“Ah, you must be Mr. Price.” The doctor looked up. “Michael Blake. Good to meet you.”
The doctor was a young—very young—man with reddish-blond hair and brown eyes. He didn’t look any older than twenty-five years. Could he truly care for Kat?
Cam held out his hand. “Thank you for coming out, Doctor.”
“Of course. Anything for a friend of Lady Rose. I’ve examined your sister, and I don’t think she has scarlet fever.”
“But Doc said—” Mrs. Price began.
“I’m sure your doctor is a fine man. Doctors disagree all the time. That’s why it’s called the practice of medicine. What is your doctor’s name?”
“Hinkman,” Mrs. Price said. “Sawyer Hinkman.”
“Has he taken care of Kat before?”
“Of course,” Mrs. Price said. “Doc takes care of all of us around here. He’s been doing it for years.”
“I’ve never heard of him. Do you know where he went to medical school?”
“No, I don’t.”
“It’s possible that he didn’t. He probably practices by experience, which works out most of the time. In this case, however, I think he made a mistake.”
“Why don’t you think it’s scarlet fever?” Cameron asked.
“First of all, there’s no rash yet. It usually occurs within a day, but can take two so I’m not making my determination on that fact alone.” Dr. Blake rubbed his forehead. “Your sister’s throat isn’t red, and there has been no vomiting. She shows no signs of abdominal pain or distress. These are all common symptoms of scarlet fever.”
“What is it then, Doctor?” Rose asked.
“I’m not sure, to be honest. I don’t think it’s small pox, because again, there’s no rash.”
“Let us have it,” Cameron said.
“Your sister is not very responsive. I had to prick her foot with a needle before she gave me any reaction, yet she shows no signs of febrile delirium. The seizure your mother described concerns me also.” Blake massaged the nape of his neck. “I’d like for her to be hospitalized in Bath.”
“No!” Mrs. Price cried. “I won’t have it. People go to hospitals to…to die!”
“I understand your concern, Mrs. Price,” the doctor said, “but hospitals have a come a long way in the last several years. The hospital in Bath is state of the art and specializes in the treatment of patients. Surgeries are performed there, and illnesses are cured.”
“But—”
“You can of course continue to care for her at home,” Blake said. “But when I can’t make a firm diagnosis, I prefer my patients to be under the care of professionals who can respond to any unforeseen issues that may occur.”
Cameron swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. Hospitals cost money. A lot of money. But Kat’s life was worth whatever it cost.
“Have you seen anything like this before?” he asked.
“Yes, I have.”
“And…” Rose urged.
“Sometimes patients recover, and sometimes they don’t.”
Cameron caught his mother as she swayed into his arms.
“But she’s a strong, healthy little girl, and she’ll have the best chance in a hospital with professional care all day and night.”
Cameron’s gut felt hollow as his mother sobbed against him. “What would that kind of care cost, Blake?”