Reluctantly Charmed_Clean Historical Romance_Doctor Holloway's Story

by Kate Cambridge

  Sully looked at Lance who shook his head.

  “Let’s not worry about it today, Magdalena, okay?”

  She moved her eyes back to Sully. “But we need to figure this out,” she breathed, clearly upset. “Raphael should be moved soon if you decide that’s what needs to happen. It would be horrible if they return and find him,” her voice began to rise. “They won’t just take him—they’ll hurt the other children.”

  Her eyes begged Sully to understand, even as she hugged her arms tightly around her waist.

  “We’ll decide soon, Magdalena,” he assured her. “We will protect them, okay?”

  It was as if she hadn’t heard him, her eyes were focused on the wall, yet not. “Maybe I should take him back to Philadelphia. My father has done some volunteer work there for an orphanage. Maybe Raphael could go there.” Her voice was distant.

  “That’s one possibility,” Sully agreed.

  Lance got up from his chair and went to her side. “Magdalena? Walk with me?” He asked.

  She shook her head, as though coming out of a trance, and looked at him. “Okay,” she agreed. Then she looked at Sully. “Think about it, okay? I could send my father a telegram.”

  “I’ll think about it, Magdalena. It will all work out,” he assured her.

  Lance offered his arm and Magdalena put hers through it. He gently moved her to the front door and then moved to the porch.

  Sully watched them leave, his face heavy with worry. Magdalena was right; they needed to do something about Raphael, and soon.

  THIRTY-ONE

  “So,” Claire asked, “How was your walk with Doctor Holloway?”

  Magdalena smiled. “It was sweet,” she admitted. “He asked me if he could court me.”

  “What?” Claire jumped up from her chair at the table and hugged her friend. “What did you say?”

  “Well, I told him that I had to talk with you and Sully because he asked if I could stay here with you, and then he could court me under Sully’s supervision since my father is in Philadelphia.”

  “Wow, he did? That’s definitely sweet, and you said yes, right?”

  “No, of course not.” Magdalena denied.

  “What are you talking about? This is perfect!” Claire stared at her friend.

  “I told him that I had to talk with you and Sully first, and he said that he understood—although I suspect he and Sully have already talked.”

  Claire narrowed her eyes. “Hm. Well, if they have, Sully didn’t say anything to me about it.”

  “Are you upset with him?”

  Claire smiled. “No, silly, but I’m surprised he didn’t say anything to me about it.

  “Maybe he was worried you would say something to me, so he kept it a secret?” Magdalena suggested.

  “That’s possible. Very possible.” Claire agreed. “I’ll talk with Sully tonight and then you can get right back to Lance, okay?”

  Magdalena’s eyes lit up. “Okay,” she agreed, sucking her lower lip into her mouth, and then smiling shyly at her friend.

  “I knew you were the perfect match,” Claire smiled back. “I knew it when I first met him.”

  “Really?” Magdalena asked with surprise.

  “Yes. I knew it immediately. Admittedly he was and still can be a bit annoying,” she gave a pointed look at Magdalena who nodded in agreement, “but he’s also very smart, strong, kind, handsome, and good. I knew in my gut he was the right person for you. You need a strong man.”

  Magdalena grasped Claire’s hand. “And to think I believed I never wanted to get married or be subject to a man—any man—ever, just a few short weeks ago.”

  “That’s what love will do to you,” Claire agreed, “and more.”

  Magdalena laughed. “You and Sully set a great example of true love. I think seeing you together is what opened me up to the possibility even though I never dreamed I would ever experience it personally.”

  Claire nodded. “It was hard for me with Sully at first,” she admitted. “I was stubborn—so there’s that—but it was also hard to see Mary struggling with me finding love after she’d lost Mike.”

  Magdalena closed her eyes and squeezed Claire’s hand. “That must have been very difficult,” she agreed.

  “Don’t get me wrong, Mary was completely supportive and excited for me, but there were moments when I saw such a deep sadness in her that it made me almost shy away from my feelings for Sully. I guess I wanted to hide them from her, so it wouldn’t hurt her.”

