A Bride in Store (25 page)

Not that Dr. Forsythe would try diagnosing much. He’d most likely just give her calomel to clean out her system.

Putting a writhing woman through such treatment seemed cruel. But maybe he shouldn’t favor the patient’s comfort over the accepted way of dealing with ill humors.

“No, absolutely not.” Hugh grew rigid in his seat. “Not after the way the man treated her last time. She’d rather me let her die.”

“Come now. If she were dying, you’d do anything to save her, wouldn’t you?”

“Is she dying?”

Will ran a hand through his hair. What if he was wrong? How could he face Hugh again? He’d had enough difficulty accepting his parents’ forgiveness after his arrogance resulted in his baby sister’s death and Nettie’s disability. They shouldn’t have forgiven him so easily.

However, he still needed to say what he thought correct. “Anything can turn worse unexpectedly. But right now, I figure she’s all right. But you might not want to trust my say-so since—”

“Forsythe’s being here won’t help. You’ve soothed her better in the last hour than either I or the maid.”

“Then I’ll stay and keep an eye on her.”

Hugh fidgeted.

“Unless you want me to leave?”

“No.” He held up his hand. “I was only concerned about you. Why don’t you hire a lawyer, sell that millstone of a store, and head to school?”

Will sighed. “Even if I retained a lawyer, I can’t profit one hundred percent from a store when Axel might have some debts that need to be paid.”

“But if he’s convicted, your percentage could be compromised too.”

Will rubbed his brow. “I know. I’ve already talked to a lawyer. The judge will most likely place an injunction on an auction until Axel is caught, so I can’t sell now. Even if I could pay a lawyer to try to win me full ownership, I have no money, just a failing store—and if he couldn’t win on my behalf . . . how would I pay him?” Will clasped his hands together. “I hope to make the store profitable enough to exit with the clothes on my back when Axel is caught and the place is sold. . . .”

Hugh grimaced and shook his head. “You wouldn’t be in this mess if you’d listened to me years ago.”

No doubt. But he’d not dwell on the
what if
s—better to focus on what he could do now.

Considering the poor choices he’d made, he deserved to lose everything. But now that he’d set the store to rights following Eliza’s suggestions, maybe he could earn enough to cover his school fees and pay for Axel’s misdeeds.

If
he had enough time. “I’m making improvements to the store, and pray—”

“I’m sorry, but if one more store comes into town, you’ll be sunk.” Hugh shook his head. “I’m afraid—”

“Water?” Mrs. Raymond twitched, and her hand snaked out to the edge of the bed.

Will grabbed the porcelain cup beside her, but Hugh stopped him.

“I know you said I shouldn’t sleep near her, but can’t I do this?”

“Of course.” Will’s heart twisted at the sight of the hard-nosed businessman sliding next to his wife’s sweaty form, pulling her into his arms, and kissing her bed-mussed hair. He’d seen heartfelt affection between his parents, but the longing to embrace a woman of his own consumed him as he turned his head away from the Raymonds.

Because the woman he envisioned in his arms was Eliza—a dream as far out of reach as his medical degree.

“Why don’t you go down the hall and get yourself bedding from the linen closet?” Hugh tipped his head toward Will. “I’ve sat in that chair. Deborah chooses furnishings because of their beauty, not their practicality.”

And that’s what his love for Eliza was. A love for a masterpiece, but an impractical relationship at best. She was too smart to marry a man who was as penniless as the day he was born.

Maybe the judge would allow him to sell the Men’s Emporium to Eliza, then he could go to school and come back for her. But she’d have to clean the butcher’s floor for many years before she had enough money to buy the store.

Why couldn’t Hugh have done something for her? Will’s shoulders slumped as he trudged from the room.

There was no reason to make her a partner, because she’d lose everything to Axel’s crimes as easily as he. She’d been hurt enough. He’d not set her up to fall victim to Axel again.

Chapter 17

Eliza rubbed the last streak off the glass display encasing her store’s stacks of patterned china. If she’d been anywhere close to heaven, it was here, standing in a gleaming showroom filled with goods of her choosing, arranged to her satisfaction.

