“Computers?”
“Yes. They’re just awful. Such a mess. I keep telling him not to plug in that newfangled instrument but he just can’t understand my concerns.”
In her office, Emma moved around her cluttered desk and sat down. “Mind you, now, the pastor is such a good sport. Just single.”
She frowned and started digging through her papers. “Our four-year-old teacher is single, too,” she informed Rachel.
Rachel smiled politely. “Yes, ma’am. Julianne. I’ve met her.”
“Of course, you have.” The woman paused and looked at Rachel, confusion clouding her eyes. “Now what was I looking for?”
“Something about Lindsay to take to my mom.”
“Oh! Yes.” Emma opened a drawer and pulled out a chart. “Here it is. Lindsay’s chart. As I said, I have no idea how that got in here. Your daughter’s deaf, isn’t she?”
Rachel froze. “Hearing impaired. She can hear a bit.”
“Oh, really? I didn’t know that was possible. I mean for older people… Is that rain I hear?”
A loud crash of thunder sounded, and Rachel thought, Great, what a perfect addition to the day. She’d be soaked before she got back to City Hall.
“It was cloudy when I crossed the street earlier. I suppose it is rain.”
The wind shook the building, and it sounded like a whole flood had been released out there.
“Oh, my,” Emma said, her eyes wide. “That sounds like a strong storm.”
Rachel nodded. “Yes. I’ll just go take this to my mom.”
“You do that. Oh, and don’t forget to get Lindsay her shots.”
Rachel paused in the act of leaving. “What?”
Reverend Ben chose that moment to walk out of his office. She knew he had to be the pastor. He fit the description she’d heard of him.
“Shots. Your daughter’s shots are behind. Didn’t you know that? They’ve added new shots to the list of children’s inoculations.”
“Shots? Now, Miss Emma, I think Rachel here is past the age for booster shots,” the pastor teased lightly.
Emma giggled like a schoolgirl. “Shame on you, Reverend. I know that.”
He turned to Rachel. “Hello, I’m Ben. You must be Betty’s daughter, Rachel. You look just like her.”
Rachel smiled politely. “Yes. Thank you. I’m just on my way to see her now.” Rachel wondered if someone was trying to block her from going to her mother and yelling at her for doing what she did. Impatient, she smiled shortly. “I really should go.”
Rachel felt a drop of water hit her. She reached up, wiped it off and looked at it, hearing Ben say, “Of course. Tell Betty— Watch out!”
Rachel looked up just in time to see Ben lunge for her. Startled, she froze.
The air whooshed out of her when, with a thud, his body knocked into her, knocking her off her feet.
Fear, confusion and pain mixed together as he twisted, trying to keep her from taking the brunt of the fall.
She heard someone cry out and a loud sound like thundering and then another whoosh as water soaked her. Ben rolled with her, coming to a stop against the door with her on the bottom.
Rachel was certain every bone in her body had been rearranged. Dazedly she opened her eyes, to see Ben wince and then scramble off her. “Forgive me, Rachel. Ouch.” He rubbed his back. “Are you okay? Here, let me help you.” He offered her a hand.
He was soaked, too.
“Wha-what happened?” She wasn’t quite sure until she focused on the ceiling. “Where’s the roof?”
A big, gaping hole that showed dripping wet pink insulation and silver pieces of paper was where the ceiling once was.
“There,” he said, and pointed.
Rachel followed his gaze and gaped. Beams and insulation and volleyball net and ball lay where she had stood only seconds before.
Realizing Ben still held his hand out, Rachel put her hand in his, and he pulled. She stumbled into him and grabbed her head.
“Emma, is Ben in— What in the world!”
Morgan froze, staring in shock. Rachel looked at him. “You were going to the hospital,” she said.
“Dr. Talbot, our roof fell in. Just plumb fell in. It was so awful. You should have seen it.” Emma clasped her hands, twisting them with worry. “I’ve never seen anything like that. Rachel was standing right there and then suddenly Reverend Ben shouted and lunged at her, and they went flying and things started falling and water went everywhere. Oh, my, it was awful.”
