Jim squeezed Claire’s hands. “I’m proud of you, sis. You have grown up,” he smiled. “I’ve grown as a man from watching Lance with Magdalena, and Sully with you. I’m not like them, I’m not as dominant as they are, but I can see where their confidence combined with love and strong leadership is something that inspires trust in a woman.”
Claire’s look was thoughtful. “I’m still a Suffragette, and Sully supports that. He believes women are equal to men, and he believes we should be able to vote, run businesses and own property… it’s just that in a marriage he believes God wants the husband to lead with strength, and he doesn’t mess around with the fact that he expects me to submit to his leadership under Christ. It confused me at first, but when Sully equated it to our father’s business and how Dad is the owner and a good boss, but every person that works for him is equally important in their own role, even though he makes the final decisions for his company, well that helped me to understand it.”
“Have you ever talked with Mary about this?”
“No. Sully and I have traveled back and forth to Philadelphia so often that when I’m back in Bareglen Creek, Mary and I barely have time to catch up on minor details, let alone the things I’ve learned about myself and my marriage with Sully. Spending time with Lee has helped me see it more clearly, but I will talk with Mary about it when the time presents itself.”
Jim turned toward the road at the sound of approaching horses. “Looks like we’ve got company. Claire, can you go in the house and set out some tea for our guests?”
“Of course,” she agreed, moving with haste toward the house.
“Deputies, is everything all right?” Jim asked, worry creased his brow.
“Sheriff Sully sent us,” Evan Dow explained with a nod from the second man, Joseph Cane, who added, “we’re here to help you with the farm.” The men dismounted.
At Jim’s confused look, Joseph added. “There’s nothing going on right now that we’re needed for and Sheriff Sully said we were driving him crazy. He also added that if you had help, it would let Mary’s mind rest while she’s in the infirmary.”
“Yep,” Deputy Dow agreed, “we’re here to help you over the next few days unless something urgent comes up.”
Jim smiled his agreement. “Let’s take care of the horses and then we can go inside for tea before we get started.”
Chapter 14
Doc Holloway’s Infirmary
Mary felt a cool cloth on her forehead and opened her eyes.
“There she is,” Lee smiled down at her. “How is my patient today?” His eyes locked with hers and she stirred under his assessing gaze.
“What day is it?”
“It’s Thursday.”
Her brain refused to think in a clear way. Instead, a fuzzy mist seemed to obscure coherent thought. She squeezed her eyes closed and opened them again. Nope. It was still the same. “Could I have some water?” she managed to ask.
“Melissa,” Lee called out to Doctor Holloway’s receptionist, “could you bring us a glass of water please?”
Mary forced herself not to groan. All she wanted was for Lee Jamison to leave her alone and give her peace, but instead he had Melissa fetch the water. Why was he present every time she woke up? This time she needed to stay awake, and persuade them to release her.
When he pulled the pen light from his pocket, she groaned.
“Are you in pain?” he asked.
“No,” she huffed, “but my eyes are fine. When can I go home?” She tried to brush his hands away, but he stilled her with one stern look.
“Patience, Mary. All in due time,” he calmly assured her, which only served to frustrate her further. When he finished, she struggled to sit up, and to her surprise, this time Lee helped her by propping pillows behind her back.
Melissa breezed through the door with a glass of milk and a bowl of soup. “Doctor’s orders,” she announced cheerfully.
Mary narrowed her eyes. It was easy for Melissa to be cheerful, she wasn’t lying in this bed under the control of an over protective ninny of a doctor. To her chagrin, her stomach growled at the smell of the corn chowder.
“Someone’s hungry,” Lee smiled at her. “Open up,” he said as he moved a spoon full of chowder toward her mouth.
“I can feed myself,” she announced, pressing her lips together.
“Open up,” he demanded, eyebrows raised, treating her as though she were a petulant child.
She scowled but did as he asked.
“Mmm, that’s delicious,” she admitted.
He grinned and offered her another spoonful and then another.
“I can feed myself,” she insisted.
“Right now I’m feeding you. Now open.”
Mary bristled at his tone, but decided there was nothing to be gained by arguing further. Her shoulders lowered and she relaxed against the pillows, accepting every spoonful until her stomach felt full. “I’m done,” she announced with a begrudging, “thank you.”
“My pleasure, Mary,” he smiled at her and moved the bowl to a side table. “Now, tell me how you’re feeling.”
“I’m fine, really. I feel much better now.” She waited expectantly.
“How is your head? Any fuzziness or pain?”
She hesitated.
“Please be honest with me, Mary. If you lie, I’ll know, and that will only delay what you ultimately want.”
Her eyebrows knit together. “Where’s Doctor Holloway?”
“I’m right here, Mary,” he announced as he entered the room, moving to the other side of her bed.
For a moment she regretted asking for him. What was worse than one overbearing doctor? Two, she decided. “Does it really take two doctors to heal me?” She ventured.
“Apparently,” Doc Holloway answered with a patient smile.
Her cheeks flushed deep red. “Surely you jest,” she responded, agitated.
