This is the first chapter of a three part one-shot.
In this first part: Gaston complains and criticizes Robert. Lissa has had it! She speaks up defensively for her husband. She'd thought Gaston had gotten over his prejudice when he'd given her away in marriage.
"Did your remember the extra ginger?" Lissa asked as she stuffed another sandwich into Robert's knapsack.
"Yes, dear." Robert shook his head for the umpteenth time.
"And the pliers, the iodine, and do you have the fresh bar of soap I packed?"
"Of course." Robert laughed. "Darling, I'm only supposed to be gone for two days! My usual cross country rounds don't even take that long. I most likely won't have time to use all the extra stuff you gave me! I'll be back before it's halfway used."
Every now and then, Robert would travel through the countryside to and from the villages between Villenueve, checking on the sick, elderly, and lonesome who couldn't make it to town or lived too far away to reach a physician. Since he and Dr. Tanner were both such fine and kind doctors, people often asked for them to come. Since Dr. Tanner was still mainly the town doctor of Villeneuve, Robert was usually the one to make calls on horseback outside the village in other towns, particularly since he was a licensed surgeon.
"Just in case." Lissa smiled. "Life doesn't always go as we plan, you know. I just want you should have everything you need, in case something goes wrong."
"I know, Lis. And thank you. But I can take care of myself. I am a doctor after all." Robert cocked his head. Lissa secured his knapsack, protruding with food.
"There. That should do it." She said with satisfaction. "Here." She handed it to him.
"Good." Robert nodded. "I don't know if I can carry all of this!" He teased. Then, placing the straps over his shoulders, he grabbed his canteen and his medical kit, heading for the door. Lissa followed him with his black hat that she was so fond of. "At least I seem to have agreeable weather for the trek so far. Well, better go." Robert said. Lissa slowly placed his hat on top of his head.
"There." She smiled. Robert touched her neck.
"Hey, it's only two days at the most." He told her. "When I get back, I promise we'll do something special together."
"Oh, we don't have to." Lissa grinned. "I'll just be glad to see you. Besides, I have some writing for my book to catch up on, so I won't be bored!"
"Just don't do it so much that you don't miss me!" Robert nuzzled her nose with his. She giggled as he pulled her close. "Why don't you rest a little today? You look rather tired. You were turning a lot in your sleep last night."
"Just a little indigestion, I suppose." Lissa sighed. "Kept me awake for a while."
"You sure that's all it was?" Robert asked.
"Yes." Lissa nodded. "Now you take care of yourself and hurry back."
"On my word!" Robert nodded. Then he cupped her face as they locked lips. She threw her arms around his neck while he clasped his around her. Lissa grinned warmly as she inhaled his familiar scent of steel tools, freshly cut linen bandages, and his dirt road-ridden medical bag. It was so different from her previous unmarried life, with the familiar fragrances of leather and gunpowder. Random passersby might speak awkwardly in hushed tones of the couple smooching in broad daylight, but they were still newlyweds! Lissa absolutely loved the feeling of his hands encircling her waist. He finally broke away from her face. "I have to get on the road."
"Right." Lissa agreed.
"A little tea of Carduus with a dash of parsley ought to clear up that indigestion, should you have any more." Robert said as he clambered down the steps from their porch.
"I'll be fine." Lissa said as she leaned against the beam of the railing. Robert ruffled Jesse's chin.
"Take care of her, boy." He told the dog, then he mounted his trusty Steve. "I'll be back in two days. I'll see you at first light." He looked back at Lissa, blowing her a kiss. "I love you!" He waved as he headed onto the road.
"I love you too!" Lissa waved happily. She loved her new married life. Her husband had an important job that he loved and took very seriously. He let her help him where she could fit in, and he was very kind to her. And he was proud of her accomplishments.
As she watched him disappear, she felt a gruesome twinge low down in her right side. Her hand instantly went to her stomach. This was how she'd felt last night, but it wasn't like the kind of indigestion she was used to. She felt a little worried, but shook her head. "It's nothing." She told herself, feeling foolish.
The next day, Lissa was baking cookies to bring to a neighbor. She'd spent a lonely night without Robert, but had visited at the castle this morning which had cheered her up a lot. It was so good to see everyone again, especially baby Ella. But Belle had been feeling ill this morning, so Lissa didn't get to visit with her much. In fact, Chip told Lissa that Belle had been ill every morning that passed week.
