Reluctantly Charmed_Clean Historical Romance_Doctor Holloway's Story Read online

  Magdalena moved toward the shelves holding the plates. “Jim looks good. I have to say it feels good to be in Bareglen Creek—I’ve heard so much about it.”

  “It’s a wonderful place, Magdalena, and completely different from Philadelphia. It’s obviously much smaller, but the people are good sorts. The orphanage where you’ll be working is run like a tight ship by the Sisters—and the children will be lucky to have you.”

  “Claire told me that you volunteer there, too?”

  “I do when I can. It’s hard to find the time with all the responsibilities of the farm—,” Mary paused. “But I love working with the children. It’s difficult in some ways, but the sisters do everything they can to ensure the children’s needs are met and that they are loved.”

  “Raphael seems like a great kid.”

  Raphael is a pill,” Mary agreed, “and eager to learn, and help. We don’t know everything about what he endured before he came here, but Doc Holloway said there were signs of abuse.”

  “Oh no!” Magdalena exclaimed. “That’s horrible. Is there anything I should be aware of when I work with him?”

  “No. He won’t want you to treat him differently from the others.” She paused. “Doc Holloway volunteers there, too.” She added, watching Magdalena’s response.

  “Really? That’s nice.”

  Mary smiled. “He’s a good man, Magdalena.”

  “That has nothing to do with me.” She quipped with eyebrows raised at Mary as she turned toward her, then added, as she bit her lower lip, “He’s awfully intense.”

  “He’s all that, for sure. The words annoying and demanding also come to mind,” Mary’s eyes narrowed.

  Magdalena snorted. “I suppose it’s not easy being a doctor in the Wild West. My father has access to the best and latest science and medicines in Philadelphia. I remember hearing Lance—Doctor Holloway—” she corrected, “telling my father at Claire’s wedding that waiting for medicines and medical equipment has been one of the most difficult challenges for him.”

  “Speaking of challenges,” Magdalena added with a pointed look at Mary, “did I hear Doctor Holloway say that Lee Jamison is here?”

  The red in Mary’s cheeks deepened. “Yes, he said he’s visiting for a few weeks.”

  “Hm.” Magdalena grinned, adding the final plate to the table.

  EIGHT

  “You must be Miss. Allen?” Sister Theresa stood behind her desk and pointed for Magdalena to sit in the chair across from her.

  “Yes, Sister Theresa, it’s a pleasure to meet you and an honor to be here.”

  Magdalena sat quietly while the Sister’s nearly black eyes locked with hers.

  “We’re glad to have you here,” Sister Theresa added after a long moment.

  Magdalena smiled.

  “We’ve managed to set up some semblance of a one-room schoolhouse, Miss. Allen. It’s not going to be what you’re accustomed to—but we’ve done the best we can. You’ll have a wide range of ages to teach, and approximately thirty children in all, starting at age eight.”

  Magdalena’s eyes widened.

  “Is that a problem?” The Sister challenged, her face stern.

  “No, not at all, Sister Theresa.”

  “Have you taught in a setting like this before?”

  “Not in an orphanage—no—but I shadowed a teacher in a one-room schoolhouse and I’m comfortable with the dynamics and challenges.”

  “Good. Unless you have questions for me, we can begin with a tour.”

  “That sounds good. I may have more questions after the tour,” Magdalena confirmed as she followed the sister out of her office.

  As they left the main building, Magdalena heard, “Miss. Allen! Miss. Allen!” Turning in the direction of the young voice, she saw Raphael racing toward her at top speed.

  “Raphael!” She greeted him with a smile and an “oomph” as he slammed into her body for a hug. She took two steps back, laughing.

  “Raphael,” Sister Theresa scolded. “You nearly knocked Miss. Allen over. Please apologize to her.”

  He hung his head. “Yes, Sister Theresa.” He looked up at Miss. Allen’s smiling face, and the worry lines in his disappeared. “I’m sorry, Miss. Allen!” His dark eyes sparkled into hers. “It’s wonderful to have you here and I cannot wait for Monday!” Then he raced off toward a small group of boys beyond the main orphanage building.

