The Parson's Waiting by Sherryl Woods

Author:Sherryl Woods [Woods, Sherryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781459294646
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 1994-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

If December’s weather was any indication, Richard didn’t want any part of January and February in Kiley. There had been two significant snowstorms already and the temperature had dipped close to zero on more nights than he cared to count. Not even a fire that blazed day and night had been able to ward off the chill in Maisey’s drafty old house. He’d taken to wearing so many layers of clothes, he thought he was starting to look a bit like a vagrant, wearing his entire wardrobe at once.

Not that his appearance these days was of any real concern with the only woman on his mind being Anna Louise. He’d done everything he could to steer clear of her whenever possible, but the efforts had been useless.

Not even the very willing Penelope had been able to distract him. He’d finally explained gently that he had no intention of getting involved with her again while he was in Kiley. He didn’t say that Anna Louise’s image was with him when he went to bed at night and with him when he woke up in the morning. He didn’t explain that while he slept, it was Anna Louise who tormented him in his dreams with her beauty and gentleness, her wit and strength and her unavailability.

He told himself that her being unavailable was what made him unable to shake her loose. Unfortunately, this perfectly logical explanation didn’t help one bit to satisfy his fascination.

He was tucked under the layers of comforters considering his options when he heard Maisey coughing. The dry, hacking sound practically shook the house and brought him to his feet. He yanked on his clothes and tore down the hall.

“Are you all right?” he demanded from the doorway to her room.

“Fine,” she insisted, then went into another spasm of coughs.

Richard plunked himself down on the side of the bed and glared at her. “Maisey, I don’t want you to even think about getting out of this bed today. I’m calling Doc Benson.”

“Nonsense. I’ll be bit as a fiddle as soon as I get a cup of tea into me. Would you mind making it this morning?”

He cast one last worried look at her as he stood up. “I’ll bring you some juice, too. And maybe a little honey for the tea. Is your throat sore?”

“Just a mite. The tea will fix me right up.”

In the kitchen, Richard put the kettle on for tea, then placed a call to the doctor. Before he could think better of it, he made another call, this one to Anna Louise. Just the sound of her voice made his pulse pick up speed.

“Anna Louise, could you stop by sometime today? It’s Maisey. I’m worried about her.”

“Have you called Doc Benson?”

“He’ll be by within the hour.”

“I have to make another call, but I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

He was pleased by her matter-of-fact response. There was no hysteria. Anna Louise was a woman who had the kind of strength it took to handle almost anything.

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