Read Online Love and Glory: The Coltrane Saga, Book 3 by Patricia Hagan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Patricia Hagan
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morals.”
Then he had told her to leave the hospital, not only for the sake of the patients but also for the relationship between the federal government and the townspeople. She shuddered at the memory, for that had been the beginning of the nightmare with Corey, and that nightmare would haunt her forever.
Chiding herself for letting the past come back to hurt, Kitty knocked on the door. Dr. Sims called out immediately and she walked into the room. He was already up and moving around his desk to greet her with an extended hand.
“Sit down, sit down,” he smiled broadly. “Kitty, my girl, it’s so seldom we get a chance to chat. I’ve been wanting to tell you what a splendid job you are doing here, not only with the nurses but with the patients as well. You are a very special person. If anyone was born to minister to the sick, it was you, dear.”
She returned his smile stiffly and reluctantly took the chair he offered. Praise was nice, but she was so tired and still had the ride home facing her. Staring down at her blood-stained smock, she said bluntly, “I thank you for your compliments, Doctor, but I really need to be on my way. It is a long ride to my home.”
“I know it’s a long ride,” he interrupted, clamping his hand on her shoulder in a gesture of understanding. “And that is precisely why I asked you to come to my office today. Mrs. Sims and I have been worrying about you having to make that ride every day.”
He perched on the edge of his desk, folding his arms across his vested chest. She stared at him quizzically, and he went on to say that now, while the days were getting longer, there was probably enough daylight for her to make the trip home without having to ride in darkness. “But take this evening, for instance,” he waved toward the window and the gathering twilight beyond. “See how late you have stayed again? Your students left hours ago.”
“There was a very sick patient,” she explained quickly. “He asked me to sit with him, and I couldn’t refuse.”
“Ahh, but you do so much of that, don’t you?” He wagged his finger at her. “You go beyond the call of duty, Kitty, which is admirable, but not when you have such a long way to ride at the end of the day. And let’s be realistic. It is not that safe for a lady to be out on the country roads alone.”
“Then you want me to leave the hospital earlier,” she shrugged. “All right, I will try. Now if I may bid you good evening, I’ll just get started on that long ride.”
She had started to rise, but he motioned for her to remain seated as he rushed on. “No, that is not why I called you here. Mrs. Sims and I have discussed it, and we would like to offer you room and board in our home, so that you can remain in Goldsboro and not have to make that trip every night and every morning. There will be no charge. It’s our way of expressing our appreciation for all the fine work you do here, because we both realize that you don’t get paid nearly enough for your services, and—”
“Wait a minute, Doctor.” Kitty held up her hands in a halting gesture. “It is wonderful for you and your wife to make the offer, and I really appreciate your kindness, but please remember that I have a son, and it’s hard enough not being with him during the day. I certainly can’t give up what little time I have with him at night.”
He nodded. “I know, Kitty. I understand how you feel, but I’m sure Mrs. Glass would be glad to keep him overnight, and you will still have the weekends.”
“No. Absolutely not.” She got to her feet this time. “I won’t leave my son with Mattie all week. Perhaps I should not have taken this job, but my husband is away for a spell, and I have no choice but to work and make whatever I can to keep John and me fed and clothed. It’s hard, but when Travis returns, we can get our lives back in order.”
She saw the sympathetic look in his eyes and knew that he, like so many others, did not believe
Then he had told her to leave the hospital, not only for the sake of the patients but also for the relationship between the federal government and the townspeople. She shuddered at the memory, for that had been the beginning of the nightmare with Corey, and that nightmare would haunt her forever.
Chiding herself for letting the past come back to hurt, Kitty knocked on the door. Dr. Sims called out immediately and she walked into the room. He was already up and moving around his desk to greet her with an extended hand.
“Sit down, sit down,” he smiled broadly. “Kitty, my girl, it’s so seldom we get a chance to chat. I’ve been wanting to tell you what a splendid job you are doing here, not only with the nurses but with the patients as well. You are a very special person. If anyone was born to minister to the sick, it was you, dear.”
She returned his smile stiffly and reluctantly took the chair he offered. Praise was nice, but she was so tired and still had the ride home facing her. Staring down at her blood-stained smock, she said bluntly, “I thank you for your compliments, Doctor, but I really need to be on my way. It is a long ride to my home.”
“I know it’s a long ride,” he interrupted, clamping his hand on her shoulder in a gesture of understanding. “And that is precisely why I asked you to come to my office today. Mrs. Sims and I have been worrying about you having to make that ride every day.”
He perched on the edge of his desk, folding his arms across his vested chest. She stared at him quizzically, and he went on to say that now, while the days were getting longer, there was probably enough daylight for her to make the trip home without having to ride in darkness. “But take this evening, for instance,” he waved toward the window and the gathering twilight beyond. “See how late you have stayed again? Your students left hours ago.”
“There was a very sick patient,” she explained quickly. “He asked me to sit with him, and I couldn’t refuse.”
“Ahh, but you do so much of that, don’t you?” He wagged his finger at her. “You go beyond the call of duty, Kitty, which is admirable, but not when you have such a long way to ride at the end of the day. And let’s be realistic. It is not that safe for a lady to be out on the country roads alone.”
“Then you want me to leave the hospital earlier,” she shrugged. “All right, I will try. Now if I may bid you good evening, I’ll just get started on that long ride.”
She had started to rise, but he motioned for her to remain seated as he rushed on. “No, that is not why I called you here. Mrs. Sims and I have discussed it, and we would like to offer you room and board in our home, so that you can remain in Goldsboro and not have to make that trip every night and every morning. There will be no charge. It’s our way of expressing our appreciation for all the fine work you do here, because we both realize that you don’t get paid nearly enough for your services, and—”
“Wait a minute, Doctor.” Kitty held up her hands in a halting gesture. “It is wonderful for you and your wife to make the offer, and I really appreciate your kindness, but please remember that I have a son, and it’s hard enough not being with him during the day. I certainly can’t give up what little time I have with him at night.”
He nodded. “I know, Kitty. I understand how you feel, but I’m sure Mrs. Glass would be glad to keep him overnight, and you will still have the weekends.”
“No. Absolutely not.” She got to her feet this time. “I won’t leave my son with Mattie all week. Perhaps I should not have taken this job, but my husband is away for a spell, and I have no choice but to work and make whatever I can to keep John and me fed and clothed. It’s hard, but when Travis returns, we can get our lives back in order.”
She saw the sympathetic look in his eyes and knew that he, like so many others, did not believe
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