Mrs. McGuire surprised him with her reaction when she said, “I’m not going to the hospital. Nothing good happens there.”
That wasn’t generally true but in her case it might be. Kiefer wasn’t sure if her prognosis might be worse than he’d anticipated. At a knock on the door he said, “Come in.”
Ashley entered. “Mrs. McGuire, I’m going to drive you to the hospital.”
“I’m not going.”
Ashley’s eyes widened as she gave Mrs. McGuire an incredulous look. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t want a bunch of people I don’t know poking at me.”
“Please, Mrs. McGuire, you need to have your foot seen to. I’ll be there with you. Didn’t Dr. Bradford tell you how important this is to your health?”
“I did,” Kiefer said.
“I understand the doctor is trying to help but I’ll be all right.” Mrs. McGuire started putting on her sock. “I’ll just give it a good soak and it’ll get better like it always has.”
Kiefer leaned forward, capturing her gaze. “That might work for a little while but not forever, and when it stops you’ll be in bigger trouble. Please reconsider.”
Ashley placed her hand on his shoulder. He was far too conscious of it remaining there as she said, “Dr. Bradford, would you let me speak to Mrs. McGuire for a second?”
“Sure.” He left. What did Ashley have to say that couldn’t be said in front of him? As he went into the next exam room he saw the reporter and cameraman still standing in the waiting room.
A few minutes later Ashley stopped him in the hall. “If you’ll make all the arrangements, I’ll take Mrs. McGuire to the hospital as soon as we go by her house and pack a bag.”
Ashley could work miracles. “What did you say to get her to go?”
She grinned. “What’s said between two women stays between two women.”
“That’s not been my experience.”
She looked at him with her chin tilted to one side. “Why, Doctor, I do believe you’re a bit jaded.”
“No, I’ve lived long enough to know differently. But it doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you convinced her.”
CHAPTER THREE
ASHLEY DROVE HOME well after dark. She’d got Mrs. McGuire settled in the hospital, but not happily so. Her only hope was that Mrs. McGuire would stay long enough to get the care she needed. Now having the clinic in the neighborhood, the older woman would have a place to go to for care. The clinic was already making a difference.
If only it had been around that day for Lizzy.
As she drove by the front door of the clinic she saw a couple of boys on either side of it. They were pushing over the urns. Ashley honked her horn and their heads jerked up. She recognized them as members of Marko’s gang. Rolling down the window, she hollered, “Hey, stop that!”
That was all it took for them to take off running.
With a sigh, she parked and climbed out. She walked over to see how big a mess had been made. It was late, she was tired and didn’t feel like cleaning it up. But if she didn’t do it now, what was left of the flowers would be dead by morning. She reached the door just as it was opened. She almost fell but Kiefer’s strong hands gripped her shoulders and steadied her. Her heart beat faster. She wasn’t sure if it was from surprise or from the jolt of having him touch her.
“Y-you scared me. I d-didn’t expect you to still be here,” she stammered.
He let her go. Disappointment washed over her. Not a feeling she should be having.
Kiefer stepped out. “I was finishing up some paperwork and getting ready to head home when I heard something going on out here. I came to check it out.”
She waved her hand around. “A couple of kids have been busy.”
“More like Marko trying to make a point.”
He was right but she wasn’t going to let him know that. “I’d like to just consider it a prank. I’ve got to get this cleaned up.”
“Can’t it wait?”
“The flowers could die overnight.” Ashley started picking up the plants.
“Ah, a woman and her flowers.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just that women have a thing for flowers.” He handed her part of a plant.
“You sound pretty cynical. Someone used flowers against you?”
“Something like that. Why don’t you get the broom and dustpan?” Kiefer began picking up pieces of the broken urns and putting them into a pile near the wall of the building. “I’ll get started cleaning this up.”
It was nice of him to offer to help. “You’ve had a long day. Go on home and I’ll see to this.”
“I’m not leaving you out here by yourself after this happened. So forget it. Get the broom and dustpan.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“I wouldn’t have to if you weren’t so hardheaded,” he retorted as he continued to work.
Ashley put her hands on her hips and glared at him. It gave her little satisfaction because he wasn’t looking at her. “I am not hardheaded.”
“You’re sure acting that way. I’ve made a simple offer of help and you’re still standing there.”
“Are you always so bossy?” Ashley glared down at the top of his head.
He looked over his shoulder at her. “Are you?”
With a huff, she stomped through the door and down the hall. Kiefer’s chuckle followed her. She hadn’t enjoyed growing up with a father controlling her every move and she sure didn’t like Kiefer telling her what to do. It was time to make that clear to him. She snatched the cleaning supplies out of the closet along with a bucket and returned to the front door. Kiefer had all the pieces picked up and the flowers laid off to the side.
“I tried to save your flowers but I’m not sure they’re going to live.”
He really was making an effort at being helpful. Maybe she could cut him some slack. “Thanks. I was afraid of that. Would you like to do the honors of sweepin
g or holding the pan?”
“I’ll take the pan.” His hand brushed hers as she handed it to him. A shiver went through her.
“I rather like the idea of you at my feet,” Ashley said as she swept the dirt into a pile.
“Don’t get carried away with the idea.” Kiefer held the pan while she moved the dirt into it then dumped it into the bucket. “Maybe if we put the flowers in here they might make it.”
“Sounds good to me.” She went back to sweeping. It was nice not having to clean up all by herself.
A few minutes later Kiefer said, “I think that’s got it.”
“I’ll carry the broom and pan in if you don’t mind bringing in the flowers. You can just set them beside the door.” Her body skimmed his as he waited for her to enter ahead of him. Why did the most insignificant touch between them make her heart flutter?
After putting the bucket on the floor, he said, “I’m going to call it a night. Lock up. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Hey, you didn’t even ask about Mrs. McGuire.”
“I’d just got off the phone with her doctor when I heard the crash out here. She’s doing fine. I plan to visit her before I get here in the morning.”
He really was a good doctor. “Thanks for what you did for her today.”
“No big deal. All in a day’s work.”
“It’s a big deal to Mrs. McGuire and the people around here.” And to me.
Kiefer nodded. “I’m just glad I could help.” He grinned. “And I didn’t have to spend too much time at your feet.”
* * *
The next morning just after sunrise Ashley woke to the sound of large vehicles pulling into the parking lot. Crawling out of bed, she went to the window and looked down to find a truck towing a power pole. It pulled to the end of the lot closest to the iron stairs leading to her front door. Behind it was another truck with an industrial posthole digger attached.
What was going on?
She’d been trying for months to get a streetlight put in near the lot. More than once she’d been informed that it wasn’t going to happen. Now all of a sudden the power company was showing up. She watched as Kiefer’s black truck turned into the lot and took a spot out of the way of the trucks. He climbed out and walked over to one of the men from the power company.