Blessed Assurance by Lyn Cote Read Free Book Online Page B

tired to eat.”
    â€œYou are eating, then sleeping. That’s final.” Susan tugged her to a hard kitchen chair.
    â€œI’ll fall asleep-—“
    â€œDon’t take long to scramble up eggs.” Susan pushed a cup of coffee into Jessie’s hand. “Drink that. No arguing, hear?”
    The cup warmed Jessie’s hands and its aroma lifted her spirits slightly. “I’m not very hungry, really.”
    â€œYou ain’t had a appetite for months now. You’re eating.”
    â€œYes.” Miss Wright stumped into the kitchen. “You didn’t take two bites of your meal last night.”
    Setting down the cup, Jessie leaned her head into her palm. She couldn’t face another tirade.
    â€œThe child?” Miss Wright asked with a scowl.
    â€œRuthie’s child made it through the night, ma’am,” Susan said over her shoulder.
    â€œGood,” Miss Wright muttered. “You can’t go on like this, Jessie.”
    Taking a deep breath, Jessie looked straight into Miss Wright’s pointed finger. “You’re right.” Jessie glanced up as Susan put a plate of eggs and toast fragrant with butter in front of her. “I need to find a doctor to help your people, Susan.”
    â€œI’m glad you are finally listening to good sense,” Miss Wright grumbled.
    Jessie glimpsed Susan’s half-grin before she went back to the sink. Jessie began taking small bites. Why did chewing take so much energy?
    â€œThe charity hospital took the child in, then?” Miss Wright prompted.
    â€œThe matron didn’t want to. A doctor came out of the shadows…” Jessie’s voice faltered. She forced herself to take another bite. Her eyelids drooped. She batted them open again.
    â€œSusan, does she look pale to you?” the old woman asked.
    â€œMa’am, maybe she just too tired to talk now,” Susan suggested gently.
    Nodding, Jessie continued chewing laboriously.
    â€œIt’s about time you eat.” Like a watchdog making sure Jessie ate every bite, Miss Wright folded her hands on the top of her cane.
    Jessie heard a polite tap at the kitchen door, but she was too tired to care. Susan wiped her hands on her red apron and went to answer it. “Mr. Smith be here, Mrs. Wagstaff.”
    The man walked in.
    Miss Wright sat up straighter. “What are you doing here?”
    For once, Jessie was grateful for Miss Wright’s outspoken ways. She felt defenseless, unable to deal with his worrying effect on her.
    He paused a few steps inside the kitchen. “Just dropped in to pick up my valise and go to Mrs. Crawford’s boardinghouse.”
    â€œMrs. Crawford has my sympathy,” Miss Wright snapped. “I suppose that means you’ll be underfoot day and night.”
    â€œMr. Smith,” Susan said, “I found your valise, but I forgot to give it to you last night. Sorry.”
    Caught up in a floating sensation, Jessie felt as though she had taken a step away from the kitchen. What about a valise?
    Smith bowed to Susan and then the spinster. “Thank you for being concerned about a lonely newcomer.”
    â€œHumph!” the old woman fumed.
    Jessie looked down and watched the fork slide from her fingers as though her hand belonged to someone else.
    Lee watched Jessie drop her fork.
    â€œI still don’t see why you’re here,” Miss Wright demanded. “Didn’t Mrs. Crawford feed you enough breakfast?”
    He opened his mouth to reply, but Jessie caught his eye.
    â€œCatch her!” Susan exclaimed.
    Lee rushed to seize her limp body, slipping from the chair. The elusive fragrance of lavender still clung to her and a curious sensation slid through him.
    Miss Wright thumped her cane on the floor. “What’s wrong?”
    He quickly took Jessie’s faint pulse. “Did she get any sleep last night?”
    Miss Wright leaned forward anxiously. “She returned home