The Doctor's Sleigh Bell Proposal. Susan Carlisle

length. “Sure they would, but I have a feeling you were not only worried about yourself but the rest of us. Or what would happen to the local boy if you gave up the drugs. Your heart is too tender for this type of work.”

      “I thought caring was what it took to work here.” She continued to watch a small stream of water flow over a large leaf and to the ground.

      “Yeah, but it also makes for a great victim.”

      Ellen turned to face him, propping a hip against the rail. She was no victim. When her mother had died she’d proved that. “You know, there was a moment there that I thought you might be trying to cheer me up. I should have known better.”

      “Look, you did good today. Held it together. I don’t know if anyone could have done better. How was that?”

      The corner of her mouth lifted. “Better. But it lacked a ring of sincerity. By the way, I really do appreciate you saving me.”

      “That’s what I do, save people.”

      Was he embarrassed by the praise? “You make it sound like it’s no big deal but to them it is. And to me it was.”

      He bowed. “Then you’re welcome. Let’s just hope I don’t have to do it again.”

      This time she had the idea that his words were to cover up his awkwardness at being thought a hero. “It would suit me just fine for it not to happen again as well.”

      Chance moved toward the steps. “We have another early morning so you best get to bed.”

      “I’m sorry if I woke you.”

      He looked up at her from the walk. “Not a problem. The view was well worth it.”

      “Uh...”

      “A woman in the moonlight dressed in a sexy see-through gown is always worth being woken up for. Get some sleep. You’ll need it tomorrow.”

      Yeah, as if she was going to sleep after that statement.

      * * *

      Two days later Ellen scanned the clinic area. Since the incident with the vandals, she looked over her shoulder any time she was alone. Being held at knifepoint had rattled her more than she wanted to show. She had been paralyzed by fear. No way was she going to let on how much what had happened in the van stayed with her. If she showed weakness around Chance, he would see to it that she was sent home. She was determined to stay and continue her work. Ellen was surprised to find that she’d drifted off to sleep after their conversation on her porch. He’d managed to make her think of something else besides what had happened. She wouldn’t have thought that was possible. Had his last remark been to get the incident off her mind or had he meant what he’d said?

      She glanced at him working at the next exam table. He was great with the patients and got along with the others in the group. Was even known to laugh on occasion. It was a wonderful full sound. He didn’t treat her differently in an obvious way but she sensed something...perhaps that he was weary of her for some reason. Her assignments were almost always with Michael. That suited her. At least she didn’t have to deal with Chance’s moods or with her uncontrollable thirst to understand him better.

      Chance never sat beside her if there was a choice of another open chair at dinner. They were never alone even if they were going to their huts at the same time. Apparently for him to approach her porch had been completely out of character. It was as if she had the plague and he was highly susceptible. Sometimes she thought about just forcing the issue and asking him what his problem was, but why should it matter? She had come to Honduras to work, not to get caught up in the great Dr. Chance Freeman’s life.

      And she was working. Hard. It was invigorating. The days were long but satisfying. It was as if she had been liberated from a cage. She belonged here. Her father may not like it but she wouldn’t be returning to New York to work ever again.

      Minutes later Karen was called to assist Michael with a patient while Ellen was still doing a wound cleaning. When she finished Karen and Michael were still involved with the patient so she was left with no choice but to help Chance.

      “Ellen, would you mind calling the next patient?”

      She did as he asked. A highly deformed man entered the tent with the help of a woman who Ellen guessed was his mother. The man had elephantiasis. His arms and legs were enlarged, as were areas of his head and neck. She couldn’t prevent her intake of breath. The only case she’d ever seen had been in a medical textbook.

      “We mustn’t make him feel unwelcome,” Chance said from close enough behind her that she felt the warmth of his body.

      He spoke to the man in Spanish and he returned a lopsided smile that appeared sincere.

      “Ricardo is one of my regular patients.”

      “Hello, Ricardo,” Ellen said, giving him her most genuine smile. “Nice to meet you.”

      Ricardo gave her the same smile he’d given Chance.

      “We’re going to need to get some blood work today, Ricardo.” Chance said, pulling on gloves.

      The man nodded and spoke but it came out as gibberish.

      Ellen went to get a blood sample kit. She returned and Chance said, “Ricardo, do you mind if Ellen draws your blood?”

      Ricardo nodded his head in agreement. As she pressed to find a good vein Ricardo said, “Pretty.”

      “Yes, she is,” Chance answered as he continued to examine Ricardo.

      She smiled at Ricardo. “Thank you. You are very sweet.”

      Even with his distorted face she could see his discomfort. This man was a gentle giant who’d been given a bad deal in life by contracting elephantiasis.

      Chance finished his examination and gave Ricardo a supply of antibiotics before he left. With him gone Chance asked, “You’ve never seen someone with a major case of elephantiasis, have you?”

      “No. I had no idea. I’m sorry I reacted poorly.”

      “Don’t worry about it. It’s hard not to.”

      There was that compassion she rarely saw but which pulled her to him. “What can you really do for him?”

      “For right now he’s getting the antibiotic diethylcarbamazine but that only really deals with the symptoms. He has lymphatic filariasis. It’s from worms introduced by mosquitoes. It’s common in the tropics. Ricardo is just one of many. If you stay around long enough you will see more. Ricardo’s case is getting bad enough he’ll need surgery to keep walking.”

      “Where will he go to have that?”

      “I had hoped we would have a standing hospital built by now but we’re still working on the funding. Right now he’ll have to go to the city or hope a visiting group of orthopedists is able to come here.”

      “That’s sad.” Her heart hurt for Ricardo and the others like him. These people needed more help.

      Their next patient entered and ended their conversation but the needs in the small tropical country remained on Ellen’s mind. Chance was working hard to do what he could but it wasn’t enough. What would happen if he didn’t get the funding required and the clinic closed?

      The rest of the afternoon was one more patient after another. Once again a storm built and seemed primed to dump water over them. As much as Ellen enjoyed rain, every day was a little much. Thirty minutes after the last patient was seen the clinic was dismantled and she, Karen and Peter were running for the truck as the first fat drops of water fell.

      “You guys will be drenched. We’re going to have to double up in the cabs,” Michael yelled over the sound of thunder and wind. “Ellen, you go in the van. Karen and Peter, we’ll just have to make do in the truck cab.”

      The rain started coming down in sheets. Ellen didn’t hesitate before running to climb into the