Her Secret Cowboy

by Debra Holt

  “You’re staring. And I asked a question.”

  That brought him right back to earth with a thud. “I’m sorry. I guess I was trying to place how you knew who I was. I don’t recall having met you before. Are you new to Braxton?”

  For whatever reason, the temperature in the small room seemed to go from civil to downright chilly with one look from her in that moment.

  She straightened. “I’ve lived here all my life. But I asked you if you had any idea where this animal belonged? Where did you come across her?”

  “Out on the road to Braxton Ranch. It was just before the first bend… it’s a blind curve and she was in the middle of the road. I tried to stop, but there wasn’t any time to miss her.”

  “She probably was dumped out that way and has been fending for herself as best she could. She’s dehydrated, and in need of good nourishment. I don’t see any cuts or broken bones. So your vehicle may have just been a glancing blow. However, I’ll do X-rays and lab work and look for any internal damage. If there isn’t anything major, we’ll keep her here for two or three days and get her on her feet again.”

  “I’m sure Doc Hollins can take good care of her. That’s why I brought her here.”

  The female’s eyes flashed to a dark chocolate in color as she met his gaze with a steady one. “Well, Doc Hollins retired over two years ago. So, we’ll just have to muddle along as best we can. The receptionist will have some paperwork for you at the front desk.”

  He was dismissed. She gave a nod to the other person and the animal was bundled off before he could say anything else. He was left to return to the reception area.

  “Sign your name at the bottom of the first page. Initial in the space marked with the X on the second page and then sign and date at the bottom.” The woman was most efficient in her directions and flipping the pages on the counter in front of him.

  He noted the information already present at the top of the document.

  “You have my address on here already.”

  “I’m clairvoyant,” she responded, then added, “When I heard your name, I automatically added in the Braxton Ranch address. Your family has an open account with us. When you return to pick up your dog, you can either leave the expenses on the account or we can open you a separate one that you can pay if you prefer.”

  “I see.” He completed the form and gave the pen back. “I’m not the dog’s owner. In that case, what happens to her? I mean I’ll be happy to pay for her medical expenses and all, but if she isn’t claimed by anyone?”

  “Then she’ll be turned over to animal services for either adoption… which isn’t likely since she is already a grown dog with some medical history… or she’ll be euthanized.”

  That wasn’t a good option in his mind. The dog seemed to not have any good expectations for its future. Dev didn’t say anything else. He nodded and left the building. That was an added downer to his welcome back to Braxton. Things could only improve, right?

  Once more inside his truck, he headed away from the town. It hadn’t been a pleasant detour. He had harmed a poor creature just trying to survive and probably placed it on death row for its short future. And he had alienated a stranger by insulting her in some way he wasn’t certain of. He still had the strangest feeling he knew her, but he couldn’t put his finger on the where and how and when of it.

  The fact that she knew him, and possibly it wasn’t in a very positive way, was unsettling. And he had insulted her with his remarks about Doc Hollins. How was he supposed to know that the vet had retired? He hadn’t been in the know about happenings in Braxton for a long time. Even when he was here, he was never there… but occupied with his work on one level or another… or with causing grief to his brother or irritating his father… or both.

  It was already not the most auspicious of homecomings.

  *

  “So that’s the black sheep of the Braxtons returned for another short visit? Maybe to meet the newest brother in the fold?” Grace laid the folders on her boss’s desk that needed final signatures or notes.

  It was past quitting time and she had already placed the closed sign on the front door and turned the key in the lock for good measure.

  “There’s no telling why he’s back in our little country town. Can’t imagine it’ll be for long since he favors bright lights and big cities.”

  Grace nodded. “And fast cars and even faster women as I recall the saying went when describing him. He certainly turned out different from his brother Chance… and even Rio. They’re both good, decent young men. Don’t know what happened to that one.”

  “Every family has their trials and tribulations, Gracie. At least he had heart enough to bring the dog to us that he hit in order to get some help. We can give him credit for that. You have a good weekend.”

  “You, too. Try to do something fun for yourself this weekend. Next weekend will be a booger of one.”

  “And you wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said with a grin at her office manager. “See you on Monday.”

  A few minutes later, she switched off the desk lamp and stood. Another week completed. She stopped when she caught her reflection in the mirror in the corner of her office. Had she changed all that much? So much so that Devlin Braxton hadn’t even a hint who he had been looking at?

  The blue scrubs weren’t the most flattering of clothing items. And she always kept her hair pulled back when working. There wasn’t that much need for more makeup when she might be in the office in one moment and in the middle of a cattle herd in the next. And why should she care? She blew out a sigh, sliding the straps of her bag over her shoulder, then flipping off the office lights.

  Although, the fact that he had made the comment about coming to the clinic specifically because of the previous vet’s abilities did strike a sour chord within her. It had taken the better part of those two-plus years to get people in the county to accept the fact she could function just as well as their beloved vet of the past thirty-five years. Maybe she was still a bit thin-skinned on that score.

  “Face it,” she said, throwing a smirk at her reflection in the glass door ahead of her. “You got your hackles up when he had no recognition of who you are. Little Marissa Flanagan didn’t even rate a blip on his radar screen.”

