Falling for the Single Mom

by Mia Ross

“Maybe she’s not.” Heather gave him a quizzical look, and he explained. “This time of year, there’re lots of new kittens around, either in people’s outbuildings or the woods. The mothers instinctively move them from spot to spot, and it’s not uncommon for one of them to get hit. If the kittens are out in the open, someone will bring them in to the center like Sierra did today.”

  “Do you have a lot of barn cats on the farm?”

  “About a dozen, I’d guess. They’re great for rodent control, so we’re happy to have ’em.”

  “Are they catchable?”

  “I guess we could figure out a way to get ahold of them,” he replied. “Why?”

  “If we neuter them and give them some basic vaccines, they won’t add to the feral population, and the ones you have won’t pass along any nasty diseases.”

  “Huh. I never thought of that.”

  “Most people don’t,” she commented sadly. “In rural towns like this, you don’t even notice wild cats because there are so many places for them to hide. But many of them are sick, and they keep adding to their numbers until the health of the entire population is compromised. You don’t hear anything about it until a rabid stray bites a person, and then it’s all over the news for a few days before some other story takes over.”

  The bitterness in her tone got his attention more than the words. “It sounds like you’ve been up on this soapbox before.”

  “For all the good it’s done,” she said bitterly. “The last clinic I worked at during my residency, they called me the ‘crazy cat lady,’ and not in a nice way.”

  “Gave them a reason to ignore you.”

  “Yes,” she acknowledged with a shocked expression. “How did you guess?”

  “Happens all the time when someone has the nerve to buck the system. If folks can write a crusader off as nutty, they can ignore the problem. I just can’t imagine anyone doing it to someone as smart as you.”

  Heather had given him plenty of looks in the short time they’d been acquainted with each other, but this was one he hadn’t seen yet. Shining in those incredible eyes was a combination of gratitude and astonishment. He wasn’t sure what that meant, but she’d finally quit glaring at him, so he figured that was a good sign.

  “You think I’m smart?” When he nodded, she shook her head with a quick laugh. “Most guys can’t see past the blond hair and blue eyes. What makes you so different?”

  “Don’t get me wrong,” he was quick to correct her, “you’re cute as a button. But Erin threatened me with grave bodily harm if I even thought about making a play for you.”

  “Really?” Now those eyes gleamed with something he’d seen plenty of in his lifetime: feminine interest. “And if she hadn’t?”

  “We’d be having dinner tonight.”

  For some reason, she laughed. “Oh, you’re a real piece of work, country boy. What makes you think I’d say yes even if you were allowed to ask me out?”

  “I don’t know, darlin’,” he drawled with a lazy grin. “Past experience?”

  “You realize that sounds arrogant, right?”

  “Confident,” he corrected her smoothly as they arrived at the front porch of a light gray cottage with white shutters. “After all, I’m a Kinley boy.”

  “Meaning?”

  Grinning, he went up the steps and opened the screen door for her. “Ask around town. I’m sure you’ll find out all you wanna know.”

  “Please,” she scoffed, rolling those gorgeous baby blues. “I’m too busy to waste my time with gossip. I’ll just figure it out on my own.”

  “I take it that means you’re planning to stay in Oaks Crossing awhile.”

  “It depends on how Bailey does here, so I’m still working on that one. I guess we’ll have to see.”

  “I guess we will.”

  His response got him another curious look, but she didn’t say anything more as she went through the screen door he opened for her. Following her inside, he had to admit that Heather Fitzgerald was the most intriguing woman he’d ever run across. Nothing like the sweet, uncomplicated girls he preferred, she had the kind of depth a laid-back guy like him was probably safer admiring from a respectable distance.

  It was a good thing Erin had proclaimed her off-limits, he mused with a grin. Otherwise, he might have been tempted to bridge that gap and discover what it was about her that made him want to break the rules.

  Chapter Three

  Heather went through Josh’s front door and into a living room that clearly announced the owner wasn’t around much. The couch and mismatched chairs looked old, the throw pillows were faded and the windows were unblocked by drapes. Through an open side door, she glimpsed a bedroom that looked as if it had recently been through a mini tornado.

