CHARMED Boxed Set 1, Hero Hearts Historical: Inspirational Western Romance

by Cambridge, Kate

  “I rested last night. It’s Magdalena who refused to leave their sides. She’s quite something,” Sister Theresa added, her knowing eyes locked on Doctor Holloway’s.

  “That she is,” he agreed.

  “Take her home, Lance,” Lee instructed. “I’ve got things here.”

  Lance nodded, moving toward the door with Magdalena in his arms.

  FOURTEEN

  “Keep her in bed. Do not let her out,” Lance instructed. “I’ll return to check on her as soon as I can.”

  “Is she going to be okay,” Mary asked, her worried eyes still on her friend. “She looks so pale.”

  “She’s suffering from extreme exhaustion,” Lance confirmed. “Sister Theresa said she worked tirelessly taking care of the children without a break for three days.”

  Mary gasped. “How is that even possible? I can barely stay awake for twenty-four hours, let alone three days.”

  “Let’s just say not many could do it—but it appears she’s just stubborn enough,” Lance sighed as he turned toward Mary. “She needs at least twenty-four hours of bed rest. She can eat once she awakens, but I do not want her getting up until I have a chance to get back to check on her.”

  “Yes, sir,” Mary agreed.

  “We’ll make sure of it,” Jim confirmed.

  Lance turned and left the room, muttering something about stubborn women under his breath.

  “Wow,” Mary breathed.

  “Yes,” Jim agreed. “That’s one very strong woman.”

  “She’s Claire’s best friend—what would you expect?”

  Jim chuckled. “Good point. Okay, I’m going to finish the chores. You stay here and watch over Magdalena. I want to get everything done so I can watch the fireworks show later.”

  “Fireworks show?”

  “Yes,” he confirmed. “This is going to get very interesting when the good doc returns.”

  Mary laughed. “Oh, that fireworks show. Yes, I think you might be right.”

  * * *

  “Magdalena, you’re going to get me into trouble,” Mary hissed. “I’ve got strict instructions to keep you in bed until Doctor Holloway returns.”

  “Well, he’s not here now, and I need to—use the facilities,” Magdalena declared, looking down at the nightdress. “What happened to my clothing?” She asked, her voice hoarse, her eyes wide.

  “It was all very professional, and I was right here, Magdalena. We couldn’t exactly put you to bed in your corset and the dress you’d been wearing over the course of three days with children vomiting all around you.”

  Magdalena’s shocked eyes looked into Mary’s. “He saw me naked? Without clothing?”

  Mary bit her lip. “That’s kind of the same thing, don’t you think?”

  “How can you joke about this?” Magdalena demanded as she threw back the covers, pushing Mary’s hands aside. “I will not stay in this bed any longer, and for the record, Doctor Holloway is not my doctor.” Her eyes narrowed into Mary’s.

  Mary bit her lip again, but this time with worry. “Magdalena, it’s only been four hours, and he’ll be back any moment. Just stay in bed for a bit longer—“ Mary protested, but Magdalena pushed past her and rushed toward the dresser, grasping it with both hands once she reached it.

  “See? You’re not well enough to be up yet.”

  “I just moved too fast. I’m fine. Please, Mary. Please just help me to the toilet. I need to relieve myself, and then I’ll return to the bed, I promise.”

  “All right,” Mary agreed, “but let’s keep this between us. Okay? And don’t pass out again, or I’ll really be in trouble. ”

  “Deal.” Magdalena agreed with a weak smile.

  Mary assisted Magdalena and then helped her back to the bedroom. “Do you want something to eat? It might give you strength.”

  Magdalena pressed her hand to her stomach.

  “Don’t tell me—are you feeling nauseous?”

  “I am, but I don’t think it’s the stomach bug. Honestly, it’s probably just because I’m so tired,” she explained with a yawn.

  “Here, drink some water.” Mary handed a glass to Magdalena. “I have a slice of cornbread. Do you think you could eat it?”

  “Just a bite,” Magdalena agreed.

