With Autumn's Return (Westward Winds Book #3): A Novel (22 page)

“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention that man’s name in my hearing.”

A chuckle greeted her words. “He is a loathsome creature, isn’t he? I don’t understand it. Nelson’s the finest man you could hope to meet—other than Richard and my father, of course. I can’t imagine why he chose Oscar as his foreman.”

Elizabeth didn’t know, and she didn’t care. All she cared about was staying as far away from Oscar Miller as possible.

“There were rumors that Tabitha insisted on it,” Miriam said, her voice thoughtful.

After she secured the final stitch, Elizabeth looked up. “I don’t put much stock in rumors.”

Miriam raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps you should. Rumor has it that Oscar plans to court you.”

 15 

H
ow could you do it?” Tabitha glared at the man who sat next to her, a plate heaped with scrambled eggs, bacon, and freshly baked biscuits in front of him. Oscar had joined her and Nelson for what had become a weekly tradition of sharing a leisurely Sunday breakfast. Today, however, Nelson had left after eating only a few bites. Though she doubted it was possible that he’d read her mind and known that she wanted time alone with Oscar, she was grateful for her husband’s departure. Now she could tell Oscar everything that had been simmering in her mind since the previous evening’s party.

“You were practically drooling over her,” she said, her voice harsh with the memory. “I’ve never seen such a disgusting sight.”

Apparently unfazed by her anger, Oscar took another bite of bacon, chewing carefully before he replied. “What’s the matter, Tabitha? If I didn’t know better, I would think you were jealous. But why would you be? You got what you
wanted.” He gestured at the breakfast room with its imported wallpaper and the furniture that had once graced a French chateau. “You’re Mrs. Nelson Chadwick, one of Cheyenne’s most illustrious society matrons.”

Tabitha started to choke on her coffee. When she’d managed to swallow it, she turned back to Oscar. “You make that sound like a disease.”

“Perhaps it is. It doesn’t seem to make you happy.” Oscar split a biscuit, then dabbed a heaping spoonful of jam on one half. “You’re not the fun-loving girl you were before you married Nelson.” Stuffing the biscuit into his mouth, he stared at Tabitha while he chewed. “Do you ever wonder what it would have been like if you’d married me?” he asked when he’d swallowed the last bite.

Every day, but that was something she had no intention of admitting. “There’s no need to wonder,” Tabitha said, keeping her voice as cool as ice. “I know exactly what it would be like. We’d both still be poor.” And that was unthinkable.

Oscar’s eyebrows rose, as if he had read her mind. “I won’t deny that rich is better than poor, but I miss your kisses.”

And she missed kissing him. Oh, how she missed that. “You can still have them. You don’t have to chase after the doctor.”

“I’m afraid not.” Though she read the regret in his eyes, Oscar’s tone was steely. “I may not have the highest scruples in the world—I proved that when I took the job you arranged for me—but I won’t stoop so low as to dally with another man’s wife.” Oscar took another sip of coffee. “You don’t need to worry about the doctor, though. She was just a diversion. I thought it would be entertaining to see how you and Jason Nordling reacted. Now I know. You’re both jealous.”

“Of course I am. You’re mine.” Oscar was the only man
Tabitha had ever loved. It was true that Jason was handsome, but he didn’t make her heart race the way Oscar did.

He shook his head. “That’s where you’re wrong. You made your choice, and now you belong to Nelson. My boss.” Oscar practically spat the words. “I won’t dishonor him.”

Clenching her fork, Tabitha stared at Oscar, searching for a way to convince him. “Why not? It’s not as if Nelson would care. He has no compunction about breaking his wedding vows.”

Oscar blinked, his surprise evident. “Nelson? Never!”

Tabitha started to laugh until she remembered that what Oscar hated most was to be ridiculed. She curled her lip and hoped he would realize the scorn was directed at her husband. “You think Nelson’s some kind of saint? Hah! He visits a whore at least once a week, sometimes more often. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where he is right now.”

Though he’d appeared to be enjoying his meal, Oscar pushed the plate aside as if he’d lost his appetite. “I can’t believe it. Who is she?”

“I don’t know, and I don’t care.” Oscar’s expression said he didn’t believe her. “Why should I care? Nelson is giving me what I want—money and a respected position in society. If you weren’t so prudish, you could give me love.”

Heedless of the fact that etiquette demanded he wait for her to rise, Oscar pushed back his chair and got to his feet. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Tabitha. Regardless of how Nelson may or may not be spending his evenings, there will be nothing other than simple friendship between you and me so long as you’re Nelson’s wife.”

Tabitha rose. Placing her hand on Oscar’s arm and giving him her warmest smile, she looked up at him. “You’ll
change your mind,” she said, stroking his arm. “I can make you change your mind.”

He pulled his arm from her grip and shook his head. “No, you can’t.”

“Are you heading home?”

Elizabeth turned, her hand still on the doorknob. “Yes.” It was a few minutes earlier than usual, but she’d had no patients this afternoon, so there seemed little reason to linger. She had planned to stick her head inside Jason’s office to tell him she was leaving, but now there was no need. He was standing next to her door.

“I thought you might enjoy some company on your walk. May I come along?”