  In short, the single-story cottage was the very definition of a bachelor pad. Then she noticed the collection of framed pictures on the dusty mantel and walked over for a better look. The people in them bore an unmistakable resemblance to one another, and she smiled at the scenes of picnics and muddy backyard football games. In one, a much younger version of her new boss, Erin, was standing atop a pyramid, arms extended in triumph. Recognizing Josh on the bottom row, Heather asked, “How old were you in this one?”

  “Oh, thirteen maybe. Those are my older brothers, Mike and Drew, on either side of me. Right after Mom got this shot, the foundation guys pulled out, and everyone but Erin landed in a pile on top of us. The princess ended up breaking her arm.”

  “That wasn’t very nice of you.”

  Unfazed by her scolding, he chuckled. “You should’ve heard what she was yelling at the time. That wasn’t very nice, either.”

  Heather hadn’t met all the Kinleys yet, but from what she’d gathered, they were one of those big, raucous families that had a lot of fun together. She’d been so occupied by their move that getting acquainted with the rest of Erin’s family hadn’t been a priority for her before. But now Heather found herself looking forward to meeting the rest of the clan.

  “All right,” she said briskly, heading for the kitchen. “Let’s get that hand cleaned up so you don’t scare the doctor half to death when you show up at his office.”

  “I really can drive myself,” Josh argued while she rummaged through a small bank of cupboards for a clean towel and some peroxide. “You don’t have to babysit me like I’m ten.”

  Heather glanced out the window at his vintage green pickup and then gave him a raised-eyebrow look. “I’m guessing that monster has a standard transmission?”

  “Yeah. So?”

  In answer, she dabbed at the slice cutting across his palm that still hadn’t stopped bleeding and held a thick gauze pad in place before wrapping a thin dish towel around his hand. Leveling a stern glare at this unexpectedly stubborn man, she announced, “You’re not using this hand until it’s been stitched and dressed by a professional. Period, end of story.”

  “You sound like my mom.”

  “Good, then I must be doing it right.” Tying the makeshift bandage to keep it in place, she grabbed the keys from their hook by the back door. “Now, let’s go. I have plenty of other patients waiting for me at the clinic.”

  In truth, she didn’t know that for certain, but she was hoping that the softhearted farmer’s affection for the animals would nudge him to get moving in the right direction. He didn’t protest any further, which she was grateful for, and they walked out to his truck together. She wasn’t used to dealing with patients who talked back, and it was more than a little unsettling.

  This one surprised her by strolling to the driver’s door and opening it for her. Considering the fact that he was probably miffed at her right now, the gentlemanly gesture made her smile. “Thank you.”

  “Sure. Doc Sheppard’s on Main Street, up a ways from the Oaks Café, right across from the park. It�
�s a big old Victorian, gray with a red front door and black trim around the windows. You can’t miss it.”

  Armed with those directions, Heather engaged the clutch, dropped the truck into Reverse and stepped on the gas. With a stomach-rolling lurch, the pickup flew backward for several yards before her reflexes kicked in and she managed to slam on the brakes.

  “Not a word,” she cautioned, easing the shifter into first gear.

  He obliged her, but she could almost feel him grinning at her. When she flicked a look toward him, he pulled a sober face that did nothing to mask the humor glinting in his eyes. Deciding to let her irritation go, she focused on moving through the gears on the old truck without shredding the transmission. By the time they got to town, she had the hang of it and parked in a small lot beside a graceful old home with a wrought iron signpost that read Henry Sheppard, MD.

  “I’d love to have my office in a place like this someday,” she commented while they walked to the side door marked for visitors. “The house itself is gorgeous, and he can’t beat the commute to work.”

  “Yeah, it’s pretty nice.”

  Once they were inside, she waited while Josh spoke to a receptionist who looked as if she might have been an original occupant of the stately home. “Hi, Mrs. Sheppard. Is the doc available?”

