A Prescription for Love (11 page)

“Nine o’clock.”

“Oh my goodness. I had no idea.” She dreaded leaving the warmth and comfort of this home, this family. For a while she’d forgotten her troubles. Her illness, her parents hovering over her, Clarence waiting for her to fail so she would return to her cold life and enter into an even colder marriage.

Michael rose and headed toward the coat closet. “Ellie, I’ll drive you home. We can drop you off on our way to Heidi’s house.”

“I have my wagon, Michael, I can drop her off.” Rachel crooked her finger at her son, Zander, who played on the floor with Benjamin and a collection of soldiers.

“Thanks, anyway, Rach, I’ll ride with Michael.”

Laughter, and the sounds of departures, echoed in her ears as they all descended the steps.

“Come any time for a visit, Heidi. We’d love to have you.” Tori waved at her from the doorway secure in her husband’s strong arms. She giggled as he nuzzled her neck.

Tears threatened once more as Heidi climbed into the buggy. Maybe she’d have fared better not to see the love and happiness in Michael’s family. The life she faced held no appeal, a bleak and empty existence. Either she married Clarence and had a cold marriage, or spent the rest of her life alone.

She shook herself. No. She would have friends, and a job. Eventually, she would rent a house big enough for her, and decorate her home how she saw fit. Perhaps she would investigate the Women’s Rights group Ellie had made her promise to attend and become a member. Her health would improve and she would be strong, capable, like the women in Michael’s family.

Maybe then he’ll be attracted to me.

I have to curb my attraction to her.

Michael chastised himself as he pulled away from Ellie’s boarding house. His sister had reminded Heidi of her promise to attend a Women’s Rights meeting Tuesday night. While having a friend would be good for Heidi, why did that friend have to be his sister?

Because you introduced them, maybe?

Bringing Heidi to his family’s home had been a mistake. He’d noticed the glances exchanged between his sisters and Tori. He’d made it abundantly clear for years he had no intention of ever getting involved with a woman again. Truth be known, they had every right to speculate. He’d never brought a woman to his family home since he’d broken up with Alice years ago.

Heidi fit so well in his family circle. Everyone loved her—no surprise there—and she came across more calm and happy than he’d ever seen her. She sat next to him in the buggy, her hands relaxed in her lap. A slight smile graced her face, a picture of tranquility. He itched to stop the buggy, drag her over to him, and kiss her senseless.

As if she knew his thoughts, she peered at him. “You have a wonderful family.”

He grinned. “They were all on their best behavior today. We’re the same as any other family. We fight, we tease, but when the chips are down, we all stick together.”

“It must be nice to have brothers and sisters. And all those cousins.” Her eyes sparkled as she continued. “And your Aunt Tori and Uncle Jesse. They are so perfect together.”

“They weren’t always.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“At one time, back when they were first married, we all thought they would divorce.”

“Really?” Although rare, divorce did occur on occasion, although considered shameful to most people. “That doesn’t seem possible. I’ve never seen two people more in love.”

“It was a long time ago. I consider them very special people.”

“Your whole family is very special. You have no idea how lucky you are.”

He eased the buggy up in front of Mrs. Wilson’s house. All the tightly packed houses on this street were so different from the area they’d left behind. Small but comfortable residences, they were well kept and glowed with soft light while families talked and rested together.

Visions of his own house, now dark and cold with no one there to welcome him, sent a shiver down his spine. Then the image of Heidi, with an apron on, a stirring spoon in her hand, smiling as he entered the front door jolted him. The vision seemed so right.

Her clear blue eyes would sparkle as she leaned in for his kiss. She would drop the spoon on the table and her delicate fingers would slide through his hair as he dragged her close. Then after supper, they would walk arm-in-arm up the stairs to the bedroom. Once there, he would remove her clothes, slowly, piece by piece, relishing in her wondrous body. He would place his lips—

“Michael?” Heidi’s voice pulled him from his musings.

He turned, surprised to see her sitting next to him. Why wasn’t she waiting for him at home? “I’m sorry, I was woolgathering.”

She chuckled. “I do plenty of that myself at times. I wanted to thank you again for allowing me to share your family’s birthday celebration.”

