Chapter 4
December 25th, 1897, Eagle Creek, Montana
Matthew had been kept busy overnight. One of the patients in the clinic had taken a turn for the worst, and he had tried everything he could to save the poor man’s life. Sadly, it was to no avail. When Mrs. Tinsley arrived at the crack of dawn, he had taken the man into a small room and had just started to wash him and prepare him so his family might visit and pay their respects. Mrs. Tinsley sighed heavily when she saw, and gently caressed the man’s grizzled cheek. “He seemed to be getting better.”
“It’s something I’ve often noticed; that peculiar lift just before a man’s time is up,” Matthew said solemnly as Maud took the cloth from him and took over. “Did you know him well?”
Mrs. Tinsley nodded. “Garner Moffat was a good man. Kept himself to himself mostly.” She shook her head. “But I suppose he wasn’t getting any younger.”
“I’m sorry. Is there anyone I should call on, to let them know?”
“Nobody. He lived alone. Alice, his wife, passed away a few years ago now. He’ll be happy to be back by her side, I don’t doubt.”
“What do we do when someone passes away here?” Matthew asked. He knew that there were companies that provided all manner of services in the city, but he wasn’t sure if such places existed here.
“We call on Edwin Graham,” she said. “He’ll do everything that’s needed.”
“He’s the town carpenter, isn’t he?”
“He is. I fear he’s not going to have much time to undertake much else except coffins for a while.”
Matthew raised an eyebrow at her unintended pun. She shook her head and smiled wearily. “Let us hope that isn’t the case,” Matthew said taking her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
She nodded, but he could see that there was little hope in her eyes. It seemed that Mr. Moffat’s passing had dimmed her usually inimitable spirit. Matthew hated to see her look so beaten down by it all, but he could not find the words to assure her that everything would be alright. How could it ever be alright, when you had to watch your family, friends and neighbors go through such horrors?
“I’ll try and call on him before he leaves for church,” Matthew said. “Do you want me to stay? I don’t mind if you do.”
“No, we have to stick to the plan. Staying rested so we can stay out ahead of this thing is more important than ever,” Mrs. Tinsley said fervently.
Matthew nodded. She was right. And he was tired. It had been a very long night. He made his way to the little changing room, where he stripped, washed and dressed in the clean clothes that Michael O’Shaunessy had brought back for him the night before, then made his way out into the sunshine. There had been more snow overnight and it was crisp underfoot. He much preferred the thick snow to the treacherous ice that took its place if there were no fresh flurries for a day or two. He walked cautiously, still wary of the conditions, looking down at his feet and the sidewalk in front of him and almost bumped into Nate Hale.
“Good morning, Dr. Inglis,” the sheriff said smiling. “Merry Christmas. How are you settling in?”
“I had almost forgotten that it was Christmas,” Matthew admitted, running a hand through his disheveled hair and sighing. “Merry Christmas to you and your family, Nate.”
“Bad night?”
“We lost a man in the night. I’m on my way to fetch Mr. Graham, though now I’ve remembered it is Christmas, calling on him seems somehow rather rude.”
“Who?”
“Mr. Graham,” Matthew said a little confused.
“I apologize. I meant who passed away?”
“Oh. Mr. Moffat.”
“Poor old coot. He’s been a virtual recluse since Alice died, only comes into town for food and supplies. And don’t you worry about Edwin. He’s been making coffins for people, getting them ready to meet their Maker in Eagle Creek for years. He’d be more angry if you leave it until tomorrow to tell him.”
“Well, I hope that this hasn’t spoiled your day.”
“I think that most of the town has at least one person they love sick with this thing. I doubt it will be the most festive year anyone has had. We can only hope that it passes soon, without too many more casualties.”
Matthew nodded as Nate slapped him gently on the back. It was a small gesture of consolation and support. Matthew was strangely touched by it. He was a stranger in this town, yet people seemed to treat him as if they had known him for years. It was peculiarly disarming and delightful all at once.
He went on his way, checking the numbers on the doors of the houses until he reached a particularly fine-looking house. Even if Mrs. Tinsley had not made him memorize the number, he would have known that this modestly sized, beautifully built home belonged to a man who took pride in his work and wanted to show what he could do. He walked up the snow-covered path, stamped the snow off his boots on the lowest step, then took the next two up onto the porch.
