Daniel grinned watching Matthew tug a cattail. He dug into the basket and found that Elizabeth had added a thick plaid blanket done in red, black and green. The basket was filled with biscuits, bread and butter, ham, eggs, cheese, apples, dried beef, and a jug of lemonade.
“Elizabeth seems to think we are going to be at the pond for a month, at least,” Daniel chuckled as he spread the blanket on the grass.
Ruth smiled and settled Matthew on the blanket next to her with some toy blocks and trains, her feet hidden under her dress. She leaned back, arms wrapped around her knees. Daniel joined her on the blanket and leaned back on his elbows.
“Ruth, I want to ask you something,” Daniel said suddenly, his face serious. He reached over and plucked an apple from the basket. “We need a nurse at the clinic, and although I’ve placed some adverts, few have responded and those who have don’t have the skills that we need.”
“Oh?” Ruth responded, surprised. “Thatisa problem. Not many choose to come this far west I suppose,” she surmised, reaching for a biscuit and handing it to Matthew who happily snatched it, beginning immediately to gobble it up.
“You’ve said your father taught you everything he knew from his medical practice. Can I assume that along the way he also taught you much of what he knew?” Daniel poured a glass of lemonade and felt the warmth of her fingers as he handed it to her, wanting to gaze into her eyes longer than was probably suitable.
Ruth gave a small nod, “Yes, he did. I helped him whenever he performed surgery.”
“Not just basic first aid? You know about germ theory and cleanliness, sterilization, all of that?” said hopefully.
“And medicine,” Ruth added. “My father was strict, and no one was allowed into his operating room unless their hands were washed in chlorinated lime water. He insisted the operating room be kept clean and sterile.”
Daniel remained silent and gave Matthew another buttered biscuit, but he was heartened by the passion in her voice. He watched her take a sip of lemonade.
“Not many doctors believed in germ therapy, but he did,” Ruth continued, thinking back. “He believed it was important to keep up to date with the newest discoveries, theories, and medical advances. He did his own research and came to the same conclusion that germ therapy significantly increased the rate of survival following surgery.”
Daniel was elated and looked at her in admiration. She was amazing and didn’t even realize it.
“Maybe I have no right to ask this of you,” Daniel said tentatively. “I’m still impressed with the way you dressed Matthew’s knee and beyond that, how you handled him emotionally. He trusts you. I would like you to work at the clinic, that is, until a suitable nurse is found.”
“At your clinic?” Ruth inhaled sharply and stopped as she reached out for ham and bread.
“Actually,” Daniel looked over the rippling water and noticed that the wind had become stronger. “I do need someone urgently, Ruth. I have placed a third advert for a nurse in papers from New York to California and I’ve received no response.”
“What about Matthew?” Ruth worried and suckedworried her bottom lip between her teeth. “Howteeth.Hwould I look after him and work for you as a nurse?”
“You can bringBring Mathew along to the office.” Daniel’s thoughts skittered between the urgentt need for a nurse and the chancechance to see her more every day. “There are vacant rooms on the second floor of the practice; I can turn one into a nursery for him. Rose can assist with Matthew whenever I need your skills.” He said and took a bite of bread, cheese and ham. Daniel could see doubt on her face as sheshe frowned, thinking, while she helped Matthew eat his food.
“I’dpay you as I would a nurse,” he continued, “in addition to your current allowance.”
She looked at him thoughtfully and he could see the struggle on her face and hoped she’d take his offer.
“I don’t think my business partner would object.” Daniel added cautiously. Then he.The sighed, “HeHe can be difficult, however.” As much as he would like to prevent it, Alistair andand Ruth would would inevitably meet..And knowing Alistair, Daniel knew hehis partner would enjoyenjoy the opportunity at working with Ruth.
“May I think about it?” Ruth asked unexpectedly, looking,ing at Matthew, who waswas pulling up fistfuls of grass and tossing them in the air, delighting in the shower of bright green blades as they fell down around him.
Daniel appreciated the concern she had for his son, and Matthew was a most precious part of his life, but this arrangement would suit everyone. He hoped she would understand as she thought it through.
“Yes, please think about it,” Daniel affirmed and stood. “We’d better get going now the clouds are moving in fast and I see it may rain soon.”
While Daniel lifted the folding canopy of the buggy, Ruth packeda up the basket. SoonSoon everyone was settled in the carriage for the trip home, hoping to arrive before the rain did.
Just as they arrived at the house iti began to drizzle. Daniel insisted Ruth and Matthew go inside right away. He and Jimmy stored the buggy inside the carriage house and untackeduntacked the horse in the barn. Daniel had hoped to ride to the clinic in the afternoon, but the weather changed his plans and the rain showedshowed no signs of stopping.
The more he thought over his conversation with Ruth, he was convinced it was the right course of action. She was skilled enough to confidently discuss medical theories that few nurses knew about and sheshe had firsthand experience from assisting her father in his practice.
DanielDaniel decided to spend the rest of the afternoon in his father’s study, going through all hisjournals. Despite what Alistair had told him, Daniel still didn’t believe his father could not have been saved. He wanted to find out what sickness could have made his father suffer so much. Whatever it was, Daniel was determined to discover it and find a cure to preventtoprevent anyone else from suffering such a terrible death.
There was a knock on the door and Daniel looked up and was happyto see Ruth standing at the door. He beckoned her inside.
She seated herself and was straight to the point. “Daniel, I’ve thought a lot about your suggestion for me to work in the clinic, and I have made my decision.”
He felt his anticipation quicken; she had his full attention. “Tell me, what is your decision, please.”
