The Lady Who Lived Again

by Thomasine Rappold

  * * * *

  “Daniel, can you hear me?” Maddie’s heart pounded. Over the last three years, she’d built a mountain of resentment toward Daniel, but even at her angriest, she’d never wished him ill. “Daniel?”

  He remained dead to the world, his face alarmingly white. She had to do something. Slipping her fingers under the ice-filled glove, she lowered her head beneath the brim of her hat and closed her eyes. Even against the chill of the ice, she felt the heat radiating from the hand she pressed to the large lump on his head.

  “Daniel!”

  Behind her, Gertrude had arrived on the scene. The shrill sound of her voice made it difficult for Maddie to focus.

  “What happened?” Gertrude screeched. “What did she do to him?”

  “She did nothing,” Amelia snapped. “He was hit with a horseshoe.”

  “Why is she, of all people—”

  “Hush, Gertrude!” Amelia’s censure did little to calm Gertrude’s hysterics.

  “What’s she doing?”

  “She’s applying ice per the doctor’s instructions. Now calm yourself, and help tend to Lucinda. She’s about ready to swoon.”

  Maddie closed her eyes tighter. The voices around her began to fade. Gertrude’s ranting faded, too. Maddie’s hands grew hotter. Ice thawed to water, seeping through the glove.

  Daniel stirred. His eyes fluttered open.

  Maddie drew a quick breath of relief. “Daniel, can you hear me?”

  He blinked hard several times, staring up at her, dazed. “Madeline?” His eyes flashed wide with recognition or fear or both. She hoped the stunned look on his face was due to his injury and not her actions. Could he somehow know what she’d done?

  “Oh, Daniel, thank God.” Gertrude crouched over Maddie’s shoulder. “Let him be, Madeline. He doesn’t want your—”

  “Stand back.” Jace had his stethoscope out and ready to go. “Continue with the ice, Maddie,” he said as he maneuvered past Gertrude. “The rest of you, give him some air.” The circle around them expanded as Jace knelt at Daniel’s side. “Welcome back,” he said as he checked Daniel’s pulse. He peered into Daniel’s eyes, first one, then the other. “Can you tell me your name?”

  “Daniel Hogle.”

  “Do you know where you are?”

  “Cousin Lester’s wedding picnic.”

  “Very good.” Jace helped him sit up. “Any dizziness?”

  “No.”

  Jace held up a finger and instructed Daniel to follow his movements with his eyes. “How do you feel?”

  “I feel…” He glanced at Maddie, and something in his eyes made her stomach lurch. “I feel fine.” He reached for the ice Maddie held to his head. “But the ice burns like hell.”

  “We need it for the swelling. You’ve got quite a bump under there.”

  Daniel pushed away Maddie’s hand. “It’s too hot.”

  Maddie drew back, her heart pounding. Fear trapped in her chest, and she could barely breathe.

  Jace examined Daniel’s head. Beneath the wet curls, the egg had shrunk to a bump that was barely visible. Jace’s brows narrowed as he leaned closer, manipulating the area with his thumbs. “The ice has helped. You’ve got a hard head.”

  Maddie exhaled in relief.

  “He should get extra points for taking a shot to the noggin,” Henry called out.

  Everyone laughed.

  “He should stop looking at the ladies when there are horseshoes flying,” Jace snapped.

  Daniel averted his eyes. It was clear that Jace had noticed Daniel taking surprising interest in Maddie during the game. But for all his earlier attention, Daniel suddenly couldn’t stand to look her way. This did not bode well, she thought, as Jace carefully helped Daniel to his feet, listing instructions for him to follow.

  Without so much as a thank you to Jace, Daniel turned toward Gertrude and Lucinda, disappearing inside their frantic embraces.

  “Remember, Daniel,” Jace called. “No more beer or horseshoes for the day. Continue with the ice and keep still.”

  Daniel stepped from the clinch of weeping women. He slapped Maddie’s soggy glove into Jace’s hand. “I’ll keep still, Doctor Merrick.” He jerked his chin toward Maddie without meeting her eyes. “As long as you promise to keep that woman the hell away from me.”

  Chapter 15

  “Daniel!” Amelia gasped.

