A Mummy For His Daughter. Amy Ruttan

it really your business?

      No, it wasn’t and he was annoyed with himself for caring so much, but for some reason he couldn’t help himself when it came to Evelyn.

      She drew him in. Just this short time of getting to know her and he was completely drawn to her. He wanted to know more about her, and that was a dangerous thing indeed.

      Katlian Yazzie smiled. “Evie’s mother was my daughter. Evie...”

      Katlian wept.

      Derek was taken aback by the usually stoic woman’s crying and was at a loss as to what to do. He slipped his arm around the old woman. “Joe mentioned she was taken away?”

      Katlian nodded. “By Thorne’s mother. Because a judge deemed that she was better for Evelyn. That Boston was better than Wolf’s Harbor.”

      “Why would a judge decide that? Evelyn knew Wolf’s Harbor not Boston,” said Derek.

      “Because Boston had access to more healthcare. Thorne was our only doctor... Well, you know no one replaced him after he died. Not until you came. So the judge decided in favor of Boston and not here.”

      Derek’s stomach twisted in a knot. He understood that. If there had been a local hospital on the day of that storm that had grounded all the planes to Sitka, Vivian would have had a chance of survival, instead of bleeding to death.

      “Thorne died at the scene—no hospital could’ve saved him. Joe and I fought. We fought hard—spent money that we didn’t have—but we lost. We didn’t have the money or the power that Georgina Saunders in Boston had. We had to walk away. I wrote to Evie constantly, but my letters were returned to sender. Once Joe went down there to see her, but Georgina had taken Evelyn away on a long vacation so he had to come back. Georgina had sole custody. We had nothing.”

      “I’m sure if you explain...”

      Katlian sighed. “I need a moment.”

      “Do you still want to talk to her about Jennifer?”

      Katlian shook her head. “I don’t know if she would want to see me. I don’t know if I’m ready to see her or even if she’ll remember me.”

      Derek was moved by Katlian Yazzie. There was a heart in there. Everyone in Wolf’s Harbor loved Katlian Yazzie, even Mo, but with Derek she’d always been untrusting and a bit cold. This was a different side to her.

      “She’s a doctor!” Katlian said in disbelief. “A doctor!”

      “Maybe you’ll have to change your stance on doctors now, eh?” he teased.

      Katlian’s dark eyes glittered as she frowned, but then she smiled. “Perhaps.”

      “Do you want me to get her?”

      Katlian shook her head. “No, you let her work today. She’s going to see Jennifer and I want her to be focused on her work. I will see her later.”

      Katlian stood up and Derek opened the door for her. She walked out of the clinic, past a few people who were still concerned about the always strong and steadfast Katlian Yazzie breaking down in the waiting room.

      Derek ran a hand over his head.

      Was this what his rotation with Evelyn Saunders was going to be like? All these relatives coming out of the woodwork and daily emotional reunions? As much as he was all for family coming together, he couldn’t let this keep happening.

      The office door chimed and a pregnant woman hunched over came in.

      “I need help!” she cried out. “I’m in labor and my husband is out in the bush on a logging run.”

      “Evelyn!” Derek shouted over his shoulder as he dashed toward the woman.

      He held on to her as she breathed through a contraction.

      “Christina...” Derek said in a soothing tone. “Don’t worry we have an OB/GYN here.”

      Christina nodded. “But it’s too soon. Dr. Pearson said last week my baby was breech and he was going to try and turn it this week.”

      Damn Dr. Pearson.

      “He didn’t turn it?” Derek asked as he helped Christina toward the exam room while the receptionist worked to rebook the couple of patients who were waiting. She knew the drill when an emergency patient came in.

      “He was supposed to turn it today,” Christina said. “I was coming here to have it done, but labor started...”