“As you can imagine, improving the pass through Absaroka range would help us out on several fronts. The closest train stop is still a day’s ride away, but if we can establish ourselves as more than just the last trading post before the park, then I think there’s no limit to what we can accomplish here in Park County. All sorts of goods and supplies will be more easily accessible, and life will improve for the residents in many ways. The good Dr. Cook here has been making quite an impression on me since his arrival.
Dr. Cook has made it clear to me that we need more frequent deliveries of medical supplies for the good of our growing population. If any of you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Kenton, that probably means you are wonderfully healthy. He’s kindly joined us today for the town meeting, however, so please greet him afterward if you haven’t yet been introduced. You can’t miss him; he’s the youngest and most handsome of us all,” Mayor Daniels said, eliciting an appropriately hearty chuckle from the small crowd of town representatives surrounding the table.
Kenton had been honored to be invited to the town hall meeting and was very pleased to hear about Mayor Daniels’ plans. In his experience, it wasn’t often that politicians listened to their people without some kind of financial lobbying involved to grease the wheels. In Maine, Kenton wouldn’t have dreamed of asking a local representative to do him a favor without offering something in return.
The table of gentlemen, including all the local shop owners and leaders of industry, nodded politely in Kenton’s direction.
“How exactly do you see this infrastructure project being funded? It’s all well and good to discuss getting our own train station and a clear pass for travelers, but without some kind of outside investment, I’m not sure how we’ll make it happen,” Manny Hill grumbled. Kenton watched carefully to see how Mayor Daniels would handle the saloon owner’s pessimism.
The young doctor understood why Manny would be less than optimistic about the future. After the way his house had mysteriously caught fire, it made sense that he would be thinking only of the potential downfalls. Still, Kenton found himself slightly suspicious of the Hill patriarch. He was sure that he had seen him at the general store, yet the older man had denied it entirely. Kenton couldn’t think of a single reason why he hadn’t wanted anyone to know he was at the general store.
“Now here’s why I need all of your help. Of course, I could write away to industry leaders from the capital or the like, secure one large investment and have some kind of coal mine move into town as soon as the pass is cleared. I don’t think that any of us want that, however. We should be developing all kinds of diverse business here in Park County and not rely on one single industry that could collapse at any moment.
Park County ought to belong to us, its citizens, and not some kind of outsider with deep pockets. So, if we each pitch in, I think we can develop a reasonable budget and schedule and get this project done on our own timeline and by the power of our own backs. What do you say?” Mayor Daniels asked in a rousing tone that seemed to inspire the people in the room.
The table exploded with a resounding round of “yays” and “aye aye’s” even from the usually frowning Manny. It seemed to Kenton like Mayor Daniels had the unique kind of disposition required of a public figure. He was kind, enthusiastic, and managed always to make Kenton feel listened to.
After the town officials' meeting, Kenton made the rounds and made sure he introduced himself to everyone that he hadn’t already met. Again, he was struck by just how friendly everyone seemed compared to their counterparts in Maine. Kenton had grown accustomed to the notion that all politicians and business owners only had their own interests at heart, but Park County was making him rethink his view of the world.
“How’s Rory doing?” Kenton asked Mr. Hill as the men were starting to file out of the makeshift town hall.
Manny Hill shook his head despondently. “Well, he’s still in bed, as per your orders. The saloon is getting busier and busier, but the misses needed help at home, what with Rory so out of sorts. Considering all that, Ginny hasn’t been able to give me a hand in the evenings. It’s a sorry situation all round, but I suppose everyone’s doing their best.”
“I’m very sorry for all the extra work it’s meant for you, but I promise, the more Rory rests now, the more likely he’ll make a full recovery. It seems like a long time to wait, but it will make all the difference to his future. If the saloon is getting so busy, maybe it’s time that you hire on an extra hand?” Kenton suggested. He immediately knew that he had overstepped his bounds. Manny shook his head as if to say there was much Kenton didn’t understand.
