Her Secret Cowboy

by Debra Holt

  The shrinks that had visited him in rehab, while his body was healing, had tried to heal his mind, too. Leading a double life, being shot, beaten, left for dead… was a cocktail mix for PTSD. Time… that was their prescription, along with professional help in weekly therapist visits for the next few months was the order of the doctors.

  Time was in short supply in his past life. Well, he certainly had plenty of that now. He was trying his best to get into the dialing-back mode that had also been prescribed. Dev went over his schedule on the calendar in his brain… get up with the sun, check; grab cup of coffee, check; and then his mind stalled. Was he seeing things? Perhaps a mirage?

  The figure of a woman… a very nice figure of a woman… stood framed in the doorway of the stable across the wide expanse of space between the ranch house and the barns area of the property. She was half-turned in silhouette, a long dark braid hung from beneath the straw cowboy hat she wore. A pair of worn jeans molded to very long legs and a backside that could only get better walking away from him, he would wager. The long sleeves of a blue chambray shirt were rolled up to the elbows. She was saying something to the tall figure of a man that emerged from deeper within the shadows of the barn.

  Then they both turned and sent their gazes to where he sat. He was center stage. Seemed there was nothing to it, but to stand up and head over to join them. As he neared the pair, he identified the woman… the one he had evidently rubbed the wrong way from the vet’s office the day before. Her amber eyes surveyed him with a cool regard, just a little more tepid than their first meeting. What had he done to her? Why couldn’t he remember? She wasn’t a woman that should be all that easy to forget. In fact, he had spent a good deal of sleepless time about three in the morning, trying to decide the best description of the color of her eyes. It had become a toss-up between amber and caramel.

  The man stepped forward into the silent breach. “Sorry to disturb your morning coffee. Doc and I had an early call this morning with one of our expectant mothers… she decided to deliver breech. Fortunately, Doc worked her magic.” He extended his hand. “Guess I better introduce myself… I’m Rio. You’ve already met our Dr. Flanagan, I hear.”

  Dev joined his hand with Rio’s. “And that would make you my new half brother. Pleased to finally meet you. I’ve heard a little about you from Chance.”

  “Same here. I figure we’ll learn more about each other as we go along. I prefer to make my own mind up about people. How about you?”

  Dev liked the way this man looked him straight in the eyes and cut through the bull that others might think would be the small talk to make. “Same here.”

  Rio looked to the woman beside him who had stood quiet and watched the exchange between the two men. “Since my wife mentioned that you two have already met, I’ll be on my way. Dee will be leaving for her shift at the hospital soon, but if I get home quick enough, maybe I’ll be able to talk her into fixing some of her blueberry pancakes before she leaves.”

  Rissa shook her head and gave him a half smile. “Fixin’ pancakes? Is that what newlyweds call it nowadays?”

  Rio grinned and winked. Then he looked over at Dev. “Best keep an eye on this one… she’s one smart lady. Good luck.”

  Dev nodded, but kept silent until Rio had reached his truck and then pulled away. He turned toward the woman beside him… only to find the space empty. He walked into the stable. She was folding up a blanket and stowing items into her vet bag. Dev glanced into the stall where a mare and newborn colt were getting to know each other. And decided it was time he got to know who this vet was.

  *

  “Nice work.”

  She snapped the lock on her bag. Then slid the shoulder strap over her shoulder. “Mom there did all the hard work.”

  He reached for the other bag before she could pick it up. “Let me help with that.”

  “There’s no need. I’ve done this a few times without your help.” She headed toward the barn’s open doorway.

  “How’s the dog? I was planning to stop by the clinic later and check on her. If that’s okay?”

  “Visits from their humans are always a great aid in the healing of my patients. However, I don’t think you’re her human… do you?”

  “I’ve been considering that. What would I have to do to adopt her?”

  “Plan to stay in one place for a while… at least while she heals. Provide a safe, stable environment. That would be for starters. Fill out the paperwork and then we’ll see if you’ll be considered… or not.”

