Dorothy Garlock (37 page)

“Now that Jack has made up with Ruby and is getting married, you want Joe to have a girl. Next it will be Jason and Joy. How about Evan?” he whispered against her lips. “Give him some attention. He wants a girl, too.”

“He’s got a girl and he gets plenty of attention.”

“Right now I want my wife before Nancy wakes up and demands her attention.” He moved her thigh back and forth over his erection, sought her lips and kissed her deeply. “I love you, Mrs. Johnson. Have I ever told you that?” He reached for the hem of her nightgown.

“Only about a million times, but it isn’t enough. I love you, too; and if you’ll help me get out of this thing, I’ll show you.”

Chapter 29

“I
’
M LEAVING YOU MY B
-
BASIC MEDICAL BOOKS
, April. Another doctor will h-have his own, and Joe can s-send mine to me later on.” Doc had been carefully boxing the instruments that he would take with him.

For the past two days April had carried a notebook and pencil and tried to soak up every bit of information Doc gave her.

“I’ve seen you in action. You’re b-better than you think you are,” he said when she expressed doubt about being able to take a culture to send to a laboratory for testing.

“I’m afraid, Doc, not about an emergency—I’ve had training for that; but something like a typhoid or whooping cough that I won’t know how to handle.”

“All you can do is the b-best you can. The doctor in Mason w-will know you are here alone. Call him. He’ll t-tell you what to do until he gets here.”

They’d had only the usual run of patients since the flood. Doc had made several trips to Shanty Town and reported that the folks had taken his advice and were boiling the water they used. There were no reports of fever aside from the usual flu symptoms.

Joe had come in for a few hours every day. He was helping his father with chores on the farm. Next week they would start picking corn, and he would have even less free time. He never tried to engage April in personal conversation, and she began to wonder if he had found someone else he was interested in. She tried not to feel hurt. It was what she had expected, wasn’t it?

On Friday night, the last night he and Caroline would be there, Doc invited Joe and April to supper. Caroline had cooked a meal of baked chicken and dressing, gravy and rice. April hadn’t been aware that Joe would be there until after she had been to the hotel to change out of her uniform.

Her face reddened when Doc opened the connecting door from the clinic and she saw Joe sitting on the couch. He was wearing his tan twill britches and blue collarless shirt. She was glad that she hadn’t dressed up too much, but wore a plain blue skirt and blouse with a red sash.

“Something smells delicious.”

“Hello, April,” Caroline called from the kitchen.

After nodding to Doc and Joe, April went to where Caroline was scooping dressing into a bowl.

“Here. Let me do that.” April took over the task, and Caroline placed the chicken on a platter.

It seemed to April that she had known the girl longer than a week. They had become fast friends in a very short time. She was smart and had far more general education than most people April knew. Most important, Caroline was one of the nicest, most compassionate people April had ever met. There didn’t seem to be anything she couldn’t do, from cooking a superb meal to making her own clothes, crocheting, knitting, cutting hair. She was going to be a wonderful helpmate for Doc.

On top of all that, she loved him to distraction.

On impulse April hugged her. “I wish you were going to be near so we could be friends. But you’ll be happier away from here.”

“Distance can’t keep us from being friends, April. Maybe someday you and Joe can visit us.”

“If I’m ever able to visit you, it will not be with Joe.” “You would come and leave him behind?”

“We’ll not be together. Joe isn’t that kind of man. He likes to play the field.”

“Play the field?”

“He flirts with all women. Goes from one to the other. He’s not great on commitment.”

“Todd doesn’t think so. He thinks Joe’s in love with you.” April’s heart lurched on hearing the words; then her common sense took over. Regarding women, men seldom see the faults of their good male friends.

“Doc is one of the smartest men I know, but he’s wrong in this case. Shall I take this bowl to the table?”

April was able to project a cheery mood throughout the evening. Caroline and Doc were excited, and she was determined not to put a damper on their excitement. Their plan was to load the car and leave before dawn. Joe was driving them to Kansas City to catch a train that would take them to Harpersville, Tennessee. Doc would send his sister a wire before boarding the train.