Lissa heard a horse clop into the front yard. "Oh, dear." She shook her head, looking into the small mirror on the wall. Her hair was loosely stranded in her face from under her bandana. Her face, hands, and apron were splotched with flour. "I'm not prepared looks wise for company." She sighed and brushed her face off, heading to the front porch where she heard Jesse happily barking.
"Hi, Sis!" Gaston greeted cheerily. He was stooping down on the ground, giving Jesse a belly scratch.
"Gaston!" Lissa smiled. "Hello. Nice to see you." She plopped down the steps to him. "Sorry, I look a mess, but I've been..." She brushed a strand of hair our of her face.
"Baking." Gaston finished for her. "I can smell it. I smelled it from down the road." He gazed down at her curiously and couldn't help grinning. She may be a married adult, but to him she still looked like a very young lady, playing house, trying to be the perfect little homemaker. He had to snicker at how cute she looked.
"What?" She grinned.
"Nothing." Gaston shook his head.
"What brings you here?"
"I was just passing through. So I thought I'd stop by." Gaston shrugged.
"Well, I'm glad you did. Would you like to come in for a quick drink of grape juice? It's fresh!"
"Don't mind if I do!" Gaston smiled and tromped inside after her. "Can't stay long though. Actually, I did have another reason for coming." He'd brought a small crate inside with him.
"Oh?" Lissa cocked her head.
"Well, we are going to have a baby. I thought it would be nice to surprise my little wife with a present, from just me. Her family sends her gifts every week!" Gaston sighed. "I thought it was high time that I bring her something, that no one else thought of. She's been temperamental with me lately."
"Ah!" Lissa grinned. "She locked you out of the room, did she?" She teased.
"Of course not!" Gaston frowned. Even if Sarah did, Gaston would never tell his sister! He would not give her the satisfaction. "I'll have you know that our marriage will never come to that! No, she didn't lock me out. She's just been..."
"Weepy?" Lissa cocked her head.
"Yeah." Gaston groaned. It was bugging him intensely that he could not fix Sarah's emotional problem. His charm and wit helped cheer her up, most of the time, but she still had bouts of tears and overrun hormones. And Gaston was extremely flustered that he couldn't fix it. Lissa couldn't help grinning fondly to herself as she observed her older brother. They were barely noticeable, but she noticed them! He'd acquired at least two more gray hairs against his sleek black crown since his wife had began to give him children. Lissa handed him his grape juice and patted his shoulder.
"Well, a gift is a very sweet idea, big brother." She smiled. She turned toward the table and grimaced. She bit her lip as her side suddenly began to hurt again, this time a little stronger. She tried not to groan and just took a few deep breaths.
"Sis? You all right?" Gaston asked, as he noticed she appeared to be bracing herself on the table.
"Yes." Lissa sighed in relief as the pain in her middle went away. "Just...felt a little dizzy for a moment."
"Maybe you should lie down." Gaston sat up straighter.
"I'm fine." Lissa shook her head and faced him again, putting on as big a smile as she could.
"You've been working too hard." Gaston decided.
"So, what is the present?" Lissa changed the subject. Gaston opened the crate and pulled out a wooden Noah's Ark set, with four sets of matching little carved animals. "Aww, that's cute." Lissa said. "It might be a while before the baby can play with it..."
"But at least he'll have something to get him started!" Gaston finished for her.
"True." Lissa nodded. "That baby is going to have lots of presents when he or she gets here!"
"Nothing but the best for our child. Glad you approve." Gaston said proudly. Lissa shook her head. She inwardly grunted again when she felt another abdominal jab. Gaston noticed her grimacing.
"You look flushed. Here, sit down." He said. Lissa didn't argue.
"I've just been on my feet since sun up." Lissa shrugged it off.
"If you weren't left home alone so much, that wouldn't happen." Gaston said rather glumly.
"Oh, I don't think so." Lissa ignored his point. "I am the lady of the house, and that means I have to keep up with things."
"Humph." Gaston pursed his lips. She's not listening to me...again! First Sarah, now my sister.
