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until Dr. Pearson arrives.”
    Jessica stared at him. “I’m sure this wasn’t a unanimous decision.”
    He shifted. “Well, not exactly. To be honest, there was a little doubt because you’re, well…” He paused. “Well, a woman.” Jess lifted her brows slightly and felt her cheeks grow warm. “But your father was an upright man—you know, well thought of. And most folks in town have known you since way back.” He brightened here. “Adam Jacobsen spoke up in your favor, and pretty enthusiastically. Of course, the opinion of Powell Springs’s minister, and a man so active in the American Protective League—well, he won over the others.”
    The APL—she would expect that of Adam. Jess remembered him as a whiny little pip-squeak of a child who tattled on everyone to his own father, the minister before him. The American Protective League, an outgrowth of President Wilson’s Sedition Act, had over two hundred thousand volunteer members who made it their business to spy on their neighbors, report men they considered to be draft dodgers, stick their noses into everyone’s activities, find treachery where none existed, and harass people for not buying Liberty Bonds. They could have others arrested for expressing a critical opinion of the war, and viewed everyone with suspicion. So Adam’s endorsement was unexpected and probably unwelcome.
    “But I’m only staying a little more than a week, just to see my sister. I have a research position waiting for me in Seattle.”
    “Hmm, yes, that might be a problem, since we don’t know when Pearson is arriving.”
    “Not ‘might be.’ It is a problem. I’m expected in Washington, and I have to go. I don’t practice clinical medicine anymore.”
    He leaned forward, his expression earnest and open. “Dr. Layton…Jessica…I know this is a hell of a lot to ask of you, but you managed the situation with Ed so well. Granny Mae just isn’t qualified to take care of medical problems. She’s helped me pull a calf or two over the years, and I suppose she can handle little things. But some people around here have started to worry about what will happen the next time a real emergency comes up. Poor old Elvin Fowler just sits on his porch all day long now, since he broke his leg and had no real doctoring. It’s my job as mayor to see that the citizens of Powell Springs are taken care of.” He caught her gaze and held it fast. “And I think your pa would want you to help your own hometown in its hour of need.”
    “But—” Jessica tightened her jaw, feeling guilty and outmaneuvered. Yes, of course, her father would want her to help. In fact, she knew he’d demand it. She didn’t want to stay in Powell Springs or jeopardize her new job at Seattle General Hospital. Still, clever Mayor Cookson had known exactly what to say to bend her resolve. “Well, I—” she began, crumbling under the weight of duty, “I suppose—I’ve been given six weeks’ travel time, I guess I can stay for a month.” Then with more vigor she added, “But whether or not Dr. Pearson is here in thirty days, I’ll be leaving.”
    He sat back in his chair, and a shadow of either satisfaction or relief crossed his weathered face. “Sure, of course, I understand.”
    “Maybe I could use the empty office I borrowed this morning, since my father’s house is no longer available.”
    If he detected the note of bitterness she’d been unable to keep from her tone, the mayor didn’t let on. “That’s exactly the spot I had in mind! Of course, we’ve already hung Pearson’s shingle on the place, but that won’t matter. We’ll get you set up right away, don’t you worry about a thing. I don’t want to give you the impression that you’ll be busy—after all, you’re here to visit Amy. We’ll pay to put you up in the apartment that we fixed up for Pearson. In fact, we’ll pay all the expenses.” He stood and reached a hand across the desk. “Glad to have you back, Doctor.”
    She