  Magdalena chuckled. “He’s quite something, that one. Mary told me he only has one speed, that one.”

  The sister’s stern look softened for the first time since Magdalena had met her. “He is a very special boy—with a lot of enthusiasm despite all he has been through.” Her demeanor changed. “Follow me to the schoolroom.”

  Sister Theresa’s robe billowed around her legs in the wind, and she reached up to hold her habit in place. It was black, like her robe, with a white lining.

  Magdalena followed her toward a small, whitewashed building, noticing that the buildings behind them, of which there were three, were generally in good condition. They each had a wooden crucifix over the main entry door, and the largest building sat off to their left.

  Several children were outside playing in a small group with the supervision of two additional Sisters.

  “How many Sisters are at the orphanage full-time?”

  “There are three of us full-time, and the order sends additional sisters as needed for training and support.”

  “There are no men?” Magdalena hesitated. “Have you had any problems?”

  “We have been very fortunate. We trust God to protect us, and the town’s people and sheriff are very involved with the orphanage. Whenever there is trouble or danger nearby, the sheriff always sends a deputy to stay with us until the danger has passed.

  Magdalena released a breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. She had a lot to learn about life in Texas. Her mind briefly shifted to Claire’s story of the bandits who shot and nearly killed her brother Jim, and even Sheriff Sully had been kidnapped and injured.

  She shivered. There was crime and danger in Philadelphia where she was from, but it felt different here. Maybe it was her imagination, or the stories she’d heard from Claire, but she felt a level of unpredictability and lawlessness in the air.

  She appreciated the wide open space and fresh air, but she couldn’t shake the sense of unease as she glanced at the hills surrounding the orphanage.

  NINE

  It was day three at the orphanage, and Magdalena was beginning to feel like she was getting a handle on managing the various ages and learning levels of the children at the orphanage.

  At the end of day one, she’d felt like she’d been stampeded upon by a group of longhorns, like Colossal, the one Mary had in her corral at the farm.

  At the end of day two, she’d just been completely exhausted, but not quite at the stampede level.

  Now it was day three, and although tired, she felt a sense of accomplishment as she excused the children for the day.

  Raphael often hung around, offering to help her straighten the classroom, but today she’d sent him off with the other children.

  Texas was hot, and she brushed a plastered piece of hair away from her face and took a deep breath, pulling the collar of her dress away from her sticky neck, grabbing a book to use as a fan. She paused, enjoying the sensation of the air moving across her skin from her fan, and walked to her desk to take a long drink of water.

  It was then that she felt the prickling sensation that someone was watching her, and assumed it was Raphael. She turned.

  “Ra—,” she froze.

  “Miss. Allen,” Doctor Holloway cocked his head in her direction. He was leaning against the doorjamb, his athletic body filling the entire space, his steel-blue eyes watching her, entirely too handsome for his own good—or hers.

  The intensity of his gaze sucked the air from her lungs, and her hand moved to her stomach to quell the butterflies taking residence there.

  His eyes foll
owed her hand to her stomach and then worked their way back up to her face.

  She felt her flushed face growing redder by the second and then bristled as his mouth turned up ever so slightly at the corners. Her eyes narrowed. He’s enjoying my discomfort! She forced herself to move behind her desk and took a seat.

  “Doctor Holloway, what brings you to the schoolroom today?”

  He smiled, but then sobered. “Two of the youngest are sick and Sister Theresa called for me.”

  “Are they all right?”

  “Yes. It appears to be a stomach bug. It will probably spread amongst the children,” he gave her a pointed look, “but I’ve instructed them on the best ways to try to contain it at this point.”

  “I’ll keep an eye out for it. Is that all?” She asked with an eyebrow raised, feeling only slightly guilty at her abrupt attempt to dismiss him.

  He edged away from the door and moved toward her, rather than away, not stopping until he reached her desk, and sat on the edge of it. “How are you?”

