“A little tolerance might go a long way here.” He’d ease her into this because by little he meant a whole lot. So much tolerance was needed. “I know I’m the sheriff and I understand the need for laws, but I also know there’s a time to bend those rules a little for the right reasons.”

“Yes, and bending the rules could go a long way to me losing my license. I understand. The doctor was a beloved member of this community and I’m an outsider.”

“The doctor is an ass most of the time, but the people around here know him and they trust him.”

“I don’t know why.” Her mouth firmed to a stubborn line. “I shouldn’t have trusted him at all. He told me the clinic made money.”

“I don’t know about that, but they do a whole lot of bake sales. What are you going to do about Gene?” He wasn’t sure why the woman fascinated him, but it had been so long since he’d wanted anything for himself that he wasn’t going to question it. He was going to follow his gut, and his every instinct told him Lila was worth the trouble. “I know he’s obnoxious, but he really won’t come back into the clinic. And he won’t go anywhere else. He’ll go without.”

She seemed to think about the problem for a moment. “I can give him an extra month. But I can’t risk my license and I can’t not follow the rules. There are reasons for the rules. I’ll write up the prescription and have Mabel take it to him. But you have to work on him. If he doesn’t want me to draw the blood, Mabel can.”

She was bending and that was all he could ask her to do. “Thank you, Lila.”

He wanted to reach out and take her hand in his, but they weren’t there yet. The way her eyes held his gave him hope. She stared at him and the ghost of a smile crossed her lips and then she broke the moment, retreating to her previous businesslike demeanor.

“I’m actually here because of one of those rules we were talking about. I need to inform you that I have reason to suspect a woman named Carrie Petrie is being physically abused by her husband.”

Well, he hadn’t expected that. “Bobby? He’s never been in any trouble before. I won’t say the man is a joy to be around, but what makes you think he’s hurting Carrie?”

“Her medical records. Did you know she’s been in five times in the last four years for broken bones or sprained ankles?”