Author's Disclaimer – I am not a medical professional. Any medical inaccuracies within this chapter are dramatic license.

Follow Your Heart – The Cook Chronicles

Chapter 8 – Heat Wave, Part Two

The young girl stood outside the white building with black trim. She'd been inside it before, but not without her mama. The building seemed so much larger and scarier without her mama to hold her hand. Still, she had to go in. Preacher was counting on her.

"Hello," greeted a white lady sitting behind a desk. "Where's your mother?"

"At work," the girl said in a small voice. Mama said to always answer a white person's questions.

"Is anyone with you?"

"No, ma'am. Willy's chicken. He ran off."

"Oh, you're playing a game of dare. I'm afraid this isn't a place for children to play. You'll need to go home." The lady said it kindly but firmly, stepping out from behind the desk to escort her out.

"No, ma'am, I'm not playin'. Preacher told me to come."

This stopped the young woman in her tracks. "Someone sent you here?"

She nodded vigorously. "Preacher said to get Miss Deborah."

"Miss Deborah?"

A white man dressed in rolled up shirtsleeves approached them. Instinctively the girl stepped closer to the safety of the woman's skirt.

"Miss Eddy, who's your guest?" the man asked good naturedly.

"Dr. Cook, she says she was sent to find Miss Deborah. I presume she means Deborah Williams."

Andrew looked down at the child - whom he estimated to be about six or seven years old - and reached an instant decision. "Well, by all means, please summon Miss Williams. I'll watch things for you." Eddy nodded and hurried out, and Andrew squatted down to be more at the child's height. Again, she recoiled, and Andrew knew he'd need to earn the girl's trust. "Hey, it's all right, I won't hurt you. In fact, it's my job to help people," he said in a gentle tone. "My name's Dr. Cook. What's your name?"

"Lucy."

Andrew breathed a little easier. She was clearly intimidated by him, but at least she wasn't so fearful that she clammed up altogether. He wondered what was so urgent that such a young girl had been sent, alone, to deliver a message to Colleen's friend. The only thing he could do now was wait – and cool the child off. He had no idea how far she'd come in the heat, but the perspiration on her forehead told him she'd been out long enough to develop a sweat.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lucy. You know, it's pretty hot today, why don't I get us some ice chips to cool off with while we wait for Miss Williams… uh, Miss Deborah. Would you like that?" At her agreeable nod, he added, "There's just one thing, I promised Miss Eddy that I'd watch the waiting area for her. I can't break my promise, can I?" Lucy shook her head no. "Well, it appears the only way I can get those ice chips is if you promise to watch the waiting area for me. If anyone comes in, you'd just need to tell them the doctor will be right back. Can you do that for me?"

Lucy nodded agreeably, and Andrew hastily made his way to the ice box. Fortunately, it was kept on the first floor next to the kitchen, so Lucy wasn't left alone for long. When he returned with the tin cup of ice chips, he held it out to her. "Here you are. Help yourself."

The pair were happily sucking away at their ice chips when a voice pierced the silence. "Lucy?"

"Miss Deborah! There's a sick white lady… Preacher says ya gotta bring the doctor quick!"

:

Colleen slowly opened her eyes. In quick succession she became aware of her pounding head, parched throat, and a slight ache in her stomach. She wasn't at all sure where she was, except that she was now lying on something hard and staring at a whitewashed wall with arched windows. Movement out of the corner of her eye revealed a large black man dressed in black with a white collar.

"Henry, she's coming to," a woman's voice said, rushing to Colleen's side to remove the damp cloth lying across her brow.

"Hey there, little lady," the man said kindly, standing behind the kneeling woman. Colleen tried to sit up all the way and the pounding in her head grew worse, eliciting a groan. "No, no, no, little lady… don't try to get up," the man urged her. "Esther here's takin' good care of you 'til the doctor comes."

"Here, miss. Sorry, we've got no ice to make it cold."

Colleen drank the lukewarm water gratefully, downing half of the glass. "Thanks. Where am I?"

