A Prescription for Love (25 page)

He smiled at her and gazed out the window as the train started with jerks until a smooth rhythm developed, the clacking of the wheels soothing his nerves. He’d done it. After a month of chasing the girl and dancing to her tune, he had her where he wanted. Under his thumb. And where she would stay for the rest of her miserable life.

As the train whipped by trees with early spring buds, farmers plowing their fields, and women hanging wash, Clarence entertained himself with visions of the life Lester’s money would buy him.

He would ensure Heidi planned a wedding within the month. It made no difference to him what she and her mother wanted to do, as long as the wedding happened fast. No time for Heidi to grow a backbone and change her mind. No time for Michael the Savior to swoop down and claim Clarence’s bride. He had no idea what Heidi told the shopkeeper, but didn’t really care either.

With a deep sigh and a smile on his lips, he leaned his head back and continued to enjoy the scenery as it sped by. Everything was going his way. And about damn time, too.

With his face turned away from her, Heidi studied Clarence. How she hated the man. He’d destroyed her life for money. Money he intended to spend on himself and his mistress. Gloria! The name made her want to spit. All the time she flirted with Michael, she was nothing more than a whore. She worked in a brothel and allowed strange men to do to her, for cash, what she and Michael had shared with love.

She’d read in her Bible the love of money was the root of all evil. If ever an evil couple existed, Clarence and Gloria headed the list. Weariness crept over her. She hadn’t slept much last night and all the tears she’d shed had given her a tremendous headache and burning eyes.

“Heidi,” Mother’s soft voice murmured in her ear. “We’re here, dear.”

Heidi opened her eyes and stretched. Apparently she’d fallen asleep on the trip home. Home. Oklahoma City, her parents’ residence. Not her comfortable room in Mrs. Wilson’s house or Michael’s cozy home.

She gazed out the window at the passengers alighting from the train. Did any of them feel as miserable as she did returning here?

“Come, my dear.” Clarence got up and tugged on the cuffs of his jacket. He held his hand out, his eyes challenging.

Heidi stood, shook out her skirts, and took his hand. They followed her parents down the aisle and off the train. A light mist fell, matching her mood. She stepped off the train, a sense of unreality washing over her.
What am I doing here?

“Heidi, I’m so glad you’re home!” Mrs. Manfred hurried toward them, her arms outstretched. “Clarence wired me you were returning, and I’m so excited to help you and your mother with the wedding.” She beamed brightly, and Heidi’s jaw clenched.

Mrs. Manfred took her arm and dragged her along. “I’ve made an appointment with the dressmaker for tomorrow, so you can be fitted for your wedding gown.” She pulled her closer. “I’m so excited.”

Heidi continued on in a daze. She would be fitted for her wedding gown tomorrow? Apparently she would have no time to adjust to the idea. She mentally shrugged. No matter. Probably best to get the charade over with, anyway. A sad way for a woman to think of her wedding.

“Mary, you must encourage Heidi to purchase some new gowns. Clarence tells me he wants to honeymoon in Dallas. There will be theaters and suppers to attend, and I understand Clarence has some clients there you will be entertaining.” Mrs. Manfred continued on and on until Heidi wanted to grab the woman by the throat. Instead, she merely nodded and attempted to smile.

“My dear, I need to check in with my office.” Clarence patted her arm. “I’ll let you go on home with your parents and I’ll see you in a few days to review whatever plans you’ve made.” He took her hand in his and kissed her lightly on the cheek.

He nodded to the Lesters. “Have a good evening.” He addressed Mrs. Lester. “I trust you and Heidi will be busy the next few days readying for the wedding?”

Her mother bent her head slightly. “Yes. We will. Good evening to you, Clarence.”

Papa left to arrange for a hackney to return them home.

The sound of Mrs. Manfred excitedly chattering about the wedding, the dress, the arrangements with the church, the flowers, and the honeymoon trip, bombarded Heidi’s senses until she wanted to scream.

Finally, her papa arrived, the driver having already strapped the luggage to the back of the buggy. They all piled in and with a slap of the driver’s reins, the buggy started off.

Papa settled back in the seat and addressed his wife. “Mary, maybe we should stop at a restaurant to eat a little something. I’m sure Cook is not expecting us.”

