Chapter Text
“Are you ready?”
The girl sat with her hands in her lap, head down, she nodded
“Brave girl. It will sting, but not for long”
She closed her eyes and waited for the Doctor to give her the shot.
“It's good medicine. Stop you getting a nasty illness.”
He rubbed the cotton on her arm and quickly put the point into her arm and administered the vaccine. Once done, he waited for a minute, letting her process.
“Am I dying?”
“Would you like me to check?” he asked
She nodded.
“Hurts that bad huh?” a little humour in his voice.
“Little”
“OK. See the sun coming in the window? Point your ear at it”
She stood, looked and turned to the window
“Stand on one leg”
Her foot lifted.
“Stick your tongue out, like this” he pulled a face, she copied “OK. so, mouth wet, didn't fall over, put your foot down. The last one is the most important. You have to be alive to hear the sunlight.”
She laughed and straighten her dress. “Thank you Doctor Judge” she curtsied and made to leave.
“Send your mother in and wait on the porch”
The boy looked round the doorway. Studying the woman in one of the waiting chairs. He ducked back a bit when she saw him.
“Good morning Conner”
He peeked again.
“Good morning Miss Sadie”
“Are you well?”
“My feet hurt”
“Did you tell your father?” she asked
He came closer. Shook his head. No
“Can I see?” she held out her hand. Taking it back, she smiled. “Point where it hurts.”
He pointed to his toes. “Does it hurt all the time? Or just when you have the boots on?”
“When I have boots” he replied.
“I think I know two things that will make it better. New shoes and a cookie.”
“Cookie?”
The door opened and her daughter walked out of it. She turned and closed it
“Doctor Judge would like to talk to you”
“I will be a minute longer then.” Sadie stood and took a paper bag from her handbag. “this maybe too big for one person. Do you think you can find someone to share it with?”
They shared a smile.
“Conner? Would you like half?”
The boy nodded.
“I find myself in need of a housekeeper. Doctoring isn't a regular hours type of employment. I can't keep taking my boy with me. So, time to time I would need you to look to him. Room and board included. For your girl too. There are enough rooms here. I'll include schooling, got no use for an uneducated child, so make sure she goes.
Wage a month in advance. Rate is negotiable. Not overly so.
If you get a better offer, you can let me know and leave with no questions.
Household budget will be your area. Surgery hours and supplies mine.
That's the good.”
Matthew sighed.
“In truth, staying here, its going to be bad for your reputation.
I'm a drunk, don't hold with church, even at Easter, I will bring home women I don't intend on marrying. You get any ideas on changing that, then you need to say no.
You needn't worry about me trying your door and stay away from mine. We will take a view in a few months, see where we need to adapt.
If you need doctoring, you'll need to go to the next town over. Make sure to say what a poor situation it is for you. The poorer they think of me, the better for you.
Take your time to think on it. Come back tomorrow with your answer”
They sat in silence for over a minute. Sadie stood, nodded and left without a word
“Well, that was a thing” Judge exhaled. His instinct had been right. She hadn't taken the night, she had taken her daughter back to their residence, packed, quit with the laundry owner and come back with less demands than he thought.