doesn’t she come and get you?”
“She’s had knee surgery and she’s not driving yet. I can help her, too.”
“What about your mother?” Maddie kept holding back, trying not to let her emotions get involved.
“My dad hates my aunt. She’s my mother’s sister and my mother can’t even visit her. My mom won’t go against my dad.”
This was all sounding very odd to Maddie. “How did you hear from her?”
“I called her from school to tell her what my dad was planning. I need to see a doctor and she told me to come, but not to tell my father.”
“You haven’t seen a doctor?” This one thing stuck in Maddie’s mind.
“No, ma’am. We can’t afford it.”
“But there are free clinics—if not here, then in Giddings.”
Ginny shook her head. “My dad wouldn’t let me go. He said if I was so stupid to get pregnant then I could have the baby at home just like my mom had all of us.”
Good heavens, this was terrible. The girl needed to see a doctor.
“Do you know when the baby is due?”
“No, ma’am.”
Maddie took a deep breath and looked off to the vehicles traveling on the country road, some stopping at the gas station/convenience store across the highway, others at the local café and the rest continuing on to their homes and ranches. A cool breeze wafted Ginny’s unwashed scent to her.
Everything in her told her not to get involved with a girl she didn’t know, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that Ginny needed medical attention and more.
Oh, she hoped she didn’t regret this. “What’s your aunt’s name?”
“Thelma Jenkins.”
“Do you have her phone number?”
“Why?”
Maddie bit her lip. “I’ll give you the money to get to Temple, but I want to talk to your aunt first.”
Ginny smiled and her whole demeanor changed. “Oh, Ms. Belle, thank you.” Ginny glanced at the pay phone beside them. “I’ll call her now if…if you’ll loan me two quarters.”
Maddie cursed herself for not bringing her cell, but she’d been in such a hurry to catch Cooper and Rufus that she’d left it behind. Opening her purse, she dug for change and handed it to Ginny. The girl jumped up to make the call.
The traffic was deafening, and Maddie couldn’t make out what Ginny was saying. Ginny held out the phone to Maddie and she spoke to Thelma Jenkins.
The lady assured her she would do everything to help Ginny. Hanging up, Maddie felt much better.
“I’ll give you the money for bus fare, but you have to tell your parents where you’re going.”
“Sure. They won’t care.”
Maddie couldn’t imagine a parent not caring.
“And I’d like your aunt’s number and address.”
Maddie pulled a pad from her purse and handed Ginny a pen. After Ginny scribbled the name and number, Maddie tucked it into her purse. She then reached for her wallet and counted out fifty dollars.
“That should be enough for the fare and a little extra.”
“Oh, thank you, Ms. Belle. You’re so nice.”
“And please check in at the school and let them know you’ll be gone for a while.”
“I will.”
Maddie motioned toward Ginny’s stomach. “Take care of that baby.”
“I plan to.” Ginny hugged her briefly, and Maddie got into her truck and drove away, hoping she was doing the right thing. If Ginny wanted to keep her baby, she should be allowed to. Every woman had that right.
As she neared High Five, she met Walker going in the opposite direction. She would call him tonight and let him know about Ginny. That was the least she could do. After all, he was worried about Haley and her involvement with Ginny. She’d probably get a lot of attitude and a sermon about minding her own business.
She’d call, anyway. He had been nice today, and maybe they had reached a new understanding.
Maybe.
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