Doctor Daddy

Jake Hadley expects challenges when he returns to his frontier hometown to establish a medical practice—but caring for orphaned toddler twins wasn’t part of the equation. The new doctor would be out of his depth without Coralee Evans’s help. Once his sweetheart, now his best friend’s widow, Coralee has a tender way with the children that makes him long for a second chance. Until Jake is faced with a choice: Coralee or his career...

When Jake left Spring Hill for medical school, Coralee believed he’d abandoned her. And though a reunion might be possible, he’s working for the man trying to ruin her apothecary business. Could caring for these sweet children bridge the gulf between them and provide a prescription for rekindled love?

“You and the children are having a good time.”

His eyes twinkled. He was more lighthearted than Coralee had seen him since he moved back to Spring Hill. Was it the influence of the twins? Or was he as pleased to be back on good footing in their friendship as she was?

“As you can see, we’re having an elegant high tea,” she declared, sipping pretend liquid. To Coralee’s surprise, Jake lowered himself right down next to Louisa on the tablecloth they had spread over the floorboards.

“Could you spare a cup of tea for a guest?” He spoke to Louisa in complete earnestness, watching while the little girl pretended to pour from a teakettle into a cup.

“Yes. For you.” Her little face was serious, the tip of her tiny tongue peeking out as she focused on handing him the cup with great care.

He brought it to his lips and slurped loudly. “Ah, that was very good. Thank you, Miss Louisa.”

Both children giggled at his antics. Coralee couldn’t suppress the ache that hit her.

Dear Reader,

I’m so honored that you chose to read my first book! Writing this story was a giant leap of faith for me. But God led me through every step of it and I pray it will bless you.

My inspiration for this story started with Coralee. I imagined her as a woman with a driving mission and research revealed the perfect project: an alternative to the addictive, dangerous pain medications common at the time. Later in the 1800s, that willow bark extract would be used to create aspirin.

The twins would have to be my favorite part. The way those kids make Jake and Coralee grow and change is so true to my life. It doesn’t hurt that I modeled them after my own mischievous, energetic two-year-old!

I would love to connect with you! You can find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/molliecampbellauthor and on Twitter as @MollieACampbell.

Blessings,

Mollie Campbell

After earning a degree in business and jumping from job to job, MOLLIE CAMPBELL was more than a little surprised—and pleased—to find that writing was the perfect fit. A lifelong Midwestern girl, she currently lives in Indiana with her husband, two young kids and a rather energetic beagle. When she’s not writing or reading, she loves watching superhero shows with her husband and collecting antiques.

Taking on Twins

Mollie Campbell

www.millsandboon.co.uk

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

—Romans 8:18

To Brian, who will forever be my favorite and the perfect hero for my love story.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

May 1859

Spring Hill, Nebraska Territory

“Not again!”

Murky green liquid fizzled in a glass beaker as Coralee Evans pushed a strand of hair out of her face and slumped back in a wooden chair. She let out a deep breath, ruffling the bits of herbs and papers that littered the table in front of her. Unfortunately, Papa’s extensive notes weren’t getting her anywhere today. How would she ever discover the right formula when every herb burned or turned into a bubbling mess?

“How is this one going?” Her youngest sister, Cat, peeked into the room from her post at the apothecary shop’s counter. Cat’s face grew skeptical when she caught sight of the mess on the worktable. “I suppose it’s no better than yesterday’s experiment.”

Coralee pushed away from the table with more force than necessary. “I’m going out to clear my head for a bit. You’ll be all right here alone?”

“Sure. And I’ll try to get rid of that mess while you’re out.” Cat eyed the chaotic table, her mouth turned up in a wry smirk.

Coralee arranged a silk-lined bonnet over her hair and stepped out onto the uneven boardwalk. She ambled past the row of neat wooden storefronts, trying to calm the worries that swirled relentlessly. Pausing, she examined the wares displayed in the window of another new shop, the third one that had opened that week. A sudden light touch on her elbow and a familiar masculine voice startled her out of her reverie.

“Imagine running into you on my first day home, Coralee Evans.”

She turned and instantly lost herself in deep brown eyes that brought back a lifetime of memories. Her heartbeat faltered. “Jake! What a surprise to find you back in town. I haven’t seen you since...” Her voice broke as she swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Since Alan’s funeral.”

The slight edge of coolness in his eyes softened. “Coralee, I’m so—” he began, but she broke in before he could finish, not ready to talk about Alan with him yet.

“I needed a break from some work at the shop. How about stopping over at Aunt Lily’s for a bite to eat?”

Jake hesitated, eyes drifting over her. Coralee flushed under his scrutiny. What did he see after all the years apart? Finally he nodded and offered his arm. They crossed the dusty street, weaving between passing wagons and deep ruts. She pointed out some of the changes to the town since the last time Jake had been back. New buildings popped up every day in Spring Hill as immigrants poured into the Nebraska Territory. Coralee searched for small talk that would steer them far from digging up the past.

“How long have you been in town, Jake?”

“I got in two days ago. I spent yesterday settling in at the boardinghouse and visiting my folks.”

“You’ll be staying for a while, then?” She couldn’t hide the surprise in her tone. A town the size of Spring Hill could only support one doctor.

Before he could answer, they approached the café, pausing to exchange brief greetings with a couple they passed on the sidewalk. The young man held tight to his companion’s hand where it rested on his arm and the lovely lady’s face flushed under his attention. Young love. A sharp pang of loss cut through Coralee’s heart.

As they continued she caught a glimpse of her and Jake reflected in the pane-glass window and longing washed over her. It had been a long time since she’d walked arm in arm with a gentleman. She deliberately focused her eyes high above them, examining the familiar block letters painted on the building, proclaiming Lily’s Café. She was able to breathe easier when Jake pulled his arm away so he could open the solid wood door and hold it for her to enter.

Once inside, they found the only empty table in the busy eatery. Jake scooted out a chair for Coralee and waited as she seated herself. “Everything looks just like the last time I was here, years ago.”

She glanced around the narrow room, trying to see it through Jake’s eyes. The tables scattered throughout were all set with white cloths and simple dishes, clearly used but clean. There was little in the way of decoration, but the dining area was warm and comfortable. What did the space look like to him now, after frequenting the finest dining establishments in St. Louis?

An awkward silence fell over them as they waited. Coralee drummed her fingers on the table as her gaze was drawn to Jake’s strong face. The tanned features, straight nose and generous mouth she had known since childhood were framed by a few new creases. As he sat there across from her, something in the way he held himself was more attractive than she remembered.

But thinking about Jake’s good looks would only lead to problems. Coralee snapped out of her thoughts and pulled her eyes away before Jake found her staring. She glanced around the room in an effort to look unaffected, searching for an innocuous topic to break the silence. “Oh, Jake, there’s Aunt Lily, visiting with her customers. She’ll be so glad to see you.”

She caught Aunt Lily’s eye just as the older woman noticed her companion and rushed over with a cry. “Jake Hadley, as I live and breathe! Young man, you give me a hug.” She enveloped Jake in an embrace as he stood, then stepped back to look him over. “You look good, boy. Your mama said you’ve been working in a fancy hospital in St. Louis?”

“Yes, I spent the last three years there, after graduating from the university. I learned a lot. I doubt I’ll face many of the same kinds of cases practicing out here, but it was a good place to learn the latest techniques.”

Coralee caught a whiff of fresh air and soap clinging to Jake as he greeted Aunt Lily. For a moment she was so distracted by his presence that she nearly missed his words.

“Wait. You’ll be practicing in town? On your own?”

Pride radiated from him as a smile broke out on his face. “I’ve secured an arrangement to train with Samuel Jay until he retires. Then I’ll inherit the practice. It’s a good opportunity. He’s one of the best doctors in the Nebraska Territory and I’m pleased that he asked me to work alongside him.”

A chill sliced through Coralee, erasing every trace of the warm attraction she had been feeling. “You’re working with Dr. Jay?”

Jake glanced at her, obviously noticing the change in her demeanor. “He visits St. Louis several times a year to see his sister and he always stops at the hospital. I spent some time with him there. When he learned that I hoped to come home after my training, he offered me the position.”

“That’s just fine, young man.” Aunt Lily spoke with a smile but Coralee thought it might be a bit forced. The older woman was certain to be concerned about Coralee’s response to Jake’s announcement. She had good reason to worry. Coralee and Dr. Jay had gone head-to-head more than once in the year since Papa had died and left her his shop. But that man had gone too far this time. He had only been in town for ten years or so, but it was a small community. He had to know how close she and Jake had been. Had he sought out Jake on purpose to hurt her?

“I’m excited to have a chance to practice medicine here. St. Louis was an interesting change of scenery, but Spring Hill has always been home. And, of course, I need to be close to my folks to help Pa out around the farm when I can. They’re not getting any younger. I never thought the details would line up so I could run a practice here so soon.”

“Jake, my boy, I’m so pleased for you. You aren’t staying with your ma and pa?”

“Samuel felt it would be better for me to live in town to start, to be closer to the clinic until I build up a professional relationship with people in the area. After some time, I’ll move out there to help my parents more.”

Jake continued talking with Lily but Coralee didn’t hear a word. Anger was building up and she just wanted to get away before she embarrassed herself. She cut into their conversation. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the shop. It was nice to see you, Jake.” She nodded in his direction but couldn’t meet his eyes. “I’ll see you tonight at home, Aunt Lily.” She dropped a light kiss on the older woman’s wrinkled cheek and left before they could stop her. She heard Aunt Lily call her name, but kept going. If she turned around, her temper might well get the best of her.

She was so aggravated that the walk back to Holbrook’s was a blur. “Coralee?” Cat looked up in surprise from a box of jars she was sorting as her sister stomped into the store and huffed behind the counter. “What on earth happened?”

“That man!” Coralee tossed her bonnet on the counter, breathless with frustration. “I don’t know what Samuel Jay thinks he’s doing, but I will not stand for it.”

