Eden's Sin by Jennifer Jakes

arms, breaking the spell. She couldn’t let herself be burned up again. Alexander had nearly destroyed her, and she couldn’t take that risk again. She just couldn’t. “I um, I just wanted to ask you to wait and let me make sure she's decent.”
    The m ajor exhaled slowly, as if gathering control. His gaze raked her, hot and inviting, before he shuttered his eyes and cleared his throat. “Go ahead in and let the young lady know I need to talk to her. I'll wait here.”
    Eden nodded, then slipped inside the dark room, releasing a long sigh of relief, or was it disappointment? Both maybe, but it didn’t matter. This had to stop. She had too much responsibility to let herself become involved with a man.
    “Mary Rose?” She lit the lantern. “Do you feel like talking?” Sitting the lamp beside the bed, she touched Mary's cool, pale face.
    And screamed.
    Panic exploded inside her. Panic and pain. Mary Rose lay across the bed, an empty bottle of Laudanum in her hand.
    He burst through the door, pistol in hand. “What is it?” His eyes were wide, his gaze darting around the room.
    “ We have to get her to the doctor. Now!”
    “ Shit.” He holstered his gun and rushed to the bed.
    Fear fisted Eden's stomach. Why, why, why? Damnit, Mary had seemed better this morning. She'd even smiled a little when Eden had brushed her hair. How long had she been lying here? Minutes? Hours? She was so chilled, so pale.
    “ Where’s your doctor?”
    “ A few streets over.”
    The m ajor lifted Mary Rose, blankets and all. “Show me which way.” He shouldered through the door. Eden followed down the hall, then hurried around him to open the door.
    Alice ran into the kitchen. “What's happened? I heard more screamin'. Oh, Saints, no.”
    “ We're going to Doc's.” Eden yelled the last word as she bolted out the back door. “Come on, Major. Hurry!”
    She ran into the alley, cursing her slowed pace as her bad leg seized with each step. The major's footsteps thundered behind her. They ran across the street and down three blocks to Doc Brown's office. A single lantern glowed through the window. He had to be here. Had to.
    “ Doc?” Eden pounded on the door. She glanced back at Mary Rose, limp in Sinclair's arms. “Doctor Brown!” Horrifying memories threatened to drown her. Running, crying, knocking on doors, begging for help. “Help me, please.”
    Tears streamed down her face.
    Her legs trembled and her hands shook.
    Gripping pain squeezed her chest until she couldn't breathe.
    Where was the doctor? She had to get help. Had to save Mary Rose. She couldn't die. It couldn't happen again. Not again. Please God.
    “ Doctor,” Eden screamed. “Doctor, where are you?”
    “ For pity's sake, Eden.” Doctor Brown rounded the corner of the boardwalk, his wife on his arm. “What's happened?” He hurried to unlock his door.
    “ It's Mary Rose. She's drank a whole bottle of Laudanum.”
    “ Oh, Christ.” The doctor ushered them inside and to the back where he examined his patients. “Place her onto the table.” He grabbed his stethoscope, pulled open the blankets. “Soldier, take Eden out to the waiting area.”
    She couldn't leave her. “No, I—”
    Sinclair took her arm. “Come with me. Let the doc do his job.”
    “ No.” Eden tugged against Sinclair's hold. “No, you don't understand. I have to help her. She can't die. She can't.”  
    “ Eden!” He gave her a shake. “Come in the other room and wait with me. Now.”
    A sob tore through her and her knees buckled . Sinclair's arm steadied her as he led her into the adjoining room.
    “ It—it's my fault. I—I shouldn't have left the Laudanum where she could reach it. I should have known. I should have walked with her that night, stopped the man. Protected her.”
    “ Shhh.” Sinclair tried to gather her in his arms, but she broke free.
    She didn't want comfort. Didn't deserve it. No matter how hard she tried, destiny would punish her for being what she was.