After Preston had been gone a few moments, Miss Douglas got down off the examination table and wandered over to the doctor's desk. She casually fingered papers, then noticed telegrams tacked on the edge of the shelves that stood on top of the desk. Curiously she read them, noting that they were all from this 'Colleen Cooper' she'd met yesterday.

She then spied a framed photograph of Colleen sitting on Andrew's desk. Picking it up she noticed that Colleen had signed it, 'My darling Andrew, you're always in my heart. Your loving, Colleen.' Setting the picture down, the young woman brushed her fingers lightly against the desk's contents until they reached the parcel Preston had delivered. Then, boldly she picked it up and read the return address. 'Wescott Jewelers, Boston.'

"Wow, that's a pretty fancy store." she commented aloud. She turned the package over and over, trying to figure out what it was. Then, curiosity getting the better of her, she finally ripped open the brown paper and discarded it back onto the desk. However, the paper, hitting the corner of the desk, fell onto the floor, landing beside the waste basket.

Carefully, she opened the lid and gasped at what she saw. It was a ring. A beautiful ring. It was a gold band with three stones set into it. The center on was a diamond, its brilliance dancing merrily in the sunlight the clinic windows were admitting. The other two stones were gorgeous emeralds. It was a spectacular ring.

"This must be Colleen's engagement ring!" she realized, her heart sinking to the pit of her stomach.

Ever since Patricia Douglas had arrived at the Hot Springs Chateau and had first seen Dr. Andrew Cook, she had been infatuated with him. He was so handsome, so mannerly, and so very kind. She had been trying to do everything she could think of to get his attention. But, his attention was not easy to attract. She had wondered deeply about this.

Back home in Boston, she had had very little trouble attracting any young man's attention. Usually they were falling all over themselves to please her. But after a week of trying, and failing, to claim Dr. Cook's undivided attention, she began to fear she was loosing her touch. But then yesterday she had learned that the reason this handsome young doctor had been paying her no mind was that he already had a sweetheart. A sweetheart that, as far as Patricia could see, had captured not only his attention, but also his heart, soul and mind.

And now, as Patricia looked down again at the ring she held in her hand, she realized that this 'Colleen' was also going to have his hand - his hand in marriage. Suddenly bitter jealousy reared its ugly head and Patricia firmly and selfishly decided not to let that happen. If she couldn't have Dr. Andrew Cook, then neither could Colleen Cooper. Shoving the ring into her handbag and grabbing up her parasol, she marched firmly and determinedly out the clinic door.

"I'll just quickly run inside and get a blanket from the clinic and the lunch from the kitchen and I'll be right back." Andrew explained as he helped Colleen out of the buggy.

Colleen laughed at his excitement and nodded. As Andrew went inside to do as he said, Colleen wandered the gardens to the side of the chateau. She sat down on a bench and realized that this was the bench where she and Andrew had shared their first kiss. She remembered the way her heart beat so quickly as he had asked her to be partners with him at the clinic and how she thought it was going to come right through her chest when he leaned towards her to kiss her. She wished she could have told him then how much she loved him. She wished the two of them hadn't been so shy about their feelings for each other.

"Oh, well," she smiled happily. "At least we know now." She started thinking of all the little ways Andrew had shown his love for her over the last year.

When the Dog Soldiers had come through the town, shooting it up, Andrew held her and Katie tightly until the shooting stopped. Then, after checking one of the army's Indian spies and finding him dead, rushed back to her and held her and a crying Katie close to him, as if afraid that something horrible would happen to them if he let go. Then he offered to stay with her at the clinic to make sure that she and Katie would be alright. Colleen could tell he had a strong desire to protect her from the harms of the world.

Then, during the diphtheria epidemic, when Colleen had lost her best friend, Becky and then her Aunt Marjorie, it was in Andrew's arms where she found comfort; Andrew who had let her weep against him, showing his love with every soft word, with every gentle touch. And then when Patrick Collins had arrived and caused her world to spin out of control, it was Andrew that gave her back her equilibrium; Andrew who made her whole turmoiled world calm again. Then, when Patrick realized where her affections lie and had treated her in the most ungentlemanly way, it was Andrew who had defended her; Andrew who had saved her from harm. Colleen smiled as she realized how lucky she was to have him, and how much she loved him.

"Good-afternoon, Miss Cooper," a voice brought her out of her revelry with a start. Looking up she saw Miss Douglas standing in front of her.

"Miss Douglas, hello." She greeted with a smile, then patting the place beside her on the bench, added, "Please, have a seat."

Miss Douglas obeyed. "I noticed you out here alone and almost sad looking. I wondered if there was something wrong."

Colleen blushed, her past thinking catching up with her. "No, I was just thinking. Daydreaming actually."

"Oh, I see. Good dreams I hope." She commented, eyeing the other girl curiously.

Colleen blushed again and nodded.

