Lucky to be loving you
Chapter 35
Page 103B (just a fun dream)
Fiona came home from the mayor's meeting exhausted. Since James was still working, she went upstairs to their bedroom, slipped out of her dress clothes and into loungewear, and lay on their bed closing her eyes. Her head was spinning. It was a never-ending meeting. She had listened to all the other mayors with their ideas and speculations. With a new town being developed nearby, everyone wanted to make sure their town was not going to lose any business or citizens for that matter. All she knew after all the buzz, was that this development was going to be a challenge. Fiona just wanted peace in the valley.
Hope Valley had been lucky to have recovered from the coal mining disaster by discovering oil and the railroad coming into town. With Abigail Stanton as Mayor, many of the dashed hopes had turned into new opportunities with a lot of determination and prayer. Abigail had to leave to take care of her ailing Aunt, so any wise advice that Elizabeth had gleaned from her best friend had been left to letter-writing.
Oh, they had their share of disappointments when the saloon was sold to that smooth-talker Lucas Bouchard. He had his eye on Elizabeth Thornton hoping to add to his inherited fortune, and trouble followed him. When loan sharks came into town trying to collect from him, Elizabeth had been held captive in the saloon. Yet, he sweet-talked his way into her personal life so much so that she ignored her deep loving feelings for Constable Nathan Grant. She was very afraid of losing him like she lost her beloved husband, Constable Jack Thornton.
Unfortunately, Elizabeth and little Jack became enamored with Lucas being doted on with fabulous gifts and over-the-top constant attention. Some wondered how Lucas ever managed his saloon. He was always serving liquor, even with prohibition and it was a gambler's delight, so Fiona was not so sure what would become of Hope Valley. To avoid paying his gambling debt Lucas left as quickly as he came, but his nemesis, Wyatt Walden, tried to claim the saloon as his own in payment of Lucas's debt, but Bill Avery and Lee Coulter joined together to buy out Walden. The saloon was converted to Billees, which the town loved for all its socials, movie showings and lodging.
When Fiona came to town to establish the telephone in the community, she was easily welcomed as a friend and later opened her salon, Nichols and Dimes. It was soon after that she was elected Mayor of Hope Valley. Others came working for Henry's Oil Company or Lee Coulter's Lumber Company and the town expanded with the arrival of Father Ricardo and the establishment of St. James, and speaking of another James – her husband, Dr. Scholl came to fill the open dental opportunity. Others returned from college like Katie and Debra. Paul and Darcy, the newlyweds who bought the Henderson farm, Trevor Donahue who opened the gasoline and auto repair shop, and Violet Taylor, the midwife.
They had celebrated several weddings too! Faith and Carson Shepherd, Dottie and Henry Gowen, Christopher Gowen and Rachel, Bill and Molly Avery, Dee and Nathan Grant, Christy and Rick, and of course she and James. Now, there would be looking forward to Lana Peterson marrying Trevor Donahue, and Lisa Peterson marrying Walter Gleixner in a double wedding this summer.
Fiona turned on her side and fluffed her pillow as she found herself drifting asleep...
The talk from the meeting all of sudden became real. She heard the Mayor from Union City reminding everyone that we were to think of the future with more roads, skyscrapers, buses, and even flying planes for traveling! Movie theaters nearby, and some have smaller theaters in our homes like the radio. He predicted all sorts of gadgets coming in the 20th century like they've never seen before. The word, future was repeated over and over...
Suggested town names were swirling in her head. Petticoat Junction, Green Acres, Mayberry, Walton's Mountain, Walnut Grove Peyton Place and more. It was a dizzying blurt of suggestions.
Most everyone wanted another hospital, General Hospital, with two suggested well-respected physicians Dr. Marcus Welby and Dr. Ben Casey. Somehow Bill was in General Hospital as a secret agent, like a detective, and the staff kept calling him Frisco Jones. That made no sense, why would Bill be a secret agent in a hospital where everyone knows him? Why did they call him Frisco?
There were also a few popular families living there. Wherever "there" was.
Ozzie and Harriet with their two sons, Ricky who always had girls following him around while playing his guitar, and his brother, Dave.
