Lacey turns from the window. “I’ll wait here long enough to learn Doc Everett’s diagnosis. He might be back here soon. Delivering twins. My guess is that Molly is the mother. She’ll be fine. Wide and strong. Only a few miles away. One of my customers. She likes to sew and hasn’t yet caught onto the catalogue craze.” She takes an audible breath. “Why don’t you and Laelynn go to the diner for some Dr. Pepper and pie? I’ll catch up with you there. I want a few minutes alone with Dad.”
She closes the door behind them, looks through the window to see them walk in the diner’s direction, then turns to the bed. “We’re alone now, Dad. Are you sick or not?”
The old man motions for Lacey to raise the bed to a sitting angle. She complies, slowly turning the lever, then fluffing the pillows behind hi