"You're in my church. Pastor Henry Allen, at your service," said the man who looked to be in his fifties. "This here's the missus, Esther."

"Colleen Cook. I'm sorry to trouble you... I guess the heat got to me."

"Well, somebody up there must've been lookin' out for you, you passed out right around the corner."

"May I have some more water?" Esther obliged, returning the glass to her lips. Colleen finished it, aware of the importance of rehydrating.

The eighteen-year-old laid her head back down on the folded cloth that was serving as a pillow, feeling slightly better but incredibly stupid. She should have known better than to venture out in the heat without having had something to drink first, but she hadn't been thinking all that clearly, to upset about… "Andrew!"

Pastor Allen frowned. "Andrew?"

"My husband. He…" Colleen trailed off. It was too much effort to explain; her head hurt enough as it was.

"Oh, he's gonna be worried 'bout you," the clergyman said kindly, as Esther brought another glass of water and a freshly dampened cloth for Colleen's brow.

The church was quiet after that, Esther helping Colleen down another glass of water. Pastor Allen stood at the church entrance to await the doctor, and eventually Colleen heard him say, "She's right inside, doctor."

"Colleen?" Andrew was utterly dumbfounded at seeing his wife stretched out on the pew, face flushed and hairdo mussed. The last he'd heard Colleen had gone home – so how had she ended up here?

"Andrew." Relief washed over her at seeing him again. His presence signified all must've gone well earlier at his presumed malpractice hearing. He'd now be able to tell her the full story… but that conversation would have to wait for when they were alone.

Andrew knelt beside his wife, trying to remain focused as he retrieved the thermometer from his medical bag. He placed the instrument under her tongue and addressed the black couple. "Can you tell me what happened?"

"Lucy came a runnin' sayin' she… uh, your wife, I mean… fell down and wasn't gettin' back up. I didn't see a white man around to carry her, so I thought it best to bring her here. Told Lucy to get Willy and tell Miss Deborah at the hospital that we needed a doctor." He glanced around, noting the boy's absence. "Where is Willy?"

"He was chicken, Preacher," Lucy piped up, happy to fill in the missing information. "Said he wasn't gonna be stuck with no needle."

Henry shook his head, appalled. "And he left you there alone? That foolish boy. Me and him are gonna have a talk."

Andrew proceeded to check Colleen's head for any lacerations or contusions. Finding none, he also checked her pupils – equal and reactive. So far, so good, Andrew thought. There didn't appear to be signs of a head injury, which was a major relief. "How long was she unconscious?"

"You mean passed out? Wasn't long. Couple o' minutes."

Andrew nodded before checking Colleen's pulse. It was a little fast, but nothing to be overly worried about. Her respiration seemed steady, also a good sign. Andrew was about to check the thermometer when he remembered that he was supposed to let a student help when possible. Deborah Williams had remained a silent observer until now. "Um, Miss Williams, would you report the temperature reading?" he requested, stepping aside so she could do just that.

Startled at being called upon, Deborah was slow to react. "Yes, Dr. Cook." She withdrew the device from Colleen's mouth. "Slightly elevated. Ninety-nine." Andrew handed the medical student a cloth and a small bottle of carbolic he'd packed in his medical bag to wipe the instrument of Colleen's saliva before placing the thermometer back in its case.

"Well, there doesn't appear to be anything seriously wrong, but we'll get you examined at the hospital just to be sure."

"It's just the heat, Andrew," Colleen protested. "I don't need an examination."

"Doctor's orders," he replied, using his most authoritative tone. "You can say 'I told you so' later," he added in a friendlier manner. Andrew turned to address the clergyman. "Thank you…"

"Pastor Henry Allen," the man supplied helpfully, a little surprised at Andrew's outstretched arm. It wasn't often that white folks voluntarily shook the hands of black people. "And my wife Esther."

"Dr. Andrew Cook." He offered Lucy a warm smile. "And thank you, Lucy, for completing your errand. That was very brave of you." Lucy beamed at the praise. "May we take the water glass, Mrs. Allen?"

