Chapter Ten
Barnstaple Hospital was quite small and catered for long term patients. One of these was Sergeant Alex Waters, who had been badly injured in a cliff fall several months earlier. The broken bones in his legs had healed but he needed more exercise. Unfortunately the sergeant had been paralysed and the surgeons could not find the cause of it. They hoped that one day it would cure itself but Sergeant Waters was less hopeful. His special nurse, Jane, did her utmost to cheer him up when he became despondent, but her enthusiasm sometimes waned when he cursed the rope that had broken causing him to fall.
To cheer him up she took him for long walks in his wheelchair. This he appreciated as he had always been an outdoor type of man. There was no more kissing now. Jane tended to be rather aloof at times since the visit of Ruth, Alex’s ex-girlfriend. She had realized that although Alex had told Ruth that the romance was off, it was obvious that he had only told her that to avoid her having to spend her life nursing a disabled ex-soldier. It was obvious too, although he never mentioned it, that he still loved her deeply.
Jane therefore ensured that there was no opportunity to become too close in her nursing, especially when she massaged him. On her journeys with him she endeavoured to take him to places locally where there was something happening, such as a fair or carnival, a horse show or a village show of some sort. These he enjoyed and always thanked her profusely on their return.
One day he was reading the local paper, The Barnstaple Gazette, when he spotted something of interest to him. It was advertising a gymkhana at Ashford, four miles away. He read what was going to take place and called Jane to ask if they could go there on Saturday. Jane read the details and suggested going on Friday when there would be fewer people there. Alex agreed.
Jane packed some sandwiches and organized the hospital mini-bus to take them. Four miles was too far for her to push a wheelchair. The show was just beginning when they got there. Jane unloaded his wheelchair, sat him in it and pushed him to a good vantage point. Alex enjoyed watching the horses racing and kept up a running commentary while it was in progress. By mid-afternoon Alex was ready to return home so they made their way to the gate to be picked up by the mini-bus. Their journey was interrupted by yells from the watching crowd. A horse had thrown his jockey and was galloping away from the arena. Alex turned to watch and said that the horse was making his way to the gate. Alex motioned Jane to pull back from its path. The horse was nearing their position when a young child walked onto the road, quite oblivious to the danger. The horse was almost to the girl when Alex threw himself from the wheelchair, gathered the little girl in his arms and rolled into the ditch. The panic-stricken horse reared and its hoof landed on Alex’s back. It screamed and its foam-flecked nostrils and open mouth made a frightening picture before a young man ran alongside, grabbed the reins and brought it to a halt.
The crowd, running after the horse had seen the heroic action and crowded round Alex to praise and thank him. The little girl, meanwhile, had struggled to her feet and had re-joined her delighted parents. Alex lay in the ditch. His back, where he had been kicked was giving him acute pain and of course he couldn’t move.
“Don’t try to move yet,” Jane said, “I’ll send for the minibus to come up here.”
“Don’t bother with the bus; I’ll take him to the hospital in my van. He can lie down on the car rugs,” said a gentleman. He brought the van up to the scene of the incident and soon Alex was on his way back to Barnstaple. The surgeon arrived within minutes of Alex’s arrival and conducted a thorough examination.
He told Jane that Alex’s spine was too swollen to be X-rayed but he would come back that evening. He gave Alex some pain killers and finally Alex fell into a troubled sleep. The surgeon came later and repeated that there was nothing they could do as yet. In the morning Jane came in smiling and carrying the local morning paper.
“Here you are,” she said, “you’re famous.” She gave Alex the paper and there, on the front page was a picture of him lying in the ditch with the little girl. He was most embarrassed much to Jane’s amusement. The parents of the little girl came into the ward to shake Alex’s hand.
“I’ve never seen a braver deed. How can I say thank you” asked the father. Alex motioned him away and was glad when he left the ward. After seven days the swelling had gone down and the surgeon examined Alex again. Alex moved his body to allow the surgeon to examine him further.
“Well sergeant! Things are improving! Your spine has lost some of its stiffness. I really think you are on the mend.”
Every day the nurse supervised his exercises and after three weeks even Alex became optimistic. After another month the surgeon suddenly said, “Get up Sergeant!”
“You want me to get up? Why, it is months since I did that,” he said. The surgeon repeated what he had said and took hold of Alex’s hand. Alex lay still for a moment, then, taking a deep breath, he made a great effort to stand. Slowly he stood up. The surgeon beamed, Jane squealed and Alex shouted. It was a moment no one thought they would ever see. The surgeon explained that the kick had loosened the spine and with proper exercise he should be back to normal.
Two months later Alex was discharged, a fit man again. Turning to Jane, he thanked her again for all her work and asked permission to correspond with her to keep her up-to-date with his progress. There was quite a crowd outside to see him leave. His recovery had given hope to many others in the hospital. Jane stood to one side a tear in her eye as she watched her favourite patient disappear down the drive.
