The Montana Doctor's Love (New Montana Brides Book 8) Read Free

patients, many of whom knowing the circumstances feared he might not return.
    Patrick and Mary Louise…
    Carter and Elizabeth called their young son Patrick or CP to avoid the confusion of having two Carters in the house.
    Patrick was well liked in school. A quiet child, he rarely socialized with the others in his class. One of his few friends was Mary Louise Parsons, whose parents owned a large ranch five miles from rown. They attended the Christian church pastored by Jack Owens.
    The church sponsored socials for their youth members aged sixteen to nineteen to compensate for the lack of entertainment for the young people in the congregation.
    It was Sunday and a social had been scheduled for the following week. Patrick gathered his courage, and approached Mary Louise. “Would you like to go to the social with me Friday?” he asked.
    She was surprised. It was the first time he had shown this type of interest. Pleased, she said, “I would like that. Thank you for asking me.”
    Embarrassed, he said, “You’re welcome.”
    They ate together, and sat together. They talked about their dreams. “What would you like to do after high school, Patrick?”
    “I am going to the University of Wyoming, and then I’m going to medical school. I want to be a doctor and work with Dad.”
    “You’ve got your future all planned out, don’t you? I envy you for knowing what you want. I don’t know what I’m going to do. Mama and I have talked about me going to Saint Anne’s College for Girls in Baltimore. That’s where she went before she married Papa. I want to be a mom someday too.”
    When he walked her to her door, he said, “I enjoyed that, Mary Louise. I would like to do that again.”
    “I enjoyed it too. You’re a good listener, and it’s fun to talk to you. Next Friday, then?”
    “Yes, I’ll pick you up the same time. I guess I’d better go. Good night, Mary Louise.”
    “Good night,” she said and waited for the kiss.
    It didn’t come. He returned to his carriage and rode off.
    Frustrated, she stamped her foot. “Oooohhhh,” and went inside.
    “Did you have a nice time, dear?” her mother asked.
    “I did, but he’s so bashful, it’s hard to watch,” Mary Louise said.
    “What do you mean?”
    “He had a good time. He told me so, and he asked me to the next one. I said yes, and he said, ‘good night’ and left. He didn’t even try to kiss me goodnight.
    Her father looked up. “That’s good; he probably saw the shotgun I was holding.”
    “Papa!” she said.
    * * *
    Patrick had a similar conversation with his father about his future. “Dad, I want to be a doctor. I want to go to medical school,” Patrick said. “Then I want to come back and work with you.”
    “Medical School is a lot different now, from what it was when I went to Georgetown,” Carter said. “You have to finish college, before you can apply for admission.”
    “I know. I wish there was a college here,” Patrick said. “I guess the closest is the University of Wyoming in Laramie. At least it’s close enough for me to come home occasionally. Can we afford it?”
    “We can. If you can do well enough at the university, I would like to see you go to Georgetown or Johns Hopkins. In my opinion, there is no better medical school than Georgetown.
    “It’s a long hard road. At least ten years of college and medical school. You will  be close to thirty when you go into practice. Your mother and I might not even be around that long.”
    “Don’t even talk like that, Dad. If we can afford it, it’s what I want to do,” Patrick said.
    Later…
    “I’ve never heard him express an interest in anything other than being a doctor. I think it’s wonderful,” Elizabeth said. “He wants to follow in your footsteps.”
    “I’m flattered he made the choice, especially after seeing the night calls, and some of the things he’s seen here in the office.”
    When he finished high school, he entered the University of Wyoming. He