6. Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"Here you are, Doctor," the young woman at the bakery said, her eyes fluttering at him. Did she perhaps have something in her eye? He wasn't sure, but thought she might just ask him to look, the way she was blinking. As a doctor, he was used to not being able to walk down the street or browse a store without someone mentioning some ailment.

When she didn't mention her eye, he accepted the bag, having already paid. "Thank you," he said politely and turned to the door.

"Doctor," the woman started.

He looked back at her, ready for her question. He didn't see any redness in her eye, but perhaps when she—

"Are you going to the festival with anyone?" she asked .

Now it was his turn to blink rapidly. His reaction, however, was one of surprise at the sudden topic change. "The festival? I'm afraid I'm not sure yet."

"Oh." The disappointment was clear on her face.

Someone else entered the bakery, and Justin took the opportunity to leave. When Charlotte arrived, he needed to ask her more about this festival. Though he'd passed posters for it several times, the details were sparse.

Perhaps whatever it was would be something Charlotte would like to attend with him. The idea wasn't unappealing. In fact, he could easily see that he'd enjoy it. Though she'd only been working for him about two weeks, he enjoyed each moment with her.

Charlotte had quickly picked up on what he needed her to do around the office. She was good with the patients, and they enjoyed chatting with her. Her handwriting was neat and easy to read, and she did an impeccable job at keeping the office clean. The times he'd needed her assistance, she'd done so calmly and watched closely to learn all she could. Justin could count on Charlotte to anticipate and prepare what medical items he'd request or ask her to send home with a patient.

He appreciated her very much. Which was in part why he'd taken to getting her a muffin or other baked good each morning. He'd like to do something more, something to help her and her mother, but he wasn't sure if propriety would allow it .

It was difficult, as he must be mindful of appearances. Charlotte, being both unmarried and lovely, had a reputation he knew could be ruined at any sign of behavior that one might take as a sign he was pressuring her for favors or giving her unwanted attention. That could also be an unwelcome thing for his business.

Justin jogged the last few steps to his office and opened the door. He set the bag from the bakery on her desk, ensuring it would be there when she arrived, and then reached into his pocket to place an envelope down containing her pay.

The door opened, and she hurried inside, smiling. "Good morning," she said cheerfully.

"Good morning," he replied, trying very hard not to stare at her. Her cheeks were pink this morning, and she looked excited about something. It would be rude of him to ask what, but he did wonder.

"What's this?" Charlotte asked, touching the envelope.

"That is your pay," Justin answered. "The other bag is a warm pumpkin muffin."

"Oh!" she said, her face lighting up. "Thank you for both!" She met his eyes. "I'm really enjoying my job. Thank you again for offering it to me."

"You've been an incredible help," Justin told her honestly. "I am glad you are here. You have made my job much easier, and for that I am grateful. "

She smiled at him again, that smile he knew he'd do anything to see again and again, and tucked the envelope into her handbag. "When we have our lunch, or else at the end of the day, I'm going to go across to the general store. I plan to take part of this and get Mama and I each fabric for a new dress."

Charlotte laughed and shook her head. "That sounds silly perhaps, but neither of us have had one since Papa passed away. There's enough in here to help with necessities, and celebrate my new job."

His eyes widened, and Justin was glad Charlotte wasn't looking at him. For over ten years, she'd not had a new dress? He didn't know too much about those things, being male, but he was sure it was a difficult, even upsetting or embarrassing thing for a young woman to wear a dress given to her that someone else had worn, or to continually make over old fabric.

Yet, she didn't have a depressed state about her. Charlotte always seemed happy, content. He admired that, even if he still wanted to do more for her.

He glanced out the window to see if his first patient was scurrying along, and his gaze fell on the festival poster.

"Charlotte," he asked, "what can you tell me about this festival everyone is talking about?"

"Oh, that's right! You are new here," she said with a smile. "I have not been for years, but it is quite an affair. "

"How so?" he asked, hoping the conversation would lead naturally into his invitation of it to her and her mother.

"I suppose it shares some similarities with other large social events. There are food items and drinks for sale, along with some handcrafted items people have made. Once, I saw small carved boxes. Another person had knitted scarves. There is dancing and merriment, but our town—and perhaps it's silly, I've never heard of another doing it—but our town has an event for all of the unmarried individuals to participate in, if they'd like."

"What happens with that?" he asked, glancing at the festival poster again before looking back to her.

"Well, it's used as an excuse for young people to start courting or to spend a few moments with someone they are interested in. Years and years ago, when the town was first formed, there was a terrible snowstorm," she explained. "The town founder's daughter had been traveling and didn't return before the storm hit. So, men from all over set out in their sleighs to find her. One did, and they fell in love on their journey back to town. Her family was so grateful, they threw a large celebration for the man, and it ended with his proposal to her."

Justin frowned. Perhaps this was not something that she'd want to attend with him. It seemed to have romantic overtones, and they were, at this time, nothing more than friends. Still…it might not hurt to ask. Perhaps he would just see where the conversation led. Justin nodded as a reply. "I see."

