A spark lit her eyes. “But you live in San Francisco, and I own a ranch in Arizona Territory.”
And never the twain shall meet. He’d see about that. “Would you be willing to go to San Francisco with me?”
Their gazes locked, and it almost felt like an embrace.
“What would we do with the ranch?”
India said we, as if they were a couple. Hope sprang forth full-blown in his heart. “We can decide that together.”
Mischief colored her expression. “Are you asking me to marry you, Joshua, or are your intentions dishonorable?”
He took a step in her direction. “I offer nothing but marriage.”
“Yes.” She flung herself toward him, and he enclosed her in his embrace.
“India.” Joshua was so full of emotion, he couldn’t say anything else for a moment. “You won’t have to give up your beloved ranch. In my Bible reading this morning, I came across a proverb that said a good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children. When I look into your smiling face, I see the foreshadowing of our children, and they need to grow up on their grandfather’s ranch.”
Her bright eyes trembled with unshed tears. He hoped they were tears of happiness. Gently he kissed her forehead, and her eyes drifted shut, spilling a tear on each cheek. He dried each of them with his mouth on the way to her luscious lips. They tasted of honey and sunshine and ignited a depth of love he’d never imagined.
He had only planned to give her a gentle kiss to seal their engagement. When India’s arms crept across his shoulders and she relaxed against his chest, he deepened the kiss. She responded with passion. Joshua felt as if heaven opened and God placed His seal on their promise to each other.
Epilogue
India stood in a bedroom on the upper floor of the boardinghouse. So much had happened in such a short time. Today was her wedding day. In only three weeks, her best friends had helped her make a wedding dress and a trousseau to take on a honeymoon to San Francisco. They would soon be here to help her prepare for the ceremony.
Joshua had spent last night at the hotel so he wouldn’t see her until she arrived at the church. His parents arrived last night, too. She was sure they were having a good time with their son.
Probably everyone for miles around Cactus Corner would attend the celebration today. India’s head swam from the speed with which everything was accomplished. She thought about the land that she had inherited from her father—her heritage.
Those musings were interrupted when she noticed her helpers driving down the street in a carriage. She quickly finished her ablutions so she would be ready when they came upstairs.
The first one through the door was Jody, who rushed to give India a hug as if they hadn’t spent the last twenty-one days working together. “So are you excited?” India placed a hand on her stomach to try to stop the flutters there. “Of course.”
Anika and Elaine came in carrying the dress, being careful to protect it from being soiled. When India was back east, many of the women had taken up the tradition started by Queen Victoria of England of wearing a white wedding dress. The practice hadn’t really made its way this far west, but she had decided that if she ever married, she’d wear white. She had been pleasantly surprised when the general store had a bolt of white silk in its dry goods department.
The women bustled around helping India. Jody arranged her hair in an elaborate upswept style with long curls falling over one shoulder.
As she finished India’s hair, Jody asked, “So you’re going to San Francisco? Will you go today or tomorrow?”
India felt a blush move across her cheeks. “Joshua didn’t want to spend our wedding night riding the train, so we’ll go tomorrow.”
“A wise move.” Elaine helped Anika drape the dress carefully across the bed. “But are you moving there? You haven’t really shared any of your plans with us.” Joshua’s wise decisions under the leadership of the Lord had brought a satisfying answer to their dilemma. “No, we’ll live on the ranch most of the time, but we’ll go to San Francisco from time to time. And when we’re gone, if Nathan needs to get in touch with us, there’s always the telegraph. Joshua is still the senior partner in the law firm.”
Anika raised her eyebrows at that statement. “Is Joshua planning to practice law here?”
India laughed. “Of course not. There’s not enough business to keep both of you busy. His legal expertise will help with things at the ranch, though.”
While her friends held the dress, she stepped into it before they pulled it up over her hips. After slipping her arms into the sleeves, they started fastening the long line of buttons that went up the back. How would she ever get out of the dress? A vision of Joshua standing behind her, carefully unfastening it, sent heat rushing all through her. She needed to keep her thoughts on the next few minutes, not the wedding night.
Joshua waited at the front of the church with Pastor Gavin McCurdy. He never dreamed when he decided to fulfill Mr. Cunningham’s request just how much it would change his life … for the better. He knew God had sent him to this place, and he was glad he had listened to the Lord’s direction. The most wonderful woman in the world was soon to be his wife. His wife. The words still felt strange, but wonderful.
Mrs. McCurdy came in the back door and walked down the side of the room toward the piano. After she sat down, she began to play the “Wedding March.” India had chosen the music because she came to love it when she was in finishing school. However, Joshua wondered if the woman at the piano had ever played it before. It didn’t matter, because the back door opened and Nathan escorted India down the aisle toward him. Everything else faded from his consciousness. He couldn’t take his eyes off his bride—looking like an angel as she slowly walked toward him. Thank You, Lord, for the gift of this woman.
LENA NELSON DOOLEY
Award-winning author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 800,000 copies of her books sold. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the local chapter, ACFW - DFW. She’s a member of Christian Authors’ Network, CROWN Fiction Marketing, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.
Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandsons. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not the same year. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with over thirty having their first book release after her mentoring. Three of her books have been awarded the Carol Award silver pins from American Christian Fiction Writers, and she has received the ACFW Mentor of the Year award at their national conference. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books.
Her 2010 release Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, from Summerside Press, won the 2011 Will Rogers Medallion Award for excellence in publishing Western Fiction. Her next series, McKenna’s Daughters: Maggie’s Journey appeared on a reviewers Top Ten Books of 2011 list. It also won the 2012 Selah award for Historical Novel. The second, Mary’s Blessing, was a Selah Award finalist for Romance novel. Catherine’s Pursuit released in 2013. It was the winner of the NTRWA Carolyn Reader’s Choice contest, took second place in the CAN Golden Scroll Novel of the Year award, and won the Will Rogers Medallion bronze medallion. Her blog, A Christian Writer’s World, received the Readers Choice Blog of the Year Award from the Book Club Network.
In addition to her writing, Lena is a frequent speaker at women’s groups, writers groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally. She is also one of the co-hosts of the Along Came a Writer blog radio show.
Lena has an active web presence on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Linkedin and with her internationally connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books.
The Spinster and the Doctor
by Frances Devi
ne
Dedication
For Mom—I wish you were here.
Special thanks to my friends:
Carol, Patty, Della, Evelyn, and Doris.
Your prayers help make this possible.
Marion and Megan,
I couldn’t finish anything without your help.
Thanks to Vickie, Jeri, and Lena for letting me be a part of this exciting book.
My kids and all my angel grandkids, you make me believe.
And to my heavenly Father, thank You for giving me this.
I love you all.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
JOHN 3:17
Chapter 1
Elaine Daly gathered a deep breath and filled her lungs with early morning air. After five years in Cactus Corner, she still hated the heat and dust, but she loved the calm and quiet of the desert morning. The half-mile trek from the orphanage to the church and back had offered a nice stretch of the limbs and allowed for contemplation and reflection.
She crossed the dusty street, clutching the tied-up bundle of donated clothing tightly as she almost tripped over a rut. All she needed was to drop them and have to wash them out in the hot sun today. She stepped up onto the board sidewalk and headed past the bank. As she neared the café, the familiar sound of laughter and banter broke the silence and the aroma of strong coffee wafted out through the open door. Elaine glanced in. Etta Stephens was said to make the best flapjacks and eggs in Arizona Territory, and the packed café testified to that.
Elaine walked on, slowing her steps as she approached the vacant mercantile. The building had been empty since John and Rebecca Lane moved back east. Elaine’s friend Jody McMillan had it in her head to buy the place, which was right next to the town orphanage. There was no denying they needed more space. The overcrowded children’s home’s large front parlor had recently been converted into a dormitory, relegating the visitors’ area to a small room in the rear, formerly used for storage. But whether the church board would agree to expansion was anyone’s guess.
A sudden scream pierced the morning air. Elaine froze in her tracks. Whirling, she turned and peered through the abandoned store’s dingy window. Another scream rent the silence. She jerked back around as she realized the sound was not coming from the mercantile. Hitching up her skirts, she bounded up the wooden sidewalk toward the large adobe house that sat at the end of the dusty street. One more nerve-shattering shriek knifed through her as she reached the door of the orphanage. Her survival instinct kicked in and, dropping her bundle, she snatched a broom from the porch—it would have to serve as a weapon.
Elaine warily crept through the door, prepared to swing the broom with all her might if anything threatened. The hallway was clear. She tiptoed to the door on the left and peered into the room just as another scream issued forth. The daytime staff, mostly volunteers, stood in a circle in the middle of the new dormitory. Carla, the cook, glanced around, her brow furrowed.
“What in the world is going on?” Elaine flung the broom down and made her way over to the circle. She squeezed between Carla and the parlor maid.
Jody knelt on the hardwood floor, patting the golden curls of a tiny girl who sat holding a cornhusk doll. The child couldn’t have been more than two. Suddenly the girl clutched her doll tightly, opened her rosebud mouth, and screamed.
Elaine’s mouth dropped open. “Jody, who is this child, and why is she screeching like a banshee?”
Jody’s blue-green eyes swam with unshed tears as she met Elaine’s gaze.
“We’re not sure. John Turner brought her in and just dropped her. We think she may belong to”—a crimson flush washed over her face, and she swallowed—“one of his saloon women.”
Elaine’s knee popped loudly as she knelt beside Jody. She sighed. At forty, she felt much younger, but her right knee apparently didn’t agree.
“Does she have any injuries?”
“None that we could find. And no signs of illness either. She just screams.” Jody inhaled deeply, then let the air out in a whoosh. “We’ve tried everything to reach her. She doesn’t respond to anything.”
“Did you send for Doc Howard?”
“Yes, but apparently he’s gone to Tucson to pick up the new doctor.”
Elaine let out a little breath of exasperation. “If only the Jacobsons were here.” The couple who served as house parents for the orphanage had gone to San Francisco to visit relatives. A much-needed vacation.
