Read Online Small Town Doctor by Marissa Dobson - Free Book Online

Marine, Sergeant Gioven Sparks, staying here at Winterbloom. I need your help with him.”
    “I’m a pediatrician, I don’t know what I can do to help. What’s wrong with him?”
    “His last deployment was hairy and he’s turned to the bottle to help him cope. I need to get him out of On the Rocks, and Ryan’s on police business. I don’t want Chloe there, but if I can’t find anyone else, that’s what I’m going to have to do…unless you can help.”
    “No, if he’s a drunk former Marine you’re going to need more than just Chloe. Leave her home with Bianca and I’ll meet you there. I’m at the hospital, give me five minutes.”
    “See you there, I’m already in the parking lot.” Jordan ended the call.
    James locked his phone screen and clipped it back onto his belt. “I’ve got to help Jordan, I can leave you in my office if you’d prefer.”
    “Where at?”
    “On the Rocks.” He saw the fear shine in her eyes. “You don’t have to go in, you can wait in the car or wait here, but I need an answer.”
    “We’ll go. There’s no reason for you to come back here for us…but we’ll wait in the car.”
    He shoved the truck back in drive. “I’ll try to make it quick.” Knowing the sacrifice she was making, he reached across the seat to lay his hand on her leg.
    “I know you will.” She placed her hand over his and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Are you sure two of you can handle a drunk Marine? Maybe you should call for additional help.”
    “We’ll be fine. Once we get him under control, the bar owner, Daniel Bridge, will help if we need him to. He’s probably tired of hearing Gioven’s problems as he downs a bottle of whiskey. Daniel is a bartending therapist…at least according to most of the town’s drinkers.” He took the alley from the hospital over to Queen Street, where On the Rocks was just about on the outskirts of town.
    “What’s whiskey?” Abbi questioned as she rocked Mr. Bear in her lap.
    “It’s a drink for people Mommy’s age.”
    “Nasty stuff.” He glanced in the review mirror back at her, wrinkling his nose in distaste. Turning his attention back to the road he made the turn into the parking lot and immediately spotted Jordan leaning against his truck.
    The truck took to the gravel parking lot with ease and he pulled up next to Jordan before putting it in park. “I’ll be right back.” He squeezed her hand before grabbing the door handle. He hated to leave her in the one spot he knew brought back bad memories, but he couldn’t let Jordan handle this on his own.
    “Sorry, man. I hoped to get Ryan to help, since Cameron and J.C. are teaching a class at Clearwater Combat and Guns,” Jordan called to him as he came around the front of the truck.
    “No problem. Let’s see if we can get him out without causing a scene and disrupting Daniel’s lunch crowd.”
    “Who’s the woman?” Jordan nodded to the truck where Ella was staring at the bar, her eyes wide.
    “Ella Carmichael and her daughter Abbi.”
    “The Carmichaels from the mountain?” Jordan raised an eyebrow at him, shock evident in his gaze. “Ryan’s been trying to get them into town for years. How’d you do it?”
    He had a number of smart-ass comments in mind but he wanted this over so he could get back to Ella before she could talk herself into blocking him out again. “I thought we had someone we needed to rescue from the bar.”
    “Yes, right, Gioven.” Jordan turned toward the bar while James glanced back at the truck.
    He wanted to slip back into the truck and wrap his arms around Ella, to ease the discomfort she was feeling. If bringing her to On the Rocks destroyed what he accomplished already, he’d have a battle that was twice as hard. She’d close in on herself until he had to chisel away at the outer edge, begging her to open up again. There was no chance it would be as easy as the first time.
    Damn it, I’m risking her to help someone else. She’s supposed to be my top