Shane's Bride (Mail Order Brides of Texas #3) by Kathleen Ball Page A

fun to have Cecily’s help.  Listening hard, he tried to distinguish who was at the door.  He heard Dr.  Martin’s voice, then Edith’s voice, and he smiled when he recognized Shannon’s voice.  He watched as they trooped inside, one by one, with Cecily trailing far behind.  Somehow her being at the end of the line didn’t seem right.
    “What are you trying to do? Why are you taking off your shirt?” Edith arched her eyebrow as she stared at Cecily then she hurried to his side and tried to put his shirt back on him.
    “Ouch, Edith, you’re hurting me.  Let go,” he said.
    Dr.  Martin put his hand on Shane’s forehead and nodded.  “You’ve got a fever all right.  Nothing to worry about though.  You’ll pull through.” He retrieved a bottle out of his bag and handed it to Cecily.  “This is laudanum for his pain I’ll write the instructions down for you before I leave.”
    Cecily reached for the bottle and held it to her chest, nodding.  “I’d appreciate that.”
    Shannon smiled at him.  “You had us worried, my friend.  We got word you were shot but no details.” She walked to his left side and helped him take the rest of his shirt off.  “Here, this will make it easier for Cecily to keep you cool.” She held her hand up in Edith’s direction.  “I don’t want to hear it, so just save your judgments for yourself.”
    Edith gasped and sputtered then she snatched the shirt from Shannon.  She grabbed a clean shirt off the wall peg and marched around the bed to Shane’s right side and tried to catch his arm so she could put it in the sleeve.
    “Oh, for heaven sake, leave Shane alone.  Dr.  Martin, what do you think? Shirt on or shirt off?” Cecily asked as she thumped the laudanum down on the bed side table.
    “Off.  If he gets hot enough she’ll have to bathe his back too.” He gazed at Edith and shrugged his shoulders.  “Sometimes it’s not about what’s proper, it’s about caring for the patient.  The important goal here is to make Shane well again.” Dr.  Martin glared at Edith then gave Shane a much friendlier look.  “Now, Shane, I didn’t have a chance to ask you how you feel.”
    “Truthfully I feel a mite better now that my shirt is off.” He sighed.  “Thanks for coming to my rescue, doc.  I’m sure Cecily can handle it.  I have complete faith in her.”
    “Good, good I can see you are in capable hands so I will be back later this afternoon to check on you.” He closed his bag, shook Shane’s hand and nodded to the women before he left.
    Shannon moved closer to the bed.  “I’m glad it’s not too serious.  I’m also glad you have Cecily here to take care of you.  Do you need anything? Cecily, I could cook up a few meals or do laundry, whatever you need.”
    Cecily smiled.  “You are a dear, sweet woman, Shannon, and I appreciate your offer, but I think for now Shane just needs rest.”
    Shannon took Cecily’s hand giving it a quick squeeze then leaned down and kissed Shane on the cheek.  “You get better now you hear?”
    Shane nodded. 
    Shannon looked at Edith.  “We’d best get going don’t you think?”
    Edith put her hands on her hips and shook her head.  “In my day we’d never even think of seeing a man without a shirt on.  You two women are two of a kind.  Neither of you have any respect for propriety.  I feel sorry for you both.  You’ll never have the respect of the right people.”
    Shannon laughed.  “Fine by me.  We’ll be going, now.” She pulled a protesting Edith toward the bedroom door.  “Take care, Shane, and it was nice to see you, Cecily,” she called over her shoulder.
    Shane laughed and shook his head his smile dimmed as his gaze met Cecily’s unhappy one.  “Don’t let Edith ruin your day.  She is in no way a reflection of how the rest of the town thinks.  I’ve always thought of her as a mere nuisance, but I can see she’s hurting you.  I’ll talk to her—”
    “No please