Because of Rebecca(11)

She went through the motions of Mass, repeating the litany and praying the decades of the rosary without much conviction. Squeezing her eyes shut, she willed herself to put Ancil Gordon out of her mind and concentrate on God and her service to Him. But the more she tried, the less it worked. Every time she closed her eyes she saw the doctor’s handsome face, and her cheeks heated at an alarming rate.

Rising from her knees, she settled once again on the seat and listened as the priest spoke before beginning Holy Eucharist. Feelings of unworthiness soared through her as she partook of the Host. Walking back to her seat, she made brief eye contact with Doctor Gordon. He smiled, and joy rippled to her core. The jolt shook her and she took a seat in the nearest pew.

When Mass concluded, she approached the priest to introduce herself and inquire about the ladies’ auxiliary.

“Miss Davis, it’s a pleasure to have you with us at St. Anna’s,” the priest expressed. “I know that Mrs. Fletcher will be glad to have your assistance. Let me find her. Oh, there’s Doctor Gordon. He can help you get started.”

“No, you don’t have to—” but her words fell on deaf ears as the priest motioned to the doctor to join them.

“Doctor Gordon, this is Miss Josephine Davis. She’s visiting Jackson for a while and would like to aid the ladies’ auxiliary. I looked for Mrs. Fletcher, but it seems she has already left the chapel. Would you be so kind as to show Miss Davis to the canteen? I’m sure you’ll find Mrs. Fletcher there.”

“Certainly, Father Bohannon,” Doctor Gordon replied and glanced at her as the priest walked away.

She held her breath, noticing a woodsy scent, as his eyes looked her up and down.

“Why doesn’t it surprise me to see you here, Miss Davis?”

Josephine hoped the warmth surging through her cheeks wasn’t apparent. “I think I mentioned my devotion to working in my home parish. It’s only natural I’d want to be of service to the church while I’m in Jackson.”

“Of course you would.” The doctor half-grinned and she could feel his gaze rove over her again. “If I may be so bold to say, you look much improved today, Miss Davis.”

“Thank you, Doctor Gordon. Are you going to look for Mrs. Fletcher?”

“Oh yes.” He sounded startled by her question as if he’d forgotten the priest’s request. “Come with me. I’m sure Constance will be able to use your help.”

Constance?

Josephine followed him outside to the breezeway that led to a mid-size building. Two women, carrying bundles of cloth swatches, were going inside as they approached and the doctor introduced her.

“Miss Davis, I’d like you to meet Posey Reynolds and Matilda Bradbury,” He said. “Miss Davis is visiting Jackson and would like to be of aid to the auxiliary while she’s in town.”

“Can you sew?” Mrs. Reynolds asked.

“Yes, I can,” Josephine assured. “One of my quilts came in second at the county fair.”

“Good. We can always use an extra pair of hands. Mr. Haggerty at the mercantile just donated these bundles of cloth samples for our use in making quilts for St. Benedict’s Orphanage in Mobile County,” Mrs. Reynolds said.

“We do it every year for Christmas,” Mrs. Bradbury explained.

A woman in a blue dress and white gloves joined them and Josephine assumed she must be Constance Fletcher. She was about ten years older than the other women and her hair was black as pitch. Her demeanor spoke volumes about her and Josephine felt inferior.

“Hello, Ancil. Who do you have here?” Mrs. Fletcher asked in a superior tone.

“Constance,” he acknowledged with a slight nod. “I’d like you to meet Miss Josephine Davis. She’s visiting Jackson and would like to help the auxiliary.”

Mrs. Fletcher nodded but her smile suggested she was not entirely pleased. “We’re always in need of extra hands. We’re beginning a sewing project today. Are you handy with a needle?”

“Yes I am.” Josephine wondered what kind of connection Ancil and this woman had that they’d used their Christian names so freely. He certainly hadn’t called her Josephine.

“I’ll leave you in Constance’s capable hands, Miss Davis,” Doctor Gordon said.

“Thank you.” She gave him her warmest smile, looking straight into his eyes.