"Of course, doctor. Deborah can return it to us on Sunday," Esther said, exchanging a warm smile with the young woman.

Andrew began to gather Colleen up in his arms, and she visibly winced. "What's wrong?"

"My leg hurts."

"You probably bruised it when you fell. We'll check it at the hospital." He tried to move as carefully as he could to not jostle her too much. "Miss Williams, please bring my bag."

Deborah grabbed Andrew's medical bag, and at the last moment Esther remembered to give her Colleen's schoolbooks, long forgotten by their owner.

:

Arriving at the Women's Hospital, Andrew carried Colleen into the building, Deborah close on his heels. As he set Colleen down on the examination table, he instructed Deborah, "Get her undressed and apply cool compresses all over. If this is just a mild case of heat exhaustion, that should be sufficient to bring her temperature down. And be mindful of any contusions." Addressing Colleen, he inquired, "Have you had anything to eat or drink since breakfast?

"No," Colleen confessed.

"Any nausea?"

"My stomach hurts a little, but I don't feel nauseous."

"Miss Williams can bring you some broth. Have a few sips and see how you tolerate it. If it unsettles you, continue with the plain water instead. We need to get you rehydrated." He glanced at Deborah to make sure she'd heard the instruction, and she gave an affirmative nod. Andrew placed his hand over Colleen's. "I can't stay, but you'll be in good hands until Laura or Susan can see you."

"You're not going to examine me?"

Inwardly, Andrew frowned. Colleen should know that he couldn't be objective and therefore needed another doctor for a proper examination. On the other hand, perhaps she was simply hoping it could have given them an excuse to be alone and talk privately, which he highly desired as well. Alas, that would have to wait.

He lowered his head, and voice, for a personal message. "Don't worry, darling, I'll be checking in on you later," he pledged, giving her hand an affectionate squeeze before leaving the room.

Closing the door behind him, Andrew let out a long breath, some of the tension finally ebbing. Was it really only an hour or so ago he thought they'd be laughing about today? He really would have preferred to stay and care for Colleen himself, but rules were rules, and he wasn't supposed to treat his own wife unless it was an emergency. The immediate crisis was over, so it was out of his hands now. He could only hope that this was, indeed, simply a mild case of heat exhaustion, and that there was nothing more seriously wrong.

:

About thirty minutes later, Colleen was situated in her undergarments (sans corset, thankfully) on the women's ward, one of several patients this day requiring a bed. The first-year students assigned to lunch duty this afternoon were busy with soup trays, sponge baths, changing any necessary linens or garments, and generally keeping an eye on things while the doctors took their lunch break downstairs.

One of the students in the ward wasn't on duty at all. She was there to pay a social visit.

"Colleen. How are you feeling?" Mary Beth asked tentatively.

"I feel better. My head still hurts, but it's not as bad."

"That's good… May I sit for a moment?"

"Sure."

Mary Beth sat in the chair beside the bed. "I'm sorry about earlier," she began, fidgeting with her hands in her lap. "I… well, I got a letter from home… and this heat… It's no excuse… I shouldn't have gone off like that." The medical student heaved a sigh to settle herself. "I've been so jealous of you. You seemed to have everything you could possibly want so easily. I know now that I was wrong. You've had struggles, too."

"People aren't always what they appear to be," said Colleen sagely, remembering John the engineer, Tom Jennings, Jesse, and that swindler Cummings who took all the townsfolk's money. "You have to take time to get to know a person before making judgments about them."

"'Judge not, lest ye be judged'… I know, and I foolishly forgot. Please forgive me?"

"Of course, I will." Colleen smiled warmly, happy to put the matter to rest. "Did you really have to study in secret?"

Mary Beth nodded. "My family supported me, but only to a point. They said we had to tell everyone that I wanted to be a nurse or else Father could lose his patients. Whenever anyone asked about my seminary studies, I told them about my courses in literature and French and history. I didn't dare share that I had a private tutor for biology and anatomy, or that I studied my father's medical books in my spare time. Too scandalous."

