started worrying the minute you left her side and came over here to wait. You’re a dead giveaway when you’re nervous, you know. Pacing and clearing your throat the way you do.”
Ben produced a half-hearted frown. “And you are too observant for your own good.”
With a self-satisfied grin, Joseph lifted Katie’s cloak from her shoulders and draped it over the chair. “I can’t help it that my other senses are so sharp. I come by it naturally.”
Ben sighed. “Katie, maybe you ought to give him a lesson in humility. Seems like he’s a little weak in that area.”
“Believe me, I don’t need her to do that. All I have to do is make an embarrassing mess of things, like last Sunday at church, and my feet are firmly planted on the ground.” Joseph raked a hand through his chestnut hair.
“What happened this time?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“Well, sure I do.”
On a heavy sigh, Joseph shook his head. “I was introducing myself to a newcomer and I reached out to shake her hand, but it wasn’t her hand I touched.”
Ben grimaced. “You didn’t.”
“I did.” Joseph pinched the bridge of his nose. “I touched her—her bosom,” he ground out. “That’s not even polite to say in mixed company. Sorry, darlin’,” he added with absolute sincerity to Katie.
The way she looked up at Joseph with undeniable adoration was something to see. And snagged at Ben’s own yearning for the same.
At twenty-nine, he could’ve married several times over, but after a difficult end to a relationship while he was away at school, he’d decided to bypass that aisle. And with as much as his practice had grown, he could easily distract himself from the loneliness he felt at times, by throwing himself into his work and his patients.
Unfortunately a certain five-foot-two-inch, auburn-haired, blue-eyed patient residing in the living quarters of his office next door presented a bit of a problem. He was distracted completely by Callie’s presence.
“I could’ve crawled out of the church,” Joseph finished.
Grabbing the two empty mugs from the table, Ben couldn’t help chuckling. “So, what did you do?”
“Apologized. What do you think? Then held my head high and made some small talk as if nothing had happened.”
“If it’s any consolation, I don’t think she realized you were blind until…well, until that,” Katie offered, stacking the plates and bowls and setting them in the basin, too. “She looked as shocked as you did.”
“There’s the silver lining.” Ben clapped his brother on the arm. “You’ve been working hard at gauging where to aim your focus. Sounds like you’re doing a great job—at least where your eyes are concerned, anyway.”
“Very funny.” Shoving his hands in his pockets, Joseph shook his head. “Next time I’ll remember to hold my hand out and let the other person do the grabbing.”
Inwardly, Ben was thankful to see the ease with which Joseph was handling his blindness. He was adjusting well. Though he could see some dim shadows, he was pretty much dependent on his other senses. And with the help of his wife, who’d come to him as a teacher of the blind, he’d made huge strides toward independence.
“So, Callie is back in bed, right?” He swung his focus back to the conversation.
“I gave her a fresh glass of water and tucked her in. Satisfied, Doctor Drake?” Katie teased.
Ben gave one swift nod. “As weak as she is, I want to make sure she doesn’t overdo it.”
“She didn’t. We were just getting to know each other, that’s all. She seems very nice, but you were right. She’s a proud young woman.” Katie tucked strands of blond waves into where she’d swept it up at the back of her head. “She almost refused to take the clothes I brought over. And she’s determined to pay you for everything. Once she’s on her feet again, I’m guessing she’ll be a tough one to corner long enough to get her to open up.”
He frowned. “That’s what has me worried.”
“I thought so,” Joseph gibed with one raised brow. “You’re taken by her, aren’t you?”
Ben shrugged off the brotherly taunt. “Well, something about her has snagged my attention, that’s for sure.”
“Like I’ve said before,” Joseph measured out, patting his chest. “You’re a bleeding heart.”
Ben dropped his gaze to the floor. “I’m just worried about her, that’s all. It’s obvious she doesn’t have anywhere to go from here. As much as this area has been built up with the railroad coming through and all, a young woman trying to find her way alone is as good as a death sentence. It’s clear that she needs a leg up in life.”
“You’re right to be concerned.” Katie threaded her arm through Joseph’s.
“What do you mean?” Ben’s pulse prickled through him at the way her features pinched with concern.
“I have a feeling that if you want her to stay safe, then you’re going to have to find enough things to keep her busy right here. But most importantly, you need to treat her with great care.” Her voice grew suddenly soft and strained as Joseph wrapped her protectively in the crook of his arm. “Even though she tried to hide them, the awful scars I glimpsed on her body are a horrid indication that her past is something she’d like to forget.”
The thought of Callie enduring a cruel beating, even once, touched every part of his mind and heart, stirring up anger so hot his blood still thrummed with furious force through his veins. Images of her being mistreated thundered through his mind, unearthing fierce rage and the innate need to protect her.
“Callie? Are you awake?” Ben spoke low as he gently knocked on the bedroom door and awaited her reply.
After several silent moments, alarm barged into his head, dominating all reasonable thought. He opened the door, peeking inside.
He hoped he hadn’t seemed rude when just moments ago, he’d eagerly ushered Joseph and Katie out of his house. But from the second Katie had returned from helping Callie with her bath, he’d been chomping at the bit to get back over here to his patient.
Especially after Katie had mentioned the scars.
A few old scars. Some newer ones. The bold signs of chronic abuse that had been hidden beneath her tattered undergarments. He’d been fortunate enough to get her out of her wet and dirty dress after she’d arrived. But since then, every time he’d attempt to examine her, she’d flat-out refused, wrapping the covers so tightly around her, he thought she might cocoon herself in them permanently.
Completely missing the glorious opportunity to break free as a beautiful butterfly.
He gulped hard, sliding a trembling hand over his mouth. That thought had come out of nowhere. The delicate image of Callie emerging and spreading her wings to fly had his insides drawing up taut.
Every
