Reverend Toland sighed. “They’ll come, slowly. Most of them will have to see proof that he’s as good as I say he is.” A small, wry smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “Before I went into the ministry, I thought about medicine. I learned enough to know a good doctor when I see one.”
Rachel’s hopes lifted. “Then you think that one day he’ll have a good practice here?”
“Yes,” he answered. “But it will take time. People don’t want to trust someone different. And that’s the shame of it.”
Rachel didn’t really understand what he meant by “someone different,” but she didn’t pursue the comment. She was just happy to know that even if other townspeople didn’t have good judgment when it came to doctors, the reverend, whom she liked very much, obviously did.
“Bram made us bring her sorry ass over here, Jason. She’s been loonier than a duck since this morning.” The hard-looking woman with the low-cut dress took a nervous puff of her thin cigar, then blew the pungent smoke into the air. She pushed a brightly dyed lock of brassy red hair out of her eyes. “Is she gonna be all right? We gotta get back to the saloon.”
“I’ll let you know, Tess.” He turned to the burly young man who had carried the woman into the office. “Thanks, Harvey, for bringing her over here.”
Much to Rachel’s relief, the muscle-bound brute pulled his gaze from her, his toothpick still gripped between his teeth, and gave Jason a terse nod. The man hadn’t taken his eyes off her all the while Jason and the woman called Tess had talked. No one had ever looked at her that way before. His arrogant, cocky stare probed her skin, making her want to hurry to the washbasin and scrub until she bled. She shuddered discreetly and moved as far away from him as she could get.
The woman called Tess strode by her on her way to the door. She smiled at Rachel, revealing a broken front tooth.
“Things workin’ out for you, Miz Weber?”
Rachel tentatively returned the smile, a little surprised that the woman knew who she was. “Yes, fine. Th-Thank you for asking.” She watched the woman disappear, noting that the bustle beneath her garish red gown swayed provocatively from side to side as she walked. She stopped, glaring back at the muscle man.
“Harv? Get your eyes back in that stupid head of yours. Miz Weber ain’t your type.”
The bartender gave Rachel a licentious grin, then swaggered out of the room behind the prostitute.
When both of them were out of sight, Rachel expelled a sigh of relief and went into the back room to the cot where Jason had laid the unconscious woman.
In the two weeks since she’d begun working for him, they’d treated more drunks and Indians than she’d thought could possibly live in one town. And strangely, none of the Indians she’d helped Jason treat had made her skin crawl like the burly white bartender. And, although Tess was the picture of every prostitute and saloon girl Rachel had ever read about, the one on the cot wasn’t. She was young and vulnerable looking. Rachel almost felt sorry for her.
“Rachel, get me some water. We’re going to have to cool her down. Her fever is pretty high.”
Rachel hurried into the other room, lifted the full pitcher of water into the basin, grabbed some towels, and dashed back to the cot. Jason was attempting to undress the girl.
“Do… do you want me to do that?”
He gave her a mocking smile. “I’ve undoubtedly had more experience undressing other women than you have.”
Oh, no doubt you have, she thought. Of course, she could never say such a thing out loud. Never, never. She still wasn’t used to his sarcasm. It stung her, even when it wasn’t actually aimed at her. But he was fumbling with the bodice of the gown, so she put the pitcher and the towels on the table by the bed.
“Here,” she said, pushing his hands away. “The hooks are probably in the back.” Rachel rolled the young woman toward her, careful to keep her face from pressing into the pillow. “Can you do it now?”
Jason quirked his eyebrow at her, as if expressing that he had no doubts about the task, then settled himself on the cot and began unfastening the hooks.
She felt a blush work its way up her neck and wished she could stop it. Every time he looked at her, she blushed. If he smiled at her, which was rare, she blushed. If he became impatient, which wasn’t at all rare, she blushed. If their hands accidentally touched as they worked on a patient, she blushed. If he knew what he did to her, he’d probably die laughing.
