Roman left the patient he’d been checking on and headed down the street. He had promised his mentor, Dr. Lester, that he would meet him and Reverend Knickerbacker at eleven so that they could further discuss plans for the charity hospital Knickerbacker was determined to see built.
He started to cross the street when he spied Ashton’s carriage. The ornate goldenAon the side door left no doubt as to whom the carriage belonged. Not only that, but the old man himself was sitting there as large as life. He was pointing out something to his companion, a woman. Roman couldn’t imagine who she might be or, frankly, what woman would even wish to keep company with the old man when he had quite the reputation as a curmudgeon. Roman remembered hearing that Ashton was going to have company. Perhaps she was some distant family member. Poor woman.
Ashton seemed to be caught up in telling her something, and neither noticed Roman as the carriage moved down the street.
That was the way Ashton had been all the time Roman’s family had known him. The man simply didn’t care enough to notice anyone or their needs. Roman wished the matter didn’t continue to trouble him as it did. His father was dead, and no amount of contemplation would bring him back. Holding a grudge wouldn’t change the heart of his enemy.
But it was so easy to remember that Ashton had duped his father. Mother had said the entire matter was finished before his father had even attempted to explain to her what was going to happen. For reasons beyond her understanding, Ashton had convinced her husband to temporarily sign over the properties he possessed in Minneapolis. Supposedly this was an action done in good faith to secure a large loan. Everything was legal. But problems haunted the project at every turn, and in the end, things had fallen apart rather quickly. When Ashton decided to put an end to the arrangement, there was little Roman’s father could do but accept his fate. The property remained in Ashton’s hands, and Andrew Turner learned a hard lesson about dealing with the ruthless man.
Though it wasn’t as if his father had sought counsel or even took time to discuss the project with his friends, and by the time he did take the matter up with a lawyer, it was too late. The lawyer studied the contracts and could find no chance of seeing the property returned to Roman’s father. Mother had sent letters telling Roman about the situation and of his father’s attempts to convince the older man to do what he called “the Christian thing.” But Ashton would hear nothing of it, and his lawyer made it clear that the matter wasn’t based on religious nonsense but on contractual agreements that were legal and binding.
Roman watched as the carriage disappeared down the street. Even after all these years, he couldn’t shake his desire for the man to get his comeuppance. So often he had prayed for justice, but none ever came.
He made his way to Dr. Lester’s home office and tried to put the matter from his mind. Everyone in Minneapolis knew to beware of Ashton. At least, they knew it now. After ruining the lives of many of his rivals, James Ashton had a reputation that no one ignored. Unfortunately, many still found it necessary to do business with him. He was rich, probably richer than anyone else in the area, and he was known to invest in building projects, land development, and railroads. People sought his help whenever there was no one else brave or rich enough to help. Even banks needed his help from time to time. Of course, such help came at a price.
“Enough!” Roman muttered. He was determined to forego further thoughts that only served to discourage and defeat. It was a beautiful day, and he was not going to allow anything or anyone to cause him grief.
He drew in a deep breath and remembered his morning devotions from Ephesians chapter four.
“Letall bitterness,and wrath,and anger,and clamour,and evilspeaking,be put away from you,with all malice:Andbe ye kind one to another,tenderhearted,forgiving one another,even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Roman took another deep breath. “I will put it away from me.” He smiled, hoping no one had overheard his declaration. Already his spirit felt renewed as he reached the doctor’s office.
Dr. John Lester’s door was always open to anyone who needed him. Roman opened the door and stepped inside. The room was empty at the moment, and Roman called out to announce his arrival. “John, are you here? I’ve come for our meeting.”
“Roman!” A man some thirty years Roman’s senior stepped into the small waiting room. “I’m glad you could come. The reverend isn’t here yet, so come on back and share a cup of coffee with me.”
They made their way through a door and down the shorthall. To the right was a small examination room, currently empty, that had doubled as a convalescing room for badly injured patients. The rest of the house held private quarters for John, a widower of nearly thirty years.
John took down a mug from a peg beneath his cabinet and grabbed the pot of coffee and brought it to the table, where his own cup sat. He motioned for Roman to take a seat. “I was hoping we’d have a little time to talk. How are you? I haven’t seen you for a couple of weeks, except for briefly at church.”
Roman took the chair, still trying to forget about Ashton. “I know, I’ve had my hands full. There’s been a lot of late-spring sickness in the poorer quarters.”
John nodded and poured Roman a cup of coffee. “I’ve been busy as well. How’s your mother and sister?”
“They’re doing well. They’ve managed to remain healthy, for which I’m most grateful to God. My sister is planning for her fall wedding. I believe most of the town will be invited.”
The older doctor chuckled. “Oh, to be young again.”
Roman laughed and took the offered mug. “Frankly, I’m glad to be nearly forty. People take me more seriously and figure I’m mature enough to be sound of mind and judicious in decisions.”
“Still, I recall to mind those days of youth when nothing wearied me or gave me second thoughts.” He joined Roman at the table and poured more coffee into his own mug before placing the pot between them on a woven pad. “Back then I could stay awake for days, and did on occasion. Now I’m fit to be tied if I miss one night’s sleep.”
“Have you heard from your daughters?”
There had been a time when they’d all lived in Baltimore that John Lester had thought his youngest might have made a wife for Roman. She had been pretty and surprisingly sensible, but Roman found no desire to marry at the time, and she wenton to find another. Sometimes he wondered what his life might have been like had he pursued her.
“They’re both doing well in Baltimore. Their husbands are quite successful in their various roles. I must admit it was hard to leave them there, but your need for me here far outweighs theirs. I don’t regret coming to offer my skills in Minnesota.”
“And we’re mighty glad you decided to come as well,” Roman said before sipping the steaming brew. It was strong, almost too strong, but he didn’t show his dislike. Instead, he gave it another sip before setting the mug on the table.
“Do you ever miss Baltimore, Roman?”
“I suppose there are times that I miss the larger cities with the availability of more amenities. We’ve both seen times when a decent hospital and operating surgery would have benefited us. It’s hard to believe that in a city of thirteen thousand people we don’t have a hospital.”
“But soon. The reverend and our men’s group, the Brotherhood of Gethsemane, are making great strides, as you well know. We’ll have a charity hospital by next year if we can manage to get more money than chickens and jars of preserves donated for our services.” He gave a laugh. “Although, I must say that the mint jelly I was given in lieu of payment last week was some of the best I’ve ever had.”
Roman chuckled. He’d received everything from loaves of bread to knitted mittens to the promise of pick of the litter when the owner’s hunting dog had pups.
