Vivid Read Online Free PDF Page B

cultural
offerings had been one of his ex-wife Cecile's main complaints. Dr. Lancaster
reminded him of Cecile in some ways. Both women were fashionable, intelligent,
and dark-hued. He supposed the memories of his traitorous ex-wife played some
role in his thinking. Cecile's departure had left him with a bitter taste for
city women, and decidedly wary of the doctor's commitment to stay in a place
such as the Grove.
    While Nate concentrated on the dilemma the
doctor presented, Vivid concentrated on the countryside. Everywhere she looked
she saw green. California was green, too, but not like this. Here in Michigan
the variety of shades was dazzling to behold. Even under the cloudy sky of the
humid day the majesty of nature could not be denied. Along the sides of the
packed-earth road were large hardy trees whose full leafy tops kissed the sky.
The foliage beneath the trees was thick with ferns and tall grasses. She
spotted wildflowers of many hues and heard the calls of birds and the low hum
of insects against the wild silence.
    "This is beautiful country," she
remarked before she remembered she wasn't speaking to him. And for the first
time since they'd left the depot he looked at her, really looked at her. Vivid
felt a strange sensation course through her under his silent scrutiny. As he
turned back to the road, she let out a breath she didn't realize she was
holding.
    A large patch of black-eyed susans caught
her eye. She wanted to ask him to stop because the flowers were one of her
favorites, but she didn't want him to think her just another frivolous female.
So she fought to keep the longing from her face as the wagon passed them by.
    He surprised her by saying, "That's a
beautiful stand of susans back there."
    "Yes," Vivid answered.
"Quite beautiful."
    Their eyes held a moment, then his went
back to the road. "Where did you get your training?" he asked.
    "In Philadelphia at the Woman's
Medical College."
    "They teach only women there?"
    "Yes, since 1850."
    Vivid felt it time to let this man know
where she stood. "Mr. Grayson, do you really believe only men can be
physicians?"
    "Until I'm convinced otherwise,
yes."
    "But you've admitted you've never
seen a female doctor."
    "Nope, I haven't, and neither has
anyone else around here."
    "But that's hardly a reason to be so
rigid in your thinking. You don't believe I could live here as a member of your
community?"
    "Not as a doctor, no."
    "Why?"
    "As long as you don't mind a truthful
answer, I'll tell you."
    She nodded that she understood.
    "You have two marks against you, the
main one being you're a city woman."
    "Why is that a problem?"
    "Because women like you are useless
out here. You're more concerned with the price of gowns than the price of
seed."
    Vivid thought that a very prejudiced and
harsh statement. "I beg to differ."
    "Beg all you like," he offered
easily, "but I've yet to meet a city woman able to do anything besides
complain about the lack of shops and how cold it gets here around the new
year."
    Vivid thought about what he'd said for a
moment and then responded. "Granted, I can certainly envision a city-born
person being unhappy here, after all, where we are headed does seem a bit off
the beaten track. However, one must adapt to life. If one makes the effort, happiness
can be found anywhere. And besides, I've spent winters in Philadelphia; surely
your winters aren't any worse."
    Nate thought she displayed quite a bit of naiveté
in comparing the winters in Pennsylvania to the frigid wasteland that Michigan
turns into from late November to late April, but he ignored it because he was
more interested in her opinions on happiness. He turned to her and asked.
"Is that what you believe, Doctor, that happiness can be found
anywhere?"
    "Yes, Mr. Grayson, I do."
    "Interesting philosophy. Naive, but
interesting."
    "If you embrace life, Mr. Grayson,
happiness will follow. And if you believe I'm naive, so be it," she added
with a shrug. "It won't alter my outlook."
    He asked