A Prescription for Love (10 page)

Ellie pulled her arm free. “You haven’t even properly introduced us, big brother.”

“Sorry.” He turned to Heidi. “May I present my sister, Ellie Henderson. High school history teacher and champion of women’s rights.”

Ellie extended her hand. “How long have you worked for my brother?”

“Not long. A bit more than a week.” Her voice came out breathless, and Michael gave her a sharp look. Did her nerves trouble her, or was she about to have an asthma attack? If anyone could cause Heidi to lose her breath, Ellie, with all her energy, could do just that.

He placed his hand low on Heidi’s back. “Come on, let’s meet the rest of the family.” He guided her into the kitchen where Tori and Priscilla worked diligently on peeling mounds of carrots and potatoes at the table in the large, sunny kitchen. Steam rose from pots boiling on the huge stove, clouding the windows.

Tori glanced up and dropped she knife she held. “Michael!”

She raced around the table and threw herself into his arms.

“My goodness, such a greeting from my womenfolk.” He grinned at her.

Tori tapped him on the arm. “You missed the last two family suppers.” Then she shoved him back and regarded him with narrowed eyes. “Were you in a fight?”

His jaw tightened as he again waved off an explanation. No surprise at the shocked reaction from his family since he didn’t have a reputation for participating in bar brawls.

Stepping aside, he drew Heidi forward. “Tori, this is Miss Heidi Lester. I’ve hired her to replace Mrs. O’Reilly.” He turned to Heidi. “My aunt, Tori Cochran.”

Tori opened her arms wide and Michael nudged Heidi forward. Tori hugged her, giving Michael a questioning look over the girl’s shoulder. She leaned back and held both of Heidi’s hands. “We’re so happy to have you, Heidi. Welcome to our home.” She pointed to his cousin. “That is my daughter, Priscilla. Paul, the birthday boy, is out with his father doing whatever men do when their sons turn twelve.” She grinned. “Priscilla’s twin, Henry, is closeted in his room, most likely with his nose buried in a book, and Benjamin is around here somewhere.” She glanced around, as if expecting the child to pop up any minute.

Heidi glanced back at Michael, her brows furrowed.

“Tori, let’s introduce Heidi to one person at a time. You haven’t even mentioned Rachel and Zander yet, and she already looks confused.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry.” She addressed Priscilla. “Honey, can you hang Michael and Heidi’s coats in the hall closet?”

“Never mind, I’ll do it.” Ellie slid her arm into Heidi’s and moved her forward. “I want to have a few words with our guest anyway.”

Michael groaned and followed them down the hallway.

When Michael said she seemed confused, it was truly an understatement. Tori, who appeared to be a wonderful and loving woman, resembled a tornado. Another strong, confident woman in Michael’s family. Heidi may as well squelch any attraction to her knight in shining armor. He would never take a woman such as her seriously.

She sighed, and realized Ellie had stopped speaking and eyed her as if she waited for an answer to a question.

“Ellie, you’ve been rattling on and on for so long, it’s a wonder Heidi’s ears haven’t started bleeding. Allow the girl a chance to settle in before you overwhelm her,” Michael admonished.

Ellie rolled her eyes at Heidi. “How do you ever stand this pompous brother of mine all day?” She gave Michael a gentle push. “Go find Uncle Jesse. He’s out in the back with Paul. Doing men stuff.”

Michael regarded Heidi with concern in his eyes. “Will you be all right?”

Her heart skipped a beat at his protectiveness. He overwhelmed her with his kindness, yet remained so far out of her reach.

Before she could respond, Ellie spoke up. “For heaven’s sake, Michael, I won’t eat the girl.” She shoved him by the shoulder. “Go. Find something to do.”

Ellie dragged her into the parlor where they both sat on the beautiful red damask sofa in front of a roaring fire. Two arched doorways flanking either side of the fireplace led to a dining room Heidi could only see part of. A large gold-framed mirror graced the wall to their left, reflecting cherry wood tables scattered around the room. The polished surface of the tables held milk glass lamps, casting off warm light. She smiled at a curio cabinet bulging with children’s drawings and homemade artwork. The entire room enveloped her in a sense of peace and belonging.

“Since my pesky brother is gone, tell me all about yourself.” Ellie grinned.

“There really isn’t much to tell.”

