The Montana Doctor's Bride (New Brides of Montana) (6 page)

Carter spent the next three hours monitoring the new mother’s breathing and heart rate.  She became partially awake an hour after the surgery.  Her husband sat by the bed, holding her hand.  He had watched her sleep from the time he came back in the room following the surgery.  In a scratchy voice, she asked, “Where’s my baby?” 

The midwife brought the baby to the bed and placed him beside her.  “Is he all right,” the scratchy voice asked.

“He’s perfect.  Ten fingers, ten toes, a healthy voice.  He has everything,” the midwife said.

“Doctor?”

“Yes, Mrs. Jamison?” Carter said.

“Thank you,” she rasped.

“You’re welcome,” he said.  “I’ve told your husband, the restrictions on your activity.  You did have surgery, so you must exercise care in your physical activity for the next four to six weeks.  You should stay in bed for the next three days.  Have assistance in getting up the first few times.  I’ll be back to change the dressing and check on you the day after tomorrow.  You had a hard time of it, but I think you will be fine.”

“Mr. Jamsion, do you have help for the next few days?”  By that, I mean someone to care for the baby, and bring him to your wife for nursing until she is able to assume the care?”

“I’ve arranged for Maude to stay here for as long as she’s needed.  Doc, we are indebted to you.  Anything you need, you just ask.  I will settle up with you as soon as I can get to the bank.”

“Sounds good to me,” Carter said.  “If you need me, just send for me.  I don’t think it will be necessary, but don’t take any chances.”

The same cowboy brought his horse and buggy to the door.  “He’s had water and grain, Doc.  Is the Missus going to be okay?”

“She’s going to be fine, and so is their son,” Carter replied.

He climbed into the buggy, clucked and flicked the reins and headed home, concluding what had been his best day since he began the practice of medicine.  He let his mind wander as the horse took him home…
One life saved, and a new one introduced to the world.  Overall, a fine day,
he concluded.

He sat down to write Elizabeth.

Dear Elizabeth,

I hope this finds you in good spirits and well of body.  I am well.  Plenty to keep me occupied, though the loneliness persists.

I must tell you about my day.  It has been the best I’ve had in some time, although it started quite early.  Sometime after midnight, a knock on the door awakened me.  A local rancher sent a cowboy to ask for my help in delivering a baby.  Mrs. Jamison, wife of the rancher was in a long and painful labor.  The baby was breech and the midwife had been unable to turn it.  I also, was unable to turn it, and decided it was necessary to perform a Caesarean section.  I was able to extract the baby and was rewarded with a spontaneous wail.  Mother and son are doing well, as is the grateful father. It was my first delivery since prior to the war, and I have forgotten how exhilarating childbirth can be.  It reinforced my belief in my chosen profession.

I have no right to ask this of you, but I must.  I miss your presence and my loneliness is at times overwhelming.  Would you consider coming to Montana and become my wife?  I think you would bring a joy and happiness to my home that is missing at this time.  I would travel to you and ask in person, but have only been back from the Indian Wars a short time and am reluctant to leave my patients.

I have what I consider a nice home, and have made a few friends, all of whom would welcome you.  Will you consider this?

As always,

Carter

He posted the letter the next morning. 
Now the two week wait for a return answer begins.  I wouldn’t blame her if she was not interested.  She’s never been out of Rockville, all of her friends are there.  Why would she want to leave home?”

If it were not for accidents, I would have very few patients
, Carter thought as he headed for the Lazy J ranch.  He tied his horse to the hitching post in front, and knocked on the door.  Maude answered his knock.  “Good mornin’ Doctor,” she said.  “Mr. Case is out riding fence and will not be back until late.  I reckon it’s Miz Carrie you come to see.”

“Good morning, Maude.  Have you been getting enough rest?  A new baby can keep you going.”

