The young nanny was delighted with his unexpected gift, yet wondered if she should return it, since she had no gift to present to him. Perhaps she would find something while he was away. Yet, just what would be to his liking, she did not know. Did he have hobbies, collections, or preferences, she wondered? For instance, her father collected carved, wooden ducks, her brother and cousin had marble collections, and her cousin also enjoyed books. Her sisters collected seeds to scatter. But what did Dr. John Davis collect? Oh, yes, that was it. He collected books.
By early the next morning John’s trio would travel. Rachael had never seen a more excited, jovial group at breakfast time, except on Christmas mornings. She had gotten up and dressed early to join them for the meal, after having rested well, only to discover that her presence was hardly needed or noted. They hurried through their ham, eggs, fruit bread, fruit, and juice and adjourned to John’s library to pour over some maps laid out on his table. He invited Rachael to join them, but she declined, wondering why he’d asked, and was soon bored in the background. Quietly, she went to search his bookcases for a good read. Finding one in a few moments, she glanced over her shoulder at the three to see them leaning over various maps, making diagrams and sketches of future destinations, just like excited children would do.
“By the way, don’t forget those red field glasses of yours, John?” Dr. Callahan told his host and friend, while they studied the route they would travel to Washington by coach, rail, and other ways. “We may spy a butterfly or nesting songbird. You never know.”
“I shall do just that! Thanks for reminding me, Buddy,” retorted the doctor, moving to retrieve the optical instrument hanging upon a coat rack near his desk. “I’d be lost without these glasses to view the wildlife and vistas. In The Garden At Butterfly Rest, my butterflies are already coming out of their cocoons,” he pointed out. “They usually begin in March or April.”
“I knew that,” Buddy Callahan replied with a laugh.
Grinning, John Davis asked, “How did you know, Buddy?”
“I’m just down Mousefield Road, remember? We have the same climate area, and I’ve had butterflies on my lilac hedge and evergreens for awhile now.”
“Mousefield Road? How charming,” declared Rachael. “Do forgive me for interrupting, but, you called it Town Road earlier, Dr. Davis.”
“In our childhood, it was called Mousefield Road, Miss Hathaway, and to my way of thinking, I prefer that name,” he told her.
“I do, too, John,” exclaimed Dr. Callahan.
“What is Butterfly Rest?” questioned the lieutenant.
“It’s out back. I’ll show you upon our return, Monty,” John suggested. “It’s simply a place where butterflies like to dwell. I don’t understand why they prefer that area, except that it’s rather sheltered and has some pretty flowers and lilacs there. That’s the only things I can think of which might be a factor.”
“I can’t wait to see that,” Rachael informed him.
“We shall do that in a few days, Miss Hathaway,” he promised with a smile. “There may still be snow on Blackberry Mountain, but I have colonies of butterflies and dragonflies living happily here, since it’s warmer than Black Woods and beyond.”
She was intrigued. “We have swallowtails, monarchs, and painted ladies at home,” she offered.
“By the way, there’s more of the white stuff on the glacier to see, too, you guys,” Buddy informed his traveling partners.
“I don’t believe we’ll go up there, though, since it’s rather cold and out of the way,” John countered. “Besides, I’ll need to get back home soon.”
“Buddy grinned. “I can understand why.”
“I will need to pick up Lily from her grandparents, Buddy, because I’ve only seen her briefly,” John explained, in a scolding tone.
“I see.”
“Or there could be birds in the belfries to view along the way,” Lieutenant Monty Graham joked, so he wouldn’t have to stifle a laugh at Buddy and John’s comments. “John, should I put these into my satchel with mine? They will be safe there. That way, our treasured glasses won’t get jarred around, dropped, lost, or the lenses scratched. They’re a very good value, you know. We must take extra good care of them. Buddy, do you want yours in here, too?”
“Yes, I’ll do that later, Monty. I will have to get them from my pack.”