  “She’ll find love again,” Magdalena announced. “I just know it. She’s made to be the perfect wife in every way.”

  “Yes, and I think I know just the right person for her, too, but it has taken a while for her to be ready for that.”

  “Do you think she is now?”

  “I think she is ready, or at least she’s very close.”

  “It’s Lee Jamison, right?” Magdalena asked.

  “You could tell?” Claire glanced sideways at her friend.

  “The attraction between them is obvious—and so was Doctor Jamison’s decision to spend his two-week break here in Bareglen Creek!” She laughed. “But tell me, what’s up with each of us finding men who are so crazily intense—and bossy?”

  Claire burst into laughter just as Sully walked through the door. “Speak of the devil,” she admitted.

  He stopped in his tracks and eyed them suspiciously. “What are you two up to now?”

  Claire stood and walked toward her husband. “Well, it appears that you, Sheriff Sullivan Clarke, have conspired apart from me to invite Lance Holloway to court our dear Miss. Allen.” She stood in front of him with her hands on her hips. “True, or false?” She asked with eyebrows raised.

  “True.” He admitted, and then he put his hands on his hips and took a step toward his wife.

  “And it would appear that you, Mrs. Sullivan Clarke, have conspired with your friend and your sister regarding an ultimatum from Miss. Allen’s father. True or false?” He asked.

  She cocked her head. “False. I did not conspire with them, but rather facilitated what I believed was right for them…” she paused, “somewhat complicated situation.”

  Sully’s lips turned up, and he shook his head at his wife. “Semantics.” He declared.

  “Regardless, can we give our good friend Miss. Allen our permission to stay with us in order to be courted formally by Doctor Holloway?”

  “Yes, we can.”

  Claire spun around and raced to Magdalena’s side. “You must tell him, immediately,” she implored her friend.

  “Tell who what?” Sully asked, his eyes narrowed.

  Claire turned back to her husband, taking his hand.

  “Claire,” he growled. “Why do I have the feeling I’m not getting the whole story, and that I’m not going to like this?”

  “Oh, Sully, it’s nothing, really. It’s just—well, it’s just that Magdalena’s father gave her an ultimatum, and I told you that.”

  He nodded, his eyes locked onto Claire’s. “Yes, but—,”

  “Well, the ultimatum he gave her consisted of a threat—he told her if she didn’t find someone to marry within three months and have a wedding date planned, he would force her to marry someone of his choosing. So you see why time is of the essence and that’s why—,”

  Claire stopped talking.

  Lance Holloway was standing at the open front door.

  Claire raced to the front door, pulling Lance into the house. She looked from Magdalena, who was blushing furiously, to Lance.

  “Lance, please let me explain…”

  “I don’t think you need to explain any further, Claire.” He turned to Magdalena, “Is this true?” He demanded.

  “Lance, please let me explain,” Claire begged.

  He ignored her, his eyes laser-targeted on Magdalena’s. “Is. It. True?” He demanded, pain flickered through his eyes, then turned into anger.

  “Yes,” she whispered, dropping her eyes.

  C
laire looked at her friend aghast. “Lance, you need to let her explain.” She implored shaking her head.

  Lance looked at Claire with a crease in his brow. “I have all the explanation I need.” He confirmed before turning and walking out the door.

  THIRTY-TWO

  “Sister Theresa, you should be resting,” Magdalena scolded, jumping up from her desk and moving immediately to the sister’s side.

  “Hardly,” she argued. “I’ll never get my strength back if I simply rest all day. Besides, I wanted to pop in and see how you’re doing and discuss the children’s curriculum with you.”

  “Here, come sit at my desk,” Magdalena helped the sister move across the classroom then around her desk, gently lowering her to the chair. Are you sure you should be doing this?” Magdalena asked. “We don’t want Doctor Holloway to be upset with you.”

  “Yes, I’m sure,” the sister insisted. “Now, pull up a chair and let’s have a talk.”

