Small Town Doctor (3 page)

“Ms. Carmichael, look at me.” James waited until she turned her head to face him. “If Abbi’s body continues to fail she will go into kidney and possibly heart failure. She will die if we don’t get her to the hospital where I can help her more. I know you love your daughter and you don’t want that.”

“What happens if I don’t agree to this?”

“Then the doctor and I will load her into my SUV and take her now.” Ryan squatted before her.

“I knew I shouldn’t have let you in.” A single tear ran down her cheek.

James reached across Abbi and laid his hand over Ella’s. “Listen to me. If it comes to taking her to the hospital, it will be her last hope.”

“If she leaves here—” She continued to shake her head. “I can’t. They hate me for what happened and they’ll take it out on my sweet Abbi. The hospital staff won’t help her…they will leave her to die. Please, she can’t go there.”

“Haven’t I shown you I’m here to help her?” She nodded in agreement to his question. “I would help her there just as I’ve done it here. She would be under my care and in good hands, I promise you that.”

“I need your word you’re not going to fight him if he makes the decision.” Ryan stood and adjusted his gun belt.

“If I agree I want you to be the only one who treats her. No one else, I can’t risk her.”

“I can say I’ll do my best, that’s all I can promise. Depending on the results of the blood work we might need to bring in a specialized doctor, but I’ll oversee everything if that makes you feel better.” James squeezed her hand. “Now agree so I can send Ryan with the blood.”

“I don’t like it but…fine. Just help her.” Ella tipped her head to look up at Ryan. “I won’t fight him, but if anything happens to her I’ll hold you responsible.”

“I’ve been telling you for years that no one blames you and there’s no reason for you to stay in hiding.” Ryan glanced at Abbi. “It’s not good for her. She needs to be around kids her own age. What are you going to do when it’s time for her to go to school?”

“This isn’t the time for this discussion.” James took his hand away from her and unzipped the bag. He needed to get the blood sample taken and send Ryan on his way before he had Ella as worked up as she was when they arrived. She had just calmed to his presence and he didn’t want her in a nervous state again.

“Ella, could you grab more ice packs from that bag.” He nodded to the one sitting on the edge of the sofa. “The fluids are helping to bring more color to her cheeks but the fever isn’t breaking. In another thirty minutes we can give her another dose of the medication I brought.” He tied off her arm, finding the best vein he could in order to get the blood he needed.

“What happens if it doesn’t break the fever?” She grabbed two of the ice packs.

The sun had set long ago when Ella stepped outside into the cool night air. Only a few stars spotted through the sky, shinning like diamonds in the darkness. The moon played peak-a-boo with the clouds, so every once in a while a glimpse of it could be seen through the trees. Being out in the middle of the woods, surrounded by only the trees and wild animals had always been peaceful for her. Now that her daughter lying unconscious just inside the cabin, she was restless and doubting her decisions of the last few years.

She took a deep breath of the fresh air she needed so badly to clear her thoughts, letting the cool night air fill her lungs until it chilled her from the inside out. Exhaustion ate at every muscle in her body and closing her eyes made her feel as if she was rubbing them along a line of sandpaper. For two days, she’d avoided sleep, scared of what would happen to Abbi if she wasn’t awake to keep watch. Now her body was revolting, demanding rest before she passed out. Logical thoughts were almost beyond her, as her brain jumped from one thing to the next without any rhyme or reason.

Had she made the wrong decision when she moved to her grandparent’s old cabin, away from civilization and the mistakes she’d made? Worse yet, would that decision cause her to lose her daughter? Her legs gave out from under her and her fears pressed down on her shoulders until she collapsed on all fours.

“Please let him save my baby girl.” She cried out but no one heard her.

Doctor Macis was inside with Abbi, still waiting for word from the sheriff on the results of the blood work.

Every minute that passed when there were no wheels crunching the debris on the overgrown road and no communication on the radio, only served to worry her more. Where was Ryan? Why had he not returned with the supplies the doctor needed and news on what was wrong with her daughter?

“Ms. Carmichael.” The doctor stepped up behind her, and she realized she was still on the ground. “Are you all right? What happened?”

The concern in his voice for her and her daughter was the only reason she’d trusted him so far. She could tell he was a good doctor. As they waited, he held the same anxiety she did, while they both checked the clock and glancing to the radio Ryan left.