He knocked on a beautifully carved door and waited, rubbing his hands together and hopping from foot to foot to try and keep warm. Mr. Graham answered the door, his shirt still partially unbuttoned, his suspenders hanging around his waist. There was soap foam on his cheeks. “I’m so sorry to disturb you while you were shaving, Sir,” Matthew started.
“You’re the new doctor?” Mr. Graham asked. Matthew nodded. “Who is it this time?”
“Mr. Moffat, I’m sorry to say.”
“He’d say it was a blessing to be reunited with Alice.”
“So everyone keeps saying,” Matthew said with a sad smile.
“They were the sweetest old couple,” Mr. Graham said. “Thank you for letting me know. I’ll stop by the clinic on my way back from church.”
“Thank you.”
“Will you be attending services?”
“I would normally, but I’ve not actually slept more than a few hours since I arrived here on Tuesday. I am praying that the Good Lord will forgive me if I skip them just this once.”
“I’m no priest, but I’m sure he’d understand. Thank you for coming to help our town. I know that there’s many here who are more than glad of it.”
“I only hope that I can help.”
They bade one another farewell and Matthew made his way back to Mrs. Garfield’s cozy little boarding house at the other end of the town. She had a fine breakfast awaiting him and he ate it hungrily in her neat dining room at the back of the house before making his way upstairs to his room. He sank down on his bed and pulled off his boots and clothes. A clean nightgown awaited him on his pillow, and he slid it on over his head, enjoying the clean fresh smell of the crisp cotton, then climbed under the covers and was soon fast asleep.
Mrs. Garfield woke him with a cup of steaming coffee, as he’d asked her to, just after midday. She insisted he take a basket of food back to the clinic with him, for himself and for Mrs. Tinsley. He was too weary to argue. Mr. Graham had already been to collect the body when he arrived. “I’m back,” he called when he didn’t find Mrs. Tinsley in either the front reception area or in the little ward to the rear.
She emerged from Dr. Walker’s office and smiled at him. “I was just looking for the doctor’s stethoscope to check everyone’s lungs.”
“I can do that, if you’d like me to, Mrs. Tinsley?” he said, handing her the basket of food as he took the stethoscope from her.
“I would be grateful, though I’d be happier if you called me Maud.”
“I would be honored, as long as you will call me Matthew.”
“That wouldn’t be right. You are a doctor and have earned the respect of being seen that way,” she said firmly.
“Perhaps in front of patients, but you deserve far more respect than I. I’d wager every penny I have that you’ve forgotten more about medicine than I have ever learned.”
She blushed a little, which made Matthew smile. Despite her stern demeanor, she was still open to flattery – not that he had said anything that he believed to be untrue. Maud was highly skilled, and he’d noticed how often Dr. Walker deferred to her judgment. If she’d been permitted to go to medical school or could have found a doctor willing to apprentice her, she would have made a formidable physician.
Having regained her composure, she looked at him quizzically. “Did you not bring some clean clothes for later? The laundry won’t be delivering today. Your other clothes won’t be here until at least tomorrow.”
“I’m afraid that this is my last suit,” he admitted. “Having been in the army for so long, I did not often have need of more normal clothing.”
“Of course not. Oh, I suppose I could bring one of my husband’s for you. It isn’t as if he has any need of them.”
“Thank you, that would be kind.”
Together they went about the afternoon rounds. Mrs. Tinsley was wonderful at cheering their patients up, and made quick, accurate notes as he took each patient’s vital signs. Everyone seemed to be doing as well as could be expected, though it was clear that the death in the night had upset everyone. A few members of the patients’ families stopped by to see their loved ones. Mrs. Tinsley insisted that they wear masks, wash their hands thoroughly, and kept their distance, but the visits certainly seemed to help lift everyone’s spirits.
As the day drew to a close, Dr. Walker appeared. “I couldn’t in all conscience stay away longer,” he said. “Maud, you should get a full night’s rest and take most of tomorrow. Matthew can do the same tomorrow. We’ll take it in turns until Dr. Hartshorn can find us some additional assistance.”
“He’s already replied to your telegram?” Matthew asked, while Maud looked at them both, her eyes wide.
