Suited to be a Cowboy

by Lorraine Nelson

  “True enough, but this one does and the first lesson in driving is to obey the rules of the road. Besides, it’s safer for you.” He opened the door and stepped down from the cab. Aaron did the same, then ran around to meet him and they walked into the emergency unit together.

  Much to his surprise, the security guard had waited for them and now led them to Melissa’s examination room. Jimmy thanked him and entered with Aaron, further surprised when the boy grasped his hand and held on tight as they approached the bed.

  “Hey, beautiful! How are you doing?”

  “I’ve had better days.” She held out her good hand to Aaron.

  “Have they given you anything for pain?” He noticed her wince when Aaron perched on the edge of the bed.

  “No, the doctor hasn’t been in yet.”

  A nurse walked in with a sheaf of papers clipped to a clipboard. “Mrs. Dehavilland, I need you to fill out these forms for your medical insurance.”

  “I can’t. I’m right-handed.”

  Jimmy reached for the clipboard. “I’ll read the questions out to you, and as you give me the answers, I can fill it in.”

  “Won’t do any good. I forgot my purse at home.”

  The nurse walked over and fluffed up the pillow under her head. “Just fill in what you can and we’ll get the rest later. The doctor will be in shortly. Need anything?”

  “I’d appreciate an ice pack for the lump on my head and something for the pain,” Melissa replied.

  “The ice pack I can provide. Any pain meds will have to wait for the doctor’s approval. Be right back.”

  The nurse left and Jimmy asked questions as he filled out the forms. “Ahhh, your birthday is coming up. I know your age now.” He smirked in her direction.

  “You could’ve known sooner if you’d asked.”

  He frowned. “I thought women didn’t like to share their age.”

  Melissa smiled. “That’s the over-thirty crowd. I’m not quite there yet.” A sudden cough had her crying out in pain and pressing a hand to her chest. The coughing continued.

  Jimmy grabbed the bedside button and rang for the nurse. When she rushed in and saw what was happening, she swiftly studied the machines monitoring Melissa’s vitals. She hit another button and turned to him.

  “You and your son will have to leave. A medical team is on its way to care for Mrs. Dehavilland.”

  Aaron ran to his side and together they walked out and waited in the corridor outside the exam room. As medical personnel rushed in, some pushing scary-looking machines, Aaron started crying again and buried his face into Jimmy’s side.

  “Your mom’s going to be all right. The medical staff is well-trained.” Jimmy picked him up and carried him to a waiting room down the hall. They sat quietly, side-by-side, and watched TV, but if anyone had asked, Jimmy hadn’t a clue what had been on the screen. His mind focused on the activity down the hall. What was happening? Why hadn’t they come to tell them something, anything, as to how she was doing?

  His constant surveillance paid off when he saw her being rolled out on a stretcher. He rose to his feet when the nurse headed his way, Aaron right beside him.

  She smiled at Aaron. “Your mom’s going to be just fine. We’re taking her for x-rays and a few other tests to determine how bad she’s hurt, then we’ll fix her right up. She might have to stay with us for a few days, though.”

  “That’s okay. When can I see her?” Aaron asked.

  “When the doctor is finished, we’ll let you know. In the meantime,” she glanced up at Jimmy, “why don’t you two go to the cafeteria and have dinner? By the time you return, she should be back and you can see her for a few minutes then. Okay?”

  “What happened in there?” Jimmy nodded toward the exam room.

  “The doctor thinks she might have a broken rib or two, Mr. Dehavilland. It may be pressing on a lung or causing some internal bleeding. We’ll know more when the test results are in.”

  Aaron glanced up with a strange look on his face. When he opened his mouth to speak, Jimmy shushed him. “It’s okay, Aaron. We’ll go eat and I’ll explain things to you.”

  The boy frowned, but remained silent. The nurse left and they headed for the cafeteria, where Jimmy bought them dinner.

  “Why did you let that nurse think you were my dad?” Aaron frowned at him and asked the question as soon as they sat down.

  “As long as she thinks I’m part of the family, she’ll keep us informed of your mom’s condition and let you stay at the ranch with me. If she knows you have no other family, they could place you in a foster home until your mother is well enough to care for you again. Understand?”

