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but she didn't know if it was due to the mention of her marriage or his inability to forgive and forget. The roar of a truck in the drive distracted him, so he rose to go to the window.
    "Doc Peters is here. He must have been really close or he broke a few speed limits. I think he has a soft spot for you, anyway."
    Susan had a soft spot for the doctor, too. He was well loved in this area. The accident had killed her dad had left her mother in a coma for weeks before death. She'd never regained consciousness. Doc Peters had lent a faithful shoulder during her hospitalization. He hadn't charged a penny for his frequent visits.
    "I can't afford to pay him, and I don't like accepting charity,’ she said.  Luke turned a cool gaze back to her. “You were here caring for my horses. I'll see that he's paid."
    Her expression made it clear she didn't like accepting anything from him, either, which made his expression even more fierce. "It's not charity, you hardheaded little idiot."
    Susan didn't respond even though her glare told him what she thought of his generosity and his insults. No one could accuse Luke Hanchart of being a smooth talker. Though his arrogance annoyed her, it was a welcome relief from Shane's glib ways. Rosa and Doctor Peters entered the room together and put an end to the discussion. The housekeeper gave her more water while the doctor pulled out a blood-pressure cuff.
     He was a tall, thin, balding man with a deeply lined face that showed years of work and worry. Susan didn't know how old he was. She assumed he was in his seventies, but she knew he wouldn't retire until he died. Despite his advancing years, his eyes were bright with intelligence and his mind was still sharp.
        "Well, young lady, what have you been doing with yourself?" he asked.       As the county's only general practitioner, he'd helped bring most of the local population into the world. She was no exception. "I don't know. I was just leaving the barn, and the heat seemed to hit me with more force than usual."
    Peters nodded and stuck a thermometer in her mouth while he checked her pressure. He took her pulse and then started to scold. "I suppose you've been keeping some pretty long hours, not sleeping or eating properly, and fretting about this big move. Right?" She had no chance to respond before he continued.
    "I told you to slow down and take care of yourself, but nobody ever listens to the old doctor. Everybody thinks they're super-human these days. You just push your bodies to the very limit and then call me when you collapse. Didn't I warn you to slow down and take better care of yourself?"
    "Yes," she mumbled around the thermometer.  Didn’t I warn you that you had to start eating more?”
    “Yes.”  "And did you take my advice?"  "No," she mumbled again.  "You need a few days of complete rest. A couple weeks wouldn't hurt. I can give you a thorough physical, but there's nothing wrong that some common sense couldn't cure. You've just pushed too hard this time."
    "I've never fainted before.”
    "It’s your body's way of warning you to slow down. It'd be wise to heed the warning."
    It was easy for him to tell her what she needed, but not so easy for her to accomplish. She didn't have the luxury of taking a few weeks to regain her usual strength. Good, nutritious food cost more money than she could spare, so she’d been getting by with one meal a day at the restaurant. She hadn’t had much of an appetite lately, anyway, and she couldn’t even remember the last time she’d had a good night’s sleep.
     She was just about to tell him she needed to be on the road by evening when Luke intervened.
    "Susan and I are going to be married soon," he stunned them all by announcing. His expression told her he was taking the decision out of her hands and if she had any remaining doubts, she should air them now.  A few tense seconds passed. When she didn't contradict him, he continued.  "She was planning to stay in Houston