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“Mr. Mackenzie! I’ll not tell you again to refrain from profanity in this school.”
“Miss Blackburn, I’m not your pupil. I’ll speak how I like.”
“Not in my classroom. And I should think you’d be a little more concerned about your daughter. She nearly fainted. She requires medical attention.”
“Don’t put much stock in so-called medical science. She’s fine.”
“Then she’s overworked. Just how many chores does she have at home?”
“That’s not likely your business, ma’am.”
“I consider the well being of my students to be my business, sir.” She stood. “You stay here, Mary Alice. I’ll run and get Doc Potter.”
Mackenzie opened his mouth, but then seemed to think better of speaking and closed it. He nodded. “Get the doc. I’ll stay here with Mary Alice.”
Finally, some sense out of the man. If Garth Mackenzie couldn’t afford to pay the doctor, Ruth would bake him a few pies. Doc Potter always raved about her cooking at the church picnics.
“There’s a pump right outside, Mr. Mackenzie. Mary Alice could do with a dipper of cool water. I won’t be long.”
Ruth rushed out the door and down the steps of the schoolhouse. The general store was a block away, and Doc Potter kept his office in a room above.
Goodness, this heat. She swiped her forehead as she hurried down the dusty road. Several brown curls had come loose from the tight knot at the back of her head. They stuck to her neck and made her itch.
When she entered the store, cool air drifted over her heated face. Was this the cross breeze Mr. Mackenzie had mentioned? What a blessing that would be in the schoolhouse. Ruth pulled her handkerchief from the pocket of her dress and blotted her forehead.
Doc Potter stood by the counter speaking to Lula Stiles, the wife of the storekeeper.
“Good afternoon, Miss Blackburn.” He smiled, his green eyes crinkling. Doc Potter was a nice looking man, but too short for Ruth. She towered above him by nearly two inches.
“Good afternoon. I require your assistance, Doc. One of my students had a near fainting spell. She’s waiting in the schoolhouse with her father.”
“Let’s go,” he said, grabbing his hat and black medical bag from the counter. “Give my best to Manny, Lula.”
* * *
