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complexion. “I can’t either.” She gestured toward the hallway. “Come on back.”

      The treatment area had changed even more than the waiting room. Cream paint unified it, and a modern counter had replaced the old rolltop desk where Doc had once kept a jumble of papers. Charts were neatly filed, and an up-to-date computer system ruled the countertop.

      He stopped, assessing the changes, then turned to Rebecca. She’d changed, too. Her bronze hair was tied back from her face, and a matching bronze name pin adorned her neat uniform. Everything about her spoke of efficiency and professionalism. How strange to see little Rebecca so grown-up and businesslike.

      “Were you responsible for all this?” He gestured toward the changes, knowing old Doc wouldn’t have modernized a thing if someone hadn’t pushed him into it.

      She looked startled. “I guess I did suggest we were due for some up-to-date touches.”

      “You mean you nagged him until it was easier to say yes.” He smiled at her. “Don’t fib to me, Rebecca. I know both of you too well.”

      “Something like that.” She smiled back, but there was a shadow behind it. She was probably still thinking about their unfinished conversation the night before—

      “There you are.”

      The familiar voice sounded behind Brett, and he swung around.

      “About time you were getting back here to see us.”

      “Hasn’t been that long, has it?” He gripped Doc’s hand, emotion flooding him. It had been too long. Rebecca had been right. Doc Overton was getting old.

      The hair he remembered as iron gray was white now, and Doc’s shoulders stooped, as if he’d spent too many years carrying all the medical burdens of the town. The lines in his face formed a road map of wisdom and caring.

      “Come here, boy.” Not content with a handshake, Doc pulled him close for a quick hug, then pounded his shoulder. “Good to see you. How are they treating you at that big city hospital?”

      There was the question he didn’t want to answer, and it was the first one out of Doc’s mouth, of course.

      “Things are going okay.” He managed a smile. “It was tough getting used to Philly after all those years in California.”

      “Not enough beaches, huh?” Those wise old eyes surveyed him. “If you want to succeed in this business, you have to make some sacrifices.”

      “Like having any time for yourself,” Rebecca said. She held out a chart. “I’m sorry to interrupt the reunion, but you’re running about an hour behind already.”

      “Doc always runs an hour behind,” Brett said. That was probably because Doc had never heard the notion that the physician should spend only ten of his precious minutes with any single patient. And if he heard it, he’d dismiss it. He knew his patients too well to rush anyone out of the office. When you were closeted with Doc Overton, you felt as if you were the most important person in the world to him. “Don’t people still set their clocks by him?”

      Rebecca smiled, but it was more an automatic response than an agreement. “I’m afraid people are a bit more impatient than they used to be.”

      Doc shrugged, lifting his hands. “What can I do? This young woman runs the place, and she runs me, too. We’ll have to get together later.”

      “How about supper tonight? We can catch up.” And talk about the future.

      Doc nodded. “Sounds good, if I get out of here at a decent hour. I’ll call you.”

      “I’ll see you later, then.” He should be ashamed at the relief he felt over putting off the difficult conversation.

      “Why don’t you stay and help out?” Rebecca’s voice stopped him before he took a step toward the door. “You’re licensed in Pennsylvania, aren’t you? You could see some of Doc’s overflow and let him get through by lunchtime for once.”

      “You think people really want to consult a doctor they knew when he was a kid?” His reluctance surprised him. Maybe it was the thought of treating people he knew so well—people who’d watched him grow up.

      “Don’t worry about it.” Rebecca gave him a challenging look. “They accept me as a professional, believe it or not. They’ll listen to you.”

      His gaze clashed with hers. She’d made her attitude clear last night, even though they hadn’t had a chance to talk about it again. She thought it was time he took over for Doc, and she probably couldn’t imagine there might be something better than a one-doctor practice, either for the town or for him.

      “Good idea.” Doc nodded. “Let folks see a real city doctor for once.”

      Brett forced a smile. He wasn’t about to let little Rebecca push him into saying anything to Doc about his plans in front of her, if that was in her mind. But he could hardly walk away with Doc looking at him so expectantly.

      “Sure. I’ll be glad to see some patients.”

      He caught the satisfied look on Rebecca’s face, and his jaw tightened. Rebecca might have won this round, but if she thought she could manipulate him into doing what she wanted, she’d better think again.

      Was her plan going to work? The question kept revolving in Rebecca’s mind while she found a lab coat for Brett, showed him the examining rooms, led him through her system.

      She hadn’t been able to sleep after the party, her mind constantly returning to Brett. What had he meant when he’d said he was just home on a break? Didn’t he realize how much Doc needed him? How much all of Bedford Creek needed him?

      It had taken her longer than it should have to realize she needed to pray about it. Even then, she’d found herself wrestling with the situation, trying fruitlessly to see an immediate solution.

      Finally, exhausted, she’d left it in the Lord’s hands and gone to sleep. And when she woke, the answer seemed so clear.

      Brett wouldn’t listen to her, and he certainly wouldn’t let her tell him what to do. But if she showed him how desperately Doc needed him, he’d do the right thing, wouldn’t he?

      Doubt gripped her. The idealistic boy she’d known would have. She wasn’t so sure about the sophisticated stranger he’d become.

      Well, doing something was better than doing nothing. The opportunity to show Brett how much he was needed had come. She had to take advantage of it.

      “If you’re all set, I’ll just see which of the patients would be willing to switch to you.”

      Brett raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you mean, would agree to be fobbed off on the new guy?”

      It was going to be tough to keep a professional distance, she thought, if he persisted in looking at her with that devastating smile. “I’m sure there won’t be a problem. I’ll just try to keep everyone happy.” She shuffled rapidly through the charts.

      “Is that your main objective in life?”

      The question caught her by surprise. “What do you mean?”

      He leaned against the counter next to her. “Keeping everyone happy. You seem to do a lot of that.” He gestured at the renovated office. “You’re certainly keeping Doc happy. And making a difference here. Is that why you chose a medical career?”

      “I…” She bit back the response that sprang to her lips, shocked at her impulse to tell him he was responsible for that decision. That was something Brett didn’t need to know about her. “I guess, in a way. Doc needs help, and it’s not easy to find qualified medical personnel who want to come to a small town and work in a one-doctor clinic.”

      “So you felt it was your duty?”

      He really seemed to want to understand. “It wasn’t just that. My family’s

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