“Move into the house t-tomorrow, April. I’ll call Diane at the telephone office and tell her that I’ve b-been called away and that you w-will be here to take any emergency calls.” Doc chuckled. “Diane will s-spread the word so folks won’t think I just d-disappeared in the river.”

“The whole town will miss you, Doc,” Joe said. “You have been an important part of this town and our family for a long time.”

“I appreciate that. I’ll always have fond m-memories of Fertile. I made m-many good and loyal f-friends. And it was h-here that I met the love of my life.” He brought Caroline’s hand to his lips.

The leave-taking was especially painful for April. She hugged Caroline and then Doc, trying bravely to keep the tears from overflowing.

“I wish the two of you a long and happy life. Don’t worry about things here, Doc. Take care of each other and ...be happy.” April turned and bolted out the door.

She reached the steps on the porch, paused and let the tears roll down her cheeks. They blinded her eyes, and she was grateful for the hand that came suddenly to her elbow to guide her down the steps. Joe didn’t say a word until they were out on the street.

“You’ll be all right. You’ll do just fine.”

“I’m not crying for
myself,
you ninny.” She jerked her elbow from his grasp. “I know I’ll be all right. I’ll be just fine. I’m always just fine. No matter what happens, I’m just fine. Knock old April down, and, like a rubber ball, she bounces right up ...just fine.” Her heels clicked on the sidewalk as the words came spewing out. “Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that you can put your foot on her neck, but she’ll get up somehow. You can drag her through the mud, and she’ll come out clean as a whistle. She’s a rebounder and doesn’t need any help from the town jelly bean. You can take your sweet talk somewhere else.”

His gaze flicked to her set, defiant face. “That was quite a tirade. Have you finished?”

She refused to answer him. They walked side by side past the barbershop, the mercantile and the post office. Outside the hotel, Joe took her arm to keep her from mounting the steps.

“I won’t be back until late tomorrow night. If you need any help, call Corbin. He knows we are leaving in the morning.”

“I don’t think I’ll need any help.”

“You never know. Corbin’s here, if you do. Are you taking everything over to Doc’s in the morning?”

“If I leave anything here, I’ll have to pay a day’s rent. I’ll drive my car over so I’ll not have to walk through town carrying my ironing board.”

“Doc told me what happened the morning Mrs. Poole died. I almost had a heart attack when he told me how close you came to being stabbed in the back with a butcher knife.”

“But it didn’t happen, thanks to Fred,” she said with a shrug.

“I’d thank him, but I don’t want to let him know that Doc told me his sister tried to stab you. Doc wants me to keep an eye on you.”

“Good of him, but I don’t need you to keep an eye on me.” “I’ll come by Doc’s as soon as I get back tomorrow night.” “I might not be there. I have a date.”

“Oh, yes. I’d forgotten.” It was evident that he hadn’t. “Isn’t it with Harold Dozier, the big-shot lawyer, who struts around town with a dainty little handkerchief stuffed in his breast pocket? I’ve often wondered if he ever blows his nose on it.” He didn’t even try to keep the sneer out of his voice.

“Why don’t you ask him?”

“I just might do that.”

“Well, don’t do it tomorrow night. We’ll not be back until late.”

“Where are you going?”

“We’ve not decided yet. Maybe to Mason. Harold said something about St. Joe.”

“St. Joe is a good sixty miles from here. You’ve no business going that far with a man you hardly—”

“And you’ve no business telling me what to do.”

Joe looked at her mutinous face, then jerked her around to the side of the hotel where they wouldn’t be seen by anyone on the street.

“You go to St. Joe with Harold Dozier, and you’ll end up in a hotel room. Is that what you want?”

“Maybe,” she said sassily.

“Damn you.” He put his hand to the back of her head, grasped a handful of hair and tilted her face up to his. “I ought to kiss you senseless.”

“Just try it and I’ll bite you!”

“It might be worth it.”

“Better yet, I’ll scream rape!”

He laughed at that. She could feel the movement of his chest against the breasts crushed against him.

“Laugh, you jackass. And that’s what you are. A big, fat jackass.”

