Chapter 7
Bareglen Creek, TX
Claire Hawarden Clarke rushed to Doctor Holloway’s office as soon as she heard that Mary had passed out and been taken there. Magdalena greeted her at the door.
“Oh, Claire!” She rushed to her friend’s side, holding her hands out.
“What happened, Mags? Sully told me that Mary passed out and hit her head?”
“Yes, we were sitting on the bench outside the mercantile when the postmaster called to Mary and said he had a telegram for her. I thought it odd that she didn’t seem curious or excited—if anything she seemed worried. And Claire, she looked terrible. She looked exhausted like she hadn’t been eating or sleeping.”
Claire paced the waiting room and wrung her hands. “What was the telegram about?”
“I don’t know. When Mary opened it she gasped, and then she immediately fell to the ground. She just passed out.”
“Oh my, I hope it wasn’t bad news! Do you know where the telegram is? What if something has happened to our mother or father?” Panic edged Claire’s voice.
“I put it inside her bag from the store. I didn’t want to intrude by reading it.” Mags reached inside the bag and pulled it out, passing it to Claire.
Claire opened the telegram and then dropped into the chair behind her.
“Claire, are you all right? What is it?”
“I don’t know. This doesn’t make any sense.”
Lance Holloway entered the room and moved immediately to Claire’s side. “Are you all right, Claire?” he asked, concern in his eyes.
“Yes,” she answered crossly. “Of course, I’m fine, I’m here for Mary. How is she?”
Lance knelt in front of Claire, his eyes fixed on hers. “She’s still unconscious.”
Claire gasped. “Oh no, that can’t be good. Will she be all right?”
“She doesn’t have any broken bones, but I can only assume she has a concussion from the fall, which would be the reason she still hasn’t regained consciousness.” He turned toward Magdalena. “Magdalena, tell me exactly what happened.”
“We were sitting on the bench one minute, and the next she was given a telegram by the postmaster. She opened it, read it, gasped and then fainted.”
“Any idea what it was about?”
“I’ve read it, but I don’t understand it,” Claire admitted. “Maybe Jim will know more when he arrives. Can I see my sister?”
“Let’s wait for Jim to arrive,” Doc Holloway instructed. “Then you can both see her together. Mags, let me know when he arrives,” with that he turned and reentered the infirmary.
Claire stood and began pacing again, flying to the door when it opened. “Jim!” She cried, running toward her brother.
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. “Where’s Mary?”
“Jim, she’s in the infirmary with Lance. He thinks she has a concussion, but she hasn’t regained consciousness.” Claire blinked at the tears burning in her eyes. “She’ll be okay, sis,” Jim tried to assure her. “What happened?”
Claire looked at Magdalena as her husband, Sheriff Sully, walked through the door. Claire rushed into Sully’s arms, struggling to keep her composure. With his arms still around her, she looked back at Jim. “Mags said that Mary got a telegram and after Mary read it she passed out.”
“Where is it?” Jim growled.
“What? What is this about, Jim?” Claire asked as Mary moved to the infirmary to let Lance know that Jim and Sheriff Sully had arrived.
“Sit down, sis.” Jim nodded to Sully who helped Claire to the chair. Lance and Magdalena joined them. “Doc, any change?” he asked. Lance shook his head no. Jim continued, “Three days ago Mary received a telegram from Mike’s family in Philadelphia.” “The Trosts?” Claire asked.
“Yes,” Jim confirmed.
“Claire, let Jim finish,” Sully gently chided.
“They are demanding that Mary turn the farm over to them.”
“But they can’t do that, can they?”
“Claire,” Sully warned as he tipped her chin up so that her eyes met his. “Let your brother finish.” Claire scowled but nodded.
“I don’t really know, Claire. In the West there are laws that protect women who are widowed and often allow them to keep the property and businesses of their husbands in some cases, even though in the East, that is not yet the case. The short answer is that we don’t know how a judge would rule in this situation.” Jim opened the telegram. “This telegram appears to offer an additional option to Mary,” he frowned and anger surged in his eyes. “They are offering to let Mary keep the farm if she agrees to marry Gerald, Mike’s brother.”
“You have got to be kidding!” Claire jumped up from her chair, tears spilling down her cheeks, her hands clenched at her sides. “How could they do that? That’s horrible. Gerald is the exact opposite of Mike. Mike was gentle and kind, but Gerald has been known for being a bully since we were kids.”
“Claire, that doesn’t mean he’s still a bully. Most outgrow that behavior,” Sully admonished.
“No, Sully, He’s still a bully. I’m telling you—there isn’t a good family in Philadelphia that would consider letting their daughter marry him, and his family can’t bear to see him marry someone beneath their means. No wonder Mary passed out.” Claire began to pace again until Sully gathered her back into his arms.
Jim clenched and unclenched his hands. “Can we see Mary?”
Lance nodded. “Yes, but only briefly. I want her to rest quietly, and you both need to calm down.” Jim and Claire looked at him expectantly.
“Is there something you’re not telling us, doctor?” Claire asked.
“I want to send a telegram to Lee Jamison.” He exchanged a glance with Sully, who nodded.
