Nathan's Nurse Read online

  “I suppose I can give her a little each payday, but not the whole thing. Maybe she can find a way to bring in some money, too, until Nathan gets better and can work again.”

  “If he gets better. You’ve got to understand, Mr. Price, this is not what this woman signed up for. She might not agree to this plan in the first place. Even if she does, if there is no improvement in your brother, she may seek an annulment and walk away from him. Then, taking care of him will be up to you.”

  As his eyes widened and he shook his head, Herbert stepped back. “He’s got to get better. I don’t know nothing about caring for someone like he is now.”

  Royce studied Herbert Price, whose face revealed his panic. “I will not have Miss Greenleaf’s reputation compromised, not even for a fine man like your brother. First, I will check with Pastor Alwin to see if what you suggest is even acceptable. If it is, then I will talk to Miss Greenleaf myself to see if she would consider doing this. If that all comes together, I’ll convince Dr. Sprague he needs to keep Nathan under his care until Sunday afternoon.”

  Herbert swallowed. “You going to ask her now?”

  “I will after the train gets in and she’s settled at the boarding house. I guess the tracks are a bit of a mess after that snowstorm last night. The ticket agent, Mr. McAlister, said he would send me word when it arrives, although I’m preparing to go over there now to check on the situation. You, Mr. Price, I expect to go straight from here to the warm shack. Get out of your mining gear and into your street clothes.”

  “Yeah, I will.” Herbert started walking toward the door.

  “Good. Come see me after work tomorrow—after you’ve changed in the warm shack. I’ll let you know if I’m able to work something out. Be prepared to give me some of your pay if Miss Greenleaf agrees to this. There’s a bed in the house for Nathan, but she’ll need bedding and towels in addition to basic supplies for the kitchen.”

  Herbert turned back, a frown on his face. “Nathan should have saved some money aside for things like that. Why can’t you use his money instead of all of mine?”

  Royce sighed and shook his head. He spoke almost as much to himself as to Herbert. “Bank’s closed now and won’t be open until Monday.” He looked up. “I’ll need enough from you to buy a month’s worth of wood or coal for the stove. I’ll talk to the Brinks at the mercantile. If Nathan doesn’t already have an account with them, I’ll see what I can arrange on credit so she can get the food and supplies she needs. Now, go.”

  Just then, a quick knock sounded on the door before it swung open. Royce rose from his chair and moved toward the door as a young man he recognized as being a rail worker burst inside.

  “Mr. McAlister sent me. Train hit an avalanche around Longfellow Gulch and derailed some cars. He asked that you and the mayor round up anyone with sleighs or wagons with runners and bring them on the road this side of the river as close as you can get so they can load up everyone that was on board the train and bring them into town. They need me to help dig out so people can get across the snow. Gotta go.”

  Royce grabbed his hat, gloves, scarf, and coat. He reached for his lantern and followed the other two men out of his office.

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  Chapter 10

  ~o0o~

  December 17, 1881

  I n an effort to quell a bout of nervousness, Dahlia clasped her hands together as she followed Lizett into the front parlor of the boarding house. A tall man with reddish-brown hair and hazel eyes rose from his chair. He smiled and greeted Lizett, but his expression grew serious once his gaze connected with hers. Dahlia recognized he must be Mr. Bainbridge, the mine owner and Nathan Price’s boss—the man who had given her and Lizett a ride in his sleigh from the train tracks to the depot the night before. After everyone had been transported from the train—everyone except Kate—he had returned with his surrey and brought her and Lizett to the boarding house. However, at that time, she had not seen much of him other than his eyes peeking out between his hat and muffler.

  “It’s so good to see you again, Mr. Bainbridge. I appreciate all you did to help us get to town after that mishap with the train.”

  Upon hearing the syrupy tone of Lizett’s voice, Dahlia cringed.

  “Royce, please. I was happy to be of service, Lizett.”

  Royce turned to face Dahlia. “I’m pleased to meet you under better circumstances, Miss…” A confused expression flitted across his face as he glanced at Lizett. “I know you are the bride intended for Mr. Price.”