Cat gently rested her arm around Coralee’s shoulders and walked with her into the small back room. “Sit down and tell me what happened.”

“Jake Hadley is back in town. And he’s training to take over Dr. Jay’s practice.” Coralee sank into her chair, trying to hold back tears. “Alan’s dearest friend, recruited by the man who wants to close our shop. Dr. Jay must know our history and have some motive for hiring Jake, of all people. The man has always acted like he would go to the grave running that practice.” Coralee ran a shaky hand over her face, trying to calm herself.

Cat listened to Coralee pour out her frustrations with the old doctor, but she was never one to jump to conclusions. “Jake is from Spring Hill and I’m sure he’s a great doctor. He would be the most logical choice to take over the practice. Yes, you’ve had trouble with Dr. Jay, but that doesn’t mean Jake is part of it.”

Coralee snorted. “The old man didn’t even wait until we properly mourned Papa. He started in right away, telling his patients that I’m untrained and incapable. He refuses to come to us for even the most basic supplies.” She rose and started pacing the room, unable to sit still. “Just last week Mrs. Bernard told me he hired her oldest grandson to ride over to the steamboat dock to pick up loads of supplies for him. He’ll do anything he has to in order to hurt our business, including using Jake.”

“Be that as it may, we know Jake. He would never hurt anyone out of spite, especially not you.”

But Cat didn’t know Jake as well as her older sister. Coralee had experienced the kind of pain Jake could cause and she would not put herself in that position again. Her focus had to be on how she could keep Papa’s shop open, supporting what was left of her family and giving the people of Spring Hill an alternative to Dr. Jay’s exorbitant fees.

“I know how important this shop is to you, how running it helped you cope with losing Papa and Alan. We’ll find a way to keep it open.”

Coralee’s heart softened at Cat’s earnest tone. No matter what, her sisters were behind her as she fought for their future. Her path was clear: she would never have the family she had dreamed of as a girl, but God had given her the shop. She would do everything in her power to make it the success Papa would have wanted. She needed it and the town needed it.

* * *

After Coralee rushed from the café, Jake stood for a moment in shock. “What just happened?” he muttered.

“Well, dear,” Lily chimed in, direct as usual, “you’re working for the man who wants to ruin her livelihood. What do you expect?”

Jake examined Lily through narrowed eyes, taking in her familiar honest face and work-worn hands. “Lily, I’m not sure what that means.”

“Means Dr. Jay has it out for Coralee’s business, that’s what, honey.”

Jake’s mind retraced the conversation with Coralee. “She did seem upset when I mentioned Dr. Jay. But he’s an excellent doctor and a good man. Kind, caring, intelligent. Why would he try to harm Holbrook’s?”

“Maybe you should ask him about all that, Jake.” Lily patted his hand. “Now, do you need anything for lunch?”

“No, Lily. Thanks.” Jake’s mind was already turning as he waved goodbye. He walked back to the office, hands stuffed deep into the pockets of his cotton trousers. People flowed around him but he didn’t even notice as he mulled over the turn of events. Samuel Jay couldn’t be as bad as Coralee seemed to think. The older man had already taught him so much and Jake was looking forward to several more years of training under him.

He took a deep breath and straightened his slumped shoulders. Coralee’s problems with Samuel didn’t need to have anything to do with him. Although the incident had reminded him why coming back to Spring Hill was a risk. Now that he was in town to stay, he would see her far too often. But that was a chance he had to take. His parents needed him.

Her beauty had taken him by surprise, though. The hard years since he had seen her last had given her a strong, confident air that was appealing. In many ways, she was still the lovely girl he’d grown up with. She only stood as high as his shoulder with the same wavy dark hair, pale blue eyes and delicate nose. But he could read the shadow of loss lingering in her face as clear as day.

Jake approached the small clapboard building that housed Samuel’s office and living quarters. Nestled near a bend in the creek, it was a peaceful spot in the midst of the busy town. Jake appreciated working in this picturesque little corner after seven years of dirt and noise in the city.

When he walked through the front door, he heard Samuel conversing with a patient in the exam room. Jake went to his desk at the back of the empty waiting area, settling in with a pile of patient files he needed to read through. But instead of the stack of paper, Jake’s mind would only focus on the image of lovely blue eyes. Before they’d turned cold with anger, that is.

Jake shook his head and grabbed the first file from the stack. He couldn’t get distracted by a pretty face and he couldn’t let a misunderstanding about motives endanger his position in the practice. He had to get to the bottom of Lily’s comments about his mentor.

Ten minutes later the exam room door opened and a middle-aged woman with a boy of about seven or eight exited with Samuel Jay. The doctor walked them to the door, giving the mother instructions on caring for the boy’s finger. Jake guessed it must be broken, judging from the splint. He took a moment to gather his thoughts as they left, then stood and stepped toward the doctor as he closed the door.

“Jake, I trust you had a nice lunch.” The older man turned and placed the papers in his hand on top of the stack on Jake’s desk.

“Uh, I...” Jake couldn’t quite find the words to confront his employer until Coralee’s angry expression flashed in his mind. This was awkward, but assuming she was right without seeking Samuel’s opinion would be worse. “That is, yes, lunch was fine. But I wanted to ask you about Holbrook’s Apothecary. You haven’t mentioned how you work with the shop, yet.”

Samuel stiffened and his tone turned cold. “Hadley, I want you to understand this. William Holbrook was capable, although not a person I cared for. But that daughter of his does not belong in the field of medicine. I refuse to allow my patients to be misled by her delusions of knowledge.” The flash of anger faded as a stern look crossed the older man’s face. “I hope you’ll come to recognize that as the truth and that this won’t be an issue in your work. Now, please continue familiarizing yourself with my patients.” Samuel turned on his heel and withdrew to his office without another word.

Jake stood stock-still for a moment, not sure what to think. He had to admit, although he knew Coralee to be skilled, she didn’t have medical training beyond what her father had taught her. Samuel was a strong proponent of proper education and certification for those who held patients’ lives in their hands, and Jake had to agree. Perhaps the older man wasn’t as aware of Coralee’s considerable experience as Jake. The hours he had spent in the shop with her and Mr. Holbrook had proved to him that she knew what she was doing.

But as much as he wanted to believe she was still the accomplished girl he had grown up with, Jake didn’t know who she was anymore. Samuel had a reasonable concern and he was now Jake’s mentor. Jake would not take the word of a woman he wasn’t sure he could trust over that of a good and reputable man.

* * *

That Sunday, Jake joined his parents, Ezra and Beth, at Spring Hill’s small church. As the service started, he glanced curiously around the building. It had been finished right after he’d left for medical school and housed both church services and the school. Ma would have loved teaching the local children in a building like this when Jake was young rather than at their kitchen table. Would his relationship with Coralee be different if they had attended a more formal school? If so much of their time hadn’t been spent together at Holbrook’s? He couldn’t imagine what he would be doing now if he hadn’t spent so many hours learning basic remedies and a love of medicine from Coralee’s father.

Jake tried to focus and listen to the sermon but his mind wandered. Coralee sat with her aunt and sisters across the aisle and several rows ahead of his family. Every time he caught a glimpse of her, his attention derailed.

He knew when he’d returned to town that there would be tension between them. But he hadn’t prepared himself for the onslaught of emotions every time he saw her. His heart ached with ugly emotions he thought had healed. Pain from the lingering sting of her rejection when he’d tried to lay his heart out for her. Jealousy that always flared when he remembered how she’d turned to his best friend while he’d been away at school. He was sure now that no length of time could erase that hurt from his heart.

His trip down memory lane was cut short when the congregation stood to sing a final hymn. As the ending notes faded away, the congregants all turned to greet their neighbors with happy conversation. Noticing that everyone around him was occupied, Jake slipped out the side door. He waited by his parents’ wagon while they socialized, trying to look like he wasn’t hiding. He couldn’t bring himself to face questions from all the folks who would want to welcome him back to town when he had so many unwanted feelings distracting him.

Finally the couple finished greeting the other churchgoers and joined him. It was a fine spring day, so his mother had packed a picnic for them to share before his parents headed back out to their farm.

Jake gathered up the picnic basket and blanket before his father could try to reach for them and led the way to a quiet spot by the creek. Soon they had the blanket spread on the grass and Jake helped Pa lower himself onto it. Ma laid out the food and they all filled their plates and said a prayer.

“Son, how’ve you liked your first few days working with the doc?” Pa shoveled his wife’s delicious cooking in his mouth as he waited for Jake’s response.

“Just fine, Pa. Samuel is an excellent doctor, just as I thought in St. Louis.” Jake hesitated, not sure if he should bring up Coralee and her accusations against the older doctor. But he needed some perspective on the conflict. “I ran into Coralee the other day.” He tried to sound nonchalant, but judging from the look on his mother’s face, he wasn’t succeeding.

“Oh, Jake,” Ma breathed, her voice hopeful but laced with traces of worry. “I’ve been praying that you two could start to get along again, now that you’re home for good. How did it go?”

He shrugged off her concern. “She’s convinced Samuel is doing anything he can to force her to close Holbrook’s. I spoke to him and he doesn’t approve of her running the shop, but I can’t believe he would do anything more than state his opinion.”

Ma considered his words for a moment as she chewed a bite of her lunch. “I haven’t spent much time with Coralee since your pa’s accident.” She gestured to her husband’s arm and Jake flushed with guilt. While Pa was recovering from the farm accident that cost him the use of his left hand, Jake had been away in school, unable to help at all. But now he finally had a chance to secure his practice in Spring Hill so he could be near his parents to help out. He had to make this work.

Ma’s soft voice pulled him back to the conversation. “Coralee’s always been kind and honest, Jake. I understand that you trust Dr. Jay and believe in him, but Coralee is a good woman, too.”

“Ma, how good could the woman be when we all know I can’t trust her any farther than I can throw her?”

A compassionate smile graced her face. “Jake, I know she hurt you, but there are reasons behind the things people do. You should give her a chance. Maybe time has changed both of you for the better.”

