He frowned at the actions of the man she’d identified as her employer. She hadn’t been here long enough for him to be so protective. What did that mean? Best to convince her to return home before Mr. Henderson staked a claim. Although with her illness and delicate frame, he couldn’t imagine any man seriously considering her worth his attentions.
“Ready for a little fun?” The young whore sashayed over, one slim hand resting on her hip. Although barely out of the school room, her eyes were as old as time. As long as she willingly sold her young, lush body, he didn’t really give a damn.
He grinned. “Sure, honey. You gonna show me what that poker player got a peek at?” Pushing away from the bar, he strolled up to her.
“That and lots more.” She turned and headed for the stairs, her hips swaying. Clarence joined her, the whiskey bottle clutched tightly in his hand.
****
Heidi put the finishing touches on her hair, adjusted the barrettes holding her unruly blonde curls off her face, and stared in the hall mirror. She pinched her cheeks to add some color, and then bit her lips. Hurrying from her bedroom, she chided herself. Michael didn’t care what she looked like. She felt grateful he kept her on. Between her asthma, and the interruptions yesterday from Clarence and his mother, he could have easily dismissed her.
Mrs. Wilson had given her permission to use her kitchen, where she’d made coffee and oatmeal with bits of raisins and brown sugar. Right here sat the proper breakfast she’d promised Michael. Even though her stomach fluttered with excitement, making her wonder if she could even eat, she’d made enough so they could share breakfast. Her face flushed. Had she been too forward? Would he think badly of her? Before she could talk herself out of it, she screwed the lids on the jars with the coffee and oatmeal. Then she wrapped a tea towel around each one to keep them warm, tucked them carefully in her shopping bag, and headed to the door.
Bright sunlight warmed the cold, crisp air. She’d never been to Guthrie before her adventure. In fact, she hadn’t been anywhere. Mother and Papa always told her travel would damage her lungs. Now as she hurried to work, clutching her precious bundle, she admired the new buildings and numerous businesses. As she passed the brand new library, she promised herself to obtain a library card−her very own, not Mother’s−and borrow some books to read in the evenings.
She hurried around to the back door of the store, and entered the small kitchen. She poked her head around the curtain.
“Good morning.” Michael waved in her direction as he removed the dust covers from the counters. Heidi wanted to surprise him, so after returning the greeting, she let the curtain float closed. She quickly hung her coat and scarf, and hunted through the cabinet above the small refrigerator for two bowls and two cups.
Once Heidi poured the coffee and dished out breakfast, she ran her sweaty palms down the front of her dress, and searched for Michael.
“I have a surprise for you.” The excitement affected her breathing, so she slowed her steps as she walked toward him.
Michael smiled. “What surprise?”
“I made breakfast.” Her heart beat so fast, he must have heard it.
“You did?” His eyes sparkled.
She nodded, and ran her tongue around her dry lips.
“Well, let’s have breakfast.” He held his arm out, and she giggled as she placed her arm in his. Feeling much better at his reaction, she took a deep breath as he escorted her to the back area.
“I made oatmeal and coffee.” She waved her hand over the table, willing her heart to slow down.
He pulled out her chair, and then took his own.
“I made the coffee differently than you do. Tell me if you like it.” She twisted her hands in her lap as he took a sip.
“Delicious,” he said after he took a large swallow. “The best coffee I’ve ever had.”
For the most bizarre reason, Heidi felt tears rush to her eyes. Michael had made her feel good about herself more times in the last two days than everyone else in her entire life.
He took a mouthful of the oatmeal and moaned. “This is wonderful. You are truly a good cook.”
She continued to stare at him until he pointed at her bowl with his spoon. “You need to eat, too.”
“Oh, yes. Of course.” Heat rose to her face. The man seemed able to fluster her so easily.
****
Michael called Heidi over to where he worked on prescriptions. The store stood empty, a good time to discuss her asthma.
