Searching for Anna, Jenifer Carll-Tong [cheapest way to read ebooks TXT] 📗

Phoebe handed him the plate and returned to the table. Will's curt attitude was evidence that the effect of the whiskey had worn off. He was still angry with her, and she knew he had every right to be. She wanted to tell him everything, tell him how blind she had been, tell him how she truly felt, but now was not the time. What was important was Will's health. There would be plenty of time for petitions for forgiveness.

She dished herself some stew and ate silently at the table. She didn't look at him, wanting to give him whatever space he desired. But when she heard him grunt in pain, she couldn't keep her distance.

Phoebe bolted to the bed just in time to catch the plate before it toppled off. It was true that he had use of his right arm, but with a left arm completely immobilized, he had been balancing the plate on his lap with great difficulty. Phoebe sat down and held the plate so he could finish eating.

"I don't need your help," he grumbled, trying to take the plate from her.

She held it out of his reach and answered him gently. "Please, Will. Please allow me. It's the least I can do."

Will's stiff posture relaxed somewhat. He relented but said nothing. With her assistance, he finished the meal without speaking. But when he tried lying down again, it caused him so much pain that he couldn't keep quiet. He moaned so loudly Phoebe was concerned that he had hurt himself badly.

"Are you alright?"

"No, I'm not alright!" he shouted.

"Should I get the doctor?"

"No," he calmed down. "No. There's no need for that."

"But he could give you something for the pain."

"I don't want any more pain medication. I need to keep my wits about me."

Phoebe wasn't sure what he meant by that but decided that it was better not to question him. She took the plate and started cleaning the supper dishes. She was washing, lost in prayer, asking God to help Will heal. She wanted desperately to help him, to alleviate his discomfort, but she only seemed to be making him feel worse. She turned to glance at him, and to her surprise he was watching her. He looked away quickly. What had happened to the man that reveled in being caught staring at her? What had happened to the man that enjoyed making her uncomfortable with a smirk or a wink? She knew what had happened to him - she had broken his heart.

"I've changed my mind," he said, interrupting her thoughts. He spoke tenderly to her. "I would like to see the doctor. Would you mind fetching him for me?"

Phoebe found Dr. Langley at his home just beginning his evening meal. He promised to head over as soon as he had finished. Phoebe thanked him and hurried back to the parsonage, concerned to leave Will for too long unattended.

When she returned, she found Will sitting on the side of the bed attempting to dress himself.

"What on earth are you trying to do?"

He didn't stop what he was doing or look at her. "It's time I returned to the barracks and let you have your bed back."

"Dr. Langley said you shouldn't be moved if you are to heal properly."

"Well, he told me that I am healing much faster than expected, so I think it's time I get out of your way."

"You aren't in my way," she protested.

Will lifted his eyebrows over emotionless eyes. "Is that so? Where do you plan on sleeping tonight?"

Phoebe flushed. "I can sleep on the floor. I have plenty of blankets," she stammered nervously.

"I'm not letting you sleep on the floor, so that's not an option. So, is your plan to repeat last night's sleeping arrangement?"

Phoebe's face was hot with embarrassment. "Will, I am so sorry. Truly, I am. I should never have taken advantage of the situation like that. I can't explain it, I just – I don't know. I guess I just needed to hold you in that moment. Not knowing if I would ever have another chance to…"

"Stop. Just stop," he said, dropping his head and clutching his shoulder, his face contorted in pain.

She came near to him, not certain what to do. She wanted to touch him but was afraid. Timidly, she sat on the bed next to him, but to her surprise he did not object. Despite her best resolve, she couldn't stop herself from reaching out and touching his arm. His hand left the bandage and clasped hers, drawing her hand to the middle of his chest. He held it there, embracing it against him tenderly. Phoebe drew closer to him and placed her right hand on his back. She leaned against him, resting her cheek gently on his arm, not wanting to hurt his injured shoulder. He seemed oblivious to the pain, though, as he pushed back against her, resting his cheek on her head.

"Please," she whispered, "don't go."

Without breaking contact, Will moved his head to face her. The motion caused her head to tilt toward his, forehead touching forehead. His lips were so close she could feel his ragged breath against her mouth. She had only to move slightly, and her lips would be on his. She remembered the taste of his kiss, the feel of his mouth against hers. She knew that he might reject her, but the urge was too much. She leaned forward, and to her relief, he met her kiss with a passion matching her own. His lips sought hers, hungrily drawing them between his own. Her heart pounded wildly, and she felt as if he were stealing her every breath yet felt at the same time as if he and he alone gave her breath to breathe.

"Will,” she gasped against his lips, and the sound of her voice intensified Will's efforts. He kissed her deeper, harder. And she kissed him back with equal intensity. A moan escaped his throat as Phoebe's right arm slid around his waist and pulled him closer to her.

The sound of footsteps on the front porch broke the spell. Will immediately released his grip and dropped her left hand. He sat upright and moved away from her. Stunned, Phoebe rose quickly and returned to the basin where she had been washing dishes. Doctor Langley knocked once then entered the tiny home.

"Well, Officer Caffey. I am surprised. Your color seems to have returned," the doctor said as he approached Will. He pulled the chair close to his patient and his brow furrowed. "In fact, you look quite flushed. You haven't been overexerting yourself, have you?"

Phoebe was grateful that the doctor's back was to her, because had he caught sight of her face, he would have noticed that she was far more flushed. She looked at Will, but he did not look at her. She excused herself to fetch more water.

Once outside, she splashed her face with the cold water from the pump. The temperature was still cool outside, and she prayed that the water and the weather would be enough to reverse the effects of what had just happened with Will. After only a minute, she felt confident and returned to the house. When she entered, though, she was met with the sight of Dr. Langley helping Will out of the parsonage.

"You're leaving?" was all she could say.

Dr. Langley answered. "He says that he thinks he will heal better in his own bed. I'll take him in my buggy and see that he gets properly settled."

Phoebe stood there, speechless, watching the two men slowly walk out.

Will never once looked back at her. As the doctor reached back in to shut the door, Will partially glanced over his shoulder. "Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Albright." Then he was gone.

Phoebe stood looking at the door, dazed. She hadn't planned to kiss Will, but once it happened, she had assumed it would change things, change his demeanor toward her. But it hadn't, and she was left with a strange, empty feeling. She had been the one to initiate the kiss. Still, he had kissed her back, heartily in fact. How could that not have changed things for him? Could he not see the truth? Didn't Will understand that she was desperately and absolutely in love with him?

As she stood, still staring at the closed door, someone knocked on the other side. Still caught in her daze, she opened it. Will stood there. Her heart began to pound wildly again.

"I am missing something," he said. "My mother's wedding ring. I was wearing it on a chain. Do you know what happened to it?"

Without a word, she walked to her dresser, opened the top drawer and pulled out his items. She returned to him, held the necklace dangling from her left hand and he grabbed it from her. He was about to leave, but she stopped him.

"You forgot something else."

He looked at her inquisitively. She grabbed his hand with her left and with her right, she placed the aggie in his palm. He took a deep breath and looked at it for several moments, and she thought he was about to say something. But he didn't. He nodded without looking at her then slowly wrapped his fingers around the marble. He pulled his hand away from hers and left.