Jake didn’t quite know what to say in response. His relationship with Coralee had ended seven years ago. He should be past the pain by now. But he still couldn’t bring himself to even try to understand Coralee’s motives. There couldn’t be any good reason for the way she had hurt him. Just when he had been ready to confess his love for her, she had started a fight about him going away to medical school. Without giving him a chance to explain his plan for them, she had stormed out. Less than a year later his best friend, Alan, had broken the news that he and Coralee were going to be married. He understood how Alan had fallen for her, but he would never understand why she had betrayed him that way.

“Talk to Coralee, Jake,” Pa said. “You’ve already talked to the doc. Now find out her side of this and get it settled. And you know I think you ought to settle the past, too. But I suppose you won’t listen to your old pa any more now than you did when it happened.” He grabbed another cookie and leaned back on the quilt, done saying his piece.

“Fine, Pa. I’ll go see her about Samuel. But you’re right. I’m not going to dig up the past. It’s done and buried.” Jake reached for more lemonade, determined to ignore the knowing look his parents exchanged.

He put off the visit for several days. But, finally, he knew he had to confront Coralee. He left his room at the boardinghouse early to stop by Holbrook’s before starting his day at the clinic. As much as he wanted to avoid any contact with Coralee, in a small town like Spring Hill there was no way to steer clear of her forever. He wasn’t ready to trust her, but he supposed hearing her side of the conflict with Samuel wouldn’t cause any harm.

All too soon, he approached Holbrook’s Apothecary. The old pane-glass door was now embellished with the shop’s name in gilded letters. As he pushed the door open, the familiar scent of herbs and soap filled his nose. Nostalgia washed over him. He missed the hours spent discussing remedies and diseases with William Holbrook. He had always admired the older man’s passion for healing.

Inside, the shelves that lined one long wall contained neat rows of the same bottles, tins and jars that he remembered. But the counter in front of the shelves now held a large copper scale and several small displays instead of Mr. Holbrook’s piles of paperwork. To his surprise, the small tables on the other side all sat empty. He hardly remembered a time when there hadn’t been at least one customer waiting for an order.

“Jake!”

He turned just as a dainty figure swathed in flowered muslin launched into his arms. Laughing at Cat’s exuberance, he swung her around before setting her back on her feet. It was good to see that her unconventional, passionate spirit hadn’t changed with the years.

“Coralee said you were back, Jake, but I wasn’t sure you’d have time to stop in. All that responsibility with Dr. Jay, you know,” Cat quipped with a wink. She glanced at the door behind the counter. “If you’re here to see Coralee, she’s working with some ingredients in the back. Peppermint, this time. It smells wonderful, unless it burns.” Cat’s pert nose wrinkled at the memory of the acrid smell and Jake grinned.

“It’s all just part of the job, Catrina, my girl.”

Cat shot him a good-natured smile and sudden seriousness settled over Jake. Life had been much simpler when they were growing up. Before Coralee had broken his heart, before he’d left Spring Hill, before Alan had died.

He shook off the gloomy thoughts of the past and looked around. The middle Holbrook sister wasn’t in the store as he expected her to be. “How’s Cecilia?”

“Oh, she’s fine,” Cat answered, waving one hand in her usual flippant way. “You know she was covering the school when Alan was sick and couldn’t teach?” Jake nodded. “The school board asked her to take over the position after he...” Her voice trailed off as she glanced at the workroom door again. Her brow furrowed and she caught her bottom lip between her teeth, looking as if she was hesitant to even mention Alan’s death. But she shook it off, smoothing her already perfect hair. “Anyway, Cecilia seems to love it. I think being in charge of an entire roomful of children sounds dreadful.” She shuddered dramatically, making Jake chuckle.

“I’m glad she’s doing well, even if her career makes you ill,” he teased.

Cat’s light laugh dispelled the somber mood. She pointed toward the office door. “You’d better go see her, Jake. She was hopping mad the other day after she talked to you.”

“What’s going on with Dr. Jay, Cat?” He had to know what his lifelong friends saw in his mentor.

Her hands clenched at the mention of the doctor’s name. “Oh, the man is a bother. He doesn’t like Coralee running Papa’s shop and he tells his patients not to come here. She’s working so hard to keep things going, but business is too slow these days.” She gestured to the empty tables. “I think Dr. Jay will come up with a way to get at her no matter what she does.”

Jake studied the closed workroom door thoughtfully. He trusted Cat, but he also trusted Samuel. “Cat, it’s been good to see you again. I’m going in. Come and check on me if you hear her throwing things.” He winked and squeezed her hand as he headed behind the counter. He paused with his knuckles raised to knock, took a deep breath and prepared to face Coralee.

* * *

Inside the workroom Coralee stood at one end of the large wooden table. Wiping her hands on the canvas apron covering her navy blue dress, she pushed back the strands of hair that always seemed to come loose. Jars of herbs, half-full beakers, a small metal scale and Papa’s marble mortar and pestle sat before her, evidence of an early morning full of work. She hoped she was close to figuring out which elements would create the right amount of pain relief with the fewest side effects. But this process wasn’t as easy as extracting the usual herbs like dogwood, ginger root, lavender or spearmint. Mixing elements to form a new compound had been Papa’s idea. After too many failures, Coralee was beginning to think a single herb had to be the answer.

A firm knock sounded on the door several times before she noticed. She shuffled her notes into a haphazard pile and covered the remnants of burned peppermint and yarrow with a cloth. When it came to making Papa’s shop a success again, she couldn’t be too careful. “Come in,” she called, trying to smooth her hair again.

When the door opened to reveal Jake, her breath caught for a moment. His chocolate-brown eyes made all thoughts of chemistry and herbs disappear. She couldn’t help admiring the width of his shoulders, broad chest and strong arms as he stood outlined in the doorway. Coralee flushed, realizing the direction of her thoughts. She had given up the right to notice Jake’s looks a long time ago.

“Good morning.” His deep voice was a bit cool. Not surprising, after her shameful behavior at the café the week before. In spite of her embarrassment, her traitorous heart started to beat faster as he stepped into the room. Closer to her.

Coralee forced herself to sound aloof to cover her unwanted reaction. “Good morning. I hope you haven’t come to spy on my work for Dr. Jay. I’m certain he would love to get his hands on anything he could use to undermine my business more.”

Jake stiffened at Coralee’s sharp words. “I came to speak to you about the problem you seem to have with Samuel.” His eyes flashed and Coralee realized baiting him might not have been the best response. “I don’t want working in the same town to be awkward, but you aren’t making it easy to get along. Samuel believes that medical professionals should be educated and governed. He doesn’t know anything about your experience, just that you aren’t certified.” Jake gave her a hard look to go along with the forceful words. “He might be a bit old-fashioned concerning his feelings about women in the field, but that’s all it is, Coralee. It’s not personal.”

“I shouldn’t be surprised that you would take his side. Do you have a problem with my level of experience, as well?” She turned sharply on her heel and marched to a glass-fronted cabinet full of clean jars and beakers. Her reactions weren’t smoothing things over at all, but she couldn’t seem to get her emotions in check. Alan, Jake, the failed experiments, Dr. Jay, declining business at the shop... It all swirled in her mind, making her tense and snappish.

With her back still turned, she heard Jake retreat to the doorway. “I’m sorry you think that of me.” His voice sounded tight and maybe a little wounded. “I’d hoped we could work together, in spite of our past. But I can see that you haven’t become any more reasonable than you were the night I told you about St. Louis.”

To her dismay, tears filled her eyes. She stood facing the cabinet, pretending to search for something. If she didn’t reply for long enough, maybe he would just leave.

It must have worked. A moment later she heard the door slam behind him.

For the next several days Coralee threw herself into her experiments. She spent hours bent over her table pressing tablets and brewing teas. Many of the tinctures she had mixed weeks before were ready for a few of her patients to test. In spite of some mild success, nothing was effective enough to market to the public. As much as she wanted to make a brilliant discovery, she was about to hit a dead end. With each compound she marked off Papa’s list, Coralee grew more and more worried.

In the evenings she tried to relax in the living quarters behind Lily’s Café with Cat, Cecilia and Aunt Lily. Their conversation flowed around her, but her mind whirled with thoughts of herbs and Jake. Why did she behave so dreadfully every time she saw him?

“Coralee?” Cecilia’s sweet, concerned voice broke her out of her dark thoughts. “What’s going on? You’re so quiet and distracted these days.”

She looked around the table at what remained of her family. The shop’s success or failure affected them, too, so she might as well include them in the problems. “As Cat knows, our customer base is dwindling. My experiments on Papa’s research for the new medicine aren’t going well. I don’t know what to do to save the shop.”

“We still have customers coming in, Coralee. Enough to keep the shop running. We can pay the bills and we have some money in the bank.” Cat sounded unaffected, as always. But her confidence didn’t weaken the constant pressure in Coralee’s chest.

Cecilia reached over to rub Coralee’s shoulder as she chimed in with her usual optimism. “Papa would understand if things don’t work out. He loved the shop, but he wanted us to be happy more than anything.”

“Maybe you’re right. But Papa trusted me to run the shop the way he would. I know I can do this. I have to do this.”

Aunt Lily clucked her tongue. “Now, girl, you worry too much about that old shop of your pa’s. Your life can be much more than just running that place, my dear.” Coralee started to argue, but Lily shushed her and went on. “I think I see what the problem is here. It seems you don’t think you’re meant for anything more than that shop. But I’m here to tell you that’s altogether wrong, child. God has great things for you, happy things. Maybe this is just one small part of your story, not the whole thing.”

Cat and Cecilia nodded along with Lily’s words, but Coralee couldn’t accept that. God had placed her in the position of running Papa’s shop, carrying on his legacy. She had accepted that His will for her didn’t include her own family, so the shop had to be her sole purpose now. It had to be enough.

