A Prescription for Love (16 page)

He broke free from her heat, both of them panting. He ran his knuckles down her flushed cheek. Not a woman to trifle with, Heidi deserved to be brought home to a man’s family, then stand next to him in front of a preacher. Over the years, they’d build a life together, have children who would suckle at her breast. Hold hands as they drew their last breaths. Forever. Something he wasn’t ready for. Had vowed he would never be ready for.

Terror struck him deep in his heart as he met her gaze. Her slight smile and shining eyes told him what he didn’t want to know. Heidi Lester was a woman in love—and not with her fiancé.

Chapter 14

Heidi double-checked the list of ingredients for dried apple pie on the faded piece of paper lying on the table in front of her. Mrs. Wilson had given her the recipe, but one she wasn’t familiar with. The last thing she wanted to do was leave something out of an important pie. She grinned. An important pie, indeed.

Although she and Michael attended different churches, Heidi had invited him to her church’s social that evening. Each woman would bring a box supper and the men would bid on the one brought by the lady of his choice. After the supper, there would be a dance.

Heidi had decided on thick slices of ham, biscuits, potato salad, lemonade, and the apple pie. Once she’d placed the pie in the oven, she would relax in a warm bath and press her long-sleeved blue and white gingham dress with the wide, blue sash. Her heart leapt with excitement at the thought of sharing her supper with Michael and then dancing in his arms.

Many a night, a young Heidi sat at the top of the staircase and watched Mother and Papa’s guests dance in the large connecting parlor and dining room when they’d hosted parties. The furniture shoved against the walls and the rug rolled up, Mother would bring out her best china, and silver. With Papa’s encouragement, she’d hire women to clean and polish everything in the house.

Then with extra kitchen help, Cook would pull out her best recipes and prepare the party food. Heidi’s parents permitted their daughter to say hello to the guests, and then she was whisked away upstairs to eat her meal in her bedroom, alone. Her parents feared too much contact with the guests would jeopardize her health.

Once the last bite of supper had been eaten, the musicians hired for the night would begin to play their magical music and Heidi would slip from her room. Wide-eyed, she’d crouch at the head of the stairs, hands wrapped around the banister rails. She’d watch the women attired in brightly colored dresses spin around the dance floor in the arms of the gentlemen. One day, she told herself, she would wear a beautiful silk gown and dance. Her partner would twirl her around the floor and gaze at her as if she was the only woman in the world.

But Mother continued to forbid her to attend the parties, even after she was grown. Not good for her breathing illness, she’d remind her. Too many people in one room and dancing would be out of the question, anyway. Luckily she’d practiced dancing when Mother and Papa weren’t home. Humming to herself, she’d sway and dip to the music in her head, curtsying to her invisible partner. A man whose features at the time were unknown, but now resembled Michael.

Working quickly, she mixed the pie ingredients together, poured the pungent fruit and spices into the shell, and slid the pan into the oven. As she hurried up the stairs to her room, the front door knocker sounded. Mrs. Wilson had left for an afternoon of shopping, so Heidi headed back down the steps and opened the door.

Her eyes grew wide and her breathing hitched. “Clarence. What are you doing here?”

He scowled. “I finally managed to pry your address out of your mother. I still don’t understand why everyone kept it a secret. I have the right to know where my fiancée lives, for heaven’s sake.” He stepped forward, his lips in a thin line. “May I come in?”

“Yes. Of course.” She moved back and allowed him to enter.

He brushed past her. “You seemed surprised to see me.”

“I am, actually. Usually you arrive on Friday nights. I thought you’d decided not to come this weekend.” Remembering her manners, she waved to the parlor. “Would you care to sit down?”

He followed her into the room, settling stiffly on the sofa. “Why would I not come? After all, I wouldn’t want to miss seeing my fiancée.”

Heidi’s head jerked at the disdain in his voice as she rested on the edge of the chair across from him. Her heart sped up and her stomach clenched. She hadn’t been prepared to face Clarence yet with her decision, but since he sat before her, now seemed the right time to speak.

She cleared her throat and raised her chin. “Clarence, I’m glad you stopped by. I’ve given this some thought, and . . . decided to break off our engagement.” There, she’d said it. A sense of relief flooded her, but her smile faltered as Clarence leaned back in the chair and grinned at her.

