When the Heart Heals by Ann Shorey Page B

coffee. “Faith Saxon, his granddaughter, manages the business. She’s the one I warned you about. Her and Miss Rosemary are quite a pair.”
    Elijah considered the sheriff’s remarks as he chewed a strip of bacon. Small towns had histories that took an outsider like himself a long time to decipher. Nothing like Chicago,where he’d lived before the war. There, no one expected to know everyone who had lost a family member in the conflict, or why one neighbor didn’t speak to another. Between Miss Saxon and Thaddeus, he was beginning to understand the community he’d chosen for his practice.
    He slid his chair away from the table. “Time I left for the office.” His mood deflated at the prospect of speaking to Miss Saxon about her guest. He enjoyed the moments they spent together with patients, yet every time they had a disagreement she retreated behind a revetment as unyielding as any he’d seen on a battlefield. He shook his head. No help for it—she’d crossed a line he never thought he’d have to defend.
    â€œGood seeing you, Doc.” Thaddeus reached for the platter and helped himself to more eggs.
    â€œAlways a pleasure.” The words were rote, but he meant them. After the camaraderie of the Army medical service, he found his spare time in Noble Springs to be lonely. Maybe one of these Sundays he’d visit the church across the street from his house.

    â€œRosemary! Someone’s trying to get in your door.” Jolene’s shrill warning sliced through the early morning stillness.
    Rosemary glanced down at Bodie, who dozed behind the cookstove. “Must be my brother. He stops by most mornings. Otherwise the dog would bark.”
    She hurried to the entry and slid the bolt. Jolene scurried partway up the stairs and then paused, watching.
    â€œWhere were you?” Curt said as soon as she opened the door.
    â€œGood morning to you too. Want to come in, or would you rather stand on the porch and hector me?”
    â€œSorry.” He stepped inside and bent to kiss her cheek, then glanced up the stairs at Jolene. “Did Miss Graves tell you I was here last night?”
    â€œShe did. Come where it’s warm and I’ll tell you where I was.” Rosemary spoke over her shoulder as she led the way to the kitchen. When Curt took a chair, she sat at the table opposite him. “Dr. Stewart asked me to assist at a birth out in the country. There wasn’t time to let Faith know I’d be gone.” She leaned forward and rested her hand on his. “I apologize. I knew you’d be worried.”
    â€œI just don’t like the idea of you being here alone. Anything could have happened.”
    â€œAs you see, I’m not alone right now.” Rosemary folded her arms over her chest.
    â€œFaith said you’d like me to bring Miss Graves’s things over here.”
    â€œYes, please.”
    He lowered his voice. “She also said you plan to visit the girl’s parents.” Frowning, he shook his head. “We can’t get our mother to talk to us. Why do you think you can influence Miss Graves’s family?”
    â€œI have to try. She needs help beyond what outsiders can provide.” She stood and moved to the oven, wrapped her hand in her apron, and lifted a pan of golden brown biscuits to the stovetop. With a spatula, she scooped three onto a plate and placed them in front of Curt. “Put some honey on these. It will sweeten your disposition.”
    He split open a biscuit and drizzled honey on the cut surface. Around a mouthful, he said, “Meals are another thing. How can you feed an additional person?”
    Rosemary felt a laugh bubble up inside. “Ask me next month. Right now she’s too sick to eat much.”
    He sent her an exasperated look. “This isn’t a joke.”
    â€œI know. I love you for your concern, but I’m a grown woman. Please let me make my own