  Magdalena pulled a chair near the desk and sat down, her full attention on the sister.

  “Magdalena, your time here at the orphanage is coming to an end. We don’t have another option in place for a teacher, and I’m wondering if it is possible for you to extend your volunteer work for another three months.”

  “Would the Bishop approve that?” Magdalena asked cautiously.

  “I’ve approached him about it, and he’s assured me he would consider it.”

  Magdalena nodded. “I see.” She licked her lips, then took the sister’s hands in hers.

  “I know you have taken a shining for our young doctor, Magdalena.”

  Magdalena’s head swiveled toward the sister, “There isn’t much that gets by you, is there?”

  Sister Theresa simply smiled.

  “It is complicated, Sister Theresa. There’s another situation at home with my father that you’re not aware of, and I’m not really sure it will work out between Doctor Holloway and me.” She hesitated. “I feel honored that you would ask me to stay, and I will consider it and let you know as quickly as I can. Will that be all right?”

  “Yes, that would be fine, Miss. Allen.”

  “Here, let me help you back to the house,” she reached under the sister’s arm to help her stand. Halfway to the door, she heard a horse approaching, and watched as Lance reigned his horse then tied him to the post, walking toward and then into the main building.

  “Oh, my,” Magdalena said under her breath.

  “Don’t be afraid of him, Miss. Allen. I bear full responsibility for my decisions. You just leave him to me,” she assured Magdalena as they stood in the doorway, then together watched Lance leave the main building, striding toward them.

  He looked up, his gaze intense and locked on Magdalena.

  “Doctor Holloway,” Sister Theresa greeted him.

  “Sister. Miss. Allen,” he greeted. “May I ask why you’re not in the main building resting?” His question was clipped and terse. He ignored Magdalena altogether and focused on the sister.

  “I decided to go for a short walk to discuss some things with Miss. Allen,” she advised him. “Miss. Allen was not involved in my decision, and in fact, she was quite worried whether or not you had given me permission to be out and about.”

  Lance glanced at Magdalena. “And what did you tell her, Sister Theresa?” He asked as he moved to the opposite side of the sister, and together he and Magdalena assisted her down the stairs.

  “I told her that I was quite sure it was all right for me to be doing it, and that I’m not going to get stronger by resting all day long in that house.”

  “Did you?” He asked, “And is this what you would advise Miss. Allen to do, if she were the one who was injured, and I’d specifically advised her to rest until further notice?”

  Magdalena bit her lip. It was quite something to see the Sister being scolded by the doctor, and she was curious how she would answer him.

  Sister Theresa paused. “No, Doctor Holloway, I would not advise her to ignore your advice.”

  “I see, that’s a very wise answer, Sister Theresa, now let’s get you back to your room, shall we? Thank you for your help, Miss. Allen. I’ve got this,” he dismissed her coldly.

  In that moment, Magdalena felt the love that had been growing for Lance turn into a blazing flame. Her heart swelled, despite his treatment toward her. He’d handled the sister with dignity, and she stumbled as she turned, the ache in her heart weighing her down.

  She pushed back the tears, refusing to let them fall. She’d fallen in love—and lost it because she hadn’t been completely honest. She knew that wasn’t something Lance Holloway could forgive. She didn’t blame him.

  She’d approached this entire ultimatum from her father with resentment and reluctance. Now all she wanted was the knowledge that she would be the wife of Lance Holloway someday, but now she would never be. She had blown it.

  She’d known she should tell him, even though she didn’t want him to think her interest was because of the ultimatum—because it wasn’t. But her hesitation had cost her something so great that she wasn’t sure she would ever recover from the loss.

  Worse yet, her father was probably plotting behind her back to choose a future husband that she’d neither love nor want.

  That wasn’t something she could live with, and she’d need to figure something out quickly.

  THIRTY-THREE

  Magdalena held Raphael tight in her arms, struggling to hold back the tears. She knelt down and looked him right in the eye. “Raphael, you trust me, right?”

