“Some are warring, though, aren’t they?”
“At times. I think many of those situations are of our own making. People tend to fight when they feel threatened, and the way the white man is pushing through their lands without regard to their needs is pretty threatening, if you ask me.”
“I suppose so. I hadn’t really considered it.”
They reached Dr. Scott’s place and were immediately ushered inside by Mrs. Scott. “Would you like some coffee?” she asked.
Fred shook his head. “No, I need to get home and go to bed. My shift will come around soon enough, and I’ll be expected to be awake and alert all night. Ed doing well?”
Mrs. Scott laughed. “Mercy, yes. He’s already had hisbreakfast. He’s got a bit of a recovery ahead of him, but he’s doing quite well.”
“Good to hear. Please tell him that I’ll stop by this evening to see him.”
Marybeth turned to Fred. “I’ll make sure he knows. Thanks for seeing me here. I appreciate so much all that you and Eve are doing for us.”
“My pleasure,” Fred replied. “And my pleasure will be even greater when Ed is back on his feet and able to work with me again.”
“That won’t come for a few weeks,” Dr. Scott said, entering the foyer. “He needs to be convinced of that by you, Fred. He’s thinking he’ll jump up and be back to work next week. I keep trying to explain to him that he must heal.”
“I’ll make sure he gets it through his head.” Fred tipped his hat at the ladies and headed out the door, while Marybeth made her way to Edward’s room. He was sitting up, reading theDaily Leadernewspaper.
“Any good news?” she asked, coming into the room with a smile.
“The railroad is proposing to build a hospital at the corner of Seventeenth and Hill. It will have operating rooms, bathing rooms, wards, and even private rooms.”
“Now if they can just convince doctors to come to Cheyenne.”
Edward put the paper down. “They will. They’ll pay them enough to convince them.”
Marybeth settled into the chair she always used and nodded. “I’m sure you’re right. The railroad always seems to have plenty of money for what they want.”
“They’ve got over ten thousand men employed along the line and probably half of them are right here in Cheyenne.And now they’re making plans for the rails to connect to Denver. This is going to change everything in the West. We’ll never be the same.”
“No, I don’t suppose so. I just hope we all live through it.”
“Before you know it, we’ll be all settled and civilized and then look out. We’ll rival Denver.”
Another week slipped by, and Edward’s strength continued to improve. Even Dr. Scott was impressed with his healing.
“This is looking quite good. There’s always something to be said for youth. You’re also in good shape. I think we’ll probably be letting you finish your recuperation at home soon.”
“I’ll be thankful for that. Not that you and the missus don’t host a very nice hospital.”
Dr. Scott replaced the bandage on Edward’s wound. “We were called to serve and extend the love of Christ. We do our best.”
“I wish all men of the cloth would see it that way,” Marybeth said as she picked up her sewing.
“Mrs. Scott shared with me that you had a rather bad encounter with your pastor back home.”
“Yes, I’m afraid so. Our pastor in Indiana was in everyone’s business. He made it his job to know everything about everyone. He said that was his duty because we were his flock. But he also attempted to impose his will on us.”
“Perhaps he felt that was how he could best bear the burdens of his congregants. Sometimes we can push too hard and impose ourselves in the lives of others without meaning to do anything more than extend the love of Jesus.”
Marybeth considered his words for a moment. “He told us we were cursed for marrying like we did.” She hadn’t meant to bring that up and quickly moved on. “We both felt it was God’s will for us, however.”
“The Old Testament talks about people being cursed for their sin, but with Christ as your Savior, He takes all of that on so you don’t have to. You aren’t cursed if you have Jesus.” He went to a porcelain bowl and poured water to wash his hands. “I hope you won’t let it sour you on serving God and others,” Dr. Scott continued. “He was just one man, and we’ve all got our faults and sins.”
Marybeth had never really considered Pastor Orton that way. For some reason, she always thought of pastors as above sin. “You’ve helped me to think about the entire matter in a different light.”
