“I’ll make sure there is adequate protection. You do realize, this is bigger than the Moose Springs Sheriff Department can handle. I’m going to have to call in the FBI on this one and I’m sure they’ll set up a multijuris-dictional task force.”
“Good. I hope they find the bastards who did this to her and string them up by their cojones.”
He blinked at such fierceness coming from the cool, collected Dr. Maxwell. But then he looked at the bandage marring the soft loveliness of her features and couldn’t help but agree.
Chapter 5
Lauren was an hour and a half late for her first appointment of the day and spent most of the morning trying her best to catch up without sacrificing the personalized time she liked to spend with each patient—all while her mind seemed stuck on a courageous young girl recovering in a hospital miles away.
One of the things she enjoyed most about being a small-town doctor was the sheer variety of patients she saw, everything from prenatal visits to setting broken arms to pulling slivers out of tiny fingers. Every day was different, full of new challenges to test her abilities.
Just now she was seeing one of her favorite patients, Cameron Vance. Cam had epilepsy and though he regularly saw a neurologist at the children’s hospital in Salt Lake City, she was still his primary care provider and saw him for routine visits.
Just now he was suffering from a case of the sniffles that had lasted for ten days.
“Besides the gross runny nose, how’s everything else going with my favorite climber dude?” she asked him.
Cameron grinned. “Awesome. Me and Cale are gonna go to Jackson Hole and climb the Grand Teton this summer. We’re in training.”
At that surprising bit of information, Lauren raised an eyebrow to his mother, Megan, one of her good friends.
Megan shrugged. “What can I do?” she said. “Cale assures me Cameron has the climbing skills to handle it. He’ll be ten by then and is certainly experienced enough for it. I can’t really say no, especially since he hasn’t had a seizure since the big one last summer.”
Lauren knew just which big one Megan referred to. In August, Cameron had been lost in an abandoned mine in the foothills above Moose Springs and had gone without his seizure medication for more than thirty-six hours. He had been rescued in the middle of a prolonged grand mal seizure by Cale Davis, one of the FBI agents assigned to his case, just seconds before a mine cave-in would have trapped them all.
At Christmastime, Megan had married the man who had rescued her son and Lauren was thrilled to see them all so happy.
“Cale will take care of him,” she assured Megan now. “He won’t take Cameron anywhere it’s not safe. He’s a great stepdad.”
“He is, isn’t he?” Megan glowed when she talked about her husband and, as happy as she was for her friend, Lauren couldn’t help the little spurt of envy.
It was small of her, she knew. Megan hadn’t had an easy time of things. Cam and his sister, Hailey, had lost their father a few years ago when he was killed fighting in Afghanistan. Megan had raised her children alone, dealing with all the emotional and physical strain of Cameron’s epilepsy. She deserved every slice of happiness she could find and Caleb Davis was a great guy who was obviously crazy about her.
Lauren was thrilled for her. But in comparison to Megan’s newfound joy, her own personal life fell somewhere between dry and excruciatingly dull.
“What do you recommend for Cam?” Megan asked now and Lauren jerked her mind away from her own private pity party and focused on her patient, as she should have been doing all along.
“I’m guessing with the duration of his symptoms, we’re looking at a sinus infection here.”
“That’s what I thought, too.”
“You don’t need me, do you?” She smiled at Megan.
“Yes, I do,” Megan said firmly. “I don’t know what we would do without you and your clinic so close.”
She might not have a personal life, but she did have a pretty darn good professional one, Lauren reminded herself. “I’m going to write Mr. Monkey here a prescription for an antibiotic that should be fine with his other medications. As to the cold symptoms, I know you’re leery about giving him some of the over-the-counter decongestants because of the chance they may trigger a seizure. The best thing I can recommend is some good old-fashioned chicken noodle soup. If you want, I can e-mail my favorite recipe with plenty of garlic and onions. That should help clear him out.”
“Definitely. I’m always looking for soup recipes.”
She made a note reminding herself to send it as soon as they finished. “If his symptoms don’t improve in a couple of days, call me back and we’ll try to figure something else out.”
“More garlic, maybe?”
Lauren smiled. “It couldn’t hurt.”
She turned to Cam. “Let me know when you and Cale head off for the big climb. I’m going to want pictures of you on top of the Grand to hang in my office. And let’s hope your nose has stopped running by then, because that would just be gross at high altitude.”
They shared a grin as Megan took the scribbled prescription from her and stuck it in her purse.
“Thanks, Lauren,” she said on her way out the door.
As they were her last appointment before lunch, Lauren walked them out to the waiting room.
Her office manager held up a hand to stop them. “You’re probably getting a bit on the old side for a sticker,” Coralee said to Cameron. “But can I interest you in a sour ball?”
“Heck, yeah,” he exclaimed. At a chiding look from his mother he rolled his eyes. “Yes, ma’am,” he corrected. “Thank you.”
Coralee grinned and was pulling out her secret stash of candy when the low chime on the door rang. Lauren looked up and was startled to find Daniel standing in the doorway, looking big and tough and intimidating.
To her dismay, her pulse quickened and everything inside her seemed to sigh in welcome.
