Page 13 of Into the Starlight (Secrets of Sweetwater Crossing #3)

Chapter Thirteen

“I’m still trying to decide whether the view from the front veranda is better than the back.”

Burke turned to look at Della, who was seated next to him on the parlor settee. Though she normally remained silent while Joanna entertained them with a few musical numbers after supper, tonight she continued to whisper. “What do you think?”

“I haven’t been on the second-floor front veranda, so I can’t weigh in.” He kept his voice as low as Della’s, not wanting to disturb the others but realizing that this was a ploy and that Della wanted to talk to him privately. She could have waited until Joanna ended the piece, but perhaps she hadn’t wanted to delay the nightly walk he and Joanna took.

“There’s no time like the present to remedy that,” Della said as she rose, expecting Burke to follow her.

He did, and when they reached her room, he dutifully admired the view before saying, “What’s bothering you?”

She settled onto one of the chairs that flanked the doors to the veranda, motioning Burke to the other. “I can’t fool you, can I? Bother is the wrong word, but there’s something I want to discuss with you.”

Burke suspected the discussion had been precipitated by Louisa’s comment at supper, but he said simply, “Go ahead.”

“I know I told you two weeks here would be enough, but Sweetwater Crossing has turned out to be very different from my expectations. I never thought I’d be living in Clive’s house or that the people would be so welcoming. I never thought I’d find myself working here, much less as a librarian.”

A faint blush stole its way up her cheeks, telling Burke that while she wouldn’t admit it, Della could also have said, “I never thought I’d meet someone like Harold.”

“You’re not ready to return to Alabama, are you?”

It was what he and Joanna had suspected. While it was too soon to know whether Della would remain here permanently, Burke wouldn’t be surprised if that happened. And if she and Harold discovered that what they felt for each other was true love, it could be the best thing that had happened to Della in decades.

“No, I’m not ready to leave,” she admitted. “I like it here, but your situation is different.” Della fixed her gaze on him, her light blue eyes filling with tears. “Felix is expecting you back in a couple weeks. I don’t want to interfere in your life any more than I already have.”

When Burke started to protest, to tell her that far from interfering, bringing her to Texas had given him a chance to reevaluate his life, Della held up a hand to stop him. “I’d like to stay here a while longer. I thought I could take a stagecoach or train when I’m ready to leave.”

That was something he’d never permit. “You know I don’t want you to travel alone.”

Della nodded, then brushed away the tear that had slid down her cheek. “I suspected you’d say that. All right, Burke. We’ll return when we planned.”

He reached across the small distance and laid his hand on hers. “You didn’t let me finish. When you leave— if you leave, because I’m not convinced you want to do that—we’ll go together, but it doesn’t have to be immediately. You heard Louisa. If the other sisters agree that we can remain for a while, I’ll let Felix know that my plans have changed.”

Burke wouldn’t tell Della that Felix and Edna would probably be relieved or that Felix had advised Burke to reassess his future, even going so far as to say that he was no longer needed in Samuels.

“Are you certain?” Della blinked away the last of the tears. “I know you’re training Louisa and treating some patients, but it’s not like it was in Alabama.”

“No, it’s not, but I’m happy to help Louisa.”

Witnessing Louisa’s enthusiasm as she learned something new was more rewarding than he’d expected, but there was more to do, much more. The cases Burke had handled had confirmed that Sweetwater Crossing needed a fully trained doctor. While Louisa had developed the basic skills when she’d worked with the doctor in Cimarron Creek, there were still gaps in her knowledge. Even a few more weeks under Burke’s tutelage would help.

He was in no hurry to leave. Besides, if Fielding agreed, he would return to Alabama only if he needed to accompany Della back home. Then he’d head to San Francisco.

Burke wasn’t ready to tell Della about the hope that had lodged in his heart that Fielding would welcome an assistant, but he wanted to share it with someone. Not just anyone, he realized, but Joanna. Only Joanna.

“Are you sure you’re not saying that to placate me?”

He countered with a question of his own. “Have you ever known me to lie?”

“No,” Della admitted, “but there’s always a first time.”

“This isn’t it.”

She studied him for a moment, then, apparently satisfied by what she saw, nodded. “Let’s talk to the sisters.”

“There was no question that we want you to stay,” Joanna told Burke as they descended the front steps. As they did each night, they spent five minutes on the veranda while Joanna took and held deep breaths. Fresh air, Burke had said, was better for her lungs than the air inside the house. It was only when she’d completed what he called the breathing exercises that they began their walk.

“Louisa’s thrilled at the idea of learning more from you, and Emily loves having you and Della as boarders.”

“What about you?”

Joanna smiled, thinking of the way her life had changed since he and Della had arrived. “I’m grateful for all that you and Della are doing. You’re making Sweetwater Crossing a better place to live. Thanks to Della, we have a library again, and you’re providing medical care to men who’d never consult Louisa.”

