Small Town Doctor (4 page)

“Alone?”

“Sheriff Ryder is a one man team…or haven’t you heard that yet?” She tried to make light of it.

“Oh, I’ve heard.” He leaned back against the sofa. “He hired a deputy, part-time, but he’s always on call, never takes a day off.”

“When Ryan showed up things were heated, or maybe a better word is
bloody
. Josh thought while I was in the bar I had called the police and he…he nearly killed me for it.” She swallowed deep before continuing. “Ryan busted down the door and pulled Josh off me. He got a few extra punches in my honor before he handcuffed him. That was the last time I saw him. Thankfully, they didn’t need me to testify at his trial, so I didn’t even go. He doesn’t even know he’s a father.”

“If I can convince you that you have nothing to worry about with Abbi’s temper, will you bring her into town occasionally to socialize her?” He leaned forward to look at her.

“I don’t know.” She glanced toward Abbi’s bedroom before looking back at him. “I just don’t know. I want her have friends her own age, but what if they tell her what Josh did?”

“You can’t protect her forever, but if there’s one thing I know about Clearwater…it’s the best place to live. The residents want to put what happened behind them as much as you do. They don’t want their children to know about what happened. Clearwater residents shelter their children from what other areas have to deal with. I don’t believe anyone will mention what happened to Abbi, nor do I think anyone holds what happened against you. From what you told me they saw Josh attack you just as he attacked others.”

She was questioning if he was right when a scream cut through her heart. “Mommy!”

“I’m coming.” She rushed to her daughter’s bedroom as fear gripped her. To hear Abbi call for her after being unconscious for so long both excited and terrified her. They’d broken the fever hours ago but this was the first sign of recovery Abbi had shown. What else would they face before her daughter was the same cheerful little girl she’d been only days before?

James was nearly on Ella’s heels as they raced toward Abbi’s room. The cry might have been enough to start Ella dashing to the child’s bedroom but it was the coughing fit that sped his pulse. He suspected it might have been pneumonia or at the very least a nasty lung infection, but now that she was awake he was seeing evidence of the cough.

“Mommy.” The little girl cried out as Ella came through the entryway.

“It’s all right, sweetie. Mommy is right here.”

At the bedside, James stood just behind Ella. “I need to check her vitals.”

“Sweetie, this is Doctor Macis, he came to help you feel better.” She moved back, giving him access to Ella.

“Abbi, I’m just going to listen to your lungs, okay?” He moved the girl’s shirt aside to press his stethoscope to her chest. He had just started to listen to what he needed to hear when Ella interrupted him.

“Listen.”

“That’s what I was trying to do.” He glanced up to see she was looking toward the doorway. He quickly pulled the stethoscope from his ears when he heard the sheriff’s radio that he left next to the sofa crackle to life. “I got it. Stay with her and don’t let her get out of this bed. She needs to rest.” He shot off the mattress and nearly ran back to the living room. Hopefully this was good news. He’d made progress with Ella but he didn’t think she was ready to be thrown into the Clearwater social scene…and that would most certainly happen if they had to take Abbi to the hospital.

“James, come in, James.” The radio crackled to life, filling the small space with Ryan’s voice.

He snatched the radio off the coffee table and brought it closer to his mouth. “I’m here. What the hell has taken you so long?”

“There was a car accident at Main Street and Crawford Lane. A visitor to Winterbloom took the curve too quickly and nearly ended up part of the church.” The static had Ryan’s voice fading in and out.

“What news do you have for me about Abbi?”

“Results are back. It’s pneumonia. There were a few other questions raised about the blood work, but Michael’s on his way up. I’m still at the scene dealing with the clean-up, but Michael knows the way, he was there after Abbi was born. He’ll honk his horn when he arrives, meet him outside.”

“Got it. He better be bringing supplies.”

“He is and I’ll be up once I get this mess cleared up. Any change with the child?” In the background there was a man hollering at someone but James couldn’t make out the words.

