High Noon

an irritated rant. Phoebe turned toward the little girl who stood holding a bright red ball.
    “I’m all right, Carly. I know I don’t look it, but I am. I will be. I got hurt, but I’m okay.”
    “Mama.” The ball went bouncing away as Carly ran forward to grab Phoebe, to press her face against her mother’s waist. From his vantage point, Duncan saw the ripple of pain, and the way it leached all color out of Phoebe’s cheeks.
    “Hey, sorry. I know this is a bad time, but, you know, I think Phoebe needs to lie down.” He moved forward as he spoke and simply lifted Phoebe off her feet. “Carly, maybe you could show me where your mama’s bedroom is.”
    “It’s upstairs.”
    “I can walk. Duncan, I can walk.”
    “Sure, but hey, I already got you. Miz Mac Namara? They gave Phoebe some medication. I think it might be time for her to take it, if she had some water.”
    “Of course, of course.”
    “I’ll get it.” Ava touched Essie’s arm. “You go up with Phoebe. I’ll get the water, and some ice. Carter, help me get some ice for Phoebe.”
    “I’m going up to fix the bed. I’m going right up to get it ready.” Essie dashed up the stairs.
    “Did you fall?” Carly’s voice still shook as she walked up beside Duncan, with her fingers closed over the hem of the scrubs.
    “That was part of it. I had a bad fall, and I had to go to the hospital. They fixed me up and let me come home. You know they don’t let you go home if you’re not fixed enough. Right?”
    “Is your arm broken?”
    “No. It’s just hurt, so it’s in this sling for a while so I don’t bump it around.”
    “How come you didn’t catch her when she fell?” Carly demanded of Duncan.
    “I wish I could have. I wasn’t there when she fell.”
    He carried Phoebe into the bedroom where Essie had already turned down the spread, fluffed the pillows. “Just lay her right on down. Thank you so much, Duncan. Phoebe, I’m sorry, I just lost my head.”
    “It’s all right, Mama. Everything’s going to be all right.”
    “Of course it is.” Though her lips quivered visibly, Essie sent Carly a big smile. “We’re going to take good care of your mama, aren’t we? She needs some medicine now.”
    “It’s in my purse. I—”
    “Right here.” Duncan set it on the bed.
    “You’re good with details,” Phoebe commented.
    “Wouldn’t you like to go down and sit in the parlor, Duncan?” Essie began. “Carter, he’ll fix you a drink. And…” She rubbed her fingers on her temple. “And you’ll stay for dinner. You’ll stay for dinner, of course.”
    “That’s nice of you, but I’ll leave y’all to tend to Phoebe. I hope I can have a rain check.”
    “You’re welcome anytime. Anytime at all. I’ll walk you down.”
    “You stay right here.” He gave Essie’s shoulder a pat before he looked down at Phoebe. “That goes for you, too.”
    “I think I’m going to do just that. Duncan—”
    “We’ll talk later.”
    As he left, Carter bounded up the stairs. Carter stopped, gripping a pair of ice bags. “Sorry about jumping on you out there.”
    “Forget it. Natural.”
    “Do you know who punched my sister in the face? I took enough fists in the face to know what the results look like,” he said when Duncan lifted his brows.
    “I don’t know who hurt her, but I’m going to find out.”
    “When you do—if it’s before I do—I want to know.”
    “Sure.”
    “Carter Mac Namara.” Carter shifted ice bags, held out a hand.
    “Duncan Swift. See you around.”
    Duncan let himself out, glanced up toward the bedroom window as he walked to his car. Gorgeous house, he thought, and just full of problems. He had enough experience with problems to know they came in all flavors and varieties.
    Just as he knew, without question, that whatever the problems, Phoebe was the glue that held the family together.
    Gift or burden? he wondered. And decided it was probably a good chunk of both.
    A smart man would drive away from the gorgeous house with its variety of problems. Drive away and keep on going. That’s what a smart man would do.
    Then again, Duncan thought, there were times it was more interesting, and certainly more rewarding, just to be dumb.
     
    He ended up at a bar. The after-work crowd wouldn’t flood into Slam Dunc for nearly an hour, so despite the multiple flat screens rolling out ESPN, and the scatter of customers playing pool or air hockey, Duncan figured it was quiet enough for a