Alina & The Greatest Show on Earth, Part 4

Nov. 1884

Colorado and Texas

As the days turned into weeks and we left Colorado for Texas and warmer climates, Dr. Rigby and I fell into a gentle rhythm of courtship.

My uncle, likely under the persuasive spells of my grandmother and aunt, began to soften toward the idea of me spending more time with the doctor. It helped that Dr. Rigby came bearing small tokens from town: sweets and soaps for my aunt, grandmother, and me, liquor for my uncle. And as the mornings grew colder as we hurried south, a beautiful coat he said had belonged to his late mother. I wasn’t used to such kindness, but it was nice to feel cared for.

In time, Dr. Rigby became a fixture among the men of the troupe, sitting with them at night by the campfire, discussing world affairs and ailments. To my surprise, even my uncle began to listen to him with a grudging sort of respect.

But not everyone was pleased. One morning, as I prepared breakfast for my family, Matthias strolled by, smirking.

“Making coffee for your fellow, Alina?” he sneered, disrespectfully using my name.

I turned away, cheeks burning. “Please leave me alone.”

“Got your claws into the new doctor, didn’t you?” he said, his voice sharp.

Before I could reply, my aunt came storming from the caravan, cursing him in Romanian. Matthias glared but wisely backed away.

“That boy is no good,” my aunt muttered, spitting into the dirt. “We’ll bless his half right out of the baby. She must be protected.”

“You think I will have a daughter?” I said, startled.

My aunt laid her hands on my belly.

“Yes, daughter, I do. This is how your mother held you.” Her eyes sparkled, and she hurried away. I pressed my hands to my middle and said a prayer of hope that she was right. I was worried a son would turn out like his father, and I didn't want that.

Later that day, I pulled the coat Dr. Rigby had gifted me tighter around my shoulders as my grandmother and I made our way to the fortune-telling tent. He walked beside us, carrying our boxes, his presence easy, comforting.

“How is the baby this morning, Miss Cioban?” he asked.

“She’s doing quite well. Thank you,” I said, smiling.

If he noticed I said she, he didn’t let on.

As the weeks passed, our connection deepened. The other performers had begun to notice, too. Marte and Edie teased me about it one mild evening after dinner. We had reached the northern edge of Texas, and we were all grateful for the warmer temperatures.

“So,” Marte said with a glint in her eye, “has Dr. Rigby proposed yet?”

“Oh, Marte,” I laughed. “He’s not going to ask me to marry him.”

She looked at me in disbelief. “He gave you his mother’s coat. And he brings you and your family all of those gifts.”

“It was for the baby,” I insisted.

She sighed and only said, “Maybe one day I'll find someone.”

Edie and I gave each other a look. Marte was always flirting with the young men who came from town to watch the shows. She was beautiful, and the men always gathered around her afterwards, showering her with attention. Marte was looking dreamily away, and Edie asked me,

“What do you think of Dr. Rigby?”

“I think he's very kind-”  

“And handsome,” Edie interrupted and giggled nervously, looking around for her husband.

“Don't let Franz hear me say that. He's very jealous. Do you think he'll ask you to marry him?”

I felt a tremble of excitement in my stomach that I knew was not from the baby. I had dreamed of him proposing many times, and I still had the dream of him taking me and my family away from the circus to a house in town. But I had not shared the dream with anyone.

“I-I'm not sure,” I said. Although I hoped he would.

“Well, he sure has set his sights on you,” Marte said. He’s made his intentions clear to everyone in the troupe that he’s courting you.”

I picked at a loose thread on my sleeve, not sure what to say, but I couldn’t help a slow smile from spreading on my face. Martha clapped her hands on the table.

“I knew it. I knew that you were in love with him.”

I looked up sharply. “Be quiet. I don't want everyone to hear.”

“Who's going to hear?” she asked, looking around.  “It's just the three of us, and you know we're not going to tell anyone.”

“Does Doctor Rigby know how you feel?” Edie asked, her voice hushed, much to my relief.

I shook my head no.

“Has he said he loves you?” she asked.

I shook my head no again.

