Chapter Eleven
WILLA HAD JUST MADEit to the second-floor landing at the inn when Dr. Gatewood came rushing up the stairs. She gripped the top of the banister, trying in vain not to notice how handsome he looked in the gray suit he wore.
“Good afternoon, Miss Rousseau,” he said, sweeping off his hat and smiling broadly. “I just visited Mr. Sterling and was coming to look in on your father.”
She glanced back down the hallway, where Papa’s door remained shut. “He’s feeling worse today. I’m certain he’d prefer not to have visitors. Particularly those who come only to tell him he is a fraud.” Willa forced herself to stand straight, even though memories of Nick’s hand around hers made her want to melt into a puddle right there on the staircase landing.
Dr. Gatewood took the remaining steps until he was standing directly across from her. “You misunderstand. I’ve come only in a professional capacity.” He paused, his fingers tightening around the brim of his hat. “If he is too ill to treat himself, he ought to be seen by a doctor.”
Willa bit her lip, warring with what to do. The truth was, Papa seemed to be getting worse, especially in between the times he took the elixir. But sometimes an illness needed to get worse before it improved. And he was hardly on his deathbed. “It’s but a cough and a low fever,” she said. “Nothing that won’t improve with some rest and more of his medicines.”
Dr. Gatewood tapped his hat against his leg, as if he were debating what to do next. “All right. But promise me you’ll come to get me or Dr. Thomas if he seems to worsen?”
“I promise.” Willa glanced away as she bit back a smile. For someone who claimed he could not stand her father, Dr. Gatewood seemed awfully concerned about his health.
“You know that elixir is doing nothing for him.”
Willa bristled. The man couldn’t help but get his opinion in, no matter the situation. “It helps him sleep while it’s working.” She lifted her chin. Dr. Gatewood had no proof that Papa’s medicine wasn’t helping him.
He gave a short laugh. “It’s helping him sleep because it’s likely full of whiskey.”
Willa gasped. “It is no such thing! Papa doesn’t imbibe spirits, and he certainly wouldn’t sell . . .whiskeyas medicine to help people.”
Dr. Gatewood gave her a half smile. “You believe as you wish, Miss Rousseau. You offered to prove to me the legitimacy of your father’s work, which I still await. I may offer to prove the opposite.”
“How would you do that?” Willa’s heart thumped faster as Dr. Gatewood’s smile grew broader.
“Well, then, you’ll just have to wait and see.” He grinned at her as if he hadn’t a care in the world. “You appear to be on your way out. May I escort you to the door?”
Willa took a step back. His smile was far too disconcerting. It made it hard to think straight. “Why should I accept such an offer from a man who just threatened to destroy my father’s business?”
“I did nothing of the sort,” Dr. Gatewood said, extending an arm. “I only said that I’d prove it toyou—not to the entire town.”
Willa eyed him warily. “Last week you said you’d run us out of town.”
He pushed his lips together. “I did. But I’m also not the kind of person who’d send a sick man packing. I’m more concerned with your father’s health right now than with his wild claims.”
Willa’s heart softened at his words. “Do you promise?”
“You have my word.”
“All right.” She took a deep breath, tried not to think about how taking his arm would send her head spinning again, and let him escort her down the stairs.
“Thank you,” she said when they reached the door.
“Where are you headed on such a fine day?” he asked, buttoning his coat.
Normally, Willa and Papa would have been on their way to set up for an afternoon show. But with Papa sick and Amos injured, their shows were indefinitely postponed. That likely meant they’d be in Creede for longer than Papa had planned. Willa’s greatest hope had come true, but she wished it hadn't come at such a cost.
“I’m going to the Tivoli Ballroom,” she said. Practice for the dance was due to start in about thirty minutes’ time, but Willa hoped she might catch the Settles sisters on her way, if only so she didn’t have to go in alone.
