Charming the Caregiver Read online

  Charming the Caregiver

  Cowboys and Angels Book 43

  Marianne Spitzer

  Charming the Caregiver

  Cowboys and Angels Book 43

  By Marianne Spitzer

  © July 2019

  This book is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, events, locations, or organizations is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without the written consent of the author.

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Epilogue

  The End

  Acknowledgments

  There are many people I would like to thank for their help and understanding while I wrote this book, but first and foremost, I want to thank God for all His blessings. I also wish to thank my family and friends for their patience and understanding when I disappear into my writing world especially my son, Lance for his unwavering support. Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank my loyal readers who read my books and leave reviews. I couldn’t do this without you. You’re the best.

  Editing by EMSA Publishing

  The cover was created by the talented Erin Dameron Hill. You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/edameronhill

  Prologue

  Late spring

  Creede, Colorado

  The front door slammed open loudly enough that it nearly caused Delia to drop the bowl of batter she was stirring in the kitchen. She heard Wes’ voice call, “Delia, where are you? I have good news: the City Council’s approved our plans for the new hospital, and Doctor Thomas said he’d write to a colleague of his in New York to ask for suggestions for a second doctor to work at the hospital in Creede.”

  Wes was grinning ear to ear when he walked into the kitchen as he waved the papers in his right hand. “Convincing them was easier than I thought it would be. Considering I offered to pay for the land, the building construction, and the equipment helped. The City Council said they’d work on coming up with a salary for the new doctor and two nurses.”

  Delia flashed a smile at her excited husband and answered, “That’s wonderful news, dear. I’m as excited as you are about the new building. Creede’s growing, and a hospital will make a wonderful addition. I know you wanted to build it on this end of town, which is perfect because it will also be easily accessible to people living in Bachelor.”

  Wes laid the papers on the kitchen table and said, “We’ll need a second construction crew to work on the hospital. Leer is doing well supervising the library’s construction, and if the two buildings are close, he can oversee both projects. I worried that he’d leave after the library was completed, but I don’t any longer since he’s happily married to Meg. Being married to the head librarian is more than enough reason to stay.”

  Wes was interrupted by a knock on the front door. He opened it to find Leer on the front porch, smiling while holding a yellow sheet of paper.

  “Good morning,” Leer said. “I have good news…well, good news for us but not so good for my brother. His girl decided she’d have a much better life with the dock foreman, and she ran off to marry him. Logan, my brother, has decided to leave San Francisco, and he’s coming here, to Creede. I think we can find a place for him on the construction crew.”

  Wes replied, “Come in and have some coffee. We can certainly find him a job. The City Council just approved the construction of a new hospital, and since you’re our construction foreman, you can hire whomever you wish.”

  “I’ll get busy with that. Do you have plans for the construction? The ground has thawed and laying the foundation will be easier than when we began the library’s construction.”

  Wes nodded and rolled out the architect’s plans on his desk. They discussed the details as Delia baked her cake. She smiled, knowing the town of Creede was growing, and that she and Wes were helping their new hometown to achieve its dreams.

  Chapter 1

  Leer heard the train whistle while it was still a mile outside of Creede. If his younger brother didn’t miss his train, he’d see Logan in a few minutes. Leer was only two years older than Logan, but he remembered that while growing up, the two of them were often mistaken for twins. In their teen years, Logan had grown an extra two inches and added about fifteen pounds in weight. They still shared the same red hair and brown eyes, but they were no longer mistaken for twins. The family resemblance was unmistakable, nevertheless.

  Leer heard the train whistle blow a second time and knew it would pull in at any moment. He stood and watched as a train slowed and finally stopped alongside the platform. Leer watched several couples, two women, and a few, older gentlemen disembark before he caught sight of his brother, waving from the door of the train.

  Logan hurried over to where Leer was waiting, and they shook hands and gave each other a half-hug and pat on the back, the way brothers do.

  “How was your trip?” Leer asked.

  Logan responded, “It was enjoyable. The mountains are beautiful to travel through, but it can get a little dizzying looking down as we traveled past some steep areas.

  “It’s good to see you. How you been, boy?”

  “Don’t call me boy,” Leer grumbled. “You know I’m older than you, and I’m not your boy.”

  Logan answered with a hearty laugh and said, “Yeah, I guess since you’re the older brother, I should call you ‘old man’ instead.”

  Leer shook his head, knowing his younger brother would always find a way to annoy him. Leer never regretted a minute of their lives growing up, though it had been that way since they were children.

  “C’mon,” Leer said. “I have a place for you to stay. Where’re your bags?”

  Logan lifted an old, large, brown satchel. “Right here. Everything I own is in here.”

  As they walked through town, Leer explained, “There’s a room off the back of the large barn we use for storage and building furniture. It’s where I lived before I married Meg. You’ll find it comfortable enough.”

  “Ah, the lovely, Meg. When will I get to meet this new sister of mine?”

