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Chapter Two

Memories assailed Brett as he poured a mug of coffee in the sunny kitchen of his parents’ house the next morning. Memories of himself and Angela, back when she’d been the most important person in his world. He had to smile now at that infatuation. Angela didn’t seem to have grown up at all since then. It was Rebecca whose maturity astounded him.

Mitch and Alex hadn’t changed, though.

He smiled, thinking of them, but a shadow tinged his mind. He could keep his problems a secret from most people, but he couldn’t withhold them from Alex and Mitch.

Still, their support was one thing he knew he could always count on, no matter what. The three of them had faced death together, once upon a time. That had created a bond nothing could break.

His mind drifted back to the party the night before. Rebecca had been right— Mitch and Anne really were meant for each other. The fact that they’d be starting married life with a ready-made family of her adopted baby and his foster son just seemed to add to their glow.

Alex was another story. Brett frowned down at his cup. Alex might be able to hide his pain from other people, but not from him. He’d give anything for a look at Alex’s medical charts. He owed Alex—owed him a lot. If there was a way he could make up for the past, he’d like to find it.

He put down the coffee. Somehow everything—every concern, every conversation, even every thought, led him straight to the clinic. Rebecca was probably wondering why he wasn’t there already, and she wouldn’t hesitate to tell him so. If he’d known pesky little Rebecca would turn into such a beautiful, determined young woman, maybe he’d have stayed in touch.

Or maybe he’d have avoided her like the plague.

He didn’t owe Rebecca an explanation, regardless of whether she agreed. But he certainly owed one to Doc, easy or not—and it was time he paid him a visit.

He drove out to the corner, then turned uphill. In Bedford Creek you were always going either up the mountain or down toward the river. There wasn’t anything between. The town was wedged tightly into the narrow valley, with mountain ridges hemming it in.

The new tourist brochures his mother had sent him described Bedford Creek and its mountains as the Switzerland of Pennsylvania. People had obviously tried to live up to that billing, decking houses with colorful shutters and window boxes. Now, the boxes overflowed with marigolds and mums.

Apparently the publicity campaign was working. Strangers slinging cameras dotted the sidewalks, and a line waited to board the old-fashioned steam train for a jaunt through the mountains to see the autumn foliage. In another week or two the woods would be in full color, and the place jammed.

Doc Overton’s clinic sat at the top of the hill, its faded red brick looking just the same as it always had. Brett’s first glimpse of the familiar white clapboard sign swamped him in a wave of nostalgia. He pulled into the gravel lot and got out of the car slowly.

What had led to that promise he’d once made Rebecca about becoming a doctor? One of those early visits, when Doc thumped him and patted his head and told him he was fine? Or when Doc had responded to the interest he’d shown in some procedure, taking the time to explain it to him? Whenever it had been, Doc Overton had certainly been part of it.

It had been too long since he’d been back, too long since he’d let Doc know how much he appreciated his mentoring. That had to be a part of the talk they needed to have. He took the two steps to the porch and opened the door.

New wallpaper decked a waiting room that was far more crowded than he ever remembered it being. It looked as if he’d have to postpone their conversation. Clearly Doc wouldn’t have time for a talk this morning—not with all these patients waiting.

He didn’t intend to rush this conversation. Telling Doc the changes he wanted to make to the future they had once planned wouldn’t be easy.

Maybe the best course was to see Doc and arrange a time when they could be alone, uninterrupted. He exchanged greetings with people he knew as he edged his way to the desk.

He nodded to the receptionist, wondering if she was someone he should remember. “I’m Dr. Elliot. I’d like a word with Dr. Overton when he has a moment.”

“Brett.” Rebecca appeared from behind the rows of files, looking startled. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon.”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Funny. I got the impression I’d better show my face around here pretty quickly or someone might get after me. Can’t imagine why I thought that.”

A warm flush brightened her peaches-and-cream complexion. “I can’t either.” She gestured toward the hallway. “Come on back.”

The treatment area had changed even more than the waiting room. Cream paint unified it, and a modern counter had replaced the old rolltop desk where Doc had once kept a jumble of papers. Charts were neatly filed, and an up-to-date computer system ruled the countertop.

He stopped, assessing the changes, then turned to Rebecca. She’d changed, too. Her bronze hair was tied back from her face, and a matching bronze name pin adorned her neat uniform. Everything about her spoke of efficiency and professionalism. How strange to see little Rebecca so grown-up and businesslike.

