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  The afternoon pressed on as he made his rounds of the few patients he needed to visit. He tried to give his undivided attention to each person as they deserved, but he found his mind returning again and again to the mystery woman and the little girl.

  “What’s ailing you today?” Mr. Hunter asked, as he peered over his spectacles at the doctor, making Wyatt’s face heat up.

  He tried for innocence. “I am feeling perfectly fit today, thank you for asking.”

  Mr. Hunter chortled. “That ain’t what I meant, and well you know it.”

  Wyatt’s face felt even hotter as he tried to brazen it out. “I apologize, sir, if I have not given you sufficient focus today.”

  “Get on with you, boy, that ain’t my concern. I jest thought you was troubling with something, and I was being neighborly. But if you don’t feel like sharing, I s’pose I’ll have to mind my own affairs.”

  Wyatt knew his face was aflame at this point and appreciated that the old codger before him didn’t laugh at his expense, despite the twitch of his lips. He made an effort to apologize again, but the old man brushed it away.

  “You were right, my thoughts are elsewhere today, but they seem to be muddled, and I wouldn’t be able to put them into words, even if I wanted to.”

  The older man finally seemed satisfied with this explanation, nodding sagely. “That happens to the best of us at times, young man, you needn’t be so embarrassed by it.”

  Wyatt flushed again, cursing his pale skin that gave away his every discomfort. But to his relief, the older man just chuckled. Closing his bag as he got to his feet and willing away his embarrassment, he cleared his throat and strived for a professional manner. “Your wound is healing nicely, Mr. Hunter. I should be able to remove the stitches the next time I stop in to see you.”

  This reminded the old man of his initial complaint. “I don’t see why you can’t do it now. Cursed stitches. I can’t do nothing with them in there.”

  “Well, it would be best if you don’t do much for at least a week or two even after their out, so with an attitude like you’ve got, I might have to leave them in a little longer than planned if you don’t plan to behave.”

  The disbelieving look on the oldster’s face forced a chuckle out of Wyatt.

  “You wouldn’t be so mean spirited, would you, Doc?”

  “See that you behave for the next couple of days, and we’ll discuss it when I see you again.”

  “Maybe I’ll hide the next time you call round,” Mr. Hunter muttered, forcing another chuckle from the doctor.

  “You could do that, but then what would happen with your stitches? And what if you were to develop an infection?”

  The older man paled at his words, making Wyatt regret them. “Never mind, Mr. Hunter. I will be back in a few days. You will be perfectly fine in the meantime. Just try to keep the bandage clean and dry, and everything will be fine, have no fear.”

  Wyatt tied his bag onto the back of his saddle and swung his leg over his sturdy horse, grateful for the animal’s steady personality. With how distracted he had been that day, he was lucky the horse hadn’t wandered away and gotten him lost. Thinking about his distraction led his thoughts back to the source of that distraction.

  The small child had seemed to be the picture of health. And her mother as well. The lovely color on her cheekbones proclaimed how well her blood was circulating from the rigors of their walk through town. The mother had been a little on the thin side, he mused, but the child had been exactly the right size for what appeared to be a five-year-old girl. He frowned as he thought a little more about the two strangers, wondering who they belonged to. He thought he knew everyone in the small town. Of course, the little girl had said they were new to town, but he wondered briefly which of the men they belonged to.

  The mother’s reception had certainly contrasted with the child’s until the girl realized he was a doctor. He wondered if he had guessed accurately about her age. Her face didn’t have a single wrinkle or line to mar its perfection, although her eyes had seemed shadowed, as though she had seen too much in her short years. Wyatt sighed. He could relate too well to that.

  Giving his head a shake, he tried to pull his thoughts away from woman and child. It wasn’t seemly to be thinking so much about some other man’s family. In his years as a doctor, it had never happened to him before, and he wouldn’t allow it to last for long. He urged his horse into a gallop, hoping the wind rushing by his ears would whisk away his troubled thoughts.