"That's kinda what happened to my mother. Her father was a doctor, and they practiced medicine together, but when he died, the patients all left. That's why she came to Colorado Springs."

"And the people welcomed her just like that?" Mary Beth asked in disbelief.

"Well, no, not really, except for my ma – my real ma, I mean. She was the midwife. But nobody else thought much of Dr. Mike in the beginning. It took a while for them to come around."

Mary Beth was quiet, contemplative, taking in Colleen's story. "Some people never come around," she said finally, almost too quiet for Colleen to hear. She looked out onto the ward, trying to gain control of her emotions, and wiped away a tear. "Well, I'm glad you're feeling better," she said at normal volume, forcing a smile in Colleen's direction. "I just wanted to apologize for before."

"You don't have to go, Mary Beth," Colleen protested as her visitor stood.

"No, I should let you rest. But, um, maybe we could talk again some other time? I'd be interested in hearing about your apprenticeship with your mother."

"Sure. Maybe we could study together sometime, too."

"I'd like that."

:

Later that afternoon, Colleen was back in the doctor's office, alone. She'd finally seen Andrew again, though only briefly from afar, as he was discharging a boy about Brian's age. She couldn't be entirely sure, but Colleen surmised that that was the boy Andrew had kept overnight for heat exhaustion. She wondered if she, too, would be advised to stay overnight. She hoped not – all she wanted was to go home, talk with Andrew, and nestle in the comfort of his arms.

The office door opened, revealing Dr. Laura Taylor, Colleen's Physiology and Hygiene instructor. The woman was generally a warm and encouraging presence in the classroom, and Colleen was glad she was seeing someone she knew and trusted and not a total stranger.

"Mrs. Cook. How are you feeling?

"A lot better. Deborah took good care of me," she noted, wishing to give credit where it was due.

"I'm glad to hear it. Normally I'd have a student here to assist with the examination, but since you're a pupil yourself, I'll make an exception." She began feeling Colleen's lymph nodes. "I spoke with your husband. He says there was some kind of misunderstanding which caused you to become upset. You left school early and fainted in the heat. Were you presenting any symptoms of illness prior to today? Fever perhaps, or dizziness, or fatigue?"

"I guess I've been a little tired. It's been so hot; it's been hard to sleep all night even with the window open."

"Yes, this heat wave has made us all a little miserable. Breathe in for me," the doctor prompted as she listened with her stethoscope. Colleen remained silent as Laura conducted her examination, using the physician's methodology of palpation, percussion, and inspection. "You have a contusion on your hip from falling on the ground. It'll be sore for a while but should improve on its own. And your face is slightly irritated from the sun. I can prescribe a cream for that to use the next couple of days to prevent peeling," she commented. "I've ruled out a concussion, you were fortunate not to hit your head when you fell. But we still need to determine a definitive diagnosis."

"I thought it was heat exhaustion."

"Yes, that is the obvious conclusion. But a good doctor doesn't rely on the obvious, they risk overlooking something which could be the primary cause or a contributing factor. In your case, we can rule out excessive weight, and from what I've observed you don't appear to tight lace."

"No, I don't."

"Good. It's a terrible practice when women subjugate themselves to beauty over their health. I checked your medical history; you didn't report any conditions such as asthma or diabetes. Mrs. Cook, you're a married woman… is it possible you're pregnant?"

Colleen stared at the physician in dismay. Couldn't she go a month without someone worrying that she was – or soon would be - with child? All because she had a husband, and it was what society expected to happen... "No, I'm not."

"Mrs. Cook, please forgive my temerity… but I can only presume that your husband is being careful in your marital congress to allow for your studies. I hope he explained that it is not an absolute guarantee. Some women are pregnant without realizing it. When was your last monthly?"

"It started today." She and Deborah had discovered this fact while Colleen had undressed earlier, her upset stomach suddenly making perfect sense – it hadn't been her stomach at all.

The doctor relaxed. "Oh. Well, then, it appears-"

"Andrew's not in trouble, is he, Dr. Taylor?" Colleen blurted out worriedly, realizing too late the cat was out of the bag. Maybe that's why Andrew was keeping everything secret. Maybe he had to go to the courthouse, and pay a fine...

