Josie's Dream (Grandma's Wedding Quilts Book 9) Read online

“You really are thoughtful,” Josie said, placing a hand on Amos’s arm. “You will make some lady very happy.”

  Placing his hand over hers Amos replied in a sad voice, “But not you?”

  Josie raised surprised eyes to Amos. “Amos, I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” Josie’s eyes misted. “I’m married to—” Josie paused, trying to find a way to not hurt her friend, but decided honesty was best, and continued, “I’m married to my life as a physician.”

  “I know,” Amos said, patting Josie’s hand, then he smiled. “I think that is what I admire about you. You’re like the horse running free, wind flying through your mane, enjoying being alive.”

  “I’ve never been compared to a horse, but the way you describe it, I’m honored.” Josie smiled, shaking her head.

  “You have your feet planted firmly on the ground, sure of your path. Your eyes see where you want to go, but my dear friend, I believe when the right person comes along—” Amos stopped, embarrassed.

  “You are such a dear. I would say the same to you. There will be that perfect person for you,” Josie added, patting Amos on his lapel.

  “We’ll aren’t we the pair?” Turning as he readjusted his glasses, hiding his embarrassment.

  Fortunately, the mayor chose that moment to walk up, saying, “Doctor Josie, I want to make sure that you stop by the house.”

  Josie extended her hand to the mayor, “It would be a pleasure. I look forward to coming by.”

  “That is splendid,” the mayor said. “Now, I must go make the obligatory speech,” he called back as he headed toward the bandstand.

  “Just let me know when a good time would be,” Josie called.

  Amos turned to start back to the hotel, when he was waylaid by friends.

  Josie watched, honored yet sad, for Amos was a special friend. He had done so much for her, helping to smooth her acceptance in the community. Smiling, she turned her attention back to the festivities, laughing at the antics of the children as they chased each other around the tables. Some of the older ones would swipe a cookie after looking around to make sure no one was watching.

  Turning, Josie noticed the older gentleman she’d seen with a young girl earlier. Getting Amos’s attention she called him over. “Amos, who is that over there?”

  Looking in the direction Josie was pointing he asked, “You mean that old man?”

  “Yes, he looks angry. Didn’t he have a young girl with him?”

  “Yes,” Amos answered, “Mr. Pierson and his daughter don’t always see eye to eye, and she sometimes just walks off instead of making a scene.”

  “Will she be okay?”

  “Not much danger, most everyone here is getting ready to head over to the ball field for the start of the game.”

  Josie grinned at Amos. Oh how she’d enjoyed watching the games when she was younger, even taking part when she could. In that respect, she was more of a tomboy than even her family knew.

  “Why are you grinning?”

  “Just remembering,” she sighed, “so who are the contestants?”

  “Our team is playing a group of railroaders working the line west of us. It’s a big deal to both teams. Let’s just hope the game stays civil.” Amos grinned, knowing full well the crowd would probably get boisterous before the day was over.

  “Any girls ever been on a team?”

  “Girls? Why, not since I’ve been here.” Amos grinned, “But...why? Were you thinking of playing? I think they might have more need of your medical services before the day is over.”

  Josie grinned, pleased with the way Amos turned the subject back to her profession, but oh how she wanted to run and laugh with abandon. Then she pulled herself up, she was a doctor, not some hoyden who was undisciplined. She’d worked hard to earn her degree, which reminded her, she needed to get back to her office and get ready for any accidents that might happen, not that she wanted anyone hurt.

  Chapter 10

  Later that evening, Josie left the hotel to take a walk. There had been a few cuts and scrapes, but nothing serious had occurred. Mason offered to escort her, but Josie declined his offer.

  “That is very kind of you Mason, but I won’t be going far. I just need a bit of fresh air, you know, check on the festivities.”

  “Well, I suppose,” the young man had reluctantly agreed.

  Now, as Josie walked back toward the hotel, thinking how different Mason was from the first time she’d met him, she heard a commotion off to her left. Caution flew out the window as she started toward the sound.

