Kirkland and his wife. Akira and Gabe had prepared the small cabin next to the Wickhams’—the one Gabe had used before their marriage—for the Jones family. It was there Gabe carried Lindy while the doctor spoke to Akira.“I’m amazed by her progress, Mrs. Talmadge,” Dr. Kirkland told her, “but she isn’t out of danger yet. She’ll need plenty of rest and good nourishment. And exercise. She hates the crutches, but if she wants to return to that mountain home of hers, she’d better learn to use them. Inactivity will only slow the healing process. I can’t stress that enough.”“I’ll do what I can to encourage her.”“Good.” Dr. Kirkland nodded, then glanced at the sky. “We’d better get over the pass before the snow starts to fall again. I’d hate to get caught in a blizzard.”“It was kind of you to bring Mrs. Jones to us. Gabe hoped he’d have the Ford running by now, but —”“Don’t mention it.” He opened the automobile door and got in. “Unless the roads are bad, I’ll be over this way next Saturday to look in on her.”“Thanks again, Doctor.
