Chapter 360 – One More Patient for Carson
Once Carson had a mug of coffee, he stepped out on the porch. He sipped his coffee and breathed the night air. He looked toward the saloon, there were people coming and going and several couples attempting to steal kisses in the shadows. He smiled and thought about the times that he would try that with Amber. Carson realized that what he missed the most was someone being there. Someone to share his thoughts with. Someone to share the lonely nights with. He knew that he would have to figure out if Faith had feelings as well and then how to go about maybe seeing if they could make it work.
Carson was still enjoying his coffee when Robin came back.
"Your son is not there?" Carson asked.
"No, he is there." Robin said. "I signed the papers, but told Sheriff Avery to keep him there until morning. I told him he should be glad I came at all and he needs to think about his choices."
"Boys that age can be difficult." Carson said. "I mean I was in university when I was that age, but I saw what other boys were up to. Want me to talk to him?"
"I don't know." Robin said. "He is seventeen and working. He wants to be treated like a man, but at the same time lacks maturity at times. I don't like both boys working in the mine, but we needed the money and housing. At least SJ has a good head on his shoulders. Paddy can be too much like his father at times – stubborn and hot-headed."
Carson nodded, but then noticed a young couple walking toward the infirmary. He stood up straighter and wondered what had happened now.
"Seamus John." Robin said. "What are you doing?"
"Mom." SJ said. "First, have you seen Paddy? I can't find him."
"Were you not together earlier?" Robin asked.
"No." SJ said. "I left for a bit and when I came back he was gone and no one knew where he went."
"Is that why you left?" Robin said, motioning to the girl he was holding hands with.
"Robin!" Carson said in a harsh tone.
Robin just huffed and went back into the infirmary."
"Seamus is it." Carson said.
"SJ, please."
"SJ." Carson said. "I am Dr Shepherd. Was there something you needed other than your brother?"
"Yes." SJ said. "Lily and I were down by the pond. We were looking at the stars. She said her side hurt. I said we could have my mom look at her."
"Lily?" Carson said.
"Yes." She said in a soft voice.
"Come up here." Carson said.
The two walked up on the porch. Carson looked at SJ.
"SJ." Carson said. "Your brother got caught with the others who were smoking with minors. I understand he was old enough, but not when there are minors. He was arrested. Your mother just signed the papers, but told Sheriff Avery to not release him until morning. Now, I suggest that you go home and talk to your mother tomorrow. She is not happy with your brother and we have a patient overnight, so she is probably staying here."
"Yes, Sir." SJ said. "Lily, are you going to be okay?"
"You better go." Lily said.
She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before ducking her head. SJ then looked at the jail before heading toward the row houses. Carson looked at Lily.
"How old are you?" Carson asked.
"Sixteen." Lily said.
"Where are your parents?" Carson asked.
"At the dance." Lily said. "I know that my brother and sister are at home. I saw Mom and Dad at the dance when we were looking for Paddy."
"Are you supposed to be home with your siblings?" Carson asked.
Lily ducked her head.
"Alright." Carson said. "Let's have a seat on the bench."
Once they were seated, Lily couldn't look at Carson.
"So what is going on?" Carson asked.
"I can't tell you." Lily said. "It is too embarrassing."
Just wait a moment, Carson stood up and opened the door.
"Robin, come here." Carson said in his authoritative voice.
Robin came outside.
"What?"
"Do you know this girl's mother?" Carson asked.
"Yes, I know who Rose is." Robin said. "They have the house across from us."
"Lily here says she is at the dance." Carson said. "Please go get her and then go home. That is an order. I also expect you to be a professional."
"Yes, Sir." Robin said.
Robin headed over saloon and Carson invited Lily to come inside the infirmary. He figured he knew what the problem was. He went to the cupboard and put a package together and left it on the counter. It was only a few moments later there was a knock at the door. Carson opened it.
"Please come in." Carson said. "But keep your voice down. I have a new mother and baby in the other room."
Rose nodded. She looked at Lily and was confused.
"I am Doctor Shepherd. Lily and SJ came over here because Lily said her side hurt. When I asked her what was wrong she said she couldn't tell me as it was embarrassing. I think I have it figured out, but maybe a mother's touch is needed."
"Thank you." Rose said.
Rose sat by her daughter and Carson sat at his desk.
"Lily." Rose said. "The doctor just wants to help you, but he can't unless you tell him what is going on. You are sixteen and not a small child anymore. You want your father and I to treat you more like an adult, then you need to act like it."
"I am bleeding from down there." Lily said, barely above a whisper. "SJ freaked out when he saw the blood. I went home and changed clothes. I stuffed some clean rags in my underwear and SJ walked me back into town to look for his mom. He said she works with women and could help me."
"I take it this has never happened before?" Carson asked.
Lily shook her head.
"Am I going to be alright?" Lily asked.
Carson leaned forward and lifted the girl's chin with his finger.
"You will be fine." Carson said. "What is happening is perfectly natural."