  Maddie’s heart pounded.

  “He’s right, Amelia,” Gertrude cried. “That woman is cursed, and everyone knows it. I warned Lester that inviting her would be bad luck—”

  “That’s enough!” Jace’s voice boomed over the throng of startled faces. He took a deep breath, unfurling his fists. With a shocking degree of calm, he said, “Miss Hogle, you’re clearly distressed and concerned for your cousin. As a physician—and Miss Sutter’s fiancé—I strongly suggest you take both him and your hysterics home.”

  Gertrude gaped in silence. Seeking support, her gaze flew to Lester.

  “I agree, Gert,” Lester said, sounding more sober than he had all day. “Matthew, take Daniel and the girls home. Aunt Sally will see to him.”

  Matthew’s derisive glare fixed on Maddie for an endless moment before he grasped Dolly’s elbow and ushered her away. Gertrude huffed, but to Maddie’s relief, she followed the group to the wagon, where they readied to take Daniel home.

  Maddie’s erratic pulse calmed amid the air of awkward silence around her. Amelia gave a sharp clap of her hands. “All right, now, everybody, the day is still young. Let’s get back to enjoying it. Luncheon will be ready soon.”

  Everyone ambled off in different directions. Philip ambled straight toward Maddie. He handed her the glove she’d discarded when she’d stuffed the other one with ice. “Are you all right, Miss Sutter?”

  The concern in Philip’s soft brown eyes earned him a smile. Whatever he’d heard of her past, the dear man remained unaffected. “I’m fine, Philip. Thank you.”

  Jace placed his hand on the small of her back. “Let’s put the unfortunate incident behind us, shall we?”

  “Of course,” Philip agreed with a nod.

  Jace led Maddie back to their spot beneath the tree. Her mind raced as she reviewed her actions. The fear that Daniel might suspect what she’d done—that Jace would find her out—tightened like a noose around her neck. Had Jace seemed surprised by how quickly the lump on Daniel’s head had shrunk? She hoped that, due to the ice, such progression was plausible.

  Maddie wrenched the stray glove in her hand as they sat quietly. Too quietly. Jace’s lingering silence heightened her dread. She’d been lucky so far, but she was taking more chances. Yesterday, while Jace was treating patients in his examination room, she’d been particularly daring with two patients in the waiting area. Under the guise of applying her trusty “warm herbal compress” she’d relieved the severe pain in Mrs. Canfield’s arthritic knee, and then she’d silenced the chronic ringing in Mr. Schyler’s ears.

  Maddie was drawn from the memory by Bitsy and Henry, who were spinning in front of her, trying to capture an elusive butterfly. She watched, entranced by the fluttering thing as it darted around the young couple. Henry finally managed to scoop it into his flailing net, and Bitsy let out a cheer.

  Maddie sighed, sympathizing with the poor creature’s plight. This business of healing in public was risky. It was only a matter of time before she was caught, too. She inhaled a deep breath, breaking the unbearable stillness.

  “Thank you for intervening with Gertrude, Jace.”

  “It was a pleasure,” Jace deadpanned. “That woman is a complete and utter nuisance.”

  “Pastor Hogle is her uncle. The trait runs in the family.”

  “Ah, that would explain it.” Jace smiled warmly, and all at once, Maddie’s fears fell away.

  “Luncheon is served!” With a sweeping wave, Amelia herded her guests toward the trestle table where the food was laid out.

  Eve
ryone crowded around the banquet, helping themselves to bountiful platters of smoked salmon and ham. Amelia had outdone herself with the bill of fare. In addition to scrumptious sandwiches smeared with caviar, trays of baked beans and tomato salad sat beside a souse of pigs’ feet and a variety of relishes.

  A hodgepodge of tempting aromas drifted from their plates as they returned to their blanket to eat. Maddie swallowed a bite of her chicken sandwich. “Will Daniel be all right?”

  “I’ll stop in to check on him later,” Jace said. “He sustained a concussion, but so long as he displays no symptoms of dizziness or vomiting, he should be fine.” He glanced up. “Thanks to you.”

  She swallowed hard, nearly choking on an olive.