He took her hand and sat on the edge of her bed. “No, I don’t,” he confirmed. “Do you know how long you’ve been unconscious, Mary?”
Her eyes darted from Lance to Lee and back again. “A few days?”
“Six,” he answered.
Her eyes widened and she pulled her lower lip between her teeth, glancing down at her hands. “But surely I’m fine now.” She regretted that her voice was not more confident.
“That’s what we’re going to make sure of before we release you. How much time that takes will depend upon you,” Lee informed her.
Her eyes met his briefly. “Surely it wasn’t that serious? I have Claire and Jim, and I have to get back to the farm.”
“We thought you might be concerned about that,” Lee admitted. “Sully sent two deputies to help Jim at the farm.”
“But—“
“No buts,” Lee admonished. “Sheriff Sully said they were driving him crazy and needed something productive to do, so they’ve been assigned to the farm … for now.”
“Surely you’ll let me go tomorrow? I’m better,” Mary insisted.
“We’ll see. In a few moments Melissa will come in to help you with a bath. Do you feel up to that?”
“Yes, of course,” Mary choked, heat rising in her cheeks again.
“You’ll have an hour, and then I’ll be back,” Lee promised.
Both doctor’s turned to leave.
“When will Claire be back to see me?”
Lee turned back and squeezed Mary’s hand. “Tomorrow,” he assured her with a look that made butterflies dance in her stomach. It wasn’t until his eyes moved to her stomach that she realized she’d pressed her hand there.
Chapter 15
Philadelphia, PA
Susan Jamison set her cup of tea on the saucer, worry creasing her brow.
“Good morning, dear,” Mr. Jamison greeted as he swept into the dining room.
Susan glanced at her husband. “What’s so good about it?”
He stopped in his tracks, turned, and looked back at her. “Are you still fretting about Lee?
”
“Fretting? I wouldn’t call this fretting. He embarrassed us when he left in the middle of dinner, and we have no idea what’s going on or why he rushed off to Bareglen Creek.”
He turned and pulled the chair out next to her. “What is going on dear, is there something you need to tell me?” He didn’t often use that tone of voice with his wife, but things were getting out of hand.
“It’s nothing,” she dismissed with a wave of her hand.
“Susan, I forbid you to involve yourself any further in Lee’s personal life. He’s a grown man and quite capable of choosing a wife when he is ready. He’ll have no trouble with that, I can assure you. Now what is the cause of your consternation?”
“I want to know why he went to Bareglen Creek,” she admitted. “I’m worried he’s gone to see Mary Hawarden Trost.”
Mr. Jamison’s eyebrows rose. “Mary is a wonderful woman. Why would it concern you if he is visiting her there?”
Mrs. Jamison’s cheeks flushed and she diverted her eyes from her husband’s.
“Susan …,” he warned. “Answer me.”
“Our son is a successful doctor and becoming quite renowned in his field. I just …I just think he should be seeking a wife who has never been married. I think he could do better, is all.”
When her husband didn’t answer, she dared a glance in his direction, and her eyes widened. It wasn’t often that her husband got angry with her, but the annoyance in his eyes was unmistakable.
“Susan, I’ve let this go on long enough. I do not want to hear that you are interfering in our son’s life in this regard. Do you understand me?” He breathed.
“Of course, dear,” she assured him even as an idea formed in her head.
* * *
She knocked at the front door, and it was answered by the butler. “Oh, hello, Camber, I’m looking for Eloise. Is she in?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He swept the door open and waved for her to come inside. “Please wait in the parlor, Mrs. Jamison, and I’ll see if Mrs. Trost is available for visitors.”
“Thank you, Camber,” she smiled even as she settled in a wing back chair, glancing around the ornate parlor. She was taken aback when she glanced at the portrait over the fireplace of the Trost family, all of them, before Mike’s marriage to Mary. For a brief moment her heart pained her; she could not imagine losing her son.
“Susan,” Eloise exclaimed as she entered the parlor. “Have I forgotten an engagement?” she asked, worry creasing her brow.
“No, not at all, Eloise. I simply wanted to visit with you. I remembered our conversation last week and wondered if anything came of it.”
Eloise looked over her shoulder and then called to Camber. “Camber, please bring tea and scones to the parlor.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he replied, and then Eloise closed the French doors, affording them privacy.
Eloise sat down next to Susan and leaned toward her friend. “Well, I must say your idea was brilliant.”
“Oh no.” Susan denied. The last thing she wanted was to have her involvement inferred in any way, especially after her husband’s warning this morning. “Nonsense, Eloise, I merely listened to your predicament and participated in your problem solving, is all.”
“Yes, well, I wouldn’t have come to that conclusion without you. The very next day I convinced Mr. Trost to send another telegram to Mary.”
“And?”
“Well, after speaking with Gerald, we offered her the option to keep the farm by marrying him!”
“Wonderful!” Susan patted Eloise’s arm. “You must be so relieved.”
“The odd thing is, we haven’t heard a word from Mary. Not one word. I’ve even gone to the postal office to see if there’s a telegram they’ve failed to deliver, but they’ve assured me there isn’t.”
