August 29, 1900

Tombstone. 

I walked into the clinic this morning and signed in with the notebook and greeted Mr. Stone. I showed him my small pox list and when people had had their check-ups last. I looked outside and saw Mr. Joe and went out to him. 

“Mr. Joe!!! You had small pox vaccy yet???” 

“What business is it of yours whether I have or not?” he turned to me.

“Cause I helping Mr. Stone in the clinic and everyone should have it. Don’t wanna get bad stuff growin’ on ya.” 

“Hey Nat? Why don’t you come in here. Not everyone likes to talk about their medical history out on the street,” Mr. Stone suggested. 

I looked down and walked in, looking at him. “I just…” 

“I know. You didn’t do anything bad. But as doctors, we have to respect people’s privacy,” he looked at me. 

Mr. Joe shook his head and said, “Correct, I didn’t want my medical history divulged to the residents of Tombstone.” 

I sniffed, hearing Joe’s tone and went to sit on the couch as Mr. Stone said, “That’s one of the big things to learn.” 

“I did bad last night then,” I frowned, thinking about asking everyone on the street if they’d had their vaccinations. 

“No, it wasn’t bad,” Mr. Joe sat down beside me on the couch. 

Mr. Joe walked in and looked at him. “What’s going on here?” he looked at us both. “My medical history is mine.” 

I sniffed and went to wash my hands, trying to not cry cause I had to be like a big person doctor, and went to change the bed sheets as I listened to Mr. Stone say, “Nat is helping me out in the clinic. She just learned about vaccines and it a little excited. She wants to make sure everyone has one. I’m sorry if she embarrassed you.” He looked over at me and smiled. “That’s good, Miss Stark! That needs to be done and it’s really important.” 

“Well maybe its time she learnt to control her excitement, whether reading journals and confronting people, and now this,” Mr. Joe said and I cringed, going to sit on the small pox box, looking down at the floor. 

“She’s nine. She’s learning,” Mr. Stone told him. 

“Well if she is yours, please control her then, the kids here seem to think they rule the place.” 

“I sorry, Mr. Joe,” I said softly, looking anywhere but at Mr. Joe. 

“Well looks like doctors confidentiality  has gone. Let’s just hope I don’t turn ill here then,” Mr. Joe said. 

“As I said, she’s just learning. She just started this week and that’s a lesson we’ll be going over today it seems.” 

“I would have thought that the first thing she should have been taught was that,” Mr. Joe shook his head. “I will leave you to your teaching then,” he rolled his eyes and left. 

I watched him walk out of the clinic and started to feel myself cry, ‘cause I knew I was in trouble. Mr. Joe looked at me and said, “Don’t worry about that too much. He probably has irritable bowels.” 

I looked over at him but didn’t move. I was just... tryin’ to help… Thought it was... good to care ’bout people…” 

“It is good to care about people,” he smiled at me. 

“Not if they yell at you.” 

“Come over here and sit down,” Mr. Stone said from the couch and I inched closer, sitting down beside him and looking down. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” 

“I musta. Mr. Joe no like me anymore.” 

“Don’t worry about him, Nat.” 

“He built us boat. I thought he was nice. No one was upset I asked em last night in the street. And there was lots there!” 

“Most people aren’t going to get that uptight about asking if they’ve had a shot.” 

“But it’s a blade and scratches, Mr. Stone. It not needle. And it better than getting bad things growin’ on you.” 

I heard Mr. Joe talking to himself outside as he said, “That’s the last time I bother to do anything for them, dam spoilt brats.” 

“But sometimes you’ll run into someone that doesn’t want to talk about that kind of stuff,” Mr. Stone said. 

“Then he should be nicer ’bout it,” I argued. 

“Well think of it this way. He’s being all cranky and that’s his problem.” 

“My problem too cause he yelled at me.” 

“He yelled at me too,” he shrugged. 

“If people not like it they woulda said so last night. So I thought it was a good thing.” 

“When people do that, you just have to smile and nod.” 

“Even if you know they wrong?” 

“Yep,” he nodded. 

“Like when Mrs Joan kept wantin’ me to talk to Jimmy? Even though I know she the one who made him go back to orphnage?” 

“Yep. That’s not easy, but you can’t change people so you just have to accept them the way they are. And sometimes they aren’t nice. So you have to be the bigger person and be nice in return, no matter what.” 

“But they the bigger person. I jes little.” 

He tapped my chest and said, “Bigger in here.” 

“Oh..” I said and curled up against him, wiping the tears away with the hankie he gave me. 

“He did bring up a good point though…. Not that he was nice about it but… When people come here and tell you something, it’s kinda like a secret.” 

“I should bring people in here? Then ask?” 

“No, you don’t have to bring them here to ask.” 

“But…” 

“We just have to be sensitive to the way people react and if they don’t want to talk about their medical history, we don’t want to push it.” 

“I sorry,” I nodded. 

“It’s okay, Nat. But going back to what people tell us when they’re in here… That’s personal and confidential. Do you know what that means?” 

“Like a secret,” I nodded. 

“Exactly. People’s medical issues are very private and sometimes it’s hard for them to talk about it with a doctor so they need to know that what they say isn’t going to be talked about in public.” 

“But can I tell you?” 

“Oh yes, you should tell me.” 

“Or Doc Freja or Doc Lilly?” 

“Right. Only tell other doctors” 

“I have a question.” 

“Sure, what’s your question?” 

“What if someone comes in here and says they was shot and needs help... And they tell me who shot ’em. Shouldn’t I tell that to Ma or to Mrs. Aly or someone with a badge?” 

“Well... that gets a little gray. You can ask them if it’s okay to talk to a law person.” 

“Oh okay.” 

“But sometimes we have to treat outlaws too and they don’t always want to talk. As a doctor, we have to treat them like anyone else.” 

“Like how we had to treat Mrs. Joan yesterday.” 

“Exactly. You can’t let your personal feelings into it.” 

“But what if… What if they hurt Ma or Mrs. Aly?” 

“We still have to treat them.” 

“Even Mr. Joe?” I looked down and nodded. 

“Even Mr. Joe. We have to help everyone. And if they’ve done something bad, we have to let law people take care of it when we’re done treating them.” 

“This harder lesson than the other stuff.” 

“Yeah it is hard. And that wasn’t the nicest way to bring it up either. I’m sorry he made you feel bad.” 

“You not the one who s’posed to say he sorry,” I told him. 

“Well, I’m responsible for you in here.” 

“I sorry I made him yell at you.” 

“That’s okay. Now we know not to ask him questions. I’m proud of you for doing your job when he got mean.” 

“I didn’t wanna be over here and get yelled at.” 

“You are doing a very good job.” 

“Thank you Mr. Stone.” 

“You’re welcome, Miss Stark.” 

“What now, Mr. Stone?” 

“Would you like to learn about the equipment in here?” he asked and I nodded. He went over to get a tray of medical tools and set it down on the couch. “This is something you’re going to want to know. If you’re in here when someone gets shot, the attending doctor might ask you for help to fetch things. You’ll have to know the names of all of these.” He pointed at a long pointy tool and said, “This is a prod. A doctor might use this to locate a bullet by inserting it into a wound and poking around. Sometimes they use their finger too. But this is a little thinner and longer so it’s probably easier.” 