  Why should she? Just because she had been one of the many girls in their high school that had been rather large due to the consolidating of four small towns into one very large high school. She blended in with a huge group. And the fact she forgot to breathe whenever he passed by in the hallway, or had been too tongue-tied to speak to him when he handed her a book in the library or borrowed a pen or pencil from her in the two classes they shared… why would he remember that?

  But for him to forget about the girl he had stood up at college when they had been assigned an important class project? Basically ruining her life at the time? That was pushing her forgiveness level.

  Devlin Braxton had left her holding the bag… a paper to write and visuals to prepare for the final exam grade in their biology class. He had disappeared for three days. The next time she saw him, he ignored her… no apologies. And when she had tracked him down and stood in his path as he exited the cafeteria? He had tossed a sorry at her and then left her standing. That was the last time she had seen him until he walked into the clinic that afternoon. Most people would say, hey it was a long time ago in college… no big deal. Except, it was a big deal.

  She had been up for a major scholarship and there were only two points separating her and her competitor. Their professor had dinged her a whole letter grade because it was not the highest standard of work she was capable of and it was supposed to be a partnered project. She had lost out on the scholarship, and that cost her another semester in school. She had needed those funds in order to not have to take on a second job to pay for the last semester and delay graduation. Devlin Braxton hadn’t cared, and he just reminded her of another major letdown in her life by another male.

  Her cell phone vibrat
ed inside her pocket and that brought her into the present. She recognized the caller and a smile underscored her words. “Let me guess, we need to postpone our brunch tomorrow? Perhaps because you’re about to have a family reunion?”

  “Hey, very good. You can give up the clinic and open up a fortune-telling business instead.”

  “And you’re such a comedian, Josie Braxton.” Rissa came back with the retort in response to her friend’s comment, her smile increasing.

  “I take it you’ve heard that Chance’s brother, Dev, is coming home tonight. He should have been here by now, but he hasn’t shown up. Based on his track record in the past, he might not at all, or it could be some time tomorrow… he travels to the beat of his own drum. Or at least he used to. Who knows now?”

  Rissa found some of her words a bit cryptic, but she chalked it up to the fact that her good friend, Josie, had a pet peeve about people who weren’t punctual. “Well, I happen to know that he will probably be driving up your driveway within the next few minutes.”

  That brought a laugh. “And just how and why do you sound so sure of that?”

  “Because he just left the clinic a few minutes ago. He had a little detour. He hit a dog just after the turnoff to the ranch and he stopped and ended up bringing her into the clinic. He should be on your doorstep soon.”

  “Chance just let me know there’s a truck pulling up in the driveway. Maybe that’s him. Anyway, we best do a rain check for the brunch. Why don’t we plan for lunch on Monday? At the diner?”

  “Sounds good. Enjoy your family reunion.”

  Rissa went down the hall, stuck her head in to say good night to the two interns who would be the night crew since they had some patients who needed hourly monitoring. “Have a good evening. I’ll be just a phone call away as always.”

  A few minutes later, she was in her SUV and heading toward her small acreage on the outskirts of the town. As she drove through the quiet of the early evening, she noted that the local restaurants and the single cinema were all doing a good business. It was the usual scene for the beginning of a weekend in Braxton. If people didn’t drive the forty-five minutes into the larger city of Abilene, then they had limited choices on a Friday night… go out to dinner and/or catch a movie at the theater or one at the drive-in that still operated every Friday and Saturday night.

  For her, she had her usual big plans. She would go through the take-out window at Pete’s Barbeque Pit, then head home, where she would binge watch the latest show on Netflix that she had become hooked on thanks to her friend Dee’s recommendations.

  Such was the exciting life of being a single, small-town vet. And then she remembered to be thankful. Rissa amended that last thought to include her thanks. If she hadn’t once been jilted before walking down the aisle at her wedding, then she might be a miserable, married, or more likely, divorced vet going home… to a miserable evening. Thankfully, she wasn’t the poor to-be-pitied jilted fiancée suffering the looks and gossip of her fellow neighbors. But that hadn’t come easily. It had taken some time. People in town had moved on from their pity party for her and gossip sessions centering on her lack of love life. And that was how she wanted to keep it. And with friends like Josie and Dee and others, she had moved on.

  Josie. She gave a slight smile. It might be interesting to be a fly on the wall at the reunion happening out at Braxton Ranch at that moment. And she hoped Devlin Braxton was getting just what he deserved. The smile widened at that thought.

  Chapter Two

  Dev pulled into the circular driveway, his eyes on the structure ahead of him. He had left just before Chance and Josie built their new home. However, it was what he would have expected. Two storied, combination of natural stone and wood, wide porches with rockers, porch swings, and hanging baskets giving it a welcoming warmth. He took a deep breath and then blew it out. He had been in some pretty bad spots in his work… many could have gone really bad and ended with his death, but this was a moment that had him nervous bordering on those times. He had to face and make amends to the two people who just stepped out on the front porch and stood waiting for him. Dev turned off the engine. Face the firing squad.