She watched him concentrate on the buttons. She could imagine his strong brown hands moving over the woman’s dress, probably inadvertently touching her skin. Suddenly Rachel found herself wondering how those hands would feel on her skin. The image bloomed in her mind. She could almost feel him snaking his fingers beneath her clothes, touching her in places that hadn’t been touched in—
Warmth spread into her stomach, heating up that place beneath it, that place that she’d long since believed was dead.
Sucking in a ragged breath, she scolded herself. A newly widowed woman should never think such thoughts. They were as bad as committing adultery itself. She tossed Jason a contemptuous look, one he didn’t even see, before glancing down at the unconscious girl.
Why, she wasn’t more than eighteen, Rachel thought, gazing at the girl’s pixielike features. She brushed back a blond curl, feeling an odd sense of companionship with the stranger. She was someone’s daughter. Did they know what she’d chosen to do with her life, or had she been left alone in the world, just as Rachel had?
“Let’s roll her back.” Jason’s voice interrupted her musings.
They both heard the front door open, and Jason stood. “Can you manage it from here?”
“Of course,” she answered. “Oh, by the way. What’s her name?”
“Karleen.”
She watched him go, then finished undressing the girl, leaving her in her camisole and drawers. As she sponged the girl down, she spoke to her softly.
Suddenly the girl moaned again, moving about restlessly on the cot.
“Shh, shh, Karleen,” Rachel soothed, softly stroking the girl’s forehead. “It’s all right.”
“Jeremy!”
Rachel froze. Her chest filled with a nausea that sank into her stomach. Mechanically she continued stroking the girl’s face, waiting to hear more.
Karleen’s eyes popped open. “Have you seen him?” She appeared lucid; Rachel was sure she wasn’t.
“Wh-Who?” Her heart was pounding.
“Lieutenant Weber.” Karleen gave Rachel a weak smile, her dry lips pulled tightly over her teeth. “He’s promised to come for me,” she said, her voice filling with tears. “I know he’ll come. He loves me, don’t you see?”
Rachel’s throat worked as she tried to breathe and swallow at the same time. She felt as though someone had just pushed her off a cliff and the only thing to catch her fall was a pile of rocks.
“Oh, Jeremy,” the girl said, her voice soft and sad. “Oh, Jeremy, please… don’t be dead. Oh,” Karleen sobbed, tears running down into her hair, “don’t be dead. I love you. I love you…”
The words were punctuated with sobs and slurred because of the fever, but there was no mistake as to the name she’d called out. Rachel gripped the cloth tightly to keep her hands from shaking. Jeremy and this… this whore? Her Jeremy?
A deep, welling sadness washed over her and she felt her own tears running down her cheeks. If only she’d come to him sooner he wouldn’t have had to find his pleasures somewhere else…
The girl moaned again, and Rachel quickly resumed sponging her down, although now it was purely a mechanical motion. She realized that it had been Karleen she’d seen at the funeral. Yes, she was pretty, but what had Karleen been able to give Jeremy that his own wife hadn’t been willing to give?
Rachel pulled out a handkerchief, pressed it against her eyes, then blew her nose. She just didn’t understand. It hurt so very much to think… that Jeremy had thought so little of her that he’
d openly slept with someone else. The thought that there had been others wormed its way into her head, and she took a deep, shaky breath.
They’d been apart so long. Perhaps other women tolerated infidelity, she didn’t know. Would it have made a difference if she’d accompanied him when he first came out here? She hadn’t wanted to stay behind—not really.
Liar. Her shoulders drooped and she sobbed quietly into her handkerchief. She hadn’t wanted to come out here, either. Isn’t that why she’d forced herself to live with her in-laws, even though she knew they didn’t like her? The reality of what she’d pushed Jeremy into hit her hard. His unfaithfulness was her fault.
She touched Karleen’s face, cringing as she did so. A tiny, spiteful part of her wondered why she had to care for the whore who’d stolen her husband. She looked at the girl again, imagining her and Jeremy together, naked, writhing in ecstasy.
“Oh, God,” she whispered, tipping over the chair in her haste to get away. She ran toward the other room. Jason stood in the doorway.
Turning swiftly around, she rushed to the corner, sank down on the sofa, and buried her face in her hands. She cried, trying to swallow the sound. If she kept quiet, maybe he wouldn’t discover her tears.
