A Prescription for Love (13 page)

What in heaven’s name troubled Heidi? Distinctly skittish today, every time he glanced in her direction, she turned her head. If he moved near her, she moved away. She answered all his questions with either a nod or one word. Yet, her demeanor hadn’t changed with the customers, so whatever the trouble, it had something to do with him.

The kiss.

The chatter of women’s voices led Heidi from the front door of the Guthrie Library to the Women’s Rights meeting. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she surveyed the crowd. Women of all ages in colorful dresses and elaborate hats sat in rows, talking and laughing with each other. Some appeared younger than her, and others could be her grandmother. She was somewhat surprised to see several men scattered throughout the assembly.

Suddenly nervous about approaching the group, she licked her dry lips and backed out the door.

“Heidi, there you are!” Ellie rose from a seat in the second row and scooted past two well-dressed women engaged in a lively debate. “I hoped you would come.”

Ellie tucked Heidi’s arm in hers and tugged her forward. “Come on. I want you to meet some of the ladies.” Within minutes, Ellie had dragged her to the second row, and settled them side-by-side. Several women turned in their direction, and Ellie made the introductions.

“You work in the pharmacy?” Grace Norton, a sweet-faced woman with rosy cheeks and dimples, leaned over Ellie.

“Yes. I’ve been there for about two weeks now.” Heidi smiled at the cheerful woman.

She sat forward and touched Heidi’s hand. “I must stop in some time and visit with you.”

Ellie laughed and leaned toward Heidi. “The only reason Grace wants to visit the pharmacy is to see Michael.”

The woman blushed a bright red and stuck her nose in the air. “Ellie Henderson, why would you say such a thing?”

Michael.
For a moment she’d forgotten the horrible things Clarence had told her about him. She glanced at Ellie under lowered eyelids. Did she know the type of person her brother was? Ellie’s expression and voice had held definite surprise when she’d examined his injuries at the family supper Saturday. Heidi’s stomach knotted when she tried to sort it all out. She’d known Clarence all her life and her parents liked and trusted him. Surely he wouldn’t lie to her about something so serious.

A tall, thin woman in a dark blue wool skirt and white shirtwaist headed to the front of the room and climbed a platform. Her dark hair had been secured into a loose bun at the back of her neck. She wore spectacles, which she slid up her nose as she consulted the papers in front of her.

She rapped twice with a gavel on the podium. “Ladies, and gentlemen, may I have your attention so we can begin our meeting?”

The chattering lowered to whispers, and then silence as the audience faced forward.

Ellie leaned over, close to Heidi’s ear. “Martha Walters. She’s the President of Women for Equal Rights of Guthrie.”

Heidi nodded and sat back to listen. The woman spoke for a few minutes, and then asked various others in the group to come up and present their reports. Then she introduced the speaker of the evening, a lady from Oklahoma City who dedicated her life to getting the vote for women once Oklahoma Territory became a state. She assured the group that women’s right to vote would happen in the next few years.

The woman held Heidi enthralled. Never had she thought about being able to vote. Miss Walters also talked about women in the work place and better opportunities for those who needed to earn a living. Not every woman needed, or for that matter, wanted, a husband, she stated, her chin raised. Heidi smiled when Ellie vigorously nodded in agreement. Ellie and her sister, Rachel, had had quite a discussion on marriage Saturday. Ellie, adamant she would never marry and intended to look after herself, and Rachel, a widow with a son to raise, agreed she’d never marry again, either.

Heidi still couldn’t believe a woman would decide to not marry and instead support herself. Such an unusual idea excited her. Papa had always taken care of her and Mother and would have been scandalized if his wife had attempted to seek employment. He would surely feel it reflected badly on his ability to provide for his family. For the first time she realized her taking a job may have also shamed him. In her desire for independence, she’d never given a thought to how her papa would view her actions.

“A few of us stop for coffee on the way home after the meetings. I would love for you to join us.” Ellie took Heidi’s hand as they rose once the meeting finished.

“Yes, I would enjoy that.” She’d promised herself she would make friends. All the women Ellie had introduced welcomed her into their circle. She found their zeal for women’s rights a bit scary. Her whole life had been isolated, with only Mother and Papa for company. There wouldn’t have been any way for her to know these types of women. They were exciting, interesting, and took care of themselves.

