Page 15 of Stables

I bet it’s the admin clerk, Erin, by the timbre.

Yep, there’s the nasally laugh.

What I don’t expect is the knock at my door.

“Doctor? We have a question for you.” Maggie’s voice carries through the thin wood.

“Just a second.” I’m done with my charting, but the last one of the day still sits on my desk.

Charlotte.

I wish I could be optimistic that I’ll never see her again. Wade should have that asshole that beat her up behind bars by now.

But I know jail sentences end. And anger has a way of festering in a man behind bars.

There’s a chance she’ll come back through. The truth of the inevitable leaves a sour taste in the back of my throat.

Flipping the folder closed, I find Maggie and Erin staring up at me.

“Yes?” I cross my arms over my chest, already feeling defensive about their overly cheerful expressions.

“Remember that woman that came in earlier? Charlotte Hughes?” Maggie points to the phone with the orange blinking light of a held call.

Of course. It will be a long time before I forget the set of her jaw and determination in her gaze.

“I do. I just finished her transcript.”

“She’s on the line. Her little girl, the one that was with her?” She pauses and looks at me expectantly.

Waving my fingers, I try to prompt her. I really wish she’d get to the point. “Yes, I remember. What about her?”

Maggie glances up at Erin. “She asked Erin to bring her some Tylenol if possible. The daughter has a fever and Charlotte isn’t sure she can drive tonight.”

My chest tightens.

Her injuries were bad enough, she shouldn’t be alone. What happened to her friend? The blond looked like she was going to take care of her.

“What other symptoms does the little one have?”

Why do I remember her name is Paisley? Usually those kinds of details disappear the moment the discharge papers are handed out.

Erin shrugs her slight shoulders and tugs her tan shawl tighter. “I didn’t ask.”

A low growl escapes me. “There are a lot of reasons a child that age can have a temp, she should be evaluated. Can you bring her in?”

Erin’s brown eyes widen and she shakes her head. “I was just going to swing by on my way home. I have to pick my boys up at football practice.”

My teeth clench, restraining myself. I want to bite back that a baby is sick, but I know it’s not Erin’s problem.

The giant clock behind her taunts me, marking the last five minutes before my shift ends.

“I’ll just do it myself.” I bark out.

Maggie’s brows bunch over her nose. “Seriously?”

“Yes. There’s no sense in expecting her to come in after the morning she’s had. A fever isn’t exactly ambulance worthy.” I temper my tone and make a point of relaxing my stance. It isn’t their fault the whole situation rankles me.

I’m just not sure why I’m agitated about it.

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