“I don’t think so, my dear.” He brushed a bit of lint from his coat.

“Excuse me?”

“I didn’t arrange our marriage with you. Your parents and I decided everything. They know what’s best for you.”

Heat rose to her face at his arrogant words. “I don’t care who you
made arrangements
with, Clarence.
I
have decided to not marry you.”

He studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowed. “You are merely going through a phase, Heidi.” His calm demeanor slipped as he jumped up and paced in front of the glowing fireplace. “For some benighted reason, you think being on your own here is what you want. You’re not smart enough to know what you want, and you certainly don’t know what’s best for you. Furthermore, you think
Michael
is your savior.” He moved in front of her, leaning over, his hands clutching the arms of her chair. “I told you what kind of a man he is.”

She’d never seen Clarence so angry and his attitude frightened her. His eyes burned with fury and his lip curled with scorn. Suddenly, she wished Mrs. Wilson were home. Her fiancé did not behave as a man with a bruised heart refusing to accept a betrothed’s rejection. Clarence was enraged. For someone who intended to marry her in name only, his reaction made no sense. He leaned closer, causing her to press deeper into the chair.

“He paid a whore to leave town,” he shouted. Moisture from his mouth sprayed across her face.

“I’m home,” Mrs. Wilson called from the front door.

Clarence stepped back and adjusted his coat. “This discussion isn’t over, Heidi. And don’t fool yourself into thinking it is.” He turned toward Mrs. Wilson, a bright smile on his face as she entered the room carrying several packages. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Wilson.”

She regarded him with wide eyes. “Who are you?”

He approached her and bowed slightly. “I’m Clarence Manfred, ma’am. Heidi’s fiancé.” With a glance at Heidi, almost daring her to dispute it, he added, “I will see you later, my dear. I understand we’re attending a supper and dance at the church.” Nodding at her, he turned and left the house.

“I didn’t know you were engaged,” Mrs. Wilson called over her shoulder as she carried her parcels to the kitchen.

Stunned, Heidi remained silent. What in heaven’s name was that all about? He’d
made arrangements
with her parents, so she
had
to marry him? Her fear slowly transformed into anger.
How dare he refuse my decision
? With shaky legs, she climbed to her feet and headed to the stairs. Before she reached the first step, all the air in the room seemed to disappear as the familiar tightness crushed her chest. She reversed directions and made her way to the kitchen, gasping.

“Oh, I believe you’re having a breathing attack.” Mrs. Wilson took Heidi by the hand and led her to a chair. “Just sit right there, dear, and I’ll heat the water for you. Where do you keep your medicine?”

“My room,” she rasped. “Top . . . of . . . dresser.”

“I’ll get it, you sit there.” Mrs. Wilson slid a kettle over the burner on the large iron stove. Poking the fire, she added more wood and then hurried from the room.

Heidi raised her hands above her head as Michael had taught her. The sound of her wheezing filled the room.
Calm. You must be calm. Don’t think about Clarence now, think only pleasant thoughts. Sunshine, and furry little kittens.

“We’ll have you fixed up in no time.” Mrs. Wilson bustled back into the kitchen, then took a bowl from the shelf and added a pinch of the Belladonna.

Heidi concentrated on relaxing her muscles. After a few minutes, Mrs. Wilson poured the hot water into the bowl and placed the mixture on the table. Heidi lowered her hands and dragged the bowl toward her, inhaling deeply of the healing steam.

“I think once you’re feeling better, you should lie down for a while.” Mrs. Wilson patted her hand.

Heidi nodded, beginning to feel the effects of the medicine. Her lungs expanded with a deep breath and her tense muscles relaxed. However, the strain of the last half hour had brought on a raging headache.

“I have a pie in the oven,” she said as she accepted the cloth Mrs. Wilson handed her to wipe her face.

“How much longer? I’ll remove it for you.”

Heidi glanced at the clock. “Another twenty minutes.”

“You go on upstairs and rest. I’ll finish up down here.”

Heidi rose and slowly made her way upstairs. Once in her room, she lay on the bed, her eyes closed. Although fatigue washed over her, she couldn’t stop reliving the scene with Clarence. Surely he couldn’t force her to marry him. And in her surprise at his attitude, she’d never gotten the opportunity to question him about the things he’d said about Michael.