  “The ice was instrumental in controlling the swelling.” His eyes sparkled with amusement. “Pity you had to ruin your glove to get it.”

  “Not to mention a full jar of lemonade,” she deflected.

  “In all seriousness, Maddie, you’ve a knack for keeping your head during emergencies. You’d make a fine nurse.”

  She glanced to the departing wagon descending the hill in the distance. Her mood dimmed beneath clouds of doubt. She couldn’t shake that look on Daniel’s face… “Not many would agree.”

  “Ignorant fools. Every last one,” Jace assured her with a squeeze to the shoulder.

  Guilt twisted in Maddie’s gut. Jace was always so quick to defend her. She did her best to shake off her shame.

  “Daniel’s outburst stemmed from jealousy,” Jace said. “And embarrassment for getting clunked in the head while distracted by you.”

  Maddie stirred uneasily on the blanket. “Oh, I don’t think he’s—”

  “Trust me, Maddie,” he said. “You were his fiancée.”

  “But he didn’t want me.”

  “That doesn’t mean he wants someone else to have you.”

  Maddie considered this, realizing Jace might be right. Had her fear of discovery led her imagination astray? Perhaps it was Daniel’s jealousy, not his suspicion of her, that had caused his odd behavior. Men tended to be territorial, and Daniel had spent most of the day staring at her from behind Lucinda’s back. Didn’t Maddie, in her own selfishness, harbor the same possessive feelings for Jace?

  They returned to their meal, sampling one delicious item after another. A plate piled high with currant tarts and apple turnovers made the rounds, not to mention more claret and beer.

  Philip approached, this time to serve Maddie a plate of Saratoga chips. “I recall that these were your favorite.”

  Maddie stared at the chips, stunned he’d remembered this from so long ago. Her heart warmed at his kindness. “They are.” She accepted the thoughtful offering with a genuine smile. “Thank you, Philip.”

  “My pleasure.” With a cursory nod to Jace, he strode away.

  “He’s smitten with you,” Jace said, watching Philip’s departure.

  “Don’t be silly,” she said. “Gentlemen always cater to the ladies during picnics.” She repressed a grin. “Besides, he’s well over the crush he had on me when we were young.”

  Jace’s brow rose in surprise. “So you admit he had a crush on you?”

  She couldn’t resist. “I admit that lots of boys had crushes on me.”

  “No doubt,” he muttered.

  With a teasing grin, she nudged him with her elbow. “If I didn’t know better, Doctor Merrick, I’d think you were jealous.”

  “If I didn’t know better, Miss Sutter, I’d think you might enjoy that.”

  She laughed, and he shook his head, lips quirking.

  “Come on, everyone,” Caroline called. “The scavenger hunt is about to begin. Ladies grab your baskets and your hunting partners. We’ll all meet back here in one hour to determine the winning team!”

  Jace and Maddie joined the others, following one of the many trails into the woods. The air was cooler in the shade of the trees and thick with the scent of pine and sap. Jace unfolded the list of twenty items as they walked a path of scattered pine needles and cones. The distant sound of the other couples faded as they forged deeper into the woods.

  The mere fact that they were alone roused excitement within her. Jace bent to pluck a mushroom from the bark of a felled tree, and Maddie tilted her head for a better view of his appealing backside. He placed the mushroom in the basket she held.

  “Only three items to go,” he said, though she could not care less.

  Searching for the remaining items on the list, they continued along the deserted trail until they came to a small clearing. Maddie’s leg ached, and she was relieved when Jace suggested they sit for a while.

  Adjusting her skirts, she wrapped her knees to one side, settling nicely on the lush blanket of moss.

  “Does it bother you much?” Jace asked, sitting next to her. “Your leg?”

  She glanced to the knee she hadn’t realized she was rubbing. “During lengthy walks,” she said.

  “I can prescribe something for the pain.”

  She shook her head. “No, thank you.”

  “You prefer to face it head on.” He smiled and his blue eyes sparked bluer in the open sunlight.

  “Believe me, I’ve taken my fair share of pain remedies.”

  His smile faded. “Tell me about the injury.”