Ellie drew back and raised her eyebrows. “Is that so? All right, then I’ll ask questions. How long have you lived in Guthrie?”

“Not long. Just a few days before Michael hired me in the store.” Ellie didn’t seem satisfied with such a simple answer, so Heidi told her the story of her arrival in Guthrie. As she spoke, her muscles relaxed, and she actually enjoyed sharing her hopes and disappointments with Michael’s sister. Ellie murmured comforting words at the right time, patted her hand occasionally, and generally offered sympathy without pity, which helped.

Heidi waved her hand in front of her face. “My goodness, I never talked so much in my life.” Did her emotions, or the heat from the fire, cause her body to flush? At the same time she felt almost giddy. She’d never had a friend to gossip with, as most girls her age had. Her isolated childhood prevented any type of confiding in others.

Ellie took her hand. “Heidi, based on what you’ve told me, you are one strong woman.”

Heidi’s eyes grew wide. “Strong?” She shook her head furiously. “No. You’re wrong. I’m such a coward.”

“You think so?” Ellie smiled. “You left the home you were practically a prisoner in. You rented a room, got a job, and defied your parents.”

Heidi continued to stare at her. This wonderful, confident, capable woman thought her strong? Mirth bubbled up inside her and rose to her throat. She covered her mouth and laughed.

“I’m serious,” Ellie said.

“All right, Ellie, I’m taking Heidi back now before you corrupt her.” Michael entered the room with an older man and three boys tagging along, all of them red-faced from the outdoors.

“Uncle Jesse, may I present Miss Heidi Lester, my new employee.”

Senator Cochran moved forward and took Heidi’s hands, raising her from the sofa. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lester.” Then he hugged her much like Tori did. The Cochrans were truly an amazing family.

He released her and turned to the boys. “These are my three rascals, Paul, the birthday boy, Henry, and Benjamin. Gentlemen”—he addressed the boys—“say hello to Miss Lester.”

All three boys politely offered their hands and shook hers. “Can we leave now, Papa?” Paul was already half out of the room when he asked. At Jesse’s nod, the three raced up the stairs, pushing and shoving, to do whatever young boys did.

Jesse settled in the chair across from her, resting his boot-covered foot on his bent knee. “Sit down, Michael, you look like a mama bear guarding her cub.” He waved to a chair, but kept his eyes on Heidi.

Michael sat in the chair next to Jesse and studied Heidi. She positively glowed. At least Ellie hadn’t reduced her to tears. Although, in all honesty, for as forceful as Ellie was, she would never intentionally hurt someone.

“I understand you’re from Oklahoma City?”

Heidi turned to Jesse. “Yes. I recently moved here, and Michael was good enough to hire me to work in the pharmacy.”

Jesse grinned. “That’s our Michael, always willing to help a damsel in distress.”

Michael hopped up. “Anyone want a drink before supper?”

Maybe bringing Heidi here had been a mistake. Everyone viewed him speculatively, and panic seized him at what they assumed. But something else disturbed him more. Heidi fit in so well. As he poured drinks, he noticed Heidi and Ellie chatted like old friends as Jesse threw in a comment every once in a while which had the women laughing.

He shook his head. No, she could very well pack up at the end of her month and decide working and living on her own didn’t suit her after all. A few weeks of freedom might be all she needed to settle down and live the life her parents planned.

Please God, not with Clarence Manfred, though.

He handed a whiskey to Jesse and two tiny glasses of sherry to Ellie and Heidi.

Tori entered with Priscilla on her heels. “Where’s mine?”

“Come over here, darlin’, and I’ll share my whiskey with you.” Jesse shifted and made room on the large chair for Tori.

“No, thank you. I’d rather have sherry.” She settled next to her husband and he pulled her close.

Michael studied them as he poured one more sherry and handed the drink to Tori. After all the years of marriage, his aunt and uncle were still very much in love. Sometimes he ached, knowing he’d never have what they shared.

Then his mind wandered back to their rough start. At one time he thought they might even divorce. But their story was different. Neither one had suffered a broken heart, or betrayal. Tori and Jesse merely had some issues to work out.

Memories of the betrayal he’d suffered was enough to keep reminding him why the beautiful woman with big blue eyes, skin flushed a charming red from the fireplace, and sitting merely a few feet from him, remained off limits. He settled back in his chair, trying very hard not to stare at Heidi.