He looked exhausted, she thought. His eyes were bleary and he needed a shave, and she had to wonder when he had slept last.
“Sheriff Galvez!” Cameron exclaimed and bounded over to Daniel. At the sight of the boy, he straightened and seemed to lock away his exhaustion. The two of them greeted each other with a series of high fives and handshakes that looked as complicated as it was well-choreographed.
“Hey, Cam. Megan. Two of my favorite people. How’s everything at the Vance-Davis compound?”
Megan hugged him. “Good. When are you coming to dinner again? You owe us, since you bailed the last time.”
“Sorry.” He made a rueful face. “That was the night we had that bad accident out on Barrow Road, wasn’t it?”
“That time. Before that, it was the structure fire at James Woolstenhume’s barn and the time before that was a traffic stop that turned into a drug bust, I think. The next time we invite you to dinner, do me a favor and try to keep the emergencies to a minimum, won’t you?”
He smiled with affection at her teasing. “I’ll do my best. Can’t make any promises.”
“That’s the trouble with you law enforcement types.” Megan nudged his shoulder. His good one, Lauren was relieved to see. “Next week, okay? Which night works for you, Friday or Saturday?”
“Uh, I’ll have to check my schedule and get back to you.”
“Lauren, you should come, too. I’ve been meaning to have you out again. We’ll make it a party.”
Megan gave her a guileless smile, but Lauren could swear she felt the tug of a matchmaking web.
She flushed and didn’t dare look at Daniel. “I’m supposed to be on vacation next week.”
“Good, then you’ll have plenty of time to get ready.” Megan didn’t wait for an answer as she herded Cameron toward the door. “I’ll call you both in a day or two to work out the details. Thanks again for the prescription. Let’s hope it takes care of this kiddo’s runny nose.”
“I…you’re welcome.”
After the door closed beh
ind him, the room seemed to steady as if they had all just been caught in the eye of a cyclone. She finally risked a look at Daniel and found him looking as nonplussed as she felt. She was about to ask him about Rosa when he turned away from her and headed for the reception desk.
“What’s this I hear about you heading out on a cruise, Coralee? When do you sail?”
Lauren’s office manager was always eager to talk about her trip. “Next week. I’ve already got my bags all packed, waiting by the door.”
“You’ll have to forgive me,” Daniel drawled, “but I’m having a real tough time picturing Bruce on the beaches of Tahiti, soaking up the sun in a Speedo.”
“Oh, heaven forbid!” Coralee made a face. “He says he’s just coming along for the food and the fishing. Though I’m sure he won’t mind seeing the island girls in their hula skirts.”
“How’s Sherry?” he asked, launching Coralee into her second favorite topic after her upcoming vacation—her grandchildren. Lauren stood back and watched them, marveling that he could make small talk with all the heavy matters that must be weighing on his mind.
This was part of the ebb and flow of a small community, stopping and talking and asking after loved ones.
Daniel seemed comfortable talking to everyone in town, which was one of the things that made him such a good sheriff. He was respected and well-liked by all segments of Moose Springs, from kids like Cameron to the low-income families to the town leaders.
He appeared to get along with everybody in town—except her.
She sighed, wishing that thought didn’t depress her so much. Watching his easy rapport with Megan and Cameron and Coralee only reinforced how stiff and uncomfortable he always seemed with her.
“Sorry to drop in like this without an appointment,” he said, and she realized with a start he was talking to her. “I was wondering if there’s any chance you could take a look at my arm? Something doesn’t quite feel right about it.”
He wanted her to look at his arm? This, from the man who had endured her ministrations the night before like she was shoving bamboo shoots under his fingernails?
He had just come from a morning spent at the University of Utah Medical Center. If his arm was bothering him so much, why didn’t he just have someone there check it out?
“Of course,” she managed through her shock. “I can do it now. We were just about to go to lunch.”
“Do you want me to stick around?” Coralee asked.
“No, that’s all right. I know you’re meeting your sister for lunch at the diner. Go ahead.”
Lauren led Daniel to an exam room. “Uh, do you want to unbutton your shirt?” She could feel her face flush at the question and prayed he didn’t notice.
He leaned against the exam table and folded his arms across his chest—including the injured one in question. “No. I just used that as an excuse so I could talk to you without Coralee overhearing our conversation. I didn’t realize she would be leaving anyway or I wouldn’t have had to come up with a good story.”
“Right. Coralee is harder to lie to than my mother.”
“You lie to your mother, Dr. Maxwell? I’m shocked.”
“I know. I’m a terrible person.”
A muscle twitched in his cheek but he didn’t give in to a full-fledged smile. “What did you tell Coralee about the bandage?” he asked.
“The truth. Or mostly the truth. I told her I had an accident at the hospital while checking on a patient.”
“I think that’s wise. I know she can be discreet, but the fewer people who know what’s going on, the better.”
“It wasn’t really that. I just didn’t want to worry her. Coralee is a bit of a mother hen, especially with my own mother living six hours away now.” She paused. “While you’re here, you might as well let me take a look at your shoulder.”
He looked less than enthralled at the idea. “That’s really not necessary. I’m fine.”