“Yes sir, I’m doing all right, and so is Miz Carrie.  She’s getting her strength back.  After what she went through, it’s a miracle.  The baby is doing fine.  Always hungry.  Her milk came in today, so maybe that will satisfy him more.  Come on in.”

They went down the hall to the bedroom.  Carrie was propped up in bed with her son at her breast.  She discreetly placed a blanket over her breasts.  “Doctor Palmer!  It’s so good to see you, especially under different circumstances.”

“How are you doing, Mrs. Jamison?  It looks like the young fellow is doing well.  You go ahead and finish the feeding, I’ll just sit here and we can talk.  Are you having any pain?” he asked.

“Please, call me Carrie,” she said.  No, not really, I am sore, but I guess that’s normal for someone whose belly has been cut open, isn’t it?”

Carter said, “Maybe tender, but there shouldn’t be much soreness after two days, unless you strain it.  You haven’t done that, have you?  They should be bringing the baby to you.  You shouldn’t be lifting him yourself.”

“Maybe sore is not the right word, but I have lifted him to nurse.  That should be all right, shouldn’t it?”

“I would rather you didn’t do too much of that for another day or two.  You need to limit your bending too.  Are you finished there?  Let me check him over before you give him back to Maude.”

He took the baby and placed him on the bed, where he could examine him.  With the stethoscope, he listened to the breathing of the baby.  “His lungs sound clear, the heartbeat is steady and rhythmic.  He’s doing well.

“I’m going to leave the room.  Maude would you arrange the covers over her so the wound is bare?  I need to make sure there is no suppuration.  I don’t want an infection to crop up here and go unnoticed.”

“Doctor, I’m not real modest.  I was raised on a ranch.  You do what is necessary.  I want to make sure everything is okay too,” Carrie said.

“No, no, it will be fine.  Maude can drape the covers so I can see I need to see.”  He left the room, and was summoned back in five minutes.  He looked closely at the stitches and saw no puffiness.  He gently prodded her belly.  “Does that hurt?”  She shook her head.  He put his stethoscope on her abdomen, and said, “Your bowel sounds are normal, your breathing is steady and your heartbeat is regular.  Carrie, you’re doing well.  I’ll change the dressing here and get out of here before your son gets hungry again.  I’ll be back in a couple of days to check again.”

“How long will the stitches be in, Doctor?”

“I usually take them out in a week to ten days.  The ones inside will be absorbed by your body.  It’s going to start itching in another few days.  That’s a good sign and is an indication of the wound healing.  Don’t scratch it.  I am going to leave some calamine lotion to relieve the itching.  One last thing, You can resume your normal diet, but go easy with heavy stuff like beef.  It will make things easier for you.
“Maude, you take good care of the baby.  He’s the first one I’ve delivered in years.  I want to put his picture on a poster in my office, so I can show others what I can do.”  He laughed, and said, “Goodbye ladies.  Carrie, you remember my instructions.”

As he left, he heard Carrie say to Maude, “He’s a nice man.  I’m glad he came to Helena.”

“We’re lucky to have him,” Maude agreed.

When she opened her mail, Elizabeth was pleased to find a letter from Carter.  Elizabeth read the letter several times, placed it on the table, and buried her head in her hands. 

She was happy for his latest success.  He desperately needs positive things in his life.  He saved the woman’s life and saved her baby.  It’s hard to imagine operating under those conditions, but he made it work.  Now the other part…

I hoped for this and now that it’s here, I don’t know what to do.  I would have gone with him had he asked, but he didn’t.  I should have told him about his son long ago, as Jim Gilbride suggested.  Now, I don’t know how to tell him.  I‘ve dug myself a hole and don’t know how to escape. I can’t tell him.  I just can’t.  He will be furious, and will never trust me.  I’m just going to tell him it is impossible.

She made the decision.

Dear Carter,

How pleased you must be with the outcome of your surgery.  Just think, you saved a life and brought another into the world on the same night, saving the rancher’s family in the doing.  I am proud of you and happy for you.  Surgery is what you were meant to do.

