Read Online Love and Glory: The Coltrane Saga, Book 3 by Patricia Hagan - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Patricia Hagan
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years.
“You little fool!” Jerome snapped, squeezing her shoulder. “We come here to meet my cousin Leroy, and you have to make a spectacle of yourself.”
“You’ve been making a spectacle of yourself over that trollop for years, you bastard!” Nancy snapped, jerking away. “And don’t you touch me like that again or I will make a scene.”
The carriage was farther away, and Jerome continued to limp toward it. Nancy fell into step beside him. “I won’t have you running after that bitch,” she said harshly. “I mean it, Jerome. I won’t have it. Good heavens, she shot you and gave you that limp!”
“Just shut up,” he snarled, trying to move away from her. “Whatever differences Kitty and I might have had are in the past. She’s alone now. Her husband has obviously left her. She has a small child and a farm to look after, and she’s going to need friends. I intend to be one, and you are going to keep your mouth shut about it.”
Nancy slowed, allowing him to move ahead as she thought, lips pursed together tightly, frowning.
Some way, she vowed silently, somehow, this time Kitty Wright would not get her man. She had been in Nancy’s craw far too long. It would take some planning, but this time, Nancy promised herself, this time she would come out on top.
Chapter Four
Kitty was curious and also annoyed. Dr. Sims had sent word that he wanted her to go to his office when she was through for the day. As always, she was anxious to get home. She had traded in the wagon and mule for a mare, for it was faster to travel on horseback. The ride to Mattie’s to pick up John usually took a little over a half hour if she cantered the mare at a leisurely pace, and then it was another fifteen-minute ride home.
As she walked down the long hallway to Dr. Sims’ office, she glanced out a window and saw that another spring storm was gathering in the west. The prospect of riding in the rain did nothing to lift her spirits.
All in all, the day had been extremely trying. Twelve young women had signed up to work under her at the hospital, and after two weeks, seven had remained. Now there were six, and one of them had fainted that day while watching an operation. Kitty knew that was the end of the young lady’s nursing career.
Perhaps, Kitty thought with a sigh, the whole program had been foolish. Goldsboro was a small town, with a small hospital. If women were genuinely interested in nursing, it would probably be best for them to go to a city like Raleigh or Wilmington, where there were better facilities and they could learn modern techniques.
She paused outside Dr. Sims’ closed door. There had been a time when she did not care for the man, when he was lazy and often drunk, given to defeatism like so many other Southerners right after the war. Then when the Yankees had gradually moved back north, the responsibilities of running things had fallen on Dr. Sims. Despite his age, he had answered the call valiantly and had earned renewed respect, not only from Kitty but from the townsfolk as well.
Standing there brought back other memories—painful memories. Kitty had only to close her eyes and envision that fateful, painful day when she had been banished from the hospital, cast into the streets with nowhere to go, carrying Travis’ child.
The Yankee doctor in charge, Dr. Malpass, had summoned her to this very same office to discuss the pregnancy she had tried to hide. Incensed, she had told him bluntly that she was not ashamed to be carrying Captain Coltrane’s child, and that they were going to be married as soon as he returned from whatever mission General Sherman had sent him on. She had asked to be excused from the embarrassing discussion, reminding him there were patients to be ministered to.
She could recall so vividly the way he had leaped to his feet angrily and agreed that yes, there were patients out there, and then he had yelled, “Patients who should not be exposed to a woman of questionable
“You little fool!” Jerome snapped, squeezing her shoulder. “We come here to meet my cousin Leroy, and you have to make a spectacle of yourself.”
“You’ve been making a spectacle of yourself over that trollop for years, you bastard!” Nancy snapped, jerking away. “And don’t you touch me like that again or I will make a scene.”
The carriage was farther away, and Jerome continued to limp toward it. Nancy fell into step beside him. “I won’t have you running after that bitch,” she said harshly. “I mean it, Jerome. I won’t have it. Good heavens, she shot you and gave you that limp!”
“Just shut up,” he snarled, trying to move away from her. “Whatever differences Kitty and I might have had are in the past. She’s alone now. Her husband has obviously left her. She has a small child and a farm to look after, and she’s going to need friends. I intend to be one, and you are going to keep your mouth shut about it.”
Nancy slowed, allowing him to move ahead as she thought, lips pursed together tightly, frowning.
Some way, she vowed silently, somehow, this time Kitty Wright would not get her man. She had been in Nancy’s craw far too long. It would take some planning, but this time, Nancy promised herself, this time she would come out on top.
Chapter Four
Kitty was curious and also annoyed. Dr. Sims had sent word that he wanted her to go to his office when she was through for the day. As always, she was anxious to get home. She had traded in the wagon and mule for a mare, for it was faster to travel on horseback. The ride to Mattie’s to pick up John usually took a little over a half hour if she cantered the mare at a leisurely pace, and then it was another fifteen-minute ride home.
As she walked down the long hallway to Dr. Sims’ office, she glanced out a window and saw that another spring storm was gathering in the west. The prospect of riding in the rain did nothing to lift her spirits.
All in all, the day had been extremely trying. Twelve young women had signed up to work under her at the hospital, and after two weeks, seven had remained. Now there were six, and one of them had fainted that day while watching an operation. Kitty knew that was the end of the young lady’s nursing career.
Perhaps, Kitty thought with a sigh, the whole program had been foolish. Goldsboro was a small town, with a small hospital. If women were genuinely interested in nursing, it would probably be best for them to go to a city like Raleigh or Wilmington, where there were better facilities and they could learn modern techniques.
She paused outside Dr. Sims’ closed door. There had been a time when she did not care for the man, when he was lazy and often drunk, given to defeatism like so many other Southerners right after the war. Then when the Yankees had gradually moved back north, the responsibilities of running things had fallen on Dr. Sims. Despite his age, he had answered the call valiantly and had earned renewed respect, not only from Kitty but from the townsfolk as well.
Standing there brought back other memories—painful memories. Kitty had only to close her eyes and envision that fateful, painful day when she had been banished from the hospital, cast into the streets with nowhere to go, carrying Travis’ child.
The Yankee doctor in charge, Dr. Malpass, had summoned her to this very same office to discuss the pregnancy she had tried to hide. Incensed, she had told him bluntly that she was not ashamed to be carrying Captain Coltrane’s child, and that they were going to be married as soon as he returned from whatever mission General Sherman had sent him on. She had asked to be excused from the embarrassing discussion, reminding him there were patients to be ministered to.
She could recall so vividly the way he had leaped to his feet angrily and agreed that yes, there were patients out there, and then he had yelled, “Patients who should not be exposed to a woman of questionable
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