Coralee went to bed early, just to have some time away from her family’s prying eyes. But no matter how much she tossed and turned, she couldn’t sleep. Jake’s presence in town had stirred up feelings she had hoped were long buried, disappointments she had tried so hard to force away in the years since Alan’s death.

Frustrated by the emotions rising in her, Coralee left her room. She tiptoed through the house, hoping she wouldn’t wake anyone. It only took a few minutes over the stove before she settled in a chair at the kitchen table with a china cup full of steaming tea. She had just started trying to formulate some kind of words of prayer when a voice startled her.

“Mind if I join you?” Aunt Lily stood in the doorway, a thin blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Without waiting for an answer, the older woman crossed the room to the teakettle, fixed herself a cup and settled at the opposite end of the table.

Coralee examined her dear aunt, the woman who had been such a mainstay in her life. Sitting there in her nightdress with a loose braid pulled over her shoulder, Lily Holbrook looked older than Coralee had noticed before. Maybe even a little frail. All the more reason she had to get the shop back on track. Cat depended on it for her livelihood and soon enough Aunt Lily would, too. She was a strong woman, but she couldn’t run the café forever.

“Well, my dear, something must be bothering you. After the week you’ve had, you ought to be sleeping like a baby.”

Coralee considered brushing her aunt’s concern aside. She wanted to. But she was humble enough to admit when she needed wisdom. “It’s been years since I’ve spent so much time around Jake. I’m...having a hard time understanding my own feelings about him right now.” The words came out more faltering than she’d intended, but they were out, all the same.

Understanding filled Aunt Lily’s face. “You have so much history with him, dear girl. Not all good, though, I’d guess. I never did understand why he took off and you started spending your time with Alan.”

Coralee twisted a lock of long hair between her fingers. “The last night we talked before he left... Aunt Lily, he never even told me he was applying to medical school. Never bothered to ask my opinion. I thought...” Her voice broke, raw emotion rising to the surface. “I thought he was going to tell me he loved me that night. I was so sure he felt the same way I did.”

“But, instead, he told you he was leaving.”

Coralee stared into her tea, focusing on the tiny bits of herbs settling in the bottom so she wouldn’t lose her composure. “He was so excited. Of course, I knew he’d planned to become a doctor. But he had already applied and been accepted in St. Louis, without ever considering what would happen to me.”

Lily sipped her tea thoughtfully. “You were both young and impulsive, dearest. Are you sure he meant to leave you out of it? Could it be that he didn’t realize how his actions would seem to you?”

“If he was in love with me—planned to spend his life with me—how could he make such an important decision and not want to include me? His medical training took him away for seven years, Aunt Lily. If he had professed his love, that choice would have affected my life, too. It wasn’t a priority for him to include me.”

The older woman shrugged, unconvinced. “I’ve known Jake Hadley just as long as you have. He’s always been an honest, kind man. I can’t imagine that he meant to hurt you.”

“Well, he did hurt me.” Coralee was getting a bit tired of the way Aunt Lily kept defending Jake. Shouldn’t she be taking her niece’s side? “If he loved me, why did he just leave? Yes, we had a misunderstanding. But after that night, he didn’t try to clear things up with me, didn’t even say goodbye. He just left.” Tears were threatening to overflow. Coralee tried to blink them away but they spilled down her cheeks anyway. “He abandoned me. Just like Papa. Just like Alan. They all left.” She rested her head on her arms as a sob escaped.

She felt Lily’s arms come around her and turned into the older woman’s shoulder. Since Mama had died when Coralee was four, Aunt Lily had been a mother figure in all the girls’ lives. Now her comforting embrace broke open the floodgates. Coralee let all her frustration with Jake and the situation at the shop flow out with her sobs.

Eventually the tears slowed and Aunt Lily pulled away to look into her eyes. “Dear girl, I’m so sorry. You’ve had your share of loss already at such a young age. Now, it may be hard to swallow, but losing people is part of life for all of us. Don’t sell Jake short because of past mistakes or the chance of losing him in the future. All you have is today. Try to be open to what the good Lord is telling you.”

Aunt Lily patted Coralee’s back gently as she headed for the door. “I’m going to try to get some sleep. I’ll offer up a few extra prayers for you and Jake.”

The late-night talk didn’t calm any of the worries in Coralee’s mind. The next day she was more determined than ever to make the shop profitable again. A few hours into the work, she was stopping every few minutes to stretch her aching back and rest her strained eyes. She wanted to push through Papa’s list as fast as she could, but she kept mixing up the measurements and grabbing the wrong herbs. Her conclusions would never be accurate with mistakes in the process. A break was in order.

She stepped out of the workroom and joined Cat at the counter. Coralee had always loved mixing remedies at the shop’s counter. The recipes were so ingrained in her mind that she could relax while her hands did the repetitive work. No customers were waiting, so the sisters set to work putting together some of the basic restoratives that were always in demand.

Sometime later, the bell above the shop door jingled as an elderly woman in stained calico and a worn sunbonnet shuffled in. Coralee couldn’t contain her grin. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Bernard. I’m glad to see you’re able to make it to town again.”

The old woman’s thin lips stretched in a smile, revealing several missing teeth. “This fine weather is giving me back my strength. I told that son of mine that he was bringing me along to town and that’s final. Good boy still listens to his old ma, most of the time.”

Coralee felt her tension melting away as she spoke with one of her favorite customers. She enjoyed visiting with the people who frequented the shop, building trust with each of them. “He must be a smart man. All due to good parenting, I’m sure.”

Mrs. Bernard’s leathery skin wrinkled even more as she cackled in response.

Her joyful spirit was infectious, lifting the weight that had been on Coralee’s shoulders the last few weeks. “Now, what can I help you with today?”

“It’s that cough again. Keeps me up at night, it does.” Coralee could see the woman searching for words. She wouldn’t meet Coralee’s eyes. Was something else wrong this time?

“If there’s something you need, I can help you. You just have to tell me.”

Mrs. Bernard sighed. “My boys didn’t find much in the mine last year. Made this a hard winter. I’ve held off awhile, but the cough’s getting worse. Maybe you have something that costs less than the Ayer’s?”

“Ah.” Understanding dawned. She couldn’t afford the Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral that she always came to get when the cough started bothering her. “Well, I could pick out something else for you.” Coralee leaned over the counter and lowered her voice. “Or, you could do me a favor and try a new mixture I’ve been working on. Of course, not knowing how well it will work, I couldn’t charge you for it.”

A flash of relief washed over the old woman. Then she straightened and pursed her lips. “Yes, I do believe that would be a fine arrangement. Thank you, Mrs. Evans.” Her shaky voice was laden with genuine gratitude. This was the reason the shop had to stay open. Papa had been right: the people of Spring Hill needed a place they trusted for their medicine, a place that cared about them.

Coralee turned toward the shelf that held the Ayer’s Pectoral. Her step faltered when she caught sight of Jake watching from a table, almost sending her smashing into the bottles. How long had he been there?

She grabbed several bottles, one full and one empty. With her back turned to the counter, she poured the curative, sealed the bottle and wrapped it in brown paper.

“All ready, Mrs. Bernard.” She walked the old woman to the door and handed her the package, thanking her for stopping by. Then she turned to Jake. He looked tired, but there was a hint of approval in his eyes.

“I saw that.” He leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms as that warm hint grew into full-fledged admiration.

She shrugged and moved behind the counter with her head high. “You saw me fill an order for Mrs. Bernard? It’s for the cough that keeps bothering her. She comes in every few weeks.”

He laughed, the enthusiastic sound contrasting with the weariness in his features. “You know what I mean. I saw you pour the Ayer’s Pectoral into the bottle you told her was a test mixture. A free test mixture.” She flushed under his direct gaze. “That was commendable, Coralee. It was something your father would have done.”

She brushed at the tears that threatened to fall when he likened her to Papa. “Mrs. Bernard is a lovely woman. I hate to see her suffering and not do something about it. Now, what brings you in today?”

In an instant his mirth disappeared and weariness flooded his features. “I came to ask for your help. I’ve been out south of town for the last few days, caring for several families. It’s cholera.”

A knot formed in Coralee’s stomach. There hadn’t been a cholera outbreak in the area for years. Would this one turn deadly, as so many others had? Though she’d never seen it herself, Papa had told her about his experiences with the sickness. She knew how it could ravage a town in no time, starting with stomach pain and nausea, progressing to fever, pale skin and lethargy. If the patient didn’t show signs of recovery in the earliest stage, they most likely wouldn’t pull through.

Jake ran a hand over his face before continuing. “Samuel left for St. Louis right before I received word. He’ll be gone for at least six weeks, caring for his sister, so I’m handling this on my own. The youngest Smith boy found me this morning. Mr. Smith and the oldest two children are sick now. I’m out of camphor and hoped you could spare whatever you have.”

“Yes, I have quite a bit. I’ll get a crate.” She was a bit hesitant to continue. Every time they were together, they fought. But he looked so worn out. What if things took a turn for the worse and he was out there alone? “Several families with cholera is a lot to handle on your own. I could ride out with you and help. If you want.”

“No.” Jake drummed his fingers on the counter, refusing to meet her gaze. “If I can just get the camphor from you, I’ll be on my way.”

She came around the counter to stand in front of him. “Jake, you need help. I know what to do out there.”

“I don’t doubt your abilities. But I can’t expose you to cholera.”

She planted one hand on her hip, searching for the words that would convince him he couldn’t do this alone. Coralee wanted to keep her heart as uninvolved as possible, but she couldn’t leave him to handle an epidemic on his own. “But you’ll expose yourself without any concern for your own health? Exhaustion will make you more susceptible, after all.”

With a sigh, he raised his hands in surrender. “If you’re sure you want to do this, then I guess you can come. I have to admit that I could use the help. Thank you.”

Coralee flashed him a smile in the hope that he would see she was confident about helping. Then she turned her focus to the task at hand. Handing him an empty crate, she directed him to a shelf filled with jars of camphor. Then, with Cat’s help, she started gathering supplies to stock her travel case.

