The Doctor's Choice Read Online Free

had first been informed of Silky’s death.
    “Tell me, Breck,” she said . “Did Aunt Silky still ride every day?”
    Breck’s face was suddenly so mber. “To my knowledge, she did.”
    “My aunt w as an exceptional horsewoman. Did she experience some sort of decline recently?”
    “Absolutely not. She rode with me several times a week and regularly beat the pants off me. She loved to ride and she loved to race me. Why do you ask?” He sent her a penetrating gaze.
    Cami experienced a tightening in her chest under his scrutiny. She cleared her throat. “Frankly, I just can’t imagine her being thrown by any horse, especially Red. She talked about him all the time.”
    “My thoughts exactly. Here’s the man to ask.” Breck raised his hand in greeting to a much older man. “Doc, come on over here.”
    The tall, elderly man squinted through his glasses before crossing the diner to stand beside their booth. His bushy brows knit into a frown as he stared at her. “You’re Silky’s niece,” he said. “I saw you at the funeral. Damned shame.” He pulled up a chair and seated himself at the end of the table.
    “Doc Parker and Silky were old friends,” Breck said.
    “I’m Camryn, Doctor.” She extended her hand. “Was there an autopsy?”
    His expression changed from melancholy to surprise to anger.
    She shrank from his stern glare. “I…I was wondering if there had been an autopsy. I can’t imagine Aunt Silky being thrown by a horse. I guess I was wondering if she suffered a heart attack or stroke before she fell.”
    “Cami is a doctor, Doc,” Breck said.
    “I know what you meant.” The old man shook his head. “Most people around these parts fight tooth and nail to avoid an autopsy, even in the case of foul play. They object on religious grounds. They object on any grounds they can.”
    The weight of disappointment settled on her shoulders. “So, there wasn’t an autopsy?”
    “Didn’t say that. As a matter of fact there was a post mortem examination.”
    “Did you …?” she began.
    “Hell, no!” the doctor spat out. “Silky was …She was special to me. I couldn’t…“
    “I understand, ” she said, though she didn’t.
    “ The procedure was performed by the Medical Examiner over at the county seat. I haven’t heard the results, but I’ll check with him.” He scraped his chair back and went to sit at the counter turning his back on them without a word of farewell.
    “I didn’t know you were interested in the autopsy,” Breck said. “I’d have warned you about Doc. He and Silky were sweethearts for decades. He’s taken her death pretty hard.”
    “That’s apparent .” She took a deep breath, giving Breck a sharp glance across the table. “You’re telling me that my Aunt Silky had a boyfriend for longer than I’ve been alive and I didn’t know anything about it?”
    He gave her a one-sided grin in response.
    Crystal brought their steaming plates at that moment, and set a basket of fluffy fat biscuits between them.
    Cami seized on a hot biscuit and buttered it. She bit into the flaky layers, inhaling the fragrance as she closed her eyes.
    “Good biscuit ?” he asked.
    She opened her eyes, realizing that he was laughing at her. She colored slightly, but took another bite accompanied by a piece of sausage. “Yes,” she agreed, without pause. “Med school doesn’t allow one to eat regular meals.”
    “It doesn’t seem to have done you any harm. ” Once again he seemed to be appraising her. “You do favor Silky in her younger days."
    She narrowed her gaze. “You’re not much older than I. How do you know how she looked in her younger days?”
    “Pictures. She’s part of the local history. There are a great many p hotos of her around here. In fact,” he smiled conspiratorially, “Doc has quite a collection.”
    Cami swallowed, giving her self a chance to consider her great aunt in another light, a woman with a long-time sweetheart. She had to smile when she