One Summer in Santa Fe

by Molly Evans

  “Oh, no.” The man looked at his arms, apparently seeing the wounds for the first time. With wide eyes, he looked from Piper to Taylor and fainted.

  Piper tried to catch him, but landed in a heap with the unconscious man. Reaching forward, Taylor lifted the man so Piper could scoot out from under him.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, and eased the man to a prone position.

  “Yes. Do you think he’s just passed out?” she asked, and checked his pulse again. “His pulse is okay, but his color is ghastly.”

  “I think he’s simply overcome with emotion. Some people react badly when they see their own blood. I’m going to call 911 and have him checked out. He’ll need treatment for the bite in any case, especially if the animal was rabid.” Taylor pulled his cell phone from his pocket and gave the necessary information. “They should be here in a few.”

  “I feel so sorry for the guy,” she said, and looked at the mess that had once been the beloved Muffin. “Yuck. Do you think it’s really a rabid coyote or just a dog attack?”

  “He was probably right. We have coyote attacks a few times a year here, and they are always rabid. Fish and Game Department keeps close tabs on rabies cases and want people to report it if they find suspicious animals.” He hoped that Piper was going to be okay and not frightened of being out in the desert. This was definitely an unexpected event at the park.

  Piper looked around them as the night deepened, casting shadows where there had been none moments ago. “We aren’t in danger, are we? I mean, you don’t think it’ll come back, do you?”

  Taylor glanced around. The coyote was probably long gone. “Don’t know. But keeping an eye out for a coyote heading toward us with bared teeth is probably a good idea.”

  “Taylor!” She laughed despite the tense situation. “That’s awful.” But she glanced around anyway.

  “Made you laugh, though.” And that was a wonderful sound.

  “You certainly did.”

  The man on the ground between them moaned and raised a hand to his head.

  “Don’t try to move, sir,” Taylor said, and pressed a hand to his shoulder to keep him down. “An ambulance is on the way.”

  “What for?” he asked, his voice sounding weaker than it had moments ago.

  “Piper, can you go to the entrance and lead them over here?” Taylor asked, now not so sure the man was as stable as he appeared.

  “Yes. I’ll be right back.” She stood. “I see the lights.”

  In minutes she returned with the crew, carrying medical equipment. They hooked the man to the monitors, checked his blood pressure and watched his heart rhythm bounce across the screen.

  “I’m Piper and this is Dr. Jenkins. What’s your name?” Piper asked, and patted his arm gently, her voice a soothing tone that even Taylor was responding to.

  “Jesse. Jesse Farmer.”

  “BP’s low,” a paramedic said.

  Taylor watched the heart monitor, interpreting the rhythm. “Looks like he’s in third-degree heart block, too. No wonder he fainted.” Potentially not good. “Jesse, have you ever been told you have a heart condition?” He spoke to Jesse, but kept his eyes on the monitor.

  “Once. But it went away.”

  “Heart conditions don’t generally go away,” he said, knowing that many patients resisted the idea of their bodies failing. He would, too, he supposed. But ignoring medical advice and symptoms only led to disaster.

  “My cardiologist said I need a pacemaker, but I didn’t like that idea.” Another paramedic placed an oxygen mask over Jesse’s face.

  “Well, this incident tonight proves that you definitely need one. That means immediately. Boys, take him in. Have the external pacemaker on him and ready in case he loses his rhythm during transport.” Taylor helped them lift the stretcher while Piper reassured Jesse.

  “What about Muffin?” Jesse cried, and gripped Piper’s arm.

  “We’ll take care of Muffin,” Piper said, and patted Jesse on the arm. “You need to call your family as soon as you get to the hospital so someone can come be with you. You shouldn’t be alone right now.”

  “Okay. Okay.” He lay back on the stretcher as exhaustion overcame him.

  Taylor stood beside Piper as the ambulance pulled away. “So how do you think we should deal with Muffin?” he asked.

  “I have some supplies in my car and can put him in a hazardous materials bag. If it’s been killed by a rabid coyote, isn’t someone going to want to know about it?”

  “Wildlife Department. Let’s collect the remains, and then I’ll call them.” He looked at his watch and noticed the timer continued counting down the seconds of his commitment to Alex. “It’s probably too late for them to come get it. They’ll tell us what to do, though.”