“I’m not fat. Julie is worried because I’m losing weight.” He was grinning now: the slow, sweet grin she hadn’t seen in a week. It angered her that she loved that grin and had missed it. It made her snap at him.

“I don’t care if you’re skinny as a beanpole. You’re still a jackass.”

“Ah, honey.” He lowered his head until his forehead rested on hers. “I’ve missed you.”

“You’ve seen me every day.”

“Yes, I have, and I could hardly keep my hands off you.” “That’s a good line. Do you mind if I use it sometime?” “Not as long as you’re talking to me.”

He bent his head and kissed her gently, softly. She gave a high moan, reacting with panic.

“No! I don’t want this.”

“Yes, you do. You want it as much as I do.” There was harshness in his voice.

“That’s not true!”

His mouth dipped and covered hers with a hunger that silenced her, forcing her lips to open beneath his own. One hand moved to hold her neck in a viselike grip, tilting her head so she could not escape from his kisses.

All her resolve crumbled. She abandoned thought of everything but the sensation of being close to him and of the flurry of excitement his lips were arousing in her.

They strained together, hearts beating wildly, and kissed as lovers long separated. His hand roamed restlessly from her shoulders to her breasts. He began to tremble, and his kiss became deep, deeper, until they both were dazed and breathless.

“Don’t do this to me,” she gasped when he lifted his head. “If you don’t want it, why did you kiss me?”

“I . . . didn’t . . .”

“You did. You know damn good and well you did. Be honest with yourself. You liked it as much as I did.” He was shaking, as if with a chill, breathing roughly, as if he had just completed a long run.

She stared at him, and he stared back as if he were not looking at her at all, but at something that suddenly made him go pale and haggard. She jerked away from him. Their eyes did battle for a space of a dozen heartbeats, then, dragging her back against him, he lowered his head and fastened his lips to hers again, kissing her bitterly, cruelly—hard, unloving kisses that took the breath from her.

She struggled without success and finally surrendered to his superior strength. At last he lifted his head. His arms held her so tightly she thought she would faint, and her blood pounded in her temples. Then dismay crept into her mind when she realized how easily he could take over her life.

“You can’t stand to have one get away,” she accused hatefully. “It’s a blow to your ego to have the new girl in town not want you.” Sparks of anger glittered in her eyes.

Joe expelled a heavy breath, moved his hands down her arms and held tightly to her wrists. They stood like that for a long moment, his attention riveted to her anguished face.

“My God but you are blind . . . and stupid. You’re the only person in the world I’ve cared about more than my family.”

“No!” She took a deep breath and braced her shoulders defensively. She had gained a measure of control, and although her eyes were defiant, her mouth taut, there was an air of unconscious dignity about her poised head. “You only want a conquest. I won’t let you hurt me.” The words came out quietly.

She pulled her hands free and walked away from him, to round the corner and go up the steps and into the hotel lobby. The clerk saw her coming and slapped the key to her room on the counter. She grabbed it and without a word of thanks hurried up the stairs to her room.

April leaned against the closed door. Her head was pounding. She was unable to get her scattered thoughts together. She was confused, tired, and wanted desperately to have the hurt go away. It was as if her heart had been pounded to a pulp and her mangled emotions heaped on top. She felt limp and drab as a pile of wet laundry. She longed for bed but knew that it would be a long time before sleep would give rest to her mind.

April awakened feeling the heavy responsibility of being the only medical person in town. The mirror showed shadows beneath her eyes put there by a nearly sleepless night. She had been kept awake not only with thoughts of the clinic but with Joe’s strange actions. She had tossed for hours recalling every word he had said. Some of them made absolutely no sense at all, especially the statement that he cared for her. Ha! He had a fine way of showing it.

When she left to get her car, she was surprised to see it parked in front of the hotel and decided that Joe must have moved it there last night or early this morning. She made several trips from the hotel room to her car before she was ready to leave. She placed the key to her room on the counter and asked for her bill.

“I trust that your stay here with us was pleasant.” The desk clerk was a young man she had not seen before. “You’re Miss Asbury, Dr. Forbes’s nurse. My name is Dan Newbury. This is my first day on the job.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” April took a bill from her purse. “Are you from here in Fertile?”