“Were you responsible for all this?” He gestured toward the changes, knowing old Doc wouldn’t have modernized a thing if someone hadn’t pushed him into it.

She looked startled. “I guess I did suggest we were due for some up-to-date touches.”

“You mean you nagged him until it was easier to say yes.” He smiled at her. “Don’t fib to me, Rebecca. I know both of you too well.”

“Something like that.” She smiled back, but there was a shadow behind it. She was probably still thinking about their unfinished conversation the night before—

“There you are.”

The familiar voice sounded behind Brett, and he swung around.

“About time you were getting back here to see us.”

“Hasn’t been that long, has it?” He gripped Doc’s hand, emotion flooding him. It had been too long. Rebecca had been right. Doc Overton was getting old.

The hair he remembered as iron gray was white now, and Doc’s shoulders stooped, as if he’d spent too many years carrying all the medical burdens of the town. The lines in his face formed a road map of wisdom and caring.

“Come here, boy.” Not content with a handshake, Doc pulled him close for a quick hug, then pounded his shoulder. “Good to see you. How are they treating you at that big city hospital?”

There was the question he didn’t want to answer, and it was the first one out of Doc’s mouth, of course.

“Things are going okay.” He managed a smile. “It was tough getting used to Philly after all those years in California.”

“Not enough beaches, huh?” Those wise old eyes surveyed him. “If you want to succeed in this business, you have to make some sacrifices.”

“Like having any time for yourself,” Rebecca said. She held out a chart. “I’m sorry to interrupt the reunion, but you’re running about an hour behind already.”

“Doc always runs an hour behind,” Brett said. That was probably because Doc had never heard the notion that the physician should spend only ten of his precious minutes with any single patient. And if he heard it, he’d dismiss it. He knew his patients too well to rush anyone out of the office. When you were closeted with Doc Overton, you felt as if you were the most important person in the world to him. “Don’t people still set their clocks by him?”

Rebecca smiled, but it was more an automatic response than an agreement. “I’m afraid people are a bit more impatient than they used to be.”

Doc shrugged, lifting his hands. “What can I do? This young woman runs the place, and she runs me, too. We’ll have to get together later.”

“How about supper tonight? We can catch up.” And talk about the future.

Doc nodded. “Sounds good, if I get out of here at a decent hour. I’ll call you.”

“I’ll see you later, then.” He should be ashamed at the relief he felt over putting off the difficult conversation.

“Why don’t you stay and help out?” Rebecca’s voice stopped him before he took a step toward the door. “You’re licensed in Pennsylvania, aren’t you? You could see some of Doc’s overflow and let him get through by lunchtime for once.”

“You think people really want to consult a doctor they knew when he was a kid?” His reluctance surprised him. Maybe it was the thought of treating people he knew so well—people who’d watched him grow up.

“Don’t worry about it.” Rebecca gave him a challenging look. “They accept me as a professional, believe it or not. They’ll listen to you.”

His gaze clashed with hers. She’d made her attitude clear last night, even though they hadn’t had a chance to talk about it again. She thought it was time he took over for Doc, and she probably couldn’t imagine there might be something better than a one-doctor practice, either for the town or for him.

“Good idea.” Doc nodded. “Let folks see a real city doctor for once.”

Brett forced a smile. He wasn’t about to let little Rebecca push him into saying anything to Doc about his plans in front of her, if that was in her mind. But he could hardly walk away with Doc looking at him so expectantly.

“Sure. I’ll be glad to see some patients.”

He caught the satisfied look on Rebecca’s face, and his jaw tightened. Rebecca might have won this round, but if she thought she could manipulate him into doing what she wanted, she’d better think again.

Was her plan going to work? The question kept revolving in Rebecca’s mind while she found a lab coat for Brett, showed him the examining rooms, led him through her system.

She hadn’t been able to sleep after the party, her mind constantly returning to Brett. What had he meant when he’d said he was just home on a break? Didn’t he realize how much Doc needed him? How much all of Bedford Creek needed him?

It had taken her longer than it should have to realize she needed to pray about it. Even then, she’d found herself wrestling with the situation, trying fruitlessly to see an immediate solution.

Finally, exhausted, she’d left it in the Lord’s hands and gone to sleep. And when she woke, the answer seemed so clear.

Brett wouldn’t listen to her, and he certainly wouldn’t let her tell him what to do. But if she showed him how desperately Doc needed him, he’d do the right thing, wouldn’t he?