“You were hurt?” Morgan asked, looking at Rachel.
She was pale and seemed shaken, but other than that, she looked okay. “I—I don’t think so. Just a bit dizzy.” She rubbed her head.
“Ben, can we use your office?”
“Of course.”
“Are you and Emma okay?”
“I’m a bit banged up, but okay. Emma? How about you?”
“Oh, I’m fine. All the papers on my desk aren’t. Oh, my, now we’re going to have to redo all of this. Anyway, when Rachel’s head hit that door, I’d be willing to say she saw stars.”
“No, I’m fine, really.”
She blushed and pulled back slightly. Obviously, she wasn’t the type that liked the attention on her.
“I’m sure you are,” Morgan said mildly. “Did your mom tell you your daughter was behind on shots? Oh, and about that call. False alarm. A child that was supposed to be dismissed. They had some questions. I have a new secretary.” He explained all this as he cupped her elbow and moved around the pile of debris toward Ben’s office.
“Emma. Get a contractor on the phone. I need someone out here to do repair work. Don’t worry about those papers now, dear. Just call the contractor. Okay?”
Morgan listened to Ben soothe Emma and smiled slightly. Then Ben was on the other side of Rachel, helping propel her toward his office.
She was unsteady on her feet but coherent. “How old is Lindsay, anyway?” Morgan asked mildly.
“She’s three, you know that.”
“Ah, yes.” He moved her to a chair and seated her.
“Wha— Look, Morgan, I told you I was perfectly fine. I just hit my head.”
“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?” he murmured and laid his hands on her shoulders.
She jumped like he’d shot her.
“It’s okay, Rachel,” he soothed.
“Please, Rachel,” Ben said, taking a chair near her. “Let him look you over. You were in the church when this happened, and I want to make sure you’re okay. I feel responsible.”
“But…but you’re a pediatrician!” she cried.
Morgan grinned. “I can give you a lollipop afterward,” he said.
He ran his fingers up her neck and felt her stiffen. “It’s okay, Rachel. Do you hurt there at all?” he murmured softly.
“No. I’m fine. Do you have any vanilla lollipops?”
Morgan chuckled. “I’m afraid not.” Running his fingers into her light brown hair, he worked to keep from being distracted by the soft, shining strands. She was beautiful. There wasn’t a thing about her that wasn’t attractive. “Here, or here?”
“If you don’t have vanilla, why should I let you examine me?” she muttered.
Morgan chuckled. “Because Ben said so, and he’s a pastor. You gonna argue with a man of God?”
He felt her chin go up. “I just might if I think he’s wrong,” she said stubbornly.
Ben smiled. “Good for you, Rachel. Always stand up for what you believe.”
Morgan, who had moved to her side, saw the look of disconcertment cross her face. She hadn’t expected that answer.
“Ouch!”
“Aha,” Morgan murmured.
“Why do doctors always say that after they hurt you?”
“I don’t know, maybe to make you think we know what we’re doing?”
“Oh, funny, Morgan. Really funny.”
“You have a knot the size of Gibraltar on your head here.”
> “Oh, please, do you realize how big that rock is?”
Again Morgan laughed. “I see you do. Okay, it’s not quite the size of an egg.”
He squatted in front of her. “Follow my finger, hon. We’re almost done here.”
All the fight suddenly went out of her. The adrenaline rush was over. “Okay,” she whispered.
He moved his finger to the right, the left, in and out. Everything appeared normal. He checked her pupil reaction, which was normal.
“I can’t see anything physically wrong, Rachel, but you might let me drive you over to the hospital and have them take an X ray or two so we can make sure.”
“No, really.” Rachel shook her head then winced. “I just need to talk to my mom and go back to work.”
“Work might not be a good idea. I suggest you take the rest of the day off. Then go back tomorrow. I’ll write you a doctor’s excuse,” he said, grinning.