  Tsking at him, the physician’s wife came around the desk to frown at Josh’s towel-wrapped hand. “Oh, that looks bad. What have you done this time?”

  When he explained, she shook her head with a sympathetic expression. “You poor dear.” Then she turned her attention to Heather, offering a slender hand. “You must be the new vet everyone’s been buzzing about. I’m Louise Sheppard, otherwise known as the doc’s wife. Welcome to Oaks Crossing.”

  Everyone? Heather echoed silently. She’d been here only a few days, and she was already the hot topic around town? In Detroit, she’d been just another face in a very large crowd, so she wasn’t accustomed to being singled out this way. She did her best to summon a friendly smile. “Thank you.”

  “How does your niece like our day care?” the woman continued. “My daughter-in-law Tammy started it over the winter, and she’s thrilled to have another preschooler in the class.”

  “This is her first week there, but she seems to be doing fine. Shouldn’t you be getting the doctor to have a look at Josh’s hand?” she added as politely as she could.

  “Of course. How silly of me to be rambling along when there’s work to be done. You have a seat, and I’ll go let Henry know you’re here.”

  Within a few minutes, a plump woman was escorted into the waiting room by a tall, white-haired man wearing an open lab coat over a navy polo shirt and khakis. “You get that prescription filled,” he told her, “and I’ll be calling you tomorrow morning to see how that cough is. Meantime, get some rest and have your daughter make you that wonderful peach cobbler of hers. Best medicine around,” he said with a wink that suggested he’d sampled the dessert himself.

  The woman thanked him and beamed at Josh, who’d jumped up to hold the door open for her. “Such a good boy. Say hello to your mother for me.”

  “Will do, Mrs. Gilbert. Hope you’re feeling better soon.”

  Covering her mouth with a lace-edged handkerchief, she coughed and held up a hand in farewell as she left. Once she was gone, the doctor turned to Josh with a stern look. “What have you done this time?”

  Heather noticed that he’d repeated his wife’s earlier question word for word, and she wondered how often Josh had been here with injuries over the years. With a sheepish look, Josh unwrapped his hand and stood patiently while the physician assessed the damage. Then the doctor did something that stunned Heather.

  Angling a glance at her, he asked, “What do you think?”

  She waited a beat so her surprise at being consulted wouldn’t come across. “Several stitches will close up the wound itself. The metal was rusty, so if he’s due for a tetanus booster, this would be a good time for it.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” Nodding, he smiled proudly at her as if she were his star pupil. Foolish as it seemed, she felt a sense of pride at having earned the approval of such an experienced medical professional. “Come on back, son, and we’ll get you fixed up in no time.”

  Suddenly, what had been a straight wind began to howl in the eaves of the old house, and Josh scowled at the ceiling. “That doesn’t sound good.”

  “I’ve heard worse,” Dr. Sheppard assured him on their way toward one of two examining rooms. “Just look at it this way—the rain will give you a day off to watch TV and rest your hand.”

  Josh grumbled a reply, but she didn’t catch the words before the door closed behind him. Since she had the keys to his truck, Heather realized that she’d be waiting around until he was finished. So she took the opportunity to sit down and check in with the clinic.

  “Hi, Sierra, it’s Heather. My walk got interrupted by Josh hurting his hand, so I’m in town with him at Dr. Sheppard’s. I shouldn’t be much longer. Do you need anything in the meantime?”

  “It’s pretty quiet here, so we’re focused on those drop-off kittens. Bekah and I can handle things until you get back.”

  When she’d accepted Erin’s job offer, Heather hadn’t anticipated inheriting such an accomplished staff. Yet another pleasant surprise in this picturesque town that she hadn’t even heard of until a month ago. By the time she checked her few emails and responded to a thumbs-up text from Bailey’s day care teacher, Josh emerged from his ordeal with a much thicker wrapping on his injured hand and a lollipop in the other.

  “I was brave,” he explained before popping the treat into his mouth.