Trying to mask her surprise, Elizabeth nodded. “Certainly.” Though she and Jason spent at least a few minutes together each day that Elizabeth had office hours, he’d never accompanied her home. Why today? She couldn’t point to anything specific, but Jason had seemed different ever since the Chadwicks’ party. Perhaps he had heard the rumor that Oscar Miller planned to court her, and his visits were designed to protect her from unwanted advances. Elizabeth did not believe there was any truth to the rumors. Surely no man would pursue a woman who had called him repulsive. Besides, she had seen the way Oscar’s gaze followed Tabitha Chadwick. If she were inclined to bet, Elizabeth would wager that Oscar harbored tender feelings for his employer’s wife.

Dismissing thoughts of Oscar and Tabitha, Elizabeth smiled at Jason. He crooked his arm and waited until she placed her hand on it, then returned her smile. “Which way shall we go?”

Elizabeth looked north. “I usually take 17th over to Ferguson.”

“Then let’s go another direction. It’s not much farther to head down 16th. Besides, it’s a nice day for a stroll with a beautiful woman.”

Elizabeth could feel her face flushing. Though she’d never thought Jason was given to flattery, he was mistaken in calling her beautiful. She wasn’t. Far from it. She looked across the street, pretending to focus on a mother who was trying to corral two rambunctious children, while she waited for her cheeks to cool.

“What’s the matter, Elizabeth? Hasn’t anyone told you you’re beautiful?”

She turned back to Jason and shook her head. “Charlotte’s the beautiful one.” Both Mama and Papa had said that. Each of their daughters, they claimed, had her own talents. Charlotte was beautiful and a gifted seamstress. Abigail was adventuresome and a wonderful teacher. Elizabeth was kindhearted and a skilled healer. She knew better than to delude herself about any claim to beauty.

“There I beg to differ. I never met your sister, but I saw her one day when she was inspecting your office. She’s pretty enough, and Barrett certainly seemed besotted with her, but she can’t hold a candle to you.”

The flush deepened. “You’re making me uncomfortable,” Elizabeth admitted. Although there was something reassuring about Jason’s compliments. Unlike Oscar Miller’s leering and crude innuendos, Jason’s words seemed sincere. Unfortunately, they also reminded her of what she’d forsaken when she’d decided to study medicine. “I’m a doctor,” she said firmly.

“But you’re also a woman.”

Though she couldn’t deny that, this was one conversation Elizabeth did not want to continue. It sounded almost like the prelude to courtship, and while she knew that couldn’t be the case, for she was the last person Jason would consider wooing, Elizabeth did not like the feeling those thoughts aroused.

“It seemed as if you had more clients than normal today.” This was safer ground.

“I’ve been busy the last few days,” he agreed.

“I’m happy for you. I wish I could say the same thing, but I haven’t had any new patients all week.” Not only that, but two women had missed their scheduled appointments.

Jason’s glance slid from hers, but not before Elizabeth noticed his discomfort. “That’ll change,” he said, his words at odds with his expression. “I imagine medical needs are similar to legal problems: cyclical. I can never predict whether I’ll be busy or not. Now, tell me,” he said, “what you think of your first autumn in Wyoming.”

The forced gaiety in Jason’s voice told Elizabeth he was as uncomfortable discussing her practice as she was talking about love and marriage. If they did not find a neutral subject, it would be a long, silent walk—very different from the easy camaraderie they usually shared.

As they crossed Capitol Avenue, Elizabeth pointed at the building that dominated the northwest corner. Three stories tall, with arched windows and a wrought-iron railing on the balcony over the main entrance, it was an impressive sight. Surely it would be a noncontroversial topic of discussion.

“The InterOcean’s a beautiful hotel,” she said. “Charlotte mentioned that the owner is a former slave.”

Jason nodded, his expression once more relaxed. “That’s right. Barney Ford. He’s turned it into the city’s finest hotel.
I’ve been told that all the traveling dignitaries stay there, even Sarah Bernhardt.” Jason smiled as he looked down at Elizabeth, and she knew he’d welcomed her change of subject. “It’s a shame you didn’t arrive in Cheyenne in time to see her performance in
Fédora
. Even I, who don’t speak a word of French, can’t forget the way Miss Bernhardt portrayed that poor, doomed princess.”

Though Elizabeth had heard of the actress’s skill and knew that she’d been in Cheyenne in early June, just a few weeks before Calamity Jane had visited the city, she was unfamiliar with the plot of
Fédora
and told Jason so. “All I know is that Sarah Bernhardt entranced audiences from New York to Cheyenne when she played that role.”

“I’ll tell you the whole story some other time. The plot is complicated and some critics call it melodramatic, but that didn’t stop anyone from enjoying it.” Jason tipped his head back toward the hotel that they’d just passed. “Have you eaten at the InterOcean?”

Elizabeth shook her head.

“We’ll have to remedy that. The dining room is excellent. When it opened, guests were offered a choice of twenty entrees and more than fifty kinds of desserts.” Jason shrugged. “There’s a smaller selection now, but everything is delicious. I don’t eat there very often, especially since you and I discovered Mr. Ellis’s cakes, but whenever I go, I enjoy it.” The earlier constraint had vanished as quickly as morning dew under an August sky. Jason gave Elizabeth a smile that warmed her all the way to her toes. “Have I convinced you? Will you be my guest for dinner at the InterOcean next week?”

She nodded, surprised at how much the prospect pleased her. “I’d like that.” She wouldn’t tell Jason that this would be
the first time she’d dined with a man in a public place. That might make him feel awkward, and that was not her intent. Undoubtedly he’d invited her because he found dining alone boring. Perhaps she could return the favor.

“I hate to think of you always eating alone. I wish I could invite you to stay for supper tonight, but I’m not sure Gwen has enough food for an extra person. Perhaps another time?”