That wasn't quite the response she'd been hoping for, but at least he didn't feel angry. "He tried to pay me all his gold dust for fixing his arm, and for the room and board."
Jericho eased his head around so he could look at her, moving slowly enough that she didn't cut him. "What did you tell him?"
She met his gaze. "I told him I don't have an open clinic, so I couldn't accept payment. But I would check with you about the room and board. He doesn’t need to worry about it now though. All his energy should go to recovering."
Jericho turned straight again, but a moment passed before he spoke. "He doesn't need to pay for sleeping on the floor. But you should be compensated for all you did on his arm. He would have died without you."
She swallowed. "That doesn't feel right." She let out a breath. "It was a lot easier to accept payment when I treated patients in Pop's clinic."
He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "Is that where you learned your skills?"
She couldn't help but smile. "I started working with him when I was five years old. Any time I didn't have to be at school, I spent with him. He let me go on calls, even in the middle of the night."
"Did he serve as a medic in the war?"
She nodded. "That's when I took over his clinic completely."
He tipped his head enough to look at her. "You were only...?"
"Eighteen by the time he left. But I'd been in full apprenticeship for four years. That's more training than many physicians receive."
He turned forward again. "He must have been skilled, for you're a wonder."
Those words felt good, curling inside her and spreading warmth through her chest.
"Where is he now?"
She bit back a sigh. "Back in the clinic. When he returned from the war, he took a sabbatical, but I could tell he needed to work again. We've both seen patients these last two years, but..."
His voice turned wry. "But then your sister found a mail-order bride advertisement, and God said you should head west."
She tried to keep her voice even, but the pain of those weeks hit too hard. "That's not quite the way it happened."
He stilled, his voice softening. "My guess isyoufound the advertisement."
She gripped the hair so tight her fingertips turned white. "It seemed like the perfect opportunity. Naomi was desperate to leave Wayneston. I think Nana and Pop would have let her stay, but she wouldn't tell them."
He reached up and found her hand, gripping it in his strong, sturdy warmth. "I'm glad you came. I'm glad she has a safe place here to have the babe."
Even as she held his hand, letting him cradle her in his strength, she replayed his words in her mind.She has a safe place here to have the babe.That sounded like he planned for them to stay through spring. That wouldn't be appropriate unless either Naomi or she were married.
She'd thought that might be what he was leading toward with those glorious things he’d said to her after their kiss. But she hadn't let herself think about it too long. She couldn't get her hopes up.
In truth, she'd never really wanted to marry. But now that she'd met Jericho Coulter...
The door banged open, making her jerk back as Lillian trotted in. "We have butter, Dinah. There's a big glob of butter in the middle."
Dinah smiled at the girl, working to slow her speeding heart. "Wonderful. Let's see how much." She examined the clump that had developed in the center. "Keep shaking. I think we'll get a bit more, then you can drink the buttermilk."
Lillian beamed. "I haven't had buttermilk in ages."
Dinah turned back to Jericho's hair. "Keep shaking."
"C'mon, Apple. We have to keep shaking." The pup raced ahead of her out the door, yapping in the fresh air.
Dinah chuckled. "Those two are the best of friends."
Silence settled again, and she could feel Jericho thinking about something. Maybe preparing to speak.