  Something told him that if she was the one doing the considering, the odds were not in his favor.

  She went to pass him, but he was quicker. He stepped in front of her. “Okay. I give up. It’s pretty clear that I’m not on your list of favorite people. I apologize for whatever I might have done or said or whatever from whenever our paths might have crossed in the past. But, it is the past, and you probably won’t believe this, but I’m not that same person. It’s a bit much to explain to anyone, but I’m hoping you’ll take my word for it and accept my apology for whatever I did to upset you.” He hazarded an attempt at a half smile.

  “Wow.” She stopped and faced him full on. “Does that generally work with other females? The eyes and the sincerity-laced lowered tone in your voice? A hint of sexy dimples.” She had to look upward. All Braxton men were well over six feet and a few inches. And this one was close enough that she noted the fine lines beside the sky-blue Braxton eyes… eyes that held something in their depths… something she might have said was akin to sorrow… if the man hadn’t been Devlin Braxton. The Devlin she remembered never appeared to be anything but ready to party.

  “I suppose it did once upon a time. But I think we can agree that people can change and sometimes things… people… aren’t really what they seem at the time. I think we can agree that when we grow older, some people do mature. I know I did. I came back here to Braxton to re-evaluate some things about my past and my future. And it starts with me apologizing to anyone I may have hurt along the way. I’d like to introduce you to the real Dev Braxton, if you’ll give me another chance.” He held out his hand.

  Her gaze lowered to his palm. She didn’t respond. The hand remained. Her gaze returned to the steady one he had locked on her. She considered. Then her hand rose to meet his… palm to palm. Strong fingers closed around hers. There was a steady strength, warmth that permeated upward, along their connection. It felt familiar, and that was a surprise to say the least.

  “Marissa Flanagan. And I’ll agree that most people might be deserving of second chances. We’ll just have to wait and see if you’re one of those… or not.”

  Second chances. The man had a lot of gall, she’d give him that. But then she also had to admit she felt those charms of his threatening to do a number on her common sense. It was a real effort to find a reinforcing strength to the walls erected a long time ago where Devlin Braxton was concerned. There was a time when she might have been guilty of a silly crush on the guy. Of course, he had had no idea she was alive.

  Then their paths crossed again in college. What were the odds they would end up being partnered in a class? He was absent more often than he was present, but the few times when he did show up, it took some restraint to keep her thoughts on the subject matter and not on the magnetic qualities of his blue eyes and the smile that cut deep grooves beside a mouth that drew more of her attention than she would admit. They rarely spoke to each other.

  But he was just another bad boy. Any female who took him seriously ended up with a stomped upon heart. She should have learned a warning lesson there, but then along came Tony Cardin. Her guard should have been up with him, but he could have taught Dev some things in turning a female’s head and being a big-time loser. Just as Braxton was good at leaving, Tony was even better. One day they were picking up their marriage license, and the next day, she had a voice mail telling her that he was leaving town… without her. He’d call her later. But he never had been heard from again. G
ood riddance.

  Pulling into the drive of her home some twenty minutes later, she shut the engine off and looked at the two-bedroom white wood-frame house, its garden area, small corral and barn out back… and it was all hers. She owned a business that allowed her to have the house and be her own boss. She proved to those who had doubted in the beginning… that she would survive and be stronger than before. And she did it on her own, through hard work and tenacity and a deep-seated determination to prove she needed no man to give her permission to do any of it. Men like Tony… and even Devlin… weren’t worth her time. She’d give the newest Braxton arrival all the rope he needed… to hang himself when he returned to his old ways.

  Chapter Three

  “He’s here.”

  Grace was never one to mince words. But Rissa was in no mood for guessing games after finally getting a break from a steady stream of patients, including two emergencies. She had just dropped into her chair in her office, and was eyeing the salad that had been interrupted twice already. “Who is here?”