  She gulped as her nerves pulled tight. Her heart thumped madly at his proximity, and she debated moving away from the desk but knew that would only serve to make her look like she was impacted by him. Which she wasn’t.

  “I’m fine, and you?” Her stomach flipped at his scrutiny.

  “Make sure you stay hydrated,” he advised. “Philadelphia is hot in the summer, but Texas takes heat to a whole new level.” He studied her. Long seconds passed.

  She drew a deep breath, then stood, moving away from her desk. She felt his eyes follow her as she gathered materials to review for her classes tomorrow.

  “Class is dismissed, doctor,” she turned and her gaze locked on his. “Thank you for your concern about the children. I’m sure Sister Theresa will be in touch if further cases develop. Have a good evening and please close the door behind you.” She swept through the door, leaving it ajar, and moved across the yard toward Sister Theresa’s office, stiffening her spine at the soft chuckle she heard as she breezed through the door.

  TEN

  Magdalena hadn’t noticed him yet. She was flushed and fanning herself with a book, then she walked toward her desk, reaching for a glass of water, taking a long drink. The action accentuated her graceful, beautiful neck. She was tall, standing at 5’8”, and slender.

  Suddenly she froze in place, then turned toward him. She wore a blue dress, cinched tight at her narrow waist. Her thick, honey-brown hair was pulled up in a tight bun with wisps framing her face, a few sticking to her neck. Her nose was straight, petite and charming, and her lips full and rosy—rosy like her cheeks.

  Her eyes opened wide with surprise when they met his and she immediately moved her hand to her stomach.

  He didn’t try to hide his scrutiny, and for the first time, he felt like he’d caught her without her guard up.

  Her flushed face grew redder, and he noticed the pulse beating fast at the valley of her throat. Her eyes narrowed, and then her guard came up.

  He fought to keep his hands casually at his sides, when what he really wanted to do was move to her side and brush the hair plastered to her neck gently away, and cup her face—drink her in. His reaction surprised him, but he’d learned long ago during hospital rotations to keep his thoughts and feelings out of his face—unreadable.

  “Doctor Holloway, what brings you to the classroom today?” She asked.

  He smiled at her. “Two of the youngest are sick and Sister Theresa called for me.” He found himself wanting to protect her from it, but the truth was, it would likely make its way through the entire orphanage. She was tired—it would make her more susceptible.

  Her eyes immediately reflected concern. “Are they all right?” She asked.

  “Yes. It appears to be a stomach bug. It will probably spread amongst the children,” he gave her a pointed look, trying to mask his concern for her, “but I’ve instructed them on the best ways to try to contain it at this point.”

  “I’ll keep an eye out for it. Is that all?” She asked him with an eyebrow raised.

  He felt his mouth turn up at the corners. She was feisty and had recovered from her initial unease very quickly. He liked that.

  She looked weary, tired and hot. He moved toward her and she moved hastily behind her desk, sitting down in her chair.

  If she thought she was going to sit down at that desk and create a barrier between them, she was sadly mistaken. He moved around the desk toward her left and sat down at the edge closest to her. She had to look up to meet his eyes. Hers were golden brown with yellow flecks that seemed to dance when she was angry or frustrated—like she was now. He wondered what they did when she was happy. He hadn’t really seen her happy although she had seemed happy for Claire and Sully at their wedding.

  “How are you?” He asked, curious about what she would say. Would she be honest with him, or would she deflect?

  “I’m fine, and you?”

  Hm. That was something they would have to work on. She needed to learn to be honest with him, although he’d found that many women, and men for that matter, responded with a pat answer to that question.

  No, she knew exactly what she was doing. Her eyes held a challenge, and she would learn over time that he could read her body, regardless of her words.

  “Make sure you stay hydrated,” he advised. “Philadelphia is hot in the summer, but Texas takes heat to a whole new level.” He studied her. Her breathing was shallow, her eyes guarded, and her pulse still racing. Ratcheting up, in fact.

  She took a deep breath, sat up straight in her chair, determination shining in her eyes.