“I spoke with Dr. Kane last evening. He agreed Belladonna would be a good treatment for you.”
“What is Belladonna?” She wanted to know.
“A plant. I’m fixing a mixture for you, and when you have an asthma attack, deposit a pinch into a bowl of boiling water, much like I did the other night, and inhale the fumes.”
“How does Belladonna work?”
Michael tapped out the yellowish-brown powder from the small marble bowl, into a clean jar. As he tightened the lid, he said, “The medicine works to stop the spasms that cause wheezing.” He handed the jar to her and leaned on the counter, his arms crossed. “Treatment with Belladonna isn’t a cure, as I told you, but it will help when you have attacks.”
Heidi nodded. “Do you think one day there will be a cure?”
“I don’t know. I hope so, though.” He tucked a curl behind her ear that had come loose from her bun.
What am I doing?
He quickly stood and slid his hands into his pockets. “One thing I think would help you, is to keep a journal.”
“A journal?”
“Write down your mood, what you eat, where you go. You may begin to see a pattern of when your asthma is at its worse. We already know night air isn’t good for you, or very cold air. I suspect stress may be a factor, also, but if you keep a journal, knowing your daily routine may help.”
His stomach clenched as his gaze met hers. The promise he’d made to himself still stood. After his debacle with Alice years ago, he’d decided to stay as far away from women who represented forever as he could get. Miss Heidi Lester definitely stood among the forever women. Best to keep their relationship on an employer, employee basis. She could easily suck him into something dangerous.
“I’ll do that.” Heidi picked up the jar and smiled.
He breathed a sigh of relief as the front door opened, diverting his attention from her smooth skin, huge blue eyes, and pouty lips. Everything about her tempted him to wrap his hand around the back of her neck, and pull her in close for a kiss.
Clarence Manfred led the parade of his mother and an older couple. Michael took no time figuring out the woman with the pale blonde hair and blue eyes, racing toward Heidi with her arms extended, was her mother.
“Heidi!” The woman bolted around the counter, grabbed the girl, and hugged her close. “You scared us to death. Are you crazy coming here? Where are your things? Papa and I will see you home as quickly as possible.” She felt her forehead, then held Heidi at arm’s length, and ran her gaze over her. Next, she pulled her in for another hug.
The older man glared at Michael with a frown. “I demand to know why you have allowed by daughter to work here. She is a sickly girl, and cannot possibly stand the strain of a job.”
Michael sighed and ran his fingers through is hair. He stuck his hand out toward the man. “I’m Michael Henderson.”
The man studied his hand for a moment, then shook it. “Harold Lester.” He didn’t look too pleased to have given his name.
“I told you she had a job.” Clarence stepped forward and attempted to disengage Heidi from her mother. She wasn’t having any of it.
“My poor little girl. We must pack up your things and return home before you have a breathing attack. What were you thinking?”
“She wasn’t thinking. That’s her problem.” Mr. Lester added, his face flushed.
Heidi glanced sideways at Michael and his jaw clenched. If ever a look said ‘please rescue me’ Heidi’s face did. Why should he
involve himself in her mess? Maybe going home with her parents would be for the best. The Lesters seemed to genuinely care about her, albeit to an extreme. Then he caught the tears in her pleading eyes, and he was finished.
“All right, I suggest everyone calm down. Miss Lester and I were about to lock up the store, so if you allow us to finish, she can join you.”
“Sir, my daughter will not continue to work another minute. You probably are not aware, but she is not of robust health. She could have an attack any moment, and it would be your fault!” Heidi’s mother had wrapped her arm around her daughter’s shoulders and did not look like she would let go.
“Mrs. Lester, Mr. Lester,” Michael nodded in their direction. “I am fully aware of Heidi’s condition. We were discussing the very same thing as you arrived. Now I ask you, please, this store is a place of business, and whether you agree or not, Heidi is my employee, and she has work to do. I assume you’re staying at the Saratoga Hotel?”
