The Cowboy's Healing Ways (Cooper Creek) by Minton Brenda

Author:Minton, Brenda [Minton, Brenda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-02-01T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Laura watched Jesse with the little boy Jeremy had asked him to examine. She guessed Teddy to be about eight years old. He wore jeans shorts a few sizes too large and a pajama top for a shirt and his bare feet were cut and blistered.

She found a towel in the kitchen of the Back Street Community Center and while the little guy sat on the table waiting for Jesse to finish the examination, she wiped off his feet and applied salve and bandages to two of the cuts. He smiled at her and didn’t look at all upset by his condition, even though his left eye had swollen nearly shut due to poison ivy and he couldn’t stop scratching the sores on his arms.

His mom stood behind the table, her smile hovering between gratitude and tearful embarrassment. Laura offered her a smile of encouragement. Moms had to stick together. Laura knew from her own experience that everyone judged, everyone speculated, and people didn’t always want the whole truth.

“You’re going to have to learn the difference between poison ivy and mint, Teddy.” Jesse wrote out a prescription for the mom. “He needs to take this entire prescription. Even if he looks better, he has to take every pill exactly the way the pharmacist tells you.”

“I can do that.” Her cheeks turned pink and she looked from Laura to Jesse. “How much do I owe you?”

“Nothing.” Jesse helped Teddy off the table and ruffled the boy’s curly brown hair. “Stay out of the poison ivy, Teddy.”

“Okay, Doctor.” Teddy saluted and laughed before he turned and ran from the room. His mom apologized and ran after him.

“Cute.” Laura watched them run up the stairs together and her heart ached because it had been months since she’d had such normal moments with her own daughter.

But it wouldn’t be much longer. Tomorrow she’d be allowed to visit Abigail at the Coopers’.

“Ready to go?” Jesse walked over to the sink and turned on water. Laura joined him because just the thought of poison ivy made her itchy.

“I’m ready.” She waited until he reached for the towel to wash her hands.

They flipped off lights and headed up the stairs. Jeremy was waiting for them in what was once the church sanctuary but now served several purposes, Laura had learned. They sometimes had music, sometimes plays or special speakers.

“Looks like Teddy will live.” Jeremy walked next to Jesse as they left the building. “You two make a good team.”

Jesse shook his head. “Jeremy, stop trying to help God. If this clinic is supposed to happen, it will. And God will supply the medical staff.”

“Right, wait on God.” Jeremy pulled keys out of his pocket. “I need to head home or I’m going to have a wife praying the wrath of God down on me. But thanks, Jess. All kidding aside, I appreciate you doing this. Even if you’re not the guy, at least you helped me to see the need.”

“I didn’t help you see the need—you latched on and refused to let go.

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