Finding Love (New Love Western Romance Book 1) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Finding Love

  A New Love Western Romance

  Emily Woods

  Fairfield Publishing

  Copyright © 2017 Emily Woods

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Except for review quotes, this book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the author.

  This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is purely coincidental.

  Contents

  Foreword

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Thank You

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  Chapter 1

  “And what would you say your most persistent symptom is, Mr. Anderson?”

  “The headache, sir. It’s dreadful.”

  James Connor, a young doctor in his late twenties, sat on the edge of his desk in his office. He nodded his head, scratching his dark, closely trimmed beard thoughtfully.

  “It seems to be going around,” James said, rising and making his way to a cabinet against the back wall. The sunlight streamed through the open window, and the bustling sounds of busy people on the city street below blew in on the warm early summer breeze.

  “Do you have anything for me?” Mr. Anderson asked, wringing his hat between his hands. “I really must get back to work. My wife is pregnant. But you knew that, of course. She’s been to see you. Still, it’s very important that we get enough money set aside for when the little one arrives.”

  James smiled at his patient. “That is very admirable, Mr. Anderson. And yes, I do have something for you.” He reached inside the cabinet.

  Mr. Anderson gave a great sigh of relief. “Do you have a wife, Mr. Connor?”

  James glanced over his shoulder and forced a smile. “Ah, no. No, I don’t.”

  Mr. Anderson’s face fell slightly. “Oh, well then.” He cleared this throat. “My apologies if I overstepped my bounds.”

  “Nonsense, Mr. Anderson,” James said, returning to his desk with a small glass bottle in hand. He rifled through a stack of papers, found a quill and bottle of ink, and quickly scratched out instructions. “Now, take two spoonsful of this with dinner this evening and two with breakfast tomorrow. If the pain persists, then take one spoonful before bed each night.”

  He passed the bottle and the instructions across to Mr. Anderson. “But if the pain is still there after a week, come back to see me.”

  “You’re a life saver, doc,” Mr. Anderson said, rising to his feet. He reached into his pockets and pulled out a handful of coins.

  James held up his hand to stop him. “No need, Mr. Anderson. Save that for the little one. And I should be seeing your wife soon, yes?”

  Mr. Anderson nodded. “Indeed, sir. Thank you kindly. Really. I appreciate it so much.”

  James crossed to his door and pulled it open for Mr. Anderson. “It was my pleasure.”

  Mr. Anderson grinned as he stepped out into the hall.

  “Mrs. Tucker?” James called to the bespectacled woman seated at the desk in the waiting room.

  “Yes, Doctor Connor?”

  “Did Mrs. Henry show up?”

  “No. Her husband came by and said she was feeling much better this morning.”

  “Good,” James replied. “Glad to hear it.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “Well, I suppose we can call it a day?”

  Mrs. Tucker smiled. “I suppose so.”

  James rolled his shoulders and removed his overcoat. “It’s quite warm for late May, isn’t it?” he asked, wiping his brow.

  “For New York, it certainly is,” Mrs. Tucker replied, standing to her feet. She reached for something on top of her desk. “Here’s today’s paper, by the way.”

  “Wonderful,” James replied, taking it from her. “Why don’t you head home, Sally? I’ll lock up here.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked. “It’s Friday; surely you have other plans? People you wish to see?”

  James’s face tightened. “No plans as of late, I’m afraid.”

  Sally looked at him in a motherly sort of way. “Are you doing okay, Mr. Connor?”

  “I’m doing just fine,” he replied, though did not meet her eyes. “Why do you ask?”

  “It’s just …” she began and sighed heavily as she pulled her hat onto her head. “You have been very quiet lately. Very reserved.”

  James did not reply.

  “I understand breaking off the engagement was tough …” she said hesitantly. “And that Tessa did not take it well …”

  “It was her parents who didn’t take it well,” he replied. “She understood … for the most part.”

  She walked across to him and put her hand on his shoulder. “If you need anything, anything at all, you just ask. All right?”

  “Thanks,” James said.

  He returned to his desk after bidding Mrs. Tucker goodnight with a sigh.

  Reading the paper was one of the few things he chose to do in peace. The latest news around the city, and sometimes even from around the country, along with items for sale, help wanted ads, and …

  His eyes narrowed as he saw a small advertisement in the bottom corner of the third page.

  DOCTOR NEEDED IN SMALL TOWN OUT WEST

  Bear Springs, Utah seeking experienced physician.

  Needed as soon as possible.

  Interested parties should address applications to a Mr. Langston.

  His heart skipped a beat. Such a small, simple request. But such a great commitment.

  He put the paper down and gazed out the window. As he could every day, he saw the tall brick buildings stacked closely together. He could see people hanging laundry out of their windows and others having afternoon tea. Birds called to one another in the air as they flew through the bright blue sky.