I wrote notes in my notebook as he continued and picked up a pair of tweezers. “These are tweezers. They pick stuff out of a wound, like if someone’s bits of shirt gets forced in there by a bullet. It can also pluck the bullet out too.” He picked up another one with a long handle and a thin sharp blade. “Do you know what this one is?” 

“Um…” I looked at him. 

“This is one of the most common ones.” 

“Uh…” 

“It’s called a scalpel. It’s used to cut.” 

“Like cut skin? To get the bullet out?” 

“Yep. Sometimes you have to cut a little to get it out.” He picked up a saw and said, “Now this looks like it belongs in my wife’s carpenter box.” I giggled and he smiled. “This one is kinda nasty. Sometimes a wound won’t heal or a limb is too destroyed to fix, so it needs to be amputated..” 

“You ever have to use it, Mr. Stone?” 

“No, luckily I’ve never had to amputate anything.” 

“What’s it called? Amputater?” 

“A saw.” 

“Oh.” 

“Just like one you’d use for wood. Amputate? That’s when you cut a limb off.” 

“Don’t like that one.” 

“Honestly, I’m not fond of that either,” he chuckled. He picked up a little needle and said, “And the last one here is the needle. Just like sewing, it’s used to sew up a wound.” 

“I thought needle was used to put medicine into us.” 

“Ah, now that’s a different kind of needle.” He got out a syringe and said, “See this one? It’s got a needle on one end and a chamber to hold the medicine on that other.” He put the tray of tools away and said, “The other thing you’ll need to fetch are bandages.” 

“It takes out blood too right? The syringe?” 

“Yes, it does take out blood too. Sometimes we look at blood under the microscope.” 

“Can we?” 

“Sure, we can look,” he smiled and took the microscope out. He took out a glass slide and wiped a little alcohol on his finger and poked it with a needle, wiping the drop on the glass. He peered into the microscope and then said, “Mmhmm, there it is. Okay, Nat, Take a look. You should be able to see the individual blood cells.” 

I climbed up on the stool and peered into the microscope. “Wow!” 

“The whole body is made up of little tiny "blocks" called cells. That’s something they recently discovered.” 

“They’re so little!” 

“Cells were discovered about 300 years about but only in the last 70 years or so have people realized our whole body is made of them. They are little! What do you think of those?” 

“That’s pretty neat. There’s not many other people ’round today.” 

“We’ll have to clean that like the other tools,” he took the slide out and smiled. 

“Yeah it’s quiet today. You did a good job today, Miss Stark.” 

“I guess,” I nodded quietly. 

“Don’t let Mr. Joe discourage you. I’m proud of the work you’ve been doing here.” 

“Thanks Mr. Stone, I think Ma is too.” 

“I’m sure she is!” he smiled. 

“It better than doin’ nothing. I like learning it.” 

“Good!” 

“Learning so much here I don’t have to go to school tomorrow!” 

“Oh no, you still have to go to school!” he laughed. 

“But… I learned more here this week than I have ever at school.” 

“In fact, I saw Miss Aeryne the other day and she said she hoped you’d be at school this weekend.” 

“And you a boy and I a girl and we can sit on couch beside each other and not get yelled at,” I said and he laughed. “I heard Miss Aeryne not dead!” 

“Nope, she’s not dead. She’s teaching school tomorrow.” 

“We saw her on the ground but I guess she was just hurt.” 

“Yes, she was… but she’s okay now.” 

“I’m glad. Ma’s happy too.” 

“School is very important I know you don’t like it, but you still should go. If you don’t go to school now, you won’t be able to go to medical school when you’re older.” 

“Sabi said she was sorry for bein’ mean to me.” 

“That was nice of her. Maybe you two can be friends now.” 

“Maybe.” 

“And you seemed to get along with Payton yesterday,” he said and I nodded. “She told me she likes to get dirty, like you do.” 

“I don’t like it so much anymore now that I work here. Gotta be clean to be doctor.” 

“That’s exactly right!” he smiled. “You’re doing great! That’s the most important thing to remember, making sure to be clean. But you can get as dirty as you want when you play. As long as you can wash up before work. Well, Miss Stark, I think that’s enough for today,” he said then. “Maybe next time I can show you some of the other clinics and where to find stuff in them so you can help no matter which town you’re in.” 

“Sure! I should get a horsey. Then I can ride around like Ma.” 

“That would be fun,” he smiled and patted my head. “You have fun okay? Go play! ’m going to go home and check on Mrs. Stone.” 

“Okay I go look for a pony.” 

“Okay, good idea! Good luck.” 

I headed off and then found a new black horse at the stables that the person in charge there said I could buy with the money I made at the clinic. I showed my horse off to a man named Mr. Tony and said that its name was Velvet. We talked about me working at the clinic and then I went for a ride on my new horse. 

August 28, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I walked into town and greeted Payton and Mr. Alex. I noticed that Payton had a bandage on her hand and asked, “What you do?” 

“Well.. um.. got stupid I guess...broke it on the matrons door when I punched it,” she blushed. 

“Well that ain’t good.” 

“Yah I know that now,” she giggled. 

“Payton, anytime you get upset, come find me and I’ll show you that boxing dummy,” Mr. Alex suggested. 

“You two think alike,” Payton giggled. 

“That cause Mr. Stone is teachin’ me to be like him,” I grinned. 

“Well that’s a good thing… Mr. Cole is gonna teach me ta be a vet.” 

“Did you already clean stuff Mr Stone?” I asked and Payton followed us into the clinic. 

“That’s great! Maybe you two can trade notes,” Mr. Alex suggested. 

“But Payton working on animals and I work on people,” I said. 

“No, I haven’t cleaned anything yet today. I was doing paperwork,” Mr. Alex said and I went over to the sink to wash my hands. 

“That’s true, Nat, but people and animals both can get sick or hurt and some of the ways you treat them are the same,” Mr. Stone chuckled. 

“Payton I can make um... Willow tea.... to make your hand feel better,” I suggested. 

“Right.. but people ain’t that different.. both have bones,” Payton nodded and smiled to me. “That works Natalie.... I finished my first one.” 

“Oh… Okay I make you some!” I offered. 

“Thank you Natalie,” Payton smiled. 

I went to get the kettle and filled it with water from the sink, putting the kettle carefully on the stove. I went over to get a teacup and filled it with Willow tea leaves, throwing them into the cup. “Now we wait for the water to whistle.” 

“I figure.. that ya might need a vet anyway here at the clinic.. just in case Rikki bites someone..” Payton smiled. 

“I’m happy to hear you’d like to be a vet, Payton. It’s good to have plans for the future,” Mr. Alex said and then laughed. “We’d all need a rabies shot.” 

I heard the kettle whistle and took the kettle over to the cup, pouring water in. I set the kettle back on the stove and said, “Hey Payton guess what! You my first patient!! I made Jimmy tea but that was cause he was sad, not cause he was hurt. And Doc Freja made that.” 

