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May 1859
Spring Hill, Nebraska Territory
“Not again!”
Murky green liquid fizzled in a glass beaker as Coralee Evans pushed a strand of hair out of her face and slumped back in a wooden chair. She let out a deep breath, ruffling the bits of herbs and papers that littered the table in front of her. Unfortunately, Papa’s extensive notes weren’t getting her anywhere today. How would she ever discover the right formula when every herb burned or turned into a bubbling mess?
“How is this one going?” Her youngest sister, Cat, peeked into the room from her post at the apothecary shop’s counter. Cat’s face grew skeptical when she caught sight of the mess on the worktable. “I suppose it’s no better than yesterday’s experiment.”
Coralee pushed away from the table with more force than necessary. “I’m going out to clear my head for a bit. You’ll be all right here alone?”
“Sure. And I’ll try to get rid of that mess while you’re out.” Cat eyed the chaotic table, her mouth turned up in a wry smirk.
Coralee arranged a silk-lined bonnet over her hair and stepped out onto the uneven boardwalk. She ambled past the row of neat wooden storefronts, trying to calm the worries that swirled relentlessly. Pausing, she examined the wares displayed in the window of another new shop, the third one that had opened that week. A sudden light touch on her elbow and a familiar masculine voice startled her out of her reverie.
“Imagine running into you on my first day home, Coralee Evans.”
She turned and instantly lost herself in deep brown eyes that brought back a lifetime of memories. Her heartbeat faltered. “Jake! What a surprise to find you back in town. I haven’t seen you since...” Her voice broke as she swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Since Alan’s funeral.”
The slight edge of coolness in his eyes softened. “Coralee, I’m so—” he began, but she broke in before he could finish, not ready to talk about Alan with him yet.
“I needed a break from some work at the shop. How about stopping over at Aunt Lily’s for a bite to eat?”
Jake hesitated, eyes drifting over her. Coralee flushed under his scrutiny. What did he see after all the years apart? Finally he nodded and offered his arm. They crossed the dusty street, weaving between passing wagons and deep ruts. She pointed out some of the changes to the town since the last time Jake had been back. New buildings popped up every day in Spring Hill as immigrants poured into the Nebraska Territory. Coralee searched for small talk that would steer them far from digging up the past.
“How long have you been in town, Jake?”
“I got in two days ago. I spent yesterday settling in at the boardinghouse and visiting my folks.”
“You’ll be staying for a while, then?” She couldn’t hide the surprise in her tone. A town the size of Spring Hill could only support one doctor.
Before he could answer, they approached the café, pausing to exchange brief greetings with a couple they passed on the sidewalk. The young man held tight to his companion’s hand where it rested on his arm and the lovely lady’s face flushed under his attention. Young love. A sharp pang of loss cut through Coralee’s heart.
As they continued she caught a glimpse of her and Jake reflected in the pane-glass window and longing washed over her. It had been a long time since she’d walked arm in arm with a gentleman. She deliberately focused her eyes high above them, examining the familiar block letters painted on the building, proclaiming Lily’s Café. She was able to breathe easier when Jake pulled his arm away so he could open the solid wood door and hold it for her to enter.
Once inside, they found the only empty table in the busy eatery. Jake scooted out a chair for Coralee and waited as she seated herself. “Everything looks just like the last time I was here, years ago.”
She glanced around the narrow room, trying to see it through Jake’s eyes. The tables scattered throughout were all set with white cloths and simple dishes, clearly used but clean. There was little in the way of decoration, but the dining area was warm and comfortable. What did the space look like to him now, after frequenting the finest dining establishments in St. Louis?
An awkward silence fell over them as they waited. Coralee drummed her fingers on the table as her gaze was drawn to Jake’s strong face. The tanned features, straight nose and generous mouth she had known since childhood were framed by a few new creases. As he sat there across from her, something in the way he held himself was more attractive than she remembered.
But thinking about Jake’s good looks would only lead to problems. Coralee snapped out of her thoughts and pulled her eyes away before Jake found her staring. She glanced around the room in an effort to look unaffected, searching for an innocuous topic to break the silence. “Oh, Jake, there’s Aunt Lily, visiting with her customers. She’ll be so glad to see you.”
She caught Aunt Lily’s eye just as the older woman noticed her companion and rushed over with a cry. “Jake Hadley, as I live and breathe! Young man, you give me a hug.” She enveloped Jake in an embrace as he stood, then stepped back to look him over. “You look good, boy. Your mama said you’ve been working in a fancy hospital in St. Louis?”
“Yes, I spent the last three years there, after graduating from the university. I learned a lot. I doubt I’ll face many of the same kinds of cases practicing out here, but it was a good place to learn the latest techniques.”
Coralee caught a whiff of fresh air and soap clinging to Jake as he greeted Aunt Lily. For a moment she was so distracted by his presence that she nearly missed his words.
“Wait. You’ll be practicing in town? On your own?”
Pride radiated from him as a smile broke out on his face. “I’ve secured an arrangement to train with Samuel Jay until he retires. Then I’ll inherit the practice. It’s a good opportunity. He’s one of the best doctors in the Nebraska Territory and I’m pleased that he asked me to work alongside him.”
A chill sliced through Coralee, erasing every trace of the warm attraction she had been feeling. “You’re working with Dr. Jay?”
Jake glanced at her, obviously noticing the change in her demeanor. “He visits St. Louis several times a year to see his sister and he always stops at the hospital. I spent some time with him there. When he learned that I hoped to come home after my training, he offered me the position.”
“That’s just fine, young man.” Aunt Lily spoke with a smile but Coralee thought it might be a bit forced. The older woman was certain to be concerned about Coralee’s response to Jake’s announcement. She had good reason to worry. Coralee and Dr. Jay had gone head-to-head more than once in the year since Papa had died and left her his shop. But that man had gone too far this time. He had only been in town for ten years or so, but it was a small community. He had to know how close she and Jake had been. Had he sought out Jake on purpose to hurt her?
“I’m excited to have a chance to practice medicine here. St. Louis was an interesting change of scenery, but Spring Hill has always been home. And, of course, I need to be close to my folks to help Pa out around the farm when I can. They’re not getting any younger. I never thought the details would line up so I could run a practice here so soon.”
“Jake, my boy, I’m so pleased for you. You aren’t staying with your ma and pa?”
“Samuel felt it would be better for me to live in town to start, to be closer to the clinic until I build up a professional relationship with people in the area. After some time, I’ll move out there to help my parents more.”
Jake continued talking with Lily but Coralee didn’t hear a word. Anger was building up and she