Page 123 of Track of Courage

The nurse moved the stethoscope lower, frowned.

Donald sat up.

“Honey, have you gone to the bathroom since you had surgery?” She wound the stethoscope over her neck and lightly touched Wren’s abdomen.

The little girl howled.

Okay, yes, Keely should leave.

“What’s wrong with her?” Donald clutched Wren’s leg.

“Let me call the doctor.” She smiled down at Wren. “Would you like something to eat?”

“I’m not hungry,” Wren said, tears squeezing out of her eyes.

“Okay. I’m going to set up her blood pressure, and then I’ll call the doctor.”

Donald took his daughter’s hand. The nurse set up the blood pressure cuff, then stepped out of the room.

Silence followed, just the sounds of the cuff tightening and Wren’s hiccups. And Keely just wanted to weep.

“Are you a mommy?”

“I should go,” she said quietly.

Donald met her eyes. “Thank you.”

She leaned down to Wren, wiped a tear off her cheek. “Be brave, Wren.” She kissed her forehead.

Wren nodded. “Don’t forget your picture.”

Keely found a smile from parts unknown and took the picture. Held it to her heart.

The nurse and a female doctor passed by her as she headed down the hallway, down the back stairs, and then outside.

The wind wasn’t brutal, the smell of pine fresh in the air. She folded the picture, then zipped up, pulled up her hood, and headed toward the Gold Nugget Inn.

Please,God,keep Wren alive.

Funny, she’d been doing a lot more praying lately.

The town lay buried, locals still digging out. A snowplow worked Main Street, shoving snow along the edges, while another pushed the edges down the road, toward a park. Someone had shoveled a path along the building fronts, and she followed it, crossing the street so she didn’t have to pass the Midnight Sun.

Because ... yeah.

Vicknew.

And Keely didn’t know what to make of Dawson’s words, now pounding in her head. She probably needed to add ice to her face, maybe her heart.

“Vic already knew whoyou were!”

Already knew. Since when? When she arrived at the Midnight Sun? When she’d confronted her before Keely left and saidnothing? Clearly intending to let Keely walk out of her life without saying a word?

So much for wanting to see if Vic had any regrets. Clearly not.

She headed down a block. Snow piled along the cleared walkway and porch to the inn.Please letNora have a phone—

“Keely.”