Red Dead Revelation II: Unshaken Legacy (Jack MarstonXOC)

Chapter Five: A Fox and a Prairie Dog

Since reading the letter and her mother's journal, Alice has been waiting for the right time to confront Dr. Tate. They have been busy giving exams to young men who are awaiting the opportunity to enlist. Alice knows that it won't be long now, she feels it in her bones as though it were an oncoming storm.

It also didn't help things with the recent news of the sinking of the Lusitania. America was outraged and a sense of duty overcame its people.

Alice keeps dreaming strange dreams, but this time it is the same dream over and over again. She dreams about being in a small space, like a cradle, looking at the ceiling—then arms reaching down to her. Then a warm, golden face—her mother's face, smiling at her.

She knows it's impossible to remember that long ago, but she likes to pretend it's real.

She also finds herself, at times, overcome with jealousy. Her brother got to know both of them—he got more than she ever will.

***

It is the Fourth of July and people are certainly expressing their patriotism. Freedom rides into town on freedom to help Dr. Tate and there is a commotion in town. Women are passing out flyers to young men, planting kisses of red lipstick on their cheeks if they agree to enlist. How are there so many people?

Alice stops in front of a hitching post and gets off Freedom's back. She eyes the bustle in town and quickly enters the Doctor's office. She hangs her hat and goes to the back to put on an apron. Passing by one of the small examination rooms, she sees Dr. Tate already with a patient. She decides not to interrupt.

In the water closet, she washes her hands and then goes to the closet to grab a clean apron. Tying the string around her waist, she goes to the desk in the waiting room and goes through the patient logbook to see who to plan on visiting. On days that the office isn't too busy, Alice will make house calls for those who are too sick to make it to town, on the condition that Dr. Tate himself can't go. Of course, there is only so much that she can do, but it boosts the patient's morale more than anything, which can be its own medicine.

After a moment, Dr. Tate follows his patient to the front door.

"So, when you go, just hand them this examination card and they should accept you." Dr. Tate says to the young man.

"Thanks, Doc," the boy smiles and he lets himself out.

"More?" Alice asks Dr. Tate.

Dr. Tate looks at Alice and sighs.

"More."

***

October, 1916. The year is almost over. The summer harvest rendered much for canning and now Alice's root cellar is practically full. Another school year has been in full swing and still Alice cannot bring herself to return. Call it laziness, or depression, but she didn't think that she was in the best place to teach. She felt guilty and not worthy to lead the town's youth to the greatness they were capable of.

But, one thing that she has now, is courage. Courage to begin questioning Dr. Tate about her mother.

She needs to build it up slowly. Gather little pieces of information at a time, and assess when Dr. Tate is lying, or telling the truth. She had never thought about things like this before, but she had never so badly wanted to know something like this. She wanted to know who knew about her mother, and if anyone knew to whom she truly belonged.

Dr. Tate and Alice are closing for the evening and are restocking the medicinal shelves.

They won't be interrupted. Now is the time.