“I wish it were that simple. Still, perhaps it might be necessary in the end. I should be off. Please give Mayor Daniels my regards,” Manny said coldly. Before Kenton could apologize or respond, Manny had disappeared.
“Don’t let him get to you too much. Manny Hill is having a hard time of it, and he’s used to a fairly easy life. Soon, you’ll get to know his good-natured grumpiness and grow to love it,” Mayor Daniels hinted as he stepped up behind Kenton, patting him on the back. Kenton wanted to ask more about the Hill family, not only because of his curiosity about Manny but also because he wanted to know everything there was to know about Ginny Hill, the wild-haired beauty who had come knocking on his door in the middle of the night. He hadn’t been able to get the image of her bright eyes and ash-streaked face looking up at him from his doorstep on that fateful night out of his mind. Rory was making a decent recovery, but Kenton still managed to find every excuse to check in on the Hills.
Instead of giving in to his gossipy desires, Kenton changed the subject.
“At least it seems like Manny’s on board with your proposal. It sounds like a fine plan to me. Really, I thank you for listening to me and really taking the necessary steps to get this town all the medical supplies it needs.”
“I have a vested interest in the health of this town. Having a good, reliable doctor like you in town has made it easier on both Hal and Rosemary, what with the approaching birth. Your decent bedside manner means the world to the town; it really does,” Mayor Daniels gushed in response.
The day was getting on, and Kenton knew he had appointments to keep. Still, as he trotted past the Hill house with his bag of supplies strapped behind him, he couldn’t help himself. The last time he’d stopped in to check on Rory, Ginny had been out of the house. Though he wasn’t quite ready to admit it to himself, seeing Ginny was half the reason he liked checking in on Rory in the first place. Without thinking twice, Kenton urged his horse to take a hard left, and they continued up toward the house where he hoped Ginny would be.
“Dr. Cook! What a pleasant surprise. Rory’s just upstairs, as usual, but he’ll be very pleased to see you. I’m not sure what he gets up to in there all day, so I think the company will do him good if nothing else. He tells me the ankle is feeling better, so I’m hoping that means that he’ll be back on his feet in no time!”
To Kenton’s disappointment, it wasn’t Ginny who had answered the door, but Mrs. Hill instead. Still, he stepped in politely and weighed the pros and cons of asking if Ginny was home. He had no real reason or excuse to expect her presence, so he decided against it.
“I’m glad to hear he’s doing better. I’ll just go up to see him now if that’s alright. I know the way by now,” he said respectfully as he started heading up the stairs.
“You surely do. Ginny’s up there with him, she’s just brought him lunch, but you can send her back down to me if she gets in your way.”
Excitement fluttered in Kenton’s stomach for a moment, but he tried to calm himself and ease his breathing.
“That’s fine; she won’t be in the way at all,” he insisted, climbing the stairs quickly.
The door was slightly ajar by the time he approached it, and he could hear Ginny talking to Rory about something, though he couldn’t quite hear what exactly they were saying. He knocked politely and announced his presence.
“Hello, Rory? Ginny? It’s Dr. Cook here. Kenton, I should say …”
He’d barely gotten the words out before a smiling Ginny was before him.
“Kenton! What a nice surprise,” Ginny said cheerfully, echoing her mother’s words almost precisely.
“I should say that it’s a nice surprise to see you here, Ginny. I know you have a very busy schedule, so I feel lucky to have caught you.”
“Ah, well, it’s true, there’s been lots to do around the house. Did you notice the repairs have started in the front room? I think it’s all coming together quite nicely. Still, despite everything, I’ve taken to spending my afternoons up here with Rory while I work on my sewing projects. Here I am talking your ear off when all you probably want to do is check on Rory. He’s sleeping, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you woke him up to look at his ankle. Sometimes I talk to him without even realizing he’s sleeping and not listening to a word I’ve said! That, or he’s pretending to sleep so he doesn’t have to listen to me. It’s difficult to say. Come in, come in,” she said, urging him toward the bedside. Kenton had almost forgotten about the purpose of the visit, so he was grateful for the reminder.
