Accidental Courtship

by Lisa Bingham

  As if sensing her concern, his brow knitted in a frown and a soft moan escaped from his throat.

  Sumner leaned close whispering, “Shh, shh. You’re going to be fine.”

  With her lips so close to his ear, she could not keep from pressing a fleeting kiss against his temple.

  “Be strong, Jonah. Be well.”

  As if he’d heard her, his eyes flickered open. He stared at her for the longest time. Then his mouth twisted into a ghost of a smile. His lips parted, and she could have sworn that he said, “Sum...ner. Am I...dying?”

  Then his lashes flickered closed again.

  She stroked his cheek with the backs of her fingers.

  “Not yet, Jonah. With the Good Lord’s blessing, you’ve got years and years before you have to worry about that.”

  * * *

  Fire.

  Jonah felt it raging deep in his core and he fought to open his eyes, to move. The explosion must have caused more damage than he’d feared, reigniting behind the rubble.

  He couldn’t move.

  He couldn’t...

  Cool fingers touched his cheek, his forehead. Then a wet cloth was pressed to the back of his neck, easing the flames, forcing them down to a fierce ache that centered at his back.

  He struggled against the darkness, needing something, someone...

  At long last, he was able to open his eyes, but as they focused, he couldn’t account for what he was seeing. He wasn’t in the tunnel anymore. Bright sunlight streamed through a pair of windows that were crazed with frost. An older woman sat in a chair nearby, knitting a strip of bright red yarn.

  He must have done something to alert her, because she bolted to her feet and hurried away.

  No.

  Don’t go.

  Too late, he realized that he hadn’t said the words aloud.

  He closed his eyes in frustration, swallowing against a throat that seemed dry as dust.

  Just when he feared that the blackness would return and he would find himself back in the tunnel, he heard the swish of skirts and a gentle hand touched his shoulder.

  “Jonah?”

  His eyes sprang open, and he prayed that this wasn’t a dream. He knew that voice. Knew it as well as his own. But when he tried to turn, the hand on his shoulder stopped him.

  “No. Stay there.”

  He heard chair legs scrape against the floor, then the shape of a woman.

  Sumner.

  Unmanly tears pricked at the backs of his eyes and he tried to blink them away. He didn’t want her to see him this way, so vulnerable. Hurting. Unable to move.

  But rather than being repelled, she leaned closer to place a kiss against his forehead. The gesture was so fleeting, so tender, so whisper-soft, that it could have been made with the wings of a butterfly. But the depth of meaning that it held was like a balm to his battered spirit.

  She accepted him as he was.

  He wasn’t a fool. As his wits began to gather and his heart stilled from its galloping beat, he knew where he was. He knew why he was here.

  And he was numb from the waist down.

  The tears gathered again when he realized that he could be that way for the rest of his life—whatever life remained.

  Yet, she still accepted him.

  Somehow, she must have sensed the path of his thoughts, because she stroked his hair, whispering, “Shh, shh. You’re fine. You’re fine.”

  And in that moment, he was fine. Because he could see in the warmth of her gaze, in the answering sheen in her own eyes, that she loved him.

  She kissed his forehead again, his cheek, and he’d never felt anything so wonderful. A warmth spread from those tiny points of contact, flowing through his entire body, filling him with a glow that radiated from his heart.

  He couldn’t prevent the words from bubbling free.

  “I love you...Sumner.”

  He could see in her eyes that she didn’t completely believe him, that she thought it was his illness talking. Knowing that it was important that he convince her the sentiment was true, he reached wildly for her hand, finally finding it and grasping it like a lifeline.

  “Love...you...”

  She stroked his cheek.

  “Shh. Sleep now.”

  He shook his head, knowing that this moment was important. He’d learned all too well that the future could be precarious. What mattered was what a person did with the present.

  “Get...my clothes...”

  Her brow creased in confusion. “You aren’t going anywhere.”

  “No...need...my vest.”

  “Jonah, you don’t understand. You were wounded. I had to—”

  “I need...my vest,” he interrupted firmly, his wits growing stronger by the minute as he focused on one of the most important things he would ever do in his life.

  She sighed, but was willing to humor him. He heard the rustle of her skirts again as she crossed the room, then returned to the chair.

  “Reach...in the pocket.”

  She removed the little velvet pouch that he had been carrying around for days. It had seemed to burn a hole in his skin, goading him, urging him to find the courage to take action.

  Have faith.

  “Open it.”

  She tugged the drawstring loose, then shook the ring into her palm. She gasped softly—in pleasure, he thought—but when she met his gaze, her brow knit in confusion.

  “It’s...my grandmother’s.”

  “It’s beautiful. But why do you need it?”

  His heart was pounding so hard it felt as if it were rapping against the hard surface he lay upon. “I’ve... I mean...”

  Why did the words desert him now?

  “Marry me?” he suddenly blurted.

  As proposals went, it wasn’t grand or romantic. There had been no carefully prepared speeches, no bended knee. He knew how much store women put in such things, but he couldn’t bear another moment with his declaration unsaid.