“Well.. my pa..before he left .. he was a doctor.. an blood don’t bother me at all.. but I have been workin on Mrs Joan’s ranch. Well with all the horses that need tendin I figured it would be smart ta learn,” Payton smiled. “Well then I have ta make sure I am a good patient.” 

I handed her the teacup with tea in it and said, “Here you go. I hope you feel better. No more punching walls.” I looked at Mr. Stone to make sure I did a good job. 

“No worries there Doc Natalie,” Payton took the tea and smiled. 

“That’s great, Miss Stark!” Mr. Alex smiled at me. “You’re doing a good job.” 

I went to the desk and beamed wide as I wrote down about my first patient. “I’m gonna keep track of people I give tea to when they’re hurt, like Ma writes notes too! Payton did you know there over two hundred bones in Mr. Bones? We learned almost half of ’em yesterday. The other ones must be hidden Mr. Stone ’cause I looked again and could only find the ones we named.” 

“I am glad that Mrs Joan’s mare had the foal before I broke my hand.. I had ta help out.. poor thing was breach but they doin fine now,” Payton said and then blinked. “That many?!” 

“Uh huh!!” 

“Well, there are some really small one. Oh wow, that must have been great to see a foal born,” Mr. Alex said. 

“How the tea?” I asked, sitting beside Payton. 

“Wow…” Payton looked at her hand and then at me. “It’s very good, my hand feels almost good enough ta do my chores.. but.. am under order to rest .” 

“See Mr. Stone it works!” I grinned. 

“It does! Thank you for getting her another cup, Miss Stark. You’re on your way to making a great doctor,” Mr. Alex smiled. 

“Course it worked got a great teacher an your a great learner ya can’t fail,” Payton smiled. 

“Uh huh! Mr. Stone the best doctor in all Arizona!” I exclaimed. 

“Aw, thanks!” Mr. Alex grinned. 

“It’s true. We not s’posed to lie.” 

Payton sipped the tea and nodded. “Yup he’s been a good help for me ..just wish he was the first doc that took out the bullet I had.. first doc left half the bullet an then messed up the stitches.” 

“Ouch. There are a lot of quack out there,” Mr. Alex said. 

“You can say that again, an not all of em is doctors,” Payton nodded. “Well Mrs Jess fixed it up takin the bullet out an then fixed the stitches ..an you took em out and now I am as good as new ..almost, after the hand heals.” 

“You’re hand will be mended in no time,” Mr. Alex said. 

“Mr. Stone did you want some wake up tea?” I asked. 

“Oh I know thanks to Mr Cole, you and Natalie I should be back to my old self again,” Payton said. 

“Sure, wake up tea would be nice,” Mr. Alex nodded. 

I went over to the kettle and said, “Hey the water’s still hot!” I went to find another teacup and put some black tea leaves in it and poured the water in, handing it to Mr. Alex. “Here you go Mr Stone. Wake up!!!” 

“Thanks, Miss Stark,” he took the cop and smiled. 

“Now I should make some for me but I not sure what kind I need. I’m already awake. And not upset. What’s working tea, Mr. Stone?” 

“How about a raspberry lemon tea?” 

“That sounds yummy.” I went over and made up the tea and then sat down with it, sipping it. “That real yummy! Now we all have tea! What this kind of tea do, Mr. Stone?” 

“Tea is a good way to start the day. Um, that one just tastes good.” 

“Oh okay.” 

“Yeah hopefully things won’t be too rough taday, though its good ta keep busy,” Payton finished her tea. 

“Keeping busy helps the day go by fast,” Mr. Alex agreed. 

“Yes it does an I love working with horses makes it even more fun an they don’t complain as much as humans.” 

“That’s a good point!” Mr. Alex said and we all laughed. “My horse is one of my favorite people. He’s always nice and quiet.” 

“But Mr. Stone Leo isn’t a people.” 

“He is to me,” Mr. Alex chuckled. 

“Like Phoenix is to Ma?” 

“Leo has been my only friend at times. He’s been with me all way from Boston,” he said. 

“An just like some people with dogs an cats, they are animals but they are still part of the family,” Payton said. 

“I want a dog…” I said. 

“Exactly, Payton!” Mr. Alex said to her. 

“I have seen a lot of dogs an cats wanderin lately and a few horses though not really sure who would let their horse wander alone, its not a smart thin ta do,” Payton giggled. 

“A horse is too valuable,” Mr. Alex nodded. 

“Payton what about that horse stuff with Rikki and Miss Ashton?” I asked.

Payton nodded and looked at me and shrugged. “Well.. not sure, Miss Ashton left an went cross the boarder to get more horses..an I made a statement ..that she was gonna bring em back have me check over them ta see their health an if they had brands on em to remove the brand to put hers on an then sell em.. but she never came back ta meet again with Rikki to make it final.” 

“Huh that’s weird. Ma said she was real proud of you for tellin’ her what happened.” 

“Yyeah I felt a lot better after tellin the truth an all, Miss Ashton wanted me to use my vet learnin ta help her with stealin the horses, keepin them healthy an takin care of the brands on em.” 

“Uh huh horse brandin’ a bad thing, right Mr Stone?” I asked him. 

“Well, changing the brand is bad. The brand is amark on the horse to show who owns it,” Mr. Alex said. 

Payton looked at him and said then to me and nodded. “I want ta help animals not help people ta get away with stealin them.” 

“What happens if they get caught?” I asked. “When Ma figures out how to prove they’re doin’ it?” 

“They’ll get in trouble,” Mr. Alex said. 

“Stealin horses is bad enough ta get hung…” Payton looked over at me. “Well shoot, that’s easy. Miss Ashton had me keep the records in the safe in the ranch.” 

“You should give those records to Ma,” I cringed. 

“Your ma told me ta stay away from the ranch sept ta tend the horses… but I have the combination ta the safe.” 

“You should get it then she can put it with your statement thing and show the marshals,” I said. 

“You be really careful doing something like that,” Mr. Alex said. 

“But Mr. Stone if it gonna put bad people away like Miss Rikki… She gotta!” 

“I don’t want Payton getting hurt sneaking into someone’s house, Nat.” 

“Yeah but..” 

“But what?” 

“If she don’t get those papers then they get away with stealin’ horses!” 

“I know.” 

“What’s worse? Stealin’ horses to get hanged or goin’ into someone’s house to find stuff?” 

“Don’t know why I didn’t think of that,” Payton nodded. “Yes sir.. Rikki don’t seem like the person ta care if she is shootin a kid or adult.. an even though Miss Ashton was there Rikki looked like she would do somethin as soon as Miss Ashton weren’t lookin.”

“But sneaking into a house isn’t a good thing either.” 

“Stealing horses is worse…” I argued. 

“Two wrongs don’t make a right, Nat. There are legal ways to get those papers.” 

“How??” I sighed. 

“I don’t know, Nat. I’m not a lawman.” 

“I jus feel bad that they was usin me like that.. an Miss Ashton wanted ta be my mom,” Payton nodded. “Nat.. you could tell yer ma.. I could give her the combination.. an the law can go get em.. since they investigatin it.” 

“I don’t like that they used you like that either, Payton,” Mr. Alex said. 

“Yeah that a good idea. Ma won’t get in trouble for it if she got somethin’ from the marshals tellin’ ’em she can go in,” I pointed out. 