  “Devlin Braxton. He stopped by to check on the dog he hit. And he’s asking about the paperwork for adoption. He said that you and he had spoken about the dog yesterday, when you were at the Braxtons. If you don’t want to be bothered with him, I can get one of the techs from the back to do it.”

  For just a moment, Rissa toyed with the idea of putting him off on one of the young techs, but something held her back at the last minute.

  She rose from her chair. “I’ll take care of it. Bring him back.”

  Grace gave her a look over the rim of her glasses, but said nothing as she left the room to fetch the man. Without conscientious thought, Rissa shot a look in the mirror on the opposite wall, fingers brushing an errant strand of hair back into place. She adjusted the white lab coat she wore over her blue scrubs. Then she caught herself. What am I doing? It was just another client. Just Devlin. Or was it Dev? Before, he corrected anyone who would have tried to shorten his name. But she noted he referred to himself as the abbreviated Dev now that he had returned. Did he think a change in name would change his spots, too?

  The man that stepped into the room was definitely a wake-up call to her feminine senses. Where was the implacable wall when she needed it? His smile was wide and appeared to be genuine. No man should have such gorgeous eyes. They made her knees go a bit weak if she dared stare at them too long. He had danger written across his whole body.

  That thought soared through her mind while she tried to keep it grounded in the present. “It’s good that you’re here.”

  Dev’s brows rose a bit. “I’m going to take that as a positive sign you’re giving me such a nice welcome.”

  Oh, no. “I didn’t mean that I think it’s good to see you… I mean not personally. I meant it was good that you came to see the dog because that’s important in the healing process.” And she sounded like a mindless fool instead of a medical professional. Way to go.

  His smile faded, and he just nodded. “I get it, Doc. Nothing personal. So, lead me to the patient.”

  She walked ahead of him, aware she felt responsible for changing the attitude of his visit. As much as she wanted to ignore it, blame settled into the corners of her feelings.

  Rissa pushed open the double doors. “This is where we keep our patients who are under observation for one reason or another. The serious cases are in another area where they are watched very closely by our techs on an around-the-clock basis.

  “Your dog is not in that situation. She got a good bump and has a bruised lower leg and paw. She’ll have a limp for a while, but should be back to walking normally in a week or so. We have fluids moving into her through IV, and she is enjoying having some good food on a regular basis instead of whatever trash she was able to search out.”

  “My dog? I haven’t filled out the paperwork yet. I’m new to all this being a pet owner. I’ve never had one.”

  “Was that by choice or circumstance?”

  “A bit of both, I guess.”

  They stopped in front of the cage where the dog lay. Dev went down on bended knee to look at the animal. The matted fur had been cleaned and brushed out. The tail began to thump, slow at first and then increased in speed and veracity. The dark milk-chocolate eyes warmed, and a tongue went out to lick the two fingers Dev had placed on the metal rungs of the cage.

  “Well, looks like you’ve got yourself one now. At least, she thinks so.”

  He rose to his feet again. “Your receptionist reminded me that if no one claims her, she’ll go to the shelter for adoption. But her odds of that are not great.”

  “That’s correct.”

  “When will she be released from here?” His gaze had not left the dog’s. It was clear to her practiced eye the animal was doing her best to get her choice in the matter known to the man.

  “She’ll be ready to leave here on Thursday.”

  Dev kept silent, a thoughtful expression on his features. Then he straightened his stance and dropped his gaze on her.

  “Well, I won’t keep you from your work. Thanks for letting me come back here and visit.”

  “You can stop by anytime.”

  A slight up tilt of one corner of a mouth that had drawn her attention more than once since their first meeting, made her work to keep her professional demeanor in place. “To see her… nothing personal, of course. See you around, Doc.”

  He retraced his way down the hallway toward the front of the building. Not for the first time, she noted a hint of a limp in his left leg. She had first noticed it as he crossed the space between the house and barn when she and Rio had exited the building at the Monroe ranch. But she had tried to not allow herself too much time to gaze upon the man.

