Free Newborn Needs a Dad by Dianne Drake

ball, put the stethoscope earpieces in his ears, and listened. Moments later, he pulled the earpieces out, and removed the cuff. “Normal.” Then he glanced at the fetal monitor and nodded. “That’s normal, too. So, do you want to tell me what this was really about?”
    “I already told you, Neil. And when the rest of the lab results get back, you’re not going to find anything wrong in them. I’m fine. I just had—”
    “I know. A little syncope. And just so you won’t go getting any crazy ideas that you’ll rest for another hour, then go back to work, I’ve scheduled you out for the day. You’re going back to the cabin and going straight to bed. Orders from your doctor, orders from your boss.”
    His tone made it clear he would take no argument. To be honest, though, she didn’t want to argue. Didn’t know what she wanted to do except get away from the hospital, away from Neil. “My patients… It’s only my second day here, and I need to—”
    “We’re covered, Gabrielle. Eric and I can cover, so can John Ellis, another family practitioner. And Fallon’s certainly capable of seeing patients if the need arises. So we’re good here.”
    “Possibly half a day? I could go home for the rest of the morning and rest, then this afternoon…” She wasn’t sure why she was arguing when she really did want to leave. Was it to impress Neil, show him that she could work, no matter what? Was it to prove the same to herself? She was afraid that he might decide to let her go altogether. Maybe he thought she was weak, she was a burden, he didn’t need her. Horrible, horrible thought, since a little speck of optimism deep inside was telling her White Elk could be the place.
    Neil shook his head adamantly at her suggestion. “You’re not staying. And one of the good things about being the owner is that you get to boss people around.” He smiled. “I kind of like it.”
    “Except you’re not the bossy type.” He didn’t have a bossy bone in his body.
    “Maybe not under ordinary circumstances, but this isn’t an ordinary circumstance.”
    “Will you let me come back? When the blood tests reveal that nothing is wrong with me, and after I’ve spent the day resting, will you let me come back tomorrow?”
    For a moment he looked surprised. Then his surprise was overcome by a generous smile. “I’m not going to fire you, Gabrielle. But I’m going to caution you the way you caution your patients, by telling you to use common sense. You, better than anybody else, know what you can do, and what you cannot do. And if that doesn’t work, I have one magic word that will do it.”
    “What?”
    “Bryce.” He chuckled. “Was I right? Did that do it?”
    “You were right. That did it,” she conceded, not even resenting him for knowing how to get to her. Honestly, it wasnice having someone care for her, and while Neil was only a casual acquaintance, he still did make her feel cared for. “Can I at least borrow some medical journals to take with me?”
    “Wouldn’t you rather be reading articles on how to decorate a baby’s nursery?”
    “Maybe I would, if the baby had a nursery. But he doesn’t.” And maybe he wouldn’t here in White Elk after all. “So, the journals, please?”
    “How about I bring them up to the cabin, along with some lunch and the results of your blood work in a couple of hours? You can rest until I get there, OK? Oh, and our security guard, Ed Lester, is waiting outside to drive you home right now, so you go on, and I’ll be up in a while.”
    “You don’t have to do that, Neil. I can take care of myself.”
    “Maybe I want to.” His voice was tender, sincere.
    A voice she could get used to.
    As Neil helped Gabby first into a wheelchair, which, of course, she protested, then into Ed Lester’s car, Gabby wondered why Neil was so willing to do so much for her, and she was still wondering the same thing five minutes later when Ed Lester stopped the car in front of the cabin, and