Michael! She had invited him to the supper and dance, and now Clarence would be there also. But she’d told Clarence she wished to break the engagement. If he refused to accept that, it wasn’t her problem. Since she didn’t consider herself engaged to him any longer, she could certainly invite another man to a church supper.

Michael settled Heidi in the buggy and handed her the woolen blanket from the back seat. “Whatever you have in there sure smells good.” He grinned at her.

She patted the box in her lap and regarded him, a slight smile on her full lips. “I won’t tell you what I fixed. You have to bid on it.”

“You’re a hard woman, Heidi Lester.” He winked as he snapped the reins and the buggy started forward. The weather had cleared from the miserable rain the night before. Sunshine had melted any leftover ice and dried up some of the puddles left behind. The sun dipped behind the horizon as they made their way down the street.

Lights from the church bathed the entire corner in brightness. Buggies lined the road, the horses swinging their heads, with an occasional animal stomping a hoof in restlessness. Heidi hugged her supper box to her chest as Michael held her elbow to keep her from sliding on the mud.

Once inside the warm church hall, he escorted Heidi to the table where dozens of boxes of all sizes sat. Each woman had drawn some sort of decoration on hers so the desired gentleman would know which box to bid on. Heidi had drawn a blue star on her contribution and gone through a great deal of trouble to point out the design.

“Heidi.” Michael turned at the sound of Mrs. Lester calling to them. They made their way to a table where Mr. and Mrs. Lester sat with another couple.

“Mr. and Mrs. Harris, this is our daughter, Heidi.”

Heidi smiled at them and gestured to Michael. Before she could make the introduction, Mrs. Harris addressed him.

“Michael, it’s a pleasure to see you here. I thought you attended the Baptist church?”

“Hello, Mrs. Harris. Yes, I do, but Miss Lester is my employee, and she invited me this evening.”

“Your employee?” Mr. Harris repeated.

“My daughter is working for a short time until her marriage,” Mrs. Lester added quickly.

Mr. Harris beamed at them. “You’re getting married, Michael?”

“Oh, no.” Mrs. Lester’s face grew red. “Heidi is not engaged to Mr. Henderson.”

Two sets of confused eyes regarded Heidi’s mother. “I don’t understand,” Mrs. Harris said, glancing back and forth between Heidi and her mother.

“I’m here.”

The voice Michael hoped to never hear again spoke from behind him.

Clarence stepped up to the table. “I’m Clarence Manfred, and I’m Heidi’s fiancé.” He held out his hand to Mr. Harris, and then nodded at Mr. Lester. “Harold.”

Turning to Heidi, he took her hand, and kissed it. “My dear, so good to see you.”

All the blood rushed to Heidi’s face and her eyes snapped. Michael pulled out a chair, and she sat, her mouth drawn into a thin line. Something had upset her, obviously to do with Manfred. Michael took the seat next to her, and Clarence, the one directly across.

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you would take your seats, we can begin the bidding for the supper boxes.” The shrill voice of a middle-aged woman broke the strained silence at the table. She flashed a toothsome smile, her hair drawn back into a severe bun, with spectacles perched on her short, perky nose.

Her hand waved in the direction of the table laden with boxes. “We will hold up the various boxes one at a time and the gentlemen will bid on them. The winner gets the box, and the company of the charming woman who prepared it.” She smiled brightly at her audience and waved her finger. “Now I hope you ladies haven’t told the gentlemen which box is yours.” Her eyes sparkled as she admonished the group, since no doubt that very thing happened every year. She stepped back as a man rose to begin the auction.

After about fifteen boxes had been sold and placed in the hands of the winners, the auctioneer held Heidi’s box up.

“What am I bid for this supper?” the gentleman’s deep voiced boomed throughout the hall.

“Three dollars,” Michael shouted.

“Four.” Clarence glared at him.

Michael leaned forward and held up his fingers. “Five.”

“Five dollars and fifty cents,” Clarence added.

“Six dollars.”

A gasp rose from the crowd. No supper had gone for more than two dollars and fifty cents.

Heidi dropped her head in her hands and moaned.

“Six-fifty.” Clarence’s jaw tightened.

“Seven dollars,” Michael returned.