Within My Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

saw the answer to his question before Lyda Mullins opened her mouth.
    “Ben had me draw him another warm salt bath one night last week.” She took an unsteady breath. “His ankles were swelling up again something awful. Another shipment, a big one, came in for the grand opening of the new resort next month. Charlie Daggett was working out at Rachel Boyd’s ranch for the afternoon, so Ben unloaded it by himself. I told him to wait for Mr. Daggett to come the next morning, but he wouldn’t.” She shook her head. “Ben said Mr. Tolliver needed it right away.”
    Mention of Tolliver and the new Colorado Hot Springs Resort reminded Rand about Brandon Tolliver’s “urgent” request to meet with him. Rand had found the note—the second in as many days— nailed to his clinic door when he’d returned home last evening. He had no idea what Tolliver wanted, but since no reference of a medical nature was mentioned, he’d laid the note aside, in no hurry to meet with the man. His general rule of thumb was to remain neutral about folks he didn’t know well enough yet, but Brandon Tolliver seemed bent on testing that long-held principle.
    With a sigh, Lyda brushed back a lock of her husband’s thinning hair. “Later that night Ben said something about how the two of us were getting older, and we laughed.” With a weak smile, she looked up, her eyes full of question—and dread.
    Rand managed what he hoped was a reassuring look, then leaned down. “Mr. Mullins?” He waited. “Mr. Mullins . . . can you hear me, sir?” Watching for any response, Rand reached for his bag and felt around inside. He’d put a pouch of digitalis in there two days ago, just before he—
    Mrs. Willets. He winced.
    He’d given the last of the medicine to Loretta Willets yesterday morning when she’d complained of palpitations and shortness of breath. Over a month ago he’d ordered more, but it still hadn’t arrived. Ben Mullins would need that medication when he came to.
    Rand stifled a groan, angry at himself for not being better prepared and frustrated over how long it took to get supplies freighted up the mountain. The country had a railroad connecting east to west, but it still took an eternity to get medicine delivered to Timber Ridge. As soon as Rachel Boyd joined them—where in heaven’s name was she?—he would send her to his office with instructions to check this morning’s—
    “Dr. Brookston, is something wrong?”
    Concern in Lyda’s voice drew him back, and Rand saw his own fear and frustration reflected in her expression. With effort, he worked to smooth the tension from his brow and his tone. “No, ma’am,” he said softly. “I’m simply . . . ascertaining your husband’s condition.”
    She nodded, not looking convinced.
    He inched the stethoscope higher, toward the upper chamber of Ben’s heart, resolving to keep his emotions better contained. Not that he desired to appear perfect or as if he had all the answers, but wavering on a decision, showing signs of hesitation or uncertainty, could undermine his relationship with a patient, which could potentially sway them from following his advice. Which could cost lives.
    He adjusted the earpieces again to filter out extraneous noise and worked his way downward, listening to Ben’s lungs. What he heard settled like a weight inside his own chest.
    He’d never seen Ben Mullins as a patient, but he remembered Ben complaining of indigestion in recent weeks. Twice he’d encouraged the man to come see him about it, but Ben had laughed in that easy manner of his and attributed the tightening in his chest to too much fried chicken.
    Using his sleeve, Rand wiped the sweat beading his brow. He hadn’t said anything further to Mr. Mullins at the time, not wanting to force the issue—or his services, if they weren’t desired. But perhaps if he had, he could’ve diagnosed Ben’s heart condition before it reached such an acute stage.
    Rand considered the possible diagnoses