  “Tonight, at dinner. The Satterfields have invited you, Meg, and me to supper. You’ll learn about what you’ll be expected to do. It isn’t difficult work, mostly construction. It’s easier than dock work.”

  “The room can’t be worse than the room I shared in San Francisco. At least, I won’t have a drunk roommate to deal with,” Logan said as they neared the edge of Creede.

  “If it doesn’t suit you, you can always find somewhere else, but it’s free, and there aren’t too many places here to rent. We were fortunate enough to find a small cabin for one of the new nurses expected to arrive in a few weeks.”

  “Nurses?” Logan said, raising his eyebrows. “How many nurses?”

  “Three. And don’t get any ideas. They are here to work at the new hospital you’re here to help build. Construction is well underway, but when Wes heard you were coming to Creede, he said we should offer you a job immediately.”

  “I appreciate the job, but you know how charming I am. I’m sure the three nurses will agree with me.”

  “Charming?” Leer laughed.

&n
bsp; “Yeah. I’ve always been the charming one in the family. If you can find a wife, I certainly can,” Logan insisted. “Meg is a normal girl, right? She doesn’t have two heads or three arms, does she?”

  “Meg is perfect,” Leer said and threw a pretend punch at his brother.

  Logan smiled. “Easy now, old man. I was only curious about what kind of woman would marry my brother.”

  “You’ll find out at supper,” Leer said as they passed the Satterfield’s home and headed for the barn.

  Leer led Logan through the barn, showed him the storage and work areas, and then opened a door at the back of the barn.

  Logan walked in and looked around. The room was ample sized, had a window, another door that led directly outside, a pot-bellied stove, a bed, and a dresser. Shelves on the wall held a coffee pot, a small fry pan, a dish, a cup, some utensils, and a supply of coffee, sugar, and spices.

  “I’m allowed to cook in here?” Logan asked.

  Leer nodded. “As long as you don’t burn the place down. I found it easier to make coffee and a quick breakfast than walk into town each morning, especially in winter. If you’re here in the winter, you’ll be grateful not to have to walk outside until you’ve had a cup of coffee to warm you.”

  “We had cold winters back in New York. I understand cold.”

  “This is Creede. We’re in the mountains. It gets colder than anything I was used to, and the snow gets deep enough that you can’t walk through it. That’s what the shovel in the corner is for, so you can shovel your way out after a snowfall. And we’ll have several large ones.”

  Logan laughed. “You make it sound bad enough that I might want to head back to San Francisco. Then again, as long as that woman is there, it’d be colder than any winter here. She played me for a fool. All she wanted to do was make my supervisor jealous, so he’d marry her. Well, he did. Now, he can have the heartache I’m sure she’ll cause him.”

  Leer clapped his brother on the back and said, “C’mon. Let’s forget about your woman troubles, and I’ll show you the construction jobs we’re working on right now. We’re about to start the second floor of the library, and the foundation of the first section of the hospital has been laid.”

  “First section?” Logan asked. “How is that supposed to work? Either you have a building or not.”

  Leer walked out the back door of Logan’s room and pointed at the smaller of the two buildings, about a hundred yards away. “Creede needs a hospital, and it could take two years to build one large enough. Considering the severe winters, we’re starting with a smaller section which will include an area for surgery, sixteen beds, the nurses’ quarters, laboratory, and a basement area. There is enough land to build more sections, and it will eventually have a second floor.”

  They walked around the building site, and Leer introduced Logan to the men he’d be working with before Leer explained what the hospital expansion would look like and how they’d build them.

  Logan liked the idea of working with Leer and told him, “I’ll stick it out at least one winter. I’ve missed you, and who knows? I might meet a lovely lady in town. The town does have some single women, doesn’t it?”

  “A few, but you’re better off working hard and ignoring the ladies. You don’t need to find another woman like the one who broke your heart.”

  Logan sighed and said, “You’re right, but the best way to forget one is to meet another.”

  Leer laughed. “You’ll never change, Mister Charming. C’mon—it’s time to walk to the Satterfield’s for supper. I want you to meet Meg.”

  Delia and Meg were relaxing on the front porch, enjoying a cup of tea while supper finished cooking.

  “I love the new stove we ordered,” Delia commented. “Baking a roast, potatoes, and vegetables at the same time in a large pan certainly saves time and energy.”

  “I would love to have one, but until Leer and I move into a larger home, I’ll get by with my smaller stove. He certainly loves to eat, and I always need to cook more than I think we’ll eat.” Meg laughed and added, “Here he comes now. That must be Logan with him. I can see the family resemblance.”

  Leer ran the last few steps up to the porch and reached out for Meg’s hand. “I want you to meet my little brother.”

  “Little?” Meg giggled. “He’s bigger than you.”

  “Maybe, but he’ll always be my little brother.

  “Meg, this is Logan. Logan, this is my wife, Meg.”

