Ginny Aiken (12 page)

A flurry of feathers from the box near the cookstove drew her attention. The picnic basket Amelia had tried to pilfer sat nearby, filled with potatoes and onions from the Millers’ farm.

Letty held her breath, pleased at the thought that came to her. She flew around the kitchen, gathering treasures for the Pattersons. Potatoes, onions, a loaf of fresh bread, apples, cabbage, a dozen eggs, and a dressed chicken went into the large hamper. This time, she had no intention of waiting for Amelia to appear.

This time Letty was going for Suzannah.

In her gray wool cape, and with a thick charcoal scarf around her head, Letty hefted the basket onto her right arm. She went
out and turned the small clinic sign from OPEN to CLOSED. With a lilt in her step, she crossed the slushy street, then used the walk that led to the Silver Creek Church manse.

After a brief consultation with Mrs. Stone, she got directions to the Patterson home.

“It’s not a nice place,” the pastor’s wife warned.

“That’s why I’m on my way there. Five of God’s babies live in that awful place.”

When she’d traveled the three-quarters of a mile Mrs. Stone had instructed, Letty saw what she feared was the Patterson place. The dilapidated structure reminded her of a smile turned upside down, its corners bowed under the weight of neglect. Whitewash had long ago peeled off from the walls, and the railing drooped around the porch in stops and starts.

The scrawniest dog she’d ever seen howled at her, and only then did she notice the familiar black buggy, its team of mares tied to a spindly tree. Her foolish heart picked up its rhythm a beat or two.

An irritating thought crossed her mind. Last night Eric had said the Pattersons were more than one person could handle. Had he made another decision as to what she ought to undertake? Had he decided to take them on to keep her from shouldering the burden he considered too great for her?

She’d chosen her career over a more conventional life, and she’d taught herself to cope with anything that came her way—on her own. If Eric insisted on making choices for her, she’d soon give him a newsworthy headline: There is little Letitia Morgan can’t do.

Before she reached the rickety front steps, the door opened and Eric stepped onto the porch. Letty’s breath caught when she saw the gleam of sunlight in his hair. The man was far too handsome for her own good.
Oh, honestly, Letty
. After yesterday, she had no reason to harbor such foolish thoughts.

Peering into the shadows beyond the doorway, she saw
Caroline with Willy at her hip. When Eric turned to leave, he spotted Letty.

She waved. “Caroline, I brought a basket of food. Amelia hasn’t been by for a few days, and I had some items you might enjoy.”

She started up the steps, holding the basket out to the girl, but Eric blocked her way. “If it isn’t the ministering angel of Hartville, Colorado.”

“Th—thank ye, Dr. Miss,” Caroline said when Eric handed her the hamper.

“You’re most welcome, dear.” Letty smiled. Then, loath to leave without accomplishing her purpose, she asked, “Is everyone well?”

Caroline nodded and hitched the baby higher.

“Good-bye, Caroline,” Eric said, heading down the steps again. “Allow me to offer you a ride back to town, Dr. Morgan.”

Letty pulled out of his reach before he took her elbow. She feared she wouldn’t have been able to stop a recurrence of yesterday’s heat had she allowed the contact.

A scowl marred Eric’s features, broadcasting his displeasure at her evasion. It suited her quite well if he thought her rude. At least he wouldn’t think her a desperate spinster.

She squared her shoulders. “I came for a walk, Mr. Wagner, and I will continue my walk.”

The normal curve of his mustache flattened as he clamped his lips. To her surprise, he said nothing more.

She waved to the children who filled the doorway, irritated that Eric had thwarted her plan to find Suzannah, and then she marched away from the attractive man grinding his teeth in obvious annoyance.

“Good day, Mr. Wagner.”

Eric fumed all the way home. Would that woman ever listen to reason? He’d tried to warn her, but had she listened?

Not at all. First, there was that business with the “soiled dove,” and now she’d denied herself in favor of feeding the Patterson brood.

He’d been seeing to the children’s needs since their mother died. Quietly, without fanfare. Then Dr. Letitia Morgan flew into town and began ruffling to rights every wrong she found. The doctor seemed compelled to heal every wound society bore. She was stubborn, too. Irritated, he tugged on the reins, urging the horses on.

At home, he tore off his overcoat and flung it onto the table in the entry. Marmie’s welcoming meows went unattended, as did her habit of weaving in and out between his legs. Inevitably, he stepped on a paw, and her yowl spoke of injured sensibilities as well as a sore foot.

“Sorry,” he muttered, conceding he was a sorry sight indeed. Letty was wreaking havoc in his life, and, fool that he was, he wished he had the right to let her turn it inside out.

But he couldn’t pursue the attraction between them; a door in his house served as a reminder, a door he hadn’t opened in two years. The door hid the memory of his most poignant wishes, his most tender dreams. The door belonged to the room that would have been his son’s.

Baby Karl.

Eric had failed his son before the child even drew breath, before he knew the sweetness of light, of life.

He had to stifle the feelings between Letty and him; they couldn’t take root and grow. Weak as he was, he had to find the strength to fight his soul-deep need for love.

