Free Midnight Remedy by Eve Gaddy

run an EKG on him here. Let’s fix him up and he can see his cardiologist later on.” Turning back to Charlie, he said, “Lie down, Mr. Stevenson, so I can sew you up without leaving too big a scar.” He punched the intercom. “Effie, I need your help in here.”
    Effie entered a few minutes later. When she started filling syringes, Piper decided that they could handle the rest without her. “I think I’ll go talk to Sam. Okay, Grandpa?”
    Charlie grunted. Eric sent her a reassuring smile. “Have a cup of coffee. We’ll be about an hour.”
    With a last glance at her grandfather, she walked out. In the waiting room she dropped in a chair and burst into tears.
    “Piper? Ain’t Charlie gonna be okay?” Sam asked.
    “The doctor thinks he’ll be fine.” She sobbed even louder.
    “Women,” Sam muttered in disgust, scratching his head. “Never make a blame bit of sense.”

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Eric gave Charlie the X-ray and pointed. “You can see it plainly, even without the lightbox. Two cracked ribs, Mr. Stevenson.”
    “Call me Charlie, everybody does. Huh. So that’s what a busted rib looks like.”
    Eric nodded. “All I can do for you is give you pain pills and tell you to take it easy.” Which, if he knew anything about stubborn old ranchers, Charlie wasn’t about to do.
    “Don’t like pain pills. And Sam can’t manage alone.”
    Eric studied him for a minute and added, “You really should let your own doctor check you out.”
    The old man shook his head. “Nope, I want you to take care of me. Never liked that fella anyway.”
    “You might not like me, either,” Eric said, grinning. “I’m going to tell Piper that you need to take it easy.”
    “Aw, Doc, don’t do that. She’ll fuss over me ‘til I go crazy.” Eric laughed. A crafty light appeared in Charlie’s eyes. “Say Doc, I could put in a good word for you with her.”
    “No deal, Charlie.”
    Piper peered around the edge of the door. “Is he okay?”
    “He’ll do, if he gets some rest. Come on in. His heart’s fine, the EKG shows no changes.”
    “Thank God. Eric, could I talk to you before we go?”
    “Sure. Here, Charlie, let me help you down.”
    Although he tried to hide his pain, Charlie couldn’t stop a groan as he slid off the table. He shot Piper a stern glance. “Don’t be long, girl. Sam needs to get back.”
    “Is he really all right?” she asked Eric when he’d gone.
    “He’ll hurt like hell because he’s too stubborn to take the pain pills, but he’ll be fine.” Her head was bent, she wouldn’t look at him. “Piper? He’s going to be fine.” Eric laid a comforting hand on her shoulder.
    “It scared me,” she said tightly. “When Grandpa had that angina earlier this summer, I realized he’s not going to be around forever. Then, when Sam called me today  . . . I  . . . I thought he’d had a heart attack.” Her blue eyes glistening with unshed tears, she looked up at Eric. “You probably think I’m a fool, that I’m overreacting.”
    “No, of course I don’t.” He patted her back soothingly. “It could have been much worse, enough to frighten anyone.”
    “But you said he was fine, and now I’m  . . . ” She sniffled. “Crying like an idiot.”
    “It’s perfectly normal to react this way.”
    For a moment she stayed silent and then she sniffed again. “Thanks.” She wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands, which made him smile.
    “Anytime.” His hand lingered on her shoulder. Though she looked better, her eyes were still anxious. She swayed toward him slightly. Suddenly comfort was the last thing on his mind. All he could think of was what it had been like when he’d kissed her the night before. And what it would be like when he kissed her again.
    With static filled tones, the intercom postponed whatever he might have done. “Dr. Chambers, your next appointment’s here.”
    “Typical,” he muttered. “Be right there, Effie.” Regretfully, he dropped his