AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I talked to her briefly last night to let her know what was going on but told her she didn’t need to come. A hundred miles late at night with Zak just didn’t seem necessary unless Dad got worse. I’ll give her another call.”
Thea pursed her lips. “What did she say?”
“Well...” Jolie gave her a rueful smile. “I’m not sure Cassie wants any suggestions from me, even after all these years. But she said she’d wait to hear from us.”
“If you told hernotto come, I’m surprised she didn’t show up.” Thea stepped forward to shut the car door, then rested a hand on Beth’s shoulder. “Thanks for coming. He probably thought I’d hog-tie him and haul him to the hospital if he dared get into my pickup.”
“He should be at the hospital?” Beth twisted her hands together, her eyes filled with worry and deep affection for her longtime employer. “I wanted to stay longer with him—with all of you last night, but Bobby can’t drive, and his mare was on the verge of foaling. Why wouldn’t Robert go to the hospital?”
Thea stepped back, deferring to Jolie.
“Dad has serious congestive heart failure that isn’t going to get any better. He doesn’t take his meds, he refuses diagnostic tests that would help a cardiologist provide better care. That mild heart attack last winter didn’t help.”
Beth gave Robert a narrow look, then crossed her arms. “Medications?”
Thea and Jolie exchanged glances. Beth could often do more with their dad than anyone else, and she was one of the few people he listened to.
For years, Jolie had wondered if the two might someday fall in love and marry, but Robert never seemed to notice the kindly woman beyond her role as his housekeeper.
Jolie reached into her lab coat pocket. “Here are his bottles of meds, plus an instruction sheet on the dosages and times he needs to take them. Do you think you can bully him into cooperating?”
“Bully? That man is more cantankerous than a stallion during breeding season. But I can sure try. Sometimes you’ve just got to be tougher than they are to get much accomplished.” She winked, and rounded the front of the car. “See you later, girls.”
“I’ll follow you, Beth.” Thea briefly laid a hand on Jolie’s shoulder. “Thanks. You may never hear it from Dad, but I’m really glad that you’re back in Montana.”
Jolie watched the two vehicles head down Main Street, then walked slowly into the clinic. In a half hour, she had everything in order once again.
Surely there wouldn’t be any calls this morning, and going home for a few hours of sleep in her own bed sounded like wonderful. She hadn’t taken a Saturday off in a long time.
The phone rang just after she pulled on her jacket. Her heart sank. And then it did a slow somersault at the sound of the voice on the line.
“Jolie?” Matt’s voice sounded even lower than usual...almost as if he’d just gotten out of bed. Or was maybe still in it. “Is this the clinic?”
“Yes...yes, it is. I was just distracted for a moment.”
“I’m sorry about yesterday.”
“Over anything specific?” Sheer exhaustion after last night made it easier to resist his sincerity. “Like the accusations, lack of trust? Thanks for calling, but—”
“Wait.” He gave a low chuckle that sent a shiver dancing across Jolie’s skin. “I was way out of line.”
Thatcaught her attention. “Oh?”
“It’s no excuse, but I’d had a rough day, and Annie’s day was much worse. Not being there when she needed me just sent me over the edge. Thanks for all you did to help her.”
He cared so much for his children. He worried and hovered and was tough when he needed to be. Every child should be so lucky.
“I—I understand.”
“Annie and I are meeting the deputy in his office at nine. Will you be seeing patients this morning?”
“I was just heading home, but I’ll wait if you or Annie need an appointment afterward.”
“No...I just need to talk to you. Alone. Sometime soon.”
He was probably going to talk about transferring Annie to another doctor.
Then he would tactfully tell her that he really wasn’t interested in a relationship despite that kiss on the trail last weekend. She could feel it in her bones.