Carson went on to explain as best as he could what was happening. The girl was embarrassed and so was her mother. Carson then stood up and went to get the package that he put together earlier.
"This should help." Carson said. "I suggest that your mother take you home and help you get situated. Also you need to make sure you have supplies on hand so are ready each month. So you and your mother can go talk to Katie Yost at the mercantile and get more on Monday. But this should get you through."
Carson then sat down and lifted Lily's chin again.
"I know that it is embarrassing." Carson said. "But you can come talk to me or Nurse Carter anytime. Okay?"
"Okay?" Lily said. "Thank you."
"Yes, thank you." Rose said. "I will make sure she has stuff from now on. I didn't worry because I didn't get mine until I was almost seventeen. I thought we had time. She just turned sixteen at the beginning of August."
"It is okay." Carson said. "But you should head home. It has been a long day and I still need to be here overnight with a patient."
"Thank you again." Rose said. "I will settle up on Monday for this."
"Thank you." Carson said. "See you later. Lily, an aspirin and a hot water bottle will help."
Lily nodded and left with her mother. Carson made a note, then sat back and thought about the day again. He had never thought his day would turn out like this.
… … … …
Sunday morning, October first dawn bright and with a slight chill in the air. Jack and Elizabeth woke feeling refreshed and reconnected, despite having interrupted sleep. Their coming together again last night strengthened their connection. It also gave them renewed energy to continue forward. Elizabeth sat on the bed feeding Andrew and looking at the twins' outfits hanging from the wardrobe. She was glad Dee and Annie had picked them up, but they were huge on the twins. She honestly hadn't thought that far ahead and was glad that both Dee and Jack had. Elizabeth, her aunt and Annie had done their best to fit them to the twins, but because they were so small, the outfits were still going to be huge on them. Elizabeth then looked over at her outfit and Jack's dress shirt and tie. She had gotten a red tie for him to wear. She also made sure he had a crisp clean white shirt to go with his blue suit. She had even pulled out a pair of his father's cufflinks to wear.
She had chosen a lovely lace blouse in an off white. Her skirt was a beautiful light blue that would compliment Jack's suit. She just hoped and prayed that the twins didn't spit up on her outfit. She knew they were only going to church for the ceremony with Abigail hosting a celebration at the cafe afterwards for them and all the godparents. She had a second blouse to take with her, in case.
Jack came in and smiled at his wife. He then came over and gave her a kiss.
"How are you feeling this morning?" Jack asked, taking Andrew to burp.
"Wonderful." Elizabeth said, getting Amber situated to eat.
"I didn't hurt you last night?" Jack asked.
"There were a couple uncomfortable moments." Elizabeth said. "But no worse than our wedding night. I still can't believe how long we went last night."
"That is what happens when we can't be together for a month." Jack said with a smile. "I am glad I didn't hurt you. I am also glad that you didn't want to wait any longer. I love you and I know that I would have waited because I had to, but it was so hard to hold you and not love you like I wanted."
"Anyone else up yet?" Elizabeth asked, blushing.
"Your Aunt and Annie are making breakfast." Jack said. "Kate is getting the girls ready."
"They should eat before putting on their dresses." Elizabeth said.
"Already taken care of." Jack said. "Your aunt made aprons for them to wear, not just for today for any day that they are needed. "
"Good." Elizabeth said. "Our clothes are hanging and ready, everything should be there. Your cufflinks are on top of the dresser."
Jack walked over and saw that Elizabeth had pulled the ones that his father had received from Wynn shortly before his death.
"Thank you." Jack said. "This is one of my favorite pairs from Dad."
"You are welcome." Elizabeth said. "I thought that you might like a piece of your father with you today."
Jack smiled at his wife.
"How is everyone getting into town?" Elizabeth asked.
"As soon as they are done eating." Jack said. "Albert is going to take Wynn and Dee in. They want to check in at the jail before services. He will then come back and the rest of us should fit in the two cars."
Elizabeth nodded as she watched Amber eat.
"They are still so small." Elizabeth said. "But at the same time, they are also getting so big."
"I know what you mean." Jack said. "They still look so small, but we know that they have grown and I know how small Amber was in my arms right away."
"I am glad that we are finally doing this." Elizabeth said. "I am also glad that you had Amber baptized right away. I still can't believe they are a month old. I look at them and wonder where time has gone. I still can't believe that both Aunt Elizabeth and Abigail are going to have babies in the new year. I love that we all will have children close in age."
"I am happy you are happy." Jack said. "It is wonderful news for both Frank and Abigail and also Wynn and Elizabeth Rose. I know how much Frank wanted to be a father. We talked about it quite a bit when I learned you were expecting. This was before he proposed to Abigail and they snuck off and got married."
"As much as I would have loved to be at their wedding." Elizabeth said. "I understand why they did it the way that they did."
Once the twins were fed, changed and settled. Jack and Elizabeth went about getting themselves ready before going to have breakfast. They would wait to put the twins in their outfits until the last moment.
… … … …