Page 9 of A Letter to Carolina
“Not this week.” Simon shoved the bill in his pocket. “I’ll find out what Bass and Jesse have to say.” His nasal laugh filled the kitchen.
“You both need to remember your manners.” Nate tossed a napkin at them, and Carolina looked away, laughter overtaking her.
The tension in the kitchen was broken as Carolina heard the chatter of Nate’s brothers coming through the front door. The kitchen table became crowded with unfamiliar faces, causing Carolina to feel a wave of trepidation washing over her. However, as Bass asked them to join hands and offered a prayer of thanksgiving for the meal, she noticed that somehow the room seemed peaceful despite the many occupants. The same peace wrapped her up in a warm cocoon of safety.
Carolina was content to listen to the ebb and flow of the surrounding conversations. It didn’t take long to find that the older man was the retiring doctor in town. She could see how beloved he was, and she felt a bit of gratitude that the Picketts had given him the opportunity to retire in peace among his friends.
“What made you want to go to nursing school?” Georgia asked.
Glancing up from her plate, Carolina realized the others were observing her. She finished swallowing her bite of dinner before answering.
“My father would’ve told you I had a knack for healing things. It started as a child, much to my Mama’s dismay. I was always rescuing animals, running towards those in danger and not fainting at the sight of blood. I wanted to have a purpose that helped others, and God made that possible for me.”
She noticed Nate was watching her closely and she could see more questions being collected in his icy blue eyes. Turning her head to Doc Mueller, he greeted her with a soft smile. “Is your nurse retiring as well?” she asked.
The older man shook his head, wiping his mouth on his napkin. “I never had a nurse. Mrs. Chapman and Mrs. Hardin take care of expectant mothers. Others pitch in when we need them, but I never had a nurse.”
“I know that must have been a lot of work for you,” Carolina empathized.
“He wasn’t necessarily without help,” Aunt Cleo interjected. “Nathaniel has been following Doc Mueller around since he learned to ride into town on his own. What, it’s been four or five years at this point?” The older woman looked between the two men and then back to Carolina. “Now Nathaniel will have you to assist him.” Taking a sip of her coffee, she gave Nate a pointed look. “When are you planning on getting married and taking her to town?”
Chapter Five
Although Nate might not have appreciated the initial surprise of discovering a woman waiting for him upon his arrival, the experience of observing her interact with his family, and hearing her discuss her training with Doc prior to his departure to the cabin was quite enlightening. Carolina was beautiful. While his sisters-in-law were not unappealing, they could not hold his attention like the new arrival, who had captivated him since he first arrived at the house.
Nate lingered at the table, wanting to stay with her a few moments longer. But he had promised Doc a ride up to the cabin and Jesse had jumped in the wagon, eager to go with them and ask questions on the journey back. It took them no time at all to unload the supplies at the cabin before Jesse began prying into Nate’s affairs.
“What are you going to do with the pretty nurse?” Jesse questioned as they headed back to the family home.
“Do?” Nate scratched his cheek. “I guess I will get to know her first.”
“It won’t work for you like it did with Bass and Simon.”
“Why do you say that? I’ll see her when I get home.”
“That’s the problem, Nate. You are never home. She can’t live here, and you be in town all the time. It will take years for you to have spent enough time together to make it work the way they did.” Jesse kicked his boots up on the buckboard and leaned back to look at the night sky. “Pretty lady like that will be snatched up by some marrying type in no time.”
“Some marrying type? Like you, you mean?”
“Why not me?” Jesse sat back up on the wagon bench. “I’d make a good husband.”
“Think about what you do in your free time. I don’t think that is the type of husband she is looking for.”
“Well then, I’ll stop. You won’t be around, so I’ll just court her.”
Nate laughed. “Good luck with that, Jesse. I think she is more interested in nursing the sick and injured than being courted by someone who spends their time at the saloon.”
Nate chuckled at Jesse’s words, shaking his head at his brother’s antics. Jesse always had a way with women, effortlessly charming them with his confident and carefree attitude. While Nate respected his brother’s skills, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy at Jesse’s boldness. Nate was always too hesitant, too careful with his words and actions, afraid to make a misstep that would cause him to lose the woman he was interested in.
But Carolina was different. He felt drawn to her in a way that he couldn’t explain, a magnetic pull that made him feel eager for something more. He couldn’t imagine anyone else with her but him; and the thought of Jesse, or anyone else, courting her filled him with an irrational possessiveness that he couldn’t shake off.
As they rode back to the homestead, Nate’s mind was occupied with thoughts of Carolina. He thought about her whereabouts, and what might be going through her mind at that moment. He wondered if she was also wrestling with forbidden feelings she couldn’t understand or shake off. If she felt the same attraction to him, he had for her.
“I’ve never met a female doc before,” Jesse mused.
“She’s not a doctor. She’s a nurse.”
They arrived back at the house and put the wagon and horses away. As they walked up towards the house, Nate saw Beau sitting on the porch steps.
