The Doctor's Blessing
As a nurse-midwife in Amish country, Amber Bradley helps expectant mothers have their babies safely at home. But when Hope Springs' new doctor arrives, he insists all maternity patients deliver at a hospital.Amber is determined to show Dr. Phillip White that the Amish have a different way of life, one he needs to respect if he expects any patients at all. But even as he becomes more a part of the community, Amber must remember his stay is just temporary. Unless she can convince Phillip he's found the home–and heart–he's always been looking for.
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âWhen can we begin seeing patients, again?â Amber asked.
Philipâs gaze deepened into a fierce scowl. âYouâre planning on seeing maternity patients?â
Amber didnât care for his tone. âI havenât since Harold left, but now that youâre here, I have one waiting now.â
âI see.â His glower lightened.
Amber continued to study him. He was a hard man to read. âWe havenât exactly been on vacation while we waited for you to arrive. Weâve traveled a lot of miles letting people know what happened.â
He raised an eybrow. âWouldnât a few phone calls have been easier?â
Smiling with artificial sweetness, Amber said, âIt would if our patients had phones. The majority of our clients are Amish, remember?â
âIâll let you get to work, but there will be changes around here that you and I need to discuss. Come to my office when youâre done.â
Amber didnât like the sound of that. Not one bit.
PATRICIA DAVIDS
After thirty-five years as a nurse, Pat has hung up her stethoscope to become a full-time writer. She enjoys spending her new free time visiting her grandchildren, doing some long overdue yard work and traveling to research her story locations. She resides with her husband in Wichita, Kansas. Pat always enjoys hearing from her readers. You can visit her on the Web at www.patriciadavids.com.
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
â1 John 3:18
To Terrah in Kansas City and to Rachel in Poland, Ohio. Bless you both for all your help. This book is dedicated to nurse-midwives everywhere.
Women helping women bring healthy babies into loving families.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Letter to Reader
Questions for Discussion
Chapter One
âAmber, you wonât believe whoâs here!â
The agitated whisper stopped Amber Bradley in her tracks halfway through the front door of the Hope Springs Medical Clinic. She glanced around the small waiting room. The only occupant was her wide-eyed receptionist standing at her desk with one finger pressed to her lips.
Amber whispered back, âI give up, Wilma. Whoâs here?â
The tiny, sixty-something woman glanced toward the hallway leading to the offices and exam rooms, then hurried around the corner of her desk wringing her hands. âDr. Phillip White.â
Oh, no. Amber closed the door with deliberate slowness. So the ax was going to fall on their small-town clinic in spite of everyoneâs prayers. What would they do now? What would happen to their patients? Her heart sank at the prospect.
Please, dear Lord, donât let this happen.
Composing herself, she turned to face Wilma. âWhat did he say? Is Harold worse?â
âHe said Harold is the reason he needs to meet with us, but he wanted to wait until you were here before going into details.â
Dr. Harold White was the only doctor in the predominantly Amish community of Hope Springs, Ohio. Four weeks earlier, heâd taken his first vacation in more than twenty years to visit his grandson, Phillip, in Honolulu. While there, a serious accident landed the seventy-five-year-old man in intensive care.
Wilma leaned close. âWhat do you think heâs doing here?â
âI have no idea.â
âYou think heâs here to close the office, donât you?â
Amber couldnât come up with another reason that made more sense. Haroldâs only relative had come to close the clinic and inform them that Harold wouldnât be returning.
At least he was kind enough to come in person instead of delivering the news over the phone.
Amber had been expecting something like this since sheâd learned the extent of Haroldâs injuries. Chances were slim a man his age could make a full recovery after suffering a broken leg, a fractured skull and surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain. Still, Harold hadnât given up hope that heâd be back, so neither would she.
Summoning a smile for her coworker, Amber laid a hand on Wilmaâs shoulder. âWhen I spoke to Harold last night, he assured me the clinic would stay open.â
âFor now.â The deep male voice came from behind them.
Wilma squeaked as she spun around. Amber had a better grip on her emotions. Wilma hurried away to the safety of her oak desk in the corner, leaving Amber to face the newcomer alone. She surveyed Haroldâs grandson with interest.
Dr. Phillip White was more imposing than she had expected. He stood six foot at least, if not a shade taller. His light brown hair, streaked with sun-bleached highlights, curled slightly where it touched the collar of his blue, button-down shirt. His bronze tan emphasized his bone structure and the startling blue of his eyes.
He was movie-star gorgeous. The thought popped into Amberâs brain and stuck. She licked her suddenly dry lips. When had she met a man who triggered such intense awareness at first glance? Okay, never.
