Between Two Worlds by Stacey Coverstone

today.”
    Gabriel turned for the door. “I guess I’ll see you at seven
o’clock in the morning then. Thank you, Charlotte. Lucinda. Good night,
ladies.” He touched the brim of his cowboy hat.
    “Good night,” the trio chimed in unison.
    As Delaney started up the stairs behind Mrs. Quinn, she slid her
hand along the gleaming oak banister and leaned over so she could nonchalantly
peek at the doctor. His shoulders were broad and his back looked strong.  She’d
already noticed how snugly his corduroys fit those muscular thighs and calves,
but it didn’t hurt to take a second look.
    Just as his hand rested on the glass doorknob, Gabriel glanced over
his shoulder and caught her gawking. Mortified, she ducked her head back and
hurried up the stairs, but not before she saw his mouth curve into a
heart-melting smile.
    He began to whistle and closed the door behind him.
    ~ * ~
    Charlotte unlocked the corner room with a skeleton key and ushered
Delaney in. The small bedroom, just like the rest of the house, was decked out
in Victorian comfort and felt homey. A four-poster oak canopy bed with a thick
quilt on top was up against one wall, and a cedar hope chest stood at its foot.
A brick fireplace, which she wouldn’t need at this time of year, was against the
opposite wall. Above the chunky mantel hung an oil painting of an English rider
and a horse chasing a hound. A dark bureau filled the third wall, and more lace
curtains hung in the tall windows that overlooked the street. A low chair stood
next to the bed, as well as a small oak table and oil lamp.
    “This room is charming,” Delaney said. “It reminds me of a B&B
I stayed in once in Sedona.”
    “B&B?”
    Darn! There I go again . “Another
boarding house,” she said without further explanation.
    “Oh.” Charlotte thanked her for the compliment and delivered her
list of rules. “The rate is seven dollars per week, payable every Monday. No
men visitors, except in the parlor and dining room. No smoking in the house at
all.”
    “No problem. I don’t smoke.”
    “There’s a wash-up room at the end of the hall, which is shared
with the other upstairs borders. We have modern plumbing in the house, so
you’ll find a toilet, sink and tub in that room,” Charlotte said with
pride. “Breakfast is at seven, dinner at six o’clock. Borders are on their own
for the noon meal. Georgia will launder your bed linens every Friday. She also cleans
the public rooms of the house, but you are responsible for keeping your own
room neat and tidy. Are there any questions?”
    Delaney shook her head. “Sounds fine to me.” She handed Charlotte
a couple of the dollar bills Gabriel had snuck into her hand before he left.
He’d known she didn’t have the cash to cover the room. “I don’t really know how
long I’ll be staying, but I’ll go ahead and pay you now for two days. If that’s
all right.”
    “That’ll be fine.” Charlotte accepted the cash and stuffed it in
her apron pocket. “You go ahead and unpack.” She fixed a curious gaze on
Delaney’s meager two bags again. “Rest until dinner, if you’d like. You can
meet everyone else at that time. Let me know if you need anything.”
    “I will. Thank you so much.”
    “I hope you’ll be comfortable here.”
    “I’m sure I will be.”
    When Charlotte left, Delaney shut the door behind her. She tossed
the bags on the chair, sat down on the bed and was pleasantly surprised by how
soft it was. She unlaced her boots, pulled them off and let them drop on the
floor with a thud. Swinging her legs up, she stretched out on the bed and let
her head sink into the feather pillow. Gabriel was correct. It had been a very
long, emotionally draining day. Before long she’d drifted right to sleep.

Eight
    A knock on the door caused Delaney to stir.
    “Miss Marshall, are you up?”
    What time was it? Rubbing the
sleep out of her eyes, Delaney glanced at the watch on her wrist. Six-thirty? She sat up in bed and stretched as