He hopped from the buggy and lifted her down. “I’m glad you came.” He grinned. “I don’t know how happy I am to have Ellie take you under her wing, though.”

“I really like Ellie. And your sister, Rachel, too. And your Aunt Tori, and . . .”

He tapped her nose with his finger. “I get the idea.”

She stared at his face. “Does it hurt?” Slowly her fingers came up and traced the bruise on his jaw, then the cut on his lip.

“No.” He hardly recognized his voice.

“Are you going to tell me how you got your injuries?”

“No.”

“Why not?” she whispered.

Instead of answering, he tugged down her scarf and slowly lowered his head, until his lips were on hers. He cupped her face with his hands and took possession of her mouth. As his tongue slid along the line of her lips, she opened and her quiet moan as he circled her mouth and tangled with her tongue almost brought him to his knees. His nostrils filled with the scent of Heidi, her perfumed breath, her faint rosewater fragrance. The softness of her body against his hard bulk raised his temperature and stirred his manhood.

He curved his arms around her slim shoulders and lower back, drawing her closer. Somewhere in the back of his brain he remembered they embraced on the street, in front of her house. Her reputation would be ruined if anyone saw them. He leaned back and ran his knuckles down her cheek. “I’m sorry. Not for kissing you, but for not picking a more private place.”

Heidi’s breath came in gasps, but he didn’t think her problem stemmed from asthma. He arranged the scarf over her mouth to cover her kiss-swollen lips. “Is your breathing okay?”

She nodded, staring at him wide-eyed. He took her arm and they proceeded up the steps to the front door.

“Good night,” Heidi whispered before she moved to enter the house. He watched the door close, leaving him feeling as if a cloud had drifted in front of the sun.

Thankfully, Mrs. Wilson had retired for the night, leaving a lamp burning in the hall to light the way to the stairs. Heidi slowly took off her gloves, unwound the scarf, and shrugged out of her coat. The confusion with all the people at the Cochran house didn’t compare to her current bewilderment. Now that Michael had kissed her twice, what did it mean?

Clarence had never kissed her in such a way and Clarence was her betrothed. Or at least he thought they were still betrothed. She really had to straighten that out with him. Plain and simple. She had no intention of marrying Clarence Manfred. If no other man would have her—and right now her heart would accept only one—then she would become like Ellie and fight for women’s rights and attend meetings and have lots and lots of friends.

But what if she could have what she really wanted? Michael. As her husband, her friend, her lover. Even though no one heard her thoughts, she still felt the heat rise in her face at the idea of Michael as her lover. Clarence had made clear his lack of interest in her that way. But if Michael’s kiss indicated anything, perhaps she wasn’t so unappealing after all.

She picked up the lamp and carried it to her room. The mess of dresses still lay scattered on the floor, over the only chair, and on the bed. Wearily, she picked them up and hung them in the closet.

Even though she hadn’t been plagued with breathing problems all day, fatigue dragged her down. She splashed her face with the now cold water in the bowl on her dresser and, reaching for a towel, dried off. Next she undid her hair, brushed it, and re-braided the curls into a loose plait hanging down her back.

Her soft cotton nightgown felt good against her skin, touching parts of her body she’d never been aware of before. Parts that seemed to come alive with Michael’s kiss. Her mother had never addressed what happened between a man and a woman in the marriage bed because whatever mystery surrounded the occurrence would not be for her. At least not with Clarence, anyway.

Her fingers gently touched her nipple, and she jerked when a strange sensation raced from the tip of her finger to her woman’s core. She hurried into bed and eased the covers up to her shoulders, then rolled to her side, her hands together under her cheek.

Tomorrow being Sunday, she would not have to spend the day in the store with Michael, unsure how to act. Once more she came back to her initial question. Why did he kiss her again?

Chapter 10

On Sunday morning Clarence sat on the edge of the hotel bed, his aching head resting in his hands. Why did he drink so much whiskey last night? Tiny men with hammers had taken up residence in his head and the inside of his mouth reminded him of a wad of old, smelly cotton. His eyes stung, his stomach churned, but above all else he burned with hatred for Michael Henderson.