Of course, she needed more merchandise and tables, but the rest of what she’d ordered would arrive soon. With no savings to help her recover if she had a month of poor sales, everything had to go as planned. Thankfully, Mr. Raymond had allowed her six months before her first payment on the inventory loan was due.

Leaving her apron behind, she stretched before heading out into the afternoon sunshine and end-of-day bustle. She breathed in the sudden gust of wind shooting in from the prairie and momentarily erasing the smell of horses and dank alleys.

Catty-corner across Main Street, Will passed near the butcher’s. Her heart pumped a bit harder at the sight of him. Since she’d skipped church the last two weeks while cleaning and preparing, she’d missed seeing him.

Surely God would forgive her for not attending church to be a good steward of the chance He’d given her.

Will about-faced past the butcher shop and then headed back in the direction he’d come from.

She waved. “Will!”

The woman passing by on the street looked up at her with a scowl.

Eliza lowered her arm and shrugged.

Will glanced over his shoulder before turning in to the butcher’s alley. Was he looking for her? It wasn’t Thursday. She’d hoped to have caught him last Thursday, but had gotten caught up polishing her store’s staircase spindles until her stomach insisted she go home to eat.

After locking the door behind her, she raced across the busy street but stopped short of the butcher’s alley to catch her breath. Using a window to redo her hair, she reined in her misbehaving tendrils, the pink scar taunting her. Had Will been wrong to promise it would fade with time?

She rushed around the corner and bumped into Will, their heads knocking together.

“Ugh.” Will winced and put a hand to his jaw. She pressed the heel of her hand against the throbbing in her brow.

“And I thought I liked your being tall for a woman.”

“Sorry.” But at least she’d caught him. By the chin no less. “Were you looking for me?”

“Um, well, just passing by.” He colored and rubbed his red neck. “How’s your head? I could escort you home and measure out something for the pain.”

“No need to bother. It’ll go away in a moment.”

“Oh.” He looked positively depressed that she hadn’t a headache.

So what if she’d decided weeks ago not to ask him to visit her more often? Why couldn’t she spend a little time with him before he found out she’d likely ruined his chances of getting to medical school anytime soon? “Perhaps you could check on Irena though? She hasn’t been feeling well.” Her own stomach
churned—but more from what she was keeping from him than any sickness she might have caught. “She felt well enough to get out of bed for a handful of days, but she retired to her room again this morning.”

“What’s her ailment?”

“She has a cold.” Eliza shook her head. “But she tells me it’s nothing but old age.”

“I’d have guessed with her joint pain she wouldn’t want to stay in bed too long.”

Exactly. “However, she doesn’t want you to come.”

He frowned, and she bit the inside of her cheek. Had that upset him? He claimed he didn’t want to be called on as a doctor yet, but maybe he had some doctoring pride after all.

“But if you walked me home and she didn’t greet you, that would naturally cause you enough concern to check on her, yes?”

“Yes, I believe so.” He smiled at her and held out the arm not carrying his medical box. “Shall we?”

She glanced back at her shop, not certain she should take his arm. Would Irena mention her store to him? Oh, the indecision . . . the indigestion. She tightened her stomach. Should she tell him? Would that make the inner roiling settle? It’s not like anything would change if she didn’t tell him—he’d just realize a few days later that she’d chosen to hurt him in order to help herself.

But a man could pick up and do whatever he wanted with no worry about his place in society, his ability to provide for and protect himself. Unlike a woman. How often did a lady alone, abandoned, without any family or nest egg to depend upon, get a chance to actually pull herself out of poverty without throwing herself at the marriage altar to anyone who’d have her?

And why did it bother her so much that she’d made the decision to chase her dream, so much that she feared telling him? This was a business decision—nothing more, nothing less.

The arm Will held out slumped. Eliza grabbed for his elbow before her hesitation made him pull it back. Would he enjoy having her on his arm if he learned her secret? “Yes, let’s go now.”

Keeping her gaze off the store as they passed, Eliza pressed a hand against the internal unease. No reason to cause Kathleen and Will extra days of worry—because nothing could be done to ease what she’d set in motion. She’d not announce the opening of the five-and-dime until it was perfect and ready for business. Will and Kathleen would find out about her venture along with everyone else in town.