“We broke her fever and she’s awake.”

“Good. I’ll be there when I can.” Ryan ended the conversation and was back to work as the town’s Sheriff.

James stood there for a moment, radio in hand, his thoughts scattered. The knowledge Abbi had pneumonia and not something worse made the muscles in his shoulders relax a bit.

“Is Ryan on his way back?”

He turned to find Ella in the doorway, her arms crossed over her midriff. “No, my brother-in-law is going to bring medication that should help her.”

“Brother-in-law?”

He could see the fear rising in her eyes. He wanted to go to her, wrap his arms around her. Everything in him wanted to tell Ella he’d protect her, but he barely knew the woman and couldn’t go making promises he couldn’t keep. She deserved better than that and didn’t need her first encounter with people, after so much isolation, to be one that was uncomfortable. He took a step forward before stopping himself. “Doctor Michael Johnson. Ryan said he’s been here before.”

She nodded, but the fear didn’t leave her eyes. “He was here after I gave birth to Abbi.”

“There’s no need to worry, he’s only bringing the medication I need. Abbi has pneumonia, she needs things I don’t have with me.” He crossed the space until he was standing just in front of her. “He’s not coming in, so you don’t have to worry. My sister Jessi is his wife, and they have twin girls, Kari and Kami. I don’t want him taking the germs to the girls. You don’t have to worry about anything. You can wait in here with Abbi while I get the supplies and he’ll be on his way. No harm done.”

“He was a good doctor, but he’d have pushed for Abbi to go to the hospital. He didn’t agree with me raising her out here.”

“If anyone would have understood I thought it would be Michael. He was born here, only leaving while he was in medical school.” He touched her arm. “It doesn’t matter because she’s staying right here for now anyway.”

“So she doesn’t have to go to the hospital?”

He shook his head. “As long as she continues to improve.” Even as he said it, he knew there was a major catch in that.

“Oh, thank you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him. “Thank you for saving my baby.”

“She’s not out of the woods yet. Her lungs still sound congested and it’s likely she has a lung infection too.” She let go of him and stepped back. “Now that we’ve got her rehydrated, I’m going to start her on a different IV once Michael arrives and that will speed her recovery. However, you’re going to have to make a decision, though I suspect I know your answer.”

“What would that be?” She leaned back against the wall.

“You have no phone, no transportation, and no options if something changes. I can’t leave her here when there’s no way for you to get help.”

“Wait, you just said—”

“Let me finish.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Either she comes down to the hospital, and I’ll make sure you have a private room, with no one else caring for besides me, or…”

“Or?” She looked at him when he paused.

“Or I’ll have to stay here.”

“You’ll what?” She stepped away from the wall, her eyes wide with shock.

“It’s the only way. If I’m here I can help her, and if for some reason her condition worsens, we can take her into town. So…do I get to bunk on your sofa tonight, or shall I begin loading my truck?” He turned as if to start gathering the supplies he’d laid out on the coffee table.

She grabbed hold of his arm before he could step away from her. “You can have the bed in my room and I’ll sleep with Abbi.”

“You’d get more sleep in your room, and I’ll need to check on Abbi occasionally throughout the night.”

“I’d rather stay with her to ensure she’s fine.” She glanced to the window. “I haven’t had much of an appetite myself but I’m sure you’re hungry. I’ll whip you up something to eat while you finish checking Abbi’s vitals.”

“I appreciate it, but I just need more coffee.”

“Coffee? I thought it was a myth that doctors lived on that.” The humor in her eyes wasn’t there long. “Pneumonia…that’s how my grandmother died.”

“It’s not like that. Pneumonia is deadly to those who are already ill, the very young and the old. Abbi’s young, but besides, you said she’s been healthy. We’re going to make sure she’s fine, now don’t you worry.”

