5. Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Charlotte smiled to herself as she looked out the window of the doctor's office. The morning had gone well, and she hoped that as her days continued here, that they would be just as enjoyable and that the doctor would decide to keep her on.

That morning, she'd left home a few moments early, eager to stare into the general store windows before she started work. To her delight, the fabric was being restocked. As soon as she received her first pay, she planned to buy herself a dress length of whatever caught her eye. The idea of being able to select something new had kept her up half the night with excitement. It had been so long since she'd had a new dress. Now that it was within her grasp, it was hard not to think about it .

Her mother didn't know it, but Charlotte planned to buy fabric to make her a dress as well. Later would be the purchase of a new shawl for each of them. This new job would help in so many ways. It gave them opportunity. She wouldn't squander it, and planned to work as hard as she could for the doctor.

Dr. Davis, or Justin as he was letting her call him, was very kind, and she felt at ease around him. Once she'd arrived, he'd taken her on a tour of the office, shown just what he needed her help with first, and then offered her muffins he'd bought at the bakery. He was even trusting her enough to go upstairs to his living quarters to make tea if she desired.

She planned to make sure there was always hot water so that he could have a drink at a moment's notice. He seemed to have trouble adjusting to the drier air, as she observed him stopping often for a sip of water.

Without a doubt, she was having a much easier time with his job than she would have had in the bakery. There, she was sure she'd have been run near ragged. The baker was just fine, but his wife was a taskmaster.

The examination room door opened, and the doctor walked out with his young patient, a child of four who looked momentarily distracted by a penny candy the doctor had especially for children.

"Thank you, Doctor," a tired-looking mother said as she put her arm around the coughing child .

"Of course. I'll come around in two days to check on him. If he worsens, send for me right away. Until then, keep that chest warm, and have him drink plenty of peppermint tea." The doctor added, "Remember to look after yourself as well."

The mother and her child left, and Justin sighed as he watched them go. "That poor woman. Her husband is away driving cattle. It's their only child, and she's quite worried about his cough."

"It didn't sound good," Charlotte agreed.

"No, there is a little wheezing. I think perhaps the cold air has caused it. There is a chronic condition that happens at times called asthma. It can be triggered by not just the cold, but things like dust or smoke." Justin stared out the window thoughtfully. "Hopefully, there is no worsening."

Charlotte studied him a moment. Though she hardly knew the doctor, just from observing his interactions with patients he'd seen this morning, she could see how much he cared about them. He was diligent, took the time the patient needed to feel looked after, and was friendly to each. Some people, she suspected, simply wanted someone to talk to. He seemed not only able to help the healing of their bodies, but also their hearts.

Her mother was right, he seemed a good man. Though she'd felt that from the moment she'd first met him, working here only confirmed the fact .

A movement outside the window drew her attention, and Charlotte's heart sped up while her stomach started to do flips. It was August!

She sat up straight and focused her attention on him. He was walking into the general store. August was so tall, he always strode with a sort of determination when he walked. A confidence. And why not? His family was wealthy, and that confidence was likely because he knew there was nothing he lacked. If there was, he could get it, easily.

Which was why it was a bit of a mystery that he'd never married. He could have his pick of anyone he wanted. It had always been that way, yet, whenever he'd stepped out with a girl while they were in school, it never lasted long.

Charlotte was determined to change that. She just needed a chance.

The general store door closed behind him, and she sighed as he vanished from view.

"Everything okay?" Justin asked, looking over at her.

She startled, having momentarily forgotten she wasn't alone. "Yes, just…tired," Charlotte said. She smiled at him. "I was so excited last night to be here today, I didn't sleep well."

He grinned at her. It was a friendly look, and she appreciated it. She was glad the doctor wasn't bossy or stuffy. Instead, he felt like a friend. That would make her days much easier .

"Same," he admitted. "I'm still getting used to the town's sounds at night and the new bed."

