15. Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Charlotte knelt over in the store room looking at the small row of bottles before her, whispering their names as she wrote down each. Camphor, willow bark, comfrey, quinine. She carefully checked the levels of each herb, ointment, and medicine on the shelf.

The doctor planned to close the office for half a day on Monday to pick up his supplies in Cottonwood. As today was Friday, and the festival tomorrow, Charlotte hurried to finish helping him make the list before the day's end.

She returned from lunch early to surprise him by getting it finished quickly. He'd not been there when she'd come in, and she assumed he was either somewhere to lunch himself, or perhaps upstairs .

In her neat handwriting, she wrote down the levels of each item on a scrap of paper and made sure to record each item that she felt concern over being too low.

The front office door opened, and Charlotte was surprised to hear August's voice. She was about to step out to say hello when the coldness in his tone stopped her. She was too far away to hear properly, but recognized his mocking laugh.

Her heart beating quickly, she eased the store room door closed and waited behind it. A sudden, perhaps irrational fear formed at the idea of showing herself. She didn't know why, but she was scared to allow either man to see her.

Knowing she shouldn't, Charlotte still pressed her ear near the door, listening.

"How's that eye doing?" August asked, laughing.

Charlotte startled. The doctor had been very careful not to show himself to many people, so how had August known about his eye?

"Maybe I should have blacked the other one as well," he added.

Charlotte sucked in a breath. Justin's injury had come from August? Why had he not told her so? And what had made August do such a thing?

"Did you stop in today simply to ask about my wellbeing?" Justin asked. His voice was just as cold, but his tone was one of refusal to back down .

"No. I couldn't care any less about that. I came to make sure you were keeping your end of the bargain," August said.

"Oh, you mean Charlotte and her mother's safety in exchange for staying away from her." Justin's voice was flat.

What? Their safety? Charlotte didn't understand what he was saying. What did he mean? One hand pressed to the door as she balanced to hear each word.

"So, tomorrow, are you planning to spend the day with Charlotte? Start to court?" Justin's voice, though a little muffled through the door, was still audible.

August laughed again. "You know, I've not decided yet. She's beautiful, but she doesn't bring much to a marriage. She's poor, has an ailing mother, and had a father who let himself be swindled. She can't have much in the way of brains, even if she works in a place like this. There are a few others I've got my eye on. It's easy to have your choice of women if you do it right."

"Why are you telling me this?" Justin's voice was tense. Charlotte felt that way herself. She also felt hurt and angry. There was a roaring sound in her ears, and her hands started to shake.

"Because I can tell it upsets you, Yankee."

August's voice sounded clearer. Had he stepped nearer to the store room? Charlotte hoped neither of them opened the door she hid behind .

"It does," Justin agreed. "I don't like to see my friends treated poorly. Especially when they are good people. By the way, I'm not a Yankee. I'm from Virginia."

"Is that all she is? Your friend?" August sounded curious now, though he ignored the other comment.

"That is none of your business," the doctor said. "I have too much respect for Charlotte to let her know if I had any interest in her when she has her eye on you. I'd never put her in such an unwelcome position."

"I tell you what, if I don't take her, you can have her. Or what's left, anyway. I'll have my fun first." August laughed again. "You're a doctor. You are used to cleaning up messy accidents."

Justin's voice drew closer. He was also right outside the door. What would she do if they came inside? "You don't deserve her. You're an idiot. Charlotte is willing to do anything for you, for your attention and love, and this… this is how you treat her? Talk about her? She needs someone who cares for her. Someone who will defend each hair on her head, who lives to see her smile. Someone who loves her, without fault."

There was a long silence. Charlotte was holding her breath. What was Justin saying? Was that some sort of a confession about his feelings for her? Or was he merely generalizing?

"You…" August paused, and Charlotte could almost imagine him shaking his head, "you are crazy. What's the fun in that? In settling down? Maybe you should be more like me. Then you wouldn't be so upset right now. Look at you! Letting a woman get you riled up?" He laughed, and his voice faded as he seemingly walked away. "Just a game, Yankee."

"Not to me. Maybe it's you who should stay away from her, before I black your eyes," Justin growled.

The door leading outside slammed closed, and Charlotte slowly sank onto the floor. Her head swam at the things August had said. He was just leading her along. He had no intentions of settling down. She'd given him her heart, had imagined a future for herself.

She was a fool.

Charlotte closed her eyes for a moment. She'd been so stupid. Had others known this? Overheard his boasts? She was certain they had in a town this small. She would be a laughingstock. Likely already was. Now, she'd have to face everyone tomorrow. Her choices were few. Be humiliated now, or experience it later, when August let everyone know he had no interest in her at all and never had.

And the doctor…Justin. The way he'd spoken about her made her feel a longing, such an intense wish that it was her he was talking about. But it couldn't be. He'd also said she was a friend.

That was all. A friend.

Her heart felt as though it were shattering. No one loved her. No one ever would.