  He forced himself to consider the patients he had seen that day. He had made brief notes after each visit, but he really ought to write more details and plan what to do for each of them in the future. He was particularly concerned about Mrs. Jenkins’ boils. If she didn’t do a better job of keeping them clean, she was sure to get a terrible infection. He didn’t feel equipped to look after her properly in her home if that was to happen, but she had already been adamant about not wanting to visit him in his office. The poor old woman barely ever left her home. He would have to prevail upon her family members to help her out a bit more. That probably wouldn’t go over very well with Mrs. Jenkins, but it was entirely possible that her life was at stake, so there weren’t many options. He would rather suffer her anger than have her death on his conscience. But these thoughts brought him back to Mr. Hunter and his teasing when Wyatt’s mind had been occupied with the pretty young mother rather than where it ought to have been, with his patient.

  Wyatt was relieved when his house came into view. His chest swelled with pride whenever he looked at it. It was everything he had ever wanted in a house. Now all he needed to do was fill it with a loving wife and a few children, and his life would be complete. A vibrant, healthy wife, he reminded himself. One that would be able and happy to bear and raise his children. He shook the thoughts from his mind once more as he reached his small stable.

  After doing the necessary ministrations for his horse, he grabbed his bag and headed to the house. As he stepped into the front entrance, he paused when his eyes snagged on the small portrait of Patricia. His heart clenched at the familiar sight. He really shouldn’t have put it there. He should have left it in Boston with the rest of her things. But somehow that felt cold and heartless. One more thing to push to the back of his mind. He continued to the kitchen, dropping his bag by the table before going to the stove to boil some water. A good cup of coffee would fortify him to get through the rest of his paperwork for the day.

  ~~~

  “That sigh sure sounded heartfelt.”

  Katie smiled at her friend’s words. “Sorry, Mel. I’m feeling a little melancholy this evening.”

  “That’s nothing to be sorry for,” Mel replied. “Would you care to discuss it?”

  “There isn’t really much to discuss,” Katie began. “I spent the day with Annie today.”

  Mel’s steady, understanding gaze made Katie falter in her speech. Her throat clogged with the threat of tears, much to her disgust. She had given up on tears long ago. Katie swallowed hard to rid herself of the unwelcome sensation. Melanie hadn’t stopped watching her, so Katie felt obliged to continue.

  “Do you think they would let me keep her?”

  Melanie’s gaze didn’t falter even though her kind smile dimmed slightly. “They might, if the poor dear doesn’t get spoken for soon. But do you really feel that you’re in a position to care for her?”

  Katie looked around their small home. “Would you be willing to have her here? I know that would probably be asking too much of you. We’re a little cramped with Cassie here, too.”

  “I doubt Cass will be with us for too much longer,” Mel began, “but space isn’t really what I was concerned about. If it came to space, you could share your room with Annie, I would imagine. And she’s a sweet child. She wouldn’t be too much trouble, I’m sure. But you would have to be responsible for her expenses. I don’t know if either of us is fully prepared to provide for ourselves, let alone taking on responsibility for another. I’m
sorry to be cold about it, but I’m not prepared to take it on right now. I need to make sure I feel secure for myself first.”

  “No, no, Mel, I swear to you, I’m not asking for you to take on any responsibility, just as long as you would be willing to let me have her here. That, in itself, would be a big help.” She paused in thought for a moment before continuing. “It’s probably a foolish thought, but I just want it so much. I hope that isn’t selfish of me. I cannot say for sure if it is in her best interests for me to take her on. A child really ought to have a mother and a father. But surely I would be better than letting her languish in the hands of a custodian that I cannot say I am fully convinced even cares about the wellbeing of the children.” When it looked as though Mel was going to object, Katie hurried to continue. “Even Cassandra is concerned about the children.”

  Mel grinned. “Cass is a special case who has never witnessed the realities of life before, so she isn’t the most reliable of supports for your argument. But I don’t completely disagree with you. And I think Annie would be lucky to have someone as caring as you look after her. My only concern is that you haven’t yet established yourself here. I don’t think you could live with yourself if you took her on and then couldn’t provide for her.”