“I’m fi…fine.” Her voice cracked before she forced herself to swallow.

“What are you doing on the ground? You’re going to end up sick and we can’t have that.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Come on, let’s get you back inside.”

“My baby…” Tears welled in her eyes. “I did this to my sweet Abbi and now she’s dying because of me.”

He squeezed her tighter to him. “We’re not going to let that happen.”

Unable to hold back the tears any longer, she let her head fall against his shoulder. “I’m an awful parent.”

He pulled her up until they were both standing in a ray of moonlight, his hands on her shoulders as he stood in front of her. “I might not know the full story but I can see you’re not a bad parent. You care for your daughter.”

“If I’m such a good mother, she’d be in the hospital. You said so much yourself when you arrived. What kind of parent lets their child suffer like this?”

“One who lets fear control her actions.” She started to pull away from him but he held tight. “No, I’m not going to let you pull away out of fear or anger, not this time. Ella, you’re scared, and I understand that but we’re going to make sure Abbi is okay. We’ve broke her fever and that’s one step in the right direction.”

“My Abbi.” She used the back of her hand to wipe the tears away from cheeks.

“You’re scared because of what you’ve been through, so you stay hidden away from everyone…but that isn’t good for either of you. This isn’t just about the medical care. There are other negative aspects to you living up here. Abbi needs kids her own age to play with.”

“Doctor Macis, I’m not neglecting my daughter.”

“Call me James, please…and not in every way.” He ran his hand down her arm. “You care for Abbi’s needs. You keep her healthy, active, and the books in her room show you’ve started her education. I’m only offering my suggestion that you need to balance the life you want and socialize her. You know as much as I do that she needs other children to play with. There’s no reason you can’t go into town occasionally and give her that.”

“There’s every reason. Did Ryan tell you why I chose to live here?”

“No.” He tipped his head back to the cabin. “If you want to tell me, let’s go inside. You’re already worn down from caring for Abbi, you don’t need to be out here in the cold evening air.”

The breeze whipped her hair as she let him lead her back into the cabin. She glanced back out at the woods but no longer found security or safety in the darkness of the trees. Or maybe she was letting her fears carry her way.

“Why don’t you pour us coffee and I’ll check on Abbi.” He stalked off to Abbi’s bedroom, where they’d moved her once her fever broke so she was resting comfortably in her bed again.

“Is she okay?” She called to him, but he’d already disappeared around the corner. Instead of following him, she moved to the small kitchen and grabbed the metal coffee pot from the wood burning stove.

She was sure her humble little cabin was nothing to the doctor, especially since she remembered Ryan mentioning he’d come to Clearwater from Denver. Nevertheless, the cabin was home to her. There wasn’t electricity, but she managed with solar power for the few lights they had. The fireplace heated the small abode and the wood burning stove served her fine. The well and septic gave them all the amenities needed and they didn’t have to rough it by fetching water from the nearby creek or using an outhouse like her grandparents had years ago.

She’d turned the small cabin into a home for her and Abbi. The only thing missing was children for Abbi to play with. That was one thing that no matter how much Ella wanted she couldn’t give her that. It meant they’d have to go into town and she couldn’t get past her fears.

“You’re a million miles away.”

She turned to find James standing behind her and she almost dropped the pot of coffee. “I was thinking.”

“Care to share?”

She filled two mugs before turning back to him. “You’re right, Doctor Macis. I’ve known for a while now that Abbi needs playmates, friends, but I can’t help that.”

“What do I have to do for you to call me James?” He smirked at her before taking the mug of coffee from her.

“Sorry, it’s been so long since I’ve had to deal with anyone.…” She paused, uncertain. “James, what am I supposed to do? I can’t give her what she needs.”

“We’ll take care of it. First we need to make sure she’s well again.” He laid his hand on her arm. “Tell me why you’re so scared. What did the town’s residents do that made you sneak away to the mountains?”

“Not what they’ve done, more like what
I’ve
done.” She slipped out of his grasp and moved across the open space to the sofa by the fireplace. “I brought danger and death to Clearwater.”

He came and sat down on the sofa, keeping his distance from her. “How?”

She raised an eyebrow in question. Did he really not know what happened or was he just digging for more gossip? “Are you telling me Ryan told you
nothing
about why we we’re living so far up the mountain?”