"In trouble? Why would Andrew be… oh. Oh, I see," Laura said, catching on to her patient's means of avoiding pregnancy. "You're referring to that new law. No, Mrs. Cook, he's not in trouble as far as I know, and I assure you I won't be reporting him. What we discuss here is between us, and what happens behind closed doors is a private matter between husband and wife. Frankly, between us, I feel it's a well-meaning but misguided law. Some women risk their health by having too many children. Now, as for you... it appears that you fainted due to a combination of factors. You were emotionally distraught and you've become temporarily anemic from your monthly. Add in the excessive heat, and we have a recipe for fainting. I trust the next time you decide to go out for a stroll in hot weather you'll keep that in mind."

"Yes, Dr. Taylor," Colleen replied sheepishly. "Will I have to stay here overnight?"

"I'd like you to stay a few more hours as a precaution, but I see no reason you can't be discharged at closing time." Laura touched Colleen's arm in a comforting gesture. "I trust Andrew will ensure you get plenty of water and rest tonight."

:

As he'd promised, Andrew came by Colleen's bedside late in the day, a group of second-year students in tow for afternoon rounds.

"How are you feeling, Mrs. Cook?" Andrew asked sprightly when the ensemble approached her bedside. Laura had filled him in on her status, and Andrew had purposely saved her case to review last so he could share a personal moment with her afterward. The girls were trying, though failing, to hide smiles of their own, tickled pink at having heard the story of how Andrew had come to Colleen's rescue. In a small school, word traveled fast.

Sitting up in the narrow bed, Colleen knew she was once again the object of school gossip. Hannah, Frances and Fanny had all come to visit, first to check that she was okay, and apologize for causing her needless worry about Andrew's job, then to ask about what had happened. She dutifully repeated the story, but after the third such visitor, she asked that the girls leave her alone to rest. Now, though, there was no escape. "I feel fine, Dr. Cook," she said, addressing Andrew formally as he'd done with her. "Dr. Taylor says I can go home?"

Were it not for the setting, Andrew easily could have let himself be captivated by the sight of his wife in bed, hair down, neck and arms bare – even if her face had a slightly reddish tint to it, a souvenir of today's events. He still didn't have the full details of how Colleen had ended up in the black church, though at present he no longer cared, advised by Laura that there wasn't anything seriously amiss with his wife. A muffled giggle behind him brought him back to reality, and he cleared his throat self-consciously – perhaps he'd gotten a little distracted after all. "Ah, yes… well, that's what we're here to confirm. Open," he instructed, inserting a thermometer under Colleen's tongue. Andrew began to read from her file. "Mrs. Cook was admitted earlier today for symptoms of heat prostration. Standard treatment of fluids and a cooling sponge bath were administered to lower her body temperature. A salve for the skin irritation to the upper dermis has been prescribed. A contusion on the right femur appears to be superficial; a fracture is not suspected. Dr. Taylor is recommending discharge pending a final review of the patient. Miss Van Deusen, please check Mrs. Cook's pulse. Miss Aldrich, the respiration," he said, handing his stethoscope to the latter. "Miss Bertolet, her temperature."

All was briefly quiet while Colleen was examined again, save for the ambient sounds of others on the ward. The three students charged with getting updated readings made their reports, all within normal range.

"Excellent," said Andrew. "I concur with Dr. Taylor. I don't see any reason to keep you overnight for observation. Thank you, ladies, that will be all." Once the students had filed out of earshot, Andrew sat on the edge of the bed, covering Colleen's hand with his. "You can say it now," he said low, for her ears only.

"Say what?" she asked, equally quiet.

"I told you so," he reminded her, his thumb affectionately caressing the back of her hand. "I'm glad Laura confirmed there was nothing seriously wrong. I'd be beside myself if anything happened to you."

Colleen felt the love in his words and touch and knew exactly what he meant. She'd felt the same way when he'd been bedridden with spotted fever. "Do you feel the same way about all your patients, Dr. Cook?" she teased, lightening the mood.