Not only had Gaston been struggling with Sarah's hormones, but lately the men in town had been jeering at him-again-, how stupidly ironic it was for him, a former jailbird, to be in authority over them. Gaston had tried to ignore them, but it made him feel guilty for his previous low life. Yet, he'd hoped that they'd stop reminding him of it. He just wanted to move on and live his new life the best he could. But they were making it difficult, and had even challenged him to knock them out of ridiculing him. He'd nearly had, and when he'd stormed off, they'd called him a coward. That had made Gaston feel low before he'd arrived here. He'd tried to keep up a cheerful façade, but now it slipped away.
"So, he left you again, I see." Gaston huffed. All his teasing sweetness from just a few moments ago was suddenly gone.
"No, he didn't." Lissa said abruptly. "He's just making his rounds, that's all."
"Uh-huh." Gaston skeptically crossed his arms.
"Hey! What is this sudden arrogant attitude for?" Lissa asked vehemently.
"I heard around town how your wonderful doctor handled the Marston case." Gaston scowled.
"And? So what?" Lissa groaned.
"Vance has to be out of work for a whole month, thanks to your husband." Gaston rolled his eyes.
"Hey! That's enough." Lissa vented, rising to her feet. "What is your problem?"
"Lissa, Vance has a wife and four children to feed." Gaston explained. "And another baby on the way. He can't afford to be out of work for that long! His family will starve, and they could lose their farm."
"Ugh!" Lissa rolled her eyes. "Uhh...I've heard they've come up with this brilliant new invention. It's called being neighborly! Gaston, you are making a mountain out of a molehill! Our friends and neighbors will pitch in to help, I know it."
"I suppose." Gaston pouted. "But if it hadn't been for Shrimpy..."
"If it hadn't been for him, what?" Lissa glowered. "Vance not only had a busted leg, but it was also badly gashed. He could have bled to death! Robert had to make a choice, set the leg first or stop the bleeding and stitch him up. He chose that, and it worked. And I am very proud of him! What right do you have to criticize him?"
"He should've set the leg then did the stitches." Gaston huffed with his arms crossed. "The longer a bone is out of place, the more likely it is to stay there and make one lame."
"Would you stop!" Lissa snarled at him. "Just because you are having a hard time at home doesn't give you the right to judge people. Least of all, my husband, in our house! You can't talk that way about him here! I won't have it, Gaston!"
Gaston's countenance clouded over. It was true, he was having trouble at home. Not major marital trouble, but him not being able to make things all better for Sarah, the knowledge that he'd have to endure it for four more months, his inability to take control of the situation was making him grouchy. Lissa figured that. She'd lived with him her whole life, and usually knew what triggered his moods. Plus, the men's attitudes toward him in town had really hurt his feelings and thrown salt on his guilt crusted scars. But Lissa certainly didn't appreciate him poking nonsense at Robert just to make himself feel better! "Sorry." Gaston mumbled. Lissa pffted skeptically with her lips. "I didn't come here to start a fight." Gaston said.
"Well, then stop." Lissa moaned. "Please."
"How do you handle it? Him having to leave you so much when you could be spending time together?"
"It's not always easy." Lissa confessed, in a softer tone. "But he'd told me that that doesn't mean he wants to be away from me, and I believe him."
"Do you always have to believe everybody about everything?" Gaston hissed.
"What's that supposed to mean? That's not true!"
"I ought to thrash that young scamp, for neglecting you." Gaston said before he could stop himself! The words had already escaped his lips and he couldn't take them back! They'd come out very wrong, and not the way he'd intended. D- you! He inwardly hissed at himself. His thoughts were berating him, but it seemed that his tongue was spieling unrestrained.
"He is not! And I'm a big girl, now. I'm a married woman." Lissa looked at him hard. "Look, I know you just want to protect me, but there are some battles I can fight on my own, without your intervention."
"If he ever tries to hurt you, he will not live to apologize!" Gaston growled. Shut up, you loud mouth!
"Gaston, stop it! Please!" Lissa begged, angry tears threatening to come to her eyes. "You are so out of line. This has nothing to do with what we were talking about! You...really can't stand him, can you?" Her lip trembled at the thought that her brother perhaps really did resent her husband.
Gaston winced. "Lissa, don't try to make me feel like a fiend, will you?" He groaned.