He looked startled for a moment, then cleared his throat and smiled at those around him. “Ladies, if you’ll excuse me I have patients to see.”

The women went about their business while Josephine watched him go. Her heart beat a little faster as she feared he had a love interest with Constance Fletcher. She desperately wanted to know if he did. She would not allow herself to be made a fool.

Slowly turning to join the others, Josephine noticed Mrs. Fletcher’s close cold stare. Chills ran up her spine and for the first time in her life she felt she’d just entered the lions’ den.

But she wouldn’t cower. She didn’t care how hard Mrs. Fletcher stared or how cold her smiles were. As far as Josephine was concerned Ancil Gordon was fair game and until she knew otherwise she’d pursue getting to know him. It didn’t matter how much Mrs. Fletcher dyed her hair, she was younger and she could turn on the charm when she wanted. And she wanted Ancil Gordon.





Chapter Six

Jared sat at his desk a few nights later going over the plantation ledgers. His lamp burned low as the wick soaked up the last of the oil. He closed the book and rubbed his face. When the light went out, he stood and walked over to the French doors and stared up into the midnight sky.

The accounts balanced. Every month since the three bad seasons of crops, he feared there wouldn’t be enough money to cover the expenses and pay his men. It brought a small measure of comfort he could do so. But being in balance did not take away the looming threat Stuart Delaney made to Oak Hill. His letter said he’d be here by the end of the month with an auctioneer.

Jared wasn’t sure if Delaney seriously planned to force him into auctioning Oak Hill to cover Rory’s debts, or if he’d referred to the action as a threat to show power. Either way he wasn’t looking forward to Delaney’s arrival.

His options were minimal and he’d been giving Mitchell Cooper’s suggestion he remarry more thought, especially since meeting Miss Davis. He’d enjoyed their time together far more than he’d ever imagined he would. A feeling of guilt...no remorse nagged at him, but he couldn’t cling to his marriage vows with Charisse forever. What they’d had together was special, but she was gone. Surely she’d want him to move on, to find happiness if the opportunity rose.

“Mr. Hollingsworth!”

“Mr. Hollingsworth!”

The faint call of a child’s voice came from the darkness and he stepped further out onto the upper verandah to get a better look.

“Mr. Hollingsworth!”

“Who’s there?” he called, finally spotting a moon shadowed form in the darkness.

“It’s Harmony, sir. Papa sent me to get you.” Her voice trembled with agitation and urgency. “Come quick.”

Jared raced down the verandah stairs and into the front garden where the young girl stood barefoot in her nightgown. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Mama. She’s having the baby. The midwife says she needs the doctor to come,” Harmony explained. She tugged on his hand urging him toward the barn. “Papa needs you to go to town and bring back the doctor. He’d go himself, but Mama doesn’t want him to leave the house. She’s awful scared.” The girl’s voice faltered and she cried, “We’re all scared.”

“I’ll go.” Jared knelt and squeezed her shoulders lightly for reassurance. He looked directly into her eyes. “Don’t you worry, your mama will be fine. I want you to go wake Mary and take her back with you to watch your sisters.”

Harmony nodded and raced to the main house. Jared watched her disappear into the shadows before he went into the stables. To his surprise, Higgins had a horse saddled waiting for him.

“I heard the child, sir. Should I go for you?”

“Thank you, Higgins, but no. I’ll go. You can go back to bed now.” He’d sent Paxton to fetch the doctor that fateful night when Charisse went into labor, so it was only right that he return the favor.

“Yes sir.”

Jared forced the horse into a gallop in the moonlit darkness. The heady scent of honeysuckle perfumed the summer air, but a skin crawling anxiety soaked his shirt, chilling him as though it was winter.

Low-hanging branches from a nearby tree scrapped his face and arms as he leaned over the horse’s neck. He pushed them out of his way, but he couldn’t do the same with his old painful memories of Charisse and their child crowding his brain.

Fear for Isabella and remorse for his own loss prompted him to push the memories aside and drive the horse to go faster. Doctor Gordon was the town’s physician now. Isabella would be fine. She wouldn’t suffer like Charisse. Jared had to believe that.