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He sighed softly and walked to the table. “Morning, McCray.”
“Dr. Lee.”
Colt studied him. McCray waited silently. Colt finally spoke. “Do you want to join me on my rounds today?”
McCray swung his attention to Spring. She responded with a tiny shrug. His day was his own. She had no claims on his comings and goings.
“Yes. I’d like that,” he replied.
“I need to go into town first.”
“Good, I want to stop by my room.”
Spring assumed he wanted to change clothes. He was still wearing the suit from Glenda’s party last night.
“Okay. Finish your breakfast and meet me outside when you’re done.”
On his way back to the door, Colt gave Spring a tight-jawed look. It wasn’t the first time she’d been on the receiving end of his disapproval and probably wouldn’t be the last, so she refused to let it rile her. She and McCray were adults. Their being together was none of Colt’s business.
After his exit, McCray said, “Your brother doesn’t approve of me being here.”
She returned to the table. “The good doctor doesn’t approve of a lot of things. Don’t let it bother you. He thinks he’s being protective. I appreciate his concern but it’s unnecessary.”
“Do you really not care what people think of you, Spring?”
His voice was so soft and serious. “If I did, I would’ve left town years ago, but running away would have meant they were right, so I stay.”
“I’m glad you did, otherwise, we wouldn’t have met.”
She wondered if not meeting him would have mattered in her life one way or the other. After last night, the answer was yes. “How’s your hand?”
He flexed it. “Still a bit sore, but I’ll survive.”
They viewed each other silently and she was again taken back to last night and all things they’d done and the ways he’d made her feel. He said finally, “I shouldn’t keep your brother waiting.”
“I know.”
But he seemed as reluctant to leave as she was for him to go.
“Can we have dinner together this evening?” he asked.
“I’d like that. Shall we eat here?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“Then let’s. Bring your overnight gear.”
He nodded, rose from the table, and walked to where she stood. Looking up into his eyes made last night’s lingering embers flare. He traced a light finger over her mouth and gave her a long bone-melting kiss that left her in a puddle on the floor.
“I’ll see you later,” he whispered and departed to join Colt.
Dr. Lee’s stony face didn’t invite conversation when Garrett climbed into the buggy, so as they got underway, he contented himself with the pleasurable echoes of his parting kiss, and taking in the beauty of the countryside. The trees were showing off their spring buds and awing him again with the variety: stands of pine, maple, birch. The carpenter in him noted how enjoyable working for Mr. James had been along with the feel of the wood and tools in his hands. Lee drove past flowering shrubs and eye-catching scatterings of colorful wildflowers. Off in the distance the snow-crowned mountains loomed against the blue sky.
As the buggy reached the fork in the road that led to town, Lee still hadn’t spoken. Garrett tried not to be irritated by the man’s chilly demeanor, but it was difficult. He let Spring’s brother brood for another half mile, then said, “Dr. Lee, if you have something we need to discuss, let’s do so.”
Lee viewed him for a moment before replying, “I don’t enjoy my sister being taken advantage of.”
“You know Spring better than I. Does she seem weak-minded to you?”