Conflicting emotions churned inside Coralee now that she had a minute to think through what they were facing. She wanted to help. And Jake needed someone out there with him. But was she ready to take on the long, emotional hours ahead with her former love by her side?

Chapter Two

While he packed jar after jar into the crate, Jake tried not to regret agreeing to Coralee’s help. His first reaction had been to stay as far away from her offer as possible. He was weary to the bone and didn’t want to distract himself in such a critical time. And, despite his best efforts, Coralee was a distraction. But if he was honest, her actions with Mrs. Bernard had reminded him of why she was so good at what she did. She had a way with people that made them feel cared for and respected. And he needed the help badly.

Jake fitted a lid onto the full crate and turned to the ladies. “All packed. Are you ready, Coralee?”

“Yes, let’s go.” She was all business and that was fine with him. He couldn’t open himself up to emotional complications with this woman. He carried her case and the crate of camphor outside to the wagon and turned to help her climb onto the hard seat. He joined her and urged the horse into motion and they headed out of town in silence.

Through his exhaustion, Jake took in the familiar landscape he had missed during the years he’d been away. St. Louis was tight with buildings and people, unlike these rolling hills covered in swaying, knee-high grass. The late-afternoon sky above was endlessly clear, a blue so bright it almost hurt his eyes. As difficult as coming back had been, this was where he wanted to spend the rest of his days.

Coralee’s quiet words brought him back to the present. “How bad is this outbreak?”

He glanced over. She was staring straight ahead, more than a hint of worry written on her face. A sudden desire to fix the problem and erase that worried look took him by surprise. “I’m not sure yet. It seems confined to an area south of town. The fellow that helps out at the Wallace place came to get me first. They told me their neighbor, old Mr. Howard, was sick, as well.” Jake swallowed, trying to clear away the sudden dryness that was making it hard to speak. “He passed away before I got there.”

Coralee murmured, the gentle sound of sympathy making his eyes burn. He blinked hard. “I made some rounds to the neighbors after that, just to see if anyone else is ill. Mrs. Felder and the Smiths are sick. And Mr. Trask rode by the Wallace place when I was out there last night and told me the Rileys are ill, as well. I’m going out there after we see the situation at the Smiths.”

Coralee’s hand shot to her mouth, eyes growing wide. “Oh, no, not the Rileys. We see them at church every Sunday without fail. Their twins...”

Jake shook his head. “When Aaron started feeling sick a few days ago, Liza got Phillip and Louisa to the Trasks. I checked on them this morning and they’re fine.”

Relief flooded her face. The pure beauty of her expression hit Jake like a punch to the stomach, forcing the breath right out of his lungs. For a few moments he couldn’t pull his eyes away from her as she gazed at the wildflowers lining the well-worn dirt road. His hands itched to bury themselves in that mass of soft hair, to run over her smooth cheek. She must have finally felt his stare because she turned to him, a curious look on her face.

Jake twisted away and cleared his throat again, working to get a handle on his emotions and force them back into a corner of his mind. She might be beautiful, but he couldn’t afford to let her close enough to hurt him again.

They traveled in silence until he turned the wagon toward a log cabin in the distance. “There’s the Wallace farm. I haven’t been out to check on them yet today. They...” He hesitated, not sure how much to tell her, but realized she would have to know soon enough. “They aren’t going to last long, so I’m trying to make them comfortable.” She nodded somberly and they both stared ahead for the rest of the drive, each lost in their own thoughts.

After he pulled the wagon up next to the cabin, Jake helped Coralee down and grabbed their cases. He led her inside the small home, hoping their services were still needed. To his relief, Mr. and Mrs. Wallace were still breathing. But both had sunken eyes and a weak, irregular pulse.

He and Coralee worked with quiet focus. They spoke in hushed tones to encourage their patients to drink a bit of the tea Coralee prepared. They wiped the older couple’s faces with damp cloths and they changed blankets. They administered calomel and rubbed the patients’ stomachs with camphor to ease their discomfort. It wasn’t much, but it was all they could do.

While Jake was arranging Mr. Wallace’s blankets, the older man’s eyes fluttered open. He took a moment to speak with his patient. “Mr. Wallace, it’s Jake Hadley again. I’m here with the apothecary, Mrs. Evans. I want you to know...that is, I’m sorry, but I don’t think you or your wife will recover.”

To Jake’s surprise, the older man’s pale face broke out in a peaceful smile. “Young man, that news isn’t as bad as you think,” he rasped as his eyes slid shut. “My hope isn’t in this life. It’s in Jesus and He doesn’t quit when I do.” The older man fell silent and Jake stared at his sleeping patient as stillness washed over him.

Jake’s spirit stirred at Mr. Wallace’s confident faith. Where Jake had always struggled to live out his convictions, this man was bold even in the face of death. A longing lodged in Jake’s heart. Could he learn to rest in his faith so completely that even death didn’t frighten him?

It was late by the time Jake and Coralee finished caring for the Wallaces, but they headed toward the Smith farm. Driving through the falling darkness, Jake didn’t realize he had been wrapped up in his thoughts for too long until Coralee broke the awkward silence. “What was it like working at such a large hospital in St. Louis?”

“It was a great experience. There was such an interesting variety of cases. At such a large institution, we saw some rare diseases that were fascinating to study. And with so many patients there was something different to study every day.”

Remembering his time at the hospital, Jake felt enthusiasm welling up. It was nice to share that experience with someone who understood medicine. Even if that person was Coralee. “At the practice here, I only see a few patients at the office. I’m out making house calls most of the time for the same farm injuries or common illnesses.”

Jake glanced at Coralee and saw her eyes were wide, lips slightly parted in rapt attention, encouraging him to continue. “Most of the physicians at the hospital studied the newest medical research to use in their treatment plans. That aspect fascinated me. And that’s how I ended up connecting with Samuel. He always visits the hospital on his trips so he can keep up on the most recent advances.”

Coralee tensed at his mention of Dr. Jay. “Jake, I understand you’ve spent time with the man and you trust him. But you’ve known me since we were children. Why can’t you believe me when I tell you that Dr. Jay is doing everything in his power to close down my shop?”

Jake felt frustration growing and tried to fight against it. He needed her help. How would they be able to work together if they kept fighting every time they talked? “Are you sure you want to get into this right now? I already told you my opinion.”

“Yes, I believe I know your opinion of Samuel Jay.” Coralee pursed her lips, brows knitting together.

He had to get the conversation back on solid footing. He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. No one else got under his skin as fast as this woman.

“Listen, Coralee, I’m sorry.” He wasn’t about to budge on his opinion, but he could put aside his pride to defuse the situation. He turned to look into her eyes, hoping she could see his sincerity. “I need your help right now. Maybe after we get the outbreak under control, we can sit down and talk about this.”

She nodded and her eyes softened at his concession. The azure pools drew him in, flooding him with memories of the days when he had been in love with her. Carefree days when he’d thought their hearts would beat together forever. As it turned out, her heart had never beat for him in the first place.

It was nearly the middle of the night by the time they arrived at the Smiths’ cabin, but light pooled on the ground under the windows from a lantern lit inside. Jake knocked on the door and Mrs. Smith came to welcome them, looking weary. They followed her into a single room, stifling, thanks to a fire crackling in the large fireplace. Little Timothy Smith was sleeping soundly on a blanket laid out in front of it.

“Thanks for coming, Doc. My oldest two, Sarah and David, are in the loft. James is back there.” She gestured at a bed in the farthest corner, where they could just make out the shape of her husband under the mound of quilts.

Together, Jake and Coralee examined each patient. They found that the three sick members of the Smith family were in the earliest stage of the illness. Jake was confident they would recover with the right treatment. But Mrs. Smith continued to look worried in spite of his assurance. He set her to making a hearty broth while Coralee fixed a batch of chamomile tea. Jake encouraged each patient to drink as much tea and broth as they could handle.

“Doc, are you sure this is good for them? My ma always said the only way to cure the cholera is a spoon of castor oil every hour.”

Jake shook his head. “I recently trained in St. Louis, ma’am. One of the most successful doctors at the hospital taught that taking extra fluids could improve the outcome of many ailments. I’ve seen it work myself. I hope you’ll trust me that it won’t hurt your family to try.” The woman nodded and let Jake continue, but she stood close by, looking wary.

Working together, Jake and Coralee cleaned up and cared for each of the sick family members. Jake managed to convince Mrs. Smith to get some sleep while he and Coralee kept watch over her family. Each patient needed to have tea and broth around the clock, so he and Coralee settled into the rocking chairs near the fireplace, hoping to rest between rounds. But after several hours, they found themselves awake and reminiscing as soft light from the sunrise began to filter into the cabin.

“Remember when someone dared Cat to climb that huge tree by the creek?” Coralee’s eyes sparkled as she recalled the incident. “She was so determined to get all the way to the top, she never even thought about how she’d get down.” The quiet laugh that accompanied her story captivated Jake. It felt just like the hours they’d spent at Holbrook’s when they were younger, laughing and teasing as they’d cleaned shelves.

“I remember the look on her face when she realized she had to come back down the way she went up.” Jake grinned. “She was more determined to get down with her dignity intact than she was to climb it in the first place. And you were downright panicked when she started sliding down that lower branch to show off.”

“Papa would have never let me hear the end of it if she’d hurt herself doing something that silly. And you know we would have had to tell him, since he was the only one in town then who could have stitched her up.” Jake chuckled along with her. It felt good to share an easy moment together. The intensity that had colored all their interactions since he’d returned home had left him on edge.

Jake was proud of how hard Coralee had worked over the last few hours with him. She was compassionate and gentle with the patients, but efficient at the same time. Where another woman might have recoiled at the things they had seen that day, Coralee remained unaffected by the ravages of cholera. She hadn’t balked at any of the unpleasant tasks they’d had to perform to care for their patients.

Listening to her gentle voice reminiscing about their shared childhood, Jake’s imagination took over. He could see them like this, working side by side, sharing their days and nights, healing their community together. But memories of the pain she had caused him surfaced again. The past was always right there, reminding him that she had shattered his dreams once already. He couldn’t put his heart into her hands again.

