Small Town Doctor Read Online Free PDF Page A

control you or others, and she might do the same. That isn’t the case.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Ryan speaks highly of you and how you’re raising Abbi. His only concern is she’s not being socialized, and that’s my concern as well.” He used the back of his hand to wipe away the stray tear that was rolling down her cheek. “The love you show her every day is going to ensure she’s raised right.”
    She shook her head. “You don’t know that.”
    “I’m a doctor. I’ve seen and worked with children with temper issues. Not once in all the time I’ve been here have you or Ryan gave me any reason to be concerned about Abbi. There’s also something else you need to consider…everyone has a temper but that doesn’t mean they’ll kill someone. Some people have tempers that are easier to spark than others, but there are also other outlets for the anger. You can teach Abbi ways to control her rage. If it would make you feel better I can speak with her once she’s feeling better, to evaluate her.”
    “No, she must not know what Josh did.”
    “I wouldn’t tell her anything of the kind. You can be there when I speak with her if you’d like. I’m offering to give you some peace of mind, not because I believe she’ll say anything that makes me concerned.” He let his hand fall away from her cheek. “I think it would help you if you get the rest of the story about Josh off your chest. Ryan mentioned he arrested Josh…did he show up at the bar?”
    “No.” She pulled away, just enough that his arm was still around her but enough to give her some space. “Josh forced me back into his truck. We couldn’t go back to my apartment because he thought the police would be waiting for us. My grandfather had another cabin about halfway down the mountain. It’s where he lived before he build this place and married my grandmother. We went there, but it’s closer to the main road. One of the residents saw Josh’s truck and Ryan showed up.”
    “Alone?”
    “Sheriff Ryder is a one man team…or haven’t you heard that yet?” She tried to make light of it.
    “Oh, I’ve heard.” He leaned back against the sofa. “He hired a deputy, part-time, but he’s always on call, never takes a day off.”
    “When Ryan showed up things were heated, or maybe a better word is bloody . Josh thought while I was in the bar I had called the police and he…he nearly killed me for it.” She swallowed deep before continuing. “Ryan busted down the door and pulled Josh off me. He got a few extra punches in my honor before he handcuffed him. That was the last time I saw him. Thankfully, they didn’t need me to testify at his trial, so I didn’t even go. He doesn’t even know he’s a father.”
    “If I can convince you that you have nothing to worry about with Abbi’s temper, will you bring her into town occasionally to socialize her?” He leaned forward to look at her.
    “I don’t know.” She glanced toward Abbi’s bedroom before looking back at him. “I just don’t know. I want her have friends her own age, but what if they tell her what Josh did?”
    “You can’t protect her forever, but if there’s one thing I know about Clearwater…it’s the best place to live. The residents want to put what happened behind them as much as you do. They don’t want their children to know about what happened. Clearwater residents shelter their children from what other areas have to deal with. I don’t believe anyone will mention what happened to Abbi, nor do I think anyone holds what happened against you. From what you told me they saw Josh attack you just as he attacked others.”
    She was questioning if he was right when a scream cut through her heart. “Mommy!”
    “I’m coming.” She rushed to her daughter’s bedroom as fear gripped her. To hear Abbi call for her after being unconscious for so long both excited and terrified her. They’d broken the fever hours ago but this was the first sign of recovery Abbi