Violet (Suitors of Seattle Book 7)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  Violet waited at the front, wishing she'd brought a sketchpad. There were interesting faces all around her. She carried her sketchpad everywhere she went, but she'd forgotten it today. Why?

  After a minute or two she saw a man standing near her with a sheaf of paper and pencils. "May I have a couple of sheets? And borrow a pencil?" she asked.

  The man looked at her for a moment as if wondering who she was, but then he just shrugged. "Sure, lady. Don't make no difference to me."

  "Thank you." She took the papers he handed her and the pencil and immediately started sketching. She did quick drawings of as many faces as she could, thrilled to have the opportunity to do so. The policemen were the most interesting to her. They all seemed to be tired. There were a couple of younger officers that seemed more excited than anything, but Violet knew their faces would change with time and experience.

  It was over thirty minutes later when Jonas walked to the front of the station, looking tired. "Are you all right?" she asked. She'd expected him long before that.

  He nodded. "I'm fine. I told her what I think of her. I've never in my life met such a singularly selfish person." Eunice had tried again to blame him for all of her actions. Never once had she been willing to admit that her gambling and selfishness had been at the heart of everything. He was done though. He'd said his piece, and he was ready to move on.

  Violet reached for his hand, squeezing it tightly. "I'm glad it's over. Do you feel better?"

  "Yes, I really do. I think it was smart to talk to her. It's almost like I can close a door on all of this now and move on." They left the station and stepped out onto the sidewalk. He took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing it softly. "Thank you for being beside me through this. It made it a lot easier for me." Since he was twenty years old he'd had no one to lean on. Now he did. He'd never dreamed that he would lean so heavily on his wife.

  "I was happy to help." As they walked back toward the hotel, she sighed. "I'm glad that's over. I was really nervous about going to the police station." If it hadn't been so important to him, she didn't know if she could have made herself go.

  They walked on in silence for a while, passing by store after store along the way. "There are so many things to see and do here. I almost feel bad for as much time as I've spent painting. Will we ever come back?" As dirty as New York was, she found herself falling in love with the big city. She knew she'd want to visit again and see all the things she hadn't wanted to see.

  "I'll still own my gallery here. I have a feeling we'll be coming back at least once every year or so. Will you mind traveling that much?" He hated the idea of tearing her away from her family so often.

  She shook her head. "No, but I think my sister, Rose, will be terribly jealous. She wants to come here and shop for dresses." She'd have to get Rose's measurements before the next visit so she could have a dress made for her eldest sister.

  "This is the place to do it." He sighed. "After our parents died, I had to be strong for Emily Grace. She was only sixteen and I was twenty, so it was my responsibility to help her."

  "How did they die?" He'd talked so little about his family other than his sister and the murders.

  "They were lost at sea. Father inherited some land in England, and he went over to sell it. They drowned on the way back. They thought about taking Emily Grace with them, but she was in school. Since I was living at home while going to the university here, I just watched over her. She had a houseful of servants and a big brother to take care of her. I became more of a father figure to her than anything else after that."

  "Do you miss them?"

  "Mother and Father?" he asked.

  She nodded. "I can't imagine life without mine."

  "I do. Not as much as I did at first. The grief goes and other things in your life overtake it. I had to run the family business and take care of my sister all while going to school. I resented that at times."

  "Family business?" she asked.

  "You really don't know anything about me, do you?" Why had she married him when she didn't know anything about him? She knew he was wealthy, but he didn't think she had any idea of the sheer magnitude of the wealth she'd married into.

  She shrugged. "I know you're a kind man who takes your responsibilities seriously. I know you have a great deal of love in your heart for those who are worthy of it. I know you are a good businessman." She grinned at him impishly. "I know you're a good kisser and you make me feel things I never thought I'd feel." The morning had been extremely intense, and she hoped a little humor would make them both feel better. Besides, she really did like his kisses. She'd proven that more than once or twice.

  "Oh really? Like what?"

  She blushed. "You're not supposed to ask me that." She looked around, wondering if anyone was listening to their discussion.

  "Why not? Are you my wife or not?" He loved watching her blush. There was very little in life he enjoyed more than being with his pretty young wife.

  "You're just not. I'll show you later though." She wiggled her eyebrows at him to express her meaning, and he let out a laugh.

  "That's what I love about you, Violet. Even when I think that I'm never going to be able to smile again, you say something that makes me laugh through the pain. I need that." She really was the perfect woman for him, and he'd be thanking God for her every day for the rest of his life.

  She looked at him and sighed. "I love everything about you. I've never met a man who I was so drawn to. I never thought I would." She suddenly realized she had it all. She had a man she loved, an adorable little boy, and a career she'd been working toward since she was a small child.

  He smiled. "I love everything about you, too. I'm so happy that I finally have the right to be alone with you and talk to you about my feelings. Our relationship had a rocky start with Nathan, and the murders, and your painting, and Edna, but we're going to have the best marriage you can possibly imagine."

  She frowned. "Edna? What's wrong with Edna?" Didn't he adore Edna the same way she did? She was going to have to do some fast talking to make certain the older woman always had a home with them if he didn't care for her friend like she did.

  Jonas squeezed her hand. "I can't believe you even have to ask..."