Chapter 9

Heidi had never seen such an abundance of food on a dining room table in her life. Used to meals being quiet affairs, with only her, Mother, and Papa, the Cochran family’s suppers were quite impressive. Heidi, Tori, Ellie, Priscilla, and Michael’s sister, Rachel, who’d arrived earlier with her son, had carried numerous bowls of vegetables, platters of meat, baskets of rolls and biscuits to the table. The children raced back and forth adding salt, pepper, butter, honey, and jam.

Eventually eleven people took their places, and after Jesse blessed the food and thanked the Lord for the presence and good health of his family and friends, they all dug in.

“You’d better fill your plate, or you’ll miss out with this crowd.” Michael leaned close to her ear as he forked slices of beef on his plate, then handed her the platter.

Heidi took one piece of beef and passed the platter to Benjamin, seated next to her. “No you don’t.” Michael used his fork to spear another piece of meat and plopped it onto Heidi’s plate. “You need to eat more, put some weight on.”

Instead of the embarrassment she would normally have felt, she laughed and shook her head at his antics. Everybody in the family had a relaxed attitude. And she found the biggest surprise to be Senator Cochran. He had a reputation as a hard-nosed, highly ethical politician. One who would compromise, but never on his principles. His fights in the Senate were legendary. But around his family, he came across as funny and loving. His wife and children openly adored him. Rachel and Ellie respected him as much as Michael did.

She tried, but found it difficult, to push away the pain of knowing she witnessed something she would never have. Who would want a sickly, fearful wife? Certainly not the man seated next to her. Not when he came from this family of accomplished women. Her stomach clenched to think Clarence Manfred truly might be the only man who would have her. Life with him would not be fulfilling, but at least she wouldn’t be alone when Mother and Papa passed on.

“What’s wrong?” Michael’s eyes were sharp and assessing.

“Nothing.” She smiled tentatively.

He frowned. “You looked so sad all of a sudden.”

She blinked rapidly to clear the threatening tears.

Please don’t be so nice to me. You can’t be my knight in shining armor.

“Really, I’m fine.” She indicated her plate. “Tori is a wonderful cook, but I’m not sure I can eat everything.”

He studied her for a moment and then turned toward Paul who tapped him on the arm and asked a question about pharmacy school. Even though only twelve years old, the young man already planned his future. What an amazing family.

“Heidi, you must come with me one night to our Women’s Rights meeting at the new library.” Ellie’s voice rose above the others.

“Michael mentioned the meeting to me. I think I would enjoy it.”

Rachel leaned forward. “I would be careful getting too involved with my sister, Heidi. She has some pretty crazy ideas about things.”

Ellie swatted her on the arm. “Stop it, Rach, you’ll scare her.”

“Who’s scaring you?” Michael pushed his plate away and leaned back, arms crossed.

“Nobody. I’m going to one of Ellie’s Women’s Rights meetings and Rachel warned me about Ellie’s crazy ideas.” Did he really think her so breakable he had to defend her at the supper table against a group of loving people?

He smiled the stomach-clenching smile that had the corners of his eyes crinkling. Her fingers itched to push back the hair falling over his forehead.

Tori picked that moment to carry in a birthday cake with brightly lit candles. She placed the cake in front of her son and rested her hands on his shoulders. Each person at the table expressed their good wishes for Paul in the coming year.

“I wish for you to be as happy as you are right now with your family,” Heidi added when her turn came, thankful her voice didn’t crack with the emotion raging through her.

Again the family impressed Heidi when the last piece of cake had been swallowed, and Jesse hopped up to help with the clean-up from supper. Michael worked as well, and Jesse handed dishtowels to his four children and instructed them to assist. In a very short period of time, everyone had returned to the parlor where Paul opened a pile of birthday gifts.

Relaxed and happy from the meal and the company, Heidi sat on the sofa, mesmerized by the flames from the fireplace. Jesse and Michael had retired to Jesse’s office earlier. Tori and Priscilla had their heads together, flipping through a women’s dress catalog. Rachel and Ellie debated some political point Heidi had lost track of a while ago.

“It’s getting late. We should probably go.” The sofa dipped as Michael joined her.

Heidi stretched like a contented cat. “What time is it?” The day had been so pleasant, time meant nothing.