Doubt gripped her. The idealistic boy she’d known would have. She wasn’t so sure about the sophisticated stranger he’d become.

Well, doing something was better than doing nothing. The opportunity to show Brett how much he was needed had come. She had to take advantage of it.

“If you’re all set, I’ll just see which of the patients would be willing to switch to you.”

Brett raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you mean, would agree to be fobbed off on the new guy?”

It was going to be tough to keep a professional distance, she thought, if he persisted in looking at her with that devastating smile. “I’m sure there won’t be a problem. I’ll just try to keep everyone happy.” She shuffled rapidly through the charts.

“Is that your main objective in life?”

The question caught her by surprise. “What do you mean?”

He leaned against the counter next to her. “Keeping everyone happy. You seem to do a lot of that.” He gestured at the renovated office. “You’re certainly keeping Doc happy. And making a difference here. Is that why you chose a medical career?”

“I…” She bit back the response that sprang to her lips, shocked at her impulse to tell him he was responsible for that decision. That was something Brett didn’t need to know about her. “I guess, in a way. Doc needs help, and it’s not easy to find qualified medical personnel who want to come to a small town and work in a one-doctor clinic.”

“So you felt it was your duty?”

He really seemed to want to understand. “It wasn’t just that. My family’s here, and after Dad died, they needed me.”

The familiar picture formed in her mind. Her father, his face lined and tired, grasping her hand in his. You’re the responsible one, Rebecca. You’ll have to take care of them.

Brett nodded, but she could see the question still in his eyes.

“There are plenty of opportunities for physician’s assistants these days,” he said. “You could go almost anywhere.”

“I’m happy here.” Why did he assume that just because he couldn’t wait to leave Bedford Creek, other people felt that way? “Not everyone’s destined for the medical fast track.”

He gave her a wary look. “Is that aimed at me, by any chance?”

She wouldn’t get anywhere by antagonizing him. “No, of course not.” She picked up a chart. “Are you ready for the first patient?”

His gaze probed for a moment, as if he tried to see into her thoughts.

Finally he nodded. “Bring them on. I’m ready.”

She put Minna Dawson’s chart in Brett’s stack and showed him to an exam room. Chronic indigestion—and Minna was anxious to get back to the shop. She’d agree to see Brett if that meant moving her appointment up.

Doc fell further behind with every patient; everyone knew that. But everyone didn’t know how tired he was. They didn’t see the little lapses she’d been vigilant at catching and correcting.

Tension knotted her stomach. Doc had to have help, and soon. If only Doc would be honest about how much he needed Brett.

As she took histories for the other patients, did preliminary work-ups, and moved smoothly through the morning’s routine, her brief conversation with Brett played over in her mind.

She’d have to be careful. Brett wouldn’t respond to her trying to make him feel guilty. She knew that instinctively. Just as he seemed to know too much about her instinctively.

If he saw through her so easily, he’d figure out what she intended before she’d even started. She couldn’t let that happen.

Somehow Rebecca had to see to it he realized this was where he belonged.

Please, God. Please let this work.

Repeating her prayer silently, she went to see how Brett was doing with Minna.

“I don’t believe it, that’s all.” Minna sat on the edge of the table, clutching the paper gown around her with both hands, a mix of anger and fear on her face. “You’re just making a big mistake!”

The woman’s words rang in Brett’s ears. You’re making a big mistake. Those had actually been the supervising physician’s words when he found Brett following his ethics instead of the hospital rules. Brett had known in that instant that he would have to sacrifice his fellowship for his principles.

Now he was hearing those words again, and by the look on the woman’s face, she didn’t have much trust in her new doctor.

His jaw clenched. Whether she trusted him or not, he had to make her listen.

“Now, Minna, you don’t mean that.” Rebecca’s calm voice cut through the tension in the small room. Just her presence seemed to take the level down miraculously.

“Dr. Brett is a fine doctor,” she went on, “but if you’d rather see Dr. Overton, we can arrange that. I’m afraid there will be a wait, though. He’s so booked up today. It might delay your getting back to the shop.”

The woman’s death grip on her gown relaxed a little. “I can’t have that.” She scowled. “What a mess that girl will make of things if I’m not there, and there are plenty of visitors in town today.”

Obviously Rebecca knew just what tack to take with the woman. Of course she knew the patients well. The Bedford Creek Clinic wasn’t like a city hospital emergency room, where you treated someone and never saw him again.

“Now, Mrs. Dawson, I just want to run a simple test,” he said. “It’ll take no time at all.” He met Rebecca’s gaze over the woman’s head. “EKG, okay?”

