Patricia Davids - The Doctor's Blessing

He said, “I should follow them to the hospital. She’s my patient, after all.”

Amber struggled to get herself together. “We’ll need to make arrangements for the family to travel there, too.”

Phillip reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. “Who shall I call?”

“Samson Carter has a van service.” She gave him the number and after someone answered, he handed the phone to the oldest Nissley boy. When the boy was finished with the call, he handed the phone back and then gave instructions to his younger brothers and sisters. Already, the neighbors who had come to help were busy repairing the fence. The sheriff was interviewing them.

“Will these kids be all right?” Phillip asked quietly as they made their way toward his SUV.

Walking beside him, Amber nodded. “Yes. Word will spread quickly, and they will be smothered with help. Men will come to do the chores and women will come to take charge of the house. An Amish family never has to worry about what will happen to them in an emergency. It’s a given that everyone in the Church will rally around them.”

“That’s good to know. Martha shouldn’t have been driving that big wagon with her arm in a splint.”

“She wasn’t driving. Her son was.”

“That little one who ran to our clinic?”

“Yes, but it wasn’t his fault. Some teenage boys driving by in a pickup threw firecrackers under the wagon and spooked the horses.”

He stopped. “Does the officer know that?”

Amber glanced over her shoulder. “I doubt it. They won’t talk to the authorities about it. They will forgive whoever has done this. It is their way.”

“Someone should tell the officer. Can you get a description of the vehicle from them?”

“No. They won’t talk to me about it. I’m an outsider, like you.”

“But you’ve lived here for years.”

“That makes no difference. I’m not Amish.”

The sheriff came over to them. Tall and blond, with eyes only a shade lighter than Amber’s, he smiled at her fondly. “Hey, cuz. Can you give me any information about what happened here?”

“Hi, Nick. I can tell you what I overheard but not much else.” She relayed her story while he took notes.

After a few minutes, he put his notepad away. “Thanks. Not much chance of solving this but I’ll give it my best shot. How about you, Doc? Can you add anything?”

“Sorry, no.”

Amber said, “Dr. White, this is Nicolas Bradley, my cousin. Nick, this is Harold’s grandson. Phillip’s taking over the clinic until Harold gets back.”

The two men shook hands. Nick said, “Sorry we didn’t meet under better circumstances. Ordinarily, this is a pretty quiet place. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to get back to work. Amber, see you later.”

As he went to finish interviewing the witnesses, Amber turned to Phillip. “We should get to the hospital.”

Reaching out, he gently brushed some dirt from her cheek. “I should get to the hospital. You should get home.”

Her heart turned over and melted into a foolish puddle.

Don’t do this. Don’t go falling for a man who’ll be gone in a few weeks.

It was good advice. Could she follow it?

Drawing a quick breath, she forced her practical nature to the forefront. This rush of emotion was nothing more than a reaction to their working together during a crisis. It would soon fade.

With a logical explanation for her irrational feelings, Amber was able to smile and say, “Dr. White, you can’t find your way to the grocery store. How are you going to find your way to Millersburg?”

He looked as if he wanted to argue. Instead, he nodded toward his car. “Get in.”

Phillip tried to concentrate on the road ahead, but he couldn’t ignore the presence of the woman seated beside him. Her foolish bravery, her skill and quick thinking under pressure impressed him to no end. He saw now why his grandfather valued her so highly.

He said, “You did a good job back there.”

“Thanks. It’s not the first horse-drawn vehicle accident I’ve been to. Although there’s usually a car involved.”

“If they’re so unsafe, why do the Amish continue to use their buggies?”

“It’s part of being separate from the world. It’s who they are. Turn left at the next corner. You handled yourself well. Your grandfather would be proud of you.”

“I hope so.”

“He means a lot to you, doesn’t he?”

Phillip glanced at her. “Yes. More than you can know. How did you end up working for him?”

“Long story.”

“Longer than the drive to Millersburg?”

Her smile slipped out. “Probably not.”

“So tell me.”

“When I finished my nurse-midwife program, I started looking for a place to set up my practice. I knew I wanted to do home deliveries among the Amish. I know you don’t approve. Rest assured, you aren’t the only doctor who feels that way.”

“But my grandfather sees things differently.”

“Yes. I began talking to Amish families at local farmers’ markets and other gatherings. It was at the produce market in Millersburg that I heard about your grandfather. He’s held in very high regard in the Amish community.”

“He’s devoted more than thirty years to these people. They should think highly of him. I’m sorry. Go on.” He might not approve of their lifestyle, but he had to remember she did.

“I came to Hope Springs and explained to Harold how I wanted to practice. He was delighted. We both knew it wouldn’t be easy building a practice for me, so he hired me to work as his office nurse, too. Those first couple of years he mentored me every step of the way.”

“I envy you knowing him so well and working so closely with him.” Surprised that he’d admitted that out loud, he checked for her reaction.

“Your grandfather has taught me so much. The Amish say if you want good advice, seek an old man. It is true—but don’t tell Harold I called him old.”

Phillip laughed. “It will be our secret. I wish I could get him to act his age.”

“How is he supposed to act?”

“The man is seventy-five years old. He should be retired and enjoying his golden years.”

She waved a hand, dismissing his assumption. “If Harold is able, he’ll be back. We need him.”

Phillip needed him, too. He’d longed for a father figure all his life. His mother’s string of “Uncles” who lived with them over the years hadn’t filled that need. If anything, they made it worse. Meeting Harold in person had finally started to fill the hole in Phillip’s life.

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