  “You promised,” a young girl’s voice said.

  “Not so loud,” a deeper male voice ordered.

  “I don’t care who hears, you promised we’d get hitched.”

  Josie stood just beyond the entrance to the alley, thankful she was wearing the dark purple jacket and that the dark jacket blended with the fading light. It wasn’t like she intended to eavesdrop, but she stood listening just in case things turned ugly; saying a silent word of thanks to her friend who’d dissuaded her from buying the red jacket. “Red looks atrocious on you,” she’d said. “It’s better to purchase something that looks good instead of following fashion.” Josie smiled, remembering Celeste, wondering how she was faring these days when shouting drew her back to the present.

  “Stop bothering me,” the man said, “why would anyone want a cheap ...” only to have his words cut off with the sound of a sharp slap. This was immediately followed by the sound of pain from the girl.

  Josie didn’t hesitate, “What’s going on back there?” she called.

  “None of your concern,” the male voice answered.

  “As a doctor, I beg to differ,” Josie retorted, “I heard a cry of pain.”

  A growl sounded, then Josie only just caught a young girl as she was thrust from the alley’s mouth. Josie had barely kept her own balance, catching a movement behind her as strong arms steadied her and the girl.

  From the light from the window, Josie thought she recognized the girl as a moan escaped clenched lips, when Josie touched the girl’s right shoulder. Before Josie could do anything about the man in the alley, the arms that had been supporting her dropped as the man rushed past, heading into the alley. “You don’t treat a woman that way,” she heard, followed by the sound of blows and subsequent grunts and howls.

  “It sounds like you may have a damaged shoulder,” Josie told the girl, while continuing to support her. All the while listening to the sounds coming from the alley.

  “Yeah, it hurts a bit,” the girl finally answered.

  “Would you like…” Josie started to offer, only to be cut off with a “I don’t have no money and pa says we can’t accept charity.”

  Josie knew the girl needed treatment, but as a new resident, she felt she’d better tread carefully.

  Before Josie could respond, the two combatants came out of the alley. One was being escorted by the other, all fight seemed to have left the loser.

  “Well at least you could come back into the hotel with me. I’m new here and would enjoy the company,” Josie offered, heading toward the door with the young girl beside her. “My name is Josephine, Josie, what’s yours?”

  “Mary Jane,” came the soft answer.

  Mason came to the door and, seeing the two men exclaimed, “That’s the man who paid us to put the snake in your room.”

  “Which one?” Josie asked, looking at the two more carefully.

  “The one being held,” Mason replied, pointing at the man who Josie now saw had a bloody nose.

  “So you’re Jack?” Josie asked. “Do you always—”

  She was interrupted by the other man turning the trickster, finger under his nose, toward him. “What is this I hear about snakes?”

  “None of your...”

  “None of my what?”

  “You have no right to interfere, whoever you are,” Jack said.

  “The name’s Will Murphy, and anytime a low life like you mistreats a woman, I’ll interfere.” Will repl
ied, a controlled anger in his voice. “And no one should terrorize anyone else.”

  Josie looked at Will, a feeling of safety coming over her. It surprised and pleased her, then she caught hold of herself. “And whose idea was it about the snake?” she asked. “And why use two boys? Were you afraid you’d get caught?”

  Jack glared, closing his mouth, shaking his head.

  “The lady asked you a question,” Will said. “I suggest you answer her.”

  “You’ll all be sorry when I tell Mr. Fresch how I’ve been treated,” threatened Jack.

  “So it was Mr. Fresch who ordered the snake?” Will asked.

  “No, he just said the uppity lady who disciplined his son needed to be taught not to interfere.”

  “So you took it upon yourself?”

  “So, Mr. Fresch is the rancher outside town whose son was beating up on a smaller boy?” Josie asked, remembering the events when she’d first come into town.

  “Ma’am what do you want me to do with the piece of...” Will started, only to remember where he was and who was listening.

  “What do you think?” Josie asked the silent young girl at her side.

  “I just want him to go away,” she said, casting her eyes down.