He’d be damned if he’d let Abbi die. In the last few hours the little family had stolen his heart. Now he knew why Ryan was willing to go out of his way to help them, to go against the grain just to get the little girl medical care without disrupting the family dynamics. He was willing to do the same. Did he still think Abbi could be helped more in a hospital than in the cabin? Yes, but it wasn’t that simple any longer. It was more about what was in the best interest of the child, and the best thing for her was to keep her home. For the first time in his life he understood why some people chose to remain at home when they were sick or dying.

This little trip into the mountains of Clearwater gave him a new perspective in his medical training. He actually understood what the family went through. He wasn’t a good doctor just because of the training but because he was compassionate and could understand them, what they needed. But he’d never been in a situation like this before.

He was going to make sure little Abbi made a perfect recovery, and then he was going to work on getting Ella to trust him. To trust the residents of Clearwater. She could choose to live in the mountains, but both her and Abbi needed socialization.

I’m going to make you trust me, Ella Carmichael. No matter what.

He wondered about his motives, his emotions. Something about Ella tugged at his heart, but he couldn’t pinpoint it. He’d find out what it was—soon. In the meantime, Abbi needed him.

* * *

Almost an hour after the radio crackled to life, the sound of tires crunching up the roadway brought James to his feet. He crossed the living room and had his hand on the door before the truck stopped. He wanted to get Michael on his way as quickly as he could to ease Ella’s worries.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” he called over his shoulder as he opened the door.

The cool night air made him wish he’d grabbed his jacket before stepping outside. There had to be a fifteen degree difference between Clearwater and these mountains. Even in October with the fall leaves scattering the ground he could feel the chill of winter in the air, threatening to wrap its tentacles around the sleepy little town and hold on tight until long after the New Year.

“How’s your first call into the wild going?” Michael smirked as he stepped from his truck.

“A different experience all together but I’m rolling with the punches. How’s my sister and the twins?”

“The girls are asleep and Jessi is going over Halloween decorations with our housekeeper, Cathy. She wants it to be perfect for the Halloween party. You’ll be there, won’t you?”

James nodded and came to stand next to the truck, a thought stirring in the back of his mind. “I might bring someone if that’s okay.”

“Anyone I know?” Michael leaned against the door, grinning. “Jes will be so happy you’re seeing someone.”

“Not actually seeing someone. I’d like to bring Ella and Abbi—”

Michael’s eyes widened. “You what? You’re barking up the wrong tree. She’s a recluse and she’s never coming off this mountain.”

“She’s scared.”

“So, now she’s your charity case?” Michael crossed his arms over his chest and watched him.

“No, nothing like that.” James glanced back to the house, hoping Ella hadn’t heard what Michael said. He didn’t want her to get the wrong idea, just when he’d started to make some progress. “I don’t think she wants to be locked up here, away from everyone, but she’s scared. She’s a sweet woman who deserves a chance at life. She was frightened when she took off and came up here, now she feels like she doesn’t have a choice. I can show her the residents don’t blame her.”

“She hasn’t trusted anyone in years. If you hurt her in any way, it’s going to make it harder for her to trust anyone else.” Michael glanced toward the house. “If you screw this up you might be the reason she stays locked up in this cabin for years to come. Are you really willing to risk that?”

“I’m not going to hurt her.” He’d go out of his way to make sure she wasn’t hurt by anyone. All he wanted to do was protect her. To see her happy and living a normal life. “I understand it’s a gamble but it’s the only way. For years Ryan tried to get her to come back into town without making any progress, but just in a few hours I’ve been able to get her to see reason. To see what being a recluse is doing to her daughter. Abbi needs children her own age to play with, interactions with other adults. It isn’t about living in a cabin in the woods. She could still do that, I just want her to see she needs more than this.”

“You better know what you’re doing.”

“I think I do.” James reached into the back seat of the truck. “Now tell me about this blood work so you can get back to your family.”

“The white blood cells were extremely high, as you’d expect. However, it tells us the girl is extremely anemic. It’s low enough that I recommend bagged iron transfusions to bring it up. Then a daily iron pill, possibly for life, but at least for the next six months.”