Caleb looked over his shoulder. ‘It has been over ten years since I dealt in general practice. I am very good at smashed limbs, generally accompanied by shrapnel or bullet wounds, but the day-to-day ailments of a town like this …’ He trailed off and glanced at the curtained window. ‘Fortunately, Bowen kept very good records and notes on what worked and what didn’t. I just need enough to tide me over till they can get a replacement.’

She looked at him. ‘And then what? What are you afraid of, Caleb?’

He studied her face, seeing the dark circles under her eyes that told of sleepless nights. He wanted to say, I am afraid of the things I have seen, Adelaide. The nightmares that haunt me. It doesn’t matter where I run, they follow me.

Adelaide shook her head and her eyes did not move from his as she said, ‘That you might get attached to a place? That people might come to depend on you?’

This second truth jagged through him like a bayonet. How had he let her in so far?

They stood quite still, facing each other without speaking. He only needed to reach out his hand and he could have touched her, drawn her into his arms, but a wall stood between them that had not been there before. Only a few days ago, he had kissed her. He had given her his heart. Now, all that had changed and his heart lay in shattered pieces in the well of his soul.

He turned back to the cupboard, staring at the neatly labelled contents without seeing them. He shut the doors of the cupboard and locked them, turning back to her again.

‘Is there something else I can help you with, Mrs Greaves, because if you’re looking for companionship, then you need to find someone else.’ Caleb gestured at the book on the desk. ‘I have study to do and I am sure Mr Bracewell, or whatever his name is, would be happy to oblige you.’

Adelaide’s lips tightened. ‘Richard Barnwell. You don’t like him?’

‘No, but my personal feelings for Mr Barnwell have nothing to do with you. I just don’t like his sort.’

Adelaide let her gaze drop. Her finger traced the neat cursive writing in Bowen’s notebook and she swallowed. ‘He … he wants me to go back to England with him.’

‘Well, why else is he here?’ Caleb stopped. ‘You mean he wants to marry you?’

She glanced away but the twist of her mouth gave him his answer.

‘I figured he wouldn’t have come all this way without that purpose.’

With an obvious reluctance, Adelaide turned her face to his and he read the doubt in her eyes.

‘How much do you know about him?’ he asked.

‘I’ve known him since I was a girl. His sister was my friend,’ she replied.