Surprisingly, many of them had husbands. But they embraced the cause wholeheartedly. She noted again the few men who had accompanied their wives, which she found even more astounding. The thought of Papa attending a women’s rights meeting had her shaking her head.

Ellie and two of her friends, Rita and Susan, chatted about the speaker as they strolled to the coffee shop a few blocks from the library. Heidi kept her scarf up against the cold. The streetlights guided their way past tidy houses with brightly lit lamps glowing from within. Occasionally, she glimpsed a family gathered together in the parlor and at one house she heard a lovely melody coming from a piano.

A sense of peace flowed over her. She liked her adopted town. Even if Michael Henderson was not the man she thought, that disappointment wouldn’t spoil her enjoyment of being on her own. Maybe she would look for a different job so she wouldn’t have to suffer his presence every day.

Why did that thought depress her so? He was a cad, not a gentleman. She sighed at her confusion.

After the ladies finished their coffee and pie, Susan and Rita parted ways with her and Ellie. They extracted promises from each other to return for the meeting next week. For the first time in her life, she had friends her own age who seemed to like her. They wanted her to join their group. A burst of joy made her face flush.

After saying their goodbyes, Ellie linked her arm with Heidi’s as they strolled along. “How did you enjoy the meeting?”

“Very interesting. I’d never thought of all the things the women spoke of tonight.” The wool scarf muffled her chuckle. “It made me feel proud of myself for what I did in breaking away from my old life.”

Ellie paused and regarded her. “Where do you rent your room? We’re so busy talking, we could be going in the opposite direction.”

“I’m in Mrs. Wilson’s home on Sixteenth and Dover.”

“Wonderful. I can detour a bit and walk right by there.”

They continued on in silence while Heidi worked up the nerve to ask Ellie about Michael. “What is your brother like?”

Ellie regarded her with raised brows. “My brother, Michael? You’ve been working with him every day for over two weeks.”

I know.” She sighed and shook her head. “I thought I knew him, but I heard some unflattering things lately.”

“What kind of things?” Ellie’s drew in a breath and her eyes flashed.

Heidi hurried on. “Does Michael get . . .” No, she couldn’t. This was his sister.

Ellie brought them to a stop and faced her. “What? Go ahead and say it.”

She drew a deep breath. “. . . involved in bar brawls?”

Heat rose from her middle to her hairline when Ellie threw her head back and laughed. “Michael Henderson? Are you serious?”

Heidi stiffened. “Yes.”

“Oh, Heidi, Michael would not be caught dead in a bar brawl. Why, our brother, Hunter, got into a fight one time in a bar and got himself tossed into jail. Michael bailed him out, but afterward he lectured him for days. Hunter said he would have rather stayed locked up. Then he joined the Texas Rangers and we haven’t seen him since.”

Her heart thumped at Ellie’s words. Did she know her brother as well as she thought? “But what about the bruises on his face?”

Ellie shrugged. “I don’t know, but since he wouldn’t talk about it, I can’t comment.” They stopped to allow a horse and buggy to pass before they crossed the street. “But I can assure you on one point. If Michael had been in any kind of a fight, it would have been for a very good reason.”

Heidi chewed on her lower lip, working up the courage to ask the question she really wanted an answer to. “Um. Do you think Michael would ever pay a woman he got in a family way to leave town?” She thought the heat in her face would ignite her flesh.

“What in heaven’s name are you talking about? And where are you getting such crazy ideas?” When Heidi merely stared at her, her jaw working, but unable to form any more words, Ellie moved them forward and continued. “This is not my story to tell, but hopefully my big brother would forgive me.”

She paused for a moment, closed her eyes briefly, and then spoke. “Years ago, Michael was engaged to be married. Three weeks before the wedding, his fiancée came to him in tears and told him she carried another man’s child.”

Heidi drew in a sharp breath, but nodded for her to continue.

“She told Michael the father of her child was married and wanted nothing to do with her. She cried and begged him to proceed with the wedding anyway to provide the baby with a name.”