He saw the flicker of doubt in her eyes, and it nettled him. Who was the doctor here?

“Right away,” she said, calmly professional whether she doubted his judgment or not.

“Don’t see why I have to do that.” Mrs. Dawson’s lips pressed together. “It’s worse than usual, but it must be my indigestion, see? Doc always gives me a prescription, and that fixes me right up. I don’t need any test.”

“This is like the one we did on your husband last year,” Rebecca soothed. “You remember. It’s just a precaution.”

He seized on the word. “Just a precaution. It’ll only take a few minutes, and then you’ll be out of here. And if you want, we’ll have Dr. Overton take a look at the results, too.”

She nodded slowly. “Guess if Doc looks at it, it’ll be all right.”

He suspected he knew what Rebecca was thinking. That he was being presumptuous, that he was overriding Doc’s opinions. He nodded toward the hall, and Rebecca followed him out.

“You’re thinking it’s her heart?” Her golden-brown eyes were troubled.

He shrugged. “I don’t like the pain she’s having, or the rapid pulse.” He tried a smile. “Could be because I was holding her hand, but I don’t think so.”

She didn’t argue, but he could sense the reservation was still there.

“Well, we’ll know soon enough.”

He stayed out of the way while Rebecca went to get the EKG machine then returned to the exam room. The last thing the patient needed was any white-coat anxiety at the sight of a new doctor. Especially a new doctor she didn’t particularly trust.

He frowned. He was more concerned about Doc’s reaction. The first patient he saw, and she’d put him in the position of contradicting his old mentor. Doc had been treating her for indigestion, not angina.

He shook his head. At least Doc would probably be more forgiving than Dr. Barrett had been when Brett disagreed with him.

“The woman should have been sent to the county hospital.” Dr. Barrett’s tone had been icy. “They handle the indigent cases.”

Brett could have protested that she needed care immediately, but Barrett would have disagreed. He could have said that for the first time in a long while he was doing what God called him to do, but that argument wouldn’t have impressed Barrett. As far as Barrett was concerned, he was God in his little medical world, and no hapless resident should try to challenge him.

So Brett had put himself on the line, insisting the woman be admitted and going over Barrett’s head when he had to. Barrett had given in, but the pay-back had come soon enough. The surgical fellowship he’d been a shoo-in for had disappeared.

“Here it is.” Rebecca came out into the hall with the strip, just as Doc appeared. Obviously she had alerted him, and Brett felt another spurt of annoyance.

Doc reached for the strip. “Let’s have a look.”

His tone was neutral, but Brett’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like being in opposition to Doc, even though he was sure he was doing the only thing possible.

Doc frowned.

Brett’s tension edged up. “How’s it look?”

“The EKG is definitely out of normal range.” Doc pushed his glasses into place on his nose, his hand fumbling with them. “I should have suspected it was more than indigestion before this. If I’d done an EKG last month, it might have shown something then.” He handed Brett the strip. “Mind if I talk to her? It might come better from me. She’ll have to go to the hospital for more tests on her heart.”

He shook his head. “Of course not. She’s your patient. She’ll want to hear it from you.”

He should feel good. He’d been right. But he couldn’t erase the stricken look from Doc’s eyes.

He stayed out of the way while Doc soothed the woman and talked to the husband called in from the waiting room, and Rebecca made efficient arrangements for her transport to the nearest hospital.

“Forty miles away.” He stood next to her as she hung up the phone.

“Forty miles by mountain road.” She grimaced. “It’s okay for Minna, but sometimes…”

She let that thought trail off, but he knew what she meant. Forty miles might as well be four hundred, in some cases. Bedford Creek should have a better choice than one overworked doctor or a forty-mile drive.

“Now, you’re going to be fine.” Doc went to the door with Minna and her husband. “They’ll take good care of you, and I’ll be by to see you tonight.”

The fear seeped from the woman’s face at the words. “All right, Doc. If you say so.” She looked at him with absolute confidence.

The door closed behind them. Doc came back, rubbing his head wearily.

“You shouldn’t drive clear over there tonight.” The words were out before it occurred to Brett that Doc might take offense at his meddling.

Doc just shrugged. “Got to. She wouldn’t rest easy if I didn’t stop in. She trusts me.” He straightened, looking at Brett. “That was a good call, Brett. I’m glad you were here today.”

Funny. He’d forgotten, in all those years away, how much Doc’s praise meant to him.