He sat down beside her and clumsily stroked her hair.
She refused to look at him until he touched her chin and raised her face to his. The look of pity she saw on his handsome features brought on a fresh urge to bawl. “Oh, don’t—” That was all she could get out.
“Ah, Rachel,” he said on a husky sigh.
“You heard, didn’t you?” she accused, feeling violated because what had happened made her look so in need of pity.
He nodded. “I heard.”
She sniffed and breathed in a shaky, hiccoughing sigh. “Did you know?”
He briefly looked away. When he looked back at her, he nodded again.
“Oh, Lord, I must appear such a fool.” She blew her nose and wiped her face—a useless gesture, for her eyes filled immediately and tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Believe me, Rachel, we didn’t know about you.”
Her mouth fell open and she let out a hysterical little laugh. “Oh… oh fine,” she blubbered. “He… he didn’t even tell anyone he was married?” She was learning too many things, too fast…
He swore. “I don’t know if he told anyone or not. He didn’t tell me, but then,” he added, his voice caustic, “we weren’t exactly friends.”
Suddenly, the knowledge that the entire population of Pine Valley knew about Jeremy’s adultery was almost more than she could handle. But the fact that everyone was probably laughing at her still didn’t hurt nearly as much as Jeremy’s deceit. She collapsed into sobs.
She felt Jason’s hands on her shoulders, tentatively at first, then he gently squeezed them, as if adding his emotional support. But she needed more, so much more, and her state of mind was far past rational thought.
She flung herself at him, burrowing against his chest, needing to be held. He was big and strong, and she wanted him to comfort her. Pressing her nose against his neck, she pulled his clean, spicy scent into her nostrils. His arms came around her and he pulled her closer, patting her on the back as one would a crying child.
“There, there,” he crooned softly.
The patronizing sound of his voice made her angry. She pushed at his chest and glared up at him. “I’m not a child,” she retorted, unable to keep her voice from wobbling.
“Of course you’re not.” He smiled down at her, hypnotizing her with his dark, drowsy eyes. She stared at them. The thick, dark lashes lined his lids perfectly. Her gaze slid down his smooth brown nose and cheekbones, across the faint shadow of his beard to his mouth. She swallowed nervously, her heart fluttering in her chest. His smile was gone.
He’s going to kiss me, she thought.
She watched his face come closer and she trembled. Closing her eyes, she felt his lips touch hers. His mouth was warm and tender, his lips gently tugging at hers, pulling them ever so slightly between his. She gasped, the sensation was so sweet she could hardly bear it.
The moment her lips parted, he pressed for more. Gentle tugging became experimental probing, and she felt his tongue gliding suggestively over the rim of her lips. She moved her tongue to meet his, shyly at first, unable to understand why his kiss should cause her so much more pleasure than any other kiss she’d ever had.
Suddenly his lips clamped over hers, and his tongue thrust into her mouth, rubbing over, under, and around her own. Her nipples hardened, and the secret, numb bud between her legs burst with a sensation so hot and exciting, she thought she might faint.
As quickly as it had begun, it was over. He grasped her shoulders and set her away from him. Confusion overwhelmed her. She stared at her lap, her hands pressed against her feverish cheeks. She had no idea what to say.
“I’m… I’m sorry.” Her voice was so shaky and soft, she could barely hear it herself.
“Dammit—” He took her hands away from her face and squeezed them in his own.
She dared look up at him then. His eyes were hot and black. His mouth was open just a little; she could see the edges of his teeth. His lower lip was full and sensual. Surprise washed over her desire. Although she desperately wanted him to kiss her again, she was afraid. All of the feelings he’d unleashed in her excited her.
As if reading her mind, he pulled her against his chest and kissed her again. Her lips clung to his, and when his mouth opened this time, she needed no instruction—or invitation. Pushing back her fear, she moved her hands up over his shoulders to his thick black hair and ran her fingers through it, pulling it, gripping it.
“Ahem!”