“Yes, father Monty,” John teased. “That would be perfect, since I do wish to see the birds and bison.”
“We may have to scramble to get them in a hurry one day, though,” explained Dr. Callahan.
“You, two, I’ll take good care of your field glasses,” explained the lieutenant. “We will have plenty of time to find them if we see anything of interest. We can have them out at any time you wish.”
“Good. Buddy did say he’d ‘hang them around our necks at the first sign of a pheasant in flight.’ So, I’m holding both of you to your promises, brothers,” John explained in fun. “We’ll see some wonders.”
“I’m good for that promise, but what I’d really prefer to see is the widow Amber Worthington before we depart,” Dr. Callahan quietly revealed, causing the other two men to chuckle, while shaking their heads. “I’m so very pleased that she stayed to dinner last night. She’s a very beautiful, charming, witty, and intelligent dinner partner, I might add.”
John glanced at Rachael for her reaction, but she was trying to ignore them. “Yes, we know, Buddy,” he quietly replied. “But, you had better watch out for my Cousin Emery.”
Rachael grinned, immensely enjoying their joking, without glancing at any of them. Had they forgotten she was in the room?
“She seems like a fine woman, John. Perhaps you should consider her, someday.” The lieutenant quietly seemed to be giving his approval.
“I am not interested, Monty,” was his retort, loud enough that Miss Rachael Hathaway, who was reading across the room, most certainly heard his comment. “As I was saying, you would have to discuss her future with my cousin or the lady, since Emery has always had a special place in his heart for Amber Worthington.”
To Rachael, it seemed as if her employer was actually protecting the relationship between Mrs. Worthington and his Cousin Emery. For some reason, the nanny was pleased by his comments, since it appeared that he was not hiding a secret love with the beautiful widow. But, did his friend, Dr. Callahan, wish to court her, or was he just overstepping his bounds to test John Davis’ reaction? Rachael pondered these matters for a few moments, unable to concentrate on the volume she’d chosen to read. Yet, she only had to wait awhile, for the answers to her questions would soon be forthcoming, to greatly satisfy her curiosity about John Davis and his friends, if nothing else.
“Before we go, I have some things to discuss with Miss Hathaway, if you don’t mind, gentlemen. We shall need some privacy for a brief discussion here in the library. Then, I shall join you shortly, for the journey,” John announced, to everyone’s surprise.
After the two men left the room, he came to stand before Rachael. “First, I need to tell you where the money is kept, in case you need some while I am away. After all, you will be in charge here, and I am not sure how long this mission, or trip, I should say, will be. However, rest assured that I will make it as brief as possible, and I shall stay in touch with you every day,” he quietly explained.
“Oh, that won’t be necessary, sir, for I do not feel that I am qualified to handle your finances.”
He ignored her comment, to Rachael’s chagrin. “I do hate going away at this time, Miss Hathaway,” he admitted. Moving to his walnut desk, she noticed that he seemed to delight in explaining things to her. “It’s absolutely quite simple. I’ll show you. All you really must do for me is give wages to my help and pay the markets. Miss Callie can advise you on the marketing expenses, if you wish, or if you should need help. However, I’d prefer to keep the wage amounts private, betw
een you and I.”
“Oh.” She was intent on his explanations, while studying his amazing, wooden desk, complete with inlays, thinking that her father would just love it, since he was so inspired by wooden objects. Nervous by this new development, for she had never expected to be in charge of anything here, especially his money, she silently moved a bit closer. The very thought of being an accountant made her somewhat ill within her stomach, skeptical of both her ability and his judgment.
By glancing at her, John could tell that she was apprehensive, yet he trusted her. “Please relax, Miss Hathaway, and enjoy yourself here,” he half whispered. “It will go well for you.” A charming grin graced his face, as he studied her reaction for a few moments. Next, he removed a hidden golden key from underneath the desk, to unlock his interesting workplace. Then, he asked her to do the same for practice.
She drew closer. I can do this, she thought to herself. But he is asking a great deal of me.