She shrugged. "Almost everyone knows who they are going to have a sleigh ride with anyway. If they choose to have one. Some people simply sit and talk. The sleighs come from those who have brought them or loaned them for the event."

She laughed, and the sound was so beautiful to his ears. "When I was a girl, we used to take our sleigh out every winter. It was so much fun. It's sat neglected for a good number of years, but it's one thing we've kept, despite selling so many others. One day, Mother says we will fix it up."

"I've never been in one," Justin admitted.

"Oh, I do hope you get the chance. It's tremendous! It's like you are flying," Charlotte told him, excitement in her voice.

"I can imagine. Well, the festival sounds most interesting." He hesitated. "Are you…are you attending with anyone?"

"I hope to be," she said, blushing prettily.

His heart sped up. Was she thinking about him? Should he ask her? His stomach started to spin at the idea. It was a mix of nerves and excitement. How should he react if she said yes? His mind was whirling, and he was trying to force the words to his lips when she spoke again .

"A friend of mine told me someone had asked if I had a beau. I've not had the chance to speak with him, though, to see if he'd like to ask me to attend or ride with him."

"Ah, I see." Justin nodded, hoping he didn't display the disappointment he felt. Of course there was someone. A woman like her? There was likely more than one man with his eye on Charlotte. "What's his name?"

"August Middleton," Charlotte answered.

August Middleton. The name first sent a flash of anger through him, and then disgust. That's the man that Charlotte was interested in? It was no wonder the man was fascinated by her, but she was attracted to that arrogant man?

"I'll be doing a few things to set up in the examination room," Justin told Charlotte and turned, trying to hold in his anger.

Once in there, he left the door open, but moved to the far side of the room and closed his eyes, trying to focus on his breathing. The moment he'd met August Middleton, he'd despised the man. Charlotte was too good for him. She deserved someone kind. Even if it wasn't him. She deserved anyone but that man.

Eyes still closed, he recalled the day after he'd arrived. Only about two weeks ago, he remembered it clearly. The ground was muddy. It had rained the night before, and puddles had collected. Justin was on his horse, coming back from a short tour of the town's outskirts with Dr. Jeffers.

Their horses had pulled alongside the main street, and Justin had dismounted. The horse chose that moment to step forward, and Justin lost his footing, one boot landing rather splashily in the mud.

A man had been walking past, and the mud splattered on his pant leg. "I apologize," Justin had said instantly. "My horse—"

"Look what you've done!" the man snapped. "My clothes cost more than you make in a month. These boots, three months."

"I said I was sorry," Justin said, walking closer and remaining calm. "If you'd like me to, I'll cover the cleaning bill."

The man sneered at him. "You just moved here, didn't you? You don't know who I am, or you'd have been a lot more careful."

Dr. Jeffers had walked over, but the man ignored him, instead boisterously laughing. "My father owns most of this town, and a few hundred thousand acres along with more cattle than you can imagine. We can run out anyone we don't like—and I have before—so watch it. Better yet, keep out of my way."

August looked at him, his face darkening. "I don't like the look of you. Dressed all prissy, like you're better than anyone else. A fancy Yankee, aren't you? You get one warning. Next time, I might not be so nice."

The man strode off, and Justin had looked at Dr. Jeffers in surprise. "Who was that? And doesn't he realize the war has been over for a long time now?"

"August Middleton," the man said, his lips pressed together. "He likes to stir things up for fun. He'll choose someone to make an enemy out of for no good reason. Looks like he chose you. Luckily, I don't see a lot of him. When he started getting too big for his britches a few years ago, he wasn't punished. Acts just like his father. Luckily, their business takes them all over, so they aren't here a lot. Just come in every now and again to throw their weight around. And I suspect, to look for a wife now that it's about time. Especially with the festival approaching."

That was the first time he'd heard the festival mentioned, but he hadn't asked anything more, being so surprised still by the event. And now that he knew more about it, that it also involved some sort of courting activity…

Pain ripped through his chest. An ache of longing for Charlotte to be his. For her to look at him the same way she did at the memory of August Middleton.

Charlotte was at her desk now, he noticed as he peered into the office. She kept brushing her hair back impatiently. It was lovely. She was lovely. Why August ?

His reaction was foolish, he knew. He and Charlotte hardly knew each other, but there was something in him that just knew. There was a pull, a force, something that whispered to his very soul that Charlotte was meant to be his.

But, of course, if she didn't feel that also, he wasn't going to force himself upon her. Couldn't. She didn't deserve to have attention paid to her if it wasn't welcome.

If only she would accept it. His heart ached for her to. To look at him with that same smile that came to her lips when she thought about August Middleton. To whisper his name the way she spoke August's.

He didn't quite know when it had happened, but he knew that he'd fallen head over heels for Charlotte.

A patient came in, and Justin forced himself to smile and greet her. But the entire time he was listening to Mrs. Donovan explain the pain in her shoulder, his thoughts kept drifting to Charlotte.

She was so incredible. Could have any man, any man at all…How could that one be the man she was interested in?