  The fact that she had no idea where Dev Braxton had been after he left town crossed her mind. She seemed to recall hearing at one time, a few years back, he had been engaged. Evidently, that didn’t work out. He was back in Braxton on his own. Divorced? Widower? Or maybe he was more of a kindred spirit than she might have known. What were the odds that he had been jilted by a fiancé, too? Zero to none.

  *

  “You checking up on me, Brother?” Dev grinned and greeted Chance as he entered the barn.

  “I thought I might find you taking a nap in the recliner in the den. I never imagined I’d find you in the stables, currying a horse, dressed like a common ranch hand in jeans that aren’t designer and boots with dirt and horse crap caked around the heels.” Chance pushed his Stetson back on his head and leaned over the top railing of the stall, watching Dev at work. “I can’t remember when I ever saw you curry combing a horse. I can’t imagine how you figured out what a curry comb was even used for.”

  “So, this is how it’s going to be for the foreseeable future? You getting your laughs at what little brother Dev is doing at the moment?”

  “Pretty much.” Both men laughed, with Chance’s laughter a little more wholehearted than Dev’s. “Seriously, the doctors told you to make sure you didn’t overdo it right away. You’re still mending.”

  “Thanks for the reminder. I had almost forgotten.”

  Chance threw up his palms in mock surrender. “Okay, I give in. You’re still as hardheaded as ever and you’ll do as you please.”

  “Yes, I will.” Dev tossed the comb on the shelf and ran a hand down the horse’s strong neck and along the broad back. Then he looked over at his brother. “I’m glad you stopped by today. I wanted to talk to you about me doing some work around the ranch…”

  Chance shook his head. “Only when you’re ready. I’m not convinced of that. You might look a hundred percent better than when I saw you that first day back in that Vegas hospital, but you have got to walk again before you run.”

  Dev stood straight and looked his brother in the eye. “In the old days, I’d do something to make you want to get rid of me. But I can’t do that any longer. And I don’t want to do that. But I need you to realize that I’m a lot tougher than the kid you thought I was… the kid b
rother you never really knew. Three weeks in a hospital and then five more in a rehab unit is my quota of hospitals and lying around in beds. And I’m not built to sit around in a rocking chair all day.

  “Look, I know how I feel. I have enough common sense to know when to not push the limits and when to back off. My leg is getting stronger each day with the exercises I do religiously each morning and evening. My therapy sessions with the counselor in Abilene are on a good footing. I need you to trust me to be smart about things. I really do have a brain that I managed to keep hidden from sight for a while.”

  Chance’s gaze met Dev’s. After a long moment, he gave a nod. “That’s a lot of truth in your words. Guess I need to work on not being my brother’s keeper. You’re a grown man with your own path to choose.”

  “True. But, we can both work on just being brothers for a change. I know that’s what I do need more than anything else.”

  “Sounds like a good idea. So, I’ll leave you to your chores then. Just don’t forget that Josie’s having some of the hands and their families over this evening at seven to get to know you… the real Dev Braxton.”

  “As much as I’d love to be elsewhere, I know better. She’ll hunt me down no matter where I try to hide out.”

  “You’ve got that right. Just grin and bear it… at least she’s holding off inviting the whole town out here… for now.” His grin grew at the expression on Dev’s face.

  Then he gave a wink and headed out the way he had come.

  Dev groomed all the saddle mounts in the stable. He figured that would be a good workout to start with. However, he found out by the beginning of the third hour of it, he was slowing. There were some muscles that needed to be worked out a bit more. A good soak in a hot tub would need to be on the agenda before he headed toward Josie’s get-together. As much as he would like nothing more than to spend a quiet evening flat on his back, he knew better than to try to ditch the dinner. He had just left the barn headed toward the house when a familiar red SUV pulled into the circular drive and stopped between him and the house.