The family next door was a widowed father, Steve Douglas. He introduced the boys as My Three Sons; Mike, Robbie, and Chip. Robbie married Tina Cole and Fiona came to find out she was from the King family in town. They were a huge musical family and the four sisters Luise, Alyce, Donna, and Yvonne called it, The King Family with All My Children forming a singing sensation.
Across the street were the Andersons, Jim, and Margaret with Betty, Bud, and Kathy nicknamed, Kitten. Kitten told the neighbors that her Father Knows Best. They had a loyal dog, Lassie, who followed Kitten everywhere protecting her from any danger, and was just so sweet.
Out in the country of this town was the Big Valley. Victoria Barkley, the matriarch of the Barkley family a close-knit, prestigious family, who used their power to help less fortunate homesteaders struggling to make their way on a piece of the new land. She was a well-known horsewoman and had several famous horses like Fury and the Black Stallion, but her most famous was a talking horse! Mr. Ed.
The town was always on the lookout for Maverick and his gambler friends. He must of known about Lucas Bouchard. But Wyatt Earp was the sheriff and he made sure that there was Law and Order with the help of Marshal Matt Dillon and Rin-Tin-Tin.
Rancher Lucas McCain and his son, Mark were ranchers. Lucas was known as the Rifleman as he wielded a customized rapid-fire Winchester rifle which sometimes caused a lot of Gunsmoke. Mark had raised a beautiful dog, Old Yeller, who sadly got bit by a rabid animal and Lucas made Mark shoot him. It was the saddest and hardest thing for both of them.
Then she heard some of the people calling her husband James, "Mr. Darcy"! She was struggling to get to him and kept shouting, "No, No, that's my husband, Dr. James Scholl!"
Her feet wouldn't allow her to move. She looked down and saw her red shoes and remembered to say, "There's no place like home, there's no place like home."
She felt someone shaking her and was upset they were interfering with her attempt to get to her husband, then she heard James's muddled voice, "Fiona, Fiona wake up!"
Fiona opened her eyes and saw James leaning over her. She rushed to hug him and stayed in his arms.
"Are you all right?" James asked, "When I found you upstairs on our bed sleeping you were thrashing around and calling my name."
Fiona pulled away and began laughing, "Wait until I tell you about my dream for the future, you're never going to believe it!"
Page 103
At 12 Noon, on the dot, the transport vehicle arrived and parked in front of the RCMP office. Nathan was outside the office waiting for them. The sun was shining brightly as the two Mounties stepped out of the truck.
"Good morning, Constables, I'm Sargent Grant," Nathan greeted them, noting they were big and muscular, which seemed ideal for handling the two Salerno brothers.
The two saluted Nathan and then introduced themselves, explaining that they were there for transport of both Salerno brothers to the province jail.
"This is certainly a better way of transport than our last time," Nathan remarked.
The two constables seemed puzzled, so Nathan explained the situation.
"To be honest, it was quite the challenge transporting by horse-pulled wagon. In my last situation, the prisoner's sister ambushed us and unfortunately, the wagon driver was shot and killed when we were trying to talk her into surrendering her rifle."
"Sir, hopefully, we will not have that happen to us," the Constables nodded.
"No doubt, this will prove to be safer and faster." Nathan agreed. "Let's go inside and get your two prisoners."
Following Nathan inside, Andy jumped to attention as he greeted them.
"Would you like a cup of coffee or a cold drink of water?" Andy asked.
"Sure," both answered, "We've got canteens to fill up. With that, one of them went back out to the truck to retrieve them.
The brothers snarled and spit in handcuffs as they were led by arm to the back of the truck. When the back doors slammed shut the two Mounties jumped in the front and took off. It wasn't long when Nathan and Andy saw the Salernos being driven out of town.
"Well Andy, you should be mighty proud of what just happened! You are definitely proving yourself to be quite the Mountie!" Nathan patted Andy on his back.
"What will happen next?" Andy smiled.
"Next? With the Salerno Brothers or you?"
"The Salerno Brothers."
"You tell me," Nathan raised one brow and quizzed Andy.
