Embers of Love by Tracie Peterson Page A

she might have stayed home. Texas thunderstorms were not to be ignored.
    “Looks like we may have rain,” she told Sissy.
    “Yes, Miz Deborah, I do believe we will. Guess we’ll get a soakin’ on our way back.”
    “Unless we wait it out here,” Deborah said. “You’ve got friends to visit, don’t you?”
    “Shore I do, but yor mama don’t pay me to visit.”
    Deborah laughed as a loud rumble of thunder sounded. “I don’t think Mama would want us out in this storm. I have things to do myself. I’ll meet you back here at the store after the storm has passed.” She handed the reins to Sissy and stepped down from the wagon. “Why don’t you go visit first, and then when the storm lets up, you can get our shopping done. That way, we won’t have supplies getting wet in the wagon.”
    “I reckon that be best,” Sissy said.
    Deborah smiled. “I’m sure it is.” She hurried off in the direction of the doctor’s office, careful to keep the journals close in case it started to rain. She’d just reached the door of the office waiting room when the first large drops started to fall.
    Opening the door, she called out. “Hello? Are you here, Dr. Clayton?”
    He immediately appeared from the opposite doorway. “Well, hello. What brings you here today?”
    Lightning flashed and Deborah hurried to close the door behind her. “I brought back your journals.”
    “And did you enjoy them?” he asked with a smile.
    “Actually, I did. I was hoping to maybe borrow another.” She held out the collection.
    He took them and motioned her to step into the office. “Help yourself, but I have to ask: Was there anything in particular that you found appealing?”
    Deborah headed to the stack of journals on the bookshelf. “I was rather fascinated by the article on Dr. Robert Koch.”
    The doctor’s face lit up. “He discovered the tuberculosis bacillus, and his work on cholera has been highly discussed.”
    “Yes. That’s the very man,” Deborah replied, quite excited. She jumped at the boom of thunder. “The storm caught me by surprise. Our cook, Sissy, came with me to town, and I’m afraid we’ll be stuck here until the storm passes.”
    “Well, why don’t you wait here with me? We can discuss the article.”
    “I wouldn’t want to keep you from your work . . . and folks might think it strange for me to be here.” She considered leaving, then shook her head. “Let them think what they will.”
    He chuckled and rubbed his bearded chin. “By all means, have a seat. Free time is all I seem to have.” He motioned for her to take a chair.
    She frowned. “Why do you say that?”
    “Because it’s true.” He sat at his desk and leaned back to stretch his arms behind his head. “I have all the time in the world – it’s patients I don’t have. Not one person this week, and only one in the weeks before.”
    “I was hopeful that word would get around regarding your good work with John Stevens. His hand is healing well.”
    “It would seem Mrs. Foster’s word holds more weight. She’s got the town stirred up, believing that if they come to me for help, it’s going to offend the spirits or some such nonsense. Mr. Perkins is quite beside himself. He’s hired me and pays me a good salary, and here I sit idle.”
    “Give them time,” Deborah advised. “I’ll be sure to say good things about you and encourage others to do the same. Many of the folks here are uneducated and steeped in superstitions and traditions. It’s always a headache for the preacher, too.”
    “I suppose I was expecting folks to be grateful to have a doctor.”
    “Maybe they’re afraid they can’t afford it,” she offered.
    “Mr. Perkins takes fees out of the mill workers’ wages each week for their doctor and hospital needs. They’re entitled to my services.”
    She shrugged. “Like I said, it will most likely take time. The people around here have to come to terms with change. It’s always hard for them. In the meanwhile,