A Nurse for Wyatt

by Marie Higgins

  Her eyes widened, and her face bloomed with color again. “Uh... thank you, Hugh. I still wonder why you are saying these things to me. Are you sure you don’t have a fever?” She touched his forehead. “You’re rather warm tonight.”

  He nearly laughed. If Jessica only knew about the heat burning inside him right now, she would indeed think he had a high fever. “I’m not sick, Jessica.” He stroked her cheek. “I’m just captivated by the woman in my arms. I hope you can forgive me.”

  “Hugh, I...” She pushed out of his arms. “I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn’t have led you to believe—”

  He dropped his mouth to hers, silencing her from giving any form of rejection. Right now, he wouldn’t be able to handle it. Their evening had been wonderful, and he didn’t want it to end yet.

  She gasped, but thankfully, she didn’t pull away. Of course, Hugh didn’t give her time to think as he continued the kiss, hoping her stiff body would soon relax. Finally, after several uncomfortable seconds, she leaned into him again. Her lips weren’t rigid any longer, and for a moment, she had responded, molding her mouth to his.

  His heart beat frantically, and yet, he still didn’t want to get too excited. She could still reject him. But for now, he’d welcome anything she gave.

  Just as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss, she jumped and pulled out of his arms. Her face flamed red, and her wide eyes expressed her shock. He wanted to take her back in his arms to soothe her fears and let her know that it was all right to kiss him that way. But she mumbled her apologies, turned, and ran back into the boarding house.

  Groaning, he raked his fingers through his hair. He shouldn’t have taken things so fast, but when she had started to reject him, he just couldn’t let her say the words. Finally, he’d found the type of woman he could welcome into his life... only to find out that she might not return his feelings.

  FIVE

  Guilt weighed heavily on Jessica’s chest as she snuck into the hospital that night, keeping her promise to Wyatt to return at the same time. However, the guilt wasn’t that she was creeping in. Instead, tonight’s guilt stemmed from the kiss Hugh had given her.

  It had been so wrong, and yet... She sighed, pressing her palms against her closed eyes, wishing the twittering in her belly would disappear. Up until that kiss, all she had thought about over these past three years was the way Wyatt had kissed her. Sadly though, while Hugh’s lips were moving with hers, she couldn’t recall what it had felt like when Wyatt had kissed her. She couldn’t even remember their last kiss before he went off to war.

  Had she been that lonely? She hadn’t wanted another man in her life, so then why had she fallen so quickly for Hugh’s charm?

  Oh, heavens... no matter what happened, she needed to put this behind her and concentrate on helping Wyatt. He needed her more than Hugh, and she was dedicated to helping those in need.

  She continued moving toward the deserter’s ward, holding the bag of herbs and creams to her chest to lessen the sound of the bottles clinking together when she walked. Thankfully, she made it into the room and to Wyatt’s bed without too much noise. He must have sensed her presence, because he jumped in bed, and his hands reached out for her.

  She quickly grasped one. “It’s me, Jessica,” she whispered.

  His sigh was audible, and his arms relaxed. “You came.”

  “I told you I would.”

  “I have been thinking about you all day.” His voice was quiet. “Of course, I had nothing else to think about.”

  “Hopefully, I can change that.” She knelt on the floor and gently put her cloth bag beside her. “I’m going to remove your bandages because I have some cream that will help your burns heal faster.”

  “That’s fine.”

  “I’ll be careful.” She found the end of the dressing and began unwinding it from his head, being as gentle as she could.

  “Jessica? Will you tell me about a memory we shared? Maybe I’ll remember something.”

  Hope sprang inside her. If only that would happen. “We were thirteen-years-old, and we snuck out of our houses very late one night. You had convinced me that your father was doing something very wrong and that you needed to catch him in the act.”

  “What did I think he was doing?”

  “You thought he was seeing another woman behind your mother’s back.”

  He hitched a breath. “That’s not good.”

