The Doctor's Lady Read Online Free

made a mistake. Surely once she informed them the unmarried teacher position was her only option, they’d reconsider.
    Dr. Baldwin shook his head. “They’ve finally made the resolution that they will not—absolutely cannot—accept unmarried candidates.”
    “But why?” Priscilla’s confusion added a tinge of desperation to her tone. “I thought they were beginning to see the value in single female missionaries—”
    “Miss White,” Dr. Ernest cut in. “It won’t do you any good to argue with Dr. Baldwin or the Board. Over the past few days I’ve talked with them until I was hoarse, and they haven’t budged on their requirement.”
    “Oh pishposh,” Mother said. “They’ll make an exception for my Priscilla.”
    Priscilla shivered and pulled her cloak tighter.
    Dr. Baldwin’s eyes held hers, and the sorrow in their depths did nothing but make her shiver more.
    “Now, Dr. Baldwin,” Mother said, turning to leave, “you must visit us this afternoon and clear up the misunderstanding.”
    “Of course.” Priscilla nodded, pushing aside her fears. “It’s just a misunderstanding.”
    “You’ll be wasting your breath,” Dr. Ernest muttered.
    Mother didn’t acknowledge the young doctor’s words and instead slipped her hand into the crook of Father’s arm and tugged him forward.
    Priscilla knew she should follow her parents, that it would do her no good to spar words with Dr. Ernest. And yet, there was something about his face—a roughened, rugged appeal that drew her attention again.
    “I’m afraid you don’t understand the first thing about my situation or my qualifications.”
    “Then go ahead and argue with the Board.” His lips cocked into a half grin. “But sooner or later you’ll have to accept their decision. And maybe even accept it as God’s will for you to stay home.”
    His words dug into her, and she couldn’t keep back her retort. “I find it strange that you’re the only one who has questioned my qualifications. And since your opinion doesn’t matter in the least, I’ll continue to look to the One whose opinion matters the most. He’s called me to mission work. I’ll continue to trust that He’ll provide a way for me to go.”
    She spun away from the doctor and forced herself to walk away, evenly and calmly, just as a lady should, even though her heart quavered and stumbled with each step.
    Would God indeed provide a way? And if so, how?

Chapter
2
    Y ou’ve turned into a good doctor, Eli,” Dr. Baldwin remarked between puffs on his pipe. “Too bad you’re not as good when it comes to women.”
    Eli pulled the silk thread up through the boy’s forehead and made the last suture. His fingers flew over one another to make a tight knot. With his small scissors in hand, he squinted in the dim lighting of Dr. Baldwin’s home office and snipped the loose thread.
    “Oh, I’m not all that bad, Dr. Baldwin.” He pressed a clean cloth against the stitches and wiped away the last traces of blood. “I’ve had to chase away plenty of women in my days.”
    The boy stared at him with wide pain-filled eyes. Traces of tears lingered on the pale face. The older brother squeezed the boy’s hand.
    “I’ve had more women hang on me than I can count.” Eli winked at them.
    His young patient braved a small smile.
    “Harrumph,” Dr. Baldwin half snorted, half laughed. “Too bad you don’t have any of those countless women hanging on you lately.”
    Eli forced a grin—for the sake of the boy—but it didn’t reach his heart. If Dr. Baldwin’s comment hadn’t been so pathetically true, he could have laughed.
    Truth be told, he’d never had much time for the fairer sex. He’d always counted himself too busy, too devoted to his work to pay attention to the girls who’d shown him interest.
    That was before he’d begun making plans to open a clinic in the far West. When he’d approached the Mission Board with his idea, he’d had to work hard to convince them of the