Mr. Lester nodded stiffly.
“It would be best if you all returned to the hotel, and wait. If you are truly concerned about her health, you must know stress is not good for it.”
Mrs. Lester touched her nose with a handkerchief and sniffed. She hugged Heidi once more. “We will be in the hotel lobby. I expect you to be there as soon as this,” she glared at him, “man, allows you to leave.” She turned and marched to the door, with her husband and Mrs. Manfred following.
Clarence lingered. “Heidi, you know I want nothing more than for you to be happy. Working in a shop is not good for you.”
Heidi finally found her voice. “Clarence, please, do as Mr. Henderson said and wait for me at the hotel.”
He kissed her hand, and shot Michael a scowl as he left behind the others.
“I’m so, so sorry.” Heidi’s voice shook as she turned to Michael.
He placed his hands on his hips and shook his head. “Let’s close up, and we’ll talk before you meet them.”
Heidi nodded and opened the cash register to count the money while Michael placed the dust covers on the counters after locking the door and hanging the closed sign. His mind was in a whirl. She was his employee, not his ward. He attempted to push the image from his mind of how she looked at him over her mother’s shoulder. Defeated. And it tore at him. But she wasn’t his responsibility.
Twenty minutes later, he and Heidi stood in the back room. The bank deposit had been tabulated, dust covers protected the counters, and the lights had been extinguished.
Michael helped Heidi on with her coat. “What do you want to do?” He didn’t mean for his voice to come out quite so gruff, but emotions coiled his stomach.
She jerked her head, and met his gaze. “I want to work. I want to be normal. Furthermore, I don’t want to marry Clarence Manfred.” Shaky fingers fastened the buttons on her coat.
Against his better judgment, he tucked her always-loose curl behind her ear. “If you can say that to me, why can’t you tell your parents?”
Her eyes filled again. “You don’t understand. I’ve never gone against their wishes. Papa assured me for years they did everything in my best interests. Now I’ve discovered there is a treatment I can use.” She held up her hand. “I know it’s not a cure, but if I use the medicine, I can be like everyone else for the first time in my life.” With her hands wringing her purse, she added, “Can’t I?”
“As I told you, I’m not doctor, but I know many people who live normal lives with the treatments available.”
“What should I do?” Her voice came out strained.
“I can’t tell you what to do, but I can suggest something.”
The hopeful look on her face did him in. Like it or not, he felt more for her than a boss for his employee. “Convince your family to allow you to try the asthma treatment, see how it works for you. Have them talk to Dr. Kane if you think that would ease their minds. ”
Heidi took a deep breath. “Will you come with me to the hotel?”
He stood on a precipice, about to fall. The best thing would be to persuade her to deal with her problems herself. Then his life could continue the way it had been for years. Comfortable, lonely.
Where did that come from?
His heart couldn’t handle the chance of getting any more involved with her.
Michael drew himself up, determined to end her dependency on him right here, right now. Then his mouth opened and he heard himself say, “All right. I’ll go with you.”
Chapter Five
Clarence held the door for the Lesters and his mother to enter the lobby of the Saratoga Hotel. His initial relief when he’d met Mr. and Mrs. Lester at the train station had slowly evaporated when Heidi defied her parents−with the help of that shopkeeper−and didn’t immediately leave. What did the lackwit girl think? And why did Henderson insinuate himself into her personal business, anyway?
“Here we are. Let’s sit over there, where we can have some privacy.” He indicated a small grouping of chairs close to the blazing fireplace.
The group settled themselves, with Mrs. Lester clutching her husband’s hand as she dabbed at her eyes with the other hand. Mr. Lester patted her distractedly.
“I still cannot believe my daughter is working as a shop girl!” Mr. Lester fumed.
“She obviously has had some type of breakdown or brain fever.” Clarence leaned forward, his elbows on his bent knees.
Mr. Lester freed his wife’s hand and stood, pacing in front of the group. “What I don’t understand is why she wants to jeopardize her health.”