But owning her dream store felt less wonderful each time she reined in her impulse to visit the Men’s Emporium and tell Will everything before opening day. If Will felt anything for an unattractive spinster like her, her owning a business that would kill his profits would douse any interest he had. Why not enjoy his polite attentions for a few more days?

“I haven’t seen you in church lately.”

She swallowed and forced herself to look up at him. “Busy cleaning.”

He tipped her a smile. “You’ve gotten that much work?”

She nodded and dropped her chin. “I’m glad you have the time to check on Irena.”

“You should know you can call on me any time.” His voice sounded slightly desperate, as if he wanted her to call on him every day. That couldn’t be true, could it?

Did he know his thumb was rubbing a lazy circle on her arm?

Will cleared his throat. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

When a minute of silence passed, she looked up at him again. His eyes were closed though he was still walking.

“About what?”

“Do you think I should go to school . . . no matter what I need to do to get there or how long it takes? Or do you . . . or would you rather I . . .” He huffed.

What was making him so tongue-tied? They’d discussed this plenty of times before. “Of course you should go to school. It’s where you’re meant to be.” Though her heart slowed at the contemplation of how long he’d be gone . . . and how long it would likely take him to get there now. “How many years is school?”

“Two or more. Longer if I have to work at the same time. And I don’t know when I’ll get there, since I decided it’s only fair to make sure Axel’s debts have been covered first.”

“How are Axel’s debts your responsibility?” If anyone shady knew how easily Will felt responsible for someone else’s problems, he’d get swindled more often than he already was.

“Considering you’ve been his victim, wouldn’t you be cross if I didn’t—” He jerked to a halt.

She faltered. “What’s wrong?”

He stared at the cedar shingle hanging on metal hooks beside the door of a white false-fronted building.
Doctor J. J. Benning
in hammered metal letters glinted in the sun.

How long did Will plan to stand there and stare? “Did no one tell you about the new doctor?”

“This changes everything.” His mouth went slack, and his shoulders fell. Pulling away, he clomped down the sidewalk as fast as the horse pulling a buggy beside them.

Though she was tall, the sea of petticoats around her legs nearly kept her from matching his stride. “Will?”

He didn’t seem to hear.

“Will, please slow down.”

Without breaking his pace, he raked the mess of hair from his eyes, yet his bangs flopped back once he let go. “He told me I’d have competition.”

“Who told you?”

He sped up again. “If I leave, I can’t come back.”

Her heart plummeted. He was leaving? Stupid heart, of course he was. And she wanted him to. At least she should, no matter how
she felt. “Don’t tell me you’re giving up on school because there’s another doctor in town.”

“I hadn’t figured on another doctor . . . or even more.” He stopped and pinched the bridge of his nose. “No wonder I get nowhere in business—I can’t think past today.”

She put her hands on her hips. “You’re not making any sense.”

“Of course I am.” He gestured toward her with his medical box. “You’re a smart businesswoman. You tell me what a new doctor in town means for me.”

Though the compliment should have warmed her, his scowl kept any blushing at bay. She put a hand to her chin, her thumb rubbing against the puffiness across her cheek. “Well, a new doctor would mean competition.”

“And if I left for two years . . . ?”

“He’d probably care for your patients.” She glanced back down the road toward the offending professional. She worked at the lump in her throat. “But you can’t predict everything. The population might grow more than expected.”

“No, don’t try to sugarcoat this. If I leave, I’m unlikely to find enough patients to keep me from needing a second job when I return—too much competition. And we both know how well I do at running a business.”

She quit biting her little pinkie nail. “Maybe Dr. Benning won’t last.”

“I can’t pin my hopes on somebody’s failure.” Will’s mouth twitched. “If he’s degreed, I’ll lose all my current patients to him, except family and friends.”

“Maybe he’s as arrogant as Dr. Forsythe.”

He pursed his lips. “Highly unlikely. Even so, what would keep another doctor from moving here to take his place while I’m gone?”

“So when you finish school—if Salt Flatts couldn’t handle another doctor—you’d not return? Even though your parents live
here?” She’d never see him again? She pulled at her lip with her teeth.