Andrew chuckled. "I think I'd be in trouble with my wife if I did," he joked back. He squeezed her hand before releasing it and standing upright. "I'll return a little after five to take you home."

"And then we'll talk?"

"Absolutely."

:

Andrew insisted on hailing a carriage for the short trip home instead of their usual walk, not wanting Colleen to overexert herself. And Colleen didn't mind, really - she'd had enough walking about for one day.

"I'm sorry had to keep things from you, darling, but Mr. Perot insisted," Andrew began, glad to finally get it all off his chest once they were back in the privacy of their room at Amanda's. "It was all my fault, he thought I'd been favoring you when the corporators visited last week. But from what I understand today's exile was worth it, Dr. Brandt had nothing but praise for your performance in class today."

"Exile?"

"In a manner of speaking. I wasn't allowed to set foot at the college while Dr. Brandt was evaluating you, and clearly my absence led to the rumor that I'd been fired. That was an unintended consequence and I regret it caused you such distress. The part I don't understand is how you ended up in the church. Your friends indicated you'd gone home."

"I forgot to ask Amanda for the key, so I was going to the park instead. Andrew… you mean today was all about evaluating me? You weren't in danger of losing your license?"

"Losing my license?" Now it was Andrew's turn to look confused. "What gave you that idea?"

"I couldn't believe you'd been fired for favoring me. There had to be another reason you weren't in class and being so secretive about it. The only thing that made sense was if you had been accused of malpractice and were in danger of losing your license."

"Oh, Colleen," he sighed, gathering her in his arms. "I'm truly sorry for all your worry today. I hope I never have to keep a secret from you again."

:

August 3, 1873

Dear Ma,

You never told me what Philadelphia was like in the summer, but maybe you thought if I knew then I wouldn't have come! It feels like the air is sweating, though I know that is impossible. The temperature been over eighty degrees since mid-July, plus the humidity, and then for a few days they said it reached ninety! I'm glad I only have to go through two summers of this, I don't know that I'd want any more. Andrew said the summers are not as bad in Boston, that I should try that sometime. It made me wonder if he was hinting about where he wants to live when I'm done with school. We haven't really talked about that, whether to live in Colorado Springs or Boston. I suppose there's no hurry to decide, I need to get through school first. But I know the first thing I want to do when I have my degree is come home and see everyone.

Meantime, in school, there is so much to memorize! No wonder there are so many medical books, no one could keep it all in their head forever. And there is so much chemistry, at times I think I am studying to become a chemist like Louis Pasteur and not a doctor. My head swims with formulas and equations. Currently, we are studying the acids and salts – Chloride versus Chlorate, Sulphite versus Sulphate. I worry that I'll mix them up on the next exam and get a bad grade and then I'll fail the course and be forced to repeat it. I know it's stupid to think that, but I can't help it. Andrew assures me that it won't happen, that even if I mix up one or two terms, or have a bad exam, I will still pass the course and become a doctor. That's easy for him to say, he already has his degree.

I made a new friend, Mary Beth Sullivan. She's from Illinois. Her family wouldn't let her tell anyone that she wanted to be a doctor, she had to keep it a secret! M.B. thought I had it so easy, having learned so much from you and being married already, that she was jealous of me! Can you imagine? Anyway, we talked some and I told her about how things were hard for me growing up and now she's no longer jealous.

Andrew will be taking me out to dinner this month for our monthly outing, since it seems there is nothing else to do in Phil. in August, everyone goes on vacation (I can't blame them!). When he told Amanda we'd be dining out alone, she said not to worry, to have a good time, that she'll be fine on her own for one evening, she was for many years. She was really very sweet about it. I'm glad there will be a night for just the two of us when I don't have to worry about sodium and potassium and phosphates.

All my love,

Colleen

:

After Andrew had placed an order for wine, he picked up the dinner menu. "Have you chosen an appetizer?"

"The consommé," Colleen replied instantly, having looked at her menu while Andrew perused the wine list. She knew it was like a broth, something simple, as opposed to the other choices of escargot and foie gras, which she wasn't sure she would like.

