Staking Their Claim by Ava Sinclair Page B

showing up for care at Doc Martin. She stood a head taller than some of the miners, and didn’t seem at all fazed by the hubbub and turmoil of the town or camp. She walked purposefully and briskly, staring daggers at any man who dared to hold her gaze for more than a second.
    Nigel was eager to tell Cody about his encounter with Dan Forbes, but decided was best a discussion had in private away from Jenny. He was especially glad now for finding the burly nurse, who could, no doubt, keep their little one safe while he and Cody mined the claims. That was their highest priority now, for she was more precious than any gold.

Chapter Eleven: Nurse Mab’s Remedy
     
     
    The arrival of Nurse Mab tested Jenny’s vow to obey her guardian lovers. The woman was stoic and curt, and treated her more like a child than the men did. She had flushed in anger when the nurse had asked to speak to them privately, but had reluctantly gone to her room, where she sat by the window and wondered what was being said.
    When she came out, the men were both gone.
    “We thought it best if we didn’t drag out the goodbyes, dear,” Nurse Mab said. “The sooner a young lady accepts the order of things without a fuss, the sooner order will reign.”
    Mab walked around the cabin as she spoke, tidying things up here and there with a disapproving look.
    “My name is Mab, but you will refer to me as nurse. Failing to refer to me by a respectful title will earn you a slippering. I keep a nice piece of shoe leather in my pocket and if you’ve never had such a thing applied to your upturned bottom, trust me when I say it is an unpleasant experience.”
    “Wait… they’re allowing you to spank me?” Jenny was indignant.
    “That and more,” the woman said. “You’ll be bathed and fed by the time they get home so they can enjoy their evening without having to see to your needs. Working these claims is hard. With some of your care out of the way, they can come home and enjoy your company. You’ll greet them in a nice dress and impeccable manners.”
    “I’m not ill-mannered now,” Jenny said defensively, but the woman ignored her.
    “Fresh air and sunshine is important,” she continued. “Your presence here is known, so there’s no reason why you can’t go outside in the sun. I’ll walk with you, of course, and look after you. You’ll have at least a half hour of playtime a day, weather permitting, and an hour of lessons. I have some books with me, lessons on comportment and manners. You’ll study them.”
    Jenny frowned, remembering Nigel’s easy laughter as he tutored her. This woman was obviously more of a taskmaster who expected her to slave over dry reading material.
    “You’ll learn to embroider, too. It’s a lovely skill, and helps pass the time.”
    And so began Jenny’s first day with the nurse, who arrived early each morning and was escorted to her home above Doc Martin’s office each night by either Cody or Nigel.
    By the end of the first week, even Jenny had to admit Nurse Mab was a wise choice. Sure, the books on etiquette were as boring as she’d feared, but when Nigel praised her on becoming a little lady, and Cody kissed her and told her he was proud of how well she was learning her embroidery stitches, she felt like their cherished little one. And the fierce nurse did make her feel safe, even when they took strolls out of doors. At the river’s edge, Jenny collected smooth stones and brought them back to the cabin, where she lined them up on the windowsill of her room.
    As the nurse cared for Jenny, her men were finding shinier rocks on two claims—both hers and Nigel’s. Each day they came home with more gold, and for the first time, entertained real hope of becoming successful miners.
    “It will be the second time we’ve struck it rich,” Cody said, nibbling her ear while behind her Nigel undid the sash on her dress. It was late in the evening and Nigel had just returned from escorting Nurse Mab home. The men