  “No, it wasn’t.” She finished removing the bandages. Thankfully, the moon shone into the room, giving her a chance to see his burns a little better. His face was still unrecognizable, but his gaze penetrated through her as if trying to read her mind. Once more, guilt filled her heart.

  “You were worried sick,” she continued, taking the bottle of cream out of the bag and unscrewing the lid. “I had never seen you so distraught. You idolized your father, and it hurt to see the pain in your eyes.”

  “Did I catch him with the other woman?”

  She smiled, knowing he could see her face well enough. “No. Instead, you saw him working a second job. He didn’t want his children to know that he had fallen on hard times.”

  Wyatt sighed and relaxed back into his pillow. “I’m glad he wasn’t betraying my mother’s love.”

  “Yes, you were relieved, but...” She carefully dabbed the cream on his burns. He flinched, but thankfully, didn’t pull away.

  “But what?” he asked tightly.

  “When your pa found out what you had done, he blistered your behind. You couldn’t sit on a horse for two days.”

  Wyatt grinned, and his chest shook with silent laughter. “I’m willing to bet you that I thought it had all been worth it.”

  She paused, holding her breath. Was this a sign that he was slowly getting his memory back? “Yes, you did say that.” She licked her dry lips. “Do you remember anything?”

  His smile disappeared. “No, but that’s all right. It will give me something to ponder for tomorrow’s boring day.”

  “Wyatt,” she leaned closer, “I was given permission by Doctor Lyman to help you regain your memory.”

  “You were?”

  The corner of his mouth lifted. Memories assailed Jessica. Wyatt had done this quite often. “Yes. Starting in the morning, I’ll be helping you more, but I still must remain professional about it.”

  The snoring from the patient on the next bed stopped. She stilled, as well as Wyatt. She watched the lump under the covers in the shadows, silently praying that the man wouldn’t wake up. Finally, he grumbled and turned on his side, facing the other way.

  Slowly, she released a gush of air from her mouth. Perhaps her lengthy conversations with Wyatt needed to be postponed until during the day.

  “I must finish this and leave before I’m caught.” She dabbed her index finger in the cream and brought it to his face. This time as she spread it over his burns, he didn’t flinch. However, his gaze stayed on her the whole time.

  “Jessica?” His voice was lower than before this time.

  “Yes?”

  “Was I ever in love with you when we were growing up?”

  The lump of yesteryear’s memories formed in her throat, making it hard to swallow. “Those days are passed. It seems like a lifetime ago.”

  “So, we had loved each other?”

  She nodded. “We did.”

  “Why didn’t we get married?”

  “We were young and... well, you wanted to join the military.”

  “Why would I want to do that if there was a war going on?”

  She shrugged and continued adding the cream to his burns. Thinking about this was difficult because there were so many regrets. “It’s what men your age did during those times. You all thought that by becoming a soldier, you would help us win the war.” Sighing, a tear formed in her eye. “We all had dreams of a better future. We all believed that we would make a difference in the world.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She met his sad gaze. “About what?”

/>   “For being an idiot.”

  She held back a laugh. “Why do you say that?”

  “Because I had been a fool to think the war was more important than you.”

  The resentment she’d experienced after he had left for the war, returned. Her gut twisted as she remembered being angry at him a few times during those first two years. Her thoughts had been the same, wondering why Wyatt had thought the war was more important than marrying her and starting a family.

  Jessica quickly pushed those feelings aside because they needed to be buried once and for all. There was no use dredging up the past.

  “Wyatt, I’m going to wrap the bandages around your head again so that nobody knows what we’ve done.”

  “Thank you.” His smile was shaky and appeared to be painful. “You truly are an angel from Heaven.”

  Her heart twisted in remorse again. Then why did she feel like the devil’s daughter right now?

  * * * *

  Hugh wished Jessica would stop avoiding him. Of course, they had gotten a few more patients early this morning, which made everyone busier. Yet, Jessica had passed him several times, and she wouldn’t meet his gaze. The first time this happened, he greeted her sweetly, and she mumbled back good morning and hurried her steps.