“Right,” Payton smiled. 

“Exactly, Nat,” Mr. Alex agreed. 

“I’ll just tell Ma to come find you Payton,” I said. 

“This is definitely wake up tea,” Mr. Alex said. 

“Sounds good Nat.. I want to be a vet to help the animals, not help an outlaw get the animals,” Payton said. 

“Uh huh. You’ll be the hero, Payton!” I told her. 

“Sounds like you two have a plan,” Mr. Alex nodded. 

“Well yes.. but.. I’m just Payton..don’t want ta be a hero…” Payton shrugged. 

Miss Sugar came in and I asked her if she was shot but she said she wasn’t. I asked if she wanted some tea and she said she’d love some, so I made some more tea. Mr. Alex told her about me helping out in the clinic. Mr. Alex told Payton to keep her hand clean and I suggested that we could test everyone’s eyesight. 

I saw a box on the counter and asked Mr. Alex what it was, since it said small pox on it. 

“That’s a vaccination kit. Do you know what a vaccination is?” he asked. 

“I dunno what Smal Pox is either,” I shook my head. 

“It’s a special shot that makes sure you don’t get sick. That one makes sure you don’t get small pox.” 

“It’s a dreaded disease... lots of horrible ugly pox rise up on ones skin,” Miss Sugar said. 

“Small pox is a nasty disease that gives you pus-filled sores all over your body,” Mr. Alex said. 

“We should give everyone needles then!!!” I exclaimed. 

Mr. Alex said we had vaccinated most people in the town but that he would ask my ma if I’d had it yet. I told Miss Sugar that Miss Trin was my ma. Mr. Alex said there would be a scar on my shoulder if I’d gotten vaccinated and he looked on my arm and said it didn’t look like I’d had it done yet. 

“Nope, no scar there. We better get you vaccinated. Do you want to do that now or do you want that to be tomorrow’s lesson?” 

“Um... We haven’t had today’s lesson yet.” 

“You making tea was kind of a quiz,” he chuckled. “You did a good job on it too.” 

“Oh. Well good. I hope there not a quiz on Mr. Bones…” 

“No, I won’t give you any formal quizzes,” he laughed. 

“No way I could tell you all 47 without lookin’ at my notes. Miss Sugar you know there over two hundred bones in Mr. Bones?” I looked at her. 

“No, I didn’t know,” she shook her head. 

We talked about the vaccination for small pox and Mr. Alex got out his tool kit and got ready to give everyone shots. I made record of who we’d given it to and he made three little scratches on my arm. It didn’t hurt too much and I acted tough. Payton got her vaccination too and we cleaned up the blades so that they could be used again. I felt the hot water on my skin and blinked at how hot it was. 

“Careful, Nat. Let me see your fingers,” Mr. Alex said and held out his hand for me. 

“I sorry. I forgot how hot the water was,” I walked over to him and showed him my hands. 

“You don’t have to be sorry. I bet you won’t forget that quickly,” he smiled. I shook my head and he looked at my hands, seeing they were a little pink. “Do you remember talking to Mr. Jy yesterday?” 

“Uh huh. Maybe I need um…” I tried to think. 

“What did we tell him he needs for burns?” 

“Um... Aloe.” 

“Yes!” he pointed to a plant growing in a pot on the windowsill. “That’s aloe. Go break off a piece and we’ll rub this on your burns.” 

“Okay.” I went to the plant and broke off a piece, taking it back to Mr. Alex. 

“See the clear stuff inside? That will feel cooling on your skin.” He pulled open the leaf and wiped the jelly on my hands. “Does your shoulder sting much, Payton?” he asked her. 

I felt my hand cooling and grinned. “Wow, it feels better!” 

“Good stuff, isn’t it?” Mr. Alex nodded and smiled. 

“Uh huh!” 

Miss Joan came into the clinic and I walked behind Mr. Alex, not saying anything. Miss Joan said that she heard I made a great cup of bazil tea and Mr. Alex said I was doing a good job. Miss Joan said she needed a checkup. 

I leaned up to Mr. Alex and whispered, “She made Jimmy cry. I have to make her tea?” 

“Yes, Nat. You treat everyone who comes into the clinic, no matter what.” 

“That’s in the oath, ain’t it?” I looked down. 

“Yes, it is, Miss Stark,” he said and I sighed, going to wash my hands. “"So, you need a check up?” he looked at Miss Joan. 

“Yes sir,” she nodded and they introduced themselves to each other. 

“Miss Joan you want tea now or after checkup?” I asked. 

“After, Natalie. Thank you.” 

Mr. Alex went to wash his hands and Payton looked at Miss Jaon. “Yeah he is great.. he is the doctor that took out my stitches an gave me my small pox vaccine just a bit ago.” 

“Oh Natalie, can you answer me one question?” Miss Joan asked. 

“Depends what it is, Miss Joan.” 

“Great. How is Jimmy doing?” 

“He is good, Miss Joan.” 

“And please tell Jimmy I am so sorry. Thank you.” 

“I will, Miss Joan.” 

“And I will always love him. And anything he needs, I try to get him. Doc, I am ready. Please Natalie, tell him that.” 

I looked at Mr. Alex, trying to remember the oath, and nodded to Miss Joan. 

“Please have a seat on the exam table ma’am,” Mr. Alex said and took out his stethoscope. “I’m going to listen to your heart and lung. Take a deep breath for me, please,” he said and pressed the bell to her chest as Miss Joan did so. 

Mr. Alex checked her reflexes and she said she wasn’t having any problems with anything other than being sad lately. I asked Payton if she’d had her check up yet and she said she did with Doc Jess to talk about the scar on her hip and about her cycle. Miss Joan told Mr. Alex about getting a promotion with the soldiers. 

I saw another woman outside and asked if she was hurt but she said that she was just new to town and that her name was Zala. I asked her if she’d had her checkup recently or the small pox vaccination and she said she had gotten it recently. Miss Joan said she’d had her vaccination already and I updated the list. I asked Miss Joan if she wanted some tea and I gave her some Chamomile tea to calm her down. 

I looked at Miss Joan and said, “Miss Joan, you tell Miss Suzy to stop bein’ mean to my ma.” 

“I will. Who is your ma?” she asked. 

“Miss Trin. She was mean to her in court. Made ma sad.” 

“Oh. I will ask her, okay?” 

I went to stand beside Mr. Alex and said, “I guess we don’t have time for a lesson today ’cause it so busy.” 

“I bet you learned more today than you thought you did, Nat,” he smiled at me. 

“I did?” 

“You learned about vaccinations. That’s really important” 

I showed him my lists and he said I did a great job. I asked if I could take a break for a bit and he said that I could go have some fun, since I did a lot today. I told Payton that I was gonna go find Ma and tell her that she was there, and she said she’d be waiting for her. 

*** 

This evening I found Miss Aly in front of Kate’s. I snuck up behind Miss Aly from behind the bar and hugged her. “Hi cutie!” she grinned and scooped me up into a big hug. 

“Hi Miss Aly! I missed you!!” 

“I missed you too! How ya doin’?”” she smiled. 

“I helping Mr. Alex in the clinic!! He’s training me!” 