In handing her his key, he quickly raised her hand to his lips. She didn’t flinch. It gave her a strange, exciting sensation. Rachael hadn’t expected this, either. For a moment, they gazed into each others’ eyes. She was questioning. He was smiling reassurance, holding her hand with the key in it.
In a moment, she quickly pulled from his gentle grasp and looked away to the window.
“Here is my ledger.” He expertly opened a volume to a bookmarked page with figures on it. “Please pay my three staff members these amounts listed on this page. Record it here, along with any debts that arrive, and the bill from The Market On The Main or Merry Market, of course, either by going with Crane when he goes shopping, or by mail or carrier. Crane’s own hand is preferable to me.” He turned to the next page, retrieved a pen, dipped it into an inkwell, and wrote a figure at the top. “Pay yourself this amount, please, and thank you very much for your time and for hiring on at Magnolia Gardens. This will be your own private page.” Everything was quite clear in his mind and he seemed quite sure of himself, and also sure of her accounting abilities, as she leaned to glance at the figure he had written.
“Oh, that would be entirely too much wages, sir, and not at all what we agreed upon at home, I mean, Dr. Davis,” she countered,
He smiled warmly. Carefully, he replaced the inkwell and pen and closed the account book and desktop. “Those are my orders, please, Miss Hathaway, and my name is John.”
“But, sir…”
“Secondly, Miss Hathaway, I need to say something to you now, before I forget. I want to make it perfectly clear that I am in no way romantically involved with Miss Amber Worthington. I never was, and I never shall be. She was a friend of my wife, actually her best friend.”
She held out the key to him and began to turn away.
He knelt. “This little compartment is where the key is kept. No one knows this, except for you and I. Please keep it our secret, and replace the key now, so that I will know that you know exactly where it belongs.” John took Rachael’s hand and helped her return the desk key into its proper hiding slot.
She drew a deep breath, while enjoying the nearness and touch of him, for some strange reason. “I, in no way thought you were involved with Mrs. Worthington, Dr. Davis,” she insisted, curtly. “In fact, I have not even pondered upon the issue much,” she told him, stretching the truth a little. Yet, she really gave herself away by using the word ‘much.’ “So, your spotless reputation is intact, I can assure you. Besides, it seems to me that all of your friends are already interested in her anyway.”
“It’s John,” he whispered, much enjoying her comments and beauty. “So, that is why you didn’t come down for dinner last night, on my last night home?” he asked abruptly, agitated, accusingly, yet quietly. “Was it because you hadn’t pondered it much, or was it that you had thought about it a great deal, her and I, and you were upset about it? Are you jealous, Miss Hathaway?”
“Absolutely not, because I have no reason to be, since I hardly know you. I don’t even understand why you are asking me all of these questions anyway, especially at this time. It is not relevant or imperative that I know anything about your social life. I am only an employee of yours, temporarily interested in this job. Afterward, I have many other plans in mind for the near future!” she reported.
“Oh, you do, and you are working for me only temporarily?” His voice was quiet, calm, contemplative. “We’ll see about that, and would you prefer that we discuss this when I return, so that you can seethe about it the entire time I am away, or should we discuss it now, Rachael?” he asked, taking the liberty of using her first name.
Her mouth opened in surprise at his questions and using her first name. She called him on it. “I did not indicate that you could address me by my first name, doctor.” Turning, she moved toward the settee to see if she’d left anything there, since he was making her feel uncomfortable with these unexpected changes. By now she was a bit perplexed. So, she boldly turned back to him. “What is your point?”
He moved toward her. “I believe that you understand my point. Amber Worthington and I are not romantically involved. Technically, I am free to address friends. I am a widower now.”
“I’m sorry for that, but there is absolutely nothing further to discuss,” she blurted, not caring who heard, even hoping that his friends had, because she felt that this conversation was getting out of hand and should be brought to a halt quite quickly.