She forced him away, shoving at his chest like a guilty child. Glancing at the door, she saw Earl Tully. He stood with his hands on his hips and his feet wide apart, grinning at them from beneath his big gray mustache.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he drawled.
Jason rose to greet him, his manner so staid and dignified, Rachel was sure what they’d done hadn’t affected him at all. “What is it, Earl?”
“Somethin’s happened on the reservation, Jason. I think you’d better get over there, quick.”
Chapter Five
Jason briefly eyed Rachel’s flushed face. She looked as if she were going to fall apart. Why it mattered to him, he didn’t know, but if what Earl had to say had anything to do with the reservation and Jeremy Weber’s involvement, now wasn’t the time for her to learn the cold, hard facts. “Let’s go into the other room.”
“What’s happenin’ ain’t no secret, Jason.”
He stopped at the door, tossing Rachel another quick glance. She didn’t even seem to be paying attention. “What is it, then?”
Tully limped toward him, still favoring his injured leg. “There’s been a fire.”
Dread coated Jason’s stomach. “What happened?”
“Nellie Bluehorse stopped by to see her sister. Seems her two nephews are runnin’ fevers. Anyway,” he continued, shifting uncomfortably off his bad leg, “sometime during the night she went outside to get some air, and saw that the boarding school was burnin’. It’s gone, Jason. Burned clean to the ground.”
“They were warned,” Jason muttered under his breath.
“What?”
Jason shook his head. “Never mind. Incendiaries?”
“Looks like it to me.”
“Anyone hurt?”
Tully nodded. “Some smoke inhalation when they tried to put it out. And the fire spread to John Hart’s place.” He shook his shaggy gray head. “Joseph tried to beat the fire out with a blanket. He’s got bad burns on his arms.”
Jason’s fear escalated. He turned and looked at Rachel again, this time not caring what she was stewing about. After all, dammit, she was his nurse. “I’m going to need your help out there eventually. For now, see to Karleen.”
Rachel stood slowly, her face p
inched with worry as she gripped the arm of the sofa. “You… you want me to go back out there? To the reservation?”
“I hired you as my nurse, didn’t I?” She cringed at the hard tone in his voice, and he watched myriad emotions play over her face.
She crossed to the cot like a sleepwalker and touched Karleen’s forehead. “I’m… I’m sorry, but I… I don’t think I—”
“I should have gone with my instincts,” he interrupted, his impatience mounting. “Just stay here and stay out of my way.”
“Aw, now, Doc,” Tully interjected. “Go easy on her.”
Jason strode into the other room, Tully at his heels. “Dammit, Earl, I don’t have time to mollycoddle her. She knew full well that I treated Indians. It was the first thing I told her.” He jerked his leather bag off the desk, yanked it open, and shoved supplies into it.
“Now, Jason—”
“No,” he interrupted again, his anger spreading. “I’ve had my fill of these damned soldiers’ wives who arrive with their noses in the air, ready to condemn everything they don’t understand.”
Tully pulled out a cigarette, put it in the corner of his mouth, and let it dangle there, unlit. “That don’t sound like a description of Rachel to me.”
Jason pinned him with an insulting look. “It didn’t take long for her to get you on her side, did it?”
Tully laughed quietly. “Nope, it didn’t take long at all.” He continued to grin at Jason. “Seems to me she’s kinda gotten to you, too. Or,” he added, feigning ignorance, “was she kissin’ you against your will?”
Jason gave him a black look but didn’t answer.
“Christ, Jason,” Tully went on, “what d’ya think she is, anyways? Some kind of spy?”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Jason leaned against his desk and stared at Tully. “How do you know she isn’t?”
An incredulous look spread over Tully’s rugged, weatherworn features. “What in hell is she spyin’ on? Your imagination’s takin’ you for a real fast ride, Doc.”
Jason continued to stare, refusing to back down, and ignoring Tully’s remark about the kiss. “Maybe. But,” he added, lowering his voice, “have you ever wondered how such a sweet, innocent young thing, as you seem to think she is, could have married a bastard like Weber in the first placer?”
Heat of a Savage Moon--The Moon Trilogy--Book Two Page 8