Chapter Ten
Dr. Baker rode next to Mr. Miller in silence. The Stevins' farm was a couple miles heading away from town. He was thankful their route took them away from any traffic coming and going. He could feel the nervous tension wracking the poor man, growing as they got closer to their destination.
"I think that when we get there, you should just stay in the wagon and let me do the explaining," he offered, both to break the silence and to ease the farmer's mind, who only nodded in response.
They pulled up to the farmhouse as the door opened and Benjamin's father stepped out to meet them.
"Evenin'," he said slowly. Mr. Stevins was known to be a somber man. "What brings you folks out?"
Dr. Baker climbed down out of the wagon slowly and took a deep breath. He approached the man and suggested that his wife be present for some bad news. Moments later, Mr. Miller watched as the couple turned toward him while listening to everything the doctor had to tell them. A wail escaped from the grieving mother. She held on to her husband who put little effort in comforting her. He took off his hat and walked slowly toward the wagon. Mr. Miller waited for him to say something to him, but the father only walked to the back of the wagon and lifted the blanket to see the body.
He stared at his son for less than a minute, nodded his head and then slowly turned toward Mr. Miller, who desperately wished he could be anywhere else. He could only imagine what this man wanted to say to him.
"Mr. Miller, I need to go and get my other son to help me. I'm sorry that…" he paused and cleared his throat. "I mean, it may be a couple minutes if you'd be patient enough to wait." Mr. Miller nodded and looked away. He was ready to defend his wife's actions to this man but in the end he didn't have to say a word.
As the farmer disappeared into his house, Dr. Baker helped the mother to the back of the wagon. She reached out and touched her son's shoulder, repeating his name. She turned and looked at Mr. Miller, not with anger but sadness and pity.
"Mr. Miller," she said softly, "Benjamin was my son… and I loved him. But I was not blind to his nature. He was a hard boy to take in hand… so big and strong. I pleaded with him to be a good boy, but he never cared about anyone but himself. I can only imagine the pain he brought to your family and I'm sorry for that. His father and I always had a feeling that he would come to this end."
Dr. Baker stared at Mr. Miller and shared his disbelief. He was braced for anything but calm and peaceful resolution. He didn't know what to say. The old woman turned to him.
"What is going to happen, doctor? To the Millers, I mean," she asked.
"Well… I'm not really sure. I'll have to fill out a death certificate and send it to St. Paul. I'll have to tell the cause of death, and… well, I'm not sure what will happen after that. I imagine some kind of investigation," he stated, uncertain if he was telling the truth. So many people expect doctors to have all the answers to everything.
"But, if you put down that it was an accident… would that mean no investigation?" the woman asked.
"I-I… well, I reckon that would be the case," he answered. "It would be untrue, Mrs. Stevins. You do understand that." He thought he would have to repeat the facts of the incident to her again, but she shook her head.
"No, I understand, but… please, Dr. Baker," she begged. "Benjamin caused both families a lot of pain in his life. Let's not have more pain in his death. Please say it was an accident. I don't ask for me; I ask for Mrs. Miller, that poor woman."
"I see," he said quietly. He looked at the broken farmer sitting in the wagon. He seemed to be slowly coming apart at the thought of such mercy. "I think that we should just… bury the dead and not worry about the death certificate, huh?" She smiled and nodded. She reached her hand up to Mr. Miller who took it with great hesitation, still shocked at this mother's forgiving offer.
"Thank you, Mrs. Stevins," he managed. "God bless you." She let go and nodded her goodbye. She disappeared into her home only moments before her husband and eldest son emerged to carry the body inside. No one spoke a word and once the farmhouse door closed, Dr. Baker climbed back into the wagon and gave the farmer a soft slap on the back.
"I don't know about you, but people never cease to amaze me. I think we should go back to your place and let your wife and daughter know that this is all over." The farmer let out an emotional sigh, uttered praise to Heaven, and then shook the reins.