ETTA (by ansinico)

Dr Matthew Tone was in charge of the Mission Hospital. He was more than pleased to have another pair of willing hands. Even more so when he realised that his young helper wanted to do more than make beds and roll bandages. Dr Tone now had a student. It was with the Reverend and his wife’s permission that Dr Tone took over Etta’s education. Taking it upon himself to instruct the young girl in all aspects of medicine and doctoring.

Just out of her teens and and more than an attractive young woman Etta was once more on the move. The relationship between the young, mixed race, woman and the doctor more than twice her age was not just frowned upon it was not tolerated, .

Dr Matthew Tone and Etta set off. Their home a small covered wagon. The Doctor and Etta Tone, as now although not married in the eyes of anyone Etta had taken Matthews name as hers.

Again Etta traveled from town to town but this time not as a child as a woman and as a mother. Matthew Joshua Tone was born in the back of the wagon. A healthy bonny boy who filled his overjoyed parents with happiness, laughter and delight. It was not many months after Matty J’s birth that Matthew Tone experienced the first attacks, breathlessness, tingling sensations in his arm and the tightness in his chest. The man as more than aware of what these symptoms indicated. He tried for a while to keep his condition a secret but he had forgotten that Etta had once been his pupil. He had taught her well. His condition could be managed with medication but the continually travelling and moving from pillar to post was doing nothing but aggravating his already tired heart. Stopping at the next available town to replenish their supplies and stock up with the needed medication. Matthew and Etta came upon Turner’s Cross. Another town of hard faces and bigotry. Ignoring the usual unwelcome they made their way to the last house on the edge of town. The plaque on the fence read Dr Thomas Simms. Matthew Tone hardly thought it to be true…but true it was.

Adam’s remark that Etta’s mother was from New Orleans led to him having to tell Tom about Etta’s likeness to Joe’s mother and to Joe. Of course what with the bandages and bruising the doctor had not seen any similarity. The conversation having drifted to little Joe, Adam questioned the doctor on his own experience and recollection on being comatose for so many months.

Tom described a feeling of floating on a bed of nothing…he had no idea of the passing of time, either the week, hour or minute or whether it were night or day. He could sometimes feel pain and then he could feel nothing…he could hear voices, nothing plain or distinct, though there was often silence. He could feel himself being touched and moved but he could not respond, physically or vocally. His mind and thoughts were awash with past experiences though not in any chronological order. Jumbled and fractured memories.

He felt it was extremely important to keep sounds, voices, conversations, music anything that could be heard and responded to, as part of the boys day to day existence. He felt deeply that every day normal sounds. Everyday activities played a great part in his recovery. He was positive had his wife Harriet not been aware and not given priority to this forward thinking treatment, he may now to this very day be laying in a state of unconscious limbo. There was though, he added one negative downside that he hoped Adam or Joseph would not have to deal with, or that could be avoided. Puzzled, Adam asked the doctor to explain further. The sprightly little man’s eyes danced with amusement. It was Harriet, his dear and beloved spouse. As much as he loved her she had been sorely blessed with the voice of a Mississippi Riverboat Foghorn. Could not hold a tune or a note to save her life. But, to give her credit where credit was due, her voice was loud, very loud. No man in his right mind, conscious or unconscious would have remained in that state for long.

Sharing a bout of hearty laughter Adam asked how the doctor had come to be in the condition.

A complete and utter accident he said, which being completely his fault was not entirely an accident at all.

The one skill he most admired and had never acquired was horsemanship. The ability to sit astride an equine and be in control. He had no fear of the noble beast and he could drive a buggy or wagon across America from East to West if need be. But once astride one of the creatures his senses leave him. Never-the-less he was determined to overcome this inability. He had tried and failed but he was dogged in having another go at trying to cure his clumsiness.

He also was very well aware that in his line of work to have this skill would be more than beneficial. Harriet knew it was wrong and the animal knew that it was wrong, but he Dr Thomas Simms thought it was the right thing to do.

Mounted astride the usual, quiet, gentle animal. For reasons known only to itself it bucked. Though Harriet said it barely lifted its hind feet from off of the ground. Tom sailed through the air, finally on landing back on terra firma he slammed his head against a recalcitrant fence post and knew very little else for six months. Adam had tried hard to suppress the dimpled grin that was fighting for freedom. The doctor ignored Adam’s lack of sympathy and questioned that Adam and his brothers had taken many a fall from horse back. Adam agreed but said that he and Hoss were more than happy to leave that side of ranching to Little Joe as he had more than a tendency to keep his butt closer to the saddle. By the time he had reached the house Adam had determined to follow the doctors advice.

It had taken the best part of the day to get to town and back. Adam was tired and now very hungry. Even now the harrowing story of the death of Etta’s family weighed heavily on his mind. But not on his stomach and as he had left most of his lunch on his plate on the pine wooden kitchen table back at the doctor’s, Adam was more than ready for his dinner.

After putting in a solid days work Hoss was washing up at the water pump as Adam approached.

“Leave that brother, l’ll see to it,” he shouted as Adam prepared to unharness the pony.

“Looks to me big brother as if you have done more than your share. If you want to lend a hand take in Etta’s supplies. I am going to leave the rest of the stuff here in the wagon.” Adam’s impatient stomach growled in protest.

“Aint you eaten, thought yer having lunch with doc?”

