Leave a Candle Burning (7 page)

“How do you know when something is stressed?” Doyle asked.

“Sometimes by how often the topic is addressed. Sin’s warring against us is one example of a subject Scripture covers very thoroughly.”

“But it’s been several weeks,” Cathy said. “Did he have
more
verses today?”

“Yes,” Maddie answered, “and Jace talked to Douglas afterward. It seems he has more sermons planned on the topic.”

Cathy looked surprised but not put off. Indeed, she looked intrigued, as if she might be interested to see how far Douglas Muldoon could take this.

Doyle asked more specific questions as the meal went on, and Jace and Maddie told him all they could remember. At one point, Jace brought his Bible to the table and read some of the verses to them.

It was the beginning of a great afternoon.

Scottie was downstairs after lunch. She had eaten with Eli, as she always did, but he wanted to nap soon after the meal ended, and she had moved downstairs and picked up her sewing. Iris had Sundays off, but Finn was always in attendance. He found her in the parlor not long after she’d settled in.

“He’s having trouble breathing,” Finn informed her quietly, his face serious.

“Is it his position? Can he get comfortable?”

“I’ve shifted him many times, and it’s not working.”

“Find the doctor,” Scottie ordered, wasting no time. “Find Doc MacKay’s nephew—I can’t remember his name.”

“I’ll find him,” Finn promised and exited out the front door.

Scottie went directly to her husband’s room. He didn’t look very distressed, and Scottie stared at him, a bit confused.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes,” he said in soft surprise because it was true. “I wasn’t, but things seemed to have suddenly cleared.” Eli cleared his throat and shifted his shoulders a bit.

“I sent Finn for the doctor,” Scottie admitted, her voice apologetic.

“Well, it’s too bad to disturb him on a Sunday, but it will be nice to meet him.” Eli’s voice told of his calm.

Scottie smiled at him. It was just his way to comfort and take care of her, even making light of the way he felt. She could tell he was not completely comfortable when he continued to clear his throat.

“Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I was struggling for a bit, but it really is better. I was serious about that.”

Reaching for his hand, Scottie sat on the edge of the bed and studied his eyes. Sometimes he said things to make her feel better—she was sure he did—but a moment’s study of his dark brown eyes told her that his claim to feeling better was every bit the truth.

Finding Dannan took some doing. Finn began his search at the doctor’s house, and when his knocking produced no response, he started down the green—the town center—remembering that it was Sunday. The Muldoons’ house was the next stop, but again, he found that home empty. Finn knew it would not be wise to run around without a plan—Tucker Mills was too large for that—but for a moment he was at a loss. Not until he spotted an extra carriage at the big house did he think the banker might have a suggestion for him.

He was at the large front door a few minutes later and was relieved to see Troy answer the door. He knew him from the bank.

“Well, Finn,” Troy greeted him. “Come on in.”

“Thank you, Mr. Thaden.” Finn stepped just inside and saw Conner come into the hall. He nodded in that direction but wasted no time. “I need to find the doctor. Would you have any idea where he might be?”

“He’s here, Finn,” Troy assured him, a hand to his arm. “I’ll get him right now.”

It wasn’t two minutes before Dannan was leaving with Eli’s man. They stopped briefly at Dannan’s house so he could get his bag. The two walked swiftly back down the green and then west to the Peterson house. Beyond a brief explanation of what was needed, Finn had not spoken. His legs were not long, but his stride was swift, his heart hoping things had not grown worse in his absence.

“He’s better,” Scottie was waiting to tell Finn the moment he arrived. She glanced at the doctor, but her eyes were mainly on Finn. “He began to feel better just after you left, but thank you for going.”

“Of course,” Finn assured her.

“Maybe I’ll just take a look anyway,” Dannan put in, not sure he was comfortable with what Finn had told him.

“Come this way,” Finn said, starting toward the stairs. Dannan followed. Scottie held her place in the parlor. She had never been a part of her husband’s medical exams, always waiting for Finn to summon her when Eli’s clothing and bed covers were back in place.

