my legs, everything started to buzz harder. Vision started getting fuzzy, and then I was falling.”
“I caught her,” Trish broke in, putting a hand on Julia’s elevated feet and smiling. “Josie and I brought her out here away from the heat of the kitchen. She was pretty clammy, and took a while to start making sense again.”
“I thought it might be her blood sugar,” Josie volunteered in an almost whimper. “I have a sister who’s diabetic, so I got some juice for her, thinking it might help . . .”
Brynn smiled at the young woman, knowing what a big deal it was for her to say anything with confidence. “Great idea. That’s one of my first go-to solutions, too.”
Josie’s smile could have lit the room, but it vanished quickly as her cheeks flamed in embarrassment.
Poor thing. Brynn should make more of an effort there. Josie could use as much encouragement as possible, and as many friends as she could get.
“Pulse seems fine,” Brynn told Julia, turning her attention back. “Do you pass out frequently?”
“No, almost never.” Julia smiled a little. “I haven’t felt sick to my stomach, I’m not congested, I haven’t been feeling particularly anxious . . .”
Brynn’s eyes narrowed in thought. “Does your vision go spotty if you stand up too fast?”
“Only if I’ve been lying down for a while,” Julia said with a slight shrug. “And it clears really fast.”
“Any problems with blood pressure in your medical history?”
“No, it’s always been pretty good.”
Brynn nodded in thought, an idea prickling in the back of her mind that she didn’t think she should say in front of the others. “Would you be okay if I take you into town? I just want to check a few things, but I’m not overly concerned. I just need a few of the things they’ll have at the clinic.”
Julia nodded, pulling the damp cloth from her head. “Yeah, sure.” She sat up quickly, her eyes widening as she did so. “Whoa.”
“Don’t rush it,” Brynn ordered quickly, grabbing her arm in case she passed out again. “Nice and easy. Josie, could you grab a bottle of water for her?”
“Yep.” Josie bolted for the kitchen as though Julia’s life depended on it.
Brynn glanced at Kellie, who was standing behind them. “Is there a car I can use, Kellie?”
“I don’t have a ranch truck available right now,” Kellie admitted with a frown. “Ryan’s got them out in the fields. My personal truck’s in the shop. Let me see what I can do.” She pulled out her phone, her thumbs flying across the screen. “I’ll text Dr. Mills, too, just so he knows you’re coming.”
“Thanks.” Brynn pushed to her feet and gave Julia a steady look as Josie returned with a bottle of water. “How are you feeling now?”
She took the bottle from Josie with a smile. “The room isn’t spinning, so that’s good, right?”
Brynn nodded. “I’ll take that. Can you drink that before we get to the clinic? Just in case dehydration is part of it. Don’t chug, though.”
“I’ll do my best,” Julia quipped. “Can I stand up?”
“Sure, if you feel like it.” Brynn held out her hands, which Julia took, and slowly, she rose without wobbling. “Looking good. Let’s get you some shoes.”
“On it!” Trish called, dashing off to the bedrooms.
Julia looked after her in consternation. “I have shoes right here from when we were making jam. Honestly, what kind of shoes does she think I need?”
Brynn could only shake her head. “Hopefully something easy for Texas in June, right?”
“Totally.”
“Okay, Ford’s bringing his truck over. He’ll drive you guys to the clinic,” Kellie announced to them both.
“Boy Scout?” Brynn asked, a little startled. “Doesn’t he have things to do?”
Kellie nodded as she tucked her phone away. “Yeah, he has to go into Lost Creek to test out a new hazer, so it’s perfect.”
Whatever a hazer was, Brynn didn’t have a chance to ask, since Trish ran back into the room with a pair of Julia’s sandals.
“That’s what you had to get?” Julia asked with a laugh when Trish stooped down to help her with the shoes.
“Texas in summer, hon.” Trish gave her a stern look. “Gotta show off those cute toes when you’re not working on the ranch.”
Julia seemed to consider that. “Well, I did get a pedicure before I got here, and it’s still in good shape.”
“Exactly.” Trish gave her a wink, patting her ankle once the sandals were on.
Brynn took the chance to go to her room and grab her own phone, wondering