* * *

Coralee noticed the moment the shuttered look passed over Jake’s face. She had been enjoying their companionable conversation more than she’d expected.

During their five years of marriage, she and Alan had been the best of friends. She had known him as long and as well as she had Jake. When Jake left so abruptly for medical school, Alan had been there. His support had helped heal her shattered heart. She still ached from losing the one person she could share the most personal parts of her life with. For a few moments, talking with Jake had felt almost as intimate as talking with Alan.

She wasn’t sure what she’d said to make Jake shut her out this time, but she felt bereft the moment he did. Maybe it was time to clear the air between them. “Jake, what’s wrong? Why do you always push me away? Is it the situation with Dr. Jay? Because I—”

At that moment Mrs. Smith stirred as she woke, cutting Coralee’s words short. They each went to tend to their patients one more time before they moved on. Upon leaving, Jake gave Mrs. Smith instructions so she could continue caring for her children and husband. Coralee left some camphor and chamomile with her to help ease their discomfort.

They loaded up in the wagon again and started out in the pale early morning light. Jake went over his plan for their visits that day. “If you feel comfortable on your own, I think today we’ll split up. Mrs. Smith said her youngest visited Mrs. Felder last night and she wants someone to check in. I’ll leave you with her for a few hours while I go check on Aaron and Liza.” He glanced over, one eyebrow raised in question.

Coralee nodded. “That sounds fine. How was Mrs. Felder when you were there last?”

A mischievous smile crossed Jake’s face. “I think you’ll see for yourself.”

Try as she might, Coralee couldn’t pry any more information out of him. She didn’t know Mrs. Felder well, but had heard talk around town. The older woman had come west with her son just the year before, built a sturdy cabin and started farming a plot. But her son had soon heeded the call of the frontier and headed farther west, while his mother had refused to leave. Coralee could imagine what the woman must be like to stay and hold the claim all on her own. She smiled to herself. A day with Mrs. Felder might be an interesting experience.

As it turned out, she was right about that. Jake introduced Mrs. Felder to Coralee at the door of the cabin, then left to visit the Riley family. Coralee could see immediately that the woman wasn’t in much danger of expiring from cholera. Mrs. Felder talked from the moment Jake left, with hardly a pause for breath. She led Coralee inside, then promptly lowered herself into a rocking chair and directed Coralee to cover her with a quilt.

“Now, if you’ll just straighten my dishes over there on the shelves. Everything has gotten to be such a mess while I’m incapacitated.”

Coralee examined the neat stacks of plates and bowls on the indicated shelf. Had Mrs. Felder set Jake to unnecessary chores during his visit, too? She shrugged and moved to do her patient’s bidding.

“That young doctor tells me you’re the apothecary. I approve of a young woman taking on a venture like that.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Felder. The shop was my father’s. He trained me and left the shop to me when he passed last year.”

“Ah, a wise man. A woman alone needs means of supporting herself. Take me. That son of mine has a wandering spirit something fierce. But I can make my way fine without him. I work my vegetable patch and grow the finest produce you’ve ever seen. That and eggs from my prized chickens keep me just fine.” The older woman kept up a steady stream of conversation as she handed Coralee a cloth. “For the dusting. This furniture is in an awful state.” Coralee examined the fine wood pieces scattered around the cabin, trying to hide an amused grin. There wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere in the room.

“Young Dr. Hadley sure is a handsome fellow. You have a beau, Miss Evans?”

Coralee flushed at the direct question. “It’s Mrs. Evans. My husband passed two years ago.”

“Oh, well, I’m sorry for that, my dear. My Fred’s been gone five years. He was a good one and I miss him every day.” She looked at Coralee with compassion. “How are you handling life by yourself?”

Coralee’s eyes welled with tears at the question. But, to her surprise, the ache in her heart was much less painful than usual. She focused on the lighter feeling for a moment. “You know, for so long I thought it would be unbearable forever. But maybe it’s starting to be a little less difficult.”

The older woman nodded, looking quite pleased. “That’s the way, Mrs. Evans. You’ll always miss him, but it gets easier. Now, about the handsome young doctor...” She paused, eyebrows raised and eyes glittering with interest.

Coralee wasn’t sure what to say. Yes, Jake was handsome. Spending time in such close quarters while they worked, how could she not notice his broad shoulders and arms thick with muscle? Or the short beard that made her long to trace his strong jaw to feel the texture?

She managed a strangled laugh as she tried to dismiss the older woman’s obvious hinting. “Oh, yes, Dr. Hadley is a fine man. But as you know, a widow must be prudent. With my position as Spring Hill’s apothecary, I can hardly go chasing after a man.”

Mrs. Felder’s eyes narrowed and Coralee got the impression the older woman wasn’t fooled by the forced airiness. She motioned Coralee into the chair beside her. “Seems to me you might think you’ll be a widow forever. At your age and as lovely as you are, that’s a bit like giving up on the good Lord. You don’t strike me as one to give up so easily.”

Coralee swallowed hard at the blunt words. Was she giving up on what God might have for her? She decided to repay Mrs. Felder’s bluntness with some honesty of her own. “I’m not sure I can risk loss like that again. Losing Alan was...it was terrible.” Mrs. Felder nodded, understanding and compassion written on her wrinkled face. “How can I take that chance again? What if God takes everyone I love?”

“Oh, my dear.” Mrs. Felder placed her hand on Coralee’s. The gentle touch relaxed a tension she hadn’t noticed growing. “We’re guaranteed to lose ones we love now and then. But that doesn’t mean loving them isn’t worth the trouble. The people in our lives that we love are precious gifts, and the Lord says good and perfect gifts are from Him. So I can’t help but believe they’re worth it, even for a short time.”

The words stuck in Coralee’s mind. Knowing the hurt she had experienced, would she go back and choose to not love Alan? Never. Every day with him was a beautiful memory to her now. So maybe opening up to love again was worth the risk of heartache.

“Now, there’s a broom in the corner. The floor is terribly dirty.” Coralee stifled another laugh at the woman’s obvious overstatement as she reached for the broom.

Mrs. Felder chatted about everything under the sun while Coralee cleaned anything that could be cleaned. Whether it needed cleaning or not. She finally convinced Mrs. Felder to have some lunch with her, along with chamomile tea in case there was some hint of sickness left in the woman after all.

Coralee answered a knock at the door just after they finished. A burst of warmth rushed through her when she saw Jake waiting outside. What would he think if he’d heard Mrs. Felder’s teasing? But as soon as she took in the look on his face, she sobered. Something was wrong.

“It’s Aaron and Liza Riley.” A chill swept over her. He met her gaze, pain radiating from his eyes. “I don’t expect them to last the night.”

Mrs. Felder gasped, a wrinkled hand covering her mouth.

Coralee wanted to break down in tears at the thought of those sweet two-year-olds, soon to be orphans. But this was not the time to be weepy and fragile. The children needed strong adults to stand in their parents’ place.

“What can we do?”

“I’m not sure we can do anything. I’ve given them what I can to make them more comfortable. But while I was there, Liza spoke to me about the twins. They don’t have any family to take them in since Aaron’s parents died three years ago. She loves their life here. This is where they chose to start their family. Liza wants them to grow up here, not be sent back east.”

Mrs. Felder clucked her tongue. “Of course they should have a family here, where their parents wanted to be. The poor darlings. Do you know of anyone looking to adopt a child?”

Jake shook his head and Coralee’s heart sank. “No, and even if I did, most families couldn’t take them both and I won’t have them separated. I...I promised Liza I would care for them until I find the perfect family to settle them with.” His voice cracked with emotion as he spoke.

Mrs. Felder nodded with determination. “Dr. Hadley, I appreciate your concern for an old woman these last few days. But I certainly wouldn’t expect you or Mrs. Evans to spend time around here when other people need you more.” Jake’s skeptical expression almost made Coralee snort in laughter. Mrs. Felder acted as if she wasn’t the one who had been adamant about needing their attention. “You two go on and find those dear children a home.”

Coralee and Jake bid the older woman farewell and loaded up the wagon. Jake sat for a moment, the reins loose in his hands, eyes focused far across the grassy hills. A pang of compassion hit Coralee. He had taken on a great deal of responsibility in just a few days and he was handling it with such grace. He looked so forlorn that she couldn’t help resting a comforting hand on his forearm.

He shifted to face her. “I need to check on the Wallaces again. But it might take some time to get word out about the twins and find someone willing to take them.” He ran a hand through his short hair as he turned toward the open prairie again.

“We’ll split up. If you take me back to town, I can go calling with Cecilia to start the search for a family. Then you can visit your patients again. And maybe get a little rest.”

Jake’s drooping shoulders straightened, giving him a new look of purpose. “Yes, that’s a good plan. Thank you. The lack of sleep is catching up with me.”

They rode in silence for most of the trip to town. He dropped Coralee off at Lily’s Café and immediately headed back out of town. Coralee went in search of her sister to see if she was free to start looking for the twins’ new family.

All afternoon, Coralee and Cecilia visited their neighbors in town. Their first stop was the mercantile, next door to Lily’s. Mrs. Collins was tending the counter and greeted them with a cheerful smile. After a few moments of small talk, Coralee got to the point. “I suppose you’ve heard about the cholera outbreak south of town.”

The older woman cringed. “Such a frightening thing, cholera. Is it contained? Do we need to worry here in town?”

“Oh, no, it doesn’t seem to be spreading very quickly. However, several families have been hit hard. In particular, it’s only a matter of time for Aaron and Liza Riley.”

Mrs. Collins gasped. “Oh, just terrible. What of the children?”

“That’s why we stopped in. The twins are fine, but Liza’s wish is for them to find a family here in Spring Hill. We came to see if you would be able to take them, or if you know of anyone who may be looking to add to their family.”

