Stranger In Their Midst

Chapter Five

Catalina was laying out some material she was using to make one of the ladies in town a dress, when a knock came on the door. She was surprised, but elated, to see Hyrum on the other side. The smile upon her face grew even larger than it was before. "Well, hello, Dr. Baker. What may I do for you?"

While Dr. Baker had a genuine smile upon his face and remained where he was, he really wanted to turn around, go to the mercantile and give Harriet Olsen a piece of his mind. He should have known she was merely letting her jaw flap one too many times again. "I had heard rumors you weren't acting unwell and I was concerned. Since I had to come out this way anyway, I decide to check."

Catalina didn't have to be told where he'd heard such talk; she knew. The scene from just that morning replayed itself for her. "Now, now dear," Harriet had that downright irritating grin upon her face, the one that Catalina would have loved to remove somehow, "I am only concerned. A woman living by herself waiting for her husband…"

"That is enough, Senora Olsen!" Catalina lost her temper, the woman had been trying, quite unsuccessfully, to fish for information for Walnut Grove's newest member ever since Catalina walked in the front door. However, Catalina would not fall for all the trick questions Mrs. Olsen seemed to pull out of thin air or left field. "My personal life is none of your business! Just tell me how much I owe you and I will be on my way!"

The "good woman" had clamped her mouth shut, but continued to throw out muttered comments after Catalina had paid for the merchandise and walked out of the store. "If Senora Olsen cares enough about me, or any of the other people in Walnut Grove; she'd shut that mouth of hers and use some of her brains instead!" Catalina didn't care if she was being loud and "inconsiderate"; she no longer cared when it came to the woman named Harriet Olsen.

Hyrum couldn't help it, he threw his head back and started laughing and laughing hard. He couldn't agree more. Though, the sad fact was that he doubted she ever would use her brains. "Don't let Harriet get to you," Hyrum threw Catalina a warm smile as he spoke, "She does that to everyone... Well, if you are okay, then I best get on my way. I have to finish making my rounds for the day." He started to pull away and then quickly stopped. Turning his head back to look at Catalina, he said, "I almost forgot, there's a town social tonight. You are more than welcome to come."

Catalina felt a tug at her heart. She loved to go to socials, but she hated standing around just visiting. She glanced at the ring on her hand and, without thinking, she began twisting it around. Because she was looking at her ring, she didn't see the look of sympathy in Hyrum's eyes as he wondered how a man could just take off and leave his wife alone. At least, he was assuming that's what had happened since Ben Hanks, from Sleepy Eye, had seen her on his way through Walnut Grove the day before and she had turned down his advances saying she wasn't available. "I'll pick you up; that is, if you'll go. I promise, I won't make any undo advances."

"I wish you would." The thought popped into her head before she could stop it. However, Catalina had more than enough control than to allow the words to come out of her mouth. "I'm sure you wouldn't." She did not wish to frighten him away by acting over eager; she kept her emotions in check and replied slowly. "All right, I will go with you, Senor Baker. What time will you pick me up?"

"I'll be here at five o'clock. They're serving dinner, so you won't have to worry about eating beforehand, " Hyrum answered as he pulled away and headed down the road.

As Catalina stood watching the distance between her place and Hyrum, her mind wandered back, back to when she first saw the good, Doctor Hyrum Baker.

"What are you looking at?" Catalina and her best friend, Marianna, stood next to the old Catholic church that had stood for more than a hundred years. They'd volunteered to help with some of the games that had been planned for the orphans who were temporally staying in the church. The orphanage was being repaired after a fire had done a considerable amount of damage.

"It looks like the medical convention that Juan has been attending is letting out for the day." Catalina answered as she saw her brother step out of the building being used by the visiting doctors.

Marianna shook her head as she could tell it wasn't her Juan that Catalina was looking at. "He's too old for you; he's got to be around thirty-three. Besides, have you forgotten? Your father is talking about arranging a marriage for you with Senor Gonzales."

"Bah!" Catalina shuddered at the thought of being married to Miguel Gomez. He was a twenty-four year old snob as far as she was concerned and cared only for himself and his money. She headed for her brother and the stranger with him. "Senor Gonzales might be rich, but he is a fool and wants only a wife to look good on his arm, one that may have the older buffoons dribble with envy. Not that I think I am necessarily a great prize, but I have more brains that that, so let him find an eye fluttering lap dog elsewhere."

Before Marianna could bat an eyelid to stop her, Catalina was talking to her brother and being introduced to one very charming looking doctor. At least, she thought he was.

As Hyrum finally disappeared out of sight, Catalina sighed and turned around to go back inside. As much as she disliked Harriet Olsen, the fact remained that she had ordered a dress from Catalina and it had to be finished by the next day. Personally, Catalina didn't know why the woman had come to her in the first place. It's not like the store didn't have a rack full of dresses. Unless, of course, the woman thought she'd be able to find a way to pry into Catalina's life. If that was the case, the woman was going to be bitterly disappointed. After having told her father off for the things he'd done, Catalina had left her family swearing to never talk to anyone but one man about her past. As she opened the door to her home, Catalina whispered, "Someday, we will have a more serious talk, Dr. Baker."