A Prescription for Love by Callie Hutton Read Free Book Online Page A

help of that shopkeeper —and didn’t immediately leave. What did the lack-wit girl think? And why did Henderson insinuate himself into her personal business, anyway?
    “Here we are. Let’s sit over there, where we can have some privacy.” He indicated a grouping of chairs close to the blazing fireplace.
    The group settled themselves, with Mrs. Lester clutching her husband’s hand as she dabbed at her eyes with the other hand. Mr. Lester patted her distractedly.
    “I still cannot believe my daughter is working as a shop girl!” Mr. Lester fumed.
    “She obviously has had some type of breakdown or brain fever.” Clarence leaned forward, his elbows on his bent knees.
    Mr. Lester freed his wife’s hand and stood, pacing in front of the group. “What I don’t understand is why she wants to jeopardize her health.”
    Mrs. Manfred drew herself up, two red dots gracing her rounded cheeks. “You must demand the girl return home. It’s plain she’s not thinking clearly, and as long as she’s under the influence of that storekeeper, she won’t ever come to her senses.”
    Mr. Lester faced Clarence. “It’s your responsibility as her betrothed to assist her mother and me in getting her out of here as quickly as possible.”

    “I’ve tried.” Clarence gulped at the anger in Mr. Lester’s tone. “Henderson seems to have a grip on her. The longer she stays there, the more difficult we’ll find it to persuade her to do the right thing. The girl has taken leave of her senses.”
    Mrs. Lester sniffed into her handkerchief. “I want my little girl back. I don’t know her anymore. Leaving home with merely a curt note, and then taking a job. A job! And to ignore our request to return with us is not like her.” Spent, she cried daintily into her handkerchief. Mr. Lester once again sat next to her and patted her hand.
    “What we need is a plan,” Clarence said. “When she arrives, I’ll escort her to supper and show her how foolish this whole thing is. Her health is more important to me than anything else in the world.”
    With his declaration ringing in their ears, he hopped up and adjusted his jacket. “I’m not waiting for her to come to us. I’ll go to the store now and insist that as my betrothed, she come to supper with me.” He nodded in the Lesters’ direction. “Have no fear, Harold, Mary. I guarantee she will be fully packed and on the train first thing tomorrow.”
    Before anyone said a word, he strode from the hotel in the direction of the pharmacy. With all Heidi’s nonsense, the little brat cut into his time with the young whore he’d promised to visit tonight. After checking his watch, he determined it was early enough to see Heidi fed, convinced to leave, and back to her room to pack. The whole thing should be resolved in less than an hour. Still plenty of time for his late night activities.
    The pharmacy was locked up tight, the ‘Closed’ sign reflected under the streetlight. Where the hell did Heidi and that shopkeeper go? She’d promised to meet them at the hotel after the place closed. If she were on her way there, they would have met. Damn the girl! Now he had to spend time searching for her. If her father’s businesses weren’t dangling in front of him like a delectable carrot, he’d skip the whole debacle and catch the train back home.

    Heidi felt heat rise to her cheeks as Michael held out the chair for her to sit. The Harvey House, newly built along with the train station, had already attracted quite a supper crowd. Harvey Girls, dressed in their uniform of a dark wool dress with a long white apron rushed to and fro between the kitchen and the tables carrying beverages and plates of food. The aroma of something delicious, and fresh-baked bread caused Heidi’s stomach to growl.
    Except for the unpleasantness awaiting her back at the hotel, she decided to enjoy her meal and the time with Michael. She chided herself in her foolish adoration of him, and how she thought of him as