  While she’d rather avoid the subject of her recovery entirely, she couldn’t dodge his questions forever. Disclosing a detailed account of her case was part of their bargain, and she had to remember that. After all Jace had done for her today, she owed him. “Doctor Filmore said my leg was badly broken. He set it as best he could, then warned me I’d walk with a terrible limp and the assistance of a cane for the rest of my life. In the worst case scenario, I would be confined to a wheelchair.”

  “You just had to prove him wrong, didn’t you?”

  “You’re starting to sound like Grandfather,” she said with a smile.

  “I’m starting to know you better.”

  She laughed, enjoying his playful and easy demeanor.

  He sat with his elbow resting casually on his bent knee, his other leg stretched out before him. “How did you treat it?”

  “I depended on a constant dose of pain remedies at first. But after a month or so, I decided to stop.” She chose her words carefully. “I used wraps soaked in hot water to combat the pain. Then I’d massage my leg for hours. Each day the pain lessened a bit.” She eyed him nervously, awaiting his reaction.

  “Heat and massage can be effective in stimulating blood flow to the muscles.”

  “Most effective,” she said with an overeager nod. “After forcing my weight on it daily, I was finally able to take a step without falling. Quite an achievement, since I’d become rather intimate with the floorboards during previous attempts.” She smiled. “But I managed that first step. That gave me faith.”

  “Faith,” he muttered. He all but rolled his eyes at the word.

  “You don’t believe in the concept?”

  “My patients’ spiritual beliefs don’t concern me.” His arrogance shot to the surface, piercing each word.

  “They should.”

  He frowned. “I’m a doctor. I treat bodies, not souls.”

  “And faith has no place in it?”

  “I put my faith in science.”

  Maddie knew Jace’s rigid worldview was the direct result of his disappointment with his father. She couldn’t blame him for that, but she did feel profoundly sorry for him. A person might find a great deal of comfort in the idea that there were some things reason alone could not account for—that there were other possibilities, earthly or divine, which could offer us hope. Jace allowed his profession to limit his spirit. To smother it. A pang of sadness crept through her. “That sustains you?”

  “It has to,” he snapped. His profile tensed. Crossing his feet stiffly, he stared into the trees. “It used to.”

  The surprising vulnerability in his admission touched a place deep
inside her. She could only imagine the horrors he’d endured at Pittsburgh Hospital. The despair. The need to comfort him, as he’d comforted her, rose in her chest as naturally as a breath. “It must have been difficult working in the emergency ward.”

  He stared at his boots, as though weighing his answer. “One day a man was brought in who’d been crushed between two train cars.”

  Maddie did her best not to grimace.

  “I’d seen a lot of fatal injuries during the early months of my residency, but nothing like this.” He shook his head. “His torso and legs were pulverized, but he was alive. I moved by rote, attempting to treat untreatable injuries, and all the while I wanted him to die. To stop suffering, and die.” His voice sank in remorse. “That was the first time I wanted to give up on a patient.”

  “You never give up on your patients?”

  “No, I do not. First, I do everything medically possible to save them. And if I can’t do that, then I do everything in my power to ease their pain until it is ended.”

  Her thoughts turned to Doctor Filmore and how easily he’d given up on her. Even after he’d realized his mistake in pronouncing her dead. She admired Jace so much. “You’re a dedicated doctor.”

  “I believe I could be, under the right circumstances. At the hospital everything happens so fast. We’re trained to treat and release patients as quickly as possible. Some we never see again, others we see over and over. Pathetic addicts, starving and beaten children.”

  “It sounds horrible.”

  “It was my job. And I did it well.” He averted his eyes. “Or so I’d thought until Kathy Fitzsimmons.” He turned back to Maddie, answering before she could ask. “Kathy was a young woman who was dragged by a carriage when her skirt got caught in the door.”

  Maddie cringed, picturing the horror of the poor woman’s ordeal.

  “Her fiancé was run over and killed while trying to save her, but Kathy survived. During her weeks in the hospital, she complained of feeling guilt and terrible fear. Since I was more concerned with her healing bones, I insisted she put the accident behind her, reminding her that she was lucky to be alive. A month after being released, she was brought in after slitting her wrists.”