"Then please stopping talking like that!" Lissa pleaded. "Robert did the right thing. Just because he didn't handle it the way you would, does not make him a bad husband." Lissa said firmly.
"I didn't say he was." Gaston huffed.
"Well, you're very close to it." Lissa mumbled, indignantly crossing her arms. She hated when she and her brother argued like this. She couldn't even remember how it had started. It sure didn't make her feel happy, and Gaston didn't looked pleased either.
"You just haven't the faintest idea what you're talking about." Gaston said. "It was very stupid! You don't know, Lissa. Actions like that will get someone killed! I saw it during the war. There was this fellow, a medic. He was young and inexperienced. In the middle of battle, he was supposed to tend a badly injured troop. He saw the blood and heard the gunfire, and he just froze."
"Robert is not inexperienced. He used to work in the Paris factories, remember?"
"You're missing the point. The fellow got his head blown off, because he just couldn't cut it!"
"If it was a battle, it might have happened just the same."
"Lissa, your husband is a little too soft for his own good. He..."
Lissa rubbed her stomach again as it was beginning to really hurt. She didn't know whether it was because she was becoming ill, or from the harshness of her brother's words. She believed it was from Gaston's attitude. "You're not a doctor, Gaston." She said stiffly, tears welling up in her eyes. "You don't know what could've happened! And why are you even bringing this up? Why? For crying out loud, Robert saved his life! Why do you always have to bring up the negative side of things? Especially about my husband? I thought you respected him!"
Gaston's jaw drooped. "I'm sorry, Lissie." Gaston sighed heavily, trying to smooth things over. "I get so caught up in trying to make sure everything goes perfectly, I suppose I forget that life isn't always like that."
"Well, I would really appreciate it if you wouldn't take it out on my husband just because he's available!" Lissa cried, grimacing from her gruesome abdominal ache. "You've been very grouchy lately towards him. He's only doing his job. I won't have that kind of talk in this house, by you or anyone!"
"Maybe I'd better go." Gaston grumbled, his shoulders sagging.
"Please, yes! I don't exactly feel well right now." Lissa moaned, holding her side again. That was not lost on Gaston. In fact, she was beginning to look a little pale.
"Are you all right?" Gaston asked with concern. If she was becoming ill, he wouldn't leave her to bear it alone without proper help. And her slight off color worried him a little.
"I'm fine. It's been one of those days." Lissa huffed. "Just please get out and leave me alone!"
Gaston didn't like being made out to be the bad guy, but loathed as he was to admit it, his sister was right. He lightly kissed her head and put his hat on. Well, one of these days, she'll see that I'm right, he thought. One of these days, that Dr. Baby Face is going to crack under pressure, at a crucial moment when someone needs him the most. Actions like that will cost him and or his patients! Why can't she see that?
"Uhm...see you later?" He asked, almost pleadingly.
"Later," Lissa nodded. "Tell Sarah hello for me, will you?"
"I will." Gaston nodded. "Hey. You sure you're okay?" He persisted, touching her shoulder.
"I think so." Lissa spoke more softly now. "I'll take some Tea of Carduus, that should clear it up." Gaston wasn't so sure. She looked like she was in more discomfort than she was trying to let show.
"Maybe I should send Doc Tanner out here, and have him take a look at you." Gaston said grimly. He always felt anxious when she became ill, ever since the wolf attack.
"I'm okay, Gaston." Lissa shook her head. "Besides, I have my own doctor. Remember? And a very competent, good one!"
"Well, if you need help, you know where to find me." Gaston reminded.
"I know." Lissa sighed. "I'm...sorry I yelled at you."
"Don't be. I was being a moron...again!" Gaston rolled his eyes.
"Oh, here." Lissa said. "You don't want to forget this." She handed him the little Noah's Ark.
"Oh, right. Take care, Sis." Gaston said more gently and saw himself out, afraid she would shove then lock him out. "And I'm sorry I upset you. I didn't really mean it!"
Lissa nodded quickly. "Just...please go." She groaned, crossing her arms.
"I should have known better." Lissa grumbled to herself under her breath. "I thought he'd let me go when he gave Robert my hand in marriage! What a stupid idea that was. I should've known: no one would ever be good enough for me, according to him!"
I did mention before that Robert might come to a point of doing ugly procedures to help those he cares about. What do you think will happen next?
