Barefoot Brides by Annie Jones

to order an ambulance?”
    â€œDoes he need an ambulance?”
    â€œNo.” Another insistent push and he had her outside the room. “Just thought it might be the easiest way to transport him. You can’t exactly use your truck.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with my truck?” She held her hand up. “Don’t answer.”
    â€œMoxie, I have a patient to tend to. The sooner I take care of him the sooner you can be on your way and then—”
    â€œThen what, Li? I don’t know how I can handle this alone.”
    â€œYou’re not alone, Moxie.”
    â€œThat’s true.” She clenched her teeth. “I’m never alone.”
    â€œThat’s the way to talk.” He gave her arm a pat.
    â€œI didn’t mean it was a good thing. I meant that since the Cromwell family came back to Santa Sofia they are always—”
    â€œI’m here!” Kate came practically careening around the corner. Her cane swinging in one hand, she used her outstretched arm to counterbalance. This kept her rocking gait rolling until she reached them. “Lionel? Where’s Billy J? What do you need me to do?”
    â€œEverything is under control.” Moxie looked to Lionel for confirmation.
    He gave her a nod and disappeared into the room to see about Billy J.
    Moxie drew a deep breath and pressed on. “So why don’t you deal with Dodie? You can take her home, I’ll stay with my dad and I’ll call you later when we know more about what’s going on.”
    â€œWhat’s going on, y’all?” Vince rounded the corner then pulled up short when Moxie turned to face him.
    She must have looked a sight as he not only stopped in his tracks and in midsentence, but also threw his hands up to keep the people following close on his heels from coming any closer to her.
    Jo all but smashed her pretty little nose into the man’s broad back.
    Travis had to make a quick side step to keep from plowing into Jo.
    However, Dodie, wringing a tattered tissue in her plump little hands, bypassed them all. “I couldn’t convince any of them to stay outside. The whole family insisted on coming in.”
    â€œFamily.” That word again! “ Family? A couple months ago they were all strangers to me, and to my dad.”
    â€œMolly, sweetheart, we only want to help.” Dodie sounded apologetic and yet firm in her conviction.
    â€œI understand that, but do you always have to help from so close?” She laced her arms tightly over her chest and pulled her shoulders up. This kept her from actually swinging her elbows out to physically create more room and gave her just enough comfort to keep from bursting out crying. Moxie tried to keep her anger and frustration low-key but it wasn’t easy. Her father’s health scare had really gotten to her and the fact that she only learned about it by accident didn’t ease her mind any. “It’s just so…overwhelming.”
    Travis stepped forward. “Look, I know you’re under a lot of stress right now, Moxie, but Dodie and the girls only thought—”
    â€œOf themselves.” She filled in the blank with quiet conviction.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œDodie and the girls only thought of themselves.” She spoke softly, saying what she thought had to finally be said. She did not lash out. She did not allow her voice to quiver. She took a deep breath and talked from her hurting heart to the people who claimed to want only the best for her. “You said when there is trouble, family goes—well, doesn’t family also include each other? Don’t they take the other members of that family into account?”
    â€œMolly Christina, that’s no way to talk to us when we only wanted to—”
    â€œMy name is Moxie.” She almost stamped her foot, just like a petulant child. “And don’t try to pull that maternal guilt card on me, Dodie.”
    Everyone