Ginny Aiken (22 page)

She was a physician. She’d sacrificed much to become one, and no one, not even the man she loved, was going to stop her from using her God-given gift. As a healer, she would continue to treat those who ailed, those who needed her.

She got dressed, then took care of the mundane morning chores. She ate, and as she washed the oatmeal off the bowl, she made a mental list of patients she’d visit today. Before she’d finished counting them all, Daisy burst into the kitchen.

“Morning, Doc. Can I practice typewriting for a spell?”

Satisfaction warmed Letty’s heart. She couldn’t give up on this girl.
Thank you, Lord. I know there’s much to do, but with your help, I can do this, too. In spite of Eric.

She hugged Daisy. “Why, certainly, dear. I was just lamenting the prospects for a dull morning. Your visit is the remedy this doctor needs.”

Was his weakness around lovely women congenital? Eric couldn’t otherwise explain his actions of the past few weeks. How could he have felt such rage? How could he have vented it on Letty? How could he have kissed her yet again?

He didn’t know how he’d face her. He’d lost all semblance of control of his temper and his desire.

She welcomed your kisses,
his weak side taunted.

Still, she was an innocent. He, on the other hand, knew where his actions could lead. A man with a past like his knew better than to love a woman like Letty. He would keep her from loving him back.

A woman of principle never shared kisses as intense as theirs unless she loved the man in question. Letty was no trollop. A man could cherish her, knowing she’d never lead him to destruction
like the floozies at Bessie’s did. Knowing that Letty loved him made Eric want to run to her side, clasp her in his arms, and never let her go. Reason, however, told him she deserved a better man, a whole man, one without guilt.

He left for the office, barely noting the sunshine. Spring had arrived, but as far as Eric was concerned, winter could just as easily have stayed. He didn’t want to breathe the fragrance of promise each day. He didn’t want to hear birds woo their mates or watch them build their nests. He didn’t want to see new life in flower beds or tree branches. He didn’t dare feel hope in the world around him. He was a failed man, and his heart held only pain.

At the livery, he grunted at Amos. Amos returned a full-bellied laugh. Eric cast a glare at his friend and saw wisdom in his eyes as he left.

He walked faster, but when he neared Silver Creek Church at Willow and Main, his pace began to slow. His heart yearned for the woman who brought sunshine with her. A movement in the winter-nude shrubs around Letty’s home caught Eric’s attention, a flash of marigold and black, unusually bright for this time of year. He tucked his portfolio under his arm and went to investigate.

As he approached, he saw the young blond tart Letty had helped the night of Slosh’s debacle with Bessie Brown. The girl opened Letty’s back door and ran in as if she owned the place.

An oath ripped past his lips. The woman brought sunshine with her, but she also brought more trouble than a dozen women should.

Angry again, he stalked on to his office, determined to put an end to the mess. And the only way to end it was to redouble his efforts to rid Hartville of its more squalid element.

Letty’s progress with Daisy provided her with renewed zest, so the rest of the day flew by. No problems arose. By early afternoon, Randy Carlson was her only patient.

“You look lovely, Mama,” Letty said as her friend walked in.

Randy rolled her eyes. “My skirts are too tight around the waist.”

A pang of yearning struck Letty, and she had to clear her throat. “How do you feel? Any problems?”

Randy sank into the chair in front of Letty’s desk. “Well, no. I came to see you because I’ve heard the oddest rumors, and I wanted to discuss them with you.” Her green eyes dodged Letty’s gaze. “Emma—”

“Emma—”

The women exchanged awkward smiles. Letty tried again. “To be fair, the bare facts are as Emmaline must be painting them. I have indeed taken two of the girls from Bessie’s place under my wing.”

Randy gasped, her eyes wide as the sky.

“I hope I don’t offend you,” Letty continued, “but I must speak frankly. Those two girls—for that’s all they are—were beaten by patrons of Bessie’s Barn. I couldn’t in good conscience let them go untreated. I came to Hartville to treat women and children in particular. Daisy and Mim are, unfortunately, both.”

Randy blanched.

“You should also know,” Letty added, “that Pastor and Mrs. Stone took Mim home with them. I’ve been treating her injuries, and she’s on the mend now. She’s only thirteen years old. Could you turn your back on a misused child?”

“Thirteen?”

“Thirteen.”

“Obscene.”

“Indeed. So are you asking me to reject them?”

“No . . . I can’t say I am.” Randy paused. “How can I help you? Them?”

“Do you know what you’re asking?”

Randy paused again. “Yes.”

“Douglas won’t be pleased,” Letty warned.

“Just let him try to stop me,” Randy said, narrowing her eyes. “Think of the self-righteous men who have warned their wives to stay away from you since Emmaline began spreading rumors. Many of them use the girls.”

“That hasn’t escaped me. If they had no patrons, the girls would find other means of support. The men perpetuate the problem.”

Randy tapped her shoe against the floor, mulling over Letty’s words. “I guess,” she said, “but one can also argue that if the women weren’t there, the men wouldn’t be tempted. Does that make sense?”

Letty took a deep breath. “The Lord did promise He would never let us be tempted beyond our defenses. Rejecting the women and chasing them from town isn’t the answer. Jesus never shunned prostitutes or other sinners. He came to save them. If we’re to follow His example, then we must help them, too.”

Randy had the grace to blush. “You’re right. What do we do next?”

Glad to disembark from the same carousel of contention she’d already ridden with Eric, Letty said, “We probably should discuss this with Pastor and Mrs. Stone sometime soon. After all, they have Mim.”