  To her surprise, it helped to settle her stomach. “I’m going to rest for a bit more, but I want you to wake me within two hours, okay?”

  “Why would I wake you?” Mary shook her head at her friend.

  “Because I do not want to be in this bed when Lance—Doctor Holloway—returns. Please Mary, how would you feel if you were me and it was Lee who had seen you—,” She couldn’t bring herself to say it.

  Mary nodded. That would be mortifying. “Okay,” she sighed, “but you’re going to get me into trouble, you know that don’t you?”

  “No one owns me, Mary. What I do, and when I do it, is up to me. Understood?”

  “Yes, I understand.”

  FIFTEEN

  Something cold pressed against Magdalena’s chest. She swatted it away, struggling to open her eyes.

  “Hey there, it’s okay,” a deep voice assured her, and then she felt it press to her chest again.

  I know that voice. Lance! She swatted it away again, pulling the blankets up to her neck, and slowly opened her eyes.

  Lance, Lee and Mary’s eyes were all looking back at her.

  Magdalena narrowed her eyes at Mary.

  “It’s only been an hour, I swear.” Mary pleaded with her.

  Lance looked at Mary with a question in his eyes. “Have the two of you been plotting?” He asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

  “Out! All of you!” Magdalena demanded, pulling the blankets tighter around her neck.

  Lance chuckled. “Don’t be stubborn, Magdalena. I just want to make sure you’re okay,” he assured her in a calm, soft voice.

  “Your bedside manner won’t work with me, doctor,” she huffed. “I’m perfectly fine, and quite capable of determining my wellbeing on my own, thank you.” Her cheeks flushed red.

  Lee interjected. “Magdalena, you passed out at the orphanage, remained in that state for more than five hours. Essentially, you were unconscious—Doctor Holloway’s simply doing his job. We all want to make sure you’re okay.”

  “I was exhausted,” she turned her indignant eyes toward Lee.

  “Correct, and four-to-five hours of sleep isn’t going to remedy extreme exhaustion. Let us do our job.”

  “I’m not your patient,” she argued, taking both of the doctor’s in with her glare. “I have a doctor at home in Philadelphia.”

  “Yes, well, he’s not here is he? That logic won’t work. The only thing you’re accomplishing is the delay of the inevitable.” Lee offered—his tone similar to Lance’s. “Would you feel better if I did the exam?”

  Lance glared at his friend, and Lee simply shrugged his shoulders.

  “I don’t need either of you to do an exam,” she insisted. “Just go away and leave me alone.”

  “It’s not going to happen, Magdalena,” Lance confirmed. “I’m happy to sit by your side all day and into tomorrow if that’s what it takes, but you’re not getting up until you’ve rested for a full twenty-four hours, been examined, and eaten a full meal and kept it down.” He added for emphasis.

  Magdalena dropped her head back onto the pillow. “All right then, leave me alone and let me sleep.” She paused. “Just for twenty-four hours, correct?”

  “Yes, that and the other things I mentioned.”

  She groaned. “The children and the Sisters—are they all okay?”

  Lance sat down on the edge of her bed, and Magdalena moved away from him toward the furthest edge of the bed, keeping the covers tucked tightly under her chin.

  “I don’t bite, you know.” He smiled.

  “Just answer my question. Jose?” Her eyes filled with worry.

  “He’s going to be fine. I found three women who had all been sick with the same stomach bug who vo
lunteered to stay at the orphanage for a day or two. Jose’s fever had broken by the time Lee and I left. All he needs now—“ Lance emphasized, “is rest.”

  Magdalena nodded, clearly weary just from the brief conversation.

  “Thank you,” her gaze took in both of the doctors again before she turned on her side. “Just twenty-four total hours from when you first brought me here.” She clarified, then promptly fell back to sleep.

  SIXTEEN

  “That was embarrassing!” Magdalena complained, putting the silverware down on the table with a thud.

  “Well, don’t take it out on the silver,” Mary smirked.

  “They are both a pair of overprotective ninnies,” Magdalena added, “and stubborn, and bossy, and—,”

  “Me thinks thou dost protest too much,” Mary chuckled, moving the roast to a slab to allow it to cool.