  Her brow creased. “Jonah...you’ve been injured and—”

  He grabbed her hand, ring and all.

  “I’ve been carrying that around with me...waiting for the right time. But I’ve learned there is no right time...if that means delaying things another minute.” He swallowed, searching for a way to convince her. “I love you, Sumner Havisham. I love all of you. I love who you are...what you do. I love your heart...and your head and your endless capacity for giving. I don’t want...to spend another day longer than I have to...without you by my side. If you’ll take me as I am, half a man and—”

  She placed a finger against his lips, stopping him before he could completely utter his greatest fears. Then, in a very un-Sumner-like fashion, she burst into tears.

  “But your job,” she whispered.

  “Sumner...no job is worth being without you.”

  He thought that he’d been reassuring, but she began to cry even harder. When he tried his best to comfort her, she seemed to laugh and weep at the same time before she leaned close to whisper against his lips.

  “These are happy tears, Jonah. Nothing on earth would please me more than to be your wife. Even if I have to give up my doctoring.”

  He squeezed her hand.

  “No!” He jerked, his foot kicking out, hitting a small table laid out with Sumner’s tools.

  Sumner’s gaze was rooted to the table, but he forced her to look at him with another squeeze. She’d begun to tear up again, so he insisted, “Neither of us...is giving up. We’ll find a way. With God’s help, we’ll find a way.” Then, before she could offer any more objections, he took the ring from her palm and slid it over her finger. “I don’t know how much of a husband I’ll be.”

  Again, she pressed a finger to his lips. “Stop, Jonah. Stop. You don’t understand. You were injured in the tunnel collapse when
a beam struck you. Several large splinters of wood were driven into your back and I was forced to operate to remove them.”

  She twisted to retrieve a small bottle from the nearby table. Holding it where he could see the contents, she shook it so that three jagged pieces of metal rattled against the sides.

  “The accident loosened the shrapnel embedded near your spine. I was able to retrieve them. It will take some time for the incisions to heal...but, barring infection, you should recover soon.”

  “I’ll try not to be a burden to you.”

  “No, Jonah. You don’t understand. I think you’ll make a full recovery.”

  He knew he couldn’t allow her to entertain false hope.

  “My legs are numb, Sumner.”

  Her smile spread from her lips to her eyes, making her whole face glow with joy.

  “But you kicked the table, Jonah.”

  “What?”

  “You kicked the table. You may feel numb—it’s understandable with everything you’ve gone through. But you moved that foot all on your own. You’re going to be okay. It will just take time.”

  Then she was kissing him. Not a butterfly kiss, but a real kiss—albeit brief—that left him in no doubt of her feelings or her love. And he knew then what it meant to be truly accepted, in sickness or in health. She had been more than willing to accept his infirmity, and she’d been equally willing to celebrate in his recovery.

  Because she loved him.

  As he loved her.

  The rest would be left up to God.

  * * *

  It was more than a week later when Sumner answered a knock at the rear door of the Dovecote. In that time, her patients had begun to heal rather nicely. She had only a handful of men who still required around-the-clock care, so rather than tending to them at the infirmary, they’d been moved to the Dovecote, where Sumner and the other women could spoil them shamelessly. In the meantime, Sumner had moved her personal belongings upstairs where she shared a room with Lydia and Iona.

  Even so, the last person Sumner had expected to see was Phineas Bottoms.

  “Mr. Bottoms, what a surprise!”

  “A pleasant one, I hope.” He stepped inside, stamping his boots on the braided rug. Then he allowed Sumner to help him shrug free from his coat. “I heard Jonah was up and about, and I figured I’d better see for myself.”

  Sumner beamed with pride. After all he’d been through, Jonah was recovering even more quickly than she’d expected. Although he still required a cane for balance, he’d been able to walk the length of the Dovecote and back.

  She led Mr. Bottoms behind the curtain where Jonah sat propped up in the tester bed. Her fiancé’s face brightened when he saw Phineas, but he held out a hand for Sumner, lacing their fingers together. Sumner knew the gesture was meant to provide her with much-needed support as well as to make it clear that the rumors flying through the mining camp were true. The two of them would be married. Although there was no official clergy in town, one of Gideon Gault’s men had the power to serve as justice of the peace and that would have to do for now.

  “It’s good to see you, sir.”

  Phineas waved aside Jonah’s formal tone. “No need to be putting on airs. This is more of a social call than anything else.” He settled into the rocking chair next to the bed, and before Sumner could go in search of another, Jonah pulled her onto the bed beside him.

  “You’re looking good, Jonah. Really good.”

  Jonah squeezed her hand. “Thank you, Phineas. I’m already feeling better than I have in years.”

  Phineas pointed his hat in Sumner’s direction. “I think the little lady here has a lot to do with that. In more ways than one.”

  The man’s gaze was piercing as he met Sumner’s eyes, but the sensation wasn’t unpleasant. To her surprise, he didn’t appear upset with the fact that Jonah and she had broken the rules by becoming engaged. He appeared...pleased?

  No. She couldn’t be interpreting things correctly.