"Well, that's good." Miss Douglas smiled. Then, spying Andrew coming out of the kitchen with a picnic basket and then turn and head for the clinic, lowered her voice and finally got to her point. "Miss Cooper, I know that you are sweet on Dr. Cook, I've heard it said that the two of you are sweethearts." Colleen was too startled at the girls demeanor to blush, "Well, I just want to give you fair warning that I also think your doctor friend is very charming and that I intend to claim him for my own. I intend to battle you for his affections and show him that I am the better prize." She eyed Colleen from head to foot. "A much better prize."

Colleen's chocolate eyes went very wide and her voice caught in her throat. "But...but...he doesn't love you." She finally blurted out.

"What does love have to do with it?" Patricia commented, fluttering her eyelashes coquettishly. Colleen couldn't even think of how to reply, she was in such shock. "I'll bet you that I can get him to kiss me."

"N-Never...he would never..." Colleen stuttered angrily.

Miss Douglas looked up and spotted Andrew coming towards them. "Here comes that handsome doctor now. Let the games begin." And with that she was gone. Colleen stared after her, her eyes still wide in shock and sparking with anger.

"Colleen!" Andrew called for the third time, finally he reached over and shook her shoulder.

Colleen jumped and looked at him in surprise. "Oh, Andrew. I'm sorry. I guess I didn't hear you coming."

He looked down into Colleen's white face, confusion and fear showing in her wide eyes. Concerned, he put the basket and the blanket down and joined her on the bench. He took her hands in his. They were cold and trembling. "Are you alright? What's happened?"

Colleen, shaking her head in disbelief, "I'm not sure. I don't understand it myself."

"Are you ill?" Andrew asked, examining her face carefully.

Colleen shook her head again. "No, I'm just in shock."

"About what?" Andrew pressed, his brow creasing in concern.

"I can't tell you here. Lets go on our picnic and I'll tell you there." Colleen promised.

"Okay." Andrew agreed, raising up from the bench and pulling Colleen up with him. He grabbed the basket and she picked up the blanket.

They started walking towards the trail at the side of the hotel that lead to the woods, when Colleen suddenly stopped and requested, "Can we go to that spot where we had that picnic where you read me Shakespeare."

Andrew looked at her in mild surprise, then nodded. They loaded the basket and the blanket into his buggy and then climbed in.

"So, can you tell me what this is all about now?" Andrew asked as they sat on the blanket in the warm afternoon sun.

"Patricia Douglas." Colleen replied, unpacking the basket.

"Patricia Douglas?" Andrew raised his eyebrows in surprise.

Colleen nodded. "She came over to me while you were in the hotel and told me that she's heard it said that we are sweethearts." Andrew smiled and reached out to grasp her hand. "But that she wanted to give me fair warning that she thinks you are very charming and that she intends to claim you as her own. She said she intends to battle me for your affections and show you that she's a much better prize than I am."

"What did you say?" Andrew asked, grasping her hand tighter.

"I was so shocked that I could hardly speak. Finally I blurted out that you don't love her."

"What did she say?"

"She said, 'What does love have to do with it?'. Then she fluttered her eyelashes and added, 'I'll bet you that I can get him to kiss me,' with a very threatening tone." "Never! I would never kiss her!" Andrew exclaimed angrily.

"That's what I said, but she looked very sure of herself," Colleen commented, her eyes filled with distress.

Andrew moved closer to her on the blanket. "Colleen, you have my promise that I will never kiss anyone but you. I love you far too much to risk losing you in such a hurtful way." Colleen smiled into Andrew's eyes.

"I love you too, Dr. Andrew Cook. I don't know what I'd ever do if I lost you."

Andrew leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips. When they pulled away Andrew whispered softly, "I'm not going anywhere."

It was a little after two o'clock when Andrew finally arrived back at the clinic. He whistled happily as he climbed the steps and entered the clinic. He had dropped Colleen off in town so she could check on Dr. Mike and see if she needed any help at the clinic.

He sat at his desk to see if any patient files needed updating, then smiled contentedly when he noticed they were all completed in Colleen's neat penmanship. He picked up the files and put them in the file drawer at the back of the room. Then he turned around and tried to figure out what to do next. He decided to take a few minutes and clean the instruments. He always gave them a wash after using them, but every so often he liked to give them a more through disinfecting.

Andrew was cleaning the last of his instruments when there was a knock at the door.

"Come in." he invited. The door opened and Preston walked into the room. The smell of the disinfectant Andrew was using hit his nose as he entered, causing it to wrinkle in disgust.

"What is that offensive smell?" he demanded, closing the door behind him.

"Disinfectant." Andrew replied simply.

"What for?" Preston inquired sharply.

"For cleaning the medical instruments." Andrew explained, picking up the tray and putting it away.

"Well, try not to do it before any patients come in." Preston ordered, "It's a horrible smell."

"What can I do for you, Preston?" Andrew inquired, turning toward the man.

Preston smiled and confessed, "I must admit that curiosity got the better of me and I had to find out what was in that parcel that you received earlier."

Andrew looked at him puzzled. "Parcel? What parcel? I didn't get any parcel."

"Yes you did. I dropped it off for you just after it arrived," Preston insisted.

