Rebekah shared a look with Samuel. They shared a quiet chuckle then turned back to watch.
“Why sonny, I’ve only thought about it every durn day of my sad life since I come out here to this wildness!” The doctor pushed himself up. “But nobody around here wants to work for what I can afford to pay them. There ain’t nobody qualified to do the job that ain’t a drunkard, to boot.”
Peter cocked an eyebrow. “I see.” He gestured down to Rebekah. “Joseph, would you be so kind as to help my sister into a chair? I reckon it’s time her bandage was changed.”
“Bandage?” Samuel’s smile faded. “What bandage?”
“Yeah,” the doctor added. “What bandage?”
“Rebekah hurt her ankle,” Peter explained as Joseph helped her off her knees and into a chair. “Seems we need the bandage tended to.”
The doctor grumbled and pushed himself out of his desk. “As if I didn’t have enough to do, have this man to discharge with his jar of leeches, that fellow with the infected thumb that I told to come back after dinner, and Widow Appleby, that hypochondriac nincomp—”
“It’s all right doc, my cousin Patty here, who just happens to be looking for work, is a trained nurse. Trained in Europe.”
The old doctor sat a little straighter in his chair.
Peter continued. “She can take care of a little old bandage, I assume.” Peter arched his brows. “Freeing you up for all your other important work, of course.”
The doctor sank back into his chair, silent. “Is that so?” He fingered his smooth chin. “I’ll say, let’s see what she can do then.”
Peter stepped to the side. “Patty?”
Samuel motion to Noah, who skipped across the floor and stood beside him, of course, never saying a word.
Patty stepped forward, and extended her hand to the doctor, who took it and took no qualms to hide his surprised look. “You may call me Patty, or Mrs. Shadrach O’Shaughnessy. My late husband would be keen to know his name was still being used appropriately.” She nodded curtly then turned to Rebekah.
“Rebekah, first thing we’re going to do is elevate your sprained ankle. It isn’t broken, we already know that. But, seeing how swollen and discolored it is, it’s likely sprained.”
The doctor nodded from the corner.
Patty pulled up a little stool. “Noah, son, please hand me that blanket there.”
Noah pointed to a folded gray wad in the corner.
“Yes, that’s the one.”
He did as he was told then returned dutifully to Samuel’s side.
“Thank you, well done.” She sat the blanket on top of the stool and gently put Rebekah’s injured foot atop it. “There now, good job.”
“Danke, for telling me what you’re doing,” Rebekah added. “That way I am comfortable and unafraid.”
“You’re welcome.” Patty unwound the black silk from her ankle and foot. “You are so very welcome.”
The old doctor pushed himself up and stepped over to observe. “You understood her German, did ye?”
“Yes sir,” Patty said. “I picked up a little bit of French too, back home in Ireland.”
“I see.”
“What—er...what—uh, kind of bandage is that there?” The doctor adjusted his foggy spectacles. “I haven’t seen the likes of that since The War Between the States.”
“Silk, sir.”
“I see.”
Slowly, Patty unwrapped, massaged, then rewrapped Rebekah’s ankle. “I suggest soaking it in a tepid bath when you get home, Rebekah. Not hot, it will hurt. Then, a cool rag or ice, if you have some. For the next several days.” She sat Rebekah’s foot down and placed her hands on her hips. “And as you already know, stay off your feet as much as possible until you heal.”
“Yes ma’am, Nurse Patty.”
Everyone turned to look at the doctor.
“How, um, how’s the ankle feel now, girl?”
Rebekah nodded. “It feels better than it did a moment ago.”
“See, I see.” He strutted around like Rebekah’s old cocky rooster, Buttercup. “And you’ll be bringing your tot, I reckon.”
“Yes sir.” Patty stood quiet, but not meek. “His name is Noah, sir.”
“Noah, yes, well, he’s certainly a quiet boy. Hasn’t made nearly a peep since he’s been in here.” He glanced at Noah over his glasses. “You’ll do, I suppose.”
Samuel tousled his hair and the pair shared a smile.
“How much you reckon is fair pay?”
Peter crossed his arms and puffed out his chest. “Well, going rate for European trained nurses is five dollars a month in New York City, which would be a bargain for someone, say a doctor, to gain Patty’s skill set in his practice.”