Claire looked at her husband, Jim, and then back to Lance. “Yes, I think that’s a good idea.”
Chapter 8
The train, Philadelphia, PA to Bareglen Creek, TX
Lee read and re-read the telegram.
Lee, get to Bareglen Creek.
Mary unconscious after head injury.
She needs you.
Lance
Lee folded the telegram, willing the train to make haste to Bareglen Creek. Although he’d brought medical reference books with him, it was nearly impossible to concentrate on the material when his thoughts were consumed with Mary. He prayed she would be okay, and hoped that she’d regained consciousness by now.
He mulled over the idea that had started forming while he was researching death and grieving in family members left behind. Mary was a strong woman, and she had loved Mike deeply. With that said, Jim had mentioned to Lance more than once that his family had supported Mary’s marriage to Mike, but none of them had felt that he was the right fit for her. Jim had felt that Mary needed a strong husband who would lead his spirited sister, but instead, Mary had found she needed to be the strong one in her marriage to Mike.
Jim believed that had been overwhelming to Mary at times. Then add to that the fact that they moved to Bareglen Creek because of Mary’s commitment to teach at the orphanage there, and that Mike had ultimately succumbed to a virus that took his life while living there. Jim felt Mary was harboring a sense of guilt, or potentially unable to forgive herself for what she perceived to be her fault.
Lance felt comfortable confiding the information to Lee because of their friendship and the many conversations they’d had regarding Mary and Lee’s interest in her.
It had been obvious to both Lance and Lee that Mary had not allowed herself to fully grieve Mike’s death. Whether that was because of guilt, or because she felt unable to face her grief, or because she was unable to forgive something that she wasn’t to blame for, they weren’t sure.
Mary had always evaded Lee’s attempts to dig a bit deeper with her, to get inside her head. In fact, she had accused him more than once of being a mind reader, and as a result, she shut down further. She seemed determined to keep him out.
&nbs
p; Sully, Lance, and Lee were all dominant men who shared similar ideals for how they wanted to enter into a marriage with a woman, and what they expected from their wives. If Jim was right, and Mary needed a strong man in her life, Lee wondered if he should try to fill that role for her.
Yes, he decided, that is exactly what he should do. He would discuss it with Lance as her doctor, but if Lance agreed, he might stand a chance at breaking through the walls that Mary had erected to protect herself. He would need to be careful in his approach, but he’d decided that the best chance he had to get through to her was to give her a taste of what life as his wife would be like.
He would show her through their interactions that he valued her strength, spirit, opinions, and would always take them into consideration as he made the final choice around what was best for her—and hopefully for them as husband and wife.
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he was that it was the right approach. Getting Lance’s support would likely be fairly easy, as long as Lance felt no emotional harm would come to Mary as his patient. Sully would be on board because he shared the same philosophy regarding Claire and their marriage. Lee wasn’t, however, sure how her siblings Claire and Jim would react.
He hoped that Claire had adjusted to her marriage with Sully, and his strong leadership to the degree that she would see that it was something that Mary needed, as well. Jim appeared to realize Mary needed a strong leader in her life, but he had made it his role to take care of Mary since Mike’s death … would he relinquish that role to Lee? That remained to be seen.
Lee knew that he could be very persuasive; now he just needed to persuade Jim that he not only desired to help his sister, but ultimately to marry her, He loved her. He had felt a strong connection to her when he first met her and every subsequent interaction had led him to realize that she was his one. She was meant for him, and he for her.
All he had to do now was convince Mary of that.
Chapter 9
Doctor Holloway’s Office | Bareglen Creek
Lance met Lee at the train station. They shook hands and immediately moved toward Lance’s office and home.
“How is she?”
“The same,” Lance admitted, concern edging his voice.
Lee’s head whipped toward Lance. “There’s no change? She’s still unconscious?” Lance nodded. “How long has it been?” Lee asked tersely.
“Four days.”
“Lance, I have some ideas, but first, lets examine her together and then we can talk about my plan, okay?”
“I value any insight you have, you know that, my friend.”
Lee nodded. “How are Claire and Jim taking this?”
“Hard. Claire looks exhausted and I finally told Sully to take her home and gave him a sedative to give to her, otherwise she would have ended up as a patient in my office, as well. Jim is taking care of the farm and spending every spare minute at Mary’s side. She’s almost never left alone between the two of them.”
“That’s good, but now that I’m here, we need to change that a bit.”
“What do you have up your sleeve?”
“Let’s talk after the exam.”
* * *
“She’s been exactly like this the entire time? No changes in her reactions, and no signs of brain swelling?”
“Yes, and no signs of swelling. I’m beginning to think this may be psychological in nature. I suspected it almost from the start, because although she may have incurred a slight concussion from her fall, it never warranted a loss of consciousness for any length of time.”
“Do we know if she’s had other head injuries or concussions in the past?”
“Well,” Lance gave Lee a knowing look, “the Harwarden women are tough and spirited. You’ve seen Mary climb the rafters in her barn and take on her Longhorn, so she’s likely never been cautious, yet Jim and Claire are not aware of any head injuries prior to this.”
