The Lady Who Lived Again (4 page)

The pastor’s only child was one of the girls who’d been killed in the accident—but grief was poor justification for Hogle’s actions. How could a man of faith feed his devoted flock such nonsense? Jace shook his head. If the people of Misty Lake revered Hogle half as much as they had trusted Doctor Filmore, they’d blindly opened their mouths like a nest full of baby sparrows and gulped the venom right down.

Jace unlocked the door to the house that served as a physician’s office in the front parlor rooms and a dwelling for the live-in physician in the back. Ben Filmore had relinquished the house to Jace after he and his wife moved their belongings to the hotel. The space would be more than adequate, once everything was set to rights. Currently, however, the place was a mess.

On Jace’s first night in Misty Lake, a tree limb had crashed through the roof of his new parlor during a nasty storm, delaying the opening of his practice indefinitely. Furniture was piled in the corner. The musty rug still hadn’t dried completely from the rain that had poured into the room, and he’d be sweeping up acorns for weeks.

Thanks to his neighbor, Henry Whalen, repairs were almost complete, but the clutter would take many long days to organize. If Jace were half as superstitious as Mrs. Tremont and the others, he’d have taken the unfortunate incident as a sign of ugly things to come.

Jace sidled between the crates and other debris and made his way into his office. A tall cabinet housed drawers full of files on everyone Ben had treated, which Jace assumed included every resident in town. He directed his search to Madeline Sutter’s file. Upon retrieving it, he fingered through the contents, bypassing her early history, childhood illnesses and the like, until he found the documents relating to the accident.

Madeline Sutter, age twenty-one, deceased.

That was it? Jace shuffled through the file, searching for more, but no other details followed that final notation. He leaned back, running a hand through his hair. Mrs. Tremont had said Madeline suffered a badly broken leg in the accident, but the file contained no report of that injury either. Jace would have to go to the source. He needed an explanation, a sound voice of reason after all the rubbish he’d heard today, and he needed it now.

Doctor Filmore was still in town but not for long. He’d informed Jace last week that upon finishing up some loose ends with the various committees with which he was involved, he’d be joining his wife in Boston, where their adult children now lived, and his train to the city was departing today. Checking his watch, Jace realized he had only hours to catch Filmore before the old man left town for good.

Jace hurried from the office and walked the short distance to the Lakeview Hotel. The smell of lemon oil and freshly polished furniture greeted him as he walked through the door. The mid-May weather had been particularly mild, and the hotel’s staff was busy preparing for the early influx of summer residents.

According to the hiring committee that selected Jace as the town’s physician, Misty Lake had recently become a popular retreat destination for affluent urban families. Boating, swimming, and other outdoor recreations tempted droves of city dwellers seeking country amusements. A boon for local business. Prospective patients for Jace.

Jace offered greetings as he breezed through the wood-paneled lobby. Hanging floral arrangements wafted on the crisp breeze sailing in from the row of open windows facing the lake. He made his way upstairs to the doctor’s room, then knocked on the door.

“Tell me about Madeline Sutter,” he demanded as he stepped into the room.

Doctor Filmore froze. He stared at the open door, looking ready to bolt. “She hasn’t been my patient in years,” he said, closing the door. “After the accident, she refused my treatment.”

“Is it any wonder?”

The insult seemed to spur more shame than anger as Doctor Filmore stared at Jace like a guilty child.

“Mistakes happen, Ben, I understand that,” Jace said. “The shock and disbelief over the dead girls, the collective hysteria. The confusion. She was insentient; her pulse was weak. But when she regained consciousness after all those hours, you had to have known she’d been comatose and not dead.”

Doctor Filmore averted his eyes.

Jace had received some strange responses to his queries about the accident, but he hadn’t expected one from Ben—a physician. Jace suddenly realized he was no longer looking at a doctor. He was looking at a man. A man afflicted with the same grief and misery that plagued the others.

Yet as tragic as this accident was, it was no excuse for what followed. Ben hadn’t offered any explanation for Madeline’s stunning recovery, so people let their pain form one. The result was cruel and depraved. And despite his oath as a physician, despite his morals as a human being, the good doctor had done nothing to stop it.