  “Really?” Magdalena asked. “And what if it had been you in that bed?”

  “I would have felt the same way,” she agreed. “I’ve never even been Doc Holloway’s patient, but he’s still bossy and overbearing. Just ask Jim.”

  “Yes, overbearing, that’s it exactly.”

  “I still think you’re protesting too much, Magdalena. I think you like the good Doctor Holloway.”

  Magdalena’s eyes narrowed at her friend, but then she turned toward her resting her hip against the counter.

  “My father has given me an ultimatum,” she confessed.

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s told me that I have to find a husband and have a wedding date in place within three months—no, make that nine weeks now—or else he will find one for me.”

  “He can’t do that? Can he?”

  “You don’t know my father. He can, and he will.” Magdalena confirmed. “Coming here to work at the orphanage was Claire’s idea. She knew the sisters needed a teacher, and she knew about my father’s ultimatum. She felt that a cooling-off period might help.”

  “She said that?” Mary asked.

  Magdalena cocked her head. “No, I guess I’m the one who said that. Claire just thought it would be a good idea for me to come here.”

  Mary raised her eyebrows at Magdalena.

  “What?”

  Then Mary started to laugh, and she laughed so hard she held onto the counter for support.

  Magdalena smiled at her, the laughter infectious. “What are you laughing at?”

  “My sister is a matchmaker—come on Magdalena—you of all people know that.”

  “I’m not following,” Magdalena admitted.

  “She thinks you are the perfect match for Doc Holloway.”

  “She does not!” Magdalena shook her head adamantly.

  Mary giggled.

  “What’s so funny?” Jim asked as he walked through the front door followed by Lance and Lee.

  Magdalena elbowed Mary. “Don’t you dare,” she whispered.

  Mary wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, breaking into laughter again.

  Magdalena bit her lip but found herself laughing along with her friend. Before long they were both doubled over, wiping the tears from their eyes.

  The men looked at them like they’d gone mad, then Lance made his way toward them, his eyes narrowed.

  Magdalena sobered quickly. “We’re fine,” she assured him with a giggle holding up her hand. “Really. Why don’t you fellows wait outside and we’ll call you when dinner is ready?”

  Mary let out an audible sigh, holding her side. ‘Yep, wait outside. We’ll come to get you when we need you.” Never she whispered to Magdalena, then both women proceeded to laugh again.

  “They’ve gone mad,” Jim observed.

  “Shoo,” Mary insisted with a final giggle. “We’ll never get dinner ready if you don’t.”

  * * *

  “That was strange,” Jim commented to the other men.

  “Very,” Lance agreed. “But it was good to see color in Magdalena’s cheeks.”

  “And good to see Mary laughing,” Lee agreed.

  “You two have got it bad,” Jim confirmed.

  Lance and Lee looked at one another and grinned.

  “What was that about, though?” Lee wondered audibly.

  “If you ever figure out what’s going on in the mind of a woman, Lee, you’ll be a very wealthy man, indeed.”

  They chuckled. That was one thing they could all agree upon.

  SEVENTEEN

  “I don’t think I’ve laughed like that in a really long time,” Magdalena admitted.

  “Same here,” Mary giggled. “That felt really good. Who knew that a belly laugh could be so cathartic?”

  Magdalena sniggered. “Did you see the look on their faces?” She pressed her hand to her stomach—it still ached from laughing so hard.

  “They think we’ve gone mad. They really do,” Mary confirmed.

  Magdalena took a deep breath and looked at Mary. “Lee leaves tomorrow. Does that make you feel sad?”

  “Don’t try to turn the subject to me, Mags. We were talking about you and Doctor Holloway, remember?”

  “There is no me and Doctor Holloway,” Magdalena whispered. “And keep your voice down.”

  “I’m just saying that Claire is a natural matchmaker. You know that as well as I do,” she gave a pointed look at Magdalena. “I remember hearing her tell the doc that she thought she knew the perfect person for him, and then she manages to convince you to come all the way to Bareglen Creek. It’s not a coincidence.”