“He mentioned very little.” He sat the mug on the coffee table before them. “I’d like to know what actually happened but I won’t pressure you. If you wish to tell me then it will be your decision. Otherwise I’ll see if I can get Ryan on the radio.”

“You were trying that before I went outside with no luck.” She took a sip of coffee. “After my grandparents passed away my parents moved back to Dad’s hometown, Cheyenne. I was visiting them when I met Josh, Abbi’s father. A few months after my trip down there Josh and a few of his buddies came to visit. It was when I was living in Jackson Hole.”

“I get the impression something went wrong on that visit.”

“
Everything
that could possibly go wrong went wrong. The whole trip was a disaster.” She set the mug aside. “Josh and his friends went wild. They were drinking, doing drugs, and as the days went by things became worse. Until the visit ended in senseless bloodshed.”

“What happened?”

“Josh decided we had to go to the bar in Clearwater, On the Rocks. Knowing he’d drink until he could barely walk, I wanted to stay in Jackson Hole.” She closed her eyes as memories of that night came flooding back. It was the first time Josh had become violent, but it hadn’t been the last. It was only a sample of what was coming after they left the bar. “That’s when things got out of hand.”

“Ryan mentioned he killed a man. Is that where it happened?”

“Yes. He got into it with a guy at the bar. Instead of keeping Josh in check, his friends took off, leaving me trying to stop him, but I couldn’t. H…he flung me aside and…I banged my head on the corner of the bar. I must have passed out because when I came to everyone was in the parking lot and Josh…he was beating the guy’s head into the sidewalk.” She wrapped her arms around her waist, hugging herself. “I screamed for him to stop and when he looked up…it was like he was a different person. The eyes that stared back at me were not his. I didn’t know who was in front of me and it scared me.”

“It’s okay.” He scooted across the sofa, coming closer to her, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “He can’t hurt you or anyone else any longer.”

“Not now but he left plenty of scars on me as a lasting memory.”

“This is why you’ve taken refuge here?” He caressed her shoulder, offering welcome comfort.

“Ryan believes I did it because I’m afraid of what the town residents think of me. Maybe that’s part of it…but there’s something more terrifying.” She wanted to curl into his embrace, to wrap herself in the first comforting touch she’d felt in years.

“Tell me why.”

“Josh is Abbi’s father. I…I’ve seen the worst in him and I’m terrified it’s part of my baby girl. I must stay here to keep her away from others. I’m scared of what her temper will be like if she’s faced with ridicule, or learns what her father did. This is the only way.”

“Ella, look at me.” He used his forefinger to guide her chin until she looked up at him. “It’s more about how the child is raised than genetics. A child mimics actions they see from others. If he was here with you, it’s likely she could see his anger, how he uses it to control you or others, and she might do the same. That isn’t the case.”

“How do you know?”

“Ryan speaks highly of you and how you’re raising Abbi. His only concern is she’s not being socialized, and that’s my concern as well.” He used the back of his hand to wipe away the stray tear that was rolling down her cheek. “The love you show her every day is going to ensure she’s raised right.”

She shook her head. “You don’t know that.”

“I’m a doctor. I’ve seen and worked with children with temper issues. Not once in all the time I’ve been here have you or Ryan gave me any reason to be concerned about Abbi. There’s also something else you need to consider…everyone has a temper but that doesn’t mean they’ll kill someone. Some people have tempers that are easier to spark than others, but there are also other outlets for the anger. You can teach Abbi ways to control her rage. If it would make you feel better I can speak with her once she’s feeling better, to evaluate her.”

“No, she must not know what Josh did.”

“I wouldn’t tell her anything of the kind. You can be there when I speak with her if you’d like. I’m offering to give you some peace of mind, not because I believe she’ll say anything that makes me concerned.” He let his hand fall away from her cheek. “I think it would help you if you get the rest of the story about Josh off your chest. Ryan mentioned he arrested Josh…did he show up at the bar?”

“No.” She pulled away, just enough that his arm was still around her but enough to give her some space. “Josh forced me back into his truck. We couldn’t go back to my apartment because he thought the police would be waiting for us. My grandfather had another cabin about halfway down the mountain. It’s where he lived before he build this place and married my grandmother. We went there, but it’s closer to the main road. One of the residents saw Josh’s truck and Ryan showed up.”