“I think your diagnosis is spot on, Lance, and this may be a result of emotional trauma and the threat of losing the farm, rather than a head injury.”
Lance nodded. “What do you recommend?”
“Something unorthodox, and I’ll need your help with it.”
“Why does this not surprise me?”
Lee grinned, then sobered. “It’s not without risk, and we’ll have a challenge to convince Claire and Jim that it’s the right approach. Let me fill you in on what I’m thinking.”
* * *
“Claire,” Sully warned.
“It’s okay, Sully.” Lee turned his attention solely on Claire as he stepped toward her, and then moved a chair immediately across from hers. There was a mere inch between his knee and her petticoat.
She visibly sat back in her chair, trying to create distance, but Lee Jamison was far too astute to allow that. He took her hands and placed them firmly in his, and simply looked at her.
Claire’s eyes filled with tears; she looked away, and tried to pull her hands away, but he simply held them more tightly.
“Please stop,” she whispered.
Lee glanced quickly up at Sully who nodded in silent agreement. Lee held firm.
The tears glistening on Claire’s lashes began to fall and then streamed from her eyes—she’d held them back as long as she could but now they raced down in salty torrents, unstoppable.
Lee simply held her hands, and when the tears slowed, he placed a handkerchief at her nose and commanded her to blow. She did, and finally turned her swollen eyes to his. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
He smiled kindly at her, never losing eye contact. “You don’t need to apologize for crying, Claire. I know you love Mary and you’re worried—we all are,” he admitted. “I can’t even promise you that what I’m proposing will work, but this much I do know, Mary needs to grieve or forgive herself, and she’s refusing to do that on her own. She needs someone to be strong for her, and to lead her with confidence toward releasing everything that’s holding her back.”
Claire nodded, sniffling.
Lee held the handkerchief up to her nose again, “Blow.”
She narrowed her eyes at him but obeyed.
Lee looked at Jim who was standing off to the right of Claire, beside Sully. Sully had his hand on Jim’s arm as though he were holding him back. Jim was clenching and unclenching his hands. “Jim,” Lee acknowledged. Jim moved immediately behind Claire and put his hands on her shoulders.
This time Lee addressed them both. “There are risks with my approach, and I’m not going to lead you to believe otherwise. I will watch Mary carefully and only push her to the extent that I believe is safe, but I can honestly tell you that I an convinced if I do not do this, she will be stuck exactly where she is and possibly never move forward with her life.”
Jim nodded and squeezed Claire’s shoulder.
“What if you push her too far?” Claire whispered.
“I won’t. I know Mary, I know how to read her body’s responses and yes, to some degree I can read her mind.”
“I knew it,” Claire narrowed her eyes at Lee.
Lance laughed and Lee grinned before he sobered. “This will not be easy for any of us, and especially not the two of you. I— for Mary—we will need you to back off to some degree and even if you think I’m being too hard on her or too tough, you’ll need to trust me. Can you do that?”
Jim swallowed. “I trust you, Lee. Mary needs you—she needs help.” Tears filled his eyes. “I won’t stand in your way. You have my blessing. Please, please bring her back to us.”
A steady stream of tears flooded Claire’s cheeks. She nodded and squeezed Lee’s hands. Sully reached for her and pulled her into his arms.
Lee cleared his throat. “Go to her, talk to her, and then go home, both of you. Lance has a sedative that you both need to take so that you can get some rest. Mary is going to need you within the next day or so.”
Sully walked on one side of Claire and Jim on the other as they moved to the room where Mary lay.
“I know we will,” Lee agreed.
Chapter 10
Doc Holloway’s Infirmary | Bareglen Creek
“She’s a stubborn one,” Lance sighed as he took his fingers away from Mary’s pulse.
Lee sat on the other side of her bed, his hand covering her wrist. He’d spent hours sitting with her, talking to her, and watching her pulse and eyes for any response. So far there had been nothing, but something told him today would be the day.
“When is Claire coming in?”
“Sully said she would be here within the hour. He appreciated the double dose of sedatives—she needed it.”
“Yep, our women are strong and stubborn, there’s no doubt about that.” Lee had already begun the process of thinking of Mary as his. His grandmother had always told him, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and he believed it. His will was strong, and Mary would be his.
When Lee heard the exterior door open and close, he and Lance moved to the outer reception area.
Claire breezed toward them, but then stopped, wary when she saw Lee.
He chuckled. “I don’t bite, Claire.”
She remained frozen in place, so he moved directly in front of her and took her hands in his.
“Not this again,” she whined.
He laughed. “Let’s talk about our plan for today, shall we?” He motioned toward a seat at the small round table they had all sat at together just yesterday. Claire moved reluctantly, joined by Lee and Lance.
“Today I want to inundate Mary with our voices. I want someone to be with her nonstop, and if possible more than one of us. We’re going to pull her from the place she appears to believe is safe—back into the real world with us. We should all mention her name frequently, keep our voices upbeat and lively. Let’s talk about the farm, Claire, you can talk easily about Colossal, and once Jim is here we’ll have him give her updates on the farm. Any questions?”
CHARMED Boxed Set 1, Hero Hearts Historical: Inspirational Western Romance Page 24
