Would-Be Wilderness Wife by Regina Scott Page A

into Catherine’s arms and hugged her tight. “You gave me back my mother!”
    Catherine felt tears pricking her eyes.
This is why I practice medicine, Lord—to help people. Thank You for this healing!
    Disengaging from Beth, she glanced up to meet Drew’s gaze. His eyes were overly bright, and he hurriedly looked away as if determined to keep her from seeing the emotions brimming in them.
    â€œI suppose you’ll be leaving us, then,” he said.
    Beth leaned back, and she and her mother exchanged glances. Mrs. Wallin drew in a shaky breath. “Oh, I’m sure I won’t be myself again if Miss Stanway leaves us now.”
    Beth took Catherine’s hand. “And I was so hoping we might have time to chat, Miss Stanway.”
    Drew glanced back, eyes narrowing. Did he see the manipulation as clearly as Catherine did? They needn’t have bothered. She knew she had work to do before she left.
    â€œI’ll stay a while longer,” she told them all, and Beth and Mrs. Wallin grinned at each other. “I want to make sure there are no complications.”
    Mrs. Wallin leaned back against the pillows with a satisfied nod. “Very sensible.”
    â€œAnd I also want to track this fever to its source,” Catherine continued.
    Drew frowned. “Its source?”
    â€œI thought chills brought on sickness,” Beth said, glancing between them. “You know, you stand outside in wet clothes or you bathe in cold water like the lake.”
    Mrs. Wallin stiffened. “I have never bathed in the lake in my life, young lady, and you know it!”
    â€œTyphoid fever is often caused by food or water that came in contact with something it shouldn’t,” Catherine informed Beth. “Until we discover what made your mother sick, all of you could be in danger. I’m not leaving until I know we aren’t spreading the disease any further.”
    She meant the comment for a warning, but the smiles on Beth and Mrs. Wallin’s faces were as deep as the frown on Drew’s. Just what were the ladies planning that they were so determined for Catherine to stay?

Chapter Seven
    D rew didn’t like the way his mother and sister were looking at each other. He didn’t think they knew about Simon’s idea that one of the Wallin men must marry Miss Stanway. But if the Wallin women had hit on the same notion, he was doomed.
    Best to focus them on something else. “So you think our food or water is contaminated,” he challenged Catherine.
    For a woman who didn’t wear her heart on her sleeve, she could look remarkably determined. Her chin came up, and her blue eyes flashed like lightning.
    His mother was nearly as indignant. “Contaminated food?” she sputtered, ribbons on her nightcap dancing about her pale face in her agitation. “What have you all been doing on my stove?”
    â€œNothing, Ma!” Beth cried. “I promise! It can’t be the food. We all eat the same things. You were the only one to get sick.”
    Catherine nodded. “Very well, but I imagine you all drink the same water, too.”
    â€œNot entirely,” Drew said. “The hillside above us is littered with springs. Simon has a pipe from one coming in to his cabin. I tapped another for the pump on the side of my cabin. Ma is the only one still drawing from the spring Pa favored. It’s closest to the house.”
    â€œBut it’s closest to the barn, too,” Beth reminded him. “That’s how we water the animals. None of them got sick.”
    â€œThey wouldn’t,” Catherine said. “Some diseases are unique to humans.”
    â€œWell, Levi and I still live here,” Beth pointed out. “Why didn’t we get sick?”
    â€œHalf the time Levi is out with us,” Drew said. “And you did get sick a while ago.”
    Beth sobered.
    â€œIt seems we must examine your spring,” Catherine said.
    â€œAfter