Page 14 of At Love’s Command

“You want some?” Wallace asked, his forehead crinkling. “It’s tasty, but it can’t compare to that beef.”

Matt didn’t answer. Just took the bowl in one hand, his coffee cup in the other, and poured the soup into the handled mug. Not all of the liquid would fit, so Matt put the rim of the bowl to his mouth and drank the excess broth. “Not bad.” Then he plopped the mug on the tray and angled the handle to the left. “Try it this way.”

Wallace lifted the cup to his lips, then set it down with a satisfied thump after consuming a goodly portion. “This is why you’re the one who strategizes all our missions, Captain.” He grinned. “No problem exists that Matthew Hanger can’t outthink.”

Matt ducked away from the praise. There were plenty of problems he couldn’t solve. Like losing his parents, avoiding a senseless massacre, or even stopping himself from being attracted to a lady doctor who was far too fine for the likes of him. “It’s just soup.”

“It’s ingenious, is what it is.”

Matt jerked his head toward the doorway where Miss Josephine stood, a paper packet in one hand, a glass of water in the other.

She stepped into the room, her gaze skittering over Matt before landing on the mug in Wallace’s hand. “Such a pragmatic solution, and so obvious, now that I see it in action.” She shook her head, a self-deprecating grin spreading across her face. “Mama’s etiquette rules have served me well over the years, but they’re so ingrained, I never once thought to serve soup with anything other than a bowl and spoon.” Her attention settled over Matt and warmed him like a blanket on a cold night. “I congratulate you, Mr. Hanger. You have singlehandedly changed the course of invalid nutrition in my practice. I’ll be instituting new meal-serving practices forthwith.”

His gaze melded with hers, the oversized vocabulary bouncing off him like harmless pellets, not warranting his notice. He read the appreciation and respect in her eyes, and that communicated the message most important to him at the moment.

“Military men don’t have much use for fancy manners when out on campaign,” he said with a shrug. “But we do like to keep our bellies full and will improvise when necessary.”

“A laudable skill.”

If she kept looking at him like that, he’d never move from this spot. “Comes in handy.”

“The captain has gotten us out of more than one tough spot over the years,” Wallace said, drawing the doctor’s attention back to him. “Of course, the majority of those challenges dealt with threats much more dire than slurping soup, but I’m glad to be the beneficiary of his problem-solving skills no matter the situation.”

Josephine smiled and set down the water glass and medicine packet before lifting the tray from Wallace’s lap. “Recovery from an injury might not feel as dire as facing an enemy in combat, but I assure you, it’s still a battle that must be fought strategically. The more you can do to regain your strength, the better your body will heal. So don’t wait too long before you take this powder. All right?”

Wallace nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.”

She pivoted toward the door and held the tray out to Matt. “I’ll take your dishes if you’re finished with them.”

Matt placed his dinner plate on the tray but held back the cake he hadn’t had a chance to eat yet. “I’ll bring this to the kitchen when I’m finished.”

“Leave it in the dry sink. Alice or I will take care of it later. Alice usually keeps a pot of coffee on the stove. She’s a bit of a night owl. Prefers to stay up reading in the parlor across the way when she’s on duty. I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you helped yourself to a cup should you need to stretch your legs during the night.”

Already feeling cramped in the small, hard chair, Matt appreciated the offer. “Thanks. Oh, and thanks for the pillows as well.” He shifted his back against the cushion that softened the hard oak of the chair slats. Another had been propped against the wall for him to use as needed.

“You’re welcome.” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “I know how long the night can stretch when you’re keeping vigil.”

Of course she did. She’d no doubt kept watch over dozens of patients during her years of doctoring. Yet it was the fact that she’d provided for his comfort despite his overbearing demands to invade her infirmary that revealed her character. She might be opinionated and highfalutin, but she was a nurturer at heart. A woman who thought of others before herself.

“The two of you aren’t whispering secrets about me over there, are you?” Wallace teased.

Josephine glanced over her shoulder. “Just scheming about how best to get that willow bark into you should you prove more stubborn than intelligent.”

“Shoot. That’s easy.” Matt swore he could hear the charm thickening in Wallace’s voice as he stole Josephine’s attention once again. “All you have to do is smile at me when you ask, Dr. Jo. I’d do anything to please a woman as beautiful as you.”

“If that’s true, it’s amazing you’ve lived this long.”

Matt coughed, so shocked by her reply he couldn’t even manage the simple task of breathing properly.

“A man who blindly follows a woman just because she’s beautiful will eventually find himself tumbling over a cliff,” she said. “Better to think for yourself and make decisions based on wisdom and sensible advice.” She strode to the doorway, turned, and gave her parting shot neither smiling nor asking. “Take your medicine.”

Then she left, her shoes clicking a sharp staccato beat on the floorboards.

Matt cast a cautious glance at his friend to judge his reaction. Wallace wasn’t used to having his charm thrown back in his face with such force. Surprisingly enough, he was grinning.

Wallace nodded at Matt. “I knew she liked you better.” His face sobered a bit. “Now you know it too.”