Bertie returned with a large tub. “We won’t have time to fill it too full, but two buckets of water will at least clean off the dust from the trail. I promise you a better bath tomorrow.”
“That will be fine,” Elsie said.
After Bertie had toted in two buckets of warm water and poured them into the tub, she said, “Did you bring a dress to get married in?”
“Yes, it’s in my gunny sack.” Elsie opened the bag and drew out an old-fashioned, dark green dress. “It was my mother’s wedding dress.”
Bertie rubbed her temples. “Do you mind if while you bathe I press it and maybe add a little something to...enhance it.”
“Not at all,” Elsie replied.
After Bertie had left with the dress, Elsie undressed and slipped into the tub. Though there wasn’t enough water to cover her body, she slid down and enjoyed the feel of it. She started to wash her hair but then she remembered that she was still wearing her straw hat. She pulled it off, slung it across the room, and dipped her hair into the water. After ten days of dusty traveling, it felt wonderful to be clean again.
When she finally stepped out of the tub, she dried herself off with a towel and wrapped it around her. She sat on the bed and waited for Bertie. When Bertie came in holding the dress, Elsie drew in her breath.
“Oh, you’ve made it so beautiful.” She reached out to touch the beautiful green lace Bertie had sewn around the neckline and sleeves. “The lace adds so much to the dress. I love it.”
Bertie smiled. “It’s a lovely dress. It just needed something to make it more feminine. Styles change every few years, and now it’s right in style.” Bertie clapped her hands. “Now, I’ll let you dress, and then I’ll have just enough time to help you with your hair.”
“What’s your real name, Bertie?” Elsie asked as Bertie fixed her hair.
“Bertha. I was named after my grandmother. As a child, I picked up the nickname of Bertie, and it stuck.”
Elsie’s transformation from cute to pretty caught Conner by surprise. Bertie had fixed her hair into a bun at the top of her head which made her red hair look much tamer. Her dress was forest green with dainty lace trim. She even had lace around her hair bun. Conner smiled when he saw her, and her eyes sparkled with delight.
“You look lovely, Elsie,” he said. He looked over to Bertie who was slipping on her shoes. “Are we ready? I’ve got the buggy out front. Pray, we don’t get any patients for the next half hour or so. I’ve put a note on the door.”
The couple repeated their vows, signed the necessary papers, and hurried off into the buggy.
“Being a doctor means long hours. You never know when someone will come in for treatment. Sometimes patients knock on the clinic door in the middle of the night.”
For the first time since he met Elsie, she wasn’t smiling. She said, “That’s awful. Does it happen often?”
“No, thankfully,” he said. “Then, on some days, we’ve no patients at all.”
Elsie smiled again. “That’s good, then.”
“I’ll need some help in the clinic, and I was hoping, as my wife, we could work together.”
Elsie stopped smiling again. “Me? I don’t know a thing about medicine.”
Conner patted her hand. “I’ll teach you. We’ll start tomorrow.”
The trip home went by rather quickly since the church was just down the street. Bertie escorted Elsie in while Conner took care of the buggy and horse.
Once inside, Bertie said, “So, how does it feel being Mrs. Conner Beauregard Van Gates the fourth?”
“That’s his full name?”
Bertie laughed. “I just call him doctor or sir, and on special occasions, Conner.”
Elsie kneaded her fingers nervously. “Um... Bertie—where am I expected to sleep tonight? I don’t feel—”
Bertie put her finger to Elsie’s lips. “In your room, alone. You’re to take my room, and I’ll sleep in the clinic. Conner thought it best to wait until you two were much better acquainted before... well, before consummating the marriage. After all, you two are still practically strangers.”
Elsie let out a breath of relief as soon as Bertie had said she’d sleep alone. “That’s a good idea. I like Conner very much, but I’m not ready for... well....”
“I know, so relax. You’ll enjoy working in the clinic. Up to now I’ve been trying to cook, do laundry, clean house, and work the clinic, but I just can’t do it anymore, so you’re a welcome addition to the household.”
Elsie didn’t speak, but she bit her lower lip. What help could she be to Conner when she couldn’t stand the sight of blood?
After a hearty breakfast, Conner gave Elsie a complete tour of the clinic. How would she ever remember where everything was when he called for it?
The clinic door burst open, and a man carrying a young boy entered. He seemed frantic. “Doctor, please fix my son!”
Elsie froze.
Conner took the boy from his father’s arms and laid him calmly on the examination table. “What happened?”
“He was helping me move the bull into the new pen when the bull turned on him and gored him in the legs.”
Elsie watched Conner rip the bloodied pants from the boy’s legs, and she felt herself swoon. One moment she felt light-headed, and that was all she recalled.
Chapter Three
Conner left his patient and ran to reach Elsie, but she’d already hit the wooden floor.