“Humor me. I want to make sure you’re not starting with any infection. You can tell me what happened this morning at the hospital while I check you out. Your injury, I mean.”
She wanted to bite her tongue for adding that last part so quickly, especially when he gave her a long, measuring look. She geared up for an argument about her demand, but either he was too tired to put up much of a fuss or his arm really was bothering him.
After a moment, his fingers went to the buttons of his uniform shirt and he started working them free. Lauren refused to acknowledge the ripple of her insides as he started baring all that smooth skin and hard muscles. He was a patient, for heaven’s sake. She had to treat him with all the professionalism and courtesy she showed all her other patients.
She pulled the bandage away to find a little redness and swelling around the wound site.
He flinched when she touched it and she chewed her lip. If she needed a reminder to keep her mind away from him as a very attractive man, there it was. He obviously didn’t like her touching him, even in a professional capacity.
She needed to remember that and forget about how her hands itched to smooth over him.
By the time she finally stepped away from him and shoved her hands into the pockets of her plum-colored sweater, Daniel was sweating and light-headed from holding his breath the whole time she had her hands on him.
He tried to hide his deep inhale behind a cough.
“Everything looks fine,” she said. “A little red and swollen, but that’s not out of the ordinary. If you notice any of that starting to spread at all, make sure you let me know.”
Her voice was cool and brisk and he did his best to match it.
“I’ll do that,” he said. He fumbled with his buttons with fingers that felt big and awkward, as if they were bandaged, too.
He sure as hell hoped his arm healed soon because he couldn’t endure her touching him again.
Okay, there was a lie he knew he couldn’t sneak past either Lauren’s mother or Coralee Jenkins. The bare-bones truth was just the opposite. He did want her hands on him, just not in any kind of medical setting.
“Now tell me how Rosa is doing?”
He cleared his throat, shifting gears back to what he knew he should be focusing on. “She was fine when I left an hour ago. Exhausted, since she didn’t get much sleep before Cale and Gage McKinnon showed up and she had to go through it all again.”
“Cale and his partner are handling the case?” Lauren asked. “That’s a relief.”
“Her imprisonment, rape and attempted murder definitely fall under their jurisdiction in the Crimes Against Children Unit,” he answered. “We don’t know if all the possible victims are under the legal age, but since Rosa will be the star witness and she’s only fifteen, CAC will be spearheading the investigation.”
“Great. With you or Cale both on the case, whoever did this will be behind bars in no time.”
“I hope so, but I’m afraid it’s not going to be that easy. The real reason I stopped by was to let you know she’s been moved to a more secure location in the hospital. Even though you’re the physician on record, you’re going to need the access information before the guards will let you in. Assuming you’re still planning to stop by, anyway.”
“Of course.”
He nodded, not at all surprised. Lauren was a dedicated doctor, completely committed to her patients. He would have been surprised if she hadn’t been planning to drive to the city again that night.
“It’s still not the ideal situation. I don’t believe this Mata or the people he’s working with will just give up trying to shut her mouth, but for now this is the best we can do, moving her to a more secure location and keeping security posted at her room at all times.”
“I hope it’s enough. What about when she’s released?”
“We’re still trying to work that out.” He fought back a yawn. “The FBI is trying to find a good placement for her. She’ll have to stick around to testify to the grand jury while the FBI gathers enough evidence to break up the smugglin
g and prostitution ring so they can make arrests. How much longer do you think Rosa will need to stay in the hospital?”
“Under normal circumstances, I would probably keep her at least a few more days, probably through the weekend. She hasn’t had prenatal care throughout the pregnancy. That complicates things. I would recommend careful monitoring for the rest of her pregnancy, especially given the nature of the assault and the fact that she’s already had some early contractions.”
“I’ll give the FBI a call and let them know they should plan on having a new placement for her by the day after tomorrow, at the latest.”
“Will you let me know how things are going?” she asked.
“Of course.”
He shrugged into his coat and was putting on his hat to leave when she touched his arm. “Daniel, how long since you slept last?”
As if her words finally pierced whatever force of will was keeping him functioning, he was suddenly so tired he wanted to lean his forehead against her and fall asleep right there.
“Yesterday morning, six a.m.,” he admitted.
“You need some rest. I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you that. You’ve been an athlete and you know it’s not at all healthy for you to burn yourself out like this.”
He hadn’t had anyone fuss over him for a long time. He wasn’t quite sure how to handle it. “There have been a few unusual circumstances the last twenty-four hours keeping me awake. But I’m heading home now. I have high hopes I’ll be able to fall into my big, warm bed and not wake up again until my shift tonight.”
She still look worried but she managed a smile. “Do that. We need you strong and healthy.”
He wasn’t at all sure why color rose on her delicate cheekbones, but he found it fascinating.
“The town, I mean,” she said quickly. “If you wear yourself out, you’re bound to compromise your immune system and leave yourself open to all kinds of infections.”
“Right. We wouldn’t want that, would we? Don’t worry about me. You’ve got enough on your plate taking care of the whole town. I’ll be fine.”
Shelter from the Storm Page 6