“That’s an excellent idea. Since I’m anxious to help, I hope you’ll let me go with you.”

The women headed for the door, each with separate business to attend to, but both thinking of cast-off youngsters. The conversation had reminded Letty of her argument with Eric, and she decided to meet him on his own territory. Certain matters needed clarification, and she feared her cozy home might permit a recurrence of anger or passion.

“Let me come partway with you,” she told Randy. “I need to stop by the newspaper.” As soon as she spoke, Letty recognized her mistake.

Randy grinned mischievously. “You want to see Eric? Anything interesting to discuss?”

Letty fastened the black frog tie at the collar of her gray cape and gave Randy a reproving glare. “Certainly. I need to discuss the girls with Mr. Wagner.”

“Oh.”

Letty almost laughed at her friend’s deflated expression. Were it not for the pain of last night’s argument, she might have told Randy of her feelings for Eric. He had made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t ready to love again. Letty had nothing to tell.

Soon, however, the sparkling newness of spring had her casting off her gloomy mood. On a cottonwood’s branches, myriad green dots heralded the arrival of its newest garment. In a neighbor’s garden, more green parted the earthy mantle that had sheltered it from winter’s chill.

“Look, Randy,” Letty said. “Over there, in the corner. Can those be crocuses?”

“Mine came out days ago. I love spring. It’s the happiest time of year.”

The sturdy blossoms that, after fighting the odds of winter, burst through in victory at the first sign of warmth brought something sweet to Letty’s bruised spirit. “Hope,” she whispered.

“Hope,” Randy agreed.

The friends parted ways, and Letty approached Eric’s office. When she was nearly there, she heard a woman’s voice sing out. “Dr. Morgan!
Eine minute, bitte.
”

Letty turned and saw the first woman whose delivery she’d attended in Hartville. “I’m tickled to see you, Elsa. How’s the baby?”

“Big. My mann vant know, you vant ham? Ve got goot ham this year.”

“Oh, how kind of you. I have plenty of food,” she said, but at Elsa’s crestfallen look, she chose to alter her answer. “I have plenty of food, but your ham sounds like a splendid feast. If
you’re certain you and the children don’t need it, I’d be honored to have it.”

Elsa’s bun bounced with her nod. “Ve bring it your house soon.”

“And the baby, too.”

“Ja, ja.”

The rumble of agitated male voices caught her attention, and Letty glanced in their direction. The noisy group stood at the entrance to the
Hartville Day
. Had Eric written another of his scorching editorials?

Letty asked Elsa if she knew the source of the men’s interest. Elsa lowered her head and peered at the wooden sidewalk. She clasped and unclasped her hands in obvious discomfort.
“Nicht gut,”
she said, shaking her head. “Mr. Wagner write of bad vemen. Bessie Brown.”

What had he done?

“Have you read the editorial?” Letty asked.

Elsa looked up. “Ed . . . edi-tor-yal?”

Letty regretted never learning German. “Yes, what Eric wrote. Have you read it?”

“
Nein,
my mann tell me is
nicht gut.
Bad vemen. Close houses, ja? Vemen in jail.”

Letty bit her tongue. She was overcome with temptation to throttle the man who’d kissed her senseless and then undermined her efforts to improve the lot of a number of neglected children. Didn’t the girls deserve a chance to change? Didn’t they deserve to be loved? Shouldn’t they have the opportunity to hear the gospel and learn what Jesus offered? Indeed, what could prison offer them?

Eric knew how much the girls’ welfare meant to her. She’d told him how much she wanted to help. For him to decide on the course of action for all of Hartville and then use the power of his newspaper to sway popular opinion showed outrageous arrogance.

How could he caress her so tenderly and then trample her feelings, her convictions? His treachery crushed her, tarnishing her memories of their embraces.

Tears of rage filled her eyes. They had no future together. Besides, she had a first love, and that love led her to choose to serve God’s children. She had a mission to fulfill.

With a swift
“Auf wiedersehen”
for Elsa and a dab at her eyes, Letty parted the male crowd and went to beard the lion in his den.

Impelled by her temper, she slammed the door behind her. Eric’s reporter jumped and dropped his spectacles. For a second, Letty regretted her unladylike entrance, but she didn’t let regret linger.

“I’m sorry about the door, Ford,” she said. “I need to speak to him. Where is he?”

With a bemused expression on his face, Ford bobbed his head in the direction of Eric’s office. He started to stand, but Letty waved him back down. “Don’t bother. I know where the lion’s lair is. In fact, this might be an excellent time to go and sniff out tomorrow’s news. It’ll likely be loud enough in here to ruin anyone’s concentration.”

Letty made short work of the hallway and knocked on the door to Eric’s inner sanctum. She entered without waiting for an invitation. “Just what did you mean by writing such drivel?” she asked. “I can’t believe a man as intelligent and well educated as you would come up with nothing better than judgmental tripe.”

Fists on her hips, Letty studied Eric’s reddening face. “I’ll fight you on this, you know. You simply cannot jail little girls. I’ll do everything I can to rescue however many I find.”

Eric stood. “If we were only dealing with little girls, Dr. Morgan, then I would perhaps agree with your prescription, but brothels are full of women who prey on male needs. They also prey on your little girls and must be stopped.”

Eric squared his shoulders. “Tell me,” he said, “have you seen
a family destroyed after the man takes a prostitute’s lure? He swallows the pretty bait, but the hook ravages him, maybe kills him. I’ve seen it happen. Those predators must be stopped.”