  “I suppose you’ve heard that I’ve asked Sumner to marry me,” Jonah said, choosing his words carefully.

  “I did catch something to that effect.”

  This time, it was Sumner who squeezed Jonah’s hand in support. Knowing that neither of them would be able to make a living in Bachelor Bottoms, they’d already determined that they would live in Jonah’s cabin on his own property for the rest of the winter. Come spring, they would try their hand at finding work somewhere else.

  “That means I’ll have to tender my resignation.”

  But Phineas appeared confused. “Why’s that?”

  Jonah’s gaze bounced from Bottoms to Sumner, then back again. “Married men aren’t allowed in Bachelor Bottoms.”

  Phineas’s brows creased. “What on earth do you mean? We’ve got plenty of married men here at Bachelor Bottoms.”

  “But, sir, the rules specifically state that all employees are to refrain from having any contact with women.”

  “On mine property,” Phineas inserted before Jonah could finish. “What they do on their own time, on their own property...” He shrugged, a definite gleam entering his eyes. “Well, that’s a matter between them and their Creator.” He pushed himself to his feet. “Seems to me, the two of you have what they call a loophole.”

  Sumner couldn’t be sure, but she thought Mr. Bottoms winked.

  “Now, where can I find the other men?”

  Sumner jumped to her feet. “They’re in the main room. The women have been making cookies for the Christmas Devotional, and the men decided to watch.”

  When she took a step, ready to show Phineas the way, he held up a hand. “Don’t bother yourself. I can follow my nose to the source of those delicious aromas. Meanwhile, you set yourself down and enjoy this man’s company. We’ll be needing him back at work as soon as he’s able. This place just doesn’t run right without him.”

  Phineas strode from the room, leaving the curtain around Jonah’s bed swaying to mark his progress. As soon as it was clear he was gone, Jonah began to chuckle.

  “He’s a sly one, isn’t he?”

  Sumner returned to Jonah’s side. “What do you mean?”

  “Didn’t you hear? He’s just told us that we can stay and keep our jobs.”

  Sumner shook her head in confusion. “I didn’t hear anything of the kind.”

  “Don’t you see? As soon as we’re married, we’ll be living on my homestead, off company property. I can still go to work every day, still follow the rules when I’m there. But my wife will be only a few miles away.” His voice became deep and soft and oh-so-tender. He stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “Waiting for me.”

  She nodded. At least Jonah could continue working at the job he loved so much.

  Jonah must have sensed a portion of her melancholy because he tipped her face up.

  “That means you can work, too.”

  “But how?”

  He grinned. “It shouldn’t take much to put a spare room on the back of the cabin. Then again, you’ll probably be needing a separate building altogether. You can set out your shingle and do your doctoring.” His voice deepened meaningfully. “Off company property.”

  Hope fluttered in her breast, soft as a dove’s wing.

  “But the men...”

  “There will be some who might not come to you, but there’s more that will. With everything you’ve done for them—for this community—they trust you, Sumner. You’re one of them now. You might not have an official office on the premises, but you’re their doctor.” He tipped his head toward the voices coming from the other room. “Phineas knows that, and one of these days Batchwell will come to his senses.”

  The fluttering in her chest grew and strengthened until a whole flock of birds whirled around her heart.

  They could stay.

  Here,
where she’d grown to love the people, the community...

  And this man.

  As if he’d heard her thoughts aloud, Jonah pulled her close. “I love you, Dr. Sumner Edmund Havisham. You are the most dedicated, talented, beautiful woman I have ever known, and that day we exchange our vows will be the happiest day of my life.”

  How blessed she was to be able to share all her accomplishments with a man she loved more than life itself.

  “I love you, Jonah,” she whispered. “More than anything.”

  Then the distance between them dissolved as they sealed their happiness with a kiss.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from HIS FORGOTTEN FIANCÉE by Evelyn M. Hill.

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  Dear Reader,

  I hope you enjoyed reading Accidental Courtship, the first book in The Bachelors of Aspen Valley series. I had such fun with Jonah and Sumner’s story. For years, I’ve been wanting to write about the challenges faced by some of the first women in the medical profession, and Sumner’s journey to Aspen Valley seemed tailormade for the opportunity. I also enjoyed using the rugged setting of the Uinta Mountains, located in my own home state of Utah. Although I’ve travelled all over the world, there’s something about the craggy mountains, glittering rivers, and fragrant stands of pine that speak to me of “home.”

  Be sure to watch for future books in the Bachelors of Aspen Valley series to discover the romantic fates of many of the characters you’ve come to know. Aspen Valley will never be the same after such an eventful winter!

  I love to hear from my readers, so if you’d like to contact me or stay in touch with release dates and information, please feel free to join me at lisabinghamauthor.com, Facebook.com/lisabinghamauthor, or on Twitter @lbinghamauthor.

  Best wishes,

  Lisa Bingham

  We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Love Inspired Historical title.

  You find illumination in days gone by. Love Inspired Historical stories lift the spirit as heroines tackle the challenges of life in another era with hope, faith and a focus on family.