Page 25 of Brian and Cora
Her new friend confided how, at the beginning of the summer, she’d left her family’s isolated farm on the prairie to move to town and become an assistant to the dressmaker. Blushing, the words coming slower, Elsie revealed she had a beau and shyly told her about Hank Canfield, who lived in the most beautiful place—Three Bend Lake.
Tears forming in her eyes, she told of Hank and his neighbor, Brian Bly, having been part of the posse and how she’d endured the most frightful week until her beloved returned safely. She still felt unsettled by the ordeal.
“Brian Bly,” Cora murmured. “Isn’t he the one who was wounded?”
“Shot in the thigh. Hank says he’s being the most dreadful patient.”
“Most men don’t make good patients,” Cora said knowledgeably.
“Dr. Angus and Hank wanted Brian to stay with the Flanigans for another week. But he insisted on leaving when Buck Skold does. Buck was shot in the shoulder, but he’s mobile. They return to town the day after tomorrow.”
An idea started to form in Cora’s mind. “Is either man married? Do they have someone to take care of them?”
“Brian doesn’t. Mr. Skold works as a cowboy on the Thompson ranch. I don’t think he’s married.”
“Wonderful! They’ll need a nurse.”
Elsie’s eyes grew big. “Perfect for you! But…but Brian’s not the most….” She hesitated, scrunching up her forehead. “Well, he’s not very friendly. Keeps to himself. But he’s really quite personable when you get to know him. He and Hank helped the Smiths and my family bring in the harvest. They made such a big difference.”
“I have plenty of experience in dealing with difficult patients.” Cora set her plate and teacup on the table and stood. “Come on.”
When Elsie moved too slowly, Cora grabbed her hand and towed her over to Aunt Rose, who conversed with three ladies, all well-dressed and coiffed. “Aunt Rose, Elsie and I were just talking about the men wounded by the robbers. She says they’re returning to Sweetwater Springs the day after tomorrow. Neither one of them is married or has relatives, so they must be alone with no one to take care of them.”
Rose’s expression pinched.
The auburn-haired woman smiled kindly at Cora. “Buck Skold is one of our ranch hands. I promise we’ll take very good care of him. She nodded toward the twins chatting with the doctor’s wife. “Alana is the one in the blue. She and her husband, Patrick, came to Sweetwater Springs for the Harvest Festival. She’s a nurse who’s studying to become a doctor. They’ve stayed on at our place in case her services were needed and will depart after Buck is well.”
At first, Cora was disappointed. But then she realized she wouldn’t be able to be two places at once anyway. She swept them all a triumphant smile. “Then if Buck Skold is in goodhands, that leaves Brian Bly to me. I will nurse him. After all, that’s what I’ve been studying for.”
Elsie frowned, and her hands fluttered. “I don’t know.” She glanced around at the circle of five women. “I haven’t been to Mr. Bly’s house. But Hank Canfield, who’s his neighbor?—”
“And Elsie’s beau,” Cora interrupted with a smirk and knowing glance at her new friend.
Elsie blushed and elbowed Cora. “As I was saying, Hank told me Mr. Bly lives in a small, one-room cabin, and the interior is rather sparse. I don’t think you’ll be comfortable.”
Cora wasn’t about to let anyone discourage her. “I’ll manage,” she said breezily, with an airy wave of her hand. Somehow. She braced for the uproar.
Rose gave Cora a disapproving frown. “Absolutely not. You will not go live with a man in a one-room cabin—” she ticked off one finger “—in the middle of nowhere—” a second tick “—without any chaperone.” She held up a third finger before closing her hand and lowering her arm.
Mrs. Cobb, who’d left her group to linger close by with her teacup and saucer, her ear so near she almost overbalanced, sidled up to them. “Miss Cora, I must agree with your aunt. Mr. Bly’s leg was injured. To nurse him, you’ll have to see his bare limbs, touching him unclothed. Quite out of the question.”
“That’s what nurses do.” Cora bristled, raising her chin. “If anyone is so evil-minded as to say otherwise—” she glared at Mrs. Cobb “—I don’t care about their malicious opinions.”
Delia touched Rose’s arm and leaned to speak softly into her ear.
Cora strained to hear but couldn’t quite make out their conversation. But Aunt Rose’s agitated state seemed to somewhat subside.
Delia turned toward the others and raised her voice. “We can certainly send a brigade to Three Bend Lake to clean up Mr. Bly’splace and stock the pantry with food. If we build another room onto the cabin, then, at least, Cora would have separate sleeping quarters.”
Rose wagged a finger at Delia. “You’re sounding like your father. Taking charge of everything and, in the process, flinging around a great deal of money.”
A slow smile bloomed on Delia’s face. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Of course, you would,” Rose murmured, not hiding her sarcasm.
“Just a minute,” Elsie said softly. “I need to speak with Mrs. Swensen.” She left their group and hurried over to a thin, shabbily dressed woman, perched on the sofa, whose blond braid coiled around her head, European fashion.
She held a plate with a sandwich in her lap and was chatting with Mary Norton, Delia’s mother-in-law, who sat next to her. In front of them, the laden dishes almost obscured the flowers painted on the top of the butler’s tray table.