  “Yes, Miss. Allen,” he sniffled.

  “Doctor Holloway is going to take you to Philadelphia where I’m from, to a wonderful orphanage with sisters like the sisters here, and children your age, and an excellent classroom where you can learn and find answers to all the questions you have in your heart and mind. Do you understand, Raphael?” Her eyes pleaded with him to understand—to believe.

  “Yes, Miss. Allen,” he was trying to be brave, even as tears coursed down his cheeks. “Will you come to visit me?” He whispered.

  “Yes, oh yes, Raphael, I will come to visit you, I promise. I can’t wait to hear all about your adventure on the train, and about the new things you’ll learn there. I will see you soon, okay?”

  “Okay, Miss. Allen.”

  “Now take Doctor Holloway’s hand and be brave my sweet Raphael.”

  “I will, Miss. Allen.”

  Lance held out his free hand to Raphael.

  Magdalena smiled through her tears and released Raphael’s hand from hers. “Godspeed, Doctor Holloway. Be safe. Take good care of Raphael.”

  “I will,” he confirmed, barely meeting her eyes.

  Raphael dropped Doc Holloway’s hand and took off at full-speed toward the wagon—the only speed Raphael knew. It took Magdalena back to the first day she’d arrived in Bareglen and stopped off the train. Raphael had been one of the first to greet her with his infectious enthusiasm, and she knew without a doubt he would be well received in Philadelphia.

  Her father had come through for her on this matter, at least.

  She’d refused to let Claire or Sully interfere with what was happening between her and Lance, despite their insistence. She had to trust God to take care of it, if it was His will, He would make it happen.

  This also meant that she’d been unable to let the sisters know if she would be staying for another three-month period to teach or not, but they’d decided that a week or two break wouldn’t be terribly disruptive to the children, and they were still actively seeking another volunteer.

  She had two weeks left, and Lance would be gone for one of those weeks. He was staying with his friend, Lee Jamison while in Philadelphia, and she knew he was looking forward to being back at his alma mater, and spending time with Lee.

  She watched the wagon pull away, as Raphael’s tear-stained face turned back toward hers, and the bravest little boy she’d ever known smiled at her and waved.

  She forced a big smile and
waved back, determined he would not see a single tear fall from her eyes.

  It was hard to believe that a few short weeks ago she had hoped she and Lance would marry and possibly have a boy as sweet as Raphael someday. Now, she was watching them both drive away from her in the wagon.

  Magdalena would have been proud to have a son like Raphael. If she and Lance had married, she would have wanted to adopt Raphael, except for the fact that Bareglen Creek would be their home; Sheriff Sully felt Raphael would always be in danger if he lived this close to the Mexican border. Philadelphia simply made the most sense for Raphael in light of those facts.

  Magdalena pulled her lesson plans out for the afternoon with the children. The sisters had coordinated a picnic in honor of Raphael, and the children would soon be filing into the classroom, ready for their afternoon lessons. She closed her eyes and prayed for a safe journey for Lance and Raphael, and for an easy transition for Raphael into his new orphanage in Philadelphia.

  Her father loved playing the hero figure, so he planned to meet Raphael at the orphanage which also meant he would meet Lance.

  She desperately wished she had disclosed her father’s ultimatum to Lance when she realized they both had feelings for one another. Would her father mention it to Lance? She sighed. Hind sight was always twenty-twenty, but she doubted her father would admit his barbaric ultimatum to a colleague.

  With that thought, she turned her focus toward the children, and the two remaining weeks they had left together.

  THIRTY-FOUR

  Magdalena struggled to keep her focus on the lesson plan. Lance was scheduled to arrive back in Bareglen Creek by train today, at least according to his original plan, and she couldn’t think of anything else.

  The old saying that absence makes the heart grow fonder was definitely not true—it made it grow more desperate and sad, was all.

  She’d received a telegram from her father letting her know that Raphael’s transition to the new orphanage had gone well, and in fact, her father had seemed quite taken with the little boy and had returned to see him again.