“That’s not a bad idea, dear.” She turned to Heidi and Mrs. Manfred. “Is that all right with the both of you?”

Mrs. Manfred shook her head. “Oh, I would love to, but I’m having Reverend Zigler stop by this evening. I’d hoped he would be able to squeeze us into the church for the wedding without too much of a wait.”

Mrs. Manfred continued to babble on until the driver stopped in front of her house. The springs on the buggy groaned as she eased her considerable bulk from the seat, then took Heidi’s hand.

“I’m so anxious to see how lovely you’ll look in a wedding gown tomorrow, dear.” After a pat on Heidi’s cheek, she took Papa’s arm. She never stopped talking as they proceeded to her front door.

“Mother, I’m not very hungry. Perhaps the driver could drop me off, and you can both enjoy your meal.”

“Heidi, I haven’t seen you eat anything all day. And I must say, there is something . . .”

Her voice cut off as Papa returned to the buggy and instructed the driver to continue on. She squeezed Heidi’s hand. “Harold, I’m tired from our day’s journey. I think I would prefer to have Cook fix something simple for our supper, if you’ve no objection.”

“None at all. I imagine we’re all a little tired and we’ll be busy for the next few weeks.” He winked at Heidi and grinned at Mother. Neither woman acknowledged him.

Once the luggage had been unloaded and the driver carried the bags into the house, Heidi and her mother climbed the steps. Heidi gazed around, the familiarity, and strangeness, of the house she’d been raised in overwhelmed her.

“If you will excuse me, Mother, I’ll retire for the night.” Before her mother could answer, Heidi broke free of her grasp and, fisting her skirts in her hands, raced up the stairs to the privacy of her bedroom.

The familiar lavender and white room soothed her. Her large bed hugged the wall, the deep purple and white flowered bedspread calling to her. She removed her hat, laid it on the dresser, and roamed around the room, smoothing her palm over the furniture she’d lived with for twenty-three years. The desk where she’d completed her assignments, the table next to her bed where several books she’d intended to read still rested.

She peered in the mirror over her dresser and did not recognize the woman who stared back at her. She’d left a girl, but had returned a woman. She’d held a job, lived away from home, had a man make love to her. A man she loved with her whole heart. A man she’d inflicted the worst type of pain on.

A soft knock on the door dragged her away from her musings. She quickly wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and called, “Come in.”

Her mother entered and closed the door behind her. She fixed Heidi with a stare, then crossed the room and took her in her arms. After giving her a hug, she leaned back and looked her in the eye. “Now, Heidi, I want you to tell me the absolute truth.”

Heidi eased away and crossed her arms over her middle, avoiding her mother’s eyes. “What do you want to know?”

Mother sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. “I want to know what is going on. You are, by far, the most miserable looking bride I’ve ever seen.”

Chapter 23

Michael passed the worst day of his life in a fog. After Heidi left, he stared at the curtain as it waved, then settled back into place. Her rosewater scent still filled the air, teasing him. The entire conversation replayed in his head, leaving the sensation of a dream.
Not a dream
—
a nightmare.

Heidi—his Heidi—had announced she intended to leave Guthrie and return to Oklahoma City to marry Clarence. The entire conversation had happened so fast, he didn’t even remember half of what she’d said. Except the words
I’m leaving
. The two words now doing a rat-a-tat-tat in his brain in time with each heartbeat.

Leaving. It’d happened again. What he’d protected himself against for years, what he swore he would never do to himself, had materialized. Only this time the pain crippled him. He’d imagined himself in love with Alice years ago and had suffered the resulting pain. But not like this. Now he felt as though his insides had been ripped out. As if somewhere out there, half his entire being existed without him.

He loved Heidi more than his own life. In fact, no life remained without her. What had Manfred offered her that would change her mind? Despite her claims she wanted to go through with her marriage to Clarence, she’d looked miserable.

He ran his fingers through his hair. For God’s sake, he’d made love to her. And he knew Heidi well. She would not allow a man to take her to bed unless she had strong feelings for him. He did not misread the love in her eyes. What the hell had happened at that dinner?

The tinkling of the front doorbell announced a customer. In all his years of tending to customers, he’d never felt like locking the door and going home. Until today.