Letty couldn’t wait for the church social. She hoped the evening would offer the opportunity to make new friends who
might fill her time and thoughts. Maybe then she’d stop thinking of Eric.

Late Friday afternoon, she took a watered-silk dress in rosy plum from her trunk. She’d taken great care packing it; it scarcely needed a touch with the iron.

Spreading the garment across her bed, she remembered Mother insisting she have the dress made. Letty rarely indulged in frivolous luxuries, and although her serviceable skirts and shirtwaists suited her most of the time, tonight was a special occasion. Letty reveled in the beauty of plum silk and cream brocade.

She bathed in the large enameled tub in the lean-to off the kitchen. After the soak in violet-scented water, she dried off and donned her only corset. Though she abhorred the contraption, Letty had enough vanity to want the smallest waist possible for her beautiful gown—even if it did take contortions to lace up the corset.

She faced the looking glass over the washstand to do her hair. She piled the curls in a soft arrangement on the crown of her head, golden strands catching the lamplight and sparkling among the deeper brown. The rich plum of her dress set off her fair skin and reflected rose onto her cheeks. Behind her, the softer pinks and whites in the room offered her a perfect background.

Tonight, in this beautiful dress, Letty’s plain, gray eyes looked almost silver. Yes, indeed, the spinster doctor looked anything but dowdy tonight. Letty refused to acknowledge the reason for her excitement. As she flung her cape over her shoulders, she picked up a pretty beaded reticule.

She went straight to the fellowship hall at the church and hung her cape on the hall tree by the door. Happy chatter drew her inside.

The noise and bustle momentarily stunned her. Large lamps illuminated the room, and ladies in colorful clothes flitted like
butterflies. In contrast, dark jackets lent the men a stark elegance. Clusters of folks leaned close to carry on conversations, and the perfume of food enticed a grumble from Letty’s neglected belly.

“Letty!” Randy’s soprano soared over the chatter. Her friend’s copper-colored hair reflected the light of the lamps. Oblivious to the people milling about, she cut a path to Letty. “You’re finally here!”

Letty laughed. “Finally, Randy? I’m not even late.”

Randy waved the comment aside. “I’m just so very happy to see you looking so lovely. That color is marvelous. You look more regal than England’s Queen Victoria.”

Letty glanced down. “My dress is nice, but I’m too small to manage regal.”

Tugging her friend along, Randy waded through the sea of people. “I’ve heard say Her Majesty is tiny, just like you, and I think you should always wear that shade. It makes your skin glow.”

Letty blushed. “Perhaps what you see is the lamplight on my skin.”

Then Randy stopped. Letty plowed into her back. She peeked around her friend and gasped.

Eric.

“Well, now,” Randy said, “we can get another opinion. Don’t you agree, Eric, that our doctor looks lovely tonight?”

Letty fought to keep from melting into a puddle of mortification. Eric, in a coffee-colored suit, stood before them, more handsome than ever. His jacket set off the crisp white of his shirt, a precisely knotted brown silk tie kept the shirt’s high collar closed, and in the lamplight his hair gleamed like old gold in contrast to his dark eyes—eyes fixed on her.

Letty’s cheeks blazed, and she studied her hands.

The moment lengthened. The hubbub faded. When Eric didn’t respond, Letty wondered if Randy’s question had offended
him. Had he perhaps walked off? She looked up and wished she hadn’t.

She caught his gaze.

Letty’s middle fluttered. Heat wove through her veins. Then a titter to her right broke the spell.

She glanced at Randy, embarrassed by her lack of control. The expression on the redhead’s face made Letty again wish she’d kept her gaze fixed on the floor. Randy smiled gleefully at Eric and then at Letty, an almost parental pride on her features. Letty wanted to run back home.

“Well?” Randy asked again. “Isn’t Letty lovely?”

Eric hadn’t realized he’d been staring at Letty, but dressed like this she was a revelation. Her wholesome prettiness had appealed to him from the first. Tonight, though, her simple freshness had given way to stunning femininity.

She’d piled her dark hair high on her head, and her cheeks echoed the rose of her gown. He closed his eyes and shook his head in an effort to dispel the effect of her beauty. When he looked at her again, her gray eyes gleamed like silver, and he feared he might drown in their molten depths.

“Without a doubt, you’re an exquisite sight,” he finally said.

She looked away. “Thank you.”

“Well,” Randy chimed in. “Douglas seems to be looking for me. Enjoy yourselves!”

She dashed away, mischief in her green eyes.

Just wait until I catch up with Douglas Carlson,
Eric thought.
I’ll give the lawyer an earful about his wife’s latest prank.

Letty took a step away, and without thought, he caught her hand. “Please don’t go. It is a pleasure to see you tonight. You look lovely.”

Letty nodded but avoided his gaze. Again without thought,
Eric reached out and lifted her chin with his other hand. She blushed a deeper shade.

“Randy’s tactics can irritate,” he added, hoping for a response. Unable to stop himself, he caressed the velvet curve of Letty’s jaw. She trembled, and he couldn’t help but think how different she seemed tonight. Letty was an intriguing mix of contrasts—medical practicality mixed with elegant femininity.