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as she waited for Reed's explosive reaction.
        It did not come.
        Cautiously opening her eyes, Chastity saw Reed staring at her.
        "I'm going to bandage your leg lightly for the time being." Apparently attributing the uneasy silence to his harsh reprimand, Dr. Carr continued, "No sense in doing anything else right now,   since Chastity'll be applying hot compresses on it again as soon as you've had time for breakfast."
        "I'm not hungry."
        Ignoring Reed's curt reply, Dr. Carr turned toward Chastity. "Make sure he eats and drinks a lot of water, too. If you're not too tired, you might help him wash up a bit afterward. He could use some freshening up."
        Response beyond her, Chastity watched as Dr. Carr repacked his black bag, then walked toward the door. His hand on the knob, he turned back briefly and said, "I'll be back after I tend to some other patients. In the meantime, I'll tell Sally to bring up some food."
        The door closed behind Dr. Carr, and Chastity waited. She did not have to wait long before Reed grated, "All right, what's this all about?"
        "I don't really know how it all happened." Chastity Lawrence stared at him through those ridiculous spectacles. She looked tired and disheveled, and not as prim and proper as she had appeared when she first approached him on the train. He saw the uneasiness with which she continued, "I was experiencing some uncertainties about my journey. I saw your collar, and I thought you might be able to help me sort them out. And then when I approached you, you…"
        Her words dwindled away and Reed felt impatience soar. He was beginning to feel weaker, and his stomach was beginning to turn. He had no time for this woman or the unexpected complications in his plans. For all he knew, Morgan had already left the territory. He needed to meet his contact before that fellow left town, too. The question was , how was he going to do it?
        Chastity took a breath. "I thought you could help me." She paused. "Then, when I got closer, I saw you were sick."
        "I told you I didn't want your help."
        "You needed someone's help."
        "I could've taken care of myself."
        "You collapsed on the platform!" She shook her head. The amazingly bright spirals of hair that made a mockery of her formerly austere hairdo bobbed ridiculously against her neck. "I saw you go down!"
        Chastity's final statement struck a raw nerve within him, increasing Reed's frown as he spat, "So you ran to my rescue."
        He felt her wince. "That's right… fool that I was."
        "Why?"
        Chastity blinked at his question. He noted that she was momentarily at a loss for a reply. He sensed that her response came as much as a surprise to her as it did to him when she said, "I approached you thinking that I needed your help… and then I discovered that you needed mine, instead."
        Reed's head was growing light as he pressed, "So, you came to my aid. You got me to the doctor's office, but then you stayed on. Why?"
        Her reply was curt. "I've been asking myself that same question." Her look was pure disdain.
        "It certainly wasn't because you have a pleasant nature. To the contrary, you are one of most un pleasant and un appreciative men I have ever met."
        "You told Dr. Carr you were my wife."
        "I did not!"
        He returned her look of disdain.
        Chastity's light skin flamed. "Dr. Carr assumed I was your wife when I brought you to his door. We didn't have much time for conversation and I didn't think to explain the situation. And then it was too late."
        Reed's thinking was beginning to blur. He shook his head. "Too late? For what?"
        "This situation… this whole affair is embarrassing! I was afraid my reputation would suffer if I tried to clarify it!"
        He stared. "Your reputation?"
         "An unmarried woman spending the night two nights in the