Alex decided not to use a taxi into town but instead to walk. So, slinging his army pack over his shoulder he strode down the road into Barnstaple and into a new life. In the mail he had received a letter telling him that he had to report to Newark to become an officer. Alex reported into the barracks at Newark and was told to take off his stripes. He was no longer a sergeant, he was an officer-cadet. The six weeks passed quickly and on the final day he was promoted to Lieutenant Waters. Won’t my father and mother be pleased, he thought. They will be telling everyone in the village. He was posted to Royal Engineers Headquarters at Chatham and soon got used to being saluted by the soldiers.
Because of his previous experience he became an instructor, a job which he thoroughly enjoyed. He was required to work with many officers and became particularly friendly with three of them. They were very young and enjoying life to the full. On Saturdays they went into Chatham or Rochester to dance and returned home always boasting of their conquests on the dance floor. Time and again they invited Alex to go dancing with them but he always declined so they left him to his own devices on a Saturday night.
Often, after training, they would sit and talk of the ladies they knew and exchange tales of their courtship. One officer, a Lieutenant Fred Johnson, seldom joined with a story but he laughed at theirs.
“Don’t you have a special girlfriend Fred?” Alex asked one day as they walked back to the barracks from the training ground.
“No, not really. I know a lovely girl but she has a friend, or did have, and still carries a torch for him. He is a lucky chap I can tell you.” Fred sighed and they walked on in silence till on reaching their rooms they said goodnight and parted.
A few evenings later, Fred returned the question. “You never go to dances Alex. Is it because you have a girlfriend you haven’t told us about?”
“No, I don’t have a girlfriend now. I did have but I was silly enough to tell her we were finished.” Fred was curious and enquired why he had split up with her if she was such a lovely girl. Alex told of his months in hospital and of his uselessness. He also told him that he had broken off the romance to avoid the girl being a full-time nurse to him. Fred shook his head and thought ‘what a shame’.
Alex was eventually told he had a posting for Barton Stacey. On the day of posting, the young officers had a drink to toast the new posting. The toasts were given to each other and then to their individual ladies. Fred toasted Ruth and then Alex toasted Ruth much to t
he amusement of both. It was not until after Alex had gone that Fred thought again about the toasts. Fancy Alex having a Ruth as a girlfriend. Fred laughed again and in the middle of it stopped suddenly. Alex Waters, a girl apart, named Ruth. Why hadn’t he thought of it before? Here was the very chap Ruth had loved and still loved. It was obvious too that Alex, in spite of his declaration, was still in love with Ruth.
Fred shook his head. For months, since meeting her, Fred had thought that there was a possibility that he could win Ruth over, but having met them both he knew that was impossible and he hoped that sometime they would get together again.
Lieutenant Waters enjoyed his new posting very much. He was very fit again now and taking part in all sports. He was the 440 yards champion and the three-mile champion in athletics but his favourite sport was rugby. He played for the regimental team and enjoyed the games against other regiments. He was looking forward to the cup final to be held at Tidworth. When the day came it was fine and sunny and a big crowd turned up to watch.
Half-time came and the scores were equal and the crowd were clamouring for a result. With full-time approaching, Alex got the ball and set off for the opposite try line and was about to touch down when a burly opponent hurled him sideways. Alex’s head crashed against the post and he knew no more. The ambulance was called and Alex was taken to the nearest hospital, a few miles away.
Here he lay, unconscious and beside him sat the matron, waiting patiently for him to come around. Every now and then he would mutter something but matron couldn’t understand the words. He was shouting. Matron, rising, put her hand on his hot forehead, soothing him in a soft voice. Once again he shouted and this time she heard the name Ruth repeated over and over again. It must be his wife’s name or that of his girlfriend thought the matron. Then she sat bolt upright. He had called out Winterbourne, Ruth of Winterbourne. It couldn’t be, surely not. Matron got up and read his case notes. He was Alex Waters and had once been in Barnstaple hospital. She called in a nurse to take her place and went in search of her friend, Colonel Melvyn Waldour. Having found him she told him of Alex’s shouts and of his record. The colonel agreed that it must be Ruth’s ex-boyfriend and that they should do something about it. The matron, Mary, rang up Salisbury Infirmary and spoke to Ruth. She said that both Melvyn and she would like her to come over for dinner that night. It was only with great difficulty that Mary kept the delight out of her voice as she made the arrangements.
Ruth duly arrived and Mary took her around to see some of her patients. Alex was lying facing the wall and so was just a lump in bed. “We are waiting for him to waken, he has concussion. Could you sit with him for a few minutes till I find a nurse Ruth?” Mary asked.
“Of course, I don’t mind at all,” said Ruth, sitting in a chair by the bed. The patient muttered in his sleep and Ruth patted him gently. Turning over, with the clothes over his head, he muttered loudly and distinctly, “Ruth, Ruth.” Ruth looked around and then gently pulled back the bed clothes. Alex looked up dazedly. His gaze fell upon her face and he sat up sharply.
“Ruth, what are you doing here?”
“I… I am just visiting,” Ruth sputtered.
“Oh Ruth dear. I still love you. I always regretted turning you away but I thought I would always be a cripple. It was because I loved you so much.”
