Page 33 of White Collar Rancher

His friend shrugged. “Firemen like to talk. One guy said his wife’s friend convinced her to switch to a bigger clinic out of town. He says the drive is a pain in the ass and he’s worried about the weather when the baby comes.”

“That sucks.”

“Yep. I tried sticking up for Priya, but he didn’t need convincing. As firemen, we know freak shit happens. As ranchers, you and I know that animals get sick and die the second you turn your back. Humans aren’t that much different.” He shook his head, his dark eyes grim. “But not everyone is exposed to that.”

They fell quiet for a moment, neither of them moving to do any work.

Then Caleb slapped him on the shoulder. “Maybe it’s for the best. She didn’t look cut out to be a rancher’s wife.” He swaggered toward the barn door.

Justin chuckled, but Caleb’s words echoed in his head.

Chapter 10

The workday was almost done. Friday night was only a couple hours away. Despite that, Priya’s optimism about the weekend was fading, along with her excitement over a new patient.

“I’m sorry, Anya, but I can’t prescribe more hydrocodone.” She faced the young woman that was as jittery as a…well, as an addict facing withdrawals. “Your prescription for that runs through your primary doctor.”

Priya rattled off the options for endometriosis treatment, but her heart floated to the floor. The girl wasn’t listening. Her case wasn’t severe, but if she kept ignoring it and depending on pain meds, it would be.

Regardless, Priya went through her spiel. “Where would you like to start?”

“I’d like to start by dealing with the pain!” Anya jumped up. “I should’ve listened to what they said about you and gone to Dr. Bezos.”

What had they said? And who was they?

Priya pursed her lips. Dr. Bezos. That part she understood. Also known as The Candy Man within the clinic. The conspiracy part of her wondered if he was spreading rumors about her and her abilities. When she’d first started, a quarter of his patients had switched to her, but she’d quickly learned that many were looking for a young, inexperienced doctor to give them another pain med prescription.

It hadn’t taken long for them to realize that Priya monitored their current prescriptions and was more interested in treating the reason for the pain than doling out more pills and calling it a day. The medications were a tool, not a cure.

She’d talked to her superior about The Candy Man already. Then the tragedy with Maisy had happened and she hadn’t had enough patients to fight over.

Anya paced the tiny room. She hadn’t stalked out. Priya took it as a good sign.

“Anya. The pain is going to get so bad that your current prescription won’t be effective. It’ll get so bad that no amount of pain killer will dent it.”

The girl paused, chewing the index fingernail of one hand, her other arm curved around her abdomen.

Priya again suggested a treatment plan. Anya listened. She probably still planned to get more pills out of another doctor, but she also wanted her condition treated. Priya could work with that.

The appointment wrapped up and Priya walked the woman out. Back at the nurse’s station, only Krista remained.

“That went better than I thought.” She squeezed the hand sanitizer nozzle to fill her palm with foam.

“There’ll be more next week.”

Priya groaned. Thanksgiving was next week. Dr. Bezos was out of the office until the Monday after. She grabbed a sanitizing wipe and started wiping counters. It was standard for end of shift, but she needed soothing. “At least my schedule will be sort of full.” She raised a questioning brow. She’d been too afraid to look.

“It’s better than it’s been. Not many openings left for each day. We’ll have to live it up.”

Oh, she would. An entire week of not worrying about the clinic administrator calling her into her office.

Priya glanced at Krista. Would she know what Anya was talking about? “Hey, have you heard anyone saying things about me? Warning patients to stay away?”

Krista frowned. “No. But most people know I’m your nurse. In my baby-wearing classes, they’ve already had their babies. Why?”

“Just something Anya said. It was kind of weird.”

Krista lifted a brow. “Was she high?”

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