Andrew smiled knowingly at his wife's choice. It's what she had chosen when he'd visited her in Denver that one time, which seemed a lifetime ago but really was less than six months prior. He knew his wife was a meatloaf sandwich girl at heart and would always prefer the familiar to the exotic. That didn't mean he couldn't enjoy a wider selection himself when they dined out. "And entrée?"

"The lobster. I had it when we were in Boston, it was really good."

"Well, then, you'll need to tell me if this is as good as you remember." Andrew set his menu down. "I'm glad you've fully recovered from last week, Colleen. I still feel terrible that I caused you such distress."

"You didn't mean to, Andrew. And there was a silver lining to it all, Mary Beth and I are friends now," she added, changing the subject.

"I didn't realize the two of you didn't get along."

"Neither did I. But she was jealous of me, thinking my life was easier than hers." At that point, the server returned to take their order, which Andrew conveyed. Once he'd left, she continued, "I told Mary Beth she had it all wrong, that it only seems like my life is easy, but it wasn't."

No, it certainly wasn't, Andrew thought but didn't say aloud. Abandonment by her father; the death of her mother; that entire trying time when Sully had been a fugitive from the law; nearly losing Michaela to a deranged man… for those who didn't know her backstory, Colleen's current life looked rosy indeed.

The wine was poured, and Andrew raised his glass. "Shall I propose a toast? To my beautiful wife, the future Dr. Cook, who preserved through adversity and came out stronger for it."

They clinked glasses and each took a sip. "So, what about you?" Colleen prompted. "I mean, I know you said medical school was hard, but it's hard for everybody. When you were growing up, was anything hard for you?"

"Certainly nothing on par with what you've been through," he replied. His life had been so much easier than hers, it wasn't a fair comparison. "Though I suppose now is as good a time as any to reveal family secrets. My mother has a speech impediment. She stutters."

"She does?"

"She's learned to cope in some ways, finding alternative words or phrases when she can, but many times in social settings she'll say nothing at all rather than risk embarrassment."

"That must be awful for her," Colleen sympathized as their appetizers were placed before them.

"Would you care for a bite?" Andrew offered politely.

Colleen knew he wouldn't be offended if she turned him down, but she was also a little curious. She'd been too grossed out to try the escargot when they'd dined with William Burke in Boston, but she was grown up now. It was time to try new things. And if Dr. Mike liked it, and Andrew liked it… so, this time she agreed to a taste, and Andrew held up the tiny fork to her mouth.

"It's… okay," she said finally after swallowing, chasing it with some wine. "But I don't think I'd want it all the time knowing what it is."

"Well, I commend you for trying it. As for my mother, she said she was often called 'stupid' as a child. She thought she'd never be a wife until she was introduced to my father. It was what people call a good match. He's not one for small talk either. So they married, and then I came along."

"And became a doctor like him and your uncle."

Andrew finished a bite of his appetizer before answering. "Yes. They didn't pressure me to follow in their footsteps, but I really wasn't interested in doing anything else."

"What did your father say when you told him you wouldn't be practicing medicine with your uncle?" Colleen had long wondered about Andrew's relationship with his parents. He rarely spoke of them, so she had respected his privacy. But now that they were married she had every right to ask.

"As you can imagine, he was disappointed. He had paid for my education and thought that meant I would be putting it to use in Boston, not the uncivilized west. His phrase, not mine," Andrew hastily added. "But he came around when I accepted Preston's offer to run the hotel clinic. The Lodge name is well-known in Boston, and to be responsible for running my own clinic not a year after finishing medical school… Father couldn't argue with that."

"But he never came to visit you, to see the life you'd made for yourself."

"No. But I didn't mind that they didn't visit. Not when I could look forward to visits from you," he said fondly.

Colleen smiled at his compliment. "Even when you were seeing Becky?"

Andrew's own smile faded. "We... we weren't courting, Colleen. You know that. Spending time with her just happened... and it made me realize she wasn't the person I wanted to spend time with… I mean, spend a lifetime with."