Mrs. Manfred drew herself up, two red dots gracing her rounded cheeks. “You must demand the girl return home. It’s plain she’s not thinking clearly, and as long as she’s under the influence of that store keeper, she won’t ever come to her senses.”
Mr. Lester turned to Clarence. “It’s your responsibility as her betrothed to assist her mother and me in getting her out of here as quickly as possible.”
“I’ve tried.” Clarence gulped at the anger in Mr. Lester’s tone. “Henderson seems to have a grip on her. The longer she stays there, the more difficult we’ll find it to persuade her to do the right thing. The girl has taken leave of her senses.”
Mrs. Lester sniffed into her handkerchief. “I want my little girl back. I don’t know her anymore. Leaving home with merely a curt note, and then taking a job. A job! And to ignore our request to return with us is not like her.” Spent, she cried daintily into her handkerchief. Mr. Lester once again sat next to her and patted her hand.
“What we need is a plan,” Clarence said. “When she arrives, I’ll escort her to dinner and show her how foolish this whole thing is. Her health is more important to me than anything else in the world.”
With his declaration ringing in their ears, he stood and adjusted his jacket. “I’m not waiting for her to come to us. I’ll go to the store now and insist, as my betrothed, she come to dinner with me.” He nodded in the Lesters’ direction. “Have no fear, Harold, Mary. I guarantee she will be fully packed and on the train first thing tomorrow.”
Before anyone said a word, he strode from the hotel in the direction of the drug store. With all Heidi’s nonsense, the little idiot cut into his time with the young whore he’d promised to visit tonight. After checking his watch, he determined it was early enough to see Heidi fed, convinced to leave, and back to her room to pack. The whole thing should be resolved in less than an hour. Still plenty of time for his late night activities.
The drugstore had been locked up tight, the closed sign reflected under the street light. Where the hell did Heidi and that shopkeeper go? She’d promised to meet them at the hotel after the place closed. If she was on her way there, they would have met. Damn the girl! Now he had to spend time looking for her. If her father’s businesses weren’t dangling in front of him like a delectable carrot, he’d skip the whole debacle and catch the train back home.
****
Michael held out the chair for Heidi to sit. The Harvey House, newly bu
ilt along with the new train station, had already attracted quite a supper crowd. Harvey Girls, dressed in their uniform of a dark wool dress with a long white apron, rushed to and fro between the kitchen and the tables, carrying beverages and plates of food. The aroma of beef stew and fresh baked bread caused Heidi’s stomach to growl.
Except for the unpleasantness awaiting her back at the hotel, she enjoyed her meal and the time with Michael. She chided herself in her foolish adoration of him, and how she thought of him as her knight in shining armor. But until Michael, no one had ever come between her and her parents’ dictates before, and she cherished that. Clarence had always sided with them, enforcing their restrictions, and constantly reminding her of her shortcomings.
He peered at her over the white and black menu. “What looks good to you?”
“Everything.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Good. You need to add a few pounds.”
Was he criticizing her? Or had she become too sensitive? The sparkle in his eyes told her whatever he meant, he didn’t disapprove of her. She sighed with relief. Then chastised herself for depending too much on other’s opinions. First her parents, then Clarence, and now Michael. She had to learn to be her own person.
“Good evening. My name is Miss Madeline, and I will serve you tonight. Have you decided what you want?” The young waitress, with wavy brown hair pulled back into a hairnet-covered bun, smiled as she spoke to them.
“Heidi?” Michael looked in her direction.
“I’ll have the lamb stew, please. The dish sounds wonderful. And a glass of milk.”
The girl wrote on her pad. “That’s a good choice. I had a bit of the stew myself for dinner.” She glanced in Michael’s direction. “And you, sir?”
“I’ll have the same thing. Miss Lester is right, it does sound wonderful.”
A Prescription For Love: An Oklahoma Lovers book Page 4