“I know. When will they be back?”
“Not until tomorrow. We’ll have to deal with this ourselves.”
Jody stood and smoothed down her skirt, throwing a glance of regret in Elaine’s direction. “Elaine, I’m so sorry to leave you with this situation, but I can’t stay. I promised to sit with Mrs. Wright today while Mr. Wright runs some errands. He’s afraid to leave her alone.”
“Then of course you must go. And don’t worry. We’ll just have to do the best we can until the doctor gets back.” Elaine rose, then bent and picked up the child, watching closely to see if there was any reaction. When the little girl remained silent, Elaine glanced at Jody, who smiled and shrugged.
Elaine spent the morning in the parlor, rocking the child, who didn’t utter a sound as long as the back-and-forth motion continued. But every time Elaine grew fatigued and stopped for a moment, a scream would issue forth from the little pink lips. No sign of agitation, just the ear-piercing scream.
The soft little body curled into Elaine’s arms, and as she gazed at the child, an unfamiliar warmth spread through her chest. Of course, she had always loved children. Why else would she have spent fifteen years of her life raising her brother and sister after her parents died? And she certainly would not have left her comfortable home in Chicago five years ago to come out to this despised desert to help the Jacobsons if not for the love she had for children. No, right now she would be enjoying the fragrance and beauty of the May flowers that bloomed each spring on the green, green lawns of her friends and neighbors there. And soon she’d be enjoying summer picnics by the cool lake. The season she missed most was autumn. Nostalgia washed over Elaine as her mind conjured up pictures of red and gold leaves sparkling in the morning sun. She could almost feel the crisp, cold air coming off Lake Michigan. Elaine sighed. Even more important than these pleasures, she could be cradling her infant niece in her arms, or she might, perhaps, even have a family of her own.
An unaccustomed wash of hot tears filled her eyes. Shaking her head, she blinked them away and sat up straight. She had chosen this life and did not regret her decision. Not in the least.
The child screamed again, and Elaine, who had been wrapped in her thoughts, realized she had stopped rocking. She began to move vigorously back and forth. Then who would have been here for this little one?
At noontime, Elaine carried her charge to the dining room and coaxed some soup into the little mouth. When the toddler smacked her lips with obvious enjoyment, Elaine and Carla exchanged pleased grins. As long as a child could enjoy food, the situation wasn’t hopeless.
“What shall we call her? Until we find out her name, I mean.”
“Hmm, how about Sunny? To match that hair.”
Elaine thought for a moment and smiled. “No, let’s call her Autumn.” She reached over and turned the little face toward her. “You’re my Autumn for now. Is that okay?”
For a moment, Elaine thought the deep blue eyes showed awareness, but then the soft lids came down and the child’s lips opened wide. Elaine braced herself for the scream. When it didn’t come, she cast a puzzled look toward Carla, who grinned widely.
“What?”
“She’s waiting for another bite of that soup.”
Dr. Dan Murphy jumped down from the buggy, hefted his trunk from the back, and followed the white-haired man into a small adobe house.
“You can just toss your things into the storage room off the side.” Dr. Howard waved his h
and toward a door. “I put a cot up in there. Guess you won’t mind that until I get moved out of here.” The aged doctor’s mouth twisted up into a grin.
“Not at all. From what you’ve told me about that cabin in the mountains of Wyoming, I’m sure you can’t wait to get out of here and take it easy.”
“Well, I can and I can’t.” A pensive look crossed the doctor’s face. “Hated it here when I first came, but I’ve gotten used to Cactus Corner. I’m probably going to miss it at first. I’ve patched up a lot of ranch hands. Doctored a bunch of kids. Most of them are grown-up now.” He chuckled. “It was wild country when I came out here in ‘52. Belonged to Mexico back then. I was a young pup like you and just about scared out of my britches at all the goings-on.”
Cactus Corner’s newest citizen smiled at being thought of as a young pup. He had just turned forty-five last month. “I’d like to hear all about it sometime, sir, if you don’t mind.”
“Oh, you will. If not from me, from someone else. Still a lot of old-timers around.” He threw his hat on the table. “Well, I’m sort of tuckered out after that long buggy ride. Think I’ll take a nap, and then you can go with me on my rounds. Meet some of the people you’ll be caring for. They’re good folks, albeit a little rough around the edges.”
A loud pounding caused both men to turn. The door flew open and a young boy of about eight or nine crashed into the room. A large calico cat clutched beneath his arm wriggled furiously and made its escape, running out the open door.
“Doc! You must go to the orphans’ home. I promise Miss Jody I tell you as soon as you got back.”
Dr. Howard grabbed his medical bag and headed for the door, motioning for Dan to follow. “What’s wrong, Pedro? One of the young’uns sick?”
“Don’t know, Doc. Miss Jody, she say to tell you she needs you. I wait on your porch all morning.” His dark eyes crinkled with laughter, and he flashed a dazzling grin. “But I get so very hungry, I run to my casa to get some grub.”
Love Is Patient Romance Collection Page 32