“Oh, my. Mr. Collins would never stand for another child. Our youngest just married last fall, you know. No, we couldn’t. But you know all the news filters through here. If we get word of someone who might be able to provide a home for the children, I’ll come right to you.”

They finished their visit and moved on. Each place was the same: they would chat for a moment before Coralee explained the twins’ situation. The men would shake their heads, the women murmur in distress. Then each would state with certainty that no, they couldn’t take on two toddlers. Here and there, someone would remember a relative who might have an interest in one child. But as soon as Coralee insisted that it must be both children, they would recant. She made sure to remind each neighbor that if they thought of anyone, they could let her or Jake know.

Coralee and Cecilia finally headed home just in time to have supper with Cat. As soon as they ate and cleaned up the quick meal, Coralee fell into bed, exhausted and deflated from the difficult day.

Her sleep was so deep that she didn’t wake until Cecilia shook her shoulder. Bright daylight filled the room, disorienting her for a moment. “How long did I sleep?”

“Oh, it’s about noon.” Coralee shot up. She had planned to ride out to help Jake again after getting a few hours of sleep, but now half the day was gone. “Don’t worry about that.” Cecilia spoke as if she’d read Coralee’s thoughts. “Jake is here and wants to speak to you. I don’t think he has good news.” Cecilia left Coralee to dress.

She chose a red calico dress with a tiny rose pattern, then parted her hair and arranged it in a quick bun at the nape of her neck. Jake was waiting for her in the parlor, looking drained. A sinking feeling filled her at the grief written on his face. “It’s the Rileys, isn’t it?”

“And Mr. and Mrs. Williams,” he confirmed. He dropped into a chair and rested his elbows on his knees, hands clasped and head low. For a moment Coralee wasn’t sure what to do for him. But a nudge in her spirit gave her the answer.

Perching on the edge of a chair near him, she leaned close. “Lord, we grieve for the dear neighbors we lost today, but we know they’re celebrating with You now. Please give Jake peace and rest so he can care for the others who are sick. And point us to the perfect home for little Phillip and Louisa. Amen.”

When Coralee raised her eyes, Jake was staring at her. The look on his face was one she hardly expected to see from him. Flushing under the admiring gaze, she tried to ignore the fluttering of her heart. It had been so long since anyone had looked at her like she was beautiful. The moment stretched between them. His expression was intense, but not in the fuming way it had been a few days ago.

“Thank you for praying for me, Coralee. I guess I need it right now.” He paused, looking like he was searching for words. “I’ve never lost patients of my own,” he finally admitted. “Of course, patients at the hospital died, but I was just a student. With Dr. Jay away, the people in this town are my responsibility, my patients. And I lost five of them. Leaving two innocent children orphaned.” His eyes searched hers, begging her to understand. “Cecilia told me you didn’t find anyone to take the twins yesterday. I stopped by the Trasks’ to be sure they’re all healthy and Mrs. Trask said they can’t keep the children any longer. But my hope is that I can find a home for them soon. They deserve a big, happy family to surround them with love.”

A pang of regret made Coralee let out a slow breath. After all this time she couldn’t believe she still hoped he would include her, consider her a partner. But there he was, shouldering all the responsibility for the twins himself. “We’ll find someone. Everyone we spoke with knows to contact us the moment they hear of a family who could take in two toddlers. Word will spread and the perfect parents will turn up anytime now.”

Jake nodded and stood. “I can’t stay too long. I’m going to get a few hours of rest, if I can. But I’m heading to get the twins after that.”

Coralee’s heart ached for the sweet children. “I could go with you. I’ve spoken to the twins on many occasions at church. They might be more comfortable leaving the Trasks with someone they’re familiar with.”

He hesitated but then nodded in agreement as they walked to the door. Pausing, he turned to her before stepping outside. Bright midday sun slanted through the open doorway, outlining his tall frame.

“Until later, then, Coralee.” Intensity buzzed between them, making it hard for her to catch her breath. All she could do was nod, words sticking in her throat.

After he was gone, she sat to rest, emotions swirling inside her. The way Jake had looked at her had been so familiar. It had felt like they were close friends again. Or a courting couple. But they were neither of those things and she didn’t want them to be. The risk of losing another man she cared about was too great. Her eyes drifted shut and light sleep claimed her, filled with visions of Jake taking her in his arms.

She woke an hour later with a start. Cecilia had returned from her errands and joined her in the parlor. The middle Holbrook sister finished tying off the thread on the skirt hem she was mending before turning to Coralee.

“How are you feeling?”

Coralee took inventory of herself before responding. “Still tired, but better. Not a bit sick, if you’re worried about that.”

“Oh, that’s good. I was a bit concerned. But I also wondered how you feel after working so closely with Jake.”

“Working with Jake.” Coralee searched for the words to explain the last few days to her sister. “We fight a lot when we’re together. But he managed to put our past aside and work with me as a professional. That was nice, to be honest.”

“I don’t want to pry, but I have to wonder if there are some feelings developing again between you and Jake.” Cecilia spoke with gentle earnestness, as she always did.

As much as Coralee wanted to avoid the question, Cecilia’s genuine concern made it impossible not to give her an honest answer.

“I don’t know what he’s feeling, but I can’t stop thinking about him. As a man, not just a colleague or Dr. Jay’s protégé. But I don’t think he trusts me. And I’m not planning to fall in love again.”

Cecilia’s mouth curved into a slight smile, understanding filling her eyes. Coralee felt a wave of sympathy as she studied her sister. Cecilia was lovely. She was elegant and ladylike with a quiet, calm disposition. She should have had suitors lining up to call on her, but she never seemed interested in any of the local men. Now, Coralee thought that maybe Cecilia had experienced a bit of inconvenient love herself that made her keep men at arm’s length.

“Coralee, I can only imagine how frightening it must be to think of falling in love again after all you’ve lost. But I don’t want to see you alone for the rest of your life.” Cecilia moved closer and took both Coralee’s hands in hers. “You’re not an old woman with only a few years left to live out on your own. You can still have the family you used to dream about.”

Coralee tried to smile at her sister through the familiar ache that bloomed in her chest. “We all know that’s just not possible, Cecilia. I suppose my childhood dreams of love may not be out of the question just because I lost Alan, but I’m not ready to take that risk again.”

Cecilia’s eyes narrowed as if she wanted to dig deeper into her sister’s words. “Remember, God can use more than just birth to make a family.”

Coralee averted her gaze. She didn’t want to spend any more time talking about her crushed longing to have a baby of her own. That ship had sailed after five childless years of marriage.

To her relief, Cecilia didn’t say more about it before leaving to help Aunt Lily at the café. Coralee spent the early afternoon catching up on rest and praying about her future. It had been so long since she’d spent time in prayer on a daily basis and the words seemed stilted at first. But praying with Jake earlier had reminded her that God was always there to listen to the words she couldn’t say to anyone else.

When the time came to get ready to leave, she shook the wrinkles out of her dress and let her hair down. Making several thick braids, she twisted them together into a pretty chignon. She searched around in a bottom drawer for a narrow bow that matched her dress. Turning her head back and forth in front of the mirror, she checked the hairstyle and pinched her cheeks for a bit of color.

Will Jake like this shade of red on me? The thought popped into her mind unbidden. She realized she’d been studying herself in the mirror far longer than necessary. What was wrong with her? She felt like a schoolgirl, giddy about a young man coming to court her. But Jake was not courting her. This was hardly even a social event where she should be worrying about her looks. She was helping out in a time of crisis.

Settling a straw bonnet over her hair, she worked to pull herself together. She had to remain above reproach to keep the community’s respect. Acting like a silly young miss would give Dr. Jay more fuel for turning the town against her. She had to get a handle on these errant thoughts before Jake arrived to pick her up.

Just like a man who’s courting a woman.

Chapter Three

Jake only had time for a short rest before he drove to the café to get Coralee. They headed straight to the Trask farm, Jake’s nerves building the closer they got. Outside the weatherworn home, an older girl with tightly braided hair was hanging laundry on a line stretched between two trees. Three toddlers ran around the yard under her supervision, stopping in their tracks to stare as the wagon drove by.

Mrs. Trask came out of the cabin, shielding her eyes from the bright sun with one hand as she watched Jake help Coralee down from the wagon seat. The woman looked disheveled and weary, clothed in a work dress that had seen better days. Jake tried hard to relax. He wondered if children could smell fear like the wild dogs he used to chase out of Ma’s vegetable patch.

Mrs. Trask didn’t bother to approach the wagon, leaning against the cabin just outside the door. “Have you come for the little ones, then?”

Jake could only offer a curt nod. Mrs. Trask pushed away from the wall. “Good. I’ll get their things.”

He was sure he turned pale as the woman returned to the house. “What am I going to do with two babies?” The words came out haltingly.

Coralee rested a hand on his arm and Jake was sure he saw a hint of humor in her expression. “It will all work out. I can help you with them until we find a family. Cat can handle the shop on her own for a bit longer.”

They both turned as Mrs. Trask came back with a small bag. She waved a hand to her daughter, who gathered up two of the little ones in the yard and walked them over. Louisa and Phillip held on to the Trask girl’s legs for dear life as Jake took in their matching chubby cheeks, round noses and rosy mouths. Two pairs of clear blue eyes stared up at him.

He didn’t know if he should reach for them or wait until they came over on their own. But Coralee started gently coaxing them closer to her. His heart hammered against his ribs. She was beautiful, kneeling in front of the twins, making silly faces and talking in a calm voice.

Jake had never spent time around children. Ma had lost several babies after his birth, leaving him an only child. He had never minded it, maybe because he’d had such good friends in Alan and Coralee. But now, faced with two tiny people that were his responsibility, Jake was falling apart.

Coralee had pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and convinced Louisa to come closer. They admired the lacy trim, then with a quick twist and several knots, Coralee formed the piece of cloth into a simple doll. Louisa giggled with delight and hugged the doll close. How did Coralee know how to do that?