  Epilogue

  Iris sat down at her kitchen table and rubbed her neck. She needed to write a letter home before her mother came to Texas to check on her, but she needed sleep just as much. She could write a short one this week and promise a longer one next. Yes, that's what she'd do. No one needed Mary Sullivan to descend on Nowhere, Texas and set the whole place on its ear.

  "Dear Mother,

  Thank you for the letter. It's always so nice to receive news from home. I love it here in Texas. Of course, summer is approaching, and I'm not sure if that's going to change or not. I've heard the heat is stifling. I'm willing to brave it as long as I have my patients and Edna Petunia beside me though.

  I like it here in Nowhere. It's hard dealing with some of the archaic attitudes people have about women in medicine, but I'm learning to cope. Why just today a widower brought his daughter in to me with a broken arm. He was angry to find out that Dr. I Sullivan was a woman. He said women doctors are menaces, and they know nothing about what they're doing. He demanded to see the real doctor. I told him it was me or make a five hour drive with his daughter in pain. He chose me. Francis Harvey may be a bigoted idiot, but he does love his children. He has girls ages ten, eight, and six. His poor wife died in childbirth with the six year old. I wanted to tell him I probably could have helped his wife, but I didn't know how. I certainly hope I won't be seeing much of him, but his attitude is similar to most of the men around here. For some reason, though, he just made me angrier than most.

  Edna Petunia is settling in well here. I think she loves the sheer number of cowboys that ride through town. It was a brilliant idea for her to come along as my nurse and companion. You were definitely right about this not being a place a woman would want to live alone. I kind of th
ink she has her eye on an old cowboy who rides into town every so often to get more whiskey to make a 'cough tonic.' You know, even after all these years of knowing me, that woman still totes that flask around and drinks out of it constantly? What is wrong with her? I wish I could convince her that drinking all the time was bad for her health, but at her age, she thinks she can get away with anything. She's apparently right, too!

  How is the family? Is Violet's pregnancy going well this time? Her first pregnancy was a little scary, but I'm so glad Heather is doing well. I'm a little nervous that I can't be there for her this time, but at least she has doctors that we all trust taking good care of her. I wish everyone could come here and see Texas, but I know that's not going to happen anytime soon. I'll try to come home for Christmas as you suggested in your last letter, but I do need to make certain my patients will be taken care of. It's certainly good incentive to know that both Daisy and Jasmine will be there with their families this year. I don't think we've all been together since Violet's art show back in 1896. It's 1904! It's time! There's a good midwife in town, so I don't have to be worried about the pregnant women while I'm gone.

  It's late, and I have to be at work early as usual. I'm going to close here. Let me know how things are at home. How are Papa's hands? Is the cream I made him for his arthritis helping? I miss you all terribly. I'll be home soon and all of your flowers will be back in your garden where they belong. I love you, Mama.

  Sincerely,

  Iris Sullivan, MD

  P.S. I know you know who I am, but I worked so hard for those letters after my name, I just have to include them."

  Folding the letter, Iris set it aside. She stood up and started to blow out the candle when she heard loud giggling from outside. Opening the door, she saw Edna Petunia standing with her cowboy, letting him touch her in places that were completely inappropriate.

  Iris shook her head. She didn't know whether to scold Edna Petunia as if she were a teenager or let her do what she wanted to do. It wasn't as if she had marriage prospects. She closed the door softly, not wanting to disturb them. It wasn't her place to teach morality to a woman more than twice her age.

  She padded through the small house in her bare feet and nightgown and into her bedroom. Edna Petunia would come in when she was ready to come in. The woman just did what she wanted to do anyway. It didn't reflect on Iris as a doctor, and certainly didn't reflect on her own work.

  Iris refused to worry about it as she turned down the wick in her lantern and climbed between the covers. Tomorrow would be a busy day. She was the only doctor for a fifty mile radius, and everyone came to her. She yawned and puffed up her pillow.

  As she was drifting off to sleep she heard another loud giggle. She couldn't help but smile as she closed her eyes. No matter how hard life was, Edna Petunia always had the ability to make her smile.

  Other Titles by Kirsten Osbourne

  Brides of Beckham Series

  Mail Order Mayhem

  Mail Order Mama

  Mail Order Madness

  Mail Order Mix Up

  Brides of Beckham First Four Box Set

  Mail Order Mistake

  Mail Order Maternity

  Mail Order Match Maker

  Brides of Beckham 5-7 Box Set

  Mail Order Motherhood

  Mail Order Meddler

  Mail Order Misfit

  Brides of Beckham 8-10 Box Set

  Mail Order Minx

  Mail Order Misfortune

  Mail Order Melody

  Anthology With Others (Including Mail Order Matron)

  Western Kisses

  Western Nights

  Dallas Billionaires Series

  Steven

  Justin

  Cody

  Stand Alone Books

  Dream Lover

  Making Me Believe

  All For Emma

  Making Deals

  Lies

  Suitors of Seattle

  Rose

  Lily

  Amaryllis

  Daisy

  Jasmine

  Hyacinth

  Violet

  Regencies

  Loving Lily

  Courting Constance

  Writing as Morganna Mayfair

  Thrice Blessed Trilogy

  Conquered

  Adored

  Stenwick Siblings Trilogy

  The Earl's Design of Love

  The Duke's True Love