  Melanie’s kind tone threatened her emotional control again, and Katie frowned to push the feelings away. Perhaps she was foolish to even consider it. Mel’s concerns were valid. But the remembered feeling of holding the little girl’s hand and listening to her chatter made Katie feel distinctly that she needed to at least try.

  “I will see about putting up some sort of advertisements around town for our sewing and alterations. I haven’t seen too very many women around, but surely there must be a need for seamstresses in a town of this size.”

  “I actually have already found us one customer. I almost forgot to tell you. Mrs. Spencer. She helps her husband run the mercantile.”

  “Oh, I was in the mercantile this afternoon with Annie.”

  “Did you meet Mrs. Spencer?”

  “No, but her husband seemed like a nice enough man.”

  Mel grinned over Katie’s grudging tone, but chose not to comment. “Perhaps you were there at the exact time I was speaking to her,” she surmised. “She’s a lovely woman with the biggest, blonde, curly hair I have ever seen. She was telling me that with the growth of their business, she hasn’t the time to even think about doing any sewing herself but that she is in desperate need of several new articles. So we should get a fair bit of business from her. And she could end up being walking advertisement for us, seeing how visible she would be at the store.”

  Katie offered her friend a shrewd glance. “So you offered her a significant discount, didn’t you?”

  “Well, under the circumstances, it seemed wise. I would think we’ll be able to negotiate an arrangement with them for getting our supplies. And if she is happy with us, she will be eager to recommend us to her own patrons.”

  “You don’t need to convince me, Mel, I can see the wisdom in it. I just hope lots of business rolls in quickly so that I can speak with Mrs. Parker about Annie.”

  Mel’s smile returned to the understanding state that was grating on Katie’s nerves. “It’s a rather circular process, isn’t it?”

  Katie’s smile was rueful. “It would seem so.” She lapsed into silence for a moment before sighing again. “Well, we should have an idea soon how much business we are likely to get. I will have a word with Mrs. Parker tomorrow about whether or not they would even consider me. It would be better to know right off if it’s not even possible before I get my heart completely set on it, anyway.”

  “That sounds like the course of wisdom.”

  Mel’s sage tone brought a chuckle out of Katie.

  Katie got lost in thought for a moment as she reminisced about how far they’d come. It seemed like only yesterday they had met while volunteering at the Foundling Hospital in New York City. It was hard to believe it had been two years already. In some ways, it felt like only days had passed. In other ways, it was a different lifetime. Their volunteer work with the orphans had seen them escorting groups on the train out to farm towns to be adopted. Mrs. Parker, the director of the orphanage, was a wonderful older woman, who seemed impervious to the emotional toll it was taking on some of the younger women. Katie and Melanie hadn’t been able to do it any longer and had decided to stay in the town when they brought this latest batch of orphans to their new lives. It had been the best decision either of them had ever made.

  Chapter Three

  W hile Katie hadn’t originally planned on joining Melanie in the sewing business, they had quickly decided it would be for the best when things had settled down soon after they had arrived in Bucklin. Katie had thought she was going to be the town’s new teacher, but when that opportunity disappeared, Mel had offered a partnership. It was turning out to be for the best. Melanie did not enjoy dealing with the clients, and Katie found that she really enjoyed it. And they both enjoyed the work. Doing it together was just that much more fun.

  Mrs. Spencer was a dream client. Not overly demanding but knew exactly what she wanted, generous in her praise, and generous in her placement of orders as well. They were kept busy with all the items she was requesting. At first, Katie wasn’t happy about the discount they had offered her, but Mr. Spencer had been generous in the discount he offered them on their materials, so it was all working out well. Mrs. Spencer was so pleased with her new clothes that she took to wearing them immediately and was quick to tell everyone where they had come from. Before they knew it, the two women were almost overwhelmed with business. Katie had to work to keep the grin on her face within bounds as she set out to visit another potential client to discuss what she was looking for and to see if they could agree on service.