“I heard! I heard you been a big help with cleanin’ and such.” 

“Today we learned ’bout Small Pox vacceens.” 

“Uh huh. That’s good, I think. I don’t like medical stuff so much.” 

“Miss Aly you had your small pox thing right?” 

“Yes, you bet Mr. Alex made sure I got it right away.” 

“He did Miss Trin’s too.” 

“Good.” 

“I’m askin’ around to make sure people got it. If they don’t got it they should come tomorrow morning and get it.” 

“That’s good! You got a few people here now you can ask,” she said, looking around. 

“You don’t want gross things growing on your skin. When was the last time you had a check up Miss Aly?” 

“Uhm… I didn’t keep track.” 

“How many months ago? You should be able to get em all the time cause you live with him right?” 

“I don’t remember…maybe…..7” she blushed. 

“Ohh I should talk to Mr. Stone ’bout that,” I said and she chuckled. 

“That’s probably a good idea. Thanks for looking out for me Natalie,” Miss Aly said. 

“It what I do now and I don’t want you to get sick Miss Aly,” I told her, not paying much attention to everyone else around yet. I heard Mr. Zeth then and asked him if he’d had his small pox vaccination or checkup recently. He said he was okay on that stuff and then I asked Miss Bianca and Miss Pet too. They promised they were all set and miss Muriel asked me if I was a lab rat at the clinic. She said she’d had her vaccination already too. I continued to talk to people about their checkups and small pox vaccinations and updated my lists as I went. 

Eventually I found Jimmy and he gave me a big hug. “Guess what Natalie!” 

“Whaaaat!” I giggled when he tickled me. 

“I find Miss Aeryne not sot and die afer all...Miss Bree say she see her today!” 

“No way!! Really??? That gonna make Ma so happy!!!” 

“Yah! She say she look fine as frog hairs…” he chuckled. 

“I so glad she okay! Hey Jimmy you had small pox vaccy yet?” 

“Natalie, Miss Angeles give me paper thingy for Ruby’s doption party Saturday...I got one fer you too.” 

“Oh fun!” 

“Oh yes, this Saturday,” Miss Angeles said then, coming over to us. “We will have ice cream, candies and cake.” 

“Sounds like fun!” 

“Oh yes.” 

“What smallpox vaxoline?” Jimmy asked. 

“Have fun, Natalie and Jimmi!” Miss Angeles said and headed off to work. 

“It scratches on your arm so you not get weird things that grow on skin,” I rolled up my sleeve and showed him my scratches. “It don’t hurt but everyone gotta get one.” 

“I dunno if got on or not...pa never say nuttin about it.” 

“You should get it from Mr. Alex. He does good job. When last time you saw a doctor Jimmy? For like a checkup and stuff.” 

“Ummmm....I dunno....fore I come Tombstone fer sure.” 

“You should get one of those too. Maybe if you around in the morning.” 

“It don hurt do it?” 

“Nah. Hurt more if you don’t do it and get sick. What you do today Jimmy?” 

“So wha you up to?” he asked at the same time. 

“You first,” I giggled. 

“I talk Miss Bree, saw Payton’s swimmin hole, and I tend horses.” 

“How the horses?” 

“They good… Oh I saw Miss Trin and Sabi up in that tree near her house.” 

“Oh yeah? I like that tree.” 

“Me too, it have good hidin spot.” 

“Uh huh! I feel like I not seen you in long time.” 

“I know, we not see each other much..I been so busy wit Miss Joan, but now that over...smiles..I missed you a lot.” 

“I so glad you not live with Miss Joan now. Oh she told me in clinic to tell you she sorry and she loves you. And that if there anything you need she get for you.” 

“Payton not go live with Miss Andra either...Oh, I only have on thing there I need get...she got money in her safe that mine.” 

“Oh I see. You should tell her.” 

“She scare me, I not sure I go back out there...it not much money.” 

“Yeah.. Maybe when Ma goes to find the reports in the safe she ask for your money too.” 

“I really like Miss Trin, she is so awesome...she best detective there is.” 

“She best mommy there is too.” 

“She worries bout you...She tell me so..but she loves you so much Natalie.” 

“I better now that I helping Mr. Stone in the clinic more. He great at teachin’ stuff and I learn so much more than in that silly school. Did you know we have over two hundred bones???” 

“Yeah Mr Thomas start teachin me too..I can write some, and almost know all my letters,” Jimmy chuckled. “No we don’t!” 

“Yu huh!!! Mr. Alex taught me almost half of ’em! I can’t remember em all though. Too many and too weird names.” 

“How we got dat many bones? I thot we all one big bone and skin.” 

“Well he says there’s lots of little bones that we don’t see.” 

“Well I bet your bones are liler that my bones...girls are smaller,” he chuckled. 

“I should ask him that,” I giggled. 

“You should ask him how our bones get bigger? I mean his bones are much bigger dan mine...I woner how it works.” 

“Yeah I wonder that too,” I said and we wandered off to play. 

August 27, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I wandered around looking for Miss Pet and saw her talking to a man at the hotel. I hugged her tightly and she said that she was making the man breakfast. I asked if she was dating him but Miss Pet insisted they weren’t dating. Miss Pet made me some breakfast and I told them how I was working in the clinic. 

I walked over to the clinic and talked to Miss Lilly about Mr. Alex teaching me about working in the clinic. Mr. Alex came over then and I told him about how I learned how to make tea and what kinds did the different things. We headed off down the street and went to Pearce. 

Pearce. 

We walked past the house and I waved to it as we walked. We headed to the clinic and Mr. Alex, or now Mr. Stone as I called him, said, “Okay, Miss Stark. What’s the first thing we do when we get here?” 

“Well, we gotta wash our hands up to our elbows. And see? I wore dress with no sleeves this time!” I held out my arms to show him. 

“Yes!” he grinned. “That’s exactly right. And good thinking about the sleeves.” 

We walked over to the sink and washed our hands at the sink with soap. I looked around and said there wasn’t a sign in book and he said some clinics didn’t have them. He said that this was the only clinic that had Mr. Bones. 

“I bet Mr. Bones don’t really walk around much,” I said. 

“You’re right. He stays put right here in Pearce,” he chuckled and walked over to the skeleton. I turned and jumped a bit, seeing it. “This is Mr. Bones.” 

“Wow, he a bit scary at first. Like at hall’ween.” 

“He is a little scary until you get to know him,” he smiled. 

“Does he talk, Mr. Stone?” 

“No, he doesn’t talk. But you’ll get to know him really well, then he’ll just be interesting.” He put his hand inside the skeleton’s jaw and made it move. 

I got out my notebook and looked for a pen before saying, “Okay I ready! I better not touch him or he’ll break right?” 

“You can touch him. Just be gentle. Now, let’s start from the top and work our way down.” 

“Okay.” 

“Do you know what this big round bone that makes up your head is called?” he put his hand on the head. 

“Um.... That’s like in hall’ween too, right?” I asked and he nodded. “Skull?” 

“Yes! That’s the skull. There’s also another word for it. Cranium.” 

I went to write it down but then looked at him. “How you spell that?” 

