Read Online NoRegretsColeNC by Christina Cole - Free Book Online Page B

you.”
    “Are
you going to be all right?”
    “Dr.
Kellerman says the leg is almost as good as new. I’ll be using this crutch for
a time, maybe I’ll need a cane for a while.” He shrugged. “Maybe for the rest of my life. Hard
to say. But I’ll do all right.”
    Hattie
wanted to know more, but how could she ask all the questions on her mind
without seeming to pry? Such a thing was impossible. She gritted her teeth and
hoped Willie wouldn’t be offended by her queries.
    “Have
you arranged a place to stay? Are you going to be working? How will you get on,
Willie?”
    He
moved his shoulders slightly. Hattie guessed it was a shrug of sorts. With him
leaning heavily on the crutch, it was difficult to tell.
    “I’ll
manage. I’ll get a room. Of course, I’ll have to find work. I plan to start
looking tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll find something suitable.”
    His
words set her mind at ease. “It’s good that you’ve got a plan.” And a positive attitude. She smiled, relieved to see that
Willie appeared to be on the right track at last.
    “And no
more liquor? No whiskey? No drinking?”
    He held
up a hand. “I swear.”
    Hattie
gave silent thanks. She suddenly felt awkward, unsure what to do with her hands
and arms. Although she had an urge to reach out and hug Willie, she pushed the
impulse aside. If she acted on it, she’d probably end up knocking the man off
his feet, and what would she do then?
    She
shoved a hand forward, clasped his, and shook it heartily.
    “Take
good care of yourself, Mr. Morse.”
    Hattie
reverted to formality, knowing that the casual relationship they’d shared
during his hospital stay had now come to an end. She should be happy for him,
glad to celebrate his recuperation from his injuries. She was happy for him. So why did her heart feel so heavy?
     
    * * *
*
     
    “Dr.
Kellerman says she’s going to be just fine.” Hattie patted Lucille Henderson’s
hand. The very expectant mother, who also happened to be the doctor’s
daughter-in-law, had rushed to the hospital that morning. Faith, the oldest of
the Henderson girls, had been playing in one of the horse barns and had taken a
tumble from the hay loft. “No broken bones,” Hattie assured the anxious woman,
grateful to give good news.
    Emily
Sue Brooks sat beside Lucille, holding Faith on her lap. She worked for the
Henderson family, tending the rambunctious little ones and helping Lucille with
household chores. Hattie enjoyed seeing her friend and former roommate from
Miss Brundage’s Female Academy.
    “I
doubt she’ll be climbing up into the loft again any time soon,” Emily remarked
with a laugh. Already little Faith was squirming about.
    “I want
to see Grandpa again. Where’s Grandma?” She wriggled herself free of Emily’s
hold and tapped at her mother’s protruding belly. “Take me to see Grandma.
Please?”
    Lucille
rose slowly. “Yes, let’s do that.” Due to her pregnancy, this was the first
time she’d been to town for many months. “Emily, do you mind if we stay and
visit for a while?”
    “I
don’t mind at all. That will give me a chance to chat with Hattie, too.”
    With
smiles all around, Lucille led Faith from the room. As soon as they were out
the door, Hattie rushed to her friend’s side.
    “Emily,
has Willie been around to see you and Ben lately?”
    “Since
his accident, you mean?”
    Hattie
nodded. She knew Willie and Ben, Emily’s husband, had become friends, for a
time, at least. Apparently, like so many other things in his life, Willie had
let the friendship go.
    “I
haven’t seen him since he left the hospital. It’s been two weeks.” Hattie
suspected her voice might well give her away, but she couldn’t disguise her
feelings. She truly missed Willie. Even more, she wanted to know how he was
faring. “He was supposed to come back to have the doctor look at his leg. He
hasn’t.”
    Emily
studied Hattie with a concerned look. “Hattie Mae! I hope that gleam I see in
your eyes