Chapter Ten
Nearly another week had passed when Ellie, Louisa, and Callie stopped into Rosie’s Cafe on Saturday. “I can’t believe you were able to get away from the clinic,” Louisa said as Rosie’s daughter, Evelyn, seated them. “It feels a little like Christmas.”
The place was adorable, and it was the second time Ellie had been inside though she’d enjoyed their food many times while laid up at the clinic.
It had a homey feel while still feeling special, the simple but pretty china and cream lace tablecloths something she wouldn’t experience at home.
Grandfather’s dinner table set up had been far more formal, but she’d never actually been allowed to eat there unless there were visitors Grandfather wanted to trot her out for.
On occasion he’d play the doting grandfather, but usually it was clearly a matchmaking scheme.
He’d passed before he could accept any proposals on her behalf, something Ellie couldn’t find within herself to be sad about.
“I know,” Callie replied. “I feel like I’m there seven days a week, but I honestly don’t mind. One day, I’d like to hire a nurse who can help with after hours patient care, but Jacob does an excellent job with that when I need him to come in.”
“How are things going with balancing his training and your relationship?” Ellie couldn’t imagine trying to do both, especially with the interesting dynamic it would bring with Callie being his boss.
Due to a number of circumstances, Jacob wasn’t able to attend medical school back East like Callie had, so he’d enrolled in a correspondence program with a medical school in Buffalo, New York.
It required five years of on the job training with a physician, so Callie would be his boss and trainer for years to come.
“It’s been pretty seamless, actually. The Lord has had His hand on us from the beginning.
On the job, I’m in charge, and he has enough confidence in himself to allow that to happen.
Out of the office or home visits, we’re just Jacob and Callie again.
” She smiled, her brown eyes going a little dreamy.
“It helps that he’s probably got the knowledge of a second year medical student already and remembers everything I tell him the first time.
” With a sigh, Callie blushed. “I can’t believe we’re getting married in April. ”
Ellie squealed as softly as she could due to their location. “So you’ve set a date?”
“Yes. Papa’s going to marry us the last Saturday in April at a small family ceremony in the meadow near the church. Then, we’ll all go back to the ranch for a reception.”
“Cecily is thrilled to be helping with the cooking,” Louisa said with a wink.
“She’s really come along now that she has the time to devote to things she enjoys.
Cooking and baking have become a real passion for her, and Liza often helps as soon as she finishes with school.
She takes a little longer than Cecily with her reading and maths, but they’re all coming along so well. ”
It really had been sweet to watch the thirteen-year-old girl grow in the things she enjoyed.
From everything Micah and Louisa had told her, Cecily had missed out on parts of her childhood due to helping with her siblings and the tragic passing of her mother.
Cecily deserved time to devote purely to things she enjoyed, but Ellie had to admit she envied her direction in life a little.
For the moment, Cecily was set on working at Rosie’s as soon as she was old enough, and opening a restaurant and bakery for herself one day.
It might not ever work out, or she might change her mind, but she had a goal.
“From what I hear,” Ellie replied as Evelyn came back to take their order.
“You’ve been a miracle worker for all of them.
” Evelyn’s chocolate brown hair was pulled into a bun, her sensible brown dress doing absolutely nothing to hide her beauty.
Her white apron had a few food splatters and places she’d wiped her hands, but it was far cleaner than if Ellie had been the one in the kitchen.
“Hello, ladies,” Evelyn said as she took their menus.
“Did you hear the exciting news?” Callie had told her Evelyn was about twenty-one, and Ellie couldn’t imagine how the young woman hadn’t been snapped up by some eligible bachelor yet.
Though, she seemed to be doing fine on her own living above her parents’ restaurant and slowly taking on more and more of the responsibility, so perhaps she was exactly where she wanted to be.
“News?” Louisa looked as baffled as Ellie felt, so at least she wasn’t alone. “I spend most of my time around cowboys, children, and cattle, so no.”