Without Heidi, the distraction of doing both of their jobs kept the worst thoughts at bay and the day passed quickly. Not having an appetite, he’d skipped lunch and mixed prescriptions while the door remained locked for the half hour between noon and twelve-thirty.

By six o’clock, more than ready to stop smiling at people, he surrendered to exhaustion. As he placed the dust covers over the counters, all the horror of the morning returned, the physical pain so strong, it almost brought him to his knees. How would he even face tomorrow, and the day after?

He dropped the ring of keys into his pocket after locking the front door and headed for The Blue Belle Saloon. His anger burned, keeping the chill of the evening at bay, as he strode past shopkeepers closing up for the night, and passersby who nodded and smiled at him. He turned the corner and almost collided with a drunk leaving the saloon. With a growl, he circled around the weaving man and shoved the door open.

Stale smoke and the odor of liquor smacked him in the face, irritating his eyes. Even though a weeknight, every table held patrons, with men lined up at the long wooden bar at the far end of the room. Several poker games were in progress and the whores wandered the room, plying their trade.

Michael ordered a whiskey at the bar, took the full bottle and a small glass in his hand, then settled at an empty table, his back to the wall. He poured a drink, downed it, then poured another. If he could have his way, he would drink enough to forget Heidi.

There isn’t enough liquor in the world.

He had no idea how much time had passed, but the bottle now remained half empty. If his glass would only stop moving, he could pour another drink, but once he began, the glass moved, and the liquor pooled on the table.

“Michael?”

The familiar voice penetrated his stupor. Michael attempted to focus his eyes on Jesse, who stood in front of him, a concerned look on his face.

“Can I sit down?” Jesse pulled out a chair, not waiting for permission.

His uncle signaled for a waitress and ordered a beer. Once she’d set the glass overflowing with foam in front of him, he turned his attention to Michael. “What brings you here, Michael?”

“Do I need a reason?” Stunned at the slur in his voice, he straightened his shoulders and eyeballed Jesse. Or thought he did. Apparently, Jesse had brought his identical twin brother with him.

Jesse eyed him, brows furrowed. “I’ve never seen you drink so much.”

“What . . . what . . . makes ya think I’ve . . . drank . . . drunken, so . . . so much?” He burped.

“You all right?” Jesse peered at him over his raised glass as he took a sip of beer.

“Fine. Just . . . fine . . . just . . .” He shook his head, then grabbed the table as the room spun. “Fine.”

Jesse studied him. “How’s Heidi?”

Michael slammed his fist on the table, causing three men at the next table to jump. “Don’t mention that name.”

“Settle down, son,” Jesse murmured.

Michael reached for his drink. His hand hit the edge, spilling onto the table the little bit he’d managed to pour into the glass. Before he could try again, Jesse removed the bottle. He waved again for the waitress and handed it to her.

“Whatcha doin’?” Michael slurred.

“I think the question is, what are
you
doing?” Jesse took a final swallow of his beer.

Michael dropped his head onto the table. “Forgetting.”

“Liquor won’t help you forget anything.” When Michael didn’t answer, Jesse got to his feet. “Come on, you’re going home with me.”

“No. I’m not going anywhere,” he mumbled, his eyes closed.

“Michael, either you stand up and walk out that door and climb into my buggy, or I’ll drag you out of here.” Jesse leaned his palms on the table and spoke softly. “Don’t think I can’t do it, either.”

“Go away, Jesse. Just leave me alone.”

Jesse shoved his hands under Michael’s armpits and pulled him up. “Let’s go, boy.”

Michael stood and swayed. “Maybe leaving is a good idea. I don’t feel too well.” He grasped tables and chairs as he weaved his way through the room, Jesse behind him. Once the fresh air hit him, he leaned over and brought up the contents of his stomach. Mostly liquor.

After wiping his mouth with the handkerchief his uncle handed him, Michael stumbled to the buggy, banging his head on the railing as he attempted to climb in. Jesse shook his head and jumped onto the seat alongside him. Snapping the reins, Jesse called to the horse and the buggy started up. Michael fell into a sound sleep.

Heidi stood on a stool while Mrs. Fenwick picked and prodded her with pins as she adjusted the satin and lace wedding gown.