  “Even if that were true, and I’m not saying it is, what good does it do? I have less than eight weeks to find someone who will agree to marry me or my father will find someone for me. That’s just not—natural. It’s not reasonable.”

  Mary twisted her lip, then sucked the lower one into her mouth, pondering Magdalena’s words. “You have a point, but maybe there’s a way to escalate this.”

  “What are you suggesting?” Magdalena asked.

  “I don’t know yet, but I’ll give it some thought. We’re intelligent women; we’ll think of something.”

  “I can’t trick a man into agreeing to marry me, Mary. That’s simply not right. Marriage is—forever. It is meant to be between a man and woman who love each other, or at the very least feel they can create a meaningful life together, and not something to rush into or take lightly. I don’t even want to marry, and I think that’s what makes me the most furious at my father,” she admitted.

  “Well, let’s get dinner on the table, and we’ll work on this later. We can’t solve it right now, and we’re all hungry. Call the overbearing ones in.” She added.

  Magdalena chuckled as she made her way toward the door, inviting the men in with a big smile on her face.

  “Should we be worried?” Jim asked as they made their way inside. “We didn’t give you any reason to poison us, did we?”

  “Always the jokester, aren’t you, Jim?” Magdalena answered—without addressing his question directly, but she chuckled at his unease, then rolled her eyes. “Sit. Of course, we’re not going to poison you.”

  Mary seated Doc Holloway directly across from Magdalena.

  Magdalena had a difficult time hiding her annoyance, especially when the good doctor made no attempt to hide the fact that he was studying her throughout the meal. It made her nervous, and that made it difficult to eat, but eat she did. This was the final step toward freedom from the overprotective doctor—a full meal that she kept in her stomach. But the nervous butterflies in her stomach had her worried about her ability to pull it off.

  “Please stop,” she implored, looking directly at Lance.

  He raised his eyebrow at her.

  “You’re making me nervous,” she admitted, “and it’s rude to stare.”

  “I’m not staring, Miss Magdalena—I’m just observing.”

  Magdalena glared at Mary who was hiding her smile behind the guise of drinking water as Magdalena’s fingers tapped on the table.

  Magdalena turned her attention toward
Lee. “So, Doctor Jamison, what brought you to Bareglen Creek for this visit?” She was rewarded with a small cough from Mary as she set her glass down.

  “Are you all right, Miss Mary?” Lee Jamison turned his attention toward Mary, whose face was growing more and red by the second. Lee stood to assist her, but Mary held up her hand, managing to choke out, “I’m fine, really.”

  Magdalena grinned and turned her attention back to Lee.

  “I had two weeks off before teaching a new course at the university and thought I’d visit with Lance.”

  “Really? All the way to Bareglen Creek for just two weeks?”

  Lee’s face turned red, and Magdalena lifted her glass to her lips.

  “Yes, well, it’s peaceful here, unlike Philadelphia, and truthfully,” he raised his eyebrows then continued, “it’s a good reminder of why Lance and I both chose to pursue medicine. It helps to ground me and get back to the foundation of it all.”

  Magdalena’s voice softened. “It’s a far cry from Philadelphia, isn’t it?” Her eyes held sadness.

  “It is,” now Lee was scrutinizing Magdalena, as though suddenly aware that there was more behind her words than she was telling.

  “I had lunch with your father before I left. I’m sorry about your mother, Miss Magdalena.” Lee said.

  Magdalena’s eyes flew to Lee’s, completely unprepared for him to bring that topic up. She paused, collecting herself, then cleared her throat. “Thank you,” she managed breathlessly, then stronger. “What was the topic of conversation with my father?” Her voice held clear disdain.

  “He’s curious about my field of study—human behavior—and a deeper understanding of mental disorders. Or so he said.” Lee concluded, his eyes never leaving Magdalena’s.

  She broke eye contact first. “Well, it's good to hear that there are doctors who enter the profession with the desire to help and make a difference.” Then she glanced down at her plate. It still held half of her dinner, but there was no way she could eat more.