  “So I have to pretend you’re my dad?” He picked at the food on his plate.

  Jimmy understood the boy’s dilemma. He already had a father, one who he knew and remembered quite well. “No, maybe an uncle or cousin. How does that sound?”

  “I’m not supposed to lie.” His gaze pierced Jimmy as if daring him to say different.

  “No, it’s never good to lie. Call me Jimmy and let me do the talking. I’ll just let them assume I’m family. Okay, sport?”

  “I guess that’s all right.”

  “Good. Eat up so we can go back and wait for your mom.” Jimmy dug into his own meal, an appetizing assortment of salads and meats. It could have tasted like sawdust for all the attention he paid it, automatically shoveling it in by the forkful, his mind occupied elsewhere, wondering, worrying, what was happening with Melissa.

  Ever since that first, mind-blowing kiss, he hadn’t been able to think of her as his boss. He was drawn to her, and it wasn’t just sexual chemistry. Today proved to him how much he cared already. It might be too late to tighten up on the reins, but he had to try. The Dehavillands had a generations-old heritage, roots that went way back, and they were rich. Correction, as the only Dehavillands still living, Melissa and her son were mega-rich.

  Give your head a shake, McGovern. With her family background, what would she want with a no-account man orphaned at birth? One who no one even wanted to adopt given his lack of medical history.

  “Jimmy, can we go now?”

  “Yep.” While he was lost in thought, Aaron had cleaned his plate. Jimmy gulped down the remainder of his coffee, now lukewarm.

  They went directly to Melissa’s room, but she wasn’t back yet. Jimmy went to the nurses’ station to inquire as to her whereabouts.

  “Mrs. Dehavilland is in the osteopathy lab having a cast put on. They’ll have her back shortly and the doctor will be in to see you. You can wait for her in the exam room if you like.”

  Jimmy glanced down. “Aaron? What do you think?”

  “Can we go to the waiting room? At least there’s a TV in there.”

  “Sure. Let’s go.” He nodded to the nurse.

  Television held no interest for Jimmy as he kept a constant vigil for Melissa’s return. He must have dozed off because when next he opened his eyes, Aaron was calling his name.

  “Jimmy, wake up. The nurse was here. She said Mom’s back.”

  “Okay, I’m coming.” He stood, stretched out the kinks in his neck and back, then followed Aaron to Melissa’s room. The doctor was with her.

  “Hey, Mom. How you feeling?”

  “A little sore, but I’ll soon be good as new.”

  “Are these the men who brought you in?” asked the doctor.

  “Yes, Jimmy and my son, Aaron. This is Dr. Dakota.”

  “So it’s all right to speak in front of them?” the doctor asked.

  “Yes.”

  “As you know, you have a broken arm and three cracked ribs. We’ve fixed you up the best we can, but you’ll need to take extra care in the coming weeks to heal properly. There isn’t any internal bleeding, but the concussion worries me. I’d like to keep you overnight for observation.”

  “Is that really necessary?” she asked. “I’d rather go home.”

  “I have first aid training and I know what to watch for if she’s
determined to go home,” Jimmy said.

  “You’re the one who fashioned the splint?”

  Jimmy nodded.

  “A fine job. It prevented further damage to nerves and muscle tissue. If you’re prepared to play nursemaid, who am I to argue?” He turned back to Melissa. “No horseback riding until that cast comes off. Keep it dry. No physical activity of any kind for the next week or two.” He slanted a meaningful glance at Jimmy. “Her body needs time to heal. Any questions?”

  “What do I take for the pain?”

  “I’ll leave a prescription with your nurse. She’ll help you get ready to leave, unless your husband wants that honor.”

  Jimmy thought fast. “No, I’d better stay with Aaron. We’ll wait outside.”

  “Good. I’ll send the nurse in. Come back in six weeks to have the cast removed. If you have any problems, check with your family doctor or return here.”

  “Thank you, Doctor.”

  Once the doctor left, Melissa fixed a drowsy, yet pain-filled gaze on Jimmy. “My husband?”