“Wonderful. A pediatrician is writing me an excuse. Reverend Ben, I’m sorry but I really am okay. I’d rather not go to the hospital.”
He took her hand. “Are you sure? I’d just hate it if anything was the matter.”
Rachel glanced at his hand then nodded. “Thank you for being worried. Maybe I will just take the rest of the day off. Okay?”
That seemed to satisfy Ben. “Okay. If you need anything, please call us here, Rachel. Any of us will be glad to run an errand for you or whatever you might need.”
Rachel tilted her head. “You don’t know me.”
Ben smiled. “That doesn’t matter.”
She stood, a look of confusion on her face. “I don’t go to church.”
“Your point?”
“No point,” she said. “Thank you.”
Morgan decided now would be a good time to break it up. “Let me walk with you down to your mom. That way I can make sure you don’t suddenly keel over on me.”
The confusion left her face, and she looked at Morgan. “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.”
Morgan chuckled. “My pleasure.”
Ben lifted an eyebrow, and Morgan ignored him. “Thank you, Ben.”
“I hope to see you again, Rachel,” Ben called.
She thanked him again and left.
Morgan was right by her side. “I swear, someone is trying to keep me from arguing with my mother,” Rachel said.
“Did it work?” he asked, helping her around the debris and then walking with her to the stairs.
Rachel sighed. “Yes. I’m no longer ready to yell.”
“And all you got out of it was a two-by-four to the head.”
“That’s not funny,” Rachel retorted, but she grinned.
“Sometimes God does have to use a two-by-four to get our attention, which reminds me, Rachel, I’d like to apologize for the misunderstanding earlier. I really didn’t know you had no idea I was a doctor.”
Rachel paused on the stairs and studied him. “I believe you.”
“I’d like to make it up to you, if you’d let me.”
“You don’t have to. Really.”
“I’d like to take you and Lindsay to the new children’s movie musical that’s playing in the theater right now.”
Rachel stopped dead, turned and stared at Morgan. “She’s deaf.”
“I know that.”
Slowly she nodded. “Most people don’t think she needs to go to the theater because she can’t understand what they’re saying.”
“I’m not most people, Rachel. I know deaf people hear in other ways.”
Rachel hesitated, and he saw the last of her wariness fade away. “You’re working hard, Doctor. I wonder why.”
“Maybe because I’ve found something I want to work hard for,” he said, and lifted her hand to kiss it.
She gaped at him before swallowing loudly. Oh, she didn’t realize she’d done it. But she had. She also did it last night. This woman needed courting. Her husband had been insensitive to the fact that Rachel needed tenderness. And Morgan wanted to be the one to give her that tenderness, including leading her back to her heavenly Father. So much of the pain would leave her eyes if she only found that joy once again.
“Lindsay would love it, so because of that, I accept.”
Morgan smiled.
“One thing, though.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Don’t ask me if you can examine her, and if you ever hurt her I’ll never forgive you. And I’ll take it on as my personal quest to make sure you regret it to your dying day.”
Morgan didn’t take offense. He heard the anger, pain and bitterness in her. Someone had really hurt this woman. His heart ached. “You have my word, Rachel.”
“Good.” He’d surprised her. Morgan supposed she thought he’d walk away. But he didn’t. He wasn’t that type of man. When he committed himself, he was there for life, good times and bad times. He wasn’t planning on backing down. On this or on helping Rachel find her joy.
Chapter Six
“Are you ready?”
Rachel pulled her head out of her car and smiled. “Hello, Morgan.”
Rachel had to wonder why she had agreed to this. She’d been in town three weeks, and suddenly she was taking her daughter to a movie with a stranger. Well, okay, not a stranger, exactly. But why did she get the feeling she had dropped into the middle of a play and didn’t know her part? Things were going on all around her, and she was simply being carried along.
It was eerie to feel like this was right where she belonged. She didn’t trust the feeling. It could get her in trouble too easily. Make her trust when she shouldn’t.
Morgan understood. She didn’t know how, but she could see it in his eyes.