Unexpectedly, he stepped to her and took both of her hands in his. She thought this was improper. It unnerved her. Her heart began to beat faster. She turned from his studying gaze, yet for some reason did not pull away from his gentle grasp. In fact, she welcomed it.
John stepped even closer. Gently, he turned her chin in his direction. “Miss Hathaway, during your short tenure here, you have surprisingly made me realize again what joy is, how laughter lightens the mood and day, and to enjoy the pink gladiolus in my own garden, even though I may not have told you any of this until now. You have touched a broken heart, repelled some of my tears, and gave me hope without you even knowing it. Therefore, I may soon need to make some new plans for myself, and for us, as well. I have tried to ignore my feelings for you, yet, they keep resurfacing, and I find that I simply cannot resist.”
She took a deep breath, because she was becoming quite warm by his presence, from simply gazing into those eyes of his, listening to the truth, holding hands, and hearing his astounding words. What was it she saw there? What was she to do? What kind of spell did this man hold? She had to admit that she did admire him, especially after all that he had been through. The kind manner in which he entertained his guests and treated his staff, even when he was not feeling well, was well taken by Rachael Hathaway. “Wisdom tells me that you will find joy again, eventually, with whomever comes into your life at the proper time, doctor.” She turned to leave, but, he stopped her abruptly with merely an admission of his feelings, even though he had let go of her hands, letting her go in his mind.
“I’m lonely. I admit it, Rachael. I miss Rose and Lily,” he confided.
He was calling her by her first name again, she noticed. Then, surprisingly, he requested the impossible. “I know this is very forward of me at this time, but would you please hug me, Miss Hathaway, before I depart?”
He appeared strong, steady, clear-minded, sincere, and truthful, as if a noble knight had taken over his presence. She did see a gentleman there, forward though he was. She was speechless after his latest request, although she found him appealing and charming. Rachael could not deny that. Still, she blurted her answer, as probably any young woman would do under the same circumstances, at least the ones in her circle. “What? Are you delirious? You’re impossible!” His words sent a jolt completely throughout her mind and body. “What did you ask of me and why?” she gasped in outrage.
“A hug, that’s all,” he whispered, hoping his calm demeanor would convince her not to deny his highly unusual request
. “I can’t explain why, Miss Hathaway, other than I care about you. I can, however, understand your anger.” Stepping very close to her, he waited, without touching her.
“No.” She rebelled, pushing him slightly, giving him a look of wonderment, while moving several steps toward the door. “May I take leave of you now?” Her words came across rather weakly, since she was unsure of herself. Strangely enough, she was also uncertain she even wanted to depart his presence.
He staggered because of his limp. Instead of answering, he stepped close once again. This time he held out his arms to her. “Rachael.”
In amazement, she was tempted, yet shook her head ‘No,’ while remaining fascinated by this man. “Why are you acting this way?” And why was she not running from the room?
The doctor remained silent, pondering. Finally he sighed and spoke, giving a few more words of explanation. “In case you did not hear me the first time, about the joy you bring, I will further explain of that consequence. It makes me wish to get to know you, Miss Hathaway, and call you by your first name, Rachael. Furthermore, I would like a hug, and to remember that embrace while I’m away. It’s as simple as that.”
“Oh.” In some strange way she could almost understand his feelings. In another respect, she thought it was clearly, absolutely impossible that she could become close to her employer, not that he wasn’t a handsome man, and in charge of most every situation, it seemed, except for this one.
He could sense her fury, or was it fear? John certainly did not wish to scare her in any way. So, he dropped his arms to his body, defeated, dejected, and rejected, yet determined to prove his sincerity and worth to her, someday, in some small way. Yet, how could he show her his honesty within just these few brief moments they had together before his journey? He was at a loss for ideas to prove his sincerity.
“That’s not simple,” she argued. “May I go now?” Rachael was adamant, abrupt, atypical of her usual behavior and attitude, and he was causing her to be this way. She didn’t like it.
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