  It crushed him to think that she acted this way. Last night had been extraordinary, and she had returned his kisses. That meant something. Unless she was trying not to let it mean anything. He could only hope she was confused about her feelings for Wyatt. Hugh wouldn’t judge her, but he’d not give up trying, either.

  He’d walked past Jessica when she was with Wyatt an hour ago. She sat on a chair next to his bed. Her sweet voice related stories about their childhood. Wyatt asked her more questions, which made her elaborate. The man laughed a few times, and Hugh was even tempted to chuckle. Jessica was a lively woman when she talked from her heart. He had wanted to stay and listen to more of her stories, but he had other patients to attend to. Thankfully, she displayed signs of professionalism. None of the staff should be complaining. Then again, Lana Twitchell complained about everything. A whole week couldn’t go by without her tattling on someone at the hospital.

  After making his rounds, Hugh hid in his office, hoping to finish up his reports. His mind wasn’t on his work, but on a pretty nurse, instead. Images floated through his mind from their dinner last night. He could still hear her laughs and her silly snorts. But mostly, his mouth wouldn’t stop thinking about their delicious kiss, and his arms ached to hold her again.

  Grumbling, he shook his head, trying to focus back on a purchasing bill. He had run across this the other day, and instead of giving it to Nurse Twitchell, who usually took care of it, he decided to check over the supplies being ordered for the hospital. It surprised him that the hospital ordered so much Morphine and Opium. Then again, that was the very thing used during the war to help patients who were in a lot of pain. Yet, he’d been in one other hospital besides this one, and they hadn’t ordered half of these items. Very curious.

  His thoughts turned to Jessica, and he smiled. He could ask her what she and the other nurses were using these drugs for. Chuckling, he shook his head. Now he was just finding excuses to see her. He was acting like a smitten schoolboy again, and this must stop. There was a time and place for lollygagging, and while he was at work was not that time or place.

  Finally, he pushed himself through a report and set it aside. He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. At first, he stared at nothing as his mind replayed last night, but then he noticed something on his desk. In fact, it jumped right out and slapped him.

  Straightening in his chair, Hugh picked up the report.

  Doctor Jensen had written up a report about the man with no memory. They had given Wyatt the name of John Doe since they didn’t know what else to call him. The man had a gunshot wound on his left side just under the ribs. Jensen marked it as an old injury. However, the burns were new. They were mostly around his face, but burns also touched his arms, neck, and chest. Jensen had written they were from a cannon blast since he had pulled out shards of metal from John Doe’s body.

  Since Hugh had been in the war helping some of the surgeon tents, he knew what men looked like when they were too close to a cannon. But that had been during the war. Wyatt’s burns were recent, and the war had been over for three years. Now, the question was – who would be using cannons?

  Perhaps, the only way to convince Jessica that her precious childhood love was really a deserter was to check around to see where John Doe had been found. Sheriff Adamson would know since it was his deputies that brought them the unconscious man about three weeks ago.

  The loud pound on the door startled Hugh. He jumped in his chair, dropping the report to the floor. He inhaled slowly, trying to calm his panicked heartbeat.

  “Come in,” he called, bending over to pick up the report. When he straightened, Lana Twitchell stood at the end of his desk, wearing her usual scowl and lifting her nose haughtily.

  Lord, give me the patience to handle this woman... before I give her a dose of Laudanum.

  “What can I help you with, Nurse Twitchell?”

  She huffed before turning and closing the door, making their conversation private. The stout woman with a stern expression could have been an army sergeant. She wore that type of authority on her shoulders. It was no wonder the other nurses cowered to Nurse Twitchell.

  “Doctor Lyman, you need to let Nurse Simone know that she cannot assist John Doe.”

  Hugh had a feeling this would come up eventually. He linked his fingers and rested his hands in front of him on his desk. “And what is your reasoning behind this request?”

  “Because she is coddling him. I realize she thinks he is a man from her past, but she cannot give him special treatment.”

  “Indeed, that won’t be tolerated. However, I’ve seen the way she is with him, and so far, she is acting very professional.”