By the time he’d awoken yesterday, after his altercation with Henderson in the bar Friday night, the pharmacy had already closed. Why would they only be open half a day on Saturday? Once again, he found himself stuck in the miserable town of Guthrie with no idea of his fiancée’s whereabouts.

Frustrated, he had a bath and shave at the bathhouse, something to eat, and then headed to the Blue Belle Saloon.

The barbs he’d received from the men who’d been a witness to his disgrace the night before had been bad enough. Until several of Miss Lizzy’s girls had cheerfully informed him his nemesis had given his favorite whore money to leave town. She’d been packed and on the train within hours.

His stomach knotted. Given Heidi’s naivety, the stupid girl would imagine in no time that Henderson was some sort of god. A rescuer of women, a protector of the weak. The thought almost thrust him over the edge and emptying the contents of his already suffering stomach. If he didn’t force her away from here and that blasted store, his entire future could be in jeopardy.

She may have been elusive up till now, but Heidi Lester never missed Sunday worship. As much as it pained him, he needed to gather his strength, stand, wash up, dress, and head to church. He glanced at his timepiece. If he hurried, he could probably catch the Lesters and his mother before they left the hotel, and be viewed as the ever-faithful fiancé joining them for services.

Mr. Lester slapped him on the back as he approached them in the lobby of the hotel. “Manfred, good to see you, boy. We missed you last night, wanted to invite you to supper with us, but you’d already left your room.”

Clarence felt his brain slam against his skull. And the pain!

“Are you all right, Clarence? You look as if you’re getting sick.” His mother rested her palm on his forehead like he was a boy.

He yanked his head away. “I’m fine.”

She rose on her toes and examined his face. “You’ve been in a fight.”

Both Lesters turned at her words and studied him.

“No. Of course I wasn’t in a fight, Mother. I got up during the night and knocked into the dresser in the dark.” He grabbed her arm before she could say any more and escorted her to Mr. Lester’s rented buggy.

He would ensure his fiancée paid for all the misery she’d brought him. On the ride to church, his mother chatted on and on about some stupid play, and just in case he didn’t hear every boring word out of her mouth, she kept nudging him with her elbow in the side as she spoke. His headache had blown into epic proportions and the buggy ride churned his stomach, similar to a ship batted around in a sea storm.

Eventually they reached the church and Clarence hopped out before the buggy had barely stopped. He held out a hand to help his mother down while she still gabbed on about something else. Too bad it was generally frowned upon to shake one’s mother until her teeth rattled.

“Look, there’s Heidi.” Mrs. Lester hurried away from the group and joined her daughter at the entrance to the church. The women hugged and Mrs. Lester held her at arm’s length to run her gaze over the girl. She beamed with maternal love and pride. Clarence wanted to grab Heidi by the hair and drag her back to Oklahoma City. Instead, he planted a smile on his face as he approached mother and daughter.

He took Heidi’s hand and kissed it. “My dear, such a pleasure to see you.” As he released her hand, he noticed the absence of her engagement ring. Anger turned the sour stomach into a blazing furnace. What did the missing ring mean?

Mr. Lester took his daughter into his arms and hugged her while Mrs. Manfred patted her on the shoulder. They all acted as if she’d returned from the dead. The girl had done nothing but upset everyone’s life and create a nuisance for him.

“Are you getting enough to eat, dear?” Mrs. Lester frowned. “I think you’ve lost weight.”

“No, Mother. In fact I attended a birthday party yesterday, and ate so much I’m still full.”

“A birthday party?” Clarence smiled through a clenched jaw.

“Yes.” She faced her parents. “We should move inside. The service will begin shortly.”

A damn birthday party. She wasn’t in town long enough to know anyone, except Henderson. Had it been his birthday? Did he and Heidi go out on the town, drinking champagne and celebrating?

They took their places in a pew and removed gloves, unbuttoned coats, and picked up hymnals. Through some fast maneuvering, he’d managed to sit on the end, with Heidi next to him. He took her hand in his and leaned close to her ear. “Where is your engagement ring, dearest?”

Heidi shook her head and pointed forward where the preacher had stepped into the sanctuary. The organist began playing “Amazing Grace.”