Dearly Beloved
Chapter 11
During the train journey East, Lou's thoughts were consumed with her children in Sweetwater. Again she worried that Jake and Ethan were too young to be left in their sister's care, and Charlie too inexperienced to run the household. She even worried that Jamie would have difficulty managing the ranch and the other hands, until Kid reminded her that their eldest children were grown and could look after themselves, their younger brothers and the family business perfectly well. It wasn't until they drew closer to St. Louis that she remembered why they had left Sweetwater, and the fact she would be seeing Adam again after almost a year apart.
St. Louis was a bustling city, very different from the one Lou had known more than 25 years before. She had arrived in St. Louis on the stage after her escape from Wicks, and it was here that she had cut off her hair and disguised herself as a boy so she could find work, eventually joining the Pony Express. Lou didn't want those memories to cloud the reason for their journey to the city now. She was here for her son's graduation as a doctor and his marriage – a quiet victory over the difficulties of her youth.
Adam and Beth were at the station to meet them, both looking excited and happy that they had finally arrived. Lou was pleased to see the shadows were gone from under Adam's eyes – his studies were over and he would soon be a husband. She had never seen him looking so contented. Beth presented her with a bouquet of flowers and a kiss on the cheek, as if welcoming a long lost friend. Lou remembered her less than enthusiastic reaction when she first met Beth and felt a little ashamed. She realized that her concerns had been unfounded, as she really was a beautiful and charming young woman and they were lucky to have her join their family.
On the carriage ride to Beth's grandfather's house, Kid and Lou marveled at the sight of the Mississippi, the tall buildings and other delights of the city which were just a taste of what was to come when they got to New York. The Betts residence was a narrow but grand building in a well to do neighborhood. The ground floor was devoted to his medical practice but the upper two floors were for the family. Beth insisted they stay at the house rather than a hotel, and showed them to an impeccably decorated bedroom so they could freshen up after their journey.
Kid whistled as he looked around, feeling every bit the dirt farmer from Virginia. He and Lou had a comfortable life in Sweetwater, a large house with more nice things than he had never dreamed he would own. But in the city there was a level of luxury that neither of them was used to.
"Tell me again why we don't live in the city?" he wondered aloud.
Lou was similarly impressed by their surroundings, but she wasn't about to succumb to their charms. "Because after about five minutes you're gonna remember Sweetwater's where we belong. And all the fancy trappings of city life don't make up for belongin' somewhere."
Kid grinned at her commonsense philosophy. "Sure is nice to visit though, ain't it?"
"'Isn't it', darling," she corrected him jokingly and she brushed off his dusty jacket.
"I'm terribly sorry, do forgive me," he said properly. Both of them dissolved into giggles.
Once they were cleaned up and back downstairs to meet the rest of Beth's family, their joking mood was replaced by a hint of nervousness. Beth's grandfather was an imposing figure, with white, distinguished whiskers and a coolness about him that was a little intimidating. Lou marveled that Adam had been accepted into the family, but it was clear that the senior Dr. Betts had much respect for his granddaughter's fiancé.
"You have a remarkable son," he commented to Kid and Lou, as they each accepted a glass of champagne from a maid. "A natural healer."
"Thank you," replied Kid proudly.
"I suppose he's told you that I've asked him to stay and join Rudolf in my practice. I'll be retiring soon and I'd like them to take over."
"No, actually he hadn't," Lou said quietly, glancing across the room at Adam who was engaged in conversation with Rudy.
"He has more to learn, of course, but under my tutelage and with time at the hospital I believe your son would make a fine surgeon."
Lou stiffened – it was the very thing she had been dreading. For all his promises of coming home to Sweetwater she had always been afraid the lure of the city and its opportunities would prove too good pass up.
"Grandfather," Beth interrupted, having overheard the end of the conversation, "Mrs. Bell has arrived and is asking for you downstairs."
"Ah, my afternoon appointment. Would you excuse me?" Dr Betts asked politely.
Lou nodded vaguely in response as Adam came over to join them.
"You didn't tell us about Dr. Betts' offer," she said immediately, in a tone more accusatory than she meant.
A look passed between Beth and Adam. "Well, there wasn't much to tell, really," he replied.
"Adam has turned him down every time but he persists in asking," Beth explained. When she saw the look of worry in Lou's eyes, she laid a hand on her arm. "We've told Grandfather we're determined to make our home in Sweetwater."
Lou brightened at that, relieved.
"I admit he's still not very happy about it," Adam said regretfully. "But Beth can be quite determined when she wants to be."
Beth grinned at him, knowing full well that Adam would hate living in the city permanently. His time working at the hospital and in her grandfather's practice had proved to them both that he belonged out West where he was needed.
"Well, the house is all ready for you, even though we won't be there when you arrive. We've done up Teaspoon's old room for you. The bedroom at the back of the house," Lou explained to Beth, wanting to assure them of their privacy.
"Ma, you know we're planning on living in town. I need to be near Dr. Browne and the clinic."
"I know, it's just you'll need some time to get settled, find a place. In the meantime there's a room for you at home. There'll always be a room there."
"Thank you, Mrs. Morgan, we do appreciate it," Beth said.
"I think it's time you started callin' me Louise, don't you? It'll be confusin' havin' two Mrs. Morgans around."
"Yes, ma'am," Beth replied, pleased.
Adam took her hand and squeezed it lovingly.
A few days later Kid and Lou watched on proudly as Adam received his medical degree. He was further honored as valedictorian of his class, which Beth's grandfather seemed to take extra pride in. He threw a celebration for the graduating class and their families that night, so the house was filled with people. Dr. Betts formally welcomed Rudy to his practice and publicly made the same offer to Adam once more. Again he was refused, but he seemed to take it in good humor. He knew Adam's mind was made up, even if he thought it a waste of a good doctor to practice his craft on the wilds of the West.
Two days after that, Adam and Beth were married. It was a simple ceremony in a beautiful stone church which Kid and Lou marveled at. Adam had invited a few friends from medical school, but the congregation was mainly friends of the Betts family. Lou wished her own friends and family could be there too, but she reminded herself that there would be plenty of time to celebrate the marriage once Adam and Beth came home to Sweetwater. Having the actual wedding in St. Louis was a small sacrifice to make.
The newlyweds were to remain in St. Louis for a few days more in order to attend Rudy's wedding. He was marrying a young woman who had been a patient of their grandfather's, and Beth was relieved to be leaving both men with someone to look after them. It made the decision to make her home in Sweetwater all them much easier, as finally she would have a house of her own and, eventually, a family.
Kid and Lou were not staying for the second wedding, and were soon at the train station again for the next leg of their journey East.
"Give Aunt Theresa my best," Adam said as he kissed her goodbye.
"I will," replied Lou, starting to feel a little teary. She hated leaving them so soon.
"We'll see you in a few months," said Beth, radiating a sense of contentedness since her marriage.
"Don't let Charlie give you a hard time at the house. It's your home too," Lou told her, then unexpectedly hugged the young woman. She did the same to Adam. "We'll see you soon."
"Have a wonderful time in New York!"
"We will, if we ever get there." Kid grinned as he gently pulled Lou towards the train which was ready to depart.
They waved from the carriage as the train pulled away and Adam and Beth were swallowed up by the crowded platform.
