As he drove along other thoughts kept coming to mind. His childhood friend Gary Bowen had a similar problem after he and Debra married. Having to take care of her family after a disaster had almost destroyed their marriage. Just thinking about how Gary had changed made Daniel’s stomach muscles clench. He did not want to face something like that. He didn’t think he would make the choices Gary had, but he didn’t want to have to face the possibility.
Instead of stopping at the Murray farm, he drove on down the country road, finally turning the buggy around at a deserted farmhouse and heading back to town. The evening breeze cooled his anger as it brought a chill to the evening. By the time he reached his house he had his temper under control.
“Is that you, Daniel?” Father came out of his study and met him at the foot of the curving staircase in the foyer. “I need to talk to you.”
Even though his father sounded serious, Daniel couldn’t detect any anger in his tone. He didn’t want to experience any more anger this evening.
“Is something amiss?” Daniel followed him back into the wood-paneled office.
Father sat in the leather chair on the other side of his large cherrywood desk. “Something has come up, and I want to ask your opinion.”
He dropped into a wingback chair across the desk from his father. “Fire away.”
His father picked up a yellow piece of paper from his desk. “This telegram came a short time ago. It’s from your uncle Clarence. He fell and broke his leg. He will need help for a while.” Father laid the paper back down. “I know you have the Chinese boy helping out at the Murray farm. Do you know anyone else who’s a good worker we could send up north to help Clarence? Maybe a young man who will be able to work on the sheep farm? It’s time for shearing, and it takes someone who is strong and has stamina.”