Evelyn chuckled. “The town council announced yesterday they’re going to be running electric lines into town! It’ll be so exciting, and we’ll be able to stay open a little later in the winter if we have electric lights in here.”
“Oh, I’m so happy,” Callie exclaimed. “I’ve been researching writing grant proposals with hospitals and schools back East for some equipment I’d really like to have for diagnostics at the clinic, but some require electricity."
It was a whole new world, one Ellie could barely imagine. “What kind of equipment?”
“You might regret asking,” Callie joked. “First, an x-ray machine for when we have broken bones and other issues. It’ll help me so much to be able to diagnose with more certainty.”
Ellie’s eyes widened. “What’s an x-ray machine?”
“They’ve only recently patented them within the last few years, and mostly they’re used in larger hospitals, but Edie’s husband, Lucas, bought her one for the clinic in Pine Creek because of the nature of many accidents at the sawmill.
It gives us a picture where we can see shadows which allow us to see if a bone is broken or if the injury might be to the tissue.
It’s not perfect, and they’ll most certainly improve.
I would love to have one for Cloverdale and even surrounding communities to come and use when necessary. ”
“How much does something like that cost?” January had ticked them over from 1899 into the year 1900, and Ellie’s head spun with all the new things in her life.
“Nearly a thousand dollars,” Callie said sheepishly. “There are other items I’d purchase if I had extra money like a microscope for cultures and an autoclave to sterilize instruments.” She shrugged. “I don’t have anywhere to put an x-ray machine anyway, but a girl can dream.”
Evelyn nodded. “We always do. I love our indoor well pump, but I’d love to have one of those electric water heaters and even an electric coffee percolator.
I hear they have electric ovens and stoves too, but I’m not so sure about how much I’d trust them.
” She giggled, pulling her notepad from her apron pocket.
“I should probably take your orders before my mama comes out here and whips me with her dishrag.”
The women laughed as well, and spent the rest of their lunch chatting about all manner of things from wedding planning for Louisa and Callie to the Sunday School class and the Sutton children’s studies.
Callie spoke of her work at the clinic, but Ellie really had nothing to contribute.
She still wasn’t sure exactly where she fit in the Sutton family and in Cloverdale in general.
She was married to Micah, but she didn’t live with him - not really.
She helped Louisa with the cooking and cleaning, and often accompanied the children as they did their lessons, but she felt more like a tag along than doing something specific.
She’d apparently been lost in her thoughts for a while, as Louisa turned her attention to her. “Penny for your thoughts, Ellie?”
Could she tell them her discontent? Would they think her ungrateful after everything they’d done for her?
The idea of losing her new friends when she finally had some terrified her, but wasn’t part of friendship being honest?
“Well, I suppose I’m still trying to find my place here.
” There, it was out, for better or worse.
“You two both have jobs you love, ones which fulfill you, but I often feel like I’m a third wheel to everyone around me. ”
Callie smiled understandingly. “Of course, you’re still finding your way.
You were brought here against your will not three months ago.
You fought for your life, and used every bit of mental energy you had on healing.
Not only that, but it seems like your grandfather never exactly encouraged you to have dreams or goals in life. ”
Ellie snorted. “No, he most certainly didn’t.
” Grandfather would’ve been happy if she’d never existed, but he settled for never having to see her face unless he had one of his assistants go buy her a pretty dress to trot her out for events.
She wasn’t allowed to talk to or befriend anyone unless he was right there lest she embarrass him, so Ellie spent most of her time sitting by herself in corners or even hiding in the kitchen.
“Then it sounds like this is your time to pursue some interests of your own,” Louisa said as she placed her hand over Ellie’s.
“You don’t need to work. You’re not a burden on the ranch whatsoever.
In fact, you’re a great help to me, but I can understand why you’d want something of your own.
Is there any hobby you’ve ever been allowed which you particularly enjoyed? ”
Ellie felt the flush in her cheeks before she spoke. “It’s silly.” There was no way she could make a job out of it, right?
Louisa leaned forward, eyes sparkling as she grinned. “Tell us. It’s not silly if it’s something you enjoy.”