“I’ll take you and Carrie home,” Harper said.

Flannery looked like she was about to protest, then cupped Margie’s neck and said, “Come on, kid. I’m your ride.”

“See you at the game,” Margie said to Presley.

“Oh…” Presley scrambled for an excuse, but the look on Margie’s face left her no alternative. “Yes. I’ll be there if I can.”

Margie beamed. “Awesome.”

“It’s really not necessary for you to chauffeur us around,” Presley said as Harper drove her and Carrie home for the second night in a row.

“It’s not like it’s out of my way. I don’t mind.”

“I appreciate it, but I’m sure you’re busy, and as I recall, weekends are always the worst—”

“Shh,” Harper said. “We don’t talk about—” Her cell phone rang and she shook her head. “As I was saying, never say it out loud.”

She pushed a button on the dash next to a small speaker. “Dr. Rivers.”

“Doc,” a male voice said, “it’s Don Reynolds. I’m sure sorry to bother you this time of night, but I’m worried about Jimmy. He’s been complaining all week about not feeling right, and when he stopped eating, we kept him home from school. But today seems even worse. Now he’s got the runs on top of everything else.”

“Does he have a fever?”

“Not that I can tell.”

“Is he complaining of a bellyache or anything else like that?”

“He’s not much of a complainer, but he just…Doc, he just doesn’t look right. I’m worried.”

“I’ll stop by in an hour or so and take a look at him.”

“I sure would appreciate it.”

“No problem, Don.”

Harper ended the call and turned down the driveway to Presley’s.

“Why not just send them to the emergency room?” Presley asked.

“Because it’s probably not an emergency, and tying up the ER staff is a waste of their time and an inconvenience for the family. I’m twenty minutes away. It’ll take me another twenty, maybe, to take a look at the boy and let them know what needs to be done. It’s the best allocation of resources.”

Carrie asked, “If you don’t think it’s an emergency, couldn’t he wait until the morning and go to the office?”

“Tomorrow’s Sunday.”

“What about urgent care?” Carrie said.

“We could send him there. But chances are he’d see someone he doesn’t know and who wouldn’t recognize some of the things that I would because I know him. And besides that,” she slowed in front of the porch, “we like to take care of our own.”

Presley said, “You’ve been doing a good job taking care of those of us who aren’t even yours. Thank you for the ride.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Carrie said. “I had a great time today. I can’t wait for the game.”

“You were terrific,” Harper said.

“Thanks. I’m also out of shape. I’m going to turn in early and pretend I’m reading in bed.”

“Night,” Harper called as Carrie got out.

Presley lingered. “I hope your night isn’t too hectic.”

“It’s early yet. I’ve got a change of clothes with me. Would you mind if I changed here? Then I can head right over to the Reynoldses’.”

“Of course not. Do you want to shower? We’ve got an extra bathroom you’re welcome to use,” Presley said.

“I don’t want to put you out.”

Presley clasped Harper’s forearm. The muscles under her fingers tensed. “You’ve been looking after us since we got here. Let me return the favor.”

“If you wouldn’t mind.” Harper leaned toward her, the air in the cab suddenly growing heavy and still.

“Of course not.” Presley scented grass and earthy strength. Her fingers drifted down to Harper’s hand. For an instant their fingers touched. She drew her hand away. “Come inside.”

Harper reached behind the seat, her shoulder brushing Presley’s. Her body was hot, her face inches away. Presley pushed open the door and climbed out, taking a deep breath. Blood pounded in her belly, urgent and wild. Thank goodness Carrie was inside. She wasn’t afraid to be alone with Harper, she was afraid of herself.

“All set,” Harper said.

Walking quickly toward the sanctuary of the house, Presley took Harper upstairs and showed her the bathroom. “I’ll let Carrie know you’re here. Make yourself at home.”

“Thanks.”

After warning Carrie Harper was using the shower, Presley headed into the kitchen, opened a bottle of wine that Lila had gotten her from the list she’d provided, and took it outside to the back porch. The sun had just gone down. Rooster was in the tree. She sipped her wine and thought about building a chicken coop. She didn’t think about Harper naked upstairs in the shower very much at all.

“I appreciate the hospitality,” Harper said, walking out onto the porch. The kitchen light behind her illuminated her face, but her eyes were in shadow. Her eyes were so often shadowed. She wore a navy short-sleeved button-up shirt outside dark pants and loafers without socks. Her hair was wet and slicked back.

