Evie watched him go, wondering if he might decide to leave Stoney Ridge to join Wren, wherever she’d gone. Just days ago, such a thought would’ve left her in pieces. But now? She didn’t feel as bereft as she would have thought. Things like love, she was starting to learn, might be better left in God’s hands.
Maybe that was the strange thing about her newfound faith. It wasn’t some earth-shattering, part-the-seas kind of transformation, but it was there, steady and sure. She didn’t feel as lost as she once had. Even if Charlie did choose to leave, she’d be okay. And that was saying something. She had spent the last two years thinking he was her everything, but people weren’t meant to fill those kinds of gaps.
Evie turned and headed toward the farmhouse. She would be lying if she didn’t feel some relief at Wren’s sudden departure.But she felt a sadness too. For Wren’s sake. She might be brilliant, but she’d never be half the doctor that Dok was.
It was getting late. The last patient, a blacksmith with a nasty gash on his arm, had just left after Dok finished sewing him up. Annie had stayed to help Dok and was tidying up the room, moving quickly but methodically as she put the supplies back in order.
Dok heard the front door creak open. She frowned, certain she’d locked it after the farmer left. Had she forgotten? Wiping her hands on a towel, she headed to the front of the office. Then she stopped abruptly.
Wren Baker stood at the open door with a woman at her side. Dok had to blink a few times as she realized the woman was Clara Zook, looking completely disoriented. Her tangled hair fell long, she wore no prayer cap, her dress was filthy, and she was barefoot.
“I found Clara walking down the highway,” Wren said. “She needs help.”
Dok snapped into action. “Where are her babies?”
Wren gasped. “I ... didn’t think to ask. I forgot she had babies. They weren’t with her.”
Dok’s pulse quickened. “Clara, where are your babies?” she asked, stepping closer, trying to keep her voice steady.
Clara’s eyes darted around the room but didn’t settle on anything. “It’s better this way,” she said, over and over.
“She keeps repeating that,” Wren said. “Nothing else.”
Dok turned to Annie, who stood at the doorway, eyes wide. “Annie, call Matt. Tell him to get to Jacob Zook’s and do a welfare check on the babies. Tell him it’s an emergency. Then go to the Bent N’ Dent and find David. Bring him here.”
Annie nodded, concern in her eyes, then hurried off.
Wren, still supporting Clara, looked at Dok. “How can I help?”
“Let’s get Clara into an exam room.”
They guided Clara into the room, where Dok quickly checked her vitals. Each reading was troubling—dilated pupils, a rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure. Clara couldn’t follow even the simplest direction. Couldn’t make eye contact with Dok. She seemed to be in her own world.
“Clara, your babies need you,” Dok said softly, trying to reach her. “Tell us where they are, and we’ll go get them.”
“It’s better this way,” Clara mumbled.
Dok felt a chill run down her spine. “What’s better, Clara? What’s happened?”
But Clara had no answer.
Dok turned to Wren, noticing how pale she looked. Frightened. “Tell me exactly where you found Clara.”
“I was in an Uber, and the driver noticed someone far up on the road. A woman was wandering right into the lane, kind of staggering, like she’d had too much to drink. The driver slowed down, and that was when I realized who the woman was. It took both of us, the driver and me, to get her into the car. Then he drove straight here so I could bring her to you.”
“But where exactly were you? Do you remember anything specific about the road? Any signage?”
Wren pushed a lock of hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture. “Um, about four or five miles from here. On that two-lane road that leads to Route 30. Not far from ... a covered bridge.”
“Did Clara say anything about the babies? Anything at all?”
“No. She just kept repeating that it was better this way.”
“Did she have anything else with her?”
“No.”
Dok lifted Clara’s foot. Amish women went barefoot often, especially in the summer, so they had thickly calloused feet.Clara’s heels were bleeding, which told Dok that she’d been walking a long time on hot asphalt.
