Chapter Six

P atience quickened her pace down the upper floor of Dr. Thornberry's home. She had learned her way around to the different rooms and patients well enough in the past week. Mrs. Dove-Lyon had been correct in everything she had said when she had vouched for the good doctor. He was a fair man and hadn't had Patience perform any task that was more taxing than the general care of those who needed her.

"You're late," one of the higher-ranking nurses declared taking Patience's elbow and making her rush further down the hall.

"I'm sorry. It took longer in the last room than I expected," Patience answered as they continued to move down the hall.

"You're the only one who can calm him. Please hurry," the woman declared.

If she hurried any faster she'd be at a full run, Patience thought before taking a calming breath knowing the patient her superior referred to. She squared her shoulders, took another deep breath, and entered the room to see his dishes upended and the remains of his breakfast littering the floor. His attention was currently on a young girl who was sweeping up the mess, giving Patience time to stare at the soldier in the only bed in the room—a man who had returned from France after losing his memory for almost two whole years.

"Good morning, Captain Tyler. Are you ready for your shave?" Patience asked as she came to stand at the end of his bed.

He turned his head to stare at her with soulless green eyes and Patience made sure to keep the bright smile on her face. She didn't flinch at his appearance. She had seen worse than a ragged scar that ran from the middle of his forehead down the entire right side of his face. At least he hadn't lost his eye. He brushed down a lock of his sandy colored hair, as if to hide the old wound. Not that that would work.

"No need to bother with me today, Mrs. Moore," he said and his voice sounded as though he had lost all hope. For her part, she saw no reason for his despair. Though it was true that in addition to the injury to his face, he also had sustained a leg wound and would limp for the rest of his life, she had witnessed worse. He was lucky he hadn't lost his leg.

"It's no bother, Captain, as I have told you many times this past week," Patience said as she motioned to the girl cleaning the mess he had made. "Would you be so kind as to please bring me a basin of warm water for Captain Tyler's morning shave."

"Right away, Mrs. Moore," the woman replied as she went to the fireplace where a kettle hung on an iron rod.

Patience returned her attention back to her patient. "Let's get your propped up better for that shave." She went to take his arm to help him sit up, but he pulled away from her.

"I'm not a complete invalid. I can do it myself if you must make a fuss over me," he grumbled.

"You wouldn't want to get me in trouble with Dr. Thornberry by not allowing me to do my duties, would you?" Patience asked. She took no offense at his curt tone, knowing this young man was only have a rough morning.

"My apologies, Mrs. Moore. Of course, I wouldn't want you to get into trouble because I am in an irritable mood." The captain sat up and Patience fluffed the pillows behind his back before he leaned back against them.

"You are too kind, Captain."

"No, I'm not, but at the very least the sight of you has brightened my day," he said with a weak smile.

"The day has only just begun. I'm certain your family will be here soon with news on when you will return home. That will be something to look forward to," Patience declared with another bright smile.

"You do not know my mother," he muttered. "She will fuss over me until I will wish I had died at Waterloo."

"Don't say such a thing," Patience said with a scowl. "You are alive, young, and have your whole life ahead of you to look forward to."

A curse left him while he turned his head away from her. "I have no future except to be a burden to my family."

"From what you have told me from our previous conversations, nothing is further from the truth, Captain. You have a mother and brother who love you. And one day you'll find a lovely young lady who will love you even more."

Those green eyes turned to her gazed upon her with admiration and possibly affection. She had seen that look before so many times in the past when injured soldiers looked upon her as though she were the answer to all their prayers. Soldier after soldier had professed his love to her when she attended their injuries. They were misled by the turmoil of the situation into believing their emotions held tender devotion when in truth, what they felt was gratitude for her care when they were at the lowest point in their lives.

"Do you honestly think so?" he asked in a husky whisper.

Another nurse entered the room with a tray holding the other necessary items for the captain's shave. She placed the contents on the side table next to the bed, within easy reach for Patience to begin her task. The other girl returned with the hot water.

"The right lady will come into your life when you least expect her, Captain Tyler. I have no doubt of it," Patience said reaching for a towel and dipping it into the water. She rung the towel out getting ready to put the cloth on his face. She was about to lower it into place when he gently took hold of her wrist.

"Maybe I have already met her," he said in an encouraging smile.

"The right lady, Captain Tyler. I am only your nurse… Now, let's get you shaved and then we can begin our stroll through the hall. I will not allow a patient of mine to grow lazy. It's imperative that you exercise that leg on a daily basis."

His hooded eyes continued to watch her every move while she began working the soap into a lather. She had just removed the towel and lathered his cheeks when his mother entered the room.

"I will see to shaving my son," the woman declared throwing her shawl into a nearby chair and then holding out her hands for Patience to give her the razor.

"Of course, my lady. Captain Tyler… I will leave your personal care to your mother and see you later this afternoon," Patience said as she left his side.

She swore she heard a groan of despair when the lady began to shave his face but she didn't turn back. Perhaps it was best that Patience left his care in his mother's hands. Shaving him might be considered rather too intimate a task if he had begun to believe he had deeper feelings for her. Dr. Thornberry depended on her to assist with Captain Tyler as none of the other nurses had been able to handle his temper, but Patience would have to balance seeing to his care while making the boundaries between them clear.

The day progressed with alarming speed and before long she was again heading toward the captain's room. When she entered, she saw him sitting in a chair near the window but became alarmed when she saw a towel covering his face.

She rushed over to his side. "Whatever happened, Captain Tyler?" she asked full of concern.

"You, madam, left me with a butcher," he said accusingly.

Patience unwrapped the towel covering his cheeks and saw so many nicks and cuts she was surprised the poor man hadn't bled to death.

"Captain Tyler, I am so sorry. I thought I left you in good hands with your mother."

"Please never allow her to attend me in such a manner," he answered. "I may not survive another manhandling."

"As you wish, Captain," Patience said trying not laugh at the man's plight.

"Won't you call me Gideon?" he asked softly.

"I think it best that we maintain a professional manner between us, Captain Tyler. Now, would you like to walk about the hall to get your daily exercise?"

"With you? Of course," he beamed with sparkling green eyes.

Inwardly she gave a heavy sigh. It appeared he was not yet ready to accept that she saw him only as a patient. But she chose not to press the point, for now. Not when he'd already had a trying day. If she could lighten the burden of whatever kept this man's spirits low, so be it. She refused to add to any problem he might carry within him. There would be time later to make the lines between them clear.

In the meantime, as she helped him from his chair, she did her best to show with her manner and demeanor that she viewed him in a strictly professional light—but nothing she did dampened the light in his eyes when he looked at her. She might need to speak with the good doctor to see if she could be reassigned to another patient if he continued to hope for more between them besides her caring for his health.