“I don’t want to wake him. Sleep is good for the recovery process. Perhaps I’ll just wait here for a few moments, and he’ll wake up on his own,” Kenton whispered as he sat in his usual chair by the bedside.
“Do you have time to wait? I know you probably have a whole host of appointments to get to. Rory wouldn’t want to hold you up just for the sake of a nap.”
“No, no, it’s alright, I have time,” he lied. “Tell me about this sewing project you’re working on. It seems like quite the undertaking.” Surrounding Ginny were piles and piles of a dusty pink fabric, and beside her was a sewing mannequin with some kind of lining pinned to it. Even though it was clearly still far away from being complete, there was something very eye-catching and unique about the pattern pinned to the figure. Kenton didn’t know much about sewing and design, but he could tell that Ginny was talented.
“That looks incredible. I can barely darn my own socks, so I’m no authority on the matter, but it looks like whatever you’re planning will turn out to be positively stunning.”
“Thank you. It’s nothing really, but I do hope that Miss Hunter will enjoy it. I haven’t done too much sewing professionally, but it really seems to be a decent way to make a living or at least put something aside for a rainy day,” Ginny said, looking back down at the needlework. Kenton wasn’t sure if he imagined it, but he thought that Ginny had flushed slightly after he had paid her work of art a compliment. Still, it was a dimly lit room, so it was hard to tell whether his comment had had any effect at all.
“Is there a particular rainy day that you are saving for?” Kenton asked, anxious to keep the conversation going.
“Well, I suppose it isn’t fair to say that I’m saving for a contingency fund. There is one thing I’m trying to earn enough money to afford, however. I’m hoping that someday I can move away from this place and maybe even attend college.” She sounded both confident as she described her plans but also slightly anxious as if aware of how far off they were.
“You want to leave Park County? I know I’ve only just gotten here, but it seems to me that it’s a wonderful place to make a life.”
“It is! I don’t mean to infer that Park County isn’t an ideal part of the world. I just have a history here. My whole family does. Sometimes I yearn for a fresh start somewhere far away. I want to see something of this wide, wide world. You came all the way here from Maine, so I’m sure you understand. There’s something to be said for getting away from one’s origins, don’t you think?”
Kenton knew exactly what she was talking about even though he hated the idea of her leaving Park County. He was only just getting to know her. He wondered for a moment what she meant by saying that she had some kind of painful history in Park County. Of course, Kenton had his own difficult memories of home to contend with, and the comment made him think that perhaps Ginny had her own similar story. He held himself back from asking for details, however. He had no intention of revealing his own past to her so quickly, so he could hardly expect that she would delve into whatever had happened that made her so eager to leave Park County.
“Indeed, I have no desire to go back to Maine, so I can understand why you might want to escape your own beginnings. Do you know what you want to study at college?”
Ginny cocked her head and smiled. “You know, I wasn’t sure until recently. I think the desire to continue my education was all tied up with the yearning to see more of the world. Ever since I started sewing dresses for women around town, it’s gotten me thinking that I should learn something about running a business. I hear that they offer courses in the subject, so beyond simply a general classics degree or the like, I think that would be what I might pursue. To be honest, I don’t know what I want to do more: travel around the world and learn about all kinds of different fashions and styles, or study the ins and outs of starting a business.”
As much as it disappointed Kenton to hear that Ginny had her heart set on leaving town, it was enchanting to hear her talk about her passions.
“Well, wherever life takes you, I applaud your drive and enthusiasm. Still, I have to say that I think Park County would lose one of its best and brightest if you decide to leave.”
“There’s nothing to say I would leave forever,” Ginny replied, lifting her eyes from her needle and thread. For a moment, they held each other’s gaze, and it felt to Kenton as if she were trying to tell him that she would be willing to come back one day for his sake. Just then, however, Rory started to wake up, and they were interrupted.
“Dr. Cook?”
“Good afternoon, Rory. I’m glad to see you well-rested. Let’s have a look at that ankle of yours.”