“Gee that’s a shame,” Fancy said approaching Jane and patting her on the shoulder. “I thought you two were getting on well and he is attractive, in a professor sort of way.”
“I thought we were too,” Jane said with a sob before pulling herself together. “But he’s not my father and I won’t be treated like a child. He’ll respect me as a woman and treat me accordingly, or I’ll prove to him I am one,” she insisted defiantly.
“Jane, I hope you’re not going to do anything foolish,” Annalise gasped. “I’m not very experienced, but I wouldn’t intentionally rile him up if I were you,” she offered, blushing and making eye contact with Callie Mae. “Some of the men around here have some pretty rigid ideas about proper behavior for a young lady.”
“I have to agree with Annalise, dear,” Callie Mae said gently. “Dr. Brubaker isn’t a man to trifle with. While he’s devoted to the health and welfare of this community, he’s still basically a man with the same morals and temperament.”
“Yes Jane, Callie Mae and Annalise are right,” Marilee said looking up from her embroidery. “The night he plucked you away from those two men who were trying to take you out of here I realized how strong he was. He was very determined to rescue you, Jane dear, quite heroic actually.”
“Well, I don’t care,” Jane said stomping her foot. “After what he said to me today, I may never speak to him again. Of all the nerve!”
“Perhaps you’d better tell us after all,” Callie Mae suggested gently. “If it was that inappropriate, I’ll have Morgan speak to him.”
Jane looked around at the faces of her friends, the only ones she had in the world. All she saw was concern and empathy. Wringing her hands, she finally blurted out.
“When I got angry because he wouldn’t allow me to attend the birth, he got angry too. He said he was only looking out for my best interests and that if I continue to act like a spoiled child, he’d treat me as one. I accused him of wanting to keep me in the school room and he replied that if he wanted me in the school room, he build his own as there was plenty he could teach me.
“Well, as you can imagine, I was pretty insulted. Before I could stop myself, I made to slap his face but he caught my arm spun me around and slapped me three times on my bottom. I was mortified. Then he said, there’s plenty more where that came from, my girl.”
“What happened then?” They gasped in unison.
“Well naturally I left rather quickly, but boy did I slam the door.”
“Oh Jane,” Callie Mae sighed. “You may have bitten off a bit more than you can chew. For some reason I don’t think that was the end of it.”
“It most certainly was,” Jane insisted defiantly. “I shan’t return to his office until I receive a proper apology.”
“Let’s all hope he doesn’t come here, looking for you,” Fancy said. “He’s a nice man and I’d hate to have to take my pool stick to him.”
Soon they were all giggling as Fancy picked up her cue stick and swung at the air.
“Oh my, that’s funny,” Callie Mae sighed, wiping her eyes. “I can just picture the appalled look on his face. The doctor might just end up needing a doctor if it comes to that. I better go upstairs and freshen up. I was supposed to meet Morgan at Marshall Riley’s office twenty minutes ago. Try to cheer up ladies. If I can find someone responsible, we will be reopening The Duchess soon. Don’t worry; I won’t hire anyone until they’ve been introduced to you and meet with your approval. After all, he will be working much more closely with you.”
“Make sure he’s not full of antiquated ideas, Callie Mae,” Jane suggested.
“Yes, and make sure he’s not the vulgar sort,” Annalise added.
“Try to find someone nice to look at,” Fancy chirped in with a grin.
“And well mannered,” Marilee offered. “That’s important.”
“That’s quite a list,” Callie Mae said as she headed upstairs to her room, “but I’ll do my best.”
CHAPTER6
PRESENT DAY
Mead was astounded as he lay on a bed that raised his legs and shoulders with the push of a button and watched a huge box on the wall. One minute he was reaching for his non-existent gun and the next he was wide-eyed as a naked young woman rode a man like a bucking bronco, her breasts bouncing as he pushed various buttons on a black device.
Witt showed him all the conveniences of what he referred to as a suite, but seemed more like an entire house to Mead. There was a bathing stall he could wheel his chair into that had rails all along the walls. The special indoor latrine had arms so he could transfer to it without assistance. A large mirror and sink accommodated his chair easily, allowing him to shave and wash his hands under water he could adjust the temperature of with levers. It truly was a vast improvement over his time. The clothes Witt brought him were lightweight and soft. Sweats, he’d called them, and Mead wondered why on earth Morgan would want to do without all these wonderful things.
He supposed Callie Mae had something to do with it, and of course their mother’s cooking. He’d never seen a man enjoy a meal as much as Morgan seemed to. Cara was kind also, knocking frequently to see if there was anything Mead needed and showing him how to use something called an intercom. While she obviously had an independent streak, Witt seemed to have her well in hand if that smack on her bottom in her office was any indication. Mead wondered if Morgan had ever tried to discipline her and decided it wasn’t likely as he recalled Morgan’s questions about how to spank Callie Mae should the need arise.
Should the need arise, that was a joke. Of course, the need was going to arise with a woman like Callie Mae, he thought as a laugh escaped. Most likely the only one of those girls not in need of constant supervision was Marilee. Her sweet face came to him, and he smiled.
Such a pretty girl, with a sunny disposition, her thick dark hair made his fingers itch to touch it. Marilee was an example of southern womanhood to be admired. Her voice was soothing with its slight drawl and her manners were impeccable. Even when she’d been cracking whiskey bottles on the heads of astonished men the night of the brawl; he could have sworn he heard her apologizing over the din.
Yes, Marilee would make some man a fine and obedient wife, just not him. Had he not been engaged to Lilly things would be very, very different. After all, it only took Ty Wainwright one evening to convince Annalise to marry him, and she was as shy as a sparrow.