  Lizett spoke before Dahlia could open her mouth to introduce herself. “This is Miss Dahlia Greenleaf. Kate Flanagan, the bride for Mr. O’Hare, returned to the boarding house not long ago. She’s up resting in her sister’s room.”

  Dahlia noticed Lizett momentarily pursed her lips, but she quickly recovered her wide smile as she gestured toward the sofa.

  Lizett had earlier expressed her displeasure that Kate’s sister, Annie, who also lived at the boarding house, insisted Kate room with her rather than with Dahlia. Annie had ignored Lizett’s instructions and taken over Kate’s care. She also announced that Kate would be married by the Catholic priest, not the local pastor. That meant a wait of two weeks, since the father only came to Jubilee Springs to conduct mass on the first Sundays of the month. Although she had not complained overtly, Dahlia recognized Lizett’s displeasure at losing control over the situation with her brides.

  “Let’s all sit down, since I believe we have a few things to discuss.” At Royce’s suggestion, Dahlia joined Lizett on the settee across from Mr. Bainbridge’s chair.

  Once seated, Royce addressed Lizett. “I have talked to those handling the train situation. It will take some time for them to get the engine freed of the snow and hauled into the maintenance yard for inspection and possible repairs. There is still the matter of the coal car and two passenger cars that were derailed. That will take longer to resolve. Fortunately, the construction train in Gunnison City is close enough that it, along with a sizable crew, came down this morning and will assist. The local foreman says, once they dig a path through the snow, he thinks it will be safe to unload any trunks you ladies might have in the boxcars and bring them into town. Anything left behind in the passenger cars will have to wait.”

  Lizett crossed her hands at her wrists and pressed her splayed fingers against her chest. “Oh, I am so relieved I carried my valise out of the car when we left. That will get me through until it is time to leave on Tuesday.”

  Dahlia also felt thankful she had brought both her blanket and valise with her. Then she watched Royce tighten the muscles on his face and inhale. She prepared herself to hear bad news.

  “Lizett, I doubt you will be able to leave that soon. I talked with the foreman at the railyard, and he said they need to inspect the engine to make sure there was no damage from the hot metal hitting the wall of snow. Also, they need to clear the tracks before any passenger service can be continued between here and Florence.” He cleared his throat. “I’ve already spoken with my brother, Clive. We would like to extend our hospitality to you by covering your stay here so you can enjoy Christmas with us. Hopefully, by the Tuesday after Christmas, the train will be running again so you can return to Denver. If you need another gown or two, we have a seamstress in town who might be able to help you. I’ll go over there after I leave here to tell her you’ll be in and to put your purchases on my account. Perhaps you can wire your staff in Denver and suggest they spend Christmas with family or plan their celebrations without you.”

  “Oh, my! I had not considered the possibility I might be stuck here—and without a decent wardrobe, too.” Lizett batted her eyes as she smiled at Royce. “Thank you, Royce. As sudden as this change in plans is, I look forward to celebrating the Christmas season with you and your brother. I’ll notify my people right away.”

  Dahlia watched Royce respond with a wide smile. Evidently, he did not consider Lizett’s continued presence a ha
rdship.

  Lizett tapped her chin. “Perhaps your seamstress in town has something premade she can alter. I also can check with the mercantile for some items.”

  As Dahlia studied the two during this exchange, she could not help but wonder if there was more to their relationship than business. Lizett, especially, struck her as being particularly taken with Royce Bainbridge.

  Dahlia next focused on Royce, whose expression grew serious when he turned toward her. Hopefully, now he had given Lizett something to think about, he might talk to her about Mr. Price and his injuries.

  “Miss Greenleaf, we need to discuss Nathan Price’s situation. I just came from the mine infirmary. He appears to be healing well with no signs of infection or fever. However, he has yet to regain consciousness.”

  Dahlia moistened her lips with her tongue. “Exactly what are the nature of his injuries, Mr. Bainbridge? Or, could you take me to the doctor who is treating him so he can tell me?” She watched the man crinkle his forehead and look away, as if deciding what to tell her.

