that cough again. Keeps me up at night, it does.” Coralee could see the woman searching for words. She wouldn’t meet Coralee’s eyes. Was something else wrong this time?
“If there’s something you need, I can help you. You just have to tell me.”
Mrs. Bernard sighed. “My boys didn’t find much in the mine last year. Made this a hard winter. I’ve held off awhile, but the cough’s getting worse. Maybe you have something that costs less than the Ayer’s?”
“Ah.” Understanding dawned. She couldn’t afford the Ayer’s Cherry Pectoral that she always came to get when the cough started bothering her. “Well, I could pick out something else for you.” Coralee leaned over the counter and lowered her voice. “Or, you could do me a favor and try a new mixture I’ve been working on. Of course, not knowing how well it will work, I couldn’t charge you for it.”
A flash of relief washed over the old woman. Then she straightened and pursed her lips. “Yes, I do believe that would be a fine arrangement. Thank you, Mrs. Evans.” Her shaky voice was laden with genuine gratitude. This was the reason the shop had to stay open. Papa had been right: the people of Spring Hill needed a place they trusted for their medicine, a place that cared about them.
Coralee turned toward the shelf that held the Ayer’s Pectoral. Her step faltered when she caught sight of Jake watching from a table, almost sending her smashing into the bottles. How long had he been there?
She grabbed several bottles, one full and one empty. With her back turned to the counter, she poured the curative, sealed the bottle and wrapped it in brown paper.
“All ready, Mrs. Bernard.” She walked the old woman to the door and handed her the package, thanking her for stopping by. Then she turned to Jake. He looked tired, but there was a hint of approval in his eyes.
“I saw that.” He leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms as that warm hint grew into full-fledged admiration.
She shrugged and moved behind the counter with her head high. “You saw me fill an order for Mrs. Bernard? It’s for the cough that keeps bothering her. She comes in every few weeks.”
He laughed, the enthusiastic sound contrasting with the weariness in his features. “You know what I mean. I saw you pour the Ayer’s Pectoral into the bottle you told her was a test mixture. A free test mixture.” She flushed under his direct gaze. “That was commendable, Coralee. It was something your father would have done.”
She brushed at the tears that threatened to fall when he likened her to Papa. “Mrs. Bernard is a lovely woman. I hate to see her suffering and not do something about it. Now, what brings you in today?”
In an instant his mirth disappeared and weariness flooded his features. “I came to ask for your help. I’ve been out south of town for the last few days, caring for several families. It’s cholera.”
A knot formed in Coralee’s stomach. There hadn’t been a cholera outbreak in the area for years. Would this one turn deadly, as so many others had? Though she’d never seen it herself, Papa had told her about his experiences with the sickness. She knew how it could ravage a town in no time, starting with stomach pain and nausea, progressing to fever, pale skin and lethargy. If the patient didn’t show signs of recovery in the earliest stage, they most likely wouldn’t pull through.
Jake ran a hand over his face before continuing. “Samuel left for St. Louis right before I received word. He’ll be gone for at least six weeks, caring for his sister, so I’m handling this on my own. The youngest Smith boy found me this morning. Mr. Smith and the oldest two children are sick now. I’m out of camphor and hoped you could spare whatever you have.”
“Yes, I have quite a bit. I’ll get a crate.” She was a bit hesitant to continue. Every time they were together, they fought. But he looked so worn out. What if things took a turn for the worse and he was out there alone? “Several families with cholera is a lot to handle on your own. I could ride out with you and help. If you want.”
“No.” Jake drummed his fingers on the counter, refusing to meet her gaze. “If I can just get the camphor from you, I’ll be on my way.”
She came around the counter to stand in front of him. “Jake, you need help. I know what to do out there.”
“I don’t doubt your abilities. But I can’t expose you to cholera.”
She planted one hand on her hip, searching for the words that would convince him he couldn’t do this alone. Coralee wanted to keep her heart as uninvolved as possible, but she couldn’t leave him to handle an epidemic on his own. “But you’ll expose yourself without any concern for your own health? Exhaustion will make you more susceptible, after all.”
With a sigh, he raised his hands in surrender. “If you’re sure you want to do this, then I guess you can come. I have to admit that I could use the help. Thank you.”
Coralee flashed him a smile in the hope that he would see she was confident about helping. Then she turned her focus to the task at hand. Handing him an empty crate, she directed him to a shelf filled with jars of camphor. Then, with Cat’s help, she started gathering supplies to stock her travel case.
Conflicting emotions churned inside Coralee now that she had a minute to think through what they were facing. She wanted to help. And Jake needed someone out there with him. But was she ready to take on the long, emotional hours ahead with her former love by her side?
While he packed jar after jar into the crate, Jake tried not to regret agreeing to Coralee’s help. His first reaction had been to stay as far away from her offer as possible. He was weary to the bone and didn’t want to distract himself in such a critical time. And, despite his best efforts, Coralee was a distraction. But if he was honest, her actions with Mrs. Bernard had reminded him of why she was so good at what she did. She had a way with people that made them feel cared for and respected. And he needed the help badly.
Jake fitted a lid onto the full crate and turned to the ladies. “All packed. Are you ready, Coralee?”
“Yes, let’s go.” She was all business and that was fine with him. He couldn’t open himself up to emotional complications with this woman. He carried her case and the crate of camphor outside to the wagon and turned to help her climb onto the hard seat. He joined her and urged the horse into motion and they headed out of town in silence.
Through his exhaustion, Jake took in the familiar landscape he had missed during the years he’d been away. St. Louis was tight with buildings and people, unlike these rolling hills covered in swaying, knee-high grass. The late-afternoon sky above was endlessly clear, a blue so bright it almost hurt his eyes. As difficult as coming back had been, this was where he wanted to spend the rest of his days.
Coralee’s quiet words brought him back to the present. “How bad is this outbreak?”
He glanced over. She was staring straight ahead, more than a hint of worry written on her face. A sudden desire to fix the problem and erase that worried look took him by surprise. “I’m not sure yet. It seems confined to an area south of town. The fellow that helps out at the Wallace place came to get me first. They told me their neighbor, old Mr. Howard, was sick, as well.” Jake swallowed, trying to clear away the sudden dryness that was making it hard to speak. “He passed away