“The girl needed your help, Ben.” With each silent moment, Jace grew angrier. Denial was the coward’s way out, and it was a path for which Jace had no tolerance. He may as well have been speaking to the wall—or his father. “Say something, Goddamn it, Ben.”

“I have a train to catch.”

Jace shook his head in disgust. “You son of a bitch.” He turned on his heel and walked out the door.

Grandfather called out again, prompting Maddie to quicken her pace down the stairs.

“We have a guest,” he announced from the parlor.

The news stopped her in her tracks. They never had guests. She resumed walking toward the sound of voices echoing through the foyer. She entered the parlor to see Jace Merrick standing by the fireplace, his brawny form a stark contrast to Grandfather’s frail figure beside him. She stood motionless in the arched doorway as his presence sank in.

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Miss Sutter,” Jace said.

His polished appearance caught her off guard. Dressed in a dark coat and trousers, he looked even more impressive than he had four days before. His thick hair was brushed back from his face, which was freshly shaven and deadly handsome. Her nerves knotted inside her, strangling her voice so much that she could only respond with a nod. Whatever was he doing here? Had he somehow discovered her secret and come to give her away?

“Doctor Merrick told me the two of you crossed paths the other day,” Grandfather said.

Her heart pounded as her gaze flew to Jace. His blue eyes held hers for what seemed like forever but hinted nothing about what he might say next. She pursed her lips, disliking him immensely for his reserve.

“Thank you again, Miss Sutter, for directing me back to town. If it weren’t for you, I might still be lost in those woods.”

She exhaled in relief.

“How fortunate she found you.” Grandfather turned to Maddie. “I’m surprised you failed to mention your discovery during our discussions of late.” A smile trembled on his lips.

“I…uh. It must have slipped my mind,” she said, moving into the room.

“Have a seat, Doctor Merrick.” Grandfather gestured toward the sofa. “Rhetta will bring tea.”

Maddie took a seat in one of the adjacent chairs before the men followed suit.

Grandfather leaned forward on the gold-handled cane between his knees. “So tell me, Doctor Merrick, what brings a big city doctor, like yourself, to Misty Lake?”

“My desire to sleep.” Jace smiled. It was a simple little smile that lasted the briefest of moments. Yet it managed to turn her insides to mincemeat.

A less reclusive, less pathetic woman might remain unaffected by the flash of straight teeth, the perfect mouth. But not Maddie. She gave a stiff fluff to her beige skirts, loathing him all the more for his appealing smile and good humor.

“Sleep?” she asked in a desperate attempt to focus on something other than his enticing lips.

“Working night duty in the emergency ward offered little to none. I look forward to building my practice here, where my schedule will be less challenging and my eyes will close more often.”

“How’s business faring so far?” Grandfather asked.

“I’m busy with house calls, but I’ve yet to open the office officially. When I arrived last month, I was greeted by a fierce storm and awoken by a tree limb crashing through my roof.”

“Oh my,” Maddie said.

“That storm was a mean one,” Grandfather said. “Hovered over the lake for hours.”

Jace nodded. “The damage to my patient waiting room was extensive and forced me to delay opening my practice.”

“Unfortunate, indeed,” Grandfather said.

“Roof repairs are almost complete, though, and once the mess inside is put to order, I can finally unpack and set up.”

“Well, good luck to you!” Grandfather waved his cane with enthusiasm. “And I must say I’m pleased Filmore finally hung up his stethoscope. I’m only sorry I didn’t choke him with it while I had the strength.”

Maddie pinned him with a scolding glare.

“Grandfather, please.”

He waved her away. “You’ll find I’m a man who speaks my mind, Doctor Merrick. I haven’t the time nor the wind to waste on decorum, so you must forgive my bluntness, even if my granddaughter can’t.”

Maddie rolled her eyes.

“Of course,” Jace said, clearly amused.

Rhetta whisked into the room, depositing a tea tray on the table. Her shy glimpse at their guest quickly prompted another.

Maddie rolled her eyes again. This house had gone far too long without company. “Thank you, Rhetta,” she said.

With a nod of her capped head, Rhetta left them to their tea.