  “Your wish is my command,” Will said, turning Jack away saying, “if I hear of any further threats or mistreatment I’ll be back to finish what I started.”

  When Jack was out of sight, Will turned to Josie, “Ma’am, may I know your name?”

  “Josephine Forrester, Dr. Josephine Forrester,” Josie replied.

  Taking her hand in his, Will bent over it, placing a kiss there. “A pleasure to meet you Dr. Josephine Forrester. Now, I must get going.”

  As Will rode off, the young girl quietly offered, “He likes you.”

  “What?”

  Silence greeted Josie’s question. Wondering what it would take to get the girl to talk, Josie heard a quiet, “He liked you.”

  Josie didn’t know what to say to that, so she turned to go into the hotel, the young girl following. Josie thought she heard “I’d always dreamed of riding in a fine carriage, so’s folks would know I was someone.”

  The longing in those spoken words touched Josie deeply. To have such a dream in such a small town... Impulsively, Josie linked her arm with the girl’s uninjured one.

  “Someday, we’ll go for a ride in style,” Josie promised the girl.

  “Really?” The word had such hope and desire in it.

  “Yes, really. I don’t make much as a doctor and right now, maybe even less as a woman doctor.”

  “You’re really a doctor?”

  “Yes, medical school and all,” Josie grinned, as they entered her office. “But I’ll tell you a secret.”

  “A secret, you trust me with a secret?”

  “Of course, I see no reason not to. You see I do have a bit of an advantage, my father was a doctor. He didn’t know I was always trying to learn medicine; once he found out, at least he didn’t try to stop me,” Josie finished with a smile, patting the chair beside her desk.

  “I wish I could get Pa to trust me.”

  “Someday — what say you and I have a cup of tea? I know I could use some after the last few minutes.”

  The Mary Jane hesitated, then her shoulders went back, a slight wince following the movement, and she sat in the chair.

  Smiling, Josie went to the door. “Mason, could you bring a pot of hot water, tea and two cups?”

  Chapter 11

  “Just what do you think you are?” Mr. Fresch smiled, his stance combative.

  Looking the man in the eye, Josie drew herself up to her full five foot four height and answered. “I am a doctor with a degree from the Keokuk School of Physicians and Surgeons.”

  “So you have some fancy degree,” Fresch sneered.

  “Yes, and the skills to take care of your son,” Josie looked into the eyes of the young man. In them, she saw fever, pain and despair, and a bit of shame.

  “I ain’t lettin’ no woman pretendin’ to be a man touch my son. I’ll go find a real man.”

  A more vindictive person Josie had yet to meet. Close-minded to the point he’d rather let his son die than to admit he might be wrong, then Josie remembered this man was responsible for the snake in her room. It didn’t surprise her that his son was picking on others. She wondered if Mr. Fresch knew what his son had done? Well, she’d deal with that, if it came up.

  “There is not another doctor within one hundred miles of here, nor am I pretending to be anything.” Josie told him. “As it is, you’ve wasted so much time, I doubt he will recover quickly, if at all.”

  “An’ you know that just by looking?” The man spit out, his face mottled red and purple.

  “I can tell he is very ill, yes,” Josie answered, her voice calm in spite of her frustration. “How ill, I won’t know without an examination.”

  “You, hussy,” the man yelled, lunging forward, hands outstretched to wrap around Josie’s neck. “You are just using your degree to see what no unmarried woman should see.”

  Throwing his arm aside, Josie quickly grabbed the other wrist and ducking under that arm, she whirled, twisting and pulling the arm up behind the man’s back. Holding him that way, Josie calmly, but sternly spoke into his ear, yet loud enough for the gathered crowd to hear. “You may question any treatment I may choose; you may even question my choice of career; but you may never question my morals.”

  With a shove, she spun the man around. “And you may not accost or try to harm me or anyone else,” Josie finished. She turned to the crowd, Josie indicated to young brawny men, “Gently take him from the wagon into my office,” she ordered.

  The two men, one of whom was Jack, hesitated, looking from Josie to the old man.