  He loved New York. Or rather, he knew New York like the back of his hand. The city life was one he understood, but his soul often felt unsettled in such busy surroundings.

  He had heard tales of the great Western lands. He, himself, had never been farther west than Pittsburgh, and that was almost a day’s journey by train. The idea excited him.

  And after everything he had been through in the last few weeks, getting away from town might be exactly what he needed.

  He paced around his office for a moment.

  Was leaving because of a broken heart such a bad thing? Would anyone in his family understand if he left? Of course he would tell them, let them know his reasoning.

  “I need to pray about this,” he said quietly.

  He glanced at a shelf in the corner, and his heart constricted in his chest. A photograph of a tall, beautiful woman smiled at him.

  Tessa.

  He sighed, turning away.

  The memory of the night he chose to call off the engagement came flooding back.

  He ended up arriving at his fiancée’s family home a quarter of an hour later than he should have. The carriage had been stopped just outside of t
own behind a herd of cattle a farmer was moving.

  “My apologies,” he said as he passed the butler his jacket and hat.

  “No need, sir,” the butler replied, bowing him inside. “The Willards are waiting for you in the dining room.”

  His stomach turned over. They were already seated for dinner?

  Hurrying inside, he entered the dining room just as the servants were beginning to serve the first course.

  “Ah, there you are,” Mr. Willard said as they all turned to see who had entered. “Come in, come in,” he said, gesturing to the chair across from the young woman with silky blonde hair pinned up behind her head.

  She beamed at him.

  “I am very sorry,” he said, relief washing over him as he finally sat down. “I was held up by some bovine caravan.”

  Mrs. Willard chittered with laughter, her blonde curls bouncing. “Oh, farmers. How do they survive? I pity the poor souls.”

  James glanced across the table at the woman seated there and smiled at her. “Hello, Tessa,” he said.

  “Hello, James,” she replied, smirking at him.

  “How was your day, lad?” Mr. Willard asked, lifting his wine glass.

  A servant appeared behind him with a carafe, offering it out to him. “Thank you,” James said, and his own glass filled with burgundy wine. “It was fine, sir. Only minor ailments are plaguing the city today.”

  Mr. Willard nodded his head. “Glad to hear it. Though did you hear about that accident down at the harbor? Nasty business.”

  “I did indeed,” James replied.

  “Oh, honey, no one wants to talk about that,” Mrs. Willard interjected dryly. “Come now, let us discuss more interesting things. Darling, how is the wedding planning going?” She turned her bulbous green eyes on Tessa.

  Tessa blushed and looked down at her hands in her lap, her mouth working to find words.

  “Have you set a date yet?” Mr. Willard asked. “We’ve had many in our social circle asking when they can expect invitations.”

  Tessa looked up at James pleadingly.

  “Well …” he began hesitantly. “We thought a spring wedding might be nice.”

  Mrs. Willard giggled like a young girl. “Oh, spring! How wonderful!”

  “But no solid date, huh?” Mr. Willard went on. He picked up his pipe from the table and puffed on it. “I cannot say I’m surprised. I suppose if you two had fallen in love, you would have actually wanted to get married as fast as you could –”

  “Marty!” Mrs. Willard scolded.

  “ – but since it’s all been arranged for you, it isn’t as pressing.” He arched a brow and glared at the two of them. “Or am I wrong?”

  “Darling, you cannot punish them for not being in love yet!” Mrs. Willard said chidingly, though there was a tone of amusement in her voice. “That all takes time. It was years before you told me you loved me!”

  Mr. Willard chewed on the end of the pipe.

  James gripped the knife in his hand, his food on his plate untouched. Tessa was glaring at her father.

  “You both agreed to this when we approached you about it,” Mr. Willard said, slicing off a piece of beef from his plate. He puffed again on his pipe before lowering it to the table so he could eat the beef.

  “Yes, we did,” Tessa agreed. “But James is doing so well with his clinic, and –”

  “James could have a wife and his clinic. Couldn’t you, James?”

  Caught off guard, James flinched. “Of – of course I could, sir –”

  “He would do well to have a wife. His patients would take him more seriously.”

  “They already take him seriously, dear,” Mrs. Willard commented. “Being the son of Theodore Connor.” She giggled again. “He has more money than all of the patients who come into his office all together!”

  James felt his face flush as she continued to laugh behind her wine glass.

  “You both understand why this marriage is so important, right?” Mr. Willard went on, pointing at Tessa with the end of his fork. “Why it is crucial that we form this connection with the Connors?”

  Tessa nodded her head, her eyes on James as if to apologize.

