Free Chastity by Elaine Barbieri

please."
        Please?
        "I don't blame you for looking surprised. A fever is no excuse for bad manners. I hope you'll forgive me."
        Chastity was stunned into speechlessness. Was this truly the same man she had left in that bed a few hours earlier? Realizing that the light from the hallway allowed her the advantage by shadowing her startled expression, Chastity took a few tentative steps into the room. She scrutinized him more closely as he continued,
    "I don't remember the last few days too clearly, but I do remember some things. I remember you said you were embarrassed that the doctor   assumed you were my wife. Don't worry about that. I'll be on my feet in a few hours, and then I'll"
        "What did you say?" Chastity interrupted, "Dr. Carr told you that you could get up today ?"
        "I didn't say that."
        "You said"
        "I said I'll be getting up soon. As a matter of fact, I was about to get up when you knocked on the door."
        Chastity gasped. "You mustn't do that! You've seen your wound! If it worsens, you could"
        "There are some things I need to do."
        "Surely they can wait, whatever they are."
        "It's a matter of priorities."
        "Your health should be your first priority."
        The reverend did not reply.
        "What could be more important than your health?"
        "I have to speak to someone here in Sedalia… about the mission."
        "The mission…" The determination that had entered the reverend's expression was familiar. Chastity continued, "I can understand that you're anxious to get to the mission, but Sally said they've been waiting for Reverend Stiles's replacement for quite a while. Another week shouldn't make that much difference."
         "Reverend Stiles… yes." Reed paused, then plunged ahead. "I was given some of his reports. I'm supposed to meet someone here in Sedalia who's connected with the Indian Agency. I need to talk to him about some special needs at the   mission. He's on his way back to Washington, and if I miss him, I'll lose my chance."
        "Oh…" Chastity looked deep into the reverend's clear eyes. His fervor was obvious. Seeing the dedication in his gaze, she walked a few steps closer to his bed. She paused, looking down at him soberly.
        As Chastity Lawrence stepped out of the shadows toward him, Reed restrained a gasp of surprise. Gone was her severe hairstyle and hideous black dress. Instead, her hair was fastened loosely at the back of her neck in a mass of gleaming red-gold ringlets from which small, curling tendrils escaped to tease the fair skin of her cheeks. Without her glasses, the faultless line of her brows and the incredible length of her brown lashes were visible to him for the first time and her features were smaller and more delicate than he remembered.
        Reed swept her further with his gaze. The blue dress she was wearing complemented her delicate coloring and displayed surprising feminine curves. It was a vast improvement over her former attire, but he knew he could not blame his failure to react to Chastity's womanly appeal solely on the way she had been dressed. It was clear that he had been more ill than he had realized, and that his powers of observation as well as his judgment had been impaired. Also clear was the reality that under other circumstances, that deficiency could have proved fatal.
        Aware of the importance of his next words, Reed said cautiously, "My meeting with the fellow from the Indian Agency is important." He paused for effect. "The children at the mission are suffering…"
        Chastity blinked revealingly. Reed could almost see the images of needy children flickering across her mind as he continued, "I hoped to be able to put an end to some of the hardships at the mission with his help."
        Chastity broke her silence at last, protesting, "But surely you understand that all your effort will be for naught if your wound