“I gather, from my father, that he made that decision for me. Apparently, a McAlister plantation owner needed to fight to keep his slaves, and woe be to any who tried to take that right from him.”
She could not hold back the grin. “You have his tone down to a fine art, Daniel McAlister.”
“Enough talk of war. What of the boy? How will we handle this interruption in my therapy?”
“Interruption? I see it differently.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Daniel smiled. “But you must agree that the lad cannot fell a tree or plane boards to fix the slaves’ quarters—is that not where we were headed with my therapy?”
“Yes, but the child can learn and grow to be an honorable man by watching his father’s kind heart.”
“So, have they talked you into minding the child while I work?”
“They have. The boy needs someone to care for his needs, and I expect you to grab every opportunity to bond with the boy on an emotional level. If he is to be raised as your son, you need to give all you have to the task.”
“Are you an angel sent from God?” Daniel asked. “The McAlisters pile on the impossible, and you never bat an eye.”
“How easily you have forgotten your first impression of me, Daniel.”
“It sounds nice when you say my name. I can live up to Daniel, but Mr. McAlister has far too many restrictions.”
“You are your own man.” She got to her feet. “Now, I must go check on the boy. Please, tell me when you have decided on a name for him.”
“It says Jacob on his birth certificate, and I don’t see any reason to confuse the child with a new identity.” He laughed. “Yes, I like Jake for short, but use his formal name with the relatives at the big house—Jacob sounds much more distinguished.”
“And is your name written on the certificate as the father?”
“It is.” He studied her. “Does that bother you? What I did?”
“It is none of my business.”
“But I asked you, nonetheless.”
“Then, no. I have seen my share of women abused by haughty soldiers but also the kind that threw themselves at men for reasons of their own. The Good Lord shall be their judge, not I.”
Daniel stared at the woman who was the epiphany of righteousness, and at the same time, as humble as a shepherd. They were characteristics the opposite of the devious Shannon, who roamed the earth as a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
“A noble concept,” Daniel said. “Do you find it hard to maintain such high standards?”
“Excuse me?” she asked.
Daniel watched a shadow cross her face. This complex woman harbored a secret, and he wondered what might possibly mar the pureness of character that seemed to flow from her, quite innocently.
“I hope it is not my past, what little we have learned of it today, that is the cause for your turmoil,” Daniel said, not wanting to bring her additional grief.
“Don’t flatter yourself,” Gwen said. She beelined for the door, and he let her go, watching her from the window with renewed interest as she hurried across the walkway separating their dwellings. It seemed that even saints carried extra baggage in their hearts, weighing them down and keeping them earthbound.
When Gwen was gone, his cottage seemed horribly quiet and lonely. Daniel paced the floor until he thought he might go stir crazy. It was suppertime, and he wondered if she’d bring over a plate. He could always scramble up some eggs or find something in his pantry on which to nibble. He’d lived for months fending for himself before she had come along.
In the end, he grabbed his hat and moved onto the balcony. There, he heard giggling coming from the cottage where his nurse and child stayed.
His feet covered the distance to her door before his head registered the fact that he was on the move. He knocked.
Gwen opened the door, holding the squirming toddler in her arms. She laughed at Daniel’s surprised expression. “Jake is a bit of a handful,” she said. “His tiny, wobbly legs can cover the whole cottage in minutes. It’s hard to keep up.”
“I’m sorry if the lad is a nuisance.”
“I never said that at all,” she said, kissing the child’s forehead. “He’s really quite adorable and amusing.”
When Daniel continued to stand there, she moved to the side. “Please, come in. I was attempting to put a meal on the table. Maybe you can run after Jake for a spell.”
It wasn’t what he had in mind, but she was right: the boy was adorable. Those big mischievous eyes seemed to look straight through him and tickle his funny bone on the inside. He felt the tension leave his body and pondered the gift of the child’s innocence. Could peace come that easily?
“It’d be my pleasure, Nurse Gwen, to take my turn chasing the boy while you cook us up a scrumptious meal. What is that aroma coming from the kitchen?”
“Curry. It’s a bit spicy, so I put some chicken aside for the baby. Shall I separate more for you?”
“Not at all. I could use a bit of spice in my life.” His remark brought an instant chuckle from her, which blew through the air like melodious music. The woman was captivating, and it seemed impossible to remain standoffish. He even reminded himself that she was his nurse—merely a job for her, here today and gone tomorrow, nothing more. You’d have thought he’d have learned his lesson with Shannon.
With renewed determination, he squared his shoulders and rose to the task of fatherhood. “Let me take the boy, Nurse Gwen.”
As