“So, you don’t miss the excitement of the hospital?” Maddie asked as she poured the tea.

His smile faded. “My memories sustain me. Brutality, disease, starvation. All the worst of human suffering housed under one convenient roof.” His expression was casual, but she saw the dismay in his eyes, felt his tension as she handed him the cup. “You have a very fine house, sir,” he said, glancing around. “I’ve passed it often on my house calls.”

“We have the best site on the lake.” Grandfather puffed his chest. “What started as a summer retreat eventually became home. Maddie oversees the entire estate. Account books and all.”

“Is that so?” Jace turned to her with a nod of approval. “Very impressive, Miss Sutter.” He regarded her intently, his gaze dropping to her mouth.

“Please, call me Madeline.”

Something flickered in his eyes. “Madeline.” He spoke her name as though testing the sound, and she’d never heard anything better. Straightening in her seat, she shook off the sudden heat that slivered through her.

“My granddaughter keeps things running smoothly. I rest easy in her capable hands.” He released a long sigh. “Speaking of rest. I hope you don’t mind, Doctor Merrick, but it’s time for my nap.” Grandfather endeavored to rise, and Jace stood to help him.

“It was good to meet you, sir.”

Grandfather steadied himself with the handshake Jace offered. “And very good to meet you, young man. Please stay and enjoy your tea.” He tossed a wink at Maddie, and she lowered her eyes, hoping Jace didn’t see it.

“Please don’t mind my grandfather, Doctor Merrick. It’s been a while since we’ve had company.”

Jace returned to his seat. “Call me Jace.” His gaze followed Grandfather’s excruciatingly slow departure from the room. “How long has he been ill?”

His observation didn’t surprise her. Although he was a doctor, one had only to glance at Grandfather to detect his poor health. To Jace’s credit, he’d refrained from humbling Grandfather by mentioning it in front of him.

“Going on four years now,” she said.

“Rheumatic fever?”

She nodded. “The after effects are more apparent every day.”

“Heart disease progresses at various rates, depending on the patient. There’s little that can be done to stop it.”

“Yes, I know.” She sighed. Even Maddie’s miraculous power hadn’t checked the forward march of Grandfather’s illness.

“I’d be happy to examine him if—”

“Thank you, but there’s little that can be done. You said so yourself. Besides, he’d never allow it.” She shook her head. “After being examined by a specialist in Albany, he accepted his condition, and now he refuses to be poked and prodded by more doctors.”

“His words, I suppose?”

Maddie smiled.

“If he changes his mind…”

“He won’t.” She took a sip of her tea and tried to relax. “I also owe you thanks for not mentioning the incident with the deer.”

“I see no need to worry your grandfather with your recklessness.” His brow arched as he pointed his finger in a playful threat. “So long as you don’t go repeating such a stunt.”

She shook her head, grateful for the reprieve. “No, of course not.”

“I never found the deer, by the way.”

“No?” she asked, trying to sound sufficiently surprised.

“But I did find something else.” He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out Amelia’s letter.

Maddie gaped in surprise. In her haste to escape him that day, she hadn’t realized she’d lost it.

“I assumed you’d want your letter returned, since it’s personal.”

She blanched, snatching the folded page from his hand. “But not so personal you refrained from reading it?”

“I had to read it to discern ownership.” He leaned forward. “Though I must admit, I was hoping to learn more about you.”

For a moment she felt flattered. How could she not? A handsome man was declaring interest in her. The urge to sail off on the sappy emotion was overwhelming. And pathetic. She stiffened, cursing the lilt in her spirit for what it was: a prelude to pain and disappointment. She’d had far more than her fill of both.

“You have merely to ask around town for enlightenment.”

“I did that as well.”

She stared, startled by his honesty. He’d been as kind to her as he’d been to Grandfather—avoiding any mention of her diseased reputation in the hope of sparing her feelings. But she sensed he’d gotten an earful just the same.

She dropped her gaze to the floor, disappointment prickling under her skin. Why this stranger’s opinion of her mattered, she wasn’t sure. She knew only that it did, and the revelation filled her with anger. Anger at him for prying and anger at herself for caring that he had.