Chapter 14 #2
Back at home, Carry quickly changed out of her clothes and put on her nightgown and robe before returning to the parlor.
She’d become so casual and comfortable around Spencer that it never dawned on her to do otherwise.
She knew she was in trouble, though. She enjoyed his company far too much.
Their evenings together were the highlight of her day.
That was something she never thought she would say.
Until now, medicine had been everything to her.
Even when accompanying Oswald to various functions, her mind had remained on her work.
She had longed to be back in the laboratory researching or at least at home reading.
Spencer had changed all of that for her.
He was easy to talk to, and his stories and way of looking at life gave her completely different perspectives.
As she brushed her wavy blond hair, Carrie caught sight of her face in the mirror.
She looked different in so many ways. When she thought of Spencer, her expression softened.
She couldn’t help but observe the effect, like the physician she was.
Pleasant thoughts altered expressions. Just as anger changed a person, so did pleasure.
Carrie hadn’t allowed herself a lot of pleasure in her adulthood.
She frowned, and that, too, caught her attention. She tried to think exactly of what had caused the frown. It was involuntary. She hadn’t meant to frown. She hadn’t considered a specific unhappy thing except that pleasure hadn’t been a priority in her life.
Perhaps this frown was one of regret. She had focused on her studies since she was twelve. She’d buckled down and devoured learning like a starving man would food. She hadn’t allowed herself time for a beau or any of the local parties. Carrie had made a plan that allowed for neither.
She graduated early and went off to college, where she did the same again.
She finished at the top of her class, accomplishing the requirements in less time than most. Her professors called her most talented, even suggested she was a medical prodigy.
She loved medical studies. Oswald Nelson did too, or so she had thought.
As she’d come to realize his lacking and deception, Carrie knew he didn’t care about it nearly as much as she did.
Knowing Spencer was waiting for her in the parlor, Carrie finished with the brush and didn’t even bother to braid her hair for bed.
There would be plenty of time for that. Spencer always had to go to bed by nine in order to get up for his early shift.
Seeing that it was already eight fifteen, Carrie hurried to join him.
“You are clearly the most beautiful woman in the world,” Spencer said as she entered the parlor.
Carrie gave a nervous laugh. “You haven’t seen all the women in the world.”
“Then you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. You can’t argue that one.”
He patted the sofa beside him, and Carrie grabbed up a folded blanket by the hearth and took a seat.
“I wasn’t trying to argue,” she said, spreading the blanket over her lap.
Spencer took hold of the blanket and drew it across his lap as well. “Did you enjoy yourself this evening?”
“I did. I enjoy Robert and Rosie’s company. Robert, as an adult, has become far more interesting to me. As a child he was just annoying, though I’m told most little brothers usually are.”
“I always wanted a little brother or sister. I would have loved that.”
“Until they got into your things.” Carrie reached over and took up the Handbook of Psychology.
Spencer restrained her from opening the book. “Why don’t we just talk tonight? We’ve been so busy lately that it seems like we haven’t had any fun. What if we were to go to the opera tomorrow night or see a play?”
“Maybe we should find a theater group to join.”
“That’s come to mind more than once. We had a lot of fun playacting.”
“Our entire life is playacting right now.” She hadn’t meant to sound harsh, but even to her own ears there was a note of dissatisfaction.
“Are you unhappy?”
“No, not really.” She leaned back and gazed up at the ceiling. “I suppose it’s more a sense of concern for the deception we’re practicing.”
“I know. I have nearly told your father the truth a dozen times. I’m afraid to do so, however, for fear he’ll want you to move home immediately.”
“I know. I don’t want that to happen either. Were you able to learn anything this morning at the land management office?”
“No. I suppose I didn’t really expect to, but it would have been nice had I found Eugene Astor’s name listed among the landowners.”
“I am sorry that it didn’t help you. I wonder if you just went to the Union Pacific offices and told them what you were doing and asked to see their employment records. Seems like you’ll have to trust someone sooner or later.”
“Al has been working at his end. He even made a trip to Omaha to see UP officials and explained that he needed information for a government case. They were cooperative, but it didn’t really help.
He’s sending me a list of men who started with the UP in Cheyenne in 1870 and 1871.
It’s better than nothing and will allow me a chance to see names without giving away my hand. ”
“When you get the list, you might talk to Papa about everything. I don’t think he’d give you away, even if he happened to be best friends with Eugene Astor.
Papa is a good man and serves the law faithfully.
He can be very merciful when mercy is deserved, but he wouldn’t allow a killer to go without punishment, even if it were his best friend. ”
Spencer seemed to consider this a moment and then nodded. “I’ll talk to him, then. But I plan to do what I can to keep the issue from interfering with us. I’ve gotten used to you, Dr. Vogel-Duval.”
Carrie laughed and waved her arm over them. “We do act like an old married couple at times. I find you very comfortable to be with.”
Spencer surprised her by pulling her into his arms. “I find you so much more.”
He turned her toward him and kissed her. It wasn’t just a peck on the lips, either, and Carrie found herself breathless from the encounter. When he pulled back, he looked at her as if to ascertain her opinion. Then without a word, he kissed her again.
Carrie wrapped her arms around his neck and shifted her body toward him. She lost reasonable thought and acted solely on her feelings. She very much liked what was happening between them. Better still, she didn’t want it to stop. However, it was inevitable that it would.
Spencer broke the hold and got to his feet. “I have to tell you . . . my feelings for you have changed. I think I’m falling in love with you, Carrie.” He shook his head. “No, I’m certain that I’ve already fallen.”
Carrie couldn’t even force her thoughts into order.
She was still living in the moment of warmth and seduction that had come from those few minutes in Spencer’s arms. She looked at him, and all she could do was nod.
Her feelings told her that she was just as much in love as Spencer.
So why couldn’t she rationalize it all in her logical manner of thinking?
“I think I’d better go,” Spencer said, looking at her with such longing. “Or I won’t leave at all, and this marriage will completely change.” He strode from the room and down the hall. Carrie heard his bedroom door close and realized she was still holding her breath.
She let out a sigh. There was something of regret in her feelings, as well as relief. But neither offered her any satisfaction whatsoever.