“Fifty? That big?”
Micah nodded. “Caleb said we might as well think big and do it right the first time. Besides, there’s so much need. You have no idea what I see in my job, even before the earthquake. Many people don’t even attempt to get treatment because they don’t have the money to pay for doctors and medicine.”
Kenzie considered this for a moment. “I think it sounds very wise to make it large.”
“Judith wants to use her money to benefit the needy, so we have the perfect opportunity to do this in grand style. It would be a charity hospital. We would solicit funds from the wealthy and the government to help pay for things. We won’t get rich doing this, but I never figured to have a grand fortune.”
She smiled in such a loving way that Micah knew her heart was in agreement with his own. “If I wanted money, I could have married Arthur.”
“I would never have let that happen,” he said matter-of-factly. Micah looked down at the drawing, making it clear such thoughts weren’t even up for discussion. “I want a ward for men, one for women, and another for children. And the fourth will be for critical care and surgery. Over here we’ll have a small laboratory. Depending on the equipment we can purchase, we might very well be able to do almost everything the larger hospitals can do, but on a limited scale.”
Kenzie looked up, and he could see the admiration in her eyes. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. But don’t you think I’ll need to get some better training before I’ll be of much use to you?”
“Many nurses are doctor-trained. There are a growing number of nursing schools, but regulations and training haven’t yet been standardized.” He grinned. “I think I can teach you everything you need to know, and if the time comes that more is required, we’ll cross that bridge then. I’ve considered getting some additional training back east as it relates to blood typing and transfusion. We could go east while the hospital is being built, and you could take classes at the same hospital I’m studying ... if you think me incapable.”
She rolled her eyes. “You know very well what I think of your abilities. Now, is this where you would want our quarters?” She put her finger on the drawing.
“Yes. I think we could arrange a lovely apartment of rooms. We could have our own private living and dining area, although Caleb did mention that shared meals here with the others would be more cost-effective and less time-consuming.”
Kenzie nodded. “But we’d have our own private bathroom?”
“Of course.”
“And how many bedrooms?”
He laughed. “How many do you need?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, but it seems we should be mindful of children we might have.”
His voice became soft and serious. “I am very mindful of that idea. I would love to have a large family. What about you?”
She nodded but didn’t look up. “I suppose we should have at least a couple of extra bedrooms then ... if you intend for this to be long-term.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her fingertips. “Ah, Kenzie. Where you’re concerned, I want everything to be long-term. I want it to be forever.”
She finally raised her eyes to his, and he’d never thought her more beautiful—flushed and bright-eyed, a look of hope in her expression. “I want that too.”
“Judith, this roast is meltin’ in my mouth,” Patrick said, helping himself to another slice of beef.
She looked up in relief. “Thank you. I was nervous, leaving it to cook while we were dealing with Mr. Morgan, but I honestly didn’t know what else to do. It would never have cooked in time if I’d waited.”
“I marvel at how tender it is,” Camri agreed. “You’re going to have to teach me how to cook. Otherwise my poor husband will starve.”
Kenzie glanced up from her plate. “Well, now that Micah and I are making plans to live at Solid Rock, I wonder if the two of you won’t do the same. Then we could just all plan our meals together.”
“’Tis a possibility,” Patrick agreed, ladling more potatoes onto his plate. “But with all that’s happened, we’ve scarce had time for talkin’ about it. Once Caleb is home, we’ll be discussin’ it for sure.”
Judith looked at the clock for the tenth time and shook her head. “I don’t understand Victoria being gone all this time. Where could she be?”
“My guess is that she’s gone out with friends,” Camri answered with a shrug. “She’s made it clear she won’t be kept as a prisoner.”
“Yes, and I have no intention of being her keeper. I know that it’s my responsibility to look after her, but she’s two years from her majority. I don’t think I can endure her that long.” Judith put down her fork. “She’s making this so hard on everyone.”
“God will be providin’ an answer,” Patrick assured her. “We have to have faith.”
The diners startled as the front door opened with a bang.
Patrick immediately got to his feet and moved toward the open hall.