“l was and l did, tell you about it later,” Adam led the pony to the barn but at the door he halted as a flash of black and white caught his eye. He watched as Cochise hurtled from one side of the corral to the other finally coming to a skidding halt. He flinched as for one moment he was sure the pinto would collide with both Chubb and Sport’s rear end’s. He hoped that his own horse wouldn’t kick out, as it was the tetchy animals usual way of welcoming unwanted interference. But no, Cochise being very much like her owner was just demanding attention. The other two horses much like their owners were ignoring the rude youngster. Only turning their heads to cast looks of complete boredom and then returning their noses back to the quiet peace and enjoyment of grazing. Cochise again very much like her owner reared high and in a show of bravado waved her forelegs, spun around on her hinds and once again careered across the corral hurtling into the furthest corner, the furthest point away from her companions.

“I see Cochise is back to normal”. He remarked as he settled Etta’s pony into its stall. His brothers belly laugh followed him into the barn. “Aint she jest,” Hoss agreed.

Hoss had not spent the whole day in manual labour. It was over a pleasant lunch sitting out on the porch with Etta, that at the woman’s insistence he had told her about the Ponderosa and the Cartwright’s. Told her about his Pa and his three wives, about their deaths and reiterated on Etta’s likeness to little Joe’s mama Marie. It was when he mentioned that Marie was from the South, New Orleans, that Etta had volunteered the information that her own mother Marietta was also born in New Orleans. That she had herself lived there for a time with Matthew. She had thought that they would remain there but that Matthew had preferred the open space of the prairie to the hustle and bustle of New Orleans. Which was why they had left and found themselves having to settle for Turner’s Cross.

She also told him that Matthew had never wanted to become a doctor. His first love was for the land and if things had been different he would have lived the life of a farmer or rancher. His family had been more than unhappy with his decision to leave the East. He was chalked in to take over from his doctor father in his very lucrative practice. She still had the letter that finally severed father from son. Matthew Tone Senior’s harsh unforgiving words that his son had a home, and way of life in Boston. But that if he had any thought to bring the heathen and anything whelped from her pagan womb, he should keep it to himself and keep himself in the wilds of the Western Territories where he was an unknown entity and could bring any more shame than he had done to the Tone family name.

Why she had opened up her memories to Hoss Cartwright Etta couldn’t understand. She had told him close fisted secrets that she had never uttered to anyone.

Etta found herself drawn into those two pools of blue she felt this huge, wonderful, gentle, man without any telling or knowledge could see every scar and torment. Every pain and misery that she had known and felt. That he not only shared her agony but with a nod of his head or an understanding purse of his lips her pains and sufferings were at long last eased and finally removed.

Hoss found Etta an easy person to talk to. He didn’t feel his usual awkward self in her company.

He pondered why Etta said ‘having’ to settle and not ‘did’ settle or ‘wanted’ to settle. With Etta he could ask her straight out and not feel foolish. So ask he did and the woman explained.

The townsfolk not wanting either Etta or her small son. They had nothing against Matthew. Matthew was not a well man and it was Thomas Simms who eventually talked the Tone’s into staying. Hoss’s look of puzzlement didn’t go unnoticed. Etta explained it was her looks and the colour of her skin. They considered her and her son to be not worthy or white enough to grace the streets of Turner’s Town. Hoss had no truck with bigots and opinionated racists. Taking Etta’s hand, which was more than a little bold for the man. He told her that with her looks she should be more than proud as she was the prettiest gal he had seen in a month of Sundays.

Hoss didn’t mention Etta’s son as he had already seen the headstone and figured that if she wanted to tell him anything about the boy she would. Etta’s warm smile and Hoss’s words took the serious edge off of the conversation. Etta allowed herself a little flirting.

“I bet you say that to all the girls Hoss Cartwright?”

“Yer gone got me mixed up with little brother, he’s the one with all the ladies”.

“And you Hoss, don’t you have a lady back at the Ponderosa or in Virginia City waiting for your return? I’d be very surprised if you haven’t”.

Hoss’s reverted to form, his shy, engaging nature came to the fore. How easy thought Etta to redden the huge man’s cheeks.

“Well l kinda guess me an Bessie Sue been sparking fer a while now…she aint like…well, l don’t know we, she…she kinda makes me feel not so…”

Etta could feel Hoss’s shyness as he struggled for his words, quickly she interjected. “One thing l know Hoss, Cartwright, if l was Bessie Sue l’d put my brand on you sooner than later.”

That remark brought a glow of pride to Hoss’s face as both he and Etta for no reason other than feeling so comfortable in each others company set off a ripple of giggling. Etta now had her opportunity to bring the conversation around to the subject of elder brother Adam.

“So now Little Joe’s the Romeo and should l also say heart breaker? You are sparking Bessie Sue, what about Adam does Adam have any lady on his arm?

Hoss had noticed that any mention of Adam during the course of their conversation had put a soft light into Etta’s eyes and a whimsical look on her face. Now she was staring with a look of such expectancy that he figured his reckoning was more than correct. Etta Tone had feelings for elder brother Adam, and what is more Hoss was also more than sure that elder brother Adam felt the same about Etta Tone. He had seen that shine. That look in his brothers eye. The look that hovered back and forth, like a nesting jaybird over little brothers face, but not too often over elder brothers.

The woman’s barely audible sigh of relief at Hoss’s words closed the lid on the cookie jar.

“Aint been no lady on elder brothers arm fer a while now an l reckon it’s time that space was filled”.

Etta felt a surge of passion sweep through her. A tingling sensation that prompted her to swiftly reach for the empty dishes and turn from the table and hurry into the kitchen. Hoping that the flaming fire that was now burning her cheeks had been unseen. But her dash to the sanctuary of the sink was not quick enough. Hoss remained at the table folding the napkins with a deliberate accuracy. His smile turned inward and secret. His big heart bursting with happiness for his brother.

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Author: ansinico

1 thought on “ETTA (by ansinico)

  1. That was terrific. I like Etta – she is the perfect foil for Adam.
    Please let’s have more of this story.

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