She took a seat, her eyes going up the open staircase to the upstairs hall and resting on her husband’s closed bedroom door. She wasn’t anxious, but neither did she want to be out of sight when Finn came looking for her.

“Your pulse is good,” Dannan announced, still bent over Eli. Having checked his eyes and listened to his heart, he put the stethoscope away, having also summed up the fact that the man in the bed knew more about his condition than any doctor ever would.

“It came on suddenly,” Eli supplied as he buttoned his shirt and Finn adjusted the covers, “and went away just as suddenly.”

“Is that normal?” Dannan asked. “You’ve had that happen before?”

“Not quite so sudden, but shortness of breath is sometimes a problem.”

Dannan was vaguely aware of Finn exiting the room, but he was mostly concentrating on the man in the bed. It was obvious that he had not been up and around for many years, if ever, but that he was also at peace with his situation. Dannan also didn’t miss the fact that this man possessed a keen mind. Dannan found him fascinating.

However, almost all thoughts of the man flew out of his head when the small, redheaded woman from downstairs came in the open door. Dannan had forced himself to concentrate on the task at hand, but now that he could see that Eli Peterson was breathing well, his mind made an immediate shift to the redhead, especially when she stopped short and looked at him in surprise.

“I stabbed you in the head!” Scottie exclaimed, her eyes looking at Dannan and then at her husband.

“This is the man you hit with the rake handle?” Eli confirmed.

Scottie’s eyes were very round as she nodded in the affirmative.

“Our new doctor?” Eli added, not having pictured anyone like this when his wife told her story.

“Well,” Scottie reasoned quietly, “at least he’s a doctor.”

Eli’s slim fingers came to his mouth, but they would not hide the smile.

“I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” Scottie said as she tried to recover, looking between the men and then back at her husband.

“Dr. MacKay,” Eli began, a full-blown smile now covering his mouth.

“Everyone calls me Dannan,” that man said, offering a smile of his own.

“Dannan,” Eli said, starting over. “Please meet my wife, Scottie, and trust me when I tell you she is not a violent person.”

Dannan’s smile froze a little, but he still managed to offer his hand to Scottie, who shook it and apologized.

“Please don’t give it another thought,” Dannan told her, the oddest mix of emotions running through him.

“Did it hurt or bleed very much?”

“No,” Dannan answered.

Scottie looked unconvinced. She felt terrible about what she had done, and even the things she’d said today.

“I’m fine,” Dannan assured her again, not wanting her to trouble over the point and also wanting to exit as soon as possible.

Eli sensed this and rescued him.

“Thank you for coming. I’m sorry to interrupt your Sunday.”

“It’s no bother. I’m just glad you’re doing well. May I stop back tomorrow for one more check?”

“If you think that’s wise, certainly.”

Dannan nodded, put his hat back in place, and said, “Until tomorrow, Mr. and Mrs. Peterson.”

After both Eli and Scottie bid him goodbye, Finn saw Dannan to the front door, not aware of the way the doctor walked just out of sight of the house, leaned against a large tree, and laid his head back, his eyes on the leaves above him.

He had done such a good job of keeping his mind on Eli Peterson, telling himself he could later enjoy the fact that he’d learned where the redhead lived. Not any scenario in his mind had included marriage. And to Eli Peterson, a man who looked to be 20 years her senior! It was none of his business how this marriage had come about, but he wished desperately that he knew.

What does it matter, Dannan?
he asked himself.
She’s not available, and that’s the end of it.

Dannan pushed away from the tree, knowing he was going to have to keep his mind busy whenever he saw her. He didn’t know why he was so drawn to her, but it had happened on that first meeting, and he’d done nothing to deal with it. Well, now he had no choice.

Walking back down the green, Dannan remembered his uncle’s advice to pray fervently for all of his patients, and Eli Peterson now fit that bill. Dannan covered the distance to his house, praying all the while, completely unaware that his patient’s wife was thinking about him at that very moment.