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“I don’t know.” He urged the horses into a gallop, when a chilling voice rent through the air.
“Doc! Stop! Please!”
Doc halted the buggy, and a horse galloped up next to them, manned by a very large, very frazzled Garth Mackenzie.
“Thank God,” he said. “I need you. It’s Mary Alice.”
Ruth’s heart plummeted. “What’s wrong with Mary Alice?”
“She fainted again. I can’t wake her. Please, Doc, you’ve got to come.”
“Of course, we’ll follow you.”
Garth galloped into the distance and Doc followed. Ruth braced her feet against the floor of the buggy and grasped the side to keep from bouncing into Doc’s lap.
“I apologize for this inconvenience, Ruth,” Doc said over the thundering hooves.
“Gracious, this isn’t an inconvenience. This is your job. I hope I can be of some assistance.”
Ruth’s belly churned with worry for Mary Alice. Perhaps this would be the wakeup call Garth Mackenzie needed. He couldn’t work that poor girl to death. She prayed silently the rest of the way to the small ranch.
When they arrived, Doc didn’t help her down from the buggy. No matter, he had his patient on his mind. She understood. She readied to climb down herself when Garth Mackenzie appeared at her side, offering his hand. Her jaw dropped open and she sucked in a shallow breath.
She took his outstretched hand, and a tingle shot through her. She looked up and met his dark and worried gaze.
“I’m glad you’re here, Miss Blackburn,” he said. “You’ll be a comfort to Mary Alice.”
“Of course I’ll do what I can, Mr. Mackenzie,” she said. “What happened?”
“I…” He seemed to stumble for words. “I have to take care of my horse, and then Doc’s. Just go on in and I’ll explain later.”
“Mr. Mackenzie, the horses will be fine for a few minutes. You need to explain the situation to Doc so he knows what he’s dealing with.”
His eyes glazed over, as if he were looking through her. “Horses. I have to attend the horses.”
“Goodness. All right.” Ruth smoothed her mussed skirts and headed for the house, praying again for the child who had come to mean more to her than a student should.
She hurried into the small home and found Doc in a tiny bedroom off the front room—which was in disarray again—bending over a pale Mary Alice.
“Doc?”
“She’s come to, Ruth.” He pressed a moistened cloth to her forehead. “Fill the basin with cool water for her.”
Ruth breathed a thick sigh of relief. She’d awakened. “Yes, of course. Right away.”
She grabbed the basin and hurried out the back way through the lean-to. The rain barrel was nearly empty. Where was the pump? Was there a pump? She scanned her surroundings. To her left, she saw
Garth exit a stable and begin walking toward the house. She ran to him.
“Mr. Mackenzie, I need fresh water for Mary Alice. Where is your well?”
His glossy eyes looked through her again. “Don’t have one. We fetch water from the little creek yonder.” He pointed.
“Thank you. Do tell Doc I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
She turned, but he gripped her arm, almost knocking the basin out of her grasp.
“Ruth.”
