When the Heart Heals by Ann Shorey Read Free Book Online Page A

her. “You of all people should know that parents can be . . . unreasonable. Yours didn’t attend our wedding when I married Curt.”
    â€œWe never should have sent the letter.” Sorrow rolled through her at the memory of Faith’s hurt and Curt’s anger when her parents ignored their invitation.
    â€œTheir lack of response wasn’t your fault.”
    â€œI should’ve known better.” She shook her head to dispel regrets. “But this is different. I won’t know what Jolene’s family is like unless I take a chance and talk to them.” She stood, eyeing the clock on the wall behind the cash drawer. “It’s time to get back.”
    Faith slid an arm around her waist. “You wouldn’t be Rosemary if you didn’t care about people. Just don’t get hurt.”
    As Rosemary covered the block and a half between the mercantile and the doctor’s office, Faith’s parting words spun through her mind. Her friend worried too much. She had no intention of putting herself in a situation where she could be hurt.
    When she turned onto Commerce Street, she noticed Dr. Stewart bundled in an overcoat, standing beside his buggy. A man on horseback waited next to the hitching rail.
    Dr. Stewart strode toward her. “Mr. Haggerty needs us.” He nodded toward the rider.
    â€œHis wife’s time has come and she’s asking for a doctor.”
    Rosemary thought of Curt and Jolene, both expecting to see her in a few hours. She wished she had some way to let them know she’d likely be gone all afternoon and possibly longer. The waiting man’s horse pawed the ground. From the looks of Mr. Haggerty, if he were standing on the street he’d be pawing the ground too. She sent him a reassuring smile.
    â€œI’ll get my things.” She dashed into the office and retrieved her carryall, then hurried outside.
    Dr. Stewart helped her into the buggy. They took off at a trot after Mr. Haggerty, following him south across the railroad tracks and out of town. She shivered as cool air penetrated her shawl.
    The doctor reached behind him, lifting a folded blanket from the rear seat. “Put this over you.”
    â€œThank you.” Grateful for the extra layer, she settled the blanket over her shoulders and tucked her arms underneath. She’d been waiting for an opportunity to show Dr. Stewart her skills as a nurse. If only the moment had arrived on a different day. She hoped Curt wouldn’t be upset when he arrived at the office and found the “D OCTOR IS O UT ” card hanging on the door.
    Dr. Stewart held the reins in both hands while urging the horse at a fast clip along the country road. Bare trees on hillsides stretched finger-like branches toward the cloudy sky.
    He turned his head toward her, face creased in a smile. “Haggerty insisted I bring you along. His wife’s never had a doctor at a birthing before, so she’s skittish about a man helping her. Don’t know what I’d have done if it was the middle of the night.”
    â€œI’ll assist in every way possible.” She kept her tone respectful, but inside she wanted to whoop with joy. Maybe now he’d see her as more than someone to wash bandagesand keep records. She ignored the inner voice that reminded her she’d never assisted at a birth.
    Ahead of them, Mr. Haggerty rounded a bend in the road, then galloped up a rutted track toward a small frame house perched atop a rise. As they rolled past a run-down farm to follow him along the track, Rosemary recognized the property as belonging to Mr. Bingham, Cassie’s stepfather.
    For a moment, she gazed over her shoulder at the two men sitting in the shade of the vine-draped porch. No wonder the place looked neglected. Mr. Bingham and his manservant should be out caring for the property instead of lolling about in rocking chairs.
    She made a “tsk” sound with her tongue. “My