hoped she was telling the truth, but she prayed Doc would get there soon. The older gentleman was such a comfort, always seeming to know what to do.
As she cuddled the little girl against her, she heard the sound of a car speeding toward them. “Please let that be Doc,” she prayed, moving to the edge of the road.
She was disappointed when it came into view. Doc drove an old red pickup. This vehicle was a navy blue Suburban. Cactus was too small to be able to afford paramedics and all the emergency equipment of big cities. But maybe the driver would stop anyway. She waved and relief flooded her when he braked to a stop. At least she wouldn’t be alone anymore.
“Is she hurt?” the man asked briskly almost before he was out of the car.
“Not badly, I think. Not like the other two,” she said. “The doctor is on the way, but—”
“I’m the doctor,” he snapped, not slowing as he hurried to the car.
Diane stared after him, shocked. Doc was no longer in Cactus? Surely he hadn’t died. Katie or her mother would’ve told her. But then they hadn’t said he’d moved away either. She knew about Samantha, Mac Gibbons’s wife, who had come to Cactus to be Doc’s partner, but—
“Come help me,” he ordered.
Diane hurried over, still dealing with the surprise.
“Set the little one on the grass and help me get the boy out. He’s got a broken arm and I don’t want to do more damage than I have to.”
It was difficult to free herself from the toddler sobbing in her arms, but she promised she’d be right back with her brother. Then she hurried to help the doctor.
“Can you manage to handle his legs? He’s heavier than he looks.”
Diane didn’t waste time telling him she’d been raised on a farm and had helped pay for college working at the airport as a ticket agent which included shifting luggage. She nodded.
Gently they transferred the boy to the patch of grass where his sister was sobbing.
“Stay with them and hold his arm against his body until I can stabilize the woman.”
Before Diane could agree, he’d disappeared into the car again. But she wasn’t complaining. She was relieved the man seemed to know what he was doing. Sitting down on the grass, not caring about any grass stains on her new dress, she let the little girl snuggle into her lap while she gently held the little boy’s arm against his chest.
“Shh, baby, you’re all right,” she comforted.
She felt more sure of that when she heard the siren that meant someone from the sheriff’s office was on the way. She hoped it was Cal Baxter, the sheriff himself.
By the time the Blazer halted, the doctor was beside it. Diane saw Cal get out. He nodded in her direction, taking in the children, before the doctor urged him back to the wreck.
The boy moaned and his eyes fluttered open.
“Be still, honey, the doctor’s helping your mama right now,” Diane said, hoping the words would help him, but they only reminded her smallest charge that she didn’t have her mama. Which, of course, brought on renewed sobbing.
More sirens sounded. Diane was startled as an ambulance appeared. She hadn’t realized Cactus had an emergency vehicle.
By the time the ambulance came to a halt, Cal and the new doctor had gotten the woman out of the car. The ambulance driver brought out a stretcher and they placed the woman upon it and moved her straight to the ambulance.
As soon as she was put inside, Cal pulled out his cell phone. “Tell Sam the patient’s on her way. Here’s Jeff to give you the details.” He handed the phone to the doctor and came to Diane’s side.
“Hello, Diane. Need some assistance?”
“Yes, please,” she said. “The doctor said to keep the boy’s arm still and this little lady is upset.”
Cal reached for the little girl. With two little ones of his own, he knew how to handle them. Diane shifted the boy’s head into her lap and cuddled him against her, hoping her body heat would help him. She brushed his brown hair off his face and dropped a kiss on his brow.
The doctor reached them with a blanket under his arm and Cal asked, “Did the lady come to?”
The man shook his head and knelt beside Diane. “How’s he doing?”
“He seems to be in a state of shock,” she said quietly.
The doctor spread the blanket over the little boy.
“Do you need me to go with you to the clinic?” Cal asked. “I’ll have to do an investigation and try to find out their identities, but I can call a deputy to get started while I go with you.”
“I’ll help, too,” Diane offered.
The doctor gave her a sharp look. Then he shifted his gaze to Cal.
She stiffened. He didn’t think she was trustworthy enough? She was used to everyone knowing her and her family, and his questioning her ability irritated her.
Cal said quickly, “Diane Peters, Katie’s sister.” Then, taking the doctor’s agreement for granted, he said, “Thanks, Diane. I appreciate that. We can contact relatives a little faster that way.”
The doctor nodded and stood. “I’ll transfer the baby seat and get the other stretcher.”
As soon as the doctor had moved away, Diane hurriedly asked, “Who is he? Where’s Doc?”
“That’s Jeff Hausen. Doc is still in town but he’s the medical examiner now. He’ll probably be at the clinic helping Sam when you get there. He pitches in for emergencies.”
“Oh.”
“Okay, Cal,” the doctor called, “bring the little one over here.”
When Cal started toward the Suburban, the little girl’s cries went up an octave as she reached over Cal’s shoulder for Diane. The doctor frowned at Diane, taking her by surprise. He left Cal and came to Diane’s side with the stretcher.
“Why didn’t you tell me you knew them?” he demanded.
Diane stared at him. “I don’t. I’ve never seen them before.” What was wrong with the man? First he didn’t trust her and then he accused her of being irresponsible?
He didn’t respond to her statement. Instead, he gently moved the little boy onto the stretcher. “Are you up to carrying one end?” he asked.
Diane nodded and struggled to get up, her legs having gone to sleep. Suddenly, strong hands closed around her waist and lifted her to her feet.
“Are you okay?”
Embarrassed, she nodded again and bent over to reach for one end of the stretcher.
“Maybe you’d better go comfort the baby
