The woman sitting in the waiting room kept looking at her hands. He supposed in a way that he sympathized with her. Most naturopaths were ignorant of the ways of true medicine. Most of them didn’t know or understand the counter-indications between pharmaceuticals and natural medicines. People in general didn’t understand them either and many would end up in the hospital just like Madeline Bennett had.
But for some reason, he really wasn’t surprised that she ended up here at all. He had heard through the grapevine that her granddaughter was coming home to take care of her. She was coming from a place where the laws were different regarding the practice of naturopathic medicine.
“You know you could have killed your grandmother,” Justin stated quietly as he stood over her.
“I think that this is more of an issue of her overdosing herself than whether I gave her the right medicine.” Abbie looked at him and sighed.
“Personally, I think all that naturopathic medicine stuff is hocus-pocus myself,” he said emphatically. Justin had a sudden need to get close to her and sat down. He just couldn’t understand this overwhelming and compelling feeling that he had to get even closer still.
Looking at her, he realized what an attractive woman she was…attractive but naïve he decided…and doing something he felt to be very dangerous. He stood watching the play of emotions dart across her heart-shaped face with amber eyes and dark brown hair. He was sure the sun glinted off the dark locks with an auburn tone. She was tiny by today’s standards…barely over five feet tall he surmised…diminutive would have been what she was called in years gone by.
“Medicine isn’t something that one should trifle with at all.” He looked at her and patted her hand.
Her eyes were amber, he realized and shook his head. It was as if he were under some kind of spell or something.
“I do hope that you realize I don’t question your ability really. Just your wisdom. And then there’s your training we really need to discuss.”
She sat up straighter. “I really think that my grandmother didn’t disclose all her medications or something. I have never had this reaction in a patient in all the years I’ve been practicing.”
“And just how many years is that? You barely look like you’re out of diapers.”

***
Abbie could barely contain her growing impatience. She knew she looked young but this man’s insolence went beyond what she would call normal. What ever had happened to professional courtesy anyway? This man was down right rude. Why were all medical doctors so arrogant? Had they forgotten just why they had gone into medicine in the first place? She sighed and wanted to tap her foot furiously. It was her one nervous habit. Hocus-pocus? Well, maybe she could show him.
“How about I whip up a little spell then?”
“What?”
“You know spell? Hocus-pocus?” she purred.
A look of shock slowly spread across his face. “Are you taking this as a joke?”
“Aren’t you?”
“No…I’m not, Abbie…and just what do you think you could conjure up?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, practically growling, “how about a love potion that included a lot of sex or something?”
“Why would you say that?”
“Maybe it’s because you’ve been undressing me with your eyes since the moment I saw you. Or do you always let your mouth hang open when you see a pretty woman?” What had gotten into her? This was totally unlike her to be this forward. But with him questioning her medical skill and then the looks he had been giving her, it was all too much.
“This conversation isn’t about me and you, it’s about your grandmother.”
Abbie breathed in deeply. Maybe if she just concentrated on breathing she could get her emotions under control. “You’re right. Why don’t we go and talk to her?” She stood up next to him, realizing just how tall he was.

coming soon