  “Perhaps I should tell you what I know and give you your options before we visit Dr. Sprague. The accident in the mine occurred when a blast went off in the level above the section in which Mr. Price was working. We have yet to figure out who was responsible, for normally we would have evacuated the lower stope…er, cavern…in case weaknesses in the rock threatened the structure. Regardless, it turned out, that blast was too close to where the crew, which included Mr. Price, was working. We do reinforce the mine with heavy timber beams to prevent collapses, but it was one of the crib caps…ah…overhead beams that cracked from the weight and force of a large boulder that was dislodged. It sent a couple of stringers…” Royce paused and scratched his temple. “Sorry. I know I’m throwing some mining terminology out there that you might not be familiar with. Anyway, some of the overhead beams fell and injured two other miners. Unfortunately, it was the heavy cap beam that landed on…well, he didn’t take a direct hit, or he would no longer be with us, but it did smack him hard enough on the head to knock him out, strain his neck muscles, plus it broke his shoulder bone, among other more minor injuries. Of the three men seriously injured, he got the worst of it.”

  As she digested what he told them, Dahlia’s gaze moved between Mr. Bainbridge and Lizett. She swallowed. A vision of brain-damaged Jack Edwards from back home momentarily filled her awareness and tied her insides in knots. “Does the doctor believe he will fully recover?”

  Royce shook his head. “He doesn’t know. He even called in Dr. Adams, who practices here in town, for a consultation. They believed there was swelling inside the skull, as well as outside, but I think they have it under control. In spite of the bruises, it has gone down some.

  “Dr. Sprague’s concern right now is, Mr. Price is going to need long-term nursing. We don’t really have a hospital in town, and his infirmary is set up for short-term care. Men come there for all kinds of reasons, including illnesses. Dr. Sprague does not think it wise for Mr. Price to be exposed to that. We have made arrangements for the other two men, but we have no one to care for Mr. Price until we know how well he will recover.”

  Her mind in a daze, Dahlia stared off to the side. She recalled offering to help her host and hostess at the boarding house, Clara and Daniel Howard, move their clothes and belongings to an upstairs bedroom that morning. Clara had explained the purpose. The family of one of the injured miners, the one who had two broken legs, needed their downstairs room until the train ran once again.

  When he again began speaking, Dahlia’s attention returned to Royce.

  “It appears that Mr. Price doesn’t have immediate family except his brother—stepbrother, I was recently informed—who is also employed by the mine, and a stepmother. The brother, Herbert Price, assures me his mother is in no position to care for Nathan Price either here or where they are originally from. As for Herbert, I wouldn’t trust the man to take care of a pet rat.”

  Dahlia felt her attention seized and held captive as Royce’s intense gaze bored into hers.

  “However, Herbert Price did suggest a possible solution, but only if it is acceptable to you. It would also depend on whether or not you agree to help care for Nathan Price until we know…well, until we see what happens with him.”

  Care for Nathan Price? It sounded like no one else was willing to help him. If there was one thing Dahlia knew how to do, it was care for an invalid. She had hoped, once her father passed, to be freed from that sort of responsibility for a while. Yet, here was a man, one who had asked her to travel to this town to marry him, who needed her nursing skills. “I would be willing to care for Mr. Price except for one problem. Since he’s unable to work, I assume he no longer is receiving pay. I don’t have an independent source of income. I will need to find work somewhere—either here in Jubilee Springs or elsewhere. Knowing how poorly women are paid, I will be fortunate if I can earn enough to support myself. I can’t support both of us, plus give him the kind of care I suspect he needs.” She watched as Royce sighed and nodded in acknowledgement.

  “It’s true he will no longer be paid if he can’t work. In mining, if a man is injured, we have to let him go and find a new miner to replace him. Although it might only be a temporary solution, here is what I can do for now. Herbert Price suggested standing in for his brother in a proxy marriage between you and Nathan. We could then move the two of you into the mining company house allotted for Nathan’s use once he’s married. It’s doing us no good sitting there vacant. You could take care of him there. It is partially furnished enough you can get by for a short time. And, since you would technically be married, there should be no disgruntlement among the other miners who are not yet allowed to live in their houses because they are waiting for wives.”

