Page 5 of A Letter to Carolina
He still had to figure out how to tell his family that he was moving to town. Taking over the practice now that Doc was retiring meant he would need to be in town and easily found. No one would want to ride the ten miles out to the ranch to collect the doctor if something happened at Miss Marcy’s or further out.
As he and Madison rode towards town, the line shack caught his eye. The small cabin would be perfect for Doc Mueller. Doc had been talking about finding a cabin and doing some gardening. Didn’t sound like he wanted much land. He just wanted something to do with his time.
He knew the Chapmans would offer the doc one of their cabins, but right now they were all full of cowhands that were getting married and starting families. So, Nate would need to move quickly. If the cabin on the edge of the Pickett property was empty, it would be a simple transition.
Doc could keep watch on Aunt Cleo, and the Picketts could keep watch on him.
“Are you ok?” Maddy looked at him sharply.
“Yep, just some heavy thoughts this morning.” Giving the horse a tap with his heels, he picked up the pace towards town.
Chapter Three
Checking her watch, Carolina noticed she had enough time to meet Mama and check the mail to see if Mrs. Pickett had sent a response to her letter. Saturdays were her only day off, so she tried to do as much as she could in one day. She often attended Saturday evening services so that others could attend on Sunday mornings.
Uncoiling from her spot in the window nook, Carolina shook the folds out of her brown skirt and grabbed her shawl. She’d spent the last two weeks making travel plans and saying goodbye to her friends as each departed for their own futures. The initial sadness of those goodbyes turned into excitement, as the friends exchanged addresses before parting ways.
Carolina didn’t know if she would stay with the Picketts or if a marriage would even work out with Nate, but she had every intention of staying in Flat River and never returning to Pennsylvania. She mentioned those plans in her reply to Mrs. Pickett.
The question this week was whether she was going to inform her mother about the letter she had received or what she might plan for her future. Carolina and her mother were close until Mama got remarried. Her new husband made Carolina feel uncomfortable. She couldn’t pinpoint what it was about Alfred Woodson that made her uneasy and she just tried to ignore him on those few occasions she went home to visit.
Shrugging her shoulders as she worked the shawl over them, she opened the bedroom door, letting the sounds of the dormitory envelop her in warmth. Carolina had nothing to be ashamed of. Despite Mama’s lack of understanding, she had been her biggest supporter, encouraging Carolina to chase her dreams and enroll in the nursing program. Now, she couldn’t resist the temptation to explore the possibility of achieving her other dreams and see if they would come true as well.
“Carolina! Are you busy this afternoon?” Margie Sanderson waved Carolina toward the table she was working at.
“I’m having lunch with Mama and making a quick stop at the post office before church. What are you working on?” Carolina smiled. Margie had been the one to tell her about Mrs. Fischer’s matchmaking services. The matchmaker found a suitable match for Margie’s older sister, who got married three summers ago and now was happily settled with her military husband at the Presidio in California.
“I have my practical on Monday. Is there any chance that you would have time to query with me this afternoon?” Her friend chewed at her bottom lip, glancing up with hopeful eyes.
“Of course. I should be back in two hours. That will give us plenty of time before church services this evening.”
“Oh, thank you!” Joy propelled Margie up from her seat, arms wrapping around Carolina in a tight hug, causing them both to giggle. They had started school together, but when Papa Sanderson fell ill, Margie had gone home to help. When the Sandersons buried him two weeks later, Margie returned to school much more reserved and very behind in her classes. Thankfully, the dean had allowed her to catch-up over the summer and Carolina was happy to help.
The practical exams had been nerve-wracking, right until the moment she’d been presented with a patient to diagnose. It had been another wave of affirmation that she was on the right path, and the thought of exams faded away. Her focus had been on the patient and infant that were depending on her for the best care.
“I’ll be back soon. If you haven’t eaten yet, grab some lunch and then look through your notes. Highlight anything that you are struggling with so that we can make sure you are as confident as possible for Monday.” Margie grinned and Carolina scuttled off to attend to her responsibilities.
She prayed as she walked to meet her mother.
Lord, I know everything happens in your time and that you know the desires of my heart. I am grateful for the experiences and people in my life, and pray that there is someone out there designated to be my mate, as Abraham was to Sarah.
She’d informed the director that she would leave the following Saturday, as she’d made her plans to head west. He’d let her know that there would always be a position available to her if things changed. If nothing else, she could assist with births and provide supervision until things changed. It wouldn’t be a teaching position.
A quick stop at the mercantile confirmed that nothing else had arrived for her and she quickly made her way down to the local café.
“Hello sweetheart.” Her mother’s voice pulled her from her thoughts, Angelina Woodson was thirty-eight years old. Her dark brown hair was twisted up into a tight bun at the back of her head, and her deep purple, fitted day dress highlighted the woman’s tall, narrow structure.
“Hi Mama, I apologize for being late.” She hated meeting with her mother as the topic usually turned to marriage. There was always a frisson of tension between the two, especially now that Mama was socializing in a different, fussier circle of people.
“I’m sure there was something urgent that required your attention.” Spotting an empty table near the windows, her mother made a cheerful noise in her throat and veered sharply toward it. “It’s not like our weekly time together should inconvenience you.”
“Mama, can we not argue today?” Carolina forced a lightness into her tone and a smile on her face.
“You could move home. Alfred is happy to allow you a room while you are working.”
“Mama, I’m not moving into Alfred’s home. You’re barely married, and if I were to stay at the hospital, I would be required to be closer. If I could move into the brickstone—”
“Someone has rented the brickstone. It is not proper for you to live alone at nineteen years of age, and you should be grateful that I have married a man who will accept you and your oddities.” Her mother tilted her head, lips twisted into a disapproving shape. Not for the first time, Carolina wondered why this had to be the argument.