Andrew looked at his desk and then on the other shelves and counters in the room. "I don't see it," He replied.

"I left it on your desk. You hadn't returned yet from taking your father to the train station. Miss Douglas was sitting on the examination table waiting for you." Preston told him.

Suddenly a thought struck Andrew. "This parcel, how big was it?"

"Oh, not very big. Maybe this size." Preston showed him how large with his fingers.

Suddenly fear seized Andrew. "Colleen's ring! She took Colleen's ring!"

"Colleen's ring?" Preston repeated aghast. "Andrew what are you talking about?" But by then Andrew had already flung open the clinic door and was making his way along the verandah. Seething with anger Andrew spotted Patricia Douglas enjoying tea at one of the outdoor tables.

"Miss Douglas." He said as he approached her.

"Dr. Cook." She greeted and smiled, obviously delighted. "Would you care to join me for a cup of tea?"

Andrew shook his head and replied impatiently. "Do you happen to know what happened to the little package that Preston left at the clinic for me?"

"Package?" She repeated in a puzzled tone. "What package?"

"The small package that Preston dropped off earlier this afternoon." Andrew stated tersely. "He told me you were in the clinic when he dropped it off and now its nowhere to be seen."

"Dr. Cook, I'm afraid I have no idea what your talking about," she replied hautily as she took a sip of her tea.

Frustrated, Andrew ran his fingers through his hair and rubbed the back of his neck. He was about to insist further when he noticed something on the young lady's hand. He grabbed her hand, causing her to drop her tea cup on the ground, smashing it into millions of pieces.

"Dr. Cook!" She exclaimed in surprise.

"Where did you get this ring?" He demanded angrily.

Fear flickered momentarily in the young woman's eyes, but that fear quickly turned to hauty anger. "My sweetheart gave it to me." She replied, trying to remove her hand from Andrew's firm grip. Suddenly Andrew grabbed the ring and forced it off her finger. "Ow!" She cried, standing to her feet in her anger. "How dare you!"

Andrew ignored her and quickly examined the ring more closely. On the inside of the band was inscribed, just as he had requested, "For my dearest Colleen." Andrew looked at the young woman with such anger and disgust that she almost shrank back in fear.

"How could you?" He snarled rudely. "How could you steal and lie like that?"

"I did it for your own good!" She defended, lifting her chin defiantly.

"For my own good?" Andrew exclaimed in shock.

"I was trying to save you from making a dreadful mistake." Miss Douglas explained. "That Colleen is nowhere near good enough for you. She's just a country hayseed. She's ill-mannered and unrefined. She's more concerned about her medical studies and becoming a doctor than she is in being a good wife and mother. She's nowhere near your class. I mean come on, even her father abandoned her when she was young. Even he could tell she wasn't going to amount to much. You deserve someone that is of your class, someone with the same type of background and social standing. Someone who will devote their full attention to making you happy and providing you with a happy home and a wonderful life. Someone who is refined and elegant. Someone...someone like me."

"Someone like you?" Andrew spat in disbelief. "Well, I'll be...I never thought that there was anyone in this world more obnoxious and conceited then Preston Lodge, but I do believe he has met his match. You are really something you know that Miss Douglas. You think that just because you have money and that your family has influence in certain areas that you are the most refined and elegant young lady in the world. Well, let me tell you something Miss Patricia Douglas, I loath your ideas of elegance and refinement. And I have no use for people who put such importance on background and social standing."

"Well I never..." Miss Douglas began as she turned to walk away.

Andrew, however was not finished and grabbed her arms to keep her from going. "Now, ever since you got here you've been trying to get to me. You may think I didn't notice, but I'm not that naive. I've seen the little games young woman play to attract a man's attention. But, let me tell you here and now, its not going to work.

"Now my Colleen may not have grown up in Boston and may not have the background and social standing that you deem so important. But she has much more elegance and refinement then you'll ever have. I love Colleen, I love her with all my heart. I love everything about her, including her love of medicine. And I am looking forward to when she and I will be colleagues in the profession that we both hold dear. And I am also looking forward to making her my partner, not only at the clinic, but my partner in life."

Miss Douglas' eyes darkened as he said this.

"That's right, Miss Douglas, I'm going to marry Colleen and there's nothing you can do or say that is going to change that!"

Miss Douglas stared silently at him, her eyes wide, then she looked away into the wide open space behind him. Suddenly her eyes seemed to focus on something and her face twisted in hatred. Andrew noticed the change, but before he could see what had caught her attention she suddenly wrenched her arms out of his grip and flung them around his neck, planting a firm kiss on his lips.

"What the...!" He sputtered, pulling back in shock. Shoving her away he demanded angrily, "What do you think your doing?"

"I'm sorry, forgive me." She said in an insincere apology. She glanced back over Andrew's shoulder for a brief moment before adding. "I don't know what came over me." Then picking up her gloves and parasol she turned to Andrew and smiled sweetly. "Good afternoon, Dr. Cook."

Andrew watched her leave, relief mingled with revulsion sweeping over him.