“Well, if he hasn't said it yet, I would imagine he's going to say it soon,” she replied. “He’s completely smitten with you. He looks at you like Franz looks at me.”

 She and Marte smiled at each other.

“Now if only I can find a handsome, rich young man from one of these towns to take me away,” Marte sighed, looking off across the dusky horizon.

“I thought you loved the circus,” I said.

“Oh, I do. But who wouldn't love a beautiful home in town with an indoor bathroom and maybe even lights? And lots of delicious food that doesn't have dirt or sand in it, and a nice warm, cozy bed to sleep in at night.” She hugged her arms around herself and closed her eyes, and I knew she was imagining what it might feel like to lie on a soft mattress with a down feather quilt on top of her. I’d been dreaming the same dream for as long as I could remember.

“I really think Dr. Rigby is going to ask for your hand soon,” Edie said.

“What would you say if he did? Marte asked.

“I would say yes,” I finally admitted. All three of us smiled, and I felt a closeness with them that I had been missing.

A week later, my grandmother and I stopped by Dr. Rigby’s tent for my now-weekly checkup. He greeted us with his usual warm smile.

“How’s the coat holding up, Miss Cioban?”

He smiled warmly down at me, taking my hand.

“It has helped me very much. Thank you, Doctor Rigby,” I said, looking down at our joined hands. It was hard not to imagine standing in front of a priest with my family and friends watching as we said our vows.

I hurriedly pushed that thought aside. I knew that Doctor Rigby was a very kind man, and yes, we were courting. But I was afraid that a sophisticated woman from one of the towns that we stopped in would whisk him away from me. So, although I was in love with him, I knew not to get my hopes up.

“Is something troubling you?” he asked.

I looked up, startled. My emotions must have been playing across my face.

“No, everything is fine,” I lied.

He examined me while my grandmother hummed softly from the corner. “You and the baby are doing just fine,” he said at last.

I nodded, grateful.

“Before the afternoon’s events begin, would you allow me to take you into town?”

I glanced at my grandmother. She nodded, already knowing.

“I’ll be by in half an hour,” he said.

When he arrived, it wasn’t on foot. It was a horse-drawn buggy.

“Where did you get this?” I asked, astonished.

“An old colleague of mine lives nearby,” he said, helping me in. “He let me borrow it.

There’s something I want to show you.”

We rode quietly through the valley, the crisp autumn sun shining down, the flat horizon stretching for miles, making me feel a little dizzy.

We entered town, more modern than any I’d seen. At the center stood a fountain, its waters glittering like stardust beneath the sun.

“What is this place?” I asked, slipping my arm through his.

“It’s a wishing fountain,” he said, pulling a coin from his pocket and placing it in my hand.

“You make a wish,” he said, “and toss it in. Tradition says it might just come true.”

I laughed softly. “We tell fortunes, Doctor. I know about wishing wells. Thank you for bringing me here.”

“Ladies first,” he said.

I thought of my wish and tried to have faith that it would come true as I tossed my coin in.

“My turn,” he said with a grin. He closed his eyes for a second, and I studied him, his handsome face so familiar to me; the curve of his smile when he was thinking deeply; his high cheekbones, wind-swept hair, and dark lashes against his cheek. My hand ached to reach out and touch him, but I didn't.

“What did you wish for?” I asked.

He chuckled. “If I tell you, it won’t come true.”

Afterward, he took me to the hotel for hot chocolate, and we talked about everything and nothing. Medicine. Travel. Dreams. He listened when I spoke, and I felt as if he really was interested in my thoughts. I’d never seen a man show interest in a woman’s mind before.

When the hotel clock chimed, he looked regretful.

“We should get back.”

We returned to the circus in the fading light. My aunt had since stopped chaperoning. Certain customs were put aside in our lifestyle, and no one seemed to mind. As we neared the tents, Dr. Rigby turned to me.

“Miss Cioban,” he said softly, “I would like to speak with you after tonight’s show. I have something to ask you. And I’ve already spoken to your uncle.” He let my hands go and wiped the tears away that pricked the corners of my eyes.

Maybe—just maybe the wish I’d made in that fountain would come true after all.

Join me next week for Alina and Dr. Rigby’s final chapter.