Part 10 (2/2)

”Sit with her until I can get Doc Drake,” Alex commanded. The older man was startled by Alex's urgent tone, but he hurried up the stairs as Alex ran out onto the front porch.

”Doc! Doc Drake,” he called out over the crowd.

The smallish doctor appeared before him as if by magic. He even had his black medical kit with him. ”What is it, Alex? Tabby Hilston sprained her ankle, and I promised her I'd take a look at it.”

”Marilynn Baxter overdosed on something upstairs.”

Doc's face went white. ”Which room?”

”Number seven.”

As he rushed past Alex, the doctor said, ”There's an EMS van at the front gate. Go get them. Alex, do you know what she took?”

”I have no idea,” Alex said frantically, ”there was a bottle by her hand, but the label's been torn off.”

”Okay, I'll handle it. Go get the EMS crew. I'll be upstairs with her.”

Alex tore through the crowd, ignoring a dozen hails and greetings. He didn't have time for niceties, not with Marilynn Baxter's life hanging in the balance.

The EMS team, a youngish man and a middle-aged woman, were standing around drinking coffee near the front gate.

”There's an emergency at the inn! The doctor needs you there right now.”

Both cups. .h.i.t the ground as the workers piled into the van.

Alex said, ”Cut through the field. You can get to the back entrance of the inn without running anyone down.”

As the emergency rig raced off toward the inn, Tom Lane, the young money collector for the day, grabbed Alex. ”What's happened? Is Shantara all right?”

It was obvious the young man had a huge crush on the shopkeeper. ”She's fine, Tom. It's one of my guests.”

Tom shook his head in wonder. ”Man, you surely do have a lot of stuff happen around here don't you, Mr. Winston?”

”More than you can imagine,” Alex said as he hurried back to the inn.

The EMS crew was carrying Marilynn out on a stretcher as Alex approached the back porch. There was a clear plastic mask over her face, and Doc Drake was by her side.

”Is she going to be all right?” Alex asked.

Doc shot out, ”It's too soon to tell,” as he jumped into the back of the vehicle.

With the siren wailing and lights flas.h.i.+ng, the EMS van left Hatteras West, racing toward the hospital to save the potter's life.

Evans met Alex at the back door.

Alex said, ”Listen, I'm sorry I was so abrupt with you earlier. I didn't mean to snap like that.”

”Nonsense, Alex, you did the right thing. I do hope she'll be all right. I'm afraid I wasn't much help up there.”

”You were with her, Evans, that's what matters.”

”I suppose you're right. Alex, if you don't mind, I think I'll leave the inn a little earlier than I'd planned. I'd like to check out today if it won't inconvenience you too much.”

”I understand how you feel, but where will you stay until your trip?”

Evans grinned slightly. ”I'm sure Harry will put me up. To be honest with you, he was a bit miffed when I opted to stay with you instead of him during my renovations. I thought it would be more peaceful here, if you can believe that.”

There was nothing Alex could say to that. He couldn't blame Evans Graile a bit.

There was entirely too much excitement at The Hatteras West Inn for his taste, too.

Shantara found Alex a few minutes later. ”Alex, did I just see the EMS people leave?”

”Marilynn Baxter just overdosed on something. I found her up in her room while I was cleaning.”

Shantara started weeping gently. ”Alex, this has turned into the biggest nightmare of my life. Why did I ever start this?”

Alex took her by the shoulders. ”Shantara, this isn't your fault. Jefferson Lee would be dead even if there'd never been a Golden Days Fair. Marilynn must have had more problems than any of us realized to try to take her own life like that. You're not to blame for any of it.”

His words seemed to soothe her. She hugged him gently, then said, ”Oh, Alex, I couldn't have pulled this off without you, and I end up repaying you with nothing but trouble.”

He shook his head. ”Shantara, you've got to accept that none of this is your fault. By tonight, the fair will be over, and you can start putting it behind you.”

”I can't wait” she said. ”I feel like I'm taking blood money.”

Before Alex could say anything else to calm her, Tabby Hilston limped in, one arm draped around Mor Pendleton's neck.

Mor said, ”Alex, did you happen to see Doc Drake? He disappeared on us.”

”He had an emergency,” Alex explained, not wanting to go into the details of Doc's absence. Tabby didn't look the least put off. In fact, she seemed to enjoy Mor's proximity.

Emma suddenly crashed through the door. ”There you are. Mor, I'm sure the lady needs to sit down and take a load off that ankle. There's no need for you to keep supporting her.” Emma's face was stern as Mor lowered Tabby into a chair.

Tabby looked unhappy with the new arrangement. She said, ”If Doc's not here, how am I going to get to his office? I can't drive with this injury.”

She looked expectantly at Mor, but Emma stepped in before he could say a word. ”I'll be glad to take you, dear. Mor, would you be so kind as to bring the car around back? I'll have Tabby there when you do, and I can run her into town myself.”

”I'd be glad to go with you,” Mor said, and Tabby beamed.

Emma wasn't about to give up that easily. ”That's sweet of you to offer, but I can handle her all by myself. Why don't you stay here with Alex? We won't be long.”

Alex could see Mor clouding up, but the truth was, he really would like his friend's company. ”Why don't you hang around, Mor? You can help me change the sheets upstairs.”

”Oh, that sounds like pure joy,” Mor said, rolling his eyes at Alex.

<script>