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“No. She will be just fine if she takes it easy.”
“Still, I should have been here. I will curtail any further outings. I hadn’t really considered they might need me to be here.”
“And what could you have done that wasn’t done?”
His intense gaze caused Leah’s heart to skip a beat. “I suppose nothing.”
And that was the problem, the one she’d been considering ever since Erik first brought it up. She wasn’t qualified to offer anything but comfort.
She shook her head. She knew she had to address this issue but felt rather overwhelmed by the humbling truth. She glanced to the floor rather than see any sense of recrimination in Erik’s eyes.
“I overheard your discussion with Grandfather about my lack of qualifications.”
“That was none of your concern,” he replied.
Leah’s head snapped up to find a hint of amusement in his expression. She sighed. “But it is. I’m trying my best to accept my limitations and heed your worries. I suppose in my enthusiasm, I didn’t give enough concern to the matter. I’m not the most qualified to do this job. Brigette might have been in real peril.”
“Yes, that much is true.”
Leah shivered. “I wonder, could we move away from the door and sit by the fire?”
“Of course.”
He followed her into the large sitting room. The fireplace was cold and cleaned of ashes. Leah considered starting a fire but realized she would soon enough go to bed and leave it unattended. With so many fire hazards in the winter months, it was best to leave things as they were. “I suppose it would be foolish to start a fire at this hour. But at least it’s warmer in here, and the furnace does a good job.”
“I don’t mind building a fire for you, if you want one.”
“No, please don’t. Just sit and tell me what you need to say.” She plopped down on the sofa and prepared herself for his criticism. She had it coming. Brigette could have died and all because of her pride.
“I don’t know what it is you think I need to say.”
“Aren’t you going to chide me and tell me Brigette might have died all because I hadn’t thought to hire a nurse to live here with us?”
“I wasn’t going to say that at all.” Erik stood beside the fireplace and watched her carefully. “You know what is needed.”
Leah leaned her head back. “I’ve thought about it for some time, knowing my inadequacies. As you’ve so capably pointed out on many occasions, I’m not formally trained, nor do I have the ability to lend a nurse’s assistance in an emergency.”
“But it doesn’t mean you can’t learn.” His words were softly offered. “You are a very intelligent woman, and your heart for this ministry is great. That alone will help you in learning what you need to know.”
“But I can hardly take time out to become a nurse. The training would delay me from continuing with this work.”
“There is plenty you can learn in the company of a regular nurse, Leah. Your grandfather assured me that your mother gave you great training.” He came to sit beside her. “You will have plenty of other opportunities to learn as well.”
“But as you have amply expressed, I am not trained in the details.”
“No. You are not.”
His words were matter-of-fact. Leah looked at him for a long moment. She supposed she was searching for condemnation but found none. “So what do I do? How do I go about finding a qualified nurse to live here?”
He smiled. “I would speak to your grandfather. He knows everyone in town and probably has an idea of someone who would be perfect for the job. You know he would never lead you astray.”
“No, he wouldn’t. Even at his age, he’s the wisest man I know.”
“Me too. I used to think it was my father, but Dr. Turner convinced me otherwise. Just don’t tell Dad.”
Leah smiled, finally feeling some relief in the matter. “I won’t. I promise.”
Erik returned the smile, and Leah felt her heart beat a little faster. She had shared the same closeness with Randolph in the car, but her feelings toward Erik were considerably different. She hadn’t thought once about kissing Randolph, but at the moment, kissing Erik was all that came to mind.
