Willa felt her face go warm, and she ducked her head to look at the ground.
“I’m glad to have doctored someone like him, then,” he said. His voice was dark and rich, and the timbre of it called Willa’s eyes back up to his face.
“Thank you,” she said. “I apologize for what I insinuated earlier.”
“I would never let my opinions interfere with my work,” he said. “Mr. Sterling is a lucky man. Just a fraction of an inch lower, and he wouldn’t be here.”
Willa shivered at that thought. “I greatly appreciate your efforts, as does my father.” Before Dr. Gatewood could ask the question, she added, “He hasn’t been feeling well lately, and I chose not to wake him. Especially considering you were on your way.” She didn’t add that she hadn’t known the latter when she’d left her room earlier.
If Papa wasn’t feeling poorly, would she have woken him to treat Amos? Of course she would have. It was only that she’d never seen Papa treat an acute injury like the one Amos had received. He was a physician, though, so it only made sense that he had the aptitude; he’d simply never had the need, at least so far as Willa knew.
“It was good of you to come,” she added quickly.
“I hope your father improves soon,” Dr. Gatewood replied. His eyes shifted to where she clasped her hands in front of her. “Are you bleeding?”
Before Willa could speak a word, he’d taken her hand in his and turned it over to inspect it. His touch was warm and comforting, and his hand held hers as if she were something fragile. She ought to protest. To tell him it was nothing, likely only Amos’s blood from where she’d wrapped his wound earlier. Yet she didn’t want him to let go. His fingers traced her palm, searching for a cut that didn’t exist, and Willa struggled to breathe normally.
“I don’t see an injury.” His eyes, a soft blue in the dim light of the barn, found hers. They narrowed just slightly, as if he were thinking, then widened again. “You were the one who wrapped his wound.”
It wasn’t a question, but Willa nodded anyhow. He still held her hand in his. She should pull away before Leroy returned with the payment. And yet she remained perfectly still.
“You saved his life, Miss Rousseau,” he said in that voice that sounded like melted butter. “He would have bled out before I arrived if you hadn’t thought to do that. You would make an excellent nurse.”
Willa swallowed, still unable to find her voice with his hand still clutching hers. How did one ever grow used to such a sensation? She felt as if her entire body were on edge, waiting for something she never knew existed.
A sound came from the wagon, and Dr. Gatewood dropped her hand so quickly that the entire moment felt like it had been a dream. He grabbed his coat and hat.
“I need to be getting back. I have another patient I must see to. Good evening, Miss Rousseau.” And with that, he swept from the barn.
“But your payment,” Willa said.
But he was already gone, leaving her wondering what exactly had just happened between them.
Chapter Ten
IT WAS MIDMORNING,cold and clear, when Nick found himself on the road to Bachelor, with Dr. JT’s office as his destination. He’d checked in on both William and Amos Sterling before breakfast, and both were doing well. There was no sign of fever for either man, and the only disappointment Nick had felt was upon not seeing Miss Rousseau when he paid his visit to Mr. Sterling. The man had been moved to more comfortable lodgings at the hotel, and the deputy had agreed to watch over the wagons at the livery while Mr. Taunton kept vigil at Mr. Sterling’s bedside. Nick had lingered several moments longer with his patient, all in the hopes that Miss Rousseau might appear. Alas, she hadn’t, and he’d finally made his way downstairs for a quick breakfast.