“C, R, A, N, I, U, M,” he said and I wrote it out. “That’s a really good idea to take notes.” 

“It helps me ’member. Ma writes notes all the time. Hey Mr. Stone, you know that Ma and Mr. Thomas are courtin’ now?” 

“Are they? Well, that’s great! I’m happy for your ma,” he said and I grinned. He pointed to Mr. Bone’s jaw and said, “Now this is the jaw. It’s also called the mandible.” 

“That the mouth. I never heard that word before.” 

“Yes, it’s the bone on the bottom of your mouth,” he smiled, then pointed to the bones going all the way down the spine. “These are called vertebrae. They connect together to protect your spinal cord and hold your body up.” He pointed to the shoulder blade and said, “This flat one back here is the scapula, also known as your shoulder blade. Most of these have two names, a common one and a fancy one.” I nodded as he talked and kept writing, wondering how I would remember it all. He ran his finger along the collar bone and said, “This is the clavicle or collar bone.” He pointed lower and said, “These on the side are the ribs - they protect your organs like your lungs and heart.” 

“Mr. Bones don’t have organs.” 

“This flat one that the ribs connect to is called the sternum,” he tapped the front. “"Nope, he doesn’t have any organs. That way it’s easier to see what his bones look like. And what ours look like under all our skin and muscle.” He pointed to the long upper arm bone and said, “Do you know what this bone is called? It’s kinda amusing.” 

“Um… Funny bone?” 

“Yes!” 

“Why’s it called that?” 

“That’s the funny bone, or the humerus. I don’t know because when you bang your elbow and hit that bone, it isn’t very funny at all.” 

“I would think it hurt.” 

“It does. Now notice here in the forearm there are two bones next to each other. The leg is like that too. They are called the radius and ulna. The radius is connected to your thumb.” 

I stared at him blankly and he chuckled as I said, “That a lot of bones, Mr. Stone.” 

“It is! We’re about half way.” 

“Halfway???” I blinked and bit my tongue. “Sorry, I listening. Keep going.” 

“There are a lot of other tiny bones but I won’t go into those. I’ll just show you the big main ones.” 

“Okay.” 

Mr. Stone pointed to the hand and said, “These little ones here are the carpals and metacarpals. Then the ones in your fingers are called the phalanges.” 

“Why don’t they just call ’em fingers?” 

“Well, fingers are the whole deal, your bones, joints, tendons, muscles, skin, nails, all of it put together.” 

“Oh.” 

“I know, it’s a lot to take in,” he smiled and I nodded. “This big one here that attaches your legs to your body is called the pelvis. It’s made up of several parts, the pubis, the sacrum, the ilium and the ischium." 

I tried to write the words down and looked at him. “If you say so… Those weird words.” 

“They are a little odd, aren’t they?” he laughed. “The sacrum is more at the bottom of your spine than part of the pelvis.” 

“Who made up the words?” 

“I don’t know who made up these words. They’re probably Latin. Or maybe Greek. Hippocrates was the ancient ‘Father of Medicine.’ Maybe he named them.” 

“He a hypocrite?” I remembered the word from somewhere and asked. 

“No, he wasn’t. Though that’s where the Hippocratic oath comes from. That’s a special oath doctors take that says they promise to do no harm,” he chuckled. 

“Oh. I should know that one. What the whole oath?” 

“That’s an important thing to know. It goes like this,” he said and started to recite the oath from memory. “I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfil according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant: To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else. I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice. I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art. I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work. Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves. What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about. If I fulfil this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot.” He took a breath and said, “It’s very old, from sometime around 400 BC.” 

I blinked at him, writing quickly as I tried to catch up with him. When he was finished, I looked up at him, impressed. “You memorized ALL that???” 

“I have a good memory,” he chuckled. 

“Wow…” 

“Okay, we have a few more bones to go,” he said and pointed to the thigh bone. 

“Okay I listening.” 

“This one is called the femur. This little round one down here on your knee, that’s call the patella. Then we have these double bones on your shin like in your arm. Those are called the fibula and the tibia. Then like in your hand, there are a bunch of little bones in your feet. They are called the tarsals and metatarsals. And your toes? Just like your fingers, they’re called the phalanges.” 

“But what happens if someone says phalanges and you dunno which one they mean?” 

“That’s a good question. I guess you have to ask.” 

“Oh.” 

“How many bones do you think are in the human body altogether?” he smiled. 

“Um… a lot!” 

“Yes, a lot! There are 206 all together.” 

“How many we just learn?” 

“There are even little tiny bones in your ears to make them work. They’re called the hammer, the anvil, and the stirrup. I don’t know how many we just learned.” 

“Let’s see….” I looked at my notes. “Skull or cranium is one, mandible is two.... vertebrae is three.... scapula is four... but there two of them so five... clavicle is six... ribs.... there’s two of those so eight... sternum is nine... two bones in each arm called radius and ulna.... so that’s eleven... thirteen... funny bone is twelve…. carpals and metacarpals is fourteen... phalanges ... um..... five fingers in each hand so nineteen... plus five more is um... twenty-four…. pelvis is twenty-five but then pubis, sacrum, ilium and ischium is..... twenty-nine… femur is thirty… patella is thirty-one... fibula and tibia is thirty two but there’s two of those so thirty four… then tarsals and metatarsals in the feet… um… forty-four? Then.... hammer, anvil, stirrup... that forty-seven. Wow that a lot of bones we just learned!” 

“Well, we can see you’re good at math,” he chuckled and I grinned. “That was great! You were able to name all of them back. I’m impressed.” 

“It just adding Mr. Stone. And cause I wrote em down, see?” I showed him my notes. 

“That was very good to write them down. Notes are important.” 

“Thanks Mr. Stone, that a lot!” 

“You’re welcome, Nat. You did a great job. That’s probably enough for today. I don’t want to overwhelm you. What would you like to lean about next?” 

“Uh huh. That lots of stuff. Um… Well what other stuff will I get to do with you at the clinic?” I looked over and saw a man walk in and asked, “Hi Mister, you shot?” 

“Maybe I should show you what all the equipment does so you can help fetch things,” Mr. Stone said. 

“Hello. Nope, I am okay,” the man said. 

“Hi Jy,” Mr. Alex smiled at the man. 

“I’m Nat and Mr Stone teaching me the parts of the um.... skelton,” I told him. 

“Very nice, I am Jy. I am the fire marshal,” he introduced himself. 

“This is Nat Stark. She’s really smart and doing a good job here,” Mr. Alex introduced. 

“That is good to hear.” 

“Mr. Jy you know what this called?” I asked, pointing at the phalange on the hand and Mr. Alex chuckled. 

“Meta carpel?” Mr. Jy asked.

I blinked and looked at Mr. Alex. “How he know that?” I looked at Mr. Jy’s uniform and asked, “What you do mr Jy?” 

“I injure myself a lot,” he answered. 

“You not s’posed to do that, mister.” 

“I put out fires.” 

“Oooh.” 

“I doubt he does it on purpose,” Mr. Alex laughed. “Hurting himself that is.” 

“Do fires hurt the meta carpels a lot?” I asked. 

“Might burn them, or the skin on them,” Mr. Jy said. 

“That hurt a lot,” I said. 