"Knowing that they have been wanted for a while, I'm thinking that the case against them is established, and they'll be prosecuted. Should be a slam dunk case!" Andy nodded confidently.
Paul and Darcy called the veterinarian to come over and check on Hilda and her little calf. Dr. Mueller was in the barn and listening to both the mother and her calf hearts and stomachs checking for any clue as to the reason why Hilda didn't want anything to do with her baby.
Dr. Mueller didn't find any outward sign explaining the rejection. "Hilda's maternal instincts should have kicked in, so she'd immediately tend to her baby. Unfortunately, some cows will reject their calf and not allow it to nurse."
"Why? What is wrong?" Paul inquired.
"Well, we see this problem most often in heifers because of a combination of two things. They have less experience, and they also have a lower level of the birthing hormone."
"Oh no," Darcy was very concerned, "will the calf die from lack of nutrition?"
"Unfortunately, calves that are weak are at risk of being rejected and Hilda senses this. It's a vicious circle and a very sad one at that. If I had been here earlier, I would've tried something else."
"What?" Paul asked.
"Sometimes if the calf was just born there's a possibility that if we smeared the calf with some of the birth fluid across her muzzle and tongue, and then onto the calf, that would stimulate her normal response," Dr. Mueller explained.
"Is there nothing we can do?" Darcy asked shaking her head in disbelief.
"Yes, you can try penning the cow and the calf together, and you may also need to restrain the cow so the calf can nurse. Let's get started, shall we?" Dr. Mueller nodded at Paul.
"How long do we try that?" Darcy wanted to know more. She loved Hilda and felt like she and Paul waited too long to call the vet.
"If it isn't able to nurse within one-hour, you need to intervene and get colostrum into the calf," Dr. Mueller advised.
After Dr. Mueller and Paul worked to pen up the momma and baby, they all watched and waited. Darcy was biting her lip so hard; she made it bleed. After a half hour, she walked outside for a breath of fresh air.
Looking up to heaven with tears in her eyes, she prayed, "Father, I know you are the Creator of all, so you know this little calf of Hilda's is teeny-tiny and needs her mama's milk. I pray it's not too late for her and if it's your will, please help her to live. In Jesus's name, Amen."
She wiped the tears from her eyes and took in a long breath. Walking back to the barn she heard Paul calling her.
"Darcy! Come here now, hurry!"
Darcy ran the rest of the way, looked in and saw the calf nursing from her mama, Hilda. She started to laugh and hugged Paul really tight, clapping and jumping up and down, then grabbed Dr. Mueller and surprised him with a kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you very much!" Paul shook Mueller's hand.
They all watched for a good five minutes, then Paul stepped aside with the vet to talk about what he owed him.
Meanwhile, Darcy couldn't stop watching the two and looked upwards for just a few seconds, but long enough to say, "Praise you sweet Jesus!"
Page 104
Faith was finally feeling better now that she was going in her second trimester. No longer did she wake up nauseated and sometimes even vomiting. Carson could make coffee in their house once again instead of picking up a cup at Billees. The world seemed to be back to normal again.
Violet suggested to Faith to just go with it and not to worry. Although Faith was a doctor, she relied on Violet during her pregnancy because it was her first time. Violet had cared for many mothers during their pregnancy and delivery, so she was more experienced than Faith.
On a hard personal experience, Violet had lost her and Jake's baby with a miscarriage, so she also knew the heartbreak a mother especially, as well as the father when losing a child during pregnancy or at birth. This hardship though tough to deal with, made her one of the most compassionate midwives in the area. It was what she and Brook both suffered which brought them together with the empathetic understanding that they shared. Neither had been blessed yet with another pregnancy, so they treasured their close bond.
Now, she was slowing down on deliveries since most of the expectant mothers had given birth, except for Faith. Her focus shifted to helping the mothers care for their babies. Some were first-time mothers, like Elsa who had twins. Brook was asked to help Elsa care for her babies several times a week so Elsa could sew the dress orders she was racking up all because of the new dress she had designed.