  “We must keep the reputations and legacies of our families alive. And the best way to ensure that the wealth we have accumulated stays with the family is to join it with the Connors, who have so graciously agreed to it.”

  “It’s just business, right?” Tessa asked acidly, her green eyes flashing dangerously.

  “It’s more than business, dear,” Mrs. Willard said, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. “James here is such a nice man. He will treat you well. Better than that Matthew who ran out on you.”

  “Mother …” Tessa replied warningly.

  “You’ll take care of our girl, won’t you, James?”

  But James was sure Mr. Willard could have easily swapped out the word “girl” for “money” and still meant it just as earnestly.

  He grimaced as he remembered speaking with Tessa afterward. Even though they had both agreed it would be better if they called off their engagement, Tessa still cried and James was full of hurt himself.

  But he would not allow his marriage to be about nothing more than money for her parents. It wasn’t fair to his family, and it especially wasn’t fair to Tessa.

  And he knew she didn’t love him. She never had. He hoped she would find Matthew again, maybe run away with him.

  He wanted nothing more than the very best for her.

  The sun was starting to set, painting the sky in brilliant pinks and oranges.

  It had been nearly two months since he had broken it off. So why was it still so difficult for him to move on?

  Maybe getting away was just what he needed.

  He sat at his desk, folded his hands, closed his eyes, and prayed.

  “Lord …” he said, his heart in his throat. “I feel as if I am at a crossroads. I could remain here, doing the good work you have set before me. But I wonder what an entirely new life would be like, away from all of this, a place to start fresh? I could help those out there, give them support, and figure out what to do with my life. Maybe more clearly discern Your will for my life.”

  He sat there, allowing himself a moment of quiet. His grandfather’s face swam into his mind, unbidden.

  You know, James, if you ever feel at a loss for what God has for your life, look at your surroundings and see what doors He has opened for you. Sometimes the direction He wants you to go is right there in front of you. Sometimes you just need to be the one to agree to follow it or not.

  A chance. A new opportunity.

  And all he had to do was say yes.

  “Yes …” he said. He rose from his desk, crossed to the door, and left the newspaper where he had put it down. He grabbed his jacket, and after locking his office, left the building.

  He ended up at his sister Abigail’s house. After apologizing to her husband and son, he asked if he could speak to her in private, outside.

  “What’s this all about?” she asked, wrapping her arms around herself, looking up at the sky. She, like James, had dark hair that curled gently to her shoulders. Her blue eyes, also like his, searched his face.

  James was shrugging on his overcoat. It had started to rain.

  “I think …” he started. “I think I am going to go away for a while.”

  Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean, exactly?”

  “Listen …” he started slowly, staring out into the rain. “What with everything that happened between Tessa and I, and how I feel like I am just waking up to go back to sleep lately …” He sighed. “I found an opportunity to go out west, to be a doctor. Help a small town.”

  “What do you mean?” she replied. “A trip of some sort?”

  “Something like that,” he said, and he pulled out the little ad that he had clipped from the newspaper. He passed it to her.

  “Utah?” she said finally, staring at him with a curious expression. “You really wan
t to go all the way out to Utah?”

  “It’s a chance for a new life for me,” he said, pocketing it again. “Away from family and those who are nothing more than a reminder of my failed engagement.”

  Silence fell between them, and the only thing they could hear was the soft pitter-patter of the rain on the gravel path.

  “I don’t know …” she began. “It’s all so sudden, James. Whatever gave you the idea that you would want to do this?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not sure, really. Maybe I am just growing weary of the way my life is right now.”

  She looked intently at him. “I hope I am not part of the reason that you want to run away.”

  He shook his head. “No, Abigail. You are the only one I feel I can still turn to in this big city …”

  “But will you come back?” she asked sadly. “Or will you be leaving for good?”

  “I’ll come back,” he replied. “This is my home. I don’t think I would be able to stay away forever.”

  Suddenly she reminded him of a child once more, gazing up at him through her eyelashes. “Can you promise me that?”

  He smiled at her. “I can. And I do.”

  She didn’t seem convinced.

  “I just need to … figure things out for a little while. See what God has in store for me.”

  “Great things,” she replied. “He has great things in store for you.”

  They shared a hug.

  “I’ll miss you,” she said. “But if you think it’s right, then I won’t be the one to stand in your way.”

  “Thank you,” he replied. “Now, pray for me. I need to go talk to Mother and Father.”

  Chapter 2

  James Connor sent a letter to the small town in Utah the very next morning. After discussing the possibility with his parents, informing them that he wished to travel out west, he had to spend a few hours consoling his mother, who was devastated. His father was much more understanding, encouraging him to do what he felt God needed him to do, even if they were not happy about the length of time that could pass before they saw him again. But the more he spoke to them, the more certain he was that he had to go.