Page 20 of A Redemption Mountain Christmas
At the chaotic scene, Eliza steeled herself at the sight of bloodied, moaning people. She joined the doctors assessing injuries, working to staunch bleeding and splint broken bones. Despite the horrific wounds, Eliza felt energized.
As the long night continued, the doctors saved all but one elderly man who didn’t die from his wounds. His heart gave out while the doctors were treating him.
They agreed to a rotating schedule with two doctors always at the clinic.
Eliza returned to the St. James exhausted but invigorated. She’d rest for five hours, then return to the clinic. As she entered her room, she reflected on the injured settlers and how satisfying it had felt to utilize her medical skills to help them.
Undressing, she sat on the edge of the bed, thinking over the offer from the doctors. The frontier clinic would allow her to continue practicing medicine and make a real difference in people’s lives. She had seen the great need today.
Eliza knew accepting the position would mean giving up her original plan to travel farther west. It was a decision she refused to make without careful consideration.
Perhaps after a few hours of sleep, she’d feel up to thinking through the positives and negatives. She yawned, laid back on the bed, and closed her eyes.
Chapter Nine
Eliza awoke a few hours later, feeling refreshed and eager to return to the clinic. After dressing, she headed downstairs to the hotel restaurant for a quick breakfast. She arranged for a ride to the clinic, donning the heaviest coat she brought and boots she’d purchased when arriving in Splendor.
She stepped through the clinic doors after stomping her boots on the outside stoop. Surveying the room with a critical eye, she cataloged the patients sleeping on cots. Several cots were empty, blankets neatly folded and placed at one end.
Clay McCord walked down the stairs, looking tired and ready for rest. “Morning, Eliza. I hope you slept well.”
“I did, thank you.” Eliza gestured at the vacant cots. “It seems you’ve discharged some of our patients already.”
“Just the most stable ones. Noah Brandt came by with his wagon first thing and took them back to the wagon train.”
Eliza nodded, appeased by the explanation. “How many were left here?”
“Eight. Of those, I’d estimate at least four will be able to return to their families within the next day or two. The rest will take longer to heal before they should leave.”
“Why don’t you come upstairs for some coffee while the rest of them sleep,” Clay suggested, his gaze scanning the waiting area, which had become their hospital ward. “Carrie MacKenzie, one of our nurses, has been helping me watch over them.”
Eliza agreed and followed him up the narrow staircase to the second floor consisting of three more examination rooms, a tiny kitchen, and a large office.
As Clay busied himself making coffee, Eliza’s thoughts turned to Spencer Haglund. Something about the stubborn, prideful man intrigued her, though she couldn’t pinpoint why. He seemed to disapprove of her. Or he simply disliked her. She sensed a deeper complexity beneath his gruff exterior.
Eliza sighed, shaking away the distracting thoughts. She had patients to focus on now. The coffee Clay handed her was hot and bracing. She took several sips, steeling herself for the day ahead.
Taking the stairs back down to the first floor, Eliza followed Clay to check on the sleeping patients. As she and Clay walked quietly among the cots, Eliza glanced into the examination room where a man had been treated.
“Where’s the older gentleman with the leg injury?” she asked.
“He was the wagon master. And he isn’t old, though I agree he looks it. His name is Carter McCallister, and he’s thirty. He was able to provide some information to the sheriff before he discharged himself.”
“Excuse me. Did you say he left without your approval?”
“I did. He told Gabe more about the attack and identified the raiders as Crow Indians. They were on a hill overlooking the trail between Big Pine and Splendor. McCallister watched them for at least an hour before they attacked. He’s decided the wagon train will stay camped right outside of town for the winter. I believe he said there were twelve wagons left out of twenty that left Kansas City.”
Eliza’s brow furrowed. She reasoned if the Crow raiders attacked settlers, they might try to raid Splendor.
“After McCallister spoke to Gabe, he got up and walked out.”
They looked up as footsteps sounded on the stairs. Drake Ralston emerged, looking bleary-eyed.
“You’re up,” Clay said. “I was just about to head home for a few hours of sleep. Eliza will stay as long as we need her.”
Drake nodded, looking at her. “We aren’t going to turn away your help.”
After Clay left, she and Carrie ensured each patient had water and was as comfortable as possible. Eliza was impressed with the nurse’s knowledge and ability to make each person feel secure and safe.