  “Now!” The two jumped to follow Josie’s command. The old man glared as he rubbed his right arm, but also Josie noted a small spark of admiration in his eyes.

  As the young man was made comfortable, the boy’s father stood watching, noting everything Josie did.

  “Why did you wait?” Josie asked as she cut the shirt off the young man.

  “We thought we could take care of it ourselves, but when we saw the bone come through the skin, we figured a doctor should cut it off.”

  Josie was appalled. “Cut it off?”

  “Yes ma’am, when there’s a break like this, you cut it off to keep the gangrene from settin’ in.” Mr. Fresch answered.

  “I don’t think that will be necessary, but if you will move back a bit,” Josie stated as she bent over the injured arm. Reaching over for supplies, she cleaned the area, noting that the bone had barely cut the skin. Smiling at the boy, Josie said, “This will hurt as I move the bone back in place, but it doesn’t look like the break is as serious as first thought.”

  “You mean I don’t have to get it cut off?” came the voice, just above a whisper.

  Responding in kind, Josie whispered, “I don’t think so, but you have to promise to stop beating up other kids.”

  “I promise,” he gritted out, then a shout as the young man passed out. Josie continued to clean the area, then proceeded to cast the arm. “Bring him back in a week and let me check his progress. Keep the cast dry and don’t let him move his arm much,” Josie told the father. “With luck, and the fact that he is young, the arm should heal correctly, if you follow my directions.”

  Mr. Fresch looked at Josie and picked his son up ever so gently. “I hope, for your sake, you’re right,” he said as he placed the boy in the wagon and, taking the seat, drove slowly away.

  Josie wondered at such a gruff man being so gentle. She supposed life out here, working cattle, dealing with weather could harden a person. Still, perhaps there was hope. Mr. Fresch obviously loved his son, but was it he who was responsible for the boy’s bullying tactics or something else? She supposed she’d learn the answer sooner or later, but now she had work to do.

  Josie was cleaning up as Mary Jane came bursting through the d
oor. “I heard what happened, are you okay, Dr. Josie?”

  “I’m fine, just cleaning up. With a bit of luck, and a few prayers, the young man should heal.”

  “I’m glad you’re all right,” Mary Jane said throwing her arms around Josie.

  Startled, Josie hugged the young girl back. “Thank you,” Josie said as she extricated herself.

  Amos came to the office door, smiling as his eyes caught sight of Mary Jane. “Josie, I think you made a possible friend. I hope the boy heals,” pointing to the disappearing wagon.

  “Me, too,” Josie sighed. “Mary Jane,” Josie continued, “why do you think your father has shut himself off?” as Amos continued out the door of the hotel.

  “Miss Josie, he claims I shamed him and he don’t want no one feeling sorry for him,” Mary Jane’s voice growing louder with each word. “He thinks I’m still ten instead of almost seventeen.”

  “Why don’t you stay here with Amos while I go talk to your father?”

  “Miss Josie, I don’t think...”

  “Nonsense,” Amos interjected, “Why don’t you keep me company? Perhaps you could help me with some of my work?” Amos finished, offering his arm to Mary Jane.

  “Are you sure, Miss Josie?” Mary Jane asked. When Josie nodded yes, Mary Jane curtsied and taking the arm Amos offered, the two headed back to the front desk.

  Leaving her office, Josie headed up the street. With a firm knock and stern voice Josie called out, “This is where it ends, Don Pierson. Open the door!”

  Looking back the way she had come, Josie tried not to compare the hotel where offices and rooms were, to the one room cabin in front of her. A part of her understood both Mary Jane and her father. The rational part knew this whole affair was ridiculous. Josie could still hear her professor, her words kind but firm as she had addressed the class. “The doctor should treat the disease, but a good one treats the patient.”

  “Mr. Pearson,” Josie said as she opened the door. The light blazed through, shining on a bleary-eyed man, blinking against the sudden light.

  “What you want?” Pierson growled.

  “Mr. Pearson, your daughter—” Josie started, only to be interrupted.