I have considered your request to join you in Montana and in marriage.  I must decline your kind offer.  My circumstances have changed since you were here, and my leaving Rockville is not practical.  I have too many binding ties to consider it.  Thank you for asking, I shall never forget it.  I understand this might upset you, but it is the best decision.

I hope my rejection of your offer does not prevent you from keeping our correspondence alive.  It means a lot and a new letter is the highlight of my day.

I remain,

Yours sincerely,

Elizabeth

After sealing the letter in an envelope and addressing it, she put it on the table in the parlor and planned to post it in the morning.  She sat in her rocking chair and cried.  Seeing his mother so upset, distressed Carter Patrick and he began crying too.  She took him into her arms and rocked him until he fell asleep, as the silent tears cascaded down his mother’s cheeks.

The letter arrived in Helena seven days after Elizabeth had posted it, and Carter picked it up the next morning.  He sat on a bench outside the general store and read it.  He came to the part where she turned down his proposal. 
I have no right to expect more than this, but I had hoped for more.
  He picked up the letter, and reread it.  The wording had not changed.  She would not be coming to Montana.

He walked down the street to the Christian Church and found Jackson wiping down the seats in the pews.  “Jack, can we talk for a few minutes?” he asked.

“Sure,” Jack said.  “What’s on your mind?”

“I’ve told you about the loneliness I feel.  My next-door neighbor back in Rockville lost her husband in the war.  She took care of my Lucy, in my absence.  She held her hand when Lucy passed, and then she arranged for the funeral, believing I had been killed.  After I came home, she encouraged me to practice medicine again.  When I decided to rent my house, she rented a room to me, and also office space.  She assisted in some of the surgeries.  Not having a doctor’s detachment, she was devastated when we lost a woman and a baby in one night.

“She tried to talk me out of leaving, but understood that I had to.  We’ve been corresponding the past two and one-half years.  I asked her to consider moving here and marrying me.  I received her answer this morning.  She turned me down.  I haven’t seen her in such a long time, but through our letters, I have come to care for her.  I really hoped she would marry me.  Everyone loves Elizabeth, and I do too.  She would have fit in here.  She has the kind of spirit the people here possess.  What do I do, Jack?”

Seeing his friend and parishioner in such distress affected Jack.  “I wouldn’t give up if I were you.  Did she offer any reason?”

“No, just circumstances had changed since I left, and it was impractical to leave.”

“That does not say she didn’t want to marry you.  It says impractical.  I’ve learned in my ministry, problems perceived by folks often turn out not to be problems after all.  Write her back asking for more details.  Ask why?  If that doesn’t work, go back there and see for yourself.  You have legitimate interests there to justify the trip.”

“Thanks, Jack.  It’s good advice.”  He shook his friend’s hand and went home and to work.  He saw the last patient of the day, and sat down to compose a letter to Elizabeth.

My Dear Elizabeth,

I received your reply to my proposal with great disappointment.  When you say circumstances have changed, are you addressing financial circumstances?  It certainly in none of my business, but if I can help, I will. 

Have you found someone you care for?  If you
are not promised to another, I believe we can resolve any problems you might have, other than a lack of interest in my proposal.  If that is the case, please tell me and I shall not push myself at you anymore.

This letter is of necessity, short.  You have indicated a wish to continue a correspondence, but topics are limited.  I have no news at this point. 

The Indians are quiet at present, but present an ongoing threat.  I continue to attend to church regularly unless I am with a patient. I have developed a deepening friendship with Reverend Owens and his wife.  I continue to be friends with the storekeeper but to a lesser degree.  I think I can have a friendship with Case and Carrie Jamison too.

I wait with great anticipation, your next letter.  I will be disappointed, if there is not one.

Sincerely,

Carter

He put the letter in the mail the same day.  He turned his attention to his work while he waited for an answer.