That's where Violet was headed. As she arrived at Andersson's home, she heard the twins inside pounding on their highchair trays, more interested in the noise they were making instead of eating their warm creamed cereal.
"Come in," Elsa called, "I'm in the kitchen."
Because Violet was still longing for a baby of her own, she truly enjoyed her visits with Elsa and the baby girls, Julia and Greta.
"What are these sweet little girls up to?" Violet asked.
"Well, I am trying to feed them breakfast, but they're so busy babbling to each other that they aren't interested in eating right now," Elsa answered as she threw up her hands and sat back in her chair, "Please have a seat."
When the girls noticed Violet, they stopped for a minute to see what she was doing. Eyeing her they thought she was going to talk to their mother which prompted them to stay silent to listen and watch.
"I won't stay long, Elsa. I just want to talk and see how you and the girls are doing," Violet started, "they're due for a checkup."
"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't bring them by. You might have heard that I'm sewing orders for a dress I designed, so my time has been going non-stop with both the girls and sewing."
"Yes, I heard about your new venture. That's exciting! Seems you're following in your mother's footsteps," Violet smiled.
Elsa blushed, "Oh goodness, not me. My mother is an excellent seamstress, and she loves it. I'm simply a novice."
"All in good time," Violet smiled, "I'm sure you're going to be quite popular. There are a few ladies in town are excited to keep up with the latest fashion."
The twins decided to demand attention again, so Violet stood up, "I'm going to check Julia first, if you don't mind."
As Violet lifted her, Julia smiled a big grin, and that's when Violet noticed a baby tooth popping out of her bottom gum which caused Violet to ask Elsa, "Are the girls still nursing?"
"Yes, they are."
"Have you noticed any tugging or chewing when they nurse?"
"Why yes, they are quite wiggly lately," Elsa remarked.
"Did you notice that there's a top of a tooth breaking through their bottom gum? They are teething and nursing mothers can be like a punching bag until the tooth breaks through the skin," Violet explained.
"Is that the reason they don't eat their oatmeal?"
"It could be. Teething time can cause them to be irritable, but usually after their first tooth the next ones are easier for both baby and mother," Violet chuckled.
Taking out her scale Violet weighed Julia and then laying her on a blanket on the table she measured her from head to toe and again around her head. Taking out her medical log, she wrote down her findings. She also looked in her mouth, eyes and ears, then listened to her heart and lungs. Standing her up she checked her spine, making sure it was straight.
"Everything looks great! Miss Julie is doing wonderfully!" Violet clapped and Julie giggled and tried to clap too. Violet and Elsa laughed with her.
"Now, it's time for Greta!" Violet announced. Handing Julie to her mother, she picked up Greta who seemed happy it was her turn to get all the attention.
Greta passed with flying colors too, "Whatever you're doing, keep it up. Your girls are growing beautifully!"
Both girls were back in their highchairs, and this time they were hungry. Elsa fed Julie while Violet happily pitched in to feed Greta.
There was a knock on the door, and Brook peeked her head in.
"Hello ladies. Good morning, Violet. I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering Elsa, if you were ready for me to take care of the girls for an hour or two so you can sew?"
Violet stood up, "Please come in Brook. I'm done with the girls' checkups, so I'm leaving now anyway."
When Violet said her goodbyes, she stepped outside and thought how fun it would be to have her own baby, but no luck so far. She and Brook were both hoping and praying it would finally be their time.
Page 105
Melanie was steadily healing emotionally from her abductions. It proved to go faster with Peter by her side. After he took her to the Valentine's Dance in Hope Valley, she met his cousin, Bill, and lovely wife, Molly, she felt accepted and happy. The two were quickly developing feelings that were beyond just being friends.
When Peter asked the hotel manager, where he worked if they would interview Melanie for a hostess position there too, they hesitated at first, but once they talked with her, the manager was impressed right away. Her experience spoke for itself as did the way she appeared. Her mother always told her and her brother, "We may be poor, but we can still be clean and always polite".