“Oh, well maybe today will be the day,” Susan encouraged.
“She has one week left, or we will take legal action,” Eloise threatened. “But I hope it doesn’t come to that now that Gerald has his hopes up. He’s always been a bit… difficult, you know.”
Susan nodded politely.
“He’s quite a different man now that he has a new focus and the prospect of having a wife.”
Susan tampered down the guilt that threatened at the edges of her mind. Surely the rumors about Gerald were exaggerated? Surely?
Chapter 16
Doc Jamison’s Office
“How’s she doing?” Lance asked Lee.
“Well, she’s getting antsy.”
Lance nodded. “We knew she would.”
“Yes, but in light of the fact that this is her first day fully awake, I don’t want to push her too far.”
“You may not have a choice. There’s a small window of opportunity.”
“I know,” Lee agreed. “I’m debating whether to take her out for a brief walk or carriage ride, or keep her here.”
“Keep her here. She’s off balance right now, and as much as I hate to admit it, that’s to your advantage. Let me know if you need help, but trust yourself, Lee. There’s a reason why you are a top psychiatrist.”
A loud clamor from the infirmary had both doctors up and racing from Lance’s office toward the direction of the crash.
Lee opened the door to the infirmary and found Mary hastily picking up the tray with her lunch. “Mary,” he asked softly, “what happened?”
“I tried to move the tray and it fell. It was clumsy of me.”
“I told you to call me when you were finished,” he admonished.
“I know you did, but I’m perfectly capable— I can take care of myself. I’m going home.”
He moved to her side. “We talked about this earlier, Mary. You’re not ready yet.”
I’m perfectly capable of determining when I’m ready, and I’m telling you I am,” her eyes were wild. “I can’t stay here any longer,” she admitted. Fear flickered through her eyes.
“Sure you can,” he smiled. “Let’s get you settled.”
"Don’t patronize me. I’m not an invalid and I don’t need you to treat me like a child—or an inept woman.” She turned toward him, hands on her hips, her chest heaving.
“Inept is certainly not a word I would ever associate with you, Mary. Now sit.” He pointed to the bed. Eyebrows raised.
She glared at Lance and then back at Lee. “No, I won’t. I’m fine, and I want to go home.” Her hands clenched with indignation, but her eyes shone with unshed tears.
Lee took two steps toward her, and when she leaned back to avoid him she had no choice but to sit on the side of the bed.
“Settle,” he encouraged her as he lifted her legs and swung her body, pressing her shoulders back against the pillow. He glanced at Melissa who stood in the doorway wrenching her hands, her eyes wide.
“Melissa, get my bag please.”
“Yes, Doctor Jamison, right away,” she agreed as she whirled out of the room.
Mary tried to argue, but her throat tightened. She turned her head away from Lee and squeezed her fists. Her breathing was ragged, then suddenly she felt as though she couldn’t breathe.
“Mary, look at me,” Lee demanded.
Her body shuddered as anxiety swirled through her. There was something she needed to remember, but she couldn’t. She had to get out of his office, she didn’t know why, but she had to do something—or else something terrible was going to happen. But what?
“I— I can’t—,” she uttered before her chest tightened further.
Lance picked up a bottle and looked at Lee with questions in his eyes. Lee shook his head no.
“Help me move her to a sitting position,” Lee instructed as he moved behind her back and wrapped her tightly in his arms, her body shaking uncontrollably as his palms pressed tightly against her sternum. She fought with him, but he held her in place, and after several long minutes her breathing gradually started to slow down.
“Breathe with me, Mary. Breathe in to the count of four, one, two, three, four,” he encour
aged her softly, slowing each word down, repeating the mantra until her breathing regulated and the pulse in her neck began to calm—but still he held her.
“I’m—I’m okay now,” she offered, her voice shaky, but he held her nonetheless, his palms still tight against her sternum until her breathing and pulse rate returned completely to normal. Then he turned her sideways and held her as though he were comforting a child.
Mary didn’t even realize she was crying until the tears began splashing on her arms. Embarrassed, she struggled, but he pulled her even more tightly into his chest. He held her as though he never wanted to let her go, as though he wanted to take all her pain away, as though he could. He held her until the physical sensation that he was there, and would be there for her finally got through to her subconscious mind—and then she began to sob. Uncontrollably.
Lee held her until her sobbing eased, gently assuring her that everything was going to be okay until she finally relaxed. He didn’t let go until she had fallen into a deep, exhausted sleep. He laid her back on the bed and wrapped the blanket tightly around her body.
Lance entered the room. “I’ll stay with her. Why don’t you take a break?”
Lee nodded his thanks. “She’ll probably sleep through the night. I’m going to take a walk, get some dinner and then I’ll be back.”
“I can stay with her,” Lance assured him.
“It needs to be me, but I appreciate the offer. She took a big leap forward today. A good night’s rest will do her good and I hope tomorrow will bring the breakthrough she needs.”
CHARMED Boxed Set 1, Hero Hearts Historical: Inspirational Western Romance Page 26
