Dillard Beach Mystery – 48

A tall man dressed in a long black coat and wide-brimmed hat made his way through the growing crowd.

“What is the problem here?” he asked. His voice was loud and commanding. He stopped in front of the Doctor and asked once again, “I am Constable Wiggins.” He looked down at the Doctor. “Is it you who calls for the law?”

Flustered, the doctor pointed at Rebekah. “This woman is selling what she claims to be magic potions, sir. She should be taken in for questioning and for defrauding the public.”

The tall man studied the situation. “And what gives you the right to bring such accusations, sir? Has this woman defrauded you? Or harmed you in any way?”

“She has indeed. My name is Doctor Rigsdale. I am a Doctor of Medicine here in Hyannis. This woman claims to be a midwife and healer of the sick. As far as I can tell she has no authority to claim such a title. She seeks out vulnerable women and children, promising magical cures with her remedies. I believe she does more harm than good and I, as a physician, am left to repair the damage she has done.”

“Not true, sir,” a woman in the crowd spoke up. “Rebekah is a good midwife and has only done right by me and my family. She come out to our farm, at all hours day or night.”

Other voices in the crowd echoed the woman’s remarks. “When things were bad for my sister with her third babe, it was Rebekah that saved ‘em both. Not this supposed Doctor. He refused to come. Said it was not his concern. He did not treat such as her. It was Rebekah Rand that saved ‘em for certain.”

“Aye, it was,” another voice was raised. “She be the best help in my distress. And nothing magical about it.”

The tall man looked at Rebekah. “Are you the midwife these others speak of?”

“I am, sir. Rebekah Rand from Dillard.”

“And you are the focus of this good doctor’s suspicions?”

“I appear to be, though I cannot fathom why he is so belligerent. I have done him no harm.”

“Only taken patients away from my practice and belittled my medical reputation,” Rigsdale declared. “You have no formal education to speak of. I believe your methods are suspect and border on dangerous beliefs.”

The tall man turned to the Doctor. “Do you have proof of these allegations?”

“I can do better than that. I have a witness who will speak to the evil practices of this supposed healer.”

“And where is this witness you speak of?”

“I am here, sir.”

The crowd turned as one towards the woman who had just spoken. Rebekah turned towards the voice and recognized the owner. It was Jacinda Henshaw.

The constable turned and walked towards Jacinda. “And who are you, mistress, to speak so? And how is it you know this woman?”

Jacinda straightened her spine, claiming her full height. “My name is Jacinda Henshaw. I live here in Hyannis with my cousin, the merchant, Captain Chapman. This woman, Rebekah Rand, has been using my cousin’s good name to sell her false ointments throughout the parish.”

At the mention of the Chapman name, the constable hesitated. It would not do to question such a prominent citizen with false accusations.

“I beg your pardon, Mistress Henshaw. I do not question your word, but how is it you know her work to be false?”

“One of my maids visited Mistress Rand not long ago, seeking a remedy for a headache. The tincture this woman gave her did nothing for it. In fact, her pain only increased. I believe this woman’s claims are false and should not be taken seriously.”

The constable turned to Rebekah. “Have you anything to say for yourself?”

“I do not recall the young woman with the headache so cannot answer to that accusation. As to the other, Mistress Henshaw is correct. I have been using the Chapman name to add credence to my medicinals, but do so with Captain Chapman’s knowledge and encouragement. In fact, not only does he support my efforts, he offers my ointments to the merchants with whom he trades.”

The constable stepped back, thoroughly confused. “Are you telling me Captain Chapman endorses your efforts?”

Before Rebekah could speak, a man’s voice, loud and with a timbre of authority, cut through the murmur of the crowd: “He does endorse her efforts, sir.”

The constable looked up and followed the man’s voice to see Captain Chapman standing not ten feet away. The lawman immediately removed his hat and made a small bow. “Captain. It is good of you to join us. Perhaps you can bring the light of truth to our dilemma.”

He turned to Doctor Rigsdale and continued. “Doctor Rigsdale believes Midwife Rand is unqualified to give medical advice. He claims she has no formal education or degree as does he himself. Yet she makes and distributes tinctures and ointments to cure a variety of illnesses. What say you, sir?”

“I say let the woman do her work and leave her to it.” Chapman looked at the Doctor and sighed very loudly. “You, doctor are a poor excuse for a physician. How many times have I called on you for assistance with an injured dockworker and you have been too busy to care? You may have a degree from some far-off university, but can you treat a man standing in front of you, bleeding?”

He paused long enough to turn around to the crowd. “Who here would rather have the Midwife at their bedside rather than this supposed medical professional, Doctor Rigsdale?”

“The Midwife!” the crowd cried out. “I’ll take the woman and leave the doctor behind!” another cried. The rest of the crowd agreed.

The constable looked at the Doctor. “Do you still wish to pursue your case, sir? The people seem to have given us their verdict.”

Doctor Rigsdale shook his head. “I think it best to let the matter drop for the moment.” Without another word, he slipped into the crowd and headed back towards the tavern.

Chapman scanned the crowd looking for Rebekah and found her, standing by her table display, a small group of women surrounding her. They dispersed as he approached.

“Thank you for speaking up for me, Edward.”

“Glad I could be of service, but there was little else I could do but speak the truth.”

“Still. It is most appreciated.”

Chapman shook his head. “What I cannot fathom is why Jacinda would speak so about you? What has she against you to tell such tales?”

“I believe I know.” It was Emma. She and her husband Charles with little Ezra in tow had just made their way across the marketplace and now stood before the Captain and Rebekah.

“Jacinda is an angry woman and jealous of your relationship.”

“What are you talking about?” Rebekah asked. “What relationship?”

Emma smiled. “If you do not know what is so obvious to everyone else, I cannot enlighten you.”