Page 3 of Rancher's Heart

“Was that so difficult? Finish telling Sarah what she needs to know, and we’ll be with you shortly.” My words were hushed. I never took my eyes off the man. When he finished, he shuffled to the waiting room, and everyone waiting turned to glare at him.They’d all been content, and waited patiently you could tell they were ready to take him on if he caused more trouble.

Grabbing the next chart, I flipped it open. Vomiting and dizziness: all the triage vitals looked good, so hopefully it was an anti-nausea shot and see you later. “Number ninety-six,” Icalled, and a woman and teenager stood. The teen sidestepped slightly, and I caught her as she got to me. She looked up at me, her blue eyes filled with tears, and she bit her lip.

“Let’s get you settled in a room,” I whispered. If her head wasn’t hurting yet, it would be by morning. “Mom, would you feel comfortable going to get a ginger ale from the vending machine? I just need to check blood pressure and pulse.” I smiled at her as she took another look at her daughterbefore nodding.

“So, Halley, you’re eighteen?” The girl nodded as a tear ran down her cheek. Reaching out, I dabbed it with a tissue and smiled.

“I was eighteen once, too. Do you know what you were drinking?” I slipped the blood pressure cuff around her biceps and clipped the pulse oximeter to her opposite finger.

“No, I’ve never even had a drink before. My friends and I met up with these guys from a different town, and they gave us drinks.” Her eyes filled with tears again, and my heart squeezed as I remembered a night much like this for my former best friend.

“Did you pass out or lose consciousness?” My stomach suddenly flipped wondering what else this girl had been through tonight.

“No, I didn’t even think I drank much when my mom called and said she was coming to get me. But it was so good. It tasted like strawberries, and I drank the rest as fast as I could.” She wiped her tears with the sleeve of her hoodie that read Everton First Baptist Church.

The door opened, and the young woman on the stretcher closed her mouth as Dr. Jake Gordon walked through the door. “Halley, this is Dr. Gordon. I’m just going to tell him what you told me.”

Moving to the side of the room, I looked up at him and smiled. He was tall, his dark hair was always a mess, his brown eyes never missed anything. “Is fair weekend always this crazy?” I asked as I glanced at the girl.

“I usually try to take this weekend off because it’s always awful.” He laughed. “So what’s up here?” He flipped through her chart.

“I think just a little drunk,” I said quietly.

“Halley, how’s your father?”

“He’s going to kill me.” She wailed. “I’ll have to go up in front of the entire congregation and confess my sins tomorrow when he finds out.” The tears flowed freely now, and my stomach sank for her again.

“Food poisoning? Dr. Jake, I wonder where she picked that up?” I exclaimed as her mother walked into the room carrying five bottles of Ginger Ale.

“The midway is a harbor of bacteria, and it could have been from anything.” He looked at me. The slight scowl on his face makes me very aware he wasn’t happy, but he wasn’t going to say anything.”

“Plenty of fluids, pain medication if you need it, and I think that’s all for tonight,” Jake said as he digitally signed his name on the triage information on the computer.

“Well, sorry we wasted your time tonight, doctor.” The woman said as she smoothed down her hair, smiling up at him. Maybe she should stand in front of the congregation and confess her lustful thoughts tomorrow morning. I rolled my eyes and helped Halley off the bed.

“Get lots of sleep, and make sure you take some ibuprofen tonight before your go to bed and when you get up in the morning. It might not make church easier, but it will help the headache you’re going to have.” My words were quiet. She wasan adult, and her mother, no matter how overbearing she was, didn’t need to be a part of this conversation.

“Thank you,” Halley whispered as her mother walked up beside her. I watched them go, and Jake came to stand beside me.

“I know,” I sighed.

“I didn’t say anything. Her father rules his home and pulpit with an iron fist, and he’s sleeping with the church organist. You won’t be reprimanded by me.” He looked over at me as I looked at him and tried to hold in a laugh.

“How do you know that?” I asked as I moved to clean the stretcher.

“Small-town gossip, Elle. Apparently, you need to get out more.” He chuckled as he left the room. He wasn’t wrong, but by the time I’d finished my shifts, spent time with Parker and dealt with my horses, I didn’t have the energy to leave my house.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I took it out.

Parker: hey ma me n dad just got home best fair ever see u tomorrow

Me: It’s three in the morning, Parker. You should be asleep.

Parker: ma it’s fine dads gone for a few days after today I just wanted to spend more time with him

Me: Fine, get to sleep. See you when I get home.

Parker: yep

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