during the trip to Troy and the clot had held nicely afterward. The boy was luckier still that no infection had formed. Nail punctures—to the foot especially—often infected the tissues.
According to Mrs. Cleary, Pastor Hogle had questioned the family about Joey’s treatment and his interaction with Maddie especially. Pastor Hogle might still blame Maddie for the wagon accident, but did the man actually believe she would attempt to harm an innocent child?
The pastor’s grief for his daughter had poisoned his mind against Maddie. Whether the rift could ever be repaired, Jace couldn’t guess. He knew only that he would never allow Hogle to hurt Maddie again.
This fiercely protective sentiment took him by surprise. He closed the file, leaning back in the chair. Somehow this woman had penetrated the barriers he’d placed between himself and his patients. Detachment allowed him to do his job. But the rules he’d lived by did not apply when it came to Maddie. Although he didn’t know how or why it had happened, he had to accept that it had.
And he had to see her.
Jace arrived at the Sutter house just before sunset. The housekeeper, Rhetta, led him to the parlor, where Maddie’s grandfather sat by the fire, reading the papers. The room was stiflingly hot. The old man was ill, but seemed to be holding his own. A glass of port kept him company. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jace said, “I’d like to speak with Madeline.”
“That makes two of us.” Mr. Sutter adjusted the worn afghan on his lap. “I’m glad you’re here, doctor. I was considering sending for you tomorrow.”
“What’s happened? Is she all right?”
“My granddaughter has locked herself in her room and hasn’t left it in two days. She told me she’s not going to Amelia’s wedding, and I’d like to know what happened between the two of you that changed her mind.”
Jace sighed. “Pastor Hogle stopped by my office the other day.”
“That son of a—” He broke into a rattling cough that left him breathless.
The man could barely vocalize his anger, let alone act on it. As Mr. Sutter caught his breath, Jace was struck again by how defenseless a target Maddie truly was. Her only ally in Misty Lake was a homebound invalid.
Jace handed Sutter the glass of port on the nearby table.
“I’d be happy to examine you sometime,” he said as the man drank.
He waved Jace away. “Save your concern for my granddaughter.”
“I see where she gets her stubbornness,” Jace muttered. “It’s none of my business, but in light of what I’ve seen, I’m compelled to ask. Have you never considered sending her away?”
“Every day.” Mr. Sutter’s eyes dimmed. “I damn near insisted,” he said. “When she wouldn’t leave me, I decided we would go together. Two years ago we were all set to depart for Boston.” He shook his head and gave a solid rap to his chest. “This damn ticker of mine had other ideas. Now I’m unable to travel any farther than the porch.” He shook his head. “And she refuses to leave me.”
Maddie’s commitment to the ill man was commendable. Jace swallowed as he thought of his father. Perhaps if Jace had remained at home and not gone off to study in Philadelphia, he could have prevented the man’s eventual ruin.
“May I speak with her, sir?” Jace asked.
“You can try.” He pointed a bony finger to the ceiling. “Her room is the third one on the right. Forgive me for not showing you the way.”
Jace gave a quick nod before heading up the wide staircase. The upper level was as impressive as the rest of the house. Each fine piece of furniture adorning the hall gleamed with freshly applied polish, as did the cherry wood floor.
He knocked on the door to Maddie’s room. The sound echoed through the hollow silence of the long hall, but no answer. A prickle of fear crawled up his spine, a spike of panic he couldn’t control. He knocked harder.
“I’m not hungry, Rhetta,” Maddie called from
According to Mrs. Cleary, Pastor Hogle had questioned the family about Joey’s treatment and his interaction with Maddie especially. Pastor Hogle might still blame Maddie for the wagon accident, but did the man actually believe she would attempt to harm an innocent child?
The pastor’s grief for his daughter had poisoned his mind against Maddie. Whether the rift could ever be repaired, Jace couldn’t guess. He knew only that he would never allow Hogle to hurt Maddie again.
This fiercely protective sentiment took him by surprise. He closed the file, leaning back in the chair. Somehow this woman had penetrated the barriers he’d placed between himself and his patients. Detachment allowed him to do his job. But the rules he’d lived by did not apply when it came to Maddie. Although he didn’t know how or why it had happened, he had to accept that it had.
And he had to see her.
Jace arrived at the Sutter house just before sunset. The housekeeper, Rhetta, led him to the parlor, where Maddie’s grandfather sat by the fire, reading the papers. The room was stiflingly hot. The old man was ill, but seemed to be holding his own. A glass of port kept him company. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Jace said, “I’d like to speak with Madeline.”
“That makes two of us.” Mr. Sutter adjusted the worn afghan on his lap. “I’m glad you’re here, doctor. I was considering sending for you tomorrow.”
“What’s happened? Is she all right?”
“My granddaughter has locked herself in her room and hasn’t left it in two days. She told me she’s not going to Amelia’s wedding, and I’d like to know what happened between the two of you that changed her mind.”
Jace sighed. “Pastor Hogle stopped by my office the other day.”
“That son of a—” He broke into a rattling cough that left him breathless.
The man could barely vocalize his anger, let alone act on it. As Mr. Sutter caught his breath, Jace was struck again by how defenseless a target Maddie truly was. Her only ally in Misty Lake was a homebound invalid.
Jace handed Sutter the glass of port on the nearby table.
“I’d be happy to examine you sometime,” he said as the man drank.
He waved Jace away. “Save your concern for my granddaughter.”
“I see where she gets her stubbornness,” Jace muttered. “It’s none of my business, but in light of what I’ve seen, I’m compelled to ask. Have you never considered sending her away?”
“Every day.” Mr. Sutter’s eyes dimmed. “I damn near insisted,” he said. “When she wouldn’t leave me, I decided we would go together. Two years ago we were all set to depart for Boston.” He shook his head and gave a solid rap to his chest. “This damn ticker of mine had other ideas. Now I’m unable to travel any farther than the porch.” He shook his head. “And she refuses to leave me.”
Maddie’s commitment to the ill man was commendable. Jace swallowed as he thought of his father. Perhaps if Jace had remained at home and not gone off to study in Philadelphia, he could have prevented the man’s eventual ruin.
“May I speak with her, sir?” Jace asked.
“You can try.” He pointed a bony finger to the ceiling. “Her room is the third one on the right. Forgive me for not showing you the way.”
Jace gave a quick nod before heading up the wide staircase. The upper level was as impressive as the rest of the house. Each fine piece of furniture adorning the hall gleamed with freshly applied polish, as did the cherry wood floor.
He knocked on the door to Maddie’s room. The sound echoed through the hollow silence of the long hall, but no answer. A prickle of fear crawled up his spine, a spike of panic he couldn’t control. He knocked harder.
“I’m not hungry, Rhetta,” Maddie called from
Similar Books