Standing, she went to the wagon and rummaged in her apothecary case, returning with a small tin. She knelt by Phillip, who moved close to watch her with great interest. With a dramatic flourish, she showed the child how to pull the lid open and place several rocks inside. It was a simple toy, but the boy took it with great seriousness. He knelt in the dirt to pile more rocks in the tin and dump them over and over.

It seemed like the most natural thing in the world for Coralee to help the children relax. Jake had no idea how to do that. How was he going to care for these two when he couldn’t even convince them to look him in the eye? Not knowing what else to do, Jake took the children’s bag from Mrs. Trask and loaded it into the wagon. Coralee lifted each child into the back, then climbed in and sat on the floor with one twin on each side of her.

She shrugged when she noticed him watching. “I’ll sit back here with them, so they won’t be afraid or try to stand and fall.”

Another wave of apprehension washed over Jake. It hadn’t even crossed his mind that they might fall out of the wagon if he left them in the back by themselves. He had never been in a position where he knew so little about something so important. Even when he’d started medical school, he had studied beforehand to teach himself basic anatomy and procedures. He had wanted to have some knowledge going in. But now that he was responsible for the needs and safety of two little people, he had no idea what to do.

He thanked Mrs. Trask for keeping the children, then directed the wagon toward town. The entire way, Coralee kept the twins entertained by telling stories and singing little songs. This was a side of her that he had never seen. It came so easily to her, while he was struggling to find even a few words to say to the little ones.

Once in town, Jake drove the wagon to the café to drop Coralee off. He was so distracted by the weight of having the twins in his care that he almost drove straight past the building. Why on earth had Liza trusted him with her children? He parked the wagon behind the café and turned to Coralee and the twins.

“Well, here we are.”

Coralee glanced up from the children. “It’s suppertime and I’m sure they must be hungry. Why don’t you all eat with us tonight?”

“Oh, yes. Thank you.” Jake hated that he was still at a loss. Of course, they would be hungry. His medical training had taught him all about children’s physiology and illnesses. But he was realizing how little that had to do with the day-to-day responsibility of raising them. He glanced at Coralee again, wondering if the desperation he felt was showing on his face.

It must have been pretty obvious because she scooted close behind the wagon seat and reached up to touch his arm. “Just come in and have supper. We’ll help you with anything you need.” Relief calmed a little of his fear. He wouldn’t be on his own with the twins just yet.

Jake jumped down and helped Coralee out of the wagon. He hesitated before gingerly lifting Louisa into his arms. Was he holding her right? He didn’t want to hurt her. With great care, he handed the little girl to Coralee. Picking up Phillip, Jake started to feel a bit of confidence. After all, he hadn’t dropped Louisa.

Coralee led them inside and called for her sisters.

Cecilia peeked in from the kitchen, gasping when she saw the children. “Oh, Coralee, they’re darling!”

Coralee just smiled as Cecilia turned to Louisa. “What a lovely dress. Is that your favorite color?”

Louisa’s smile was cautious but she seemed to enjoy the attention. “Yes, pink.”

“And it looks beautiful on you. Is that a doll you have?”

The little girl held out the handkerchief doll Coralee had made. “Coree made it.”

Cecilia winked at her sister. “That Coralee is very talented, isn’t she?”

Louisa nodded happily. “She’s nice.”

Jake’s heart melted a little. These poor children needed that sort of kindness right now. No matter what his personal feelings might be where Coralee was concerned, he hoped she would be a bright spot in the twins’ lives.

Through the conversation, Phillip just watched with wide eyes. When Cecilia tried to engage him, he buried his face in Jake’s shoulder. A surge of protectiveness took Jake by surprise. He rubbed the boy’s back and rested his cheek on the small blond head.

Cecilia couldn’t seem to get enough of the twins. “Oh, they’re just the most precious little things. Don’t you just wish you had a dozen of them?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, the ladies all froze. Jake wondered what the sudden tension meant. Cecilia blushed. “I’m sorry, Coralee. That was insensitive.”

Looking from one woman to the other, Jake had to ask. “What’s wrong, Cecilia?”

Silence followed his question. Even Louisa and Phillip seemed to pick up on the change in atmosphere and stilled. Finally, Coralee threw up her hands. “Not that anyone needs to know, but Cecilia forgot for a moment that Alan and I were never able to have children. I may never have children. That’s what’s wrong. Now, I’m going to get the food ready.”

Coralee retreated to the kitchen, her words hanging heavy in the air. Cat shrugged and went to help her sister. Cecilia bit her lip. “I’m sorry, Jake. That was awkward and it’s all my fault.”

He patted her shoulder. “No, you didn’t bring it up on purpose. It’s no wonder she was upset, though. I can’t imagine...” Jake’s voice trailed off as he thought of Coralee’s pain. He cleared his throat around the lump that suddenly formed. “I would hate to know I could never have children of my own. It’s terrible—”

The conversation was cut short when Louisa pulled at the leg of his trousers. “I hungry, Jake.”

He rested one hand on top of her head. “Me, too. I’m sure the ladies will have food on the table in no time.”

Mealtime brought another set of complications Jake would never have expected. Coralee and Cecilia settled each wiggling child on a chair and used strips of cloth to loosely secure them. Coralee showed Cat how to cut pieces of softer foods for the little ones to eat. Jake made mental notes of everything the women did so he could at least feed the twins by himself.

As they ate, Jake got a peek at more of the twins’ personalities. The women were busy talking when a mischievous look appeared on Louisa’s little face. Watching her out of the corner of his eye, Jake saw her chubby hand shoot out and grab a piece of bread Phillip was just bringing to his mouth.

“No, Lou!” The little boy howled in frustration while his sister stuffed the bread into her own mouth. Coralee turned and cooed over Phillip, oblivious to what had caused his tears. It was all Jake could do to cover his amusement. Who would have thought that such a tiny girl could already be so ornery?

“It’s been several days since we had any customers.” Cat and Coralee’s discussion drew Jake’s attention away from the children. Cat’s words surprised him. He hadn’t realized Holbrook’s was struggling that much.

Coralee’s shoulders drooped. “Hopefully, I can make significant progress on the medication soon. Otherwise, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”

Her comment piqued Jake’s interest. “You’re working on a medication? Is it something new?”

She shifted in her chair, frowning at her plate. “I wasn’t planning to say anything until it’s finished. But, yes, I’m working on a formula that Papa wanted to develop before he passed.”

“That’s great. How’s it coming?” Jake had known Coralee long enough to see from the look on her face that this medicine was important to her. Heaviness settled over him. There was no reason she would need to share a project like that with him. But he still found himself wishing she had wanted to. Wishing she wanted to involve him in something so vital to her business.

Coralee pushed food around with her fork, refusing to meet his eyes. “I’m not as close to finding the key ingredient as I’d like to be.” Without giving him a chance to reply, she turned to Cecilia, asking about her plans now that school was out of session until fall.

Jake’s heart fell. Coralee was sending a clear message that she didn’t want him involved in her work.

Suddenly, Cat sniffed and covered her nose with a handkerchief. “I believe one of the children might need attention,” she declared. Jake started to chuckle at her regal announcement until it hit him that he might need to attend to them himself. And he had no clue how to change a diaper.

Much to Jake’s relief, Coralee and Cecilia jumped in again, rescuing him from embarrassing himself with his profound lack of knowledge about children. Coralee searched through the bag Mrs. Trask had sent for the children. She pulled out two large rectangles of white cotton while Cecilia dampened several rags. Together, the sisters cleaned the children and put on their fresh diapers. Jake tried not to get caught staring while still managing to catch every move they made so he could replicate it.

As Coralee and Cecilia cleaned up, Jake heard a sound at his feet. He looked down to find Louisa standing in front of him, little arms stretched toward him. “Up?”

Her voice was quiet and tentative. Jake’s heart expanded in his chest as he cradled the girl in his arms. The love he already felt for these children was overwhelming, even after only a few hours with them. Coralee’s revelation flashed in his mind. His first thought was how painful it must have been for her to realize that she would likely never bear a child. But as he considered how much he already cared about the twins’ well-being, he started to wonder if his reaction had been impulsive. Maybe a family could grow out of people who just needed each other.

Louisa rubbed her eyes as she snuggled against his chest. “I think she’s tired.” Jake wasn’t sure how he recognized the signs, but it was encouraging. Maybe he could learn how to care for the twins, after all.

Coralee lifted Phillip into her arms and he stuck a thumb in his mouth, staring at her with wide eyes. “Phillip is, too. I’m sure this has been a difficult few days for them. It’s time for a good night’s sleep.”

Jake already felt more confident at the prospect of taking them home by himself, thanks to Coralee’s easy example. His room at the boarding house wasn’t large, but it would be plenty big enough to make temporary beds on the floor. The proprietress, Mrs. Hardy, missed her grandchildren in Virginia. She had jumped at the chance to help with the twins if the need arose. He was sure this could work for the short time they would be in his care.

He took the bag with the twins’ belongings from Cecilia and headed to the wagon. Louisa snuggled in his arms and Coralee carried Phillip. Something about walking alongside her with the children felt right. Jake shoved that notion back where it came from. The last thing he needed was to be distracted by impossible fantasies.

After setting Louisa on the wagon seat, he climbed up beside her and took Phillip from Coralee’s outstretched arms. He looked down into her lovely face. “Thank you again, Coralee. Your help has been invaluable.”

“I’m glad to help. Will you be all right by yourself with the twins, Jake? Two children can be a lot to handle.”

He tried to draw on the small burst of confidence he felt earlier, but it had waned. “I’m sure we’ll get along fine.”

“What are you going to do with them while you’re working? I could help you for a little while until you get into a routine.”

Jake considered her offer. A few days ago he would have refused her flat-out. He still wasn’t sure his heart was ready to have her back in his life. But once they’d learned how to steer clear of their past, spending time with Coralee had been downright pleasant. The twins liked her and she was such a natural caregiver. He had been wondering what he would do with them during the day. Focusing on patients visiting the office or traveling to make house calls would be difficult with the children underfoot.

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