Redeeming Gabriel by Elizabeth White

hat brim down.
    Gabriel smirked. “You’d have to be the first to admit that looks can be deceiving. Did you even look at that paper I gave you very much by mistake?”
    “Of course I looked at it.”
    “And what was it?”
    “It looked like a sermon.”
    “And that’s what it was. My sermon for my first service at the Methodist church this Sunday. I could write it again. But I’m asking you, as politely as I know how, to give it back to me.”
    “You may be a preacher, but you are no man of God.”
    “And you may be a female, but you are no lady.”
    She gasped and then grinned at him, a dimple hovering at one corner of her mouth. “You sound like my grandmother.”
    He stared at her for a moment, then growled, “Where’s the hospital?”
    “Corner of the next block. Turn here.”
    “That’s Barton Academy.”
    “It was, before the war started. I thought you were from out of state.” Her bright-eyed look held a challenge.
    “I visited here when I was in college.”
    “Really? Do you know my brother Jamie?”
    “Yes, but I doubt he’d know me. We ran in different circles.” He drew up the horses outside the hospital livery and got down to help Camilla from the carriage. “I did meet your cousin, Harry Martin.”
    “Harry!” She turned and gripped both his hands. “I knew that message must have been from him! But what does it mean? Oh, please tell me how to read it!”
    It took him a moment to realize she thought the sermon was a message from her cousin.
    He glanced around. Military personnel, medical staff and visitors crisscrossed the hospital grounds. “This isn’t a good place to talk.”
    Blushing, she released his hands. “It’s just that it’s been so long…” She straightened her shawl. “We’ll go inside. Lady said I should introduce you to Dr. Kinch, the hospital administrator.”
    Every muscle in Gabriel’s body tensed as he followed Camilla up the broad stone steps fronting the building and held the door for her. The confrontation with Dr. Kinch was inevitable. He almost looked forward to it.
     
    Dr. Joseph Kinch shook hands with Gabriel and gave Camilla an arch smile. “Miss Beaumont and her grandmother are two of our most ardent fund-raisers and visitors to the hospital.” He pinched Camilla’s cheek, making her squirm. “Quite the angel of mercy.”
    Gabriel bowed. “The merit of your work is well-known, Doctor.”
    Camilla opened her mouth to ask if the men had met before, but something in Gabriel’s hot gaze stopped her. Secrets. She’d better tread carefully.
    Gabriel’s smile had an edge. “I’ve heard about your research into the causes and treatment of yellow fever. A large amount of my time is spent burying its victims and ministering to bereaved families. Seems to me the disease has carried off as many hale young fellows as the war.”
    Dr. Kinch inclined his leonine head. “’Tis an unfortunate truth. My goal in life is to eradicate this elusive killer. I have my suspicions of the source, but have yet to prove it.”
    “I pray for your success. Many of my former parishioners have expressed a desire to fund your research—when the war ceases to drain the Southern economy.”
    “I regret to say that the war has conscripted my most promising medical students,” said Dr. Kinch. “Research is now confined to my own sporadic attempts, in between running the hospital and supplying field surgeons.” He sighed. “Medicines, especially quinine, are getting harder to come by every day.”
    “Are the cases of yellow fever up, then, Doctor?” Camilla asked.
    “I’m afraid so. Since New Orleans fell and refugees have descended on Mobile, the hospital is full to overflowing. We could hardly turn away the poor souls, and yet…”
    “Your mercy is commendable.” Gabriel’s lips twitched.
    Camilla set her teeth. “Reverend Leland, I promised to read mail to the poor soldiers here. Perhaps we should attend to our business.”
    The reverend gave her a