Page 552 of Conveniently Wed
Lorinda took the box and laid it on the table beside the bed. “Let me get paper and a pencil, so I can write down your instructions.”
Within a minute, she returned. She listed the pills and dosages on the paper.
Dr. Winston next gave her the Hensel’s Tonic. “Mix one teaspoon of this into a quart of water. Have her drink a glass twice a day.”
While Lorinda wrote those instructions, she kept glancing at Miriam to see if there was any change. When she finished, Miriam opened her eyes.
“Hello, Miriam.” The doctor leaned close to her. “Do you remember me?”
She gave a slight nod.
“Are you thirsty?” He continued to study her.
“Yes.” The whispered answer was so soft that Lorinda almost thought she’d imagined it.
“Good.” Dr. Winston turned toward her. “Please have Mrs. Oleson bring some broth and water.”
As she left the room, the doctor leaned closer to Miriam. “Do you know when your baby’s due?”
Lorinda didn’t hear the answer.
She and Mrs. Oleson rushed to the bedroom with the requested items. The doctor lifted Miriam’s head and held the glass of water to her mouth. The patient tried to gulp the cooling liquid.
He pulled it back after the first mouthful. “You need to take it easy. It’s been quite a while since you had water, so you mustsip it at first. Then I’m going to let Mrs. Oleson spoon-feed you the broth.”
After a few sips, he continued to hold up her head while the housekeeper added another pillow under her. Then she started dribbling the broth between Miriam’s lips.
Even though some color had returned to Miriam’s cheeks, she was still much too pale. Her gauntness made her look so frail she might fall over if a person blew a small puff of air toward her. Lorinda wasn’t used to being around anyone so ill.
Dr. Winston turned back to Lorinda. “Here’s one more liquid medicine I want you to give her. She should have one tablespoon of this Manola Tonic before each meal and at bedtime. I’ve had good results with it, so you need to follow my instructions exactly.”
“Thank you. I will.” Lorinda watched him pack up his bag and get ready to leave. “I’m not sure where Franklin is. He stayed close to the house much of the day, but I haven’t seen him recently.”
“That’s fine. He can pay me next time he’s in town. I trust him.” He went out into the hallway, took his hat, and left through the front door.
She glanced out the window to watch the doctor leave. Franklin met him at his buggy. The men started a conversation. The expression on Franklin’s face showed great concern.
Pain shot through Lorinda’s heart. Was her husband sorry he’d married her? Was he wishing he’d waited for Miriam to return? And his former fiancée carried a child who could be his heir as easily as Michael could.Does he realize that?
Lorinda wondered if she would get to the place where she truly trusted Franklin.
She wouldn’t give up hope.
But...
29
Franklin went to the house to see if Lorinda and Mrs. Oleson needed his help taking care of Miriam. They assured him they didn’t. He studied Lorinda while he was talking to them. He tried to see if she was upset with Miriam being in their house. He sure hoped not. Lorinda was his wife. The woman he loved more than anyone else. But he’d never told her that. She couldn’t tell what he felt. She was concerned about Miriam’s weakness and her condition, but was she concerned about anything else?
The rest of the day, he couldn’t keep his thoughts from drifting toward the three women, wondering what was happening. When he finally finished making sure all the horses had plenty of hay, he left the rest of the chores to his cowhands. He made sure all those standing watch were fed in the chow hall, and a new set would take over for the night shift. The cattle rustlers could still be nearby, and he wanted his women protected from the scoundrels. At least he had been able to get the herd he wanted to sell all the way to Frisco without the drive being attacked. If only they knew who was stealing the cattle.
When he thought about the women in his house, he couldn’t help being concerned with his ex-fiancée. What had happened to her? He was glad the Lord had removed her from his life beforehe made the mistake of marrying the wrong woman. But why had the Lord brought her back into his household at this time? Just when he was falling so deeply in love with the woman he felt God had planned for him all along. Miriam was helpless, and he had the means to help her, but he didn’t want her presence in their house to affect the way Lorinda felt about him. Somehow, he had to make sure his wife knew he loved her...and only her.
When he went into the house after work, Lorinda was sitting at Miriam’s bedside, and their patient slept peacefully.
“How is she doing?” His voice must have startled Lorinda, because she jumped a little, then looked at him, her eyes hiding her feelings from him.
“She’s resting. That’s good.”