“He has. He promises he will send someone within a fortnight.”
“You think we will still be struggling in a fortnight?” Maud asked. She shook her head and replied to her own question. “Of course we will. There are still more cases every day.”
“Unfortunately, that is true. I called in on Mrs. Barrowman on my way today. Mrs. Greening told me that she was unwell. She’s struggling to breathe so I’d like to bring her in, but I’m not sure where we can put her.”
Maud cleared her throat. “There’s a bed,” she said, her voice cracking a little as she did so.”
“Oh,” Dr. Walker said, looking up and down the rows of beds. “Mr. Moffat. How very sad.”
“I shall go and call on Nate and ask him to go and pick her up,” Maud said softly.
“No, don’t disturb his Christmas. I can go and fetch her if you tell me where to go,” Matthew said. “I saw that there is a covered wagon out back.”
“But no pony,” Dr. Walker said. “Nate won’t mind.”
“Mrs. Tinsley, I can go,” Matthew insisted, still a little unsure as to whether or not he should be as informal with her as she had asked him to be. He soon found out.
“Young man, I’ve told you before, my name is Maud.”
“And mine is Matthew,” he said with a grin.
“And mine is Andrew,” Dr. Walker said unexpectedly. “We’re in this together. It doesn’t matter one jot which of us is technically a doctor or a nurse. We will all be doing the same work for a while, I fear.”
Maud left shortly after, having followed her own protocols strictly. About an hour later, Nate and Tom Greening arrived carrying a stretcher between them with Mrs. Barrowman upon it. Presumably Maud had given them instructions before leaving them to bring her patient to the clinic, for they were wearing scarves tied around their faces when they arrived. “Thank you,” Andrew said nodding to them as they carefully set Mrs. Barrowman down onto her bed. The poor woman was pale as a ghost, her skin slick with sweat as the fever raged through her body.
Matthew saw them out while Dr. Walker checked her over again. “She’ll be alright, won’t she?” Tom asked anxiously. “She’s like family to us.”
“I can’t make you any promises, my friend, but I certainly hope so,” Matthew said. “We’ll do all we can to keep her comfortable and hopefully her fever will pass quickly.”
“Times like this that everyone needs a diversion,” Nate said. “Something to look forward to. This winter is going to drag its heels, I fear.”
“I do, too,” Matthew agreed. “And I fear we’ve not seen the worst of it, yet. The most recent report Andrew had from the hospital in Billings was that they are still seeing more cases than they can handle, that it isn’t slowing at all.”
Nate sucked in his breath. “That doesn’t bode well.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Matthew agreed. “I just wish there was more we could do.”
Mrs. Barrowman was in the clinic for a week. Tom came in to visit her every day. He did all that Maud asked of him, but he refused to keep his distance. “I came here to hold her hand, so she isn’t afraid and knows I’m here for her,” he insisted. Maud reluctantly relented and let him sit by her bed, where he told her stories about what his children had been up to and reminisced about how she’d placed the advertisement for him that had brought Elise and Bailey into his life.
The story was sweet and romantic and Matthew was surprised to find himself intrigued enough by it to start checking out the matrimonials page in the newspaper. But there wasn’t an advertisement that made him want to write to anyone. What did he have to offer? After all, what self-respecting woman would want to live the itinerant life he led, going from place-to-place chasing sickness?
Tom caught him reading them on his way out. “You should reply to someone,” he said with a knowing smile. “It might just change your life.”
“I’m not looking to change it. I like it.”
“No man is an island, my friend. Eventually you’ll grow weary of being alone. Trust me, I never thought I was looking for a wife. Took that wonderful woman in there to see it and take action for me. I would never have bothered. And I’m gladder than anything that she did. Up until this week, when she fell ill, my life was pretty much perfect.”
“I don’t want the family life, love, all of that though.”
“I didn’t think I did, either. But I’ll wager you fifty dollars, that if you answer a few of those advertisements, you’ll realize that. That you’ll find love within twelve months, and you’ll be glad of it.”
“That’s a bet I know I can win,” Matthew said with a chuckle as he held out his hand. Tom took it and shook it hard.
“Don’t be so sure of that,” he said ominously. “Don’t be so sure.”