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Authors: Darlene Franklin
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trying to figure out how I could finish the path, get to the doctor, and keep an eye on Mr. Keller all at the same time.” He leaned forward and tugged the quilt over the older man’s shoulders. “I don’t know what I would have done if Pastor Fairfield hadn’t stopped by and offered to get the doctor.”
Haydn was one special man, taking such good care of a business associate who could be as grouchy as a mama bear with cubs when roused. Gladys made a snap decision. “I’ll stay here with him. If we need extra help, I’ll ask the sewing circle. Mrs. Fairfield, too. You can’t stay in Calico forever, not with business back home to attend to.”
Haydn fell back against his chair, disappointment stamped on his face.
Chapter 8
H aydn’s eyes strayed to the family Bible, which had fallen open to the page for recording family marriages. A couple of times recently, when his heart tried to cast Gladys in that role, he’d remembered what she said about Grandfather’s riches. He still didn’t know how important money was to her or what to expect if she learned about his relationship with his grandfather.
He realized his brief silence had distressed her. “My family’s association with Mr. Keller is of long standing. They would not want me to return as long as he is ill.” He stopped short of reminding her that his business concerns weren’t any of her concern. That would be rude, when all she had done was offer to help.
The clouds in her eyes cleared, and she smiled. “The offer to help still stands. You can’t continue to take care of him twenty-four hours a day. Let me at least help with that.” She leaned forward, brushing his grandfather’s hair back from his temples. “He has lovely, thick hair. Sleeping like that, he doesn’t look sick. Like he could jump off that sofa and stomp down the walk and join us at the diner. I know Aunt Kate would like to see him.”
When Gladys acted as solicitous as a granddaughter might, Haydn didn’t know what to think.
Someone knocked at the door, sparing him. He opened the door to a welcome figure carrying a black bag
Gladys sprang to her feet. “Dr. Devereux! I’m so glad Pastor Fairfield found you.”
The doctor knocked snow off his boots. “I would have been here sooner except I had to go back to the diner for my bag. Now, what seems to be the problem?”
Haydn described the past few days while the doctor examined his patient. “There’s not much to do beyond what you are already doing. Medicine has made some remarkable discoveries, but we still don’t have a cure for the common cold. Let me see how bad he is.” Dr. Devereux placed his stethoscope against Grandfather’s chest.
“Get that thing off me. It’s cold enough to freeze my skin.” Grandfather pushed away the instrument and glared at Devereux. “I don’t like doctors. All you do is say a bunch of words and charge a lot of money.”
The doctor continued checking him. “I don’t like the sound of his lungs. If he gets too restless, you can give him some of this laudanum.” He poured a small amount into a bottle. “Only a teaspoon, and only if he really needs it.”
“Dr. Devereux, should we use a cold compress? Or do they do more harm than good?” Gladys asked.
“I’m not sure what the scientists say. But I figure remedies folks have used for years must have some value. Otherwise, people would stop using them. Steam, too, can help clear his sinuses.”
Gladys nodded. Haydn would ask for an explanation about a cold compress later. “One more thing I can recommend. Mr. Keller has a strong constitution, and I expect him to get better. But in case this takes a turn for the worse, perhaps you should inform his family of his condition. I’ve heard him mention a son. Do you know whom to contact, young man?”
Haydn stammered a bit. “Yes, I believe so.”
Me
. “I’ll send a letter to his son as soon as I find out if the postal service is working.” He’d do that, too. His
Haydn was one special man, taking such good care of a business associate who could be as grouchy as a mama bear with cubs when roused. Gladys made a snap decision. “I’ll stay here with him. If we need extra help, I’ll ask the sewing circle. Mrs. Fairfield, too. You can’t stay in Calico forever, not with business back home to attend to.”
Haydn fell back against his chair, disappointment stamped on his face.
Chapter 8
H aydn’s eyes strayed to the family Bible, which had fallen open to the page for recording family marriages. A couple of times recently, when his heart tried to cast Gladys in that role, he’d remembered what she said about Grandfather’s riches. He still didn’t know how important money was to her or what to expect if she learned about his relationship with his grandfather.
He realized his brief silence had distressed her. “My family’s association with Mr. Keller is of long standing. They would not want me to return as long as he is ill.” He stopped short of reminding her that his business concerns weren’t any of her concern. That would be rude, when all she had done was offer to help.
The clouds in her eyes cleared, and she smiled. “The offer to help still stands. You can’t continue to take care of him twenty-four hours a day. Let me at least help with that.” She leaned forward, brushing his grandfather’s hair back from his temples. “He has lovely, thick hair. Sleeping like that, he doesn’t look sick. Like he could jump off that sofa and stomp down the walk and join us at the diner. I know Aunt Kate would like to see him.”
When Gladys acted as solicitous as a granddaughter might, Haydn didn’t know what to think.
Someone knocked at the door, sparing him. He opened the door to a welcome figure carrying a black bag
Gladys sprang to her feet. “Dr. Devereux! I’m so glad Pastor Fairfield found you.”
The doctor knocked snow off his boots. “I would have been here sooner except I had to go back to the diner for my bag. Now, what seems to be the problem?”
Haydn described the past few days while the doctor examined his patient. “There’s not much to do beyond what you are already doing. Medicine has made some remarkable discoveries, but we still don’t have a cure for the common cold. Let me see how bad he is.” Dr. Devereux placed his stethoscope against Grandfather’s chest.
“Get that thing off me. It’s cold enough to freeze my skin.” Grandfather pushed away the instrument and glared at Devereux. “I don’t like doctors. All you do is say a bunch of words and charge a lot of money.”
The doctor continued checking him. “I don’t like the sound of his lungs. If he gets too restless, you can give him some of this laudanum.” He poured a small amount into a bottle. “Only a teaspoon, and only if he really needs it.”
“Dr. Devereux, should we use a cold compress? Or do they do more harm than good?” Gladys asked.
“I’m not sure what the scientists say. But I figure remedies folks have used for years must have some value. Otherwise, people would stop using them. Steam, too, can help clear his sinuses.”
Gladys nodded. Haydn would ask for an explanation about a cold compress later. “One more thing I can recommend. Mr. Keller has a strong constitution, and I expect him to get better. But in case this takes a turn for the worse, perhaps you should inform his family of his condition. I’ve heard him mention a son. Do you know whom to contact, young man?”
Haydn stammered a bit. “Yes, I believe so.”
Me
. “I’ll send a letter to his son as soon as I find out if the postal service is working.” He’d do that, too. His
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