Melanie took pride in her demeanor and appearance, so she was an easy choice. She was thrilled to have a job again and with Peter too. Peter had been such an answer to her family as well. He never missed taking her disabled brother, Gary for his physical therapy which helped their mother have some time to herself. In return, Trish always enjoyed cooking for Peter so the four of them enjoyed dinner when Melanie or Peter weren't working. Their time together grew stronger and Melanie and Peter became a loving couple.
It was summer now and the new development had every town abuzz. Peter and Melanie had been busy working at the hotel in Benson Hills and just like his cousin Bill, it was hopping with people looking for work in the new town. Now they finally had a day off and Melanie was very eager to spend some alone time with Peter.
Her mother told her, "Now honey, don't you worry a second about us, you just go and have a good time!"
"We won't be long," Melanie smiled.
"Oh, yes you will! I don't want to see either of you for the rest of the day. I plan on going to bed tonight before you set foot in the door!"
"Mama!" Melanie stared at her mother.
"You heard me, we'll be fine. There's a picnic basket all packed up by the door. Now, go!" she smiled.
Melanie gave her mom a big hug and then hugged Gary. "Goodbye. See you tomorrow!" she laughed.
Peter was just coming to the door and when Melanie opened it, it caused him to practically fall in her arms.
"Wow! What a great greeting!" Peter couldn't help but kiss her right then and there.
Melanie flung her arms around Peter and told him, "The day is ours! I can't return until night – mom said so!"
Peter peeked inside, "Hello, Trish! I guess we're leaving! Talk to you later."
"Sure, in a day or two," she winked.
Peter just shrugged his shoulders and grabbed Melanie's hand, "It's a beautiful day, so where do you want to go?"
Taking a ride out into the country, they enjoyed seeing farms and fields. Seeing the new baby animals made Melanie ask Peter to stop by one where the horses were right by the fence. He pulled over to the side of the road and Melanie got out and slowly approached the fence. There were a couple of foals with their mothers close by watching Melanie.
Peter came over right behind Melanie and pulled some long grass. Handing it to Melanie he said, "See if they'll come over to eat from you."
Melanie took the grass and doing what Peter suggested, extended her arm with the grass. One of the mothers came over and smelled it, then decidedly took the grass and began to chew it. The foal just watched her mother. Melanie fell instantly in love with the little foal.
"Peter, look at this precious little one. I wonder how old he is."
As she was saying that the young horse came over by the fence, close enough for Melanie to carefully reach over and softly stroke its face. When she scratched its nose, the foal stood there enjoying the rub without moving.
Peter laughed, "Melanie, you have it mesmerized!"
The mother whinnied as if to say, "Hey, don't forget me, I want more to eat."
When the foal took off to trot around with the other foal, its mother left the fence too. Melanie and Peter watched for a few moments and then left to continue their ride.
They continued on until they found the perfect place for a picnic. Peter spread out a blanket and put the picnic basket down. They walked a little further on by a stream. Carefully stepping down rock by rock to the water, Peter held Melanie's hand which felt warm and secure. When they got all the way down, Peter took off his shoes and rolled up his trousers. Melanie followed taking off her shoes and they waded into the water.
"Oh my, the water is cold!" Margaret said as she backed away.
"Sorry, it's only spring, so the water is going to be cold from the winter snow melt." Peter chuckled. "I think it feels invigorating!"
"Well, if that's what you like, I'll stay out and watch you turn blue," Melanie teased as she started to go back up.
"So, you're done already?"
"Yes, sir. Maybe next time."
Peter was encouraged. Melanie said, 'next time' and that really pleased him. The couple spent quite a long-time leisurely eating their lunch. They even talked just a bit about the future. Melanie shared that if she ever left home, she wanted to live close by her mother and brother so she could help them.
"I can't expect my brother to care for himself should something happen to Mama," Melanie explained.
"Is there a nursing home nearby?" Peter asked.
Melanie shook her head, "Mama would be disappointed if that's what I did for Gary."
Peter was instantly thinking what to say. He had been considering asking Melanie to marry him, but he hadn't thought ahead to the future with Gary. He and Gary had become friends while he was taking him for therapy as they got to know each other. He understood Melanie's concern, but he wanted his own family with Melanie. What should he do?