  “Class is dismissed, doctor,” she turned and her gaze locked on his. He watched uncertainty flicker before her eyes veiled. “Thank you for your concern about the children. I’m sure Sister Theresa will be in touch if further cases develop. Have a good evening and please close the door behind you.” She rose from her chair, gathered a few books, then swept through the door, leaving it ajar.

  He chuckled. She could deny or fight it all she wanted—he knew she felt the attraction between them. He was determined to break down the walls and get to know the woman behind them.

  ELEVEN

  “Miss. Allen?”

  “Yes, Raphael?” Magdalena turned toward one of her star pupils.

  “I don’t feel so good,” he warned, right before he vomited all over the table, books, and the two students sitting across from him. They jumped back with a scream.

  “Oh,” she whispered, racing toward the table. “Raphael, Joseph, and Millie stay right where you are. Everyone else—you are dismissed—except for Jesse. Jesse, I need you to go get Sister Theresa for me right away, okay?” Her eyes pleaded with him.

  Jesse wasn’t known for doing what he was asked to do, but he nodded immediately. “Yes, Miss. Allen.”

  “Jesse,” she warned, “go straight to Sister Theresa.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” he agreed.

  Magdalena immediately grabbed a cleaning cloth from the corner of the schoolroom and cleaned the vomit from Joseph and Millie’s clothes. “Joseph, take your shirt off and go back to your room. Ask one of the sisters to help you with a bath.” Then she turned to Millie, “Millie, I want you to go with Joesph. The sister will help you change your clothing and get cleaned up. Tell them that Raphael is sick. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Miss. Allen,” they agreed in unison.

  Raphael groaned, holding his stomach.

  “Go!” She encouraged. Millie and Joseph ran.

  “Miss. Allen?” Raphael moaned right before he vomited the rest of his lunch all over the table.

  Well, she thought, at least he’s consistent.

  She heard the schoolroom door open and Sister Theresa stepped through. “Miss. Allen?”

  “Hello, Sister. We have another sick child, and two more have been exposed. I think it would be wise to we skip a day of school to see if we can get this stomach flu under control.”

  “Agreed. I’ll talk with the othe
r sisters and see if we can get some volunteers to help with the sick children.”

  “No, I’ll stay,” Magdalena argued. “There’s no point in exposing anyone else to this virus, and the Lord knows, I’ve already been exposed We have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in front of us. Hopefully, it will be enough.”

  “Should we call Doctor Holloway?” Sister Theresa asked.

  “No, he was clear that there was no need to involve him unless a child was sick for longer than twenty-four hours. Go with Sister Theresa, Raphael. I’ll join you shortly.”

  “Yes, Miss. Allen,” he moaned, moving back from the table while holding his stomach.

  Sister Theresa nodded, then turned to leave with her hand on Raphael’s shoulder.

  Magdalena finished cleaning the table, barely able to keep her own nausea at bay. She’d only had the stomach flu once in her life, but she’d been violently ill with it.

  The memory forced her to pause. Her father had been unbearable—as though he could hardly believe that his own offspring could succumb to an illness. It was one of the few times she’d seen her parents argue. Shivers ran down her spine.

  She hoped that she had an immunity to this one, she thought, as she dumped the vomit-covered rag into the cleaning pail, and moved out of the schoolroom and across the yard toward the hall where the children stayed.

  She stopped first at the laundry area, dropping the dirty rags in a bleach solution, then moved to the residence hall where the children stayed.

  Sister Theresa was standing in the hall. “We’ve segregated the children between sick and well. One sister is with the sick children, and two are with the well. You’ll join the group of sick children.”

  “Of course,” Magdalena agreed.

  “Do we need to send a message to Miss. Mary?” Sister Theresa asked.

  “I warned Mary and Jim that may be a possibility I would need to stay at the orphanage if the flu continued to spread, so they won’t worry. I’ll send a message tomorrow.” Magdalena moved with quick steps toward the sick room, soft moans greeting her ear when she reached the door.