Nathan's Nurse by Zina Abbott

Author:Zina Abbott [Abbott, Zina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-27T06:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 16

~o0o~

D ahlia no sooner tugged the wool stockings on Nathan’s feet than she heard another knock. She began to suspect that she was receiving more company than if she had married at home and her family put together a wedding dinner. She opened the door to discover Royce Bainbridge, holding a covered basket, standing on her back porch. “Come in, Mr. Bainbridge.”

Royce entered and set the basket on the table that Dahlia had cleared off just minutes earlier. “I came by to see how you are doing, Mrs. Price.” Hands on his hips, he gazed around the room. He paused at the sight of her food stuff stacked in one corner, and Nathan’s trunk topped with a mostly empty tow sack on top in another. “It appears your delivery from the mercantile arrived all right, as well as Nathan’s belongings from the boarding house. Charlie Brewster seemed very anxious to help Nathan with that task.”

Dahlia smiled and nodded. “Yes. His friend, Mr. Collins, I believe his name is, came with him. They both wished to spend a few minutes with Nathan.” She declined to mention the other motive behind Charlie and Albert’s willingness to help—finding out who won the bet regarding her use of tobacco.

Royce cleared his throat and gestured toward the basket. “I brought you something from the River Valley Inn for your supper, Mrs. Price. Truth be told, if Nathan had been in full use of his faculties, I would have invited both of you to join Mrs. Millard and me to celebrate. Since that is not an option, I brought a meal to you. I purchased the dinnerware and basket, as well as the food, so please, don’t worry about returning it.”

“Thank you, Mr. Bainbridge. Especially after the brunch earlier, this is completely unexpected but much appreciated.”

“Yes, well, I’ll make a point to treat you and Nathan to dinner at the hotel once he is back on his feet. In the meantime, do you have everything you need for now?”

“I believe so. I’ll need to buy more coal or wood soon—especially after I wash my husband’s laundry. However, having met several of my neighbors today already, I’ll ask one of them where I can go to make arrangements to have more delivered. They plan to take turns stopping by every day to help me with my husband. I’ll be fine.”

“Good. If something comes up and I can…”

A loud pounding on the back door interrupted Royce. Dahlia glanced at the frown on Royce’s face as she started forward to answer. Before she took more than three steps, the door burst open and the knob slammed against the inside wall.

Herbert Price, a disgruntled look on his mottled face, stepped into the room. “How come you didn’t answer the front door? You think I’m not good enough for you to let me in the front way?”

Dahlia stopped her forward movement and stood in place, her hands grasping each other in front at her waist. “Good evening, Mr. Price. I didn’t hear anyone knocking on the front door.

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