  Jimmy felt his face grow warm. “I didn’t say that. They just assumed. Besides, it was better for Aaron that way.”

  She glanced at her son. “Yes, I suppose so.”

  The nurse came in and Jimmy took Aaron out into the hall, but it wasn’t long before they appeared with Melissa in a wheelchair. He and Aaron walked beside her to the exit.

  “Aaron, wait with your mom while I go fetch the truck,” Jimmy said.

  “Okay.”

  All Jimmy thought about on the way to his truck was that he’d have another chance to hold Melissa in his arms as she wouldn’t be able to climb into the cab. He drove to the entrance to pick her up, immediately feeling contrite for wanting to take advantage of her misfortune.

  Chapter Eight

  Melissa was glad to be out of the hospital, but the ride home jarred every aching bone and joint in her body. Night had fallen long ago making it hard to see the potholes, even though Jimmy drove slow. A sigh of relief escaped her as they turned in through the ranch gate.

  “Sorry. I know that was a rough ride, but we’re home now.”

  “That’s okay. Thank you for the ride and for keeping Aaron occupied.”

  “No problem. He’s a good kid.”

  “Thanks. I think he fell asleep, but my ribs hurt and I can’t turn around to check.”

  Jimmy glanced to where Aaron was sitting. “Yep, he’s sleeping.” He parked the truck close to the front entrance and turned off the engine. “I’ll go unlock the door and be right back.”

  Her right arm was useless, the cast extending from her wrist to up past her elbow. Coupled with her cracked ribs, she couldn’t even turn sideways to open the truck door. It galled her that she had to wait for a man to open it for her, but then she remembered how considerate he’d been, taking care of a scared little boy when most men, even Aaron’s own father, had avoided that responsibility like the plague.

  Her door opened and Jimmy lifted her and carried her the short distance to the house. “I can walk you know.”

  “You heard the doctor. No physical activity for a couple of days. This is easier than you trying to walk huddled over. I don’t think your arm or ribs could take that kind of punishment right now.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. Thanks.”

  He hesitated in the foyer. “Where do you want to go? Bed? Kitchen? Living room?”

  “Aaron’s room, if you don’t mind. I always tuck him in at night.”

  “Which way?”

  She pointed down the hall with her good hand. “Third door down on the right.”

  Jimmy carried her in, sat her on the edge of the bed, and turned down the covers before leaving to carry Aaron in. His departure, however brief, gave her time to collect her thoughts. It had felt so good to be held in those strong arms—too good.

  Aaron slept soundly, awaking only long enough to say, “G’nite, Mom,” when she removed his sneakers. She stood and leaned over to tuck him in, her ribs protesting the slightest movement.

  “Good night, love. Sweet dreams.” She bestowed a quick kiss to his soft cheek before straightening and whispering to Jimmy. “I’m starving. Care to accompany me to the kitchen?”

  “We ate at the hospital, but I can rummage something up for you,” he said as he walked beside her.

  She sat down in a kitchen chair. The walk had drained her strength.

  “Want an ice pack for that bump on your head?”

  “Yes, please. We keep them in the deep freezer in the back porch.”

  He came back with a gel ice pack and a towel, covering the pack before handing it over to her.

  “What would you like to eat?”

  “Can you check to see if there are any leftovers? I’m not sure what Sheila had planned for tonight’s dinner, but we missed it.”

  “Darn! I should’ve called her.”

  “She wasn’t aware of us leaving?”

  “Not that I know of. Brian may have told her if she’d gone looking.” He shrugged as if to say ‘too late now.’

  “Probably. Don’t worry about it, just check the fridge.” She smiled to take any sting out of the order, but she was hungry.

  He removed a casserole dish and lifted the lid.

  “Looks like mac and cheese with bacon on top,” Jimmy informed her.

  “Yep, she knows I got hurt.” At his bemused smile, she continued. “It’s my favorite comfort food.” She shifted in her seat, slightly self-conscious at the admission of needing comfort now and then, be it in the form of food.

  “This looks good. Mind if I try some?”