“Oh, no.” Heidi breathed.

“Oh, yes. And my fool-headed brother agreed.” She shook her head in disgust. “Luckily he came to his senses and talked to Uncle Jesse about it.” Ellie smiled at the memory. “Uncle Jesse asked him a few questions, then Michael left the house and broke the engagement.”

“What did he ask him?”

“We’ll never know, but whatever the questions were, I’m glad he did. His fiancée left Guthrie not too long afterward, and as far as I know he’s never heard from her since.”

They reached Heidi’s house. Just in time, she thought. Her head hurt from the tension of the day, and Ellie’s revelations.

“So you see, Heidi, I doubt very much he would ever pay a woman to leave town if she carried his baby. He intended at one time to raise another man’s child as his own.” Her mouth moved in a slight smile and she patted Heidi’s hand. “I don’t know where you heard your stories, but I can say with absolute conviction they’re lies.”

Heidi blew out a huge breath. “Thank you. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your sharing that with me.”

Ellie thought for a minute. “My brother needs a life other than the one he’s carved for himself. My family knows he’s had his heart under lock and key for years. But he needs a wife and children.” Ellie shivered and pulled her coat collar closer. “I don’t know how you feel, but you would be very good for him.”

When Heidi’s head snapped up at her words, Ellie touched her arm briefly. “I hope I haven’t scared you, but the general consensus in my family is you may be the one to unlock his stubborn heart.”

“Me?” Heidi squeaked.

“Think about it.” With that statement, Ellie waved and walked away.

Heidi stumbled up the stairs and entered the house. Mrs. Wilson greeted her, but she barely answered, her thoughts in turmoil. Excitement, happiness, fear, and longing all meshed together as she undressed for bed.

Michael’s family thought she—mousy little Heidi—might unlock Michael’s heart? Oh, if that could only be so. Her attraction to him had grown into something so close to deep caring it scared her.

Once in bed, she burrowed beneath the comforter, tossed and turned for a while, then flipped onto her back and linked her fingers together over her stomach. What would her life be like married to Michael Henderson? Taking care of his house, cooking his meals, tending to his needs.

His needs
.

Her heart sped up as it had when he’d kissed her. Tingles low in her belly made her feel restless, wanting. He was not the type of man who would scorn his wife and seek satisfaction with a mistress. She would be the one to share his bed, cuddle in the dark under the covers, and know the glorious feeling of joining her body with his.

Stop, Heidi. Get yourself under control
.

Reining in her thoughts, she stared at the dark ceiling, newly awakened anger twisting her insides. Why had Clarence told her those horrible stories Ellie insisted were lies?

The next time she saw him, she would certainly find out.

Chapter 12

Michael’s shoulders slumped as he removed the dustcovers from the counters. Would today be another tension-filled day? Heidi had treated him no better yesterday than Monday. Leaving her alone to work out whatever troubled her had seemed a good idea in the beginning, but his confusion hadn’t lessened.

Monday she’d barely spoken to him, and yesterday she dripped aloofness.
Yes, Mr. Henderson, no, Mr. Henderson,
until he thought he would throw up his hands and stalk from the building.

His thoughts were interrupted by the swish of the curtain. Heidi poked her head into the store, a slight blush on her cheeks, wearing a hint of a smile. She also looked him in the eye, which is something she hadn’t done for two days. Had she planned to tell him she quit? She’d decided to return to Oklahoma City after all? Had he chased her away with his attentions?

She drew in a deep breath. “Good morning, Michael.”

He watched her warily. “‘Morning.”

“I have fresh muffins with butter and jam for our breakfast.” She held up a basket.

“Good. I like your muffins.”

“Well, I’ll set them out, and, um, when you’re ready . . .”

He nodded and continued to pull off dustcovers, folding and tucking them under the counters. Heidi disappeared, the lemon-yellow and white-flowered cloth waving back and forth. His mouth dried up at what her actions most likely meant. The final breakfast before she took the train to Oklahoma City and married that lecher.

It’s none of your business.

With a heavy heart, he headed to the back area. She had stationed herself in front of the table, set with plates, cups, and saucers. A dish of golden muffins, shiny with butter, sat in the center.