  “Thought you might have forgotten how to get here.” Chance’s dry tone was tinged with a hint of teasing.

  It was obvious he was determined to put as positive a spin on his brother’s return as he could… given the other factors that had come to light over the past few weeks. He had spent a couple of weeks with Dev, while he was recuperating in the hospital and then in the rehab center. They had done a lot of talking… some mending of fences. There was still work to do between them.

  “Better late than never,” Josie spoke up, a warm smile lighting her face and she came down the steps to welcome him with open arms. She grinned up at him as she stepped back, her arm sliding around his. “I was on the phone with a friend and heard all about your rescue just now. You’re forgiven. We’re just glad you’re finally home.”

  “Thanks, Josie. It’s sure good to see you. Looks like married life agrees with you. Where’s my niece I’ve heard so much about from Chance all the time he was with me in Nevada?” They walked up the steps, and Josie was careful to move slower, uncertain in his capability to maneuver steps or stairs.

  It wasn’t lost on Dev that Josie held on to his arm for other reasons besides just being glad to see him. He needed people around him to understand that he wasn’t an invalid. But people also cared about him and Josie had done so as far back as he could remember… when all others had given up on him.

  “Emmy is finishing her nap. Then she’ll be ready to meet her uncle Dev.”

  Chance held the door open for them to precede him inside. He did a slight shake of his head as he moved ahead of the pair into the den. “Make yourself at home. We’ve got some coffee made or there’s something cold if you prefer.”

  “I think a glass of iced tea if you have it? And why are you shaking your head? Did I do or say something funny?” He took a seat in the leather chair across from Chance’s.

  “You left here dressed like some New York City dude, driving a fancy sports car, all clean cut and manicured like a model on some fashion magazine. You come back driving a pickup, dressed in jeans and boots and even wearing a cowboy hat. Your hair is a couple months past a trim and you’re not clean-shaven. In fact, that salon blond hair of yours has definitely gone to its natural brown color. Quite a change to get used to.”

  “Well, I like it. Because this feels more like the Dev we know and love. I’ll go get that tea now.” Josie left them, and Dev caught her batting at the moisture in her eye as she went.

  How many times had people been made to cry over his sorry carcass? He had a lot to atone for.

  “So where’s this new half brother of ours? Rio Montez Braxton… suppose he’s heard a lot about me?”

  “Not from us so much as others… townspeople do like to talk. That’s something that will never change. But, Rio doesn’t set much stock in gossip. And he’s a man who makes up his own mind about things and people. So, I expect you’ll have to find out what he thinks… if and when he decides to share that opinion. You’ll meet him and his wife, Dee, tomorrow. You may or may not remember her. She’s a nurse at the hospital. They’ve been on a trip out west and due back tonight. Josie’s got a little dinner planned later this week… to welcome you home.”

  “Home. That’s a foreign word to me… has been for a very long time. I’m really not sure where I belong. I know that’s hard for you to understand. You’ve known from the moment you were born that this was home… where you belonged and that made you into the man you are today.”

  Chance nodded. “It took me a while to sort through all the things we talked about in Vegas. But I’m glad we did have that time to talk about a lot of issues… family and otherwise. And then I came back here and shared with Josie. As I told you before I left to return home, while you and I came from different wombs, we still share the same father, we have the same blood in our veins, a
nd we share the same history. Nothing has changed any of that for me as far as I’m concerned. This land is your heritage just the same as it is mine and Rio’s. Your decision about your future is up to you. We’ll support whatever it is. But first things first, we need to get you settled in so you can continue your rehabilitation.”

  “And I second that,” Josie said, coming back into the room and handing off the two glasses of iced tea to the men. She perched on the wide arm of Chance’s chair with her gaze on Dev. “And I want you to relax. There is no rush for you to do anything or make any decisions. The important thing is that you heal. That’s why I meant what I said during our last phone call. My homeplace, on Monroe land, is yours for as long as you need it. A year, two or ten, or more. Someday, I figure you’ll want to build your own place maybe… when you settle down with your own family… and that will be understandable. But in the meantime, I really hope you’ll move into the house. I hate to see it sitting empty. It would make me happy.”

  Dev grinned at the woman. “And if that’s all it takes to make you happy, then who am I to deny you that? I thank you for the offer and I gave it some consideration. I think it would be a good place to start.”

  “Start?”

  “Start on figuring out who I am… and what I want in this new life I’ve been given a second chance at.”

  *

  Dev began his first full morning on the ranch with a cup of coffee in hand, seated on the top step of the front porch of Josie’s home—now temporarily his—watching the sun begin its rise over the horizon. It was a first for him. He hadn’t done such a thing in years… sit in peace and quiet. Most of his life had been spent in the darkness of night, with flashing neon lights, loud music, and the underbelly of society. Feral animals came out at night. As the sun was beginning to wake up, most often that would have been when he was falling into bed. There was something to be said for this hour of the day, though. The quiet was nice. It allowed a man to clear his head, sweep away the aftereffects of bad dreams that usually left him with only four or five hours of sleep a night since waking in the hospital. He wasn’t one to take pills and he didn’t want to become dependent on anything. Dev pushed through the nights.