“Miss Stark, do you know what plant you would use on a burn?” Mr. Alex asked. 

“Um… Well Willow tea and willow bark help make pain go away….” I said. 

“I do know,” Mr. Jy said. 

“They do. And that would be good to give him for pain. But there’s something else that would help with a burn. The aloe plant,” Mr. Alex said. 

“Oh… You rub it on burn?” 

“It is very good,” Mr. Jy agreed. 

“An aloe has gooey clear stuff inside the leaves and yes you rub it on burns,” Mr. Alex smiled and I wrote that in my notebook. “That’s a really good one for you to know.” 

“There lots of fires ’round here Mr. Jy?” I asked curiously. 

“There is a few. I put one out a week ago,” Mr. Jy replied.

“Well, Nat, I need to head out. You did a great job today. We’ll continue later this week. It was nice to see you, Jy. Hope you both have a great day!” Mr. Alex said.

“Thanks Mr. Stone!” I went to hug him. 

“You too. I am going to head to finish my rounds,” Mr. Jy said. 

“You’re welcome!” Mr. Alex smiled and hugged me as I headed out towards home. 

August 26, 1900

Tombstone. 

This morning I talked with Mr. James about how I was waiting for Mr. Alex and how he was going to teach me about Mr. Bones. Mr. James said he really wanted to help my ma and I told him about the gunshots last night in town, but how I was in the clinic with Mr. Thomas. I told Mr. James ‘bout the witness statements and how he could write them out for her. 

Mr. Alex came over towards us then and I greeted him and introduced him to Mr. James as I said happy birthday to him. He said he was going home to celebrate his birthday with his wife and we decided to look at Mr. Bones tomorrow. I talked with Mr. James about writing journals and then went to go read. 

*** 

Tonight I walked over to the clinic area and asked, “Is there someone hurt in the clinic? I helping Mr. Alex and he teaching me how to be a doctor.” 

“Oh, very nice!” a lady said. 

“Her name is Vena aka V mean as a snake but she don’t come into town only once a month now,” another lady said. 

“Who are you, lady?” I asked. 

“Jessica, is there anyone in there?” 

“No, I don’t believe so,” the woman replied and I learned her name was Jess. “If so they came in the back door.” 

“Look Ma’am, I can show you how I clean place!” I said proudly and ran in to go towards the beds. “Oh wait, I forgot step,” I said and went over to wash my hands in the water with soap. “Mr. Stone says we have to wash our hands every time ’cause then germs won’t go around.” 

“Yes, Keeping clean is an excellent practice,” the lady nodded. 

I dried my hands and then went over to the beds. “Now we change sheets. And we make sure they not attack us like ghosts.” I took the sheet off the bed and threw it into the basket. 

“Lilly and I just changed the sheets and washed the tables,” Miss Jessica said. 

“Oh…” I looked down, disappointed. “I guess we put a new one on this one anyway.” I put the new sheet on the bed and tried to lay it out on the bed myself. “I guess they prolly mopped the floor too.” 

“Well, it seems to me that you should be paid if you are helping the clinic… Did Mr. Alex pay you?” the other lady asked. 

“Mr. Stone showed me what germs look like in his microscope,” I said and shook my head. “And he was gonna teach me about Mr. Bones soon too. And learn all the different bones. And I even read the stuff on the eye chart. He said I had better eyes than him cause he wears glasses.’” 

“That is excellent!” 

“Who are you ma’am? I don’t know your name or what you do,” I looked at the woman as the conversation happened outside. 

I waved out to Miss Paisley and she waved back as the lady looked at me and replied, “I’m Doc Freja! What’s yours?” 

“I’m Natalie but everyone calls me Nat. I live with my new Ma, Miss Trin.” 

“Oh, very nice! I know Trin….” 

“She kinda my ma anyway. Not really but close enough.” 

“And she is alright with you working here?” 

“Uh huh! And her best friend Mr. Alex is helpin’ me learn.” 

“Okay...well, I think getting you in here as a clinic assistant will be great help....I will contact the medical board.” 

“She said it’s good for me to help out,” I grinned.

“Yes it is!” 

“Well we live out in house in Pearce.” 

Jimmy came over then and I looked out the window, grinning. I continued to pay attention though as I wrote down what Mr. Alex taught me about cleaning the kitchen. I looked over at her and asked, “What about the carpet? How do we clean that?” 

“We have a carpet sweeper and we can beat the carpet.” 

“Oooh. Can I use that or is it too big?” 

“The carpet sweeper, you could use, but moving the carpet outside to beat it would be pretty heavy.” 

“Uh huh.” 

“I think a bit much for you.” I wrote down the step of the carpet sweeper and she said, “I suppose, an occasional mopping of the floor....especially if there is blood.....you don’t get sick at the sight of blood, do you?” 

“Nu uh. And I read Sherlock. They talk lots about killin and blood and stuff.” 

“Okay, you will see some messy things.” 

“What about the windows, Doc Freja?” 

“Yes! It would be nice to have those cleaned!” 

“How do I do that? With a rag and soap and water?” 

“Gosh...this will be wonderful Yes....that is fine… We’ve got some newspapers somewhere.” 

“Newspapers? But the ink on the paper might get on the window.”

“To dry the windows--make them sparkle.” 

“Wouldn’t rag be better?” 

“For washing, yes.” 

“Anything else Doc Freja?” 

I looked out at Jimmy and Miss Joan talking and opened the window to listen. I looked over at Miss Freja and said, “I know it not nice to listen to other people but Jimmy my best friend.” 

“Miss Joan, ‘dopt Payton, she need it more dan me, I be ok, I go live wit somebody else maybe someday,” Jimmy told her. 

“No I am adopting you too,” Miss Joan insisted. “I will not let you stay in that god for awful place. Jimmy, please stay here. I need to find the matron. Please Jimmy.” 

“But they not let you dopt two, you say so...and Payton she need a ma bad Mrs Joan, please, I be ok, I got Mr Thomas, and Miss Trin, and Miss Pet to look afer me.” 

“Please. I love you. My sister Andra is going adopt Payton,” Miss Joan insisted. “And I am adopting you. I put the paperwork in.” 

“Natalie, it sounds like your friend might need you!” Miss Freja said. 

“Yeah I think so,” I nodded and called out the window, “Jimmy! Come into the clinic!” 

“Hello,” Miss Joan answered. “Jimmy, let’s go in the clinic. Natalie wants to see you,” she said and came in and greeted us. 

“Jimmy please… Those stupid rules,” Miss Joan went on. 

“I not want to go Mrs Joan...I stay at orphanage with my real family,” Jimmy said and Miss Joan started to cry. 

“Jimmy!” I called for him but then looked over at Miss Freja. “Okay Doc Freja, test me! I do them now and show you I know what to do.” 

“It is so nice that you are eager! How about this…” she laughed. “A person comes in and is tired....no doc is around...you make the person some tea...what do you do?” 

“I can make person tea? Ma don’t let me use the kettle.” 

“Oh, okay.....we will need to get you trained, because we often need hot water.” 

“Maybe teach me and Jimmy how?” I asked. 

“Sure.” 