  Logan removed his hat and bowed slightly, “Nice to meet you, Meg. I can’t believe my brother actually found a woman to marry him.”

  Meg bit her lip to keep from giggling again. “I can see the family charm hasn’t been lost on you, Logan. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

  Leer turned to his brother and said, “I’d like you to meet Missus Satterfield. She and her husband are the reason we’re here. They’re also responsible for Creede’s library and hospital.”

  Logan bowed again and said, “It is nice to meet you, ma’am.”

  Delia waved her hand at Logan. “You don’t have to call me ma’am. Please, call me Delia. We’re rather informal here.”

  “We certainly are,” Wes interrupted as he walked out of the house and walked up to Logan. “I’m Wes Satterfield. I’m pleased you’re here to work with us.” The men shook hands, and Delia ushered everyone into the house for supper.

  Chapter 2

  Early Summer

  Milwaukee, Wisconsin

  A warm breeze surrounded Katerina Lorbiecki as she sat on the green bench in the small park near the Milwaukee hospital where she was employed as a nurse. Bright yellow and red tulips and purple Dutch Irises grew in a small, circular flower garden, birds chirped in the trees, and the sun warmed Katerina’s face.

  At twenty-five, she knew—or at least, she thought until that morning—that she could receive a promotion at the hospital based on her hard work and knowledge and not on her charms. She was sadly disappointed when she finished her night shift assignment and saw one of her fellow nurses snuggling with Doctor Gregory. A short time later, the young woman bounced into the quarters they shared with six other nurses, announcing she’d been promoted to overnight supervisor. Katerina offered her congratulations, changed into a blue day dress, grabbed her coat, and set off for a walk in the park.

  Katerina sat on the bench, debating her options. She knew she couldn’t give in to Doctor Gregory’s ideas of how to achieve promotions, but if she left, would other hospitals also have doctors with similar plans for young nurses? Katerina shrugged her shoulders and blew out a deep breath. She was tired after working all night. Perhaps some sleep would help her consider her options.

  A female voice with a sweet Southern drawl pulled Katerina from her musings.

  “Is there room on the bench for me, darlin’?”

  Katerina looked up and said, “Of course.”

  The most beautiful young woman she’d ever seen was standing in front of her, raven-colored hair pulled up under a wide-brimmed straw hat with rows of curls hanging down behind her head. Katerina was surprised by the woman’s dress and wondered if she were part of the play opening in town on Friday night. No one except a play actress would wear a dress of pink crepe with that many rows of ruffle and lace.

  As the woman turned to sit, Katerina saw the skirt twirl, and she wondered if the woman had hoops beneath all that fabric. The young woman, dressed in what Katerina believed was Southern belle style, filled the air around them with the loveliest Gardenia fragrance.

  “Your dress is beautiful,” Katerina said. “Are you performing in the new play this weekend?”

  “What?” the young woman said, looking down at her dress. “No, Kat. I’m just strolling through the park in one of my favorite dresses. I do so love pink.”

  “Kat? Hardly anyone has called me Kat since I was a small child back home. Once I began school, my teachers insisted on using my proper name.”

  The young woman giggled and answered, “I am sure I heard s
omeone call you that at the hospital. My name is Josephine, and I like to visit patients and offer comfort, if I am able.”

  Katerina thought her answer sounded reasonable since two of her friends called her Kat on occasion. Usually, she was referred to as Nurse Lorbiecki, but off duty, she was Katerina.

  “When I walked up, you looked troubled, my dear. I understand your feelings. Some men can be quite difficult and demanding, but not all men are. Most are good and decent. You need to find a new position far away from Milwaukee and men like Doctor Gregory.”

  Katerina felt confusion cross her brow as she contemplated how the woman had known what concerned her. Perhaps Josephine had witnessed Doctor Gregory’s behavior, but Katerina was too much of a lady to ask such a delicate question or engage in gossip.

  “Don’t look so troubled,” Josephina said. “Your face is far too lovely not to smile each moment of the day. I should go, but try not to worry, my dear; God has a way of showing you the path to your future. You need to be brave and follow it.”

  Katerina smiled and said, “Thank you.”

  As the woman rose to leave, Katerina bowed her head and asked for God’s guidance. A few moments later, Katerina lifted her head, expecting to see the woman as she walked across the park, but she was nowhere to be seen.

  Katerina had decided to head back to the hospital when she noticed a newspaper lying on the bench next to her that hadn’t been there when she’d sat down. Josephina must have left it behind. Nothing interesting in it caught her eye except a small article about booming mining towns in the West. Katerina smiled when she thought of how peaceful small-town life might be. The article mentioned a town in Colorado, named Creede. It appeared as if the town was growing and thriving. Katerina placed the paper back on the bench for someone else to read, rose, and began her slow walk back to the nurse’s quarters, wondering about a quiet life away from the big city.