  “It’s a good thing you’re built sturdy,” the doctor teased him with a chuckle. “’Cause you sure do take a beating on that farm.”

  As if on cue, a gust of wind banged several of the hinged wooden shutters against the side of the house. Before anyone could comment on the noise, a boom of thunder rattled the air, followed almost immediately by a flash of lightning.

  Then a deafening crack split the air, unlike anything she’d ever heard in her life. Josh’s eyes zoomed in on something outside, and he tossed away his lollipop as he ran from the lobby. “Doc, call the fire department!”

  Following his line of sight, Heather saw what had propelled him to make such a dramatic exit. On the other side of the town square was the old Colonial that housed the day care Mrs. Sheppard was so excited about. The front section of the house had been crushed under an enormous oak tree, obviously felled by the lightning strike.

  Bailey.

  Stifling a horrified scream, Heather raced after Josh, only to be thrown back by a stiff wind driving a wall of rain so fierce, it nearly knocked her down. Struggling against the storm, she doggedly fought her way across the park, arriving at the building a few seconds after Josh.

  The door to a side landing was open, and three women stood there, apparently trying to decide how to best get the children to safety. Dodging fallen limbs and a tangle of branches, Josh pushed toward the porch with Heather close on his heels. When they reached the house, she was terrified to see that the tree had only partially fallen, the rest of it hanging precariously by what appeared to be nothing more than a few splinters.

  “Everyone okay?” he asked no one in particular, glancing at the roiling clouds overhead.

  “I think so,” one of the teachers said. “We’re counting heads right now. We need to get out of here before the rest of that tree comes down on us.”

  “Good idea,” he replied in a voice that Heather thought was abnormally calm considering the perilous situation. “How many kids are here today?”

  “Ten, and they can all walk on their own.”

  “They’ll fit in my truck. I’ll be right back.”

  Heather gave him back his keys and begged him to hurry, but he was already
dashing across the park. She stayed behind to help gather the children together, all the while searching the frightened group for Bailey. Just as Josh’s truck pulled up alongside the landing, the fourth teacher joined them, a grim expression on her face.

  “What’s wrong?” Heather demanded, feeling panic starting to creep in. “Where’s Bailey?”

  “She went to the bathroom just before things got bad. I tried yelling in to her, but I couldn’t hear anything over the wind. I didn’t see her anywhere else, so I think she’s still in there. I’m so sorry, but I couldn’t get through to her. We’ll have to wait for the fire crew.”

  The emergency siren in town began wailing as the young woman sent a look toward the front section of the house buried beneath the trunk of a tree at least six feet in diameter. Seized with dread, Heather took one step in that direction before a pair of strong hands clamped down on her shoulders to stop her.

  Infuriated by the manhandling, she jerked free and glowered up at Josh. “What do you think you’re doing?”

  “Give these ladies a hand getting the kids over to the church,” he replied in that calm, steady voice, cradling her trembling hand in his as he pressed his keys into her palm. “You’ll all be safe there until the storm’s over.”

  “I’m not leaving Bailey here. She could be hurt.” Or worse, she added silently.

  “I’ll get her, and we’ll meet you over there in a few minutes,” he said as if they were discussing plans to rendezvous at the playground. When she refused to move, he gave her a gentle smile. “I promise.”

  Recognizing that she wouldn’t be much help with the dangerous heavy lifting he’d have to do just to reach the bathrooms, Heather reluctantly gave in. “She hasn’t met you, and she’s been taught never to go anywhere with a stranger. Her safe word is unicorn. That little girl means everything to me,” she added as tears slipped down her cheeks. “Please don’t let anything happen to her.”

  “I won’t.”

  With that simple vow, he was gone.

  * * *

  The restrooms were at the very front of the house, and Josh carefully picked his way through the rubble, moving as quickly as he dared. If he could safely slide an obstacle aside he did, but for the most part he was ducking and crawling. Built of century-old oak, the remaining trusses overhead didn’t look like much to him, and the groaning timbers indicated that the structure wouldn’t hold up much longer.