  Katie visited with Annie regularly. She was torn between considering it a risk for the child to become attached to her rather than her potential future parents and the sadness of leaving the poor child to languish on her own without any special adult attention. Mrs. Parker hadn’t expected it take so long to find someone to take the youngster, and was itching to return to New York.

  “You can be sure I’ll not encourage Mr. Brace to be sending girls out here in the future. She is a dear, but if she cannot be placed, there’s no sense in sending any more out this way. We’ve never had this kind of trouble in other towns or cities before,” Mrs. Parker had mused. “I wonder if it’s just a strange coincidence or if it’s how far west we are. Being a bit more primitive, maybe they just don’t see how much of an asset a daughter can be.”

  “And the town will eventually need women for all the men these boys are going to grow up to be,” Katie added with a smile as she watched Annie playing. They were keeping their voices low, not wanting the little girl to overhear their discussion. “I do hope you can find a nice family for her soon.”

  “Me, too,” Mrs. Parker’s agreement was heartfelt. “If she were a boy, I’d leave her for Mr. McDonald to care for and be on the next eastbound train, but I just cannot leave her with him on her own. I’m not even comfortable with the man, let alone leaving a little girl in his care.”

  Katie chewed her lip as she thought of the burly placement manager and how unsuitable it would be to leave the little girl with him. “You could always let me adopt her.” It wasn’t the first time she had brought this up.

  She hated the pitying look Mrs. Parker cast her way. “You know Mr. Brace is particular about the children going to families, Katie. You’re a dear for caring about her, but you must see that it would be better for her to join a family.”

  “I do see that, but if there isn’t a family for her, I’m better than letting her languish alone or taking her back to the orphanage, aren’t I?”

  Mrs. Parker patted her hand. “Katie, dear, you are lovely, and it is certainly not anything personal. I would give her to you in a heartbeat if you had a husband.”

  Katie grimaced at the words, making Mrs. Parker smile in
response. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll telegraph Mr. Brace and ask him for a decision. If we don’t have a family for little Annie soon, I think you’re right. It would be much better for her to be with you than for her not to have anyone.”

  Admonishing herself not to get her hopes up, Katie nodded and thanked the woman. “I’ll be around again tomorrow, but I ought to get on with my appointments. Thank you for your diligence on behalf of the children, Mrs. Parker.”

  “Well, how sweet of you to say that, Katie. And thank you for your constant care of the little ones. Good day, Mrs. Carter.”

  Katie was surprised that the older woman had resorted to formalities but then realized that the manager, Mr. MacDonald, had entered the room. She couldn’t grow comfortable with the man.

  “Mr. MacDonald, good day,” Katie acknowledged, as she left the room with a small nod. Brief but polite. Since she was trying to gain custody of the little girl, it wouldn’t do to offend the placement manager, no matter how incompetent he seemed to be.

  She wondered briefly if she should write to Mr. Brace herself. She didn’t want to speak ill of the placement manager, but she wondered how hard Mr. MacDonald really was working to find homes for the orphans Mr. Brace’s Children’s Society was sending out west. Katie knew the warm-hearted philanthropist would be incensed to learn someone he trusted was failing in his duties to the children. But on the other hand, she wanted Annie for herself, and if Mr. MacDonald’s incompetence made that possible, she wasn’t about to complain.

  Katie made her way through her day’s activities in a bit of a daze. She was making every effort not to get her hopes too high that she would be allowed to keep Annie, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. She tried not to betray her rising excitement as she visited a potential client. It took effort to focus her attention on the matter at hand. She wasn’t experienced enough as a seamstress not to have her mind on the subject and needed to concentrate to make sure she fully understood what the woman was looking for. Thankfully, the potential client was a kind, middle-aged woman who hadn’t had a new frock in a few years and was delighted with whatever Katie had to suggest. And she had seen Mrs. Spencer’s new clothes and wanted some for herself, so she was already prepared to pay whatever price Katie and Melanie named. They didn’t want to take advantage of their new neighbors’ desperation but they had agreed to reasonable prices that would support them comfortably without having to work all hours of every day.