Share
Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
Mary picked up the newspaper and flipped through it. She wasn't interested in its contents, but it gave her something to do instead of dwelling on her thoughts.
She briefly read some of the columns, was convinced that there was nothing in it, and was about to close it when she saw it.
Opening the paper fully, she took a second look at what had grabbed her attention. It was an advertisement placed in one of the middle sections. However, it wasn't the fact that it was an ad that piqued her curiosity. It was what the ad specified. A doctor urgently needed a female nurse with experience.
Well, she was a nurse, and one with a lot of experience. Checking further, she saw that the address was in California. She had heard things about California- about the sights and much more. It was one of those places she had dreamed about settling in before the war began. This could be her opportunity to move there finally.
Related chapters
After the War. Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11Joel handed his patient a small bag that contained all she would need to take for her medications."Thanks, Doc."No problem. Just keep that foot away from sharp things next time," Sam admonished."Oh, I will do my best," the woman answered with a smile, her husband's hands around her waist as he supported her into the coach."And don't forget to come back later in the week so I can take another look at it. Okay?""Will do, Doctor," her husband answered.Joel nodded and walked back into his clinic, well aware that dusk was fast approaching. Today had been another hectic day. He neatly arranged his medical tools, rechecked the records to see that he had administered the right treatments to the right persons, and noted down in the notebook he carried around with him the names of the patients he needed to see on his way home.Satisfied that everything was in place, he locked the doo
After the War. Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12Mary came down from the coach, her back aching and her legs tired- even though she had not walked from New Hampshire. The stagecoach she took had encountered some fault along the way, severally, and the journey had taken longer than she expected.All she wanted to do was find where the doctor lived, drop her bags, take a shower, and sleep for as long as possible. She knew it could present her as unprofessional, but she doubted that she could be of any use in the state she currently was. All she desired was rest- lots of it.She had tried to sleep once or twice during the journey, but the coach's nose kept her awake. After bumping her head against the door, as she dozed off at intervals, she had pried her eyes open and waited the hours out in silence.Thankfully, the driver had not attempted to engage her in small talk except when he had to apologise for stopping the coach. The last time she had taken a co
After the War. Chapter 13
CHAPTER 13Joel stared at the woman standing before him, his eyes seeing but his mind refusing to admit. What was she doing here, in front of his house?He could not forget her, not even if a lot more years were to pass by. The thought of her brought pain and anger to him, reminded him of what he had loved and lost.He had tried so hard to move past it, wanted to let it go, but if she had done better, he would not have so much grief in his heart. She had caused his parents grief too, one they had not healed from.Her actions had created consequences that had changed his family forever. There was no way he could forgive her, ever. Sometimes he found himself thinking that if she had not gone, volunteered.“You,” he said again.“Yes, me,” she replied.“I don’t know what your business is here, but I’ll advise that you carry your bags and get the hell out of my front yard. Okay?” H
After the War. Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14Mary walked outside the medical clinic down to the main road, dragging both bags, grumbling to herself. She was tired, and the bags felt twice as heavy as they did when she had gotten lost. At least, at that point, Mary still had a sliver of hope. She knew she had come to a place where she wanted to be, had a job she knew she loved, and would meet the doctor she so much admired. How could things have gone from a hundred to zero in the space of hours?Maybe getting lost should have been the first sign to her. Then the uproar should have been the second. Both things had not happened to her since she had returned home. But no, her mind had been fixed on an optimistic assumption. That she would get to his place, take a bath, sleep, and work would begin proper.Well, look at that turned out. A total nightmare! How could she not have figured it out? That she had applied for a job with the worst person? That she had gotten an appointment w
After the War. Chapter 15
CHAPTER 15Sam paced up and down the space of his office, his mind churning. Why? Why did she have to come here? She was the last person he wanted to see- if he could put a thousand years between them, he would do it in an instant. If only he had known she was the nurse!The sight of her made him feel rage all over again. It made him feel his loss over and over again- all the things he did not want to feel. Her presence opened up wounds he had tried hard to close.Now he had to deal with the fact that she was stuck somewhere with no idea of where to stay the night, and she could be on in some form of trouble. It wasn’t his business, now, was it? She was a grown woman, capable of making her own decisions. It wasn’t his fault she had declined his offer and stormed off into the night.Even though he had not wanted any more of her, he had been prepared to allow her to stay the night, which was more than she deserved.If it were up to h
After the War. Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16Mary walked behind Sam, keeping a fair distance between them. Not because she did think he would harm her- not after what he did, but because she had no idea what to say to him.When the men had walked away, leaving her standing alone, she had opened her mouth to thank him, but the look on his face stopped her from saying a word.He did not want her to talk to him. He had only said two words, "follow me," and she had followed meekly behind him.Why did he come to save her? She thought in her head over and over again. After the harsh words they had exchanged, she had expected him to be glad of her absence.Standing in the middle of the crowd, she had given up hope. There would be no one to save her, and these men- as many as they were, would be free to do whatever they wanted. Imagine her surprise when she had sighted him and a much larger surprise when he walked through the crowd.
After the War. Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17Mary stood up from the bed as soon as she saw the sunrise on the horizon. After a long night of no sleep, she was tired and after trying to go back to sleep without any success. After standing outside for a while, looking at Joel, she had come back inside and had tried to sort out her thoughts. The hours that had passed by felt to her like a whole day.She had given to lying on the bed because it was more comfortable than the chairs.In any case, she needed food in her body- something to fill her stomach and also keep her awake. Coffee sounded like a good idea if there was any in the house. She walked into the kitchen, opening cupboards, drawers, rummaging around for she could eat.Finally, she found a tin of coffee and some eggs in a crate.In no time, the coffee was ready, and her sunny side scrambled eggs were on a plate. She inhaled the aroma and smiled, carrying the plate and cup of coffe
After the War. Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18Joel walked as fast as he could to his office, his thoughts racing. He had been called from his home to his office a couple of times, but not with the frantic expression he had seen on the sheriff’s face. It was pure, unadulterated fear. What could be wrong that could scare him that much?And how could the accident have involved so many people that he told Mary to tag along? He thought about the worst-case scenarios he could come up with in a bid to prepare himself.Maybe a huge boulder had fallen, and some people had gotten severely injured- limbs that needed to be amputated and deep, gashing injuries.“How many patients are we talking about?” he asked Edwards. If he did not have room for them, treating them could constitute a problem.“I don’t know, Doc. I was called up to the mine, and I saw the mine supervisor bring out some of them. He told m
Latest chapter