“Mo gan!”
Rachel turned to see her daughter pull loose from her mother on the steps and run down, signing at Morgan.
He grinned. “Hi, sweetheart,” he signed and said at the same time. “Wanna watch a movie?”
Rachel corrected him. “Like this,” she said, and touched her daughter. “Movie. You want to go see a movie with us?”
“I’m afraid to ask what I said instead of movie.”
She chuckled. “I’m not sure what it was.”
“Yeh!” Lindsay said and threw herself at Morgan’s legs.
“I think she’s taken to me,” Morgan said, grinning as he lifted the little girl into his arms.
“I think so, too.”
Oops. Lindsay kissed him and then lunged out of his arms toward her mother. Rachel caught her.
Morgan looked like he was ready to have a heart attack.
“She does that sometimes. She has no fear of falling.” Rachel gave her a kiss and put her into the car. “I hope you don’t mind me driving. I have her toddler seat in here.”
Morgan shook his head. “Not at all. Betty, you mind me leaving my car in the street there?”
Betty leaned against the post. “Not at all. I’m going to mow the lawn while you’re gone. So getting in and out of the garage will be easier for me.”
“Why don’t you leave that for me, Betty?” Morgan complained.
Rachel watched as her mom smiled and laughed. “I’m not helpless, Morgan. Now, go have fun. Lindsay needs this. I’ll see you later.”
The sky was cloud-free and sunny. The grass was growing, though not a lot. This would be the first time her mom had mowed the lawn this year. All in all, it was a beautiful day.
Lindsay was caught up in pointing out every person they passed and calling out something about them. Rachel drove down the quiet streets. “I want to thank you, Morgan, for suggesting this. Lindsay hasn’t slowed down since she found out we were going to the movie. She is thrilled.”
“When’s the last time you got to take her?” Morgan asked.
Rachel smiled, though it was a sad smile. She slowed to a stop at the corner and then looked both ways before turning. “Once since her father left us. It’s been a while.”
“Well, hopefully, since life is slower here in the small cit
y, you’ll have more chances.”
“City life. It was too hectic.”
“I used to be a doctor in the city. I also studied in a large metropolitan area. This is the best decision I made. I only wish I had made it before I started school.”
Hearing a note of melancholy in his voice, she glanced at him. “You lost someone, too?”
His gaze snapped to hers. She didn’t get to see the full reaction because she had to look at the road. What she did see, though, told her she had hit the nail on the head.
“A slower life gives you time to think, to prioritize your life. Things I didn’t do when I was younger.”
Rachel nodded. “I’m still trying to do it,” she murmured. She turned into the parking lot and parked. Morgan slipped his seat belt off, exited the car and moved around to open her door in the time it took her to turn the engine off, pocket the keys and release her seat belt.
Startled, she smiled at him. “Thank you. Has anyone ever told you that you’re very old-fashioned?”
“Is that a complaint?”
“What if it was?” she said, enjoying the banter between them as she opened the door for her daughter. Lindsay was already out of her seat belt and waiting for her to open the childproof door.
“Well, ma’am, I suppose I’d just have to try harder to make you appreciate my gentlemanly manners.”
Rachel tossed back her head and laughed. “You would.”
“You’re beautiful when you laugh, Rachel.”
The laughter died. However, before she could comment or even react to what he had said, he turned and headed toward the ticket counter. “I’m buying, I hate to say. Since I invited you out, I’ll buy.”
Rachel nodded. “Thank you.”
“That’s better. Accepting the gentlemanly behavior already.”
“You’re impossible.”
“I try. So, Lindsay.” He directed his words to her when he managed to get her to gaze at him. “Do you like popcorn?”
She looked at him blankly.
He glanced at Rachel. “I don’t think she’s ever had it,” Rachel offered in explanation.
“What?” Mock outrage shone on his face. “No popcorn? Ever? You have neglected this poor child. We have to have popcorn and lots of it—extra butter.”
What The Doctor Ordered Page 4