"I am sure you will settle in soon," Charlotte answered, letting her eyes wander to the store again.

August hadn't come out yet.

"What do you find so fascinating out there?" the doctor asked, moving closer to the window.

"Oh." Charlotte flushed, a little embarrassed at being caught. "I was…I was just looking at the festival sign."

The office door opened just then, and a man rushed in, groaning. "Doc! Doc! I think I broke my arm."

Justin wasted no time. "Come with me," he said, hurrying into his examination room.

As he led the man away, Charlotte saw August exit the general store with a friend, mount his horse, and leave. She watched until he was out of sight, then sighed softly and bent her head back over the doctor's notes she was copying. She hoped that there would be an opportunity to talk with him soon.

If her friend had been right and he'd asked about her, did that mean he was hoping to bump into her? She hoped so. How could she make an opportunity for that? Perhaps at church?

August was—

"Charlotte. I need your assistance," Justin said, sticking his head out of the examination room. "We need to put Mr. Smith's shoulder back into place. "

Swallowing hard, Charlotte nodded, hoping the expression on her face was calm. She'd never done such a thing and hoped she didn't make a mistake that would make the poor, suffering man feel worse. "I'm coming now," she said.

When she entered the room, a wave of concern rocked in her stomach. Mr. Smith looked as though he was in a good deal of pain. Beads of sweat were on his forehead, even though the room wasn't warm. "How can I help?" she asked.

"Mr. Smith has dislocated his shoulder. I will do the work. I want you to help hold him still," the doctor replied calmly.

Charlotte nodded and bit her lip. She held Mr. Smith the way she was told, and a few moments later, there was a jolting sound, a scream from Mr. Smith, and then silence.

She wasn't sure which had scared her the most. Charlotte tried to keep her face calm, but she wasn't sure she could. Mr. Smith was lying there, his eyes closed. Had they…was he…

"Ah, much better, Doc," the man said suddenly, springing up from the table. "I thank ye kindly."

"Of course," Justin answered, and together they walked out into the main room.

Charlotte stayed behind, one hand pressed to her stomach and a light feeling in her head. She allowed herself to close her eyes a moment and willed her swirling stomach to calm. She could hear the door's bell tinkle as Mr. Smith left, and a moment later a hand was on her arm.

"Charlotte, are you well? Perhaps you should sit."

She nodded and opened her eyes. "I apologize," she told the doctor. Her voice sounded unsteady to her ears. "That was new. And different. And unexpected."

Justin was looking at her with concern. "If the job is too much—"

"No!" she interrupted. "No, I apologize. This won't happen again. Please," she said, realizing her voice had risen in panic, "I want this job."

"It is yours, for as long as you'd like it," he assured her. "I apologize. It was not something I could do alone easily."

"I think next time I will do better," Charlotte said. She pulled her hand from her stomach. "I believe what startled me was when he laid there unmoving after you'd pulled his shoulder back into place."

Justin laughed. "Yes! That quite shook me up for a moment as well. I didn't know what to think. Between the two of us, mentally, I was frantically flipping pages of my medical journals to recall such a thing."

A feeling of relief washed over her, and she giggled. "That makes me feel better. I promise to keep that secret."

The door to his office opened again, and a voice called, "Doc?"

"I'm right here. Oh! Sheriff Steele, what can I do for you?" the doctor asked .

"We've got a prisoner in the jail. Was holding him during the stage stop. He's complaining about his head. Could you come take a look?" Sheriff Steele caught sight of Charlotte and nodded at her.

"Of course," Justin said, and grabbed his travel bag he kept near the door. "Charlotte, I'll be back soon. Please let any patients know that."

He left before she could answer. Charlotte returned to her desk. Alone, her eyes roamed out the window again and to the sign for the festival. A smile spread over her face.

This was the year she'd be in the festival. This was also the year that she'd find love. She just knew it. She had the doctor to thank for this chance at both.