LITMIR.BIZ

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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.

      *

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