Presley rose with her half-empty glass of wine. “You’re more than welcome.”

“Tired?”

“I wasn’t the one running around in the sun all afternoon.”

“You want to come with me? You can start your practical internship early.”

Harper touched her hand, a fleeting touch. Not a caress. Just an automatic, unthinking touch. One she probably didn’t even notice.

Presley swallowed. “Do you think the family will be bothered by a stranger?”

“I know this family. I went to school with Don’s wife, Emmy. They’re easygoing, and Jimmy is a good kid. He’s eleven.”

“It’s hard to believe someone you went to school with has an eleven-year-old child.”

“People tend to start younger around here.”

The light went out in the kitchen. Carrie must have turned it off, not realizing they were outside. Moonlight surrounded them. “You haven’t, and as I recall, you’re planning on…what was it, four or five offspring?”

“I figure I’ll catch up when I meet the right woman.”

“And who’s going to be doing the reproduction? You or the right woman?”

Harper laughed softly. “I want kids, but I don’t have a strong drive to actually make them. Part of being the right woman for me is wanting to have children, but if she doesn’t want to do it, we’ll adopt them.”

“Why do I have the feeling that the right woman is going to resemble your mother to a large degree?”

“That doesn’t sound right somehow.”

Presley shook her head. “I’m not being critical. Your mother is incredibly strong, that’s obvious. She’s raised amazing children, and I’m guessing a lot of that she did on her own when your father was away.”

“That’s true,” Harper said. “I love my father, but I hope to figure out a way to spend a little more time at home, especially while my kids are young.”

“You know, Harper,” Presley said, “if you joined a multi-physician practice group and had people to cross-cover for you, you’d have a lot more time to yourself and your family in the future.”

Even in the dim light, the tightening of Harper’s jaw was clear. “I had a couple offers like that when I was finishing my residency. It’s not for me.”

“Solo practice is hard on you, hard on your wife, and will be difficult on your children.”

Harper shrugged, as if dismissing the possible problem. “Maybe that’s why I’m not married yet.” She slid her hands into her pockets and stared past Presley to the tree where Rooster’s dark shape stood out against the silvery shadows. “Maybe there are no women like that anymore.”

“Now you’re getting morose.”

“You’re right.” Harper grinned wryly. “And I don’t have time for that. Are you coming?”

“Yes,” Presley said, admitting she wanted to. She wanted to know Harper, and nights like this were a huge part of who she was. These moments, when she went out to take care of people, giving them part of herself, were the moments no one else saw, and if Harper even thought to talk about them, how much would be lost in the translation? How much would Harper see only as ordinary, as opposed to extraordinary? This was a chance to glimpse the real Harper, the true Harper. “Yes, I would like that very much.”

Presley left a note for Carrie in the kitchen on the way out.

“So, what’s your take on kids?” Harper rolled the windows down as she pulled the truck out onto the two-lane. Presley’s scent drifted to her on the breeze, vanilla and spice. She’d never taken anyone with her on callouts before. Margie was the right age, but that was for her father to do. She would take her own children someday, but right now, she enjoyed taking Presley.

“Generically?” Presley asked.

Harper laughed. “No, I meant for yourself. Seeing as how a relationship isn’t required for that part much anymore.”

“I…Children are a huge responsibility, and I’m not sure I’d ever have the time for them.”

“Sometimes being short on time makes every minute more important.”

“Did your parents make that work?”

“Absolutely.” Harper slowed for a deer bounding across the road. “When my father first started his practice, before I was born, he took my mother with him on calls sometimes.”

“Did he,” Presley murmured. “I imagine that was special.”

“I think it was. When we kids came, he went alone until I was old enough.”

“Who looks after patients when you’re away?”

“My dad or Flann. I’m not away all that much. A medical meeting now and then. Every once in a while I’ll go down to New York for a show or an exhibit.”

“By yourself?” Presley regretted it as soon as she asked. Harper’s personal business was none of her business, and she didn’t especially want to know about who shared her free hours. Then again, maybe it would be better if she did.

“Sometimes Carson will go with me. Flann, if it’s a baseball game.” Harper glanced over at her. “Sometimes I’ll take a date.”