I heard the door open and saw Jimmy crying as Miss Joan kept calling after him. I went to hug Jimmy and he dropped to the floor, unable to stop crying. “It okay, Jimmy. Doc Freja gonna teach us how to make tea,” I tried to comfort him. “It okay, Jimmy. I here.” 

“Please tell Jimmy I am so sorry, Natalie, please,” Miss Joan said as she cried and talked to me. 

“Miss Joan let me talk to Jimmy,” I ordered her. Jimmy just shook his head and kept crying as he hugged me tight. Miss Joan went on about how much she loved him. “It okay, Jimmy. I here. Doc Freja gonna help me learn how to make tea. She say tea make us feel better. Right Doc Freja?” 

“Let me make you both some tea,” Doc Freja said as Miss Joan kept trying to talk to us and Doc Freja. Miss Jess picked up a rock and threw it at the grownd. 

“I wan my momma,” Jimmy cried on my shoulder and I hugged him tight. 

“Ma told me bout the letter you got.” 

“Joan, how can I help?” Doc Freja asked as Miss Jess continued to swear outside. She walked out with her and I breathed easier and hugged Jimmy tight as the door closed. 

“There, we alone now Jimmy. You sad bout the letter from your ma?” I asked and he nodded frantically. I hugged him tighter and said, “It okay, Jimmy. I here. It okay.” He took out his letter and showed it to me, so I read it over, then started to cry a bit for Jimmy. “I sorry your Ma not alive no more.” 

“It not fair Natalie...it jus not fair!” 

“I know it ain’t, Jimmy. My ma and Pa ain’t alive no more either. I had to go to that awful orphanage in Mississippi... Then they no want me no more cause I was awful at bein’ girl. The girls were mean to me but then you and the other boys were nice when I got here. 

Jimmy wiped his eyes and asked, “Natalie?” 

“Yeah Jimmy?” 

“Will you be my sister?” 

“I don’t think it work that way Jimmy but I did say to Mr. Thomas that you were like a brother to me…. Hey Jimmy, I can be done work and learn ’bout tea and stuff tomorrow... You wanna come play at my house for a while?” 

“I jus not have no body I gess...no ma, no pa, no brother or sister...I had right idea...just leave and go away.” 

“Aw Jimmy, you can be like my pretend brother. I don’t have no family either other than Miss Trin. Come on, let’s get away from here and go to Pearce.” 

“Ok.” 

We looked up when Doc Freja walked back in and I asked her, “Doc Freja.. Does tea really help people feel happier?” 

“There are different kinds...some are refreshing...some are calming.” 

“Maybe tea would make you feel better, Jimmy.,” I looked at him. 

“Some help you to relax...some help you wake up… So...which kind of tea would you both like?” 

“I think Jimmy needs the calming one,” I said. 

“I never had tea...but it might,” he nodded. 

“And I might want the relaxing one,” I said and watched her carefully. “Don’t you gotta put water in kettle first?” 

“Miss Freja, I’m Jimmy by the way,” he introduced himself. 

“Hello, Jimmi!” Miss Freja smiled. “Alright… calming, we are going to make chamomile.” 

“I hear you are in the midst of being adopted...or maybe not?” she said as she made the tea. 

“No ma’am,” Jimmy fought back tears. “I not gettin dopted..I stay at orphanage.” 

“You don’t need to worry about being a pain....if it doesn’t feel right, then stop. Okay, that is absolutely your right,” Miss Freja said to him. 

“Natalie she ben my bes frien since I come Tombstone,” Jimmy told her. 

“So Doc Freja, you gonna make us some chamomile? Don’t we gotta put water in kettle first, then put kettle on stove?” I asked. “Those tea leaves Miss Freja?” 

“My gut hurt Miss Freja..but I jus feel it not right,” Jimmy told Miss Freja. 

“Yes… we have different types.” 

I went to hug Jimmy again and miss Freja said, “You know what...I think listening to your gut is a wise thing to do…” 

I saw Miss Joan knock on the door again and sighed as Miss Freja handed us each a cup of tea. I looked over at Miss Freja as she let miss Joan in and I said, “Doc Freja, tell that woman to go away? She make Jimmy cry.” 

“Hey Doc Freja! We got a problem out here!” Nora shouted then. 

“Jimmy, I love you. I really do,” Miss Joan went on. “I leave for now. I never want to hurt you.” 

I went on with the steps for making tea and Miss Freja looked at me. “Natalie… manners.” 

“I sorry,” I looked down. 

“I sorry Mrs. Joan… I jus can’t… I jus… can’t!” Jimmy looked at her. 

“I understand. Please, whenever you need me I am there,” she insisted. “Ok? Please know that. Come to the ranch anytime.” 

“That’s good...that shows respect for each other,” Miss Freja said. 

“Yes ma’am,” Jimmy nodded and I stepped closer to Jimmy. 

“Natalie, You are a great friend to jimmy,” Miss Joan said to me. 

“Cause he my best friend.” 

“Please take care of him,” she said and I nodded. “Jimmy, please may I hug you goodbye?” She hugged him with a teary face and said, “Jimmy, I love you.” 

Miss Freja gave me a cup of chamomile tea and Miss Joan told Jimmy that if he reconsidered, to come see him. I gave Jimmy the tea and he took it, drinking it slowly. He said it tasted yummy and Miss Joan walked out of the clinic crying. 

“What other kind of teas are there Doc Freja? And what do they do?” I asked, trying to change the subject so Jimmy would feel better. 

“Well! There is black tea...that gives you a boost, a bit of energy. Sage---that helps if you have a cold...clears the lungs. Willow, that is for pain.” 

I raised my hand and asked, “In Sherlock they talk bout Willow Bark.” 

“Yes!” 

“That different?” 

“Willow bark is stronger...that is what the natives chew to relieve pain.” 

“Oh… Isn’t that neat? It native thing.” 

“Willow bark has the same compound as aspirin has.” 

“Compound? Like stuff in it?” 

“The same composition, correct. The same chemical.” 

“So what is the tea that’s refreshing?” 

“That is black tea...it refreshes because it has caffeine.” 

“I thought that wakes you up.” 

“Like coffee. Yes! Same thing!” 

“Oh. Okay so.. What tea Relax? That chamomile?” 

“Yes! Also Valerian tea relaxes.” 

“Hmm... I think we got em all Doc Freja. This what I wrote down,” I said and showed her the note I’d been working on. 

“Alright, I am going to get going...Miss Natalie, welcome to the clinic, I hope you enjoy working here… Very nice!” she smiled at my note. “You will be a tea expert.” 

“See Jimmy?” I grinned and showed him. “We learn ’bout differnt kinds of tea!” 

“I’ll see you both later!” she waved and headed out. 

“Thank you miss Freja! I think Jimmy and I go to Pearce now. Ma will be worried ’bout me soon.” 

Jimmy drank the tea and looked like he was feeling a bit better so I took his cup over to the sink and washed it with water and soap. “Jimmy?” I asked him. “You wanna walk me home to Pearce? So I get there safe?” 

“Yes of course,” he nodded. 

“I give you secret too. There a door back here. We won’t have to see no more people. Come on Jimmy, let’s get out of here,” I said and we headed to Pearce.