"I know, Andrew," Colleen said gently, placing a hand over his to calm him down. "I was just teasing you."

He let out a sigh of relief. "This may sound strange, but I'm glad you can tease about it now, and not just remember the sadness of Becky's passing."

"I think about her sometimes… I feel guilty that I'm getting to do what I've always wanted to do, and she never got to."

"It's an unfortunate part of life, that some of us get to continue on while others don't," Andrew agreed. "I find it's humbling as a doctor to know there are times when it's out of your hands and there's nothing more you can do. But those times when you can make a difference and help save a life… it's very gratifying."

"I agree." Colleen raised her glass. "To making a difference."

"To making a difference."

:

August 24, 1873

Dear Colleen,

I'm sorry you are finding the summer in Philadelphia so unpleasant. I never spoke of it to you because I had never experienced it myself. When I was a medical student, the course was held October through February. The rest of the year we were required to keep up our studies on our own, and naturally I returned to Boston to continue learning from my father.

I wouldn't blame Andrew if he desired to return to Boston to be near his family, though I hope he would take your feelings into account. I suppose if you don't return to Colorado permanently, at least I know you'll be near Mother, which I'm sure would please her no end.

I hope it is simply the excessive heat giving you nightmares about failing Chemistry. I cannot picture you failing at anything that you set your mind to. Perhaps you just need a little break, to relieve the pressure of school. I hope you can find such opportunity.

I'm glad to hear that you made another friend. I remember a young girl once crying to me that she didn't have any friends. How far she has come!

Speaking of friends, we have a new resident in town. I don't recall if I mentioned that Reverend Johnson applied to the blind institute asking if they could send a tutor to teach him Braille. She finally arrived a few weeks ago. Her name is Melissa Church. Grace thinks her name might be a sign of things to come. They do appear to get along quite well, so I suppose we shall see. Oh, I realize what I just did there – no pun was intended! Melissa's eyesight is also impaired, she has a condition called retinitis pigmentosa. She can still see just a little bit, but it is likely that one day her vision will go entirely as there is no known cure.

We've had a peaceful summer so far, which is a relief after last summer. There's been no sign of the cholera here, also a relief. Work is going on at the hotel, they are adding an entirely new wing of rooms. Preston and I had another talk in which he shared his vision for the town. I believe some of his ideas have merit and suggested he work on a formal proposal to present to the City Council. Grace has been irritable on bed rest (you know how busy she usually is), but we've found a project for her. She has been putting her recipes down on paper and has been soliciting others from the women in town to compose a town cookbook. Once it's done Dorothy will send it to her publisher. She and Cloud Dancing continue to spend time together. Sales of the Gazette are still down, but it's hard to tell at this point if that is due to their friendship or if people are pinching pennies from losing their savings in the bank.

I realize I've neglected to update you on your little sister. Katie is now walking all over the place on her own, to the extent that she falls down regularly. Sometimes she gets right back up as if nothing had happened while other falls are cause for hysterics. I'm also starting to wonder about weaning her from the diaper. Naturally, everyone has their opinion on that. Perhaps when I'm certain the cholera is no longer a worry, I'll be able to work on that milestone.

Love,

Ma

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Author's Notes:

-The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church was founded by Richard Allen in Philadelphia in 1816. (I don't believe it was actually located near WMCP, so that is geographic liberty.)

-Medical school in the latter half of the 19th century underwent many radical changes. Originally, a so-called "year" of school was only three or four months of lectures during the fall and winter - and the material presented in year one was repeated in year two! As medicine became increasingly scientific and complex, with more information to impart, schools began to lengthen the course, adding spring and summer terms.

The way schools presented the material was also changing. WMCP was one of the first medical schools to adopt a "progressive" course of instruction (rather than the old repetition model), meaning students started with foundational subjects like Anatomy and Chemistry in their first year before moving on to advanced areas like Obstetrics and Surgery the next year. This new model began during the early 1870's when Colleen would have been a student, so I've used it for her studies.