Ruth sat dumbstruck. She couldn’t speak for a few moments then she stroked his face and gently said, “Alex I have never stopped loving you and I think this is a miracle. I thought you were still disabled and didn’t want me.”
“Oh Ruth!” he said and taking her hand put it to his lips.
“How did you recover?” she asked.
He recounted the story and she sat quietly, holding his hand in hers. There was a knock on the door and the matron entered.
“So you are awake young man? Good! I’ll fetch the doctor.” She returned with the doctor who examined Alex and said, “You’ll live my boy. Stay here until tomorrow and then you can go home.”
He turned to speak to Ruth to find tears streaming down her cheeks. “So it is him after all?”
Ruth just nodded and motioning to matron they left the room. Alex threw the bed clothes aside and stood up. He felt groggy but that did not stop him from taking Ruth in his arms and kissing her passionately. It was a while later that Ruth left the room to go to see matron.
“Come on,” said Mary, “we’ll have a drink to celebrate”
“Oh Mary, I can’t thank you enough for bringing us together again. How did you know?”
Mary laughed. “He talked of Ruth and Winterbourne in his sleep and I recognized the name on the record. So, really, he found me.”
Ruth went home in a daze. Her Alex was back again. Wait till she got home to tell her mother. Her mother listened to the whole story and was very pleased but felt sorry for Fred Johnson, he was such a nice boy.
Alex was released from Hospital next day but not before he had thanked the Waldours for their part in the episode. He went back to Barton Stacey, but being free at the weekend he made his way to Winterbourne, where he was greeted by Ruth, her mother and her brother Bob.
Ruth was a different girl now. No more moods, no more surliness and her mother was pleased for Ruth’s sake. Mother reminded them of the part she had played at the beginning of the romance and Alex, remembering every detail, smiled at her and gave her a hug. While her mother was at a neighbour’s house and brother Bob was at football, Ruth confessed that she had danced quite often with Fred Johnson. Alex laughed and kissed her, going down on one knee he took her hand and asked her to marry him. Ruth blushed, looked down at him and said she would. They were both ecstatic and when mother returned she was regaled with the news. From then onwards the two ladies began planning the wedding.
Chapter Eleven
The wedding went off well. Alex had asked Fred to be best man and he had agreed. The matron of honour was Mary and two little cousins were bridesmaids. In the midst of the celebrations there was a card from Nurse Jane congratulating them and then adding the happy news that her boyfriend, Peter, who originally had been reported missing, was a prisoner of war and would be returning home soon.
Melvyn was very thoughtful on the way home and had little to say. On reaching the hospital he saw Mary to her room and wished her good night. Mary closed the door slowly, perplexed by Melvyn’s behaviour. He was usually full of fun, but tonight he had been unusually quiet. No doubt he would explain tomorrow. Dismissing the subject from her mind she thought that Ruth had looked lovely in her long, white dress and Alex was quite smart in his newly-pressed battledress. In fact they made a lovely couple.
Melvyn was still thoughtful and quiet for a few days and Mary began to worry, thinking that something was wrong either with his health or with their romance. She needn’t have worried however for one evening, having finished work, Melvyn came into her room, took her in his arms and after kissing her, suddenly asked her to marry him. He had been going to ask her days ago but he was afraid she would refuse as she would have to be the lady of the manor. Mary laughed, shook him and said she would marry him if he was a street cleaner. They embraced again and each said that they had to make a phone call. Melvyn rang Joe and Margaret who were thrilled for they had loved Mary since she was a small child. Mary rang her parents first, to tell them the news then she rang Ruth who was also excited.
They were married in Burscombe Parish Church and for this wedding Alex was best man. After the wedding the flowers were taken to the crypt and put on Melvyn’s mother’s coffin. General Watkins was a man of his word. Hardly had the war finished than the decorators were in and two months later everything was ready for the furniture. Joe and Margaret looked after that and everything was replaced in its rightful spot. Joe then told his master that the manor was ready for occupation. Melvyn and Mary had been living in a small cottage on the estate waiting for this call from Joe.
On receiving the news Melvyn walked hand-in-hand with Mary to the manor. They stopped outside for a few
minutes to appreciate the beauty of the old building then walked forward to the door. Here Melvyn opened the door, turned and lifting up Mary, carried her over the threshold. “Welcome home, Lady of the Manor.” he said.
Their new life had begun. No more hospital life, no more patients but a wonderful life ahead. Some years later they had a little boy who was the image of Melvyn and was called Melvyn Alex Waldour,
The war finished soon afterwards and Ruth and Alex made arrangements to go where Alex would work. He had been lucky. One of the sergeants was the son of a builder and he had promised Alex a house at a reasonable price and he kept his promise. So Ruth was to have the pleasure of moving into her first married quarters
Alex and Ruth had a lovely daughter who was called Susan. Mary had a boy called Melvyn. Alex brought his family back to the North and often recalled those earlier days when Ruth would always quote “LOVE CONQUERS ALL”.
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