change in her demeanor. “He visits St. Louis several times a year to see his sister and he always stops at the hospital. I spent some time with him there. When he learned that I hoped to come home after my training, he offered me the position.”
“That’s just fine, young man.” Aunt Lily spoke with a smile but Coralee thought it might be a bit forced. The older woman was certain to be concerned about Coralee’s response to Jake’s announcement. She had good reason to worry. Coralee and Dr. Jay had gone head-to-head more than once in the year since Papa had died and left her his shop. But that man had gone too far this time. He had only been in town for ten years or so, but it was a small community. He had to know how close she and Jake had been. Had he sought out Jake on purpose to hurt her?
“I’m excited to have a chance to practice medicine here. St. Louis was an interesting change of scenery, but Spring Hill has always been home. And, of course, I need to be close to my folks to help Pa out around the farm when I can. They’re not getting any younger. I never thought the details would line up so I could run a practice here so soon.”
“Jake, my boy, I’m so pleased for you. You aren’t staying with your ma and pa?”
“Samuel felt it would be better for me to live in town to start, to be closer to the clinic until I build up a professional relationship with people in the area. After some time, I’ll move out there to help my parents more.”
Jake continued talking with Lily but Coralee didn’t hear a word. Anger was building up and she just wanted to get away before she embarrassed herself. She cut into their conversation. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to the shop. It was nice to see you, Jake.” She nodded in his direction but couldn’t meet his eyes. “I’ll see you tonight at home, Aunt Lily.” She dropped a light kiss on the older woman’s wrinkled cheek and left before they could stop her. She heard Aunt Lily call her name, but kept going. If she turned around, her temper might well get the best of her.
She was so aggravated that the walk back to Holbrook’s was a blur. “Coralee?” Cat looked up in surprise from a box of jars she was sorting as her sister stomped into the store and huffed behind the counter. “What on earth happened?”
“That man!” Coralee tossed her bonnet on the counter, breathless with frustration. “I don’t know what Samuel Jay thinks he’s doing, but I will not stand for it.”
Cat gently rested her arm around Coralee’s shoulders and walked with her into the small back room. “Sit down and tell me what happened.”
“Jake Hadley is back in town. And he’s training to take over Dr. Jay’s practice.” Coralee sank into her chair, trying to hold back tears. “Alan’s dearest friend, recruited by the man who wants to close our shop. Dr. Jay must know our history and have some motive for hiring Jake, of all people. The man has always acted like he would go to the grave running that practice.” Coralee ran a shaky hand over her face, trying to calm herself.
Cat listened to Coralee pour out her frustrations with the old doctor, but she was never one to jump to conclusions. “Jake is from Spring Hill and I’m sure he’s a great doctor. He would be the most logical choice to take over the practice. Yes, you’ve had trouble with Dr. Jay, but that doesn’t mean Jake is part of it.”
Coralee snorted. “The old man didn’t even wait until we properly mourned Papa. He started in right away, telling his patients that I’m untrained and incapable. He refuses to come to us for even the most basic supplies.” She rose and started pacing the room, unable to sit still. “Just last week Mrs. Bernard told me he hired her oldest grandson to ride over to the steamboat dock to pick up loads of supplies for him. He’ll do anything he has to in order to hurt our business, including using Jake.”
“Be that as it may, we know Jake. He would never hurt anyone out of spite, especially not you.”
But Cat didn’t know Jake as well as her older sister. Coralee had experienced the kind of pain Jake could cause and she would not put herself in that position again. Her focus had to be on how she could keep Papa’s shop open, supporting what was left of her family and giving the people of Spring Hill an alternative to Dr. Jay’s exorbitant fees.
“I know how important this shop is to you, how running it helped you cope with losing Papa and Alan. We’ll find a way to keep it open.”
Coralee’s heart softened at Cat’s earnest tone. No matter what, her sisters were behind her as she fought for their future. Her path was clear: she would never have the family she had dreamed of as a girl, but God had given her the shop. She would do everything in her power to make it the success Papa would have wanted. She needed it and the town needed it.
* * *
After Coralee rushed from the café, Jake stood for a moment in shock. “What just happened?” he muttered.
“Well, dear,” Lily chimed in, direct as usual, “you’re working for the man who wants to ruin her livelihood. What do you expect?”
Jake examined Lily through narrowed eyes, taking in her familiar honest face and work-worn hands. “Lily, I’m not sure what that means.”
“Means Dr. Jay has it out for Coralee’s business, that’s what, honey.”
Jake’s mind retraced the conversation with Coralee. “She did seem upset when I mentioned Dr. Jay. But he’s an excellent doctor and a good man. Kind, caring, intelligent. Why would he try to harm Holbrook’s?”
“Maybe you should ask him about all that, Jake.” Lily patted his hand. “Now, do you need anything for lunch?”
“No, Lily. Thanks.” Jake’s mind was already turning as he waved goodbye. He walked back to the office, hands stuffed deep into the pockets of his cotton trousers. People flowed around him but he didn’t even notice as he mulled over the turn of events. Samuel Jay couldn’t be as bad as Coralee seemed to think. The older man had already taught him so much and Jake was looking forward to several more years of training under him.
He took a deep breath and straightened his slumped shoulders. Coralee’s problems with Samuel didn’t need to have anything to do with him. Although the incident had reminded him why coming back to Spring Hill was a risk. Now that he was in town to stay, he would see her far too often. But that was a chance he had to take. His parents needed him.
Her beauty had taken him by surprise, though. The hard years since he had seen her last had given her a strong, confident air that was appealing. In many ways, she was still the lovely girl he’d grown up with. She only stood as high as his shoulder with the same wavy dark hair, pale blue eyes and delicate nose. But he could read the shadow of loss lingering in her face as clear as day.
Jake approached the small clapboard building that housed Samuel’s office and living quarters. Nestled near a bend in the creek, it was a peaceful spot in the midst of the busy town. Jake appreciated working in this picturesque little corner after seven years of dirt and noise in the city.
When he walked through the front door, he heard Samuel conversing with a patient in the exam room. Jake went to his desk at the back of the empty waiting area, settling in with a pile of patient files he needed to read through. But instead of the stack of paper, Jake’s mind would only focus on the image of lovely blue eyes. Before they’d turned cold with anger, that is.
Jake shook his head and grabbed the first file from the stack. He couldn’t get distracted by a pretty face and he couldn’t let a misunderstanding about motives endanger his position in the practice. He had to get to the