  She nodded and winced. “Ugh! It still hurts to move my head. Go ahead and dish some up for both of us. Sheila makes it much better than I do.”

  Jimmy put the first plate in the microwave and stood with a pensive look on his face.

  “Penny for them.”

  “Just wondering how best to serve you. If I transfer your food to a bowl and give you a spoon, it might be easier.”

  “Good idea. Put it in a soup bowl, one of the ones with a handle, and I should be able to manage all right.”

  He transferred her food to another dish and cut up the slices of bacon for her. He was much too considerate. “Why haven’t you ever married?” she blurted.

  His head popped up and he caught her staring, a devilish grin transforming his features from handsome to downright gorgeous.

  “Why? You interested?” he teased.

  “No! I mean, well, you’re so considerate and gentle. I would think some lucky woman would’ve snapped you up by now.”

  “Uh-huh. Because I’m gentle and considerate?”

  “Well, yeah, but you’re also a hard worker, ambitious, handsome…” Her words trailed off as she realized he was enjoying this. “…and your head is so full of pride and arrogance that I just answered my own question.”

  Jimmy laughed as he carried her dinner and a glass of ice water over to the table. He looked into her eyes and the laughter died. “If you only knew.”

  “Tell me.”

  He shook his head. “I wouldn’t know where to start.”

  “Anywhere you want to.” She spooned up her first bite of macaroni and cheese. So creamy and tasty. “Is there anyone special back home?”

  “Nope. Haven’t had much time for dating.”

  “Oh? Why is that?”

  He joined her at the table, taking a bite and chewing slowly. “I guess I was too busy.”

  She chuckled softly. “Too busy to date? A fine specimen like you? I don’t believe it. Women would have lined up for a chance to spend an evening with you.”

  “Yeah, a few, but when they realized I wasn’t the marrying kind, they drifted away.”

  “You don’t intend to marry—ever?”

  He set down his fork and looked her way. “All my life I’ve had a dream…the dream of owning my own ranch. Everything I have ever done was in support of that dream. I wouldn’t allow myself to be sidetracked. At thirty-tw
o years old, I’m almost there. I’ve allowed nothing or no one to stand in my way.”

  She considered his words, so serious when he was normally such an easy-going individual. “Well, I knew you were ambitious and planning to buy a ranch, but don’t you want to share it with someone? Ranch life can get pretty lonely at times.”

  “Tried that. Was engaged once, until I found her in bed with my rich college roommate. That’s when I realized I have nothing to offer anyone. No roots, no heritage, nothing. Don’t you see?”

  “No. What I see is a caring, gentle man who would give his all in any situation. Look at what you did for me today. Don’t count yourself short, Jimmy. Life is to be lived, enjoyed. You deserve that and so much more. You’d make a fine husband and father one day.”

  His sudden sneer cut her to the core. “For you?”

  Oh, he was touchy. She drew in a harsh breath. “No, not for me. Once down that road was more than enough. The painkillers are kicking in. I’m going to my room now.”

  “I’ll walk with you.” Without another word he pushed to his feet and came around the table to give her a hand up, keeping hold of her good arm as they traversed the hallways to the east wing and her room.

  “Need anything?” he asked as they reached her door.

  “No, thank you. Good night, Jimmy. Sleep well.”

  “I’ll be back and forth to check on you every couple of hours. In the meantime, try to get some sleep. Good night.” He turned on his heel and left, closing the door behind him and leaving her in the dark.

  She felt his hurt, his anger, but it wasn’t directed at her. He may have had a rough start in life, but he’d set goals and done well for himself. She would’ve admired him for that if nothing else. He had so much to offer, if only he could see it.

  Lights flicked on across the courtyard, drawing her gaze like a magnet. She’d forgotten to close her blinds and she saw him clearly, his shoulders slumped, his posture one of defeat as he rested his head against the glass doors. How she wished she could run to him, hold him, and assure him that everything would be all right.

  He moved to undress and crawled into bed, turning out the bedside lamp. The darkness of his room had to be comparable to the bleakness in his soul. Somehow, she’d figure out how to help him. There had to be a way. No one should have to walk through this world alone.