Though the crescent moon provided little illumination, the lights that spilled from Finley House’s windows allowed Joanna to see that Burke wasn’t convinced. Could it be because she hadn’t revealed her personal feelings?

“You’re making a difference in the town,” she continued. “I appreciate that, but even more, I’m grateful for what you’ve done for me. I feel healthier than I have in almost a year. My lungs are stronger, and I have more energy. That’s because of the exercises you’ve prescribed. They’ve been better than all the medicines the doctors in Europe gave me.”

Burke’s shoulders relaxed, telling Joanna she’d been right in thinking he needed to hear that.

“I thought you looked better.” He paused, then let out a mirthless laugh. “That’s the wrong word. It sounds like I was commenting on your appearance and implying that you aren’t always attractive. You are. What I should have said was that you look healthier.”

Joanna couldn’t help chuckling. “There’s no need for an apology. I knew what you meant. I’m happy that you’re staying at least for a while longer, because it’s good for us.” Most of all herself. “But what about you? You said your new dream was to find a way to prevent pneumonia. As much as I love Sweetwater Crossing, I don’t see how you can do much research here. Very few of our residents have caught pneumonia. Have you abandoned your dream?”

They’d been walking more briskly than usual and were approaching Center Street. Though it was too dark to see them, Joanna knew there were stakes in the ground, marking the outline of what would be Louisa and Josh’s home. The town was changing in more ways than she’d envisioned on the seemingly endless journey home from Europe. Her dreams had changed. Had Burke’s?

“Abandon my dream?” The way Burke shook his head emphasized his denial. “To the contrary. I’m pursuing it. One of the journals Felix sent me had an article about a physician in San Francisco who’s trying to discover how to prevent pneumonia. He wants to develop a vaccine like the one that’s been successful in practically eradicating smallpox.”

Burke paused for a moment, appearing to be debating whether to say anything more. “I haven’t told anyone—not even Della—but I wrote to this man asking if I could participate in his research.” He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before he continued.

“My mother used to tell me that I was impulsive and should think about important things before I acted. Maybe I should have waited, but when I saw the article, it appeared to confirm everything I’d been considering. When I met you and realized how much pneumonia was affecting your life months after you contracted it, I started thinking that doctors ought to do more than treat pneumonia. There ought to be a way to prevent it. I already knew that I didn’t want to return to Alabama, so this seemed like a good solution.”

The lump that lodged in her throat surprised Joanna. It was silly to be so dismayed by the thought of Burke going to San Francisco. After all, it wasn’t as if she’d thought he would remain here indefinitely, and yet there was no denying that the idea disturbed her.

“Have you received an answer?” By some small miracle, her voice sounded normal.

“Not yet. It’s been less than a week since I mailed my letter.” Burke stared into the distance, then gave a short laugh. “I don’t know what I was thinking. Maybe I wasn’t thinking at all, but I asked Dr. Fielding to reply to me here. It was almost as if I knew Della and I would be staying for more than two weeks.”

Joanna wasn’t sure what to say, and so she remained silent.

When they reached the bridge, Burke touched her arm. “You won’t tell Della or anyone, will you? Della has enough things on her mind right now. I don’t want to add to them.”

“Of course I won’t tell her. We’re all entitled to secrets.” Joanna leaned on the railing, looking down at the slowly moving water, wondering whether Burke’s uncle had ever stood here, talking about secrets with one of his friends.

“We are indeed,” Burke said. “And those secrets should only be shared with people we trust.”

The lump in Joanna’s throat disappeared as warmth flowed through her at the realization that Burke had put her in that special category.

She turned to face him, wanting him to see how deeply he’d touched her. “I’m honored that you trust me.”

His smile warmed her even more than his words had. “I’ve learned to be careful about who I trust.” Burke’s brief silence made Joanna wonder whether he was thinking of his partner or his former fiancée, but when he spoke, his reference was closer to home.

“As much as I admire your sister for her persistence, I wouldn’t tell Louisa anything I didn’t want repeated.”

Joanna shared Burke’s caution but wondered how he’d come to that conclusion. “Louisa wouldn’t deliberately betray a trust. It’s simply that sometimes things slip out.” She took a breath before she added, “I’m surprised she hasn’t told you my secret. Not that it’ll be secret much longer. You may have already guessed it. Did you know—”

Before she could complete the sentence, Burke laid a cautioning finger on her lips. “Just because I told you my secret doesn’t mean I expect you to do the same.”

The wonderful warmth that had dissipated Joanna’s worries increased as she reveled in the touch of his finger. “I know that. You’re not a man who gives a gift—and entrusting your secret to me was a gift—because he expects something in return. I want to tell you.”

And that surprised her. Never before had she felt so comfortable with a man, so willing to tell him her deepest thoughts and fears. Not even Kurt had engendered this desire to confide in him. Joanna couldn’t explain it. All she knew was that what she felt for Burke was unique.

As he nodded slowly, she sensed that he understood what she’d said, perhaps even what she’d been thinking.

She tipped her head up and smiled at him. “I’m expecting a baby.”