Page 51 of Shine On Oklahoma

“No.”

“Okay.” She sighed. “I can write a ‘scriptfor something calming, if you want.”

“Do you think I need one? I mean, is thiskind of thing likely to happen again?”

“Has it ever happened before?”

The day they took her dad away. The day theytook Kiley away. They day Kendra had to move in with her firstfoster family. “Yeah. I guess it has.”

“Then it could happen again. There are sometools for coping with stress. Meditation. Yoga.” She ignoredKendra’s eye roll. “Also drink more water, eat more veggies, avoidalcohol.” She shook a tiny brown bottle. “Take one of these onlywhen nothing else works. Just one. It’s fast-working.”

“Thanks.” She took the bottle, looked aroundfor her purse.

“Your clothes and things are over there.”Sophie pointed to a chair where her stuff was folded and stacked.It had floral upholstery and scrolled wooden arms and legs. “Youcan go ahead and get dressed now. Call me if you need me, okay? Youhave my number.”

“I will. Thanks, Sophie.”

Sophie turned for the door, then paused, andturned back. “You know, women need other women. I’m here for you ifyou ever want to talk.”

Kendra lowered her head. “That’s sweet ofyou. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

CHAPTER NINE

“Is she all right?”

Dax hated himself for rushing to Doc Sophie’swith Kiley when she got the call. He’d been at the stable with Rob.Kiley had stopped on her way out to tell them that her friend Alliehad found Kendra gasping and clutching her chest on the side of theroad.

Right where he’d left her.

He shouldn’t have left her there. If he’dcaused something like this…

Doc Sophie came back into the waiting room,stethoscope around her neck, its business end in a pocket of herdoctor-coat.

“She’s fine. It wasn’t her heart.”

“Was she…faking it?” He stood there, kind offrozen, waiting for the ax to fall.

“You don’t fake a heartrate of two-twen—I didnotjust divulge a patient’s confidential stats.” Then shefrowned at him and tipped her head sideways. “Why do you ask? Hasshe been up to her old ways?”

Sophie had gone from medical professional toMcIntyre in a dragonfly’s heartbeat. She was protecting herfamily.

“No.” It wasn’t a lie. Kendra wasn’t up toher old ways. She had all new ways this time around.

Sophie watched his face. He didn’t know whatshe saw there. He didn’t much care, he wasn’t going to say anythingthat might lead to this kidnapping story reaching Kiley. Thinkingher father was being held at gunpoint by killers could not be goodfor a woman as pregnant as she was. Besides, he didn’t even know ifit was true.

Kiley came out of the little room wherethey’d taken Kendra, an angry look on her face. “So now that I’mnot afraid my sister’s having a heart attack, you want to tell mewhat happened?” She was looking right at him, hands propped on herhips, chin jutting forward, but not as much as the belly.

“What do you mean? You’re the one who got thephone call. Allie said—”

“I mean before.”

Sophie put a hand on Kiley’s shoulder, andtipped her head sideways.

“What?” Kiley snapped.

The doc gave her a look, and apparently Kileyunderstood it because she looked around the room and realized theywere not alone. A handful of patients were waiting their turn.“Outside, Dax,” Kiley said, pointing at the door.

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