  “Oh, that sounds like a wonderful solution, Royce. You know I like to see my brides married and settled before I leave them.”

  Upon hearing Lizett’s exclamation and clap of her hands, Dahlia forced down the expression of annoyance that threatened. Fortunately, after her years of dealing with Jenny, she was accomplished in that area. Biting her lower lip, as she considered Royce’s solution, Dahlia looked off to the side.

  A proxy marriage? With a total stranger standing in for another almost total stranger?

  As she attempted to gather her thoughts, Dahlia inhaled. Once more, her mind turned to the practical. “What about heating and food? I imagine the house needs to be stocked from scratch.”

  “I told Herbert he is to buy you enough coal to get you by for at least a month. I’m still holding Nathan’s last paycheck. I’ll check with the mercantile and see what kind of credit they will allow you under the circumstances. I’ll also stop by the bank and see if Nathan has a saving account. If he does, I’ll front you the money that would be covered by his savings balance. Plus, you have the Christmas spirit working on your behalf. For the most part, the men who were injured were well-liked. The other miners have already expressed a willingness to pass the hat to gather funds to help them. Some will go to Gus Braun to help his father and brother with the unexpected expense of being trapped in town for a week or more until the train runs again. Knowing how well Nathan was liked and respected, I suspect a sizable donation will be collected for him.”

  As she considered his proposal, Dahlia looked off to the side. “I see.”

  It might work. She would make it work. She owed Nathan Price that much.

  As much as she hated the thought of accepting charity, this would be for Nathan. She must allow the men to show their regard for their co-worker. She must accept all the assistance she could get to help her take care of him—for she decided at that moment she would do so.

  The only thing that concerned her was the proxy marriage. She had never heard of such a thing before.

  Royce once again addressed Dahlia. “I spoke to Pastor Alwin regarding a proxy marriage. I’ll be honest, he did have some reservations about it. They were devised for various reasons, one being so a woman could trav
el to meet her husband as an already-married woman. It prevented her from arriving at her new home, only to find her prospective husband rejected her, which left her stranded and compromised. Although they are legal, normally, each party to the marriage is conscious and fully participates in a ceremony in their respective locations with another who stands in as a proxy. In this case, only you will participate with Herbert standing in for his brother. Nathan would not be aware he has entered into a married status unless…I mean, until he regains consciousness.”

  “Then, why do it if there is a question about it? Could we not forego the proxy marriage and leave all the other conditions the same?”

  Royce heaved a sigh and then leaned forward, his forearms resting on his knees. “No. As I explained to Pastor Alwin, my brother and I carefully selected the men eligible for married miner housing. They are from among those who have demonstrated the most reliability and strength of character—men we do not want to lose to other employers. However, the same cannot be said of every man I employ. With the shortage of women in this town, it is imperative, for your safety, that the men regard you as a married woman. There is far less of a chance you will be approached by the men in this town—miners, railroad workers, sawmill workers—and be treated with disrespect if they know you are married. Pastor Alwin agrees on that matter, which is why, in the end, he agreed to a proxy marriage. What he does insist upon is, once Nathan regains consciousness, if you two decide to remain married, you reaffirm your vows with Nathan speaking for himself.”

  “And, if he doesn’t regain consciousness?”

  Dahlia watched as Royce leaned his head forward and raked his fingers through his hair. Heaving a sigh, he lifted his face and sat back in his chair.

  “Besides being a good worker, Nathan is a good, upright man. If he doesn’t recover, Miss Greenleaf, then it will be a great loss in more ways than one. As much as I hate the thought of leaving Nathan’s care at the mercy of his brother’s whims, he is Nathan’s family. I realize you must do what is best for you. Since the marriage would not be consummated, you could seek an annulment and leave.”