  The woman’s scowl deepened if that were possible. “I refuse to let her care for this particular patient. John Doe is under my care, and I will not let her take over.”

  Hugh had worked at this hospital for a few years, and although he wasn’t the doctor in charge, he wondered why Twitchell always complained to him instead of Doctor Jensen. However, at this moment, he didn’t care what doctor was in charge of this hospital. He wasn’t about to let this woman talk to him that way.

  He pushed away from his desk and stood, staring her down the whole time. “Nurse Twitchell, let me remind you that all the patients need special care, and although you are head nurse, you still don’t have any right to pick and choose which patient the nurses should care for.” When she opened her mouth to argue, he quickly continued. “And, since I was the one who gave Nurse Simone permission to help our John Doe find his memories, I believe I’ll deny your request. Nurse Simone is a good nurse. Please, allow her to do her job.”

  Lana Twitchell’s gasp ripped through the air. “Well, I never—”

  “Then I suggest,” he interrupted, “that you get used to it because if you ever question my authority as a doctor, I’m going to see that you are sent elsewhere.” He arched an eyebrow. “I cannot abide working with insubordinate staff.”

  The woman’s jaw dropped, which he found it most comical, but he was too upset to react. He hoped she understood – and obeyed – his instructions.

  “Now, if you don’t mind leaving,” he sat on his chair and scooted closer to his desk, “I still have some reports to go through. Good day, Nurse Twitchell.”

  She spun around and marched out of his room. Her heavy steps echoed in the hallway.

  Rolling his eyes, he shook his head. He’d have to ask the other doctors if they allowed her to talk to them in such a manner. At first, he put up with her haughty attitude because he was a new doctor in the hospital, but over the years, he grew tired of her mighty quickly. Putting her in her place actually lightened the weight on his shoulders. Perhaps he needed to do tha
t more.

  However, now he had to keep a close eye on Jessica. He was sure Nurse Twitchell would take out her frustrations on the new nurse, and he wasn’t about to let that happen.

  SIX

  Wyatt stared at Doctor Lyman as the man studied his burns. Confusion was the expression the doctor wore – almost as if he was astonished. Wyatt’s angel, Jessica, had been coming every night for four days to clean his burns and add more ointments and creams. He prayed the doctor could see a difference.

  “How am I, doc?” Wyatt’s voice cracked, mainly because he was thirsty.

  Doctor Lyman sat back in the chair next to the bed, folding his arms. “You’re actually healing quite nicely.”

  “Finally,” Wyatt said with a sigh. “There for a while, I didn’t think I would heal at all.”

  “I thought the same thing, but looking at your burns now makes me believe in miracles.” He chuckled lightly. “Last week, I feared that you would be scarred for life, but now I’m beginning to think you might actually make it through this.”

  Happiness grew inside his chest. “Doctor, does that mean I can go without the bandages around my eyes? I desperately need something to look at, especially since I don’t have much to think about.”

  Doctor Lyman scratched his neck, and during his hesitation, Wyatt said a silent prayer that the doctor would allow him this one luxury. He’d taken things for granted, and having his sight back would be a dream-come-true.

  “Let’s leave the bandages off your face for a day, and we’ll see what happens.”

  Tears collected in Wyatt’s eyes. “Thank you, doc. You’ll never know how much gratitude I have for you right now.”

  The doctor chuckled. “Well, I can imagine.” He leaned forward, resting his hands on his legs. “Let me ask you, how are things working out with our new nurse?”

  “Jessica?” Perhaps he shouldn’t have let his voice lift in excitement just now, but he couldn’t help it. He cleared his throat and continued in a calmer voice. “She has been so nice and patient. I can’t imagine anyone forgetting about her if they grew up together, but I still can’t remember anything. I’m hoping, however, that now, with the encouraging diagnosis about my burns, I will relax enough for my mind to open.” He paused briefly. “So, please keep her coming to tell me stories. Eventually, I’ll remember. I just know it.”