Mel smiled. “I’ll be sure to tell him that.”
“And can I ask a favor?”
“Sure. Ask away.”
“Any chance you have an older sister?”
“I certainly do.”
“Well, so do I—Erin Elizabeth. Our mother died when I was only four and our dad when I was fifteen. Erin’s seven years older and took complete responsibility for my younger brother and me. She’s a good person, if a little on the bossy side. She was adamantly opposed to me looking for Ian by myself. In the end there wasn’t much she could do to stop me—I am an adult, though she might argue that. Our compromise was that I check in every couple of days and, believe me, she’s more than ready for me to call off the hunt. Erin doesn’t mean to be, but she’s controlling. Sometimes a little hard to take…”
“Well, I have an older sister who can fill that bill. And heavens, you saw Jack!”
Marcie smiled. “I saw. Yes, I suppose you can relate. I need someone to call Erin, tell her that I found Ian, that I’m safe and sound and staying with him for a little while. If you could just explain he has no phone, so I’ll call her the next time I’m in town, it might give her a little peace of mind.”
“Is that the extent of your family?” Mel asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Me and Erin and our brother, Drew. But I also have my late husband’s family and there are a million of them. Just because he’s gone now, they won’t ever give me up. I’m far from alone, believe me. If I write down the number, will you call for me?”
“Provided Ian goes along with your idea, I’ll be glad to,” Mel said.
“We don’t have to tell her I got sick. Do we?”
“Oh, Marcie, I don’t like stretching the truth,” Mel said.
“Well—you don’t tell patient business. And you do think I’ll be just fine, don’t you?”
Mel made a face and shook her head. “Is this the way you’ve been getting around your sister?”
“You have to think fast around Erin. She’s brilliant.”
“Bottoms up,” Doc said, tapping the air bubbles out of a syringe. “I’ll give you some decongestant and cough medicine and beyond that, it’s just rest, juice, water, light meals—broth would be good for a day or so. Listen to your body and rest when you’re tired. A lot of sleep and fluids almost always kicks this sucker fast. No wood chopping or washing clothes in the creek. You’ll come around pretty quick, I bet.”
“But I can use the outdoor rather than the chamber pot, even though it’s cold?”
“Of course. Cold doesn’t make you sick, it makes you cold. Bundle up anyway, and make it quick.”
“You probably don’t have to recommend that…Have you ever felt the seat of an outhouse in December?” she asked.
“Girl, I had to get trained in how to flush when I was a young man,” Doc said. “Gets you down to business real quick, now, doesn’t it?”
“Marcie, if you need us, send Ian. I’ll come and get you—no questions asked,” Mel said.
“Thank you, that’s sweet.”
“Good luck.”
Ian was pacing in front of the Hummer when Mel and Doc came out of the cabin. Mel paused to speak with Ian, as she had said she would. She took note of how ragged he was, how unkempt. His clothes were old and worn, his beard overgrown, but then most hardworking ranchers, farmers and loggers wouldn’t be wearing their best duds on a workday. She was used to seeing this type of wardrobe out here, and it didn’t always imply poverty. He didn’t smell bad, she found herself thinking. She had spied the tub in the room; he kept himself and his cabin clean and he certainly wasn’t thin. He was plenty well-nourished, a big man. Doc made fast tracks to the Humvee and placed himself behind the wheel. She made a face.
“He sure can move when he wants to be the driver, despite all that arthritis,” she said. “Mr. Buchanan, you were absolutely right—Marcie has the flu. She’s going to need to rest, drink plenty of fluids and she probably won’t feel well for at least a couple of days—maybe closer to a week, depending on how quickly she bounces back after some rest and medicine. Now, I offered to take her back to town and put her up at Doc’s, but she’d rather stay here. The question is—are you willing? It’s not as though you have to do that much for her—Doc cleared her for use of the outdoor facilities as long as she dresses warm. She doesn’t need much attention, but it’s your home.”