  Fifteen minutes later they had trekked to Piper’s car, collected Muffin’s body and placed it in Piper’s trunk. “That ought to do it,” she said, and squirted hand sanitizer in her palm and offered some to Taylor. “Just in case.”

  “You come prepared, don’t you?” he asked, and rubbed the solution into his hands.

  “Girl Scout of long ago and a home-care nurse sometimes.” She held up three fingers of her right hand and crossed her thumb over her pinky in the Girl Scout salute.

  Full darkness had fallen and streetlights flickered on.

  “Damn. I almost forgot about Alex.” Taylor looked at his watch, near to panic. “I was only supposed to be gone an hour and it’s been nearly two.” He was such a failure at being responsible.

  “He would have called you if something was wrong, right?”

  “Probably. Just the same, I’d better get home.” If something happened to the kid, he’d never forgive himself. He’d not only disappoint Alex, he’d disappoint his sister, too.

  “Why don’t I drive you? It’ll be faster.” She placed her hand on his arm in a small gesture of reassurance.

  “Thanks. It’s not far.” Relief poured over Taylor. He’d known Piper about two days, and she’d already been incredibly helpful to him. Somehow he was going to pay her back.

  “With wild coyotes out there, you shouldn’t take any chances, right?”

  “Right.” He grinned as Piper climbed into the little sedan he barely fit into.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  WITHIN minutes, Piper had delivered Taylor to his house.

  “Come in a minute while I check on Alex, and then I’ll call the Wildlife Department. Let me at least offer you a glass of water or something.”

  Piper followed him through the garage, the kitchen and into the living room where Alex sat on the couch in his pajamas, listening to a headset and reading a book.

  Startled at their abrupt presence in front of him, he jumped slightly and ripped the headset off. “What?”

  “Are you okay?” Taylor asked. He stepped closer and ran a hand through his hair. “I was gone a lot longer than I told you.” He’d promised to take care of Alex. He just didn’t know how he was going to accomplish that by himself. Being thrust out of airplanes was a lot easier than being thrust into fatherhood. Or unclehood, or whatever you wanted to call it. The domain of the responsible adult male. A place he’d purposefully avoided and here he was standing knee-deep in it.

  “You were?” Alex shrugged, his eyes wide and just a bit too innocent. “I didn’t notice.” He patted the book in front of him.

  “What are you reading?” Piper asked, and stepped closer to the boy.

  “Uh,” Alex said, and looked down.

  Piper followed his glance and tried to hide the smirk that wanted to erupt onto her face. Reaching for the book, she turned it right side up and returned it to his lap. “You might want to try reading it this way. It’s a lot easier.”

  Beneath his tawny skin, Alex flushed to the roots of his hair. “Busted,” he said under his breath, his lips barely moving.

  “Busted is right,” Taylor said with a frown. “I thought you said you were going to read.”

  “I was. I mean, I really wanted
to, but I got so excited about tomorrow that I had to play some video games to calm down.” He leaped from the couch to reveal a horrific large stain on the fabric that the peroxide obviously hadn’t conquered. “Piper, Uncle T. signed me up for rock-climbing camp tomorrow. Thanks!” He gave her an exuberant hug and then raced to Taylor. After a brief hug, he pulled back. “Oh, gross. You’re sweaty.”

  Taylor’s face revealed momentary shock before he laughed. “I am, man. Sorry.”

  Alex backed away and walked toward the hall to the bedrooms. “Well, at least now I know what a polecat smells like. ’Night.”

  “’Night, Alex.” Piper stood and redirected her attention to Taylor. “What was that about a polecat?” she asked.

  “A previous discussion on personal hygiene,” Taylor said without elaborating. The light sparkling from her eyes intrigued him. He’d been around plenty of women who climbed mountains, jumped from planes and raced bicycles. The intensity flowing off Piper was a different sort of energy. One he’d not been around much before. One that was comforting and settling. Completely foreign to him. “Yes, well. I’ll call Wildlife and see what we need to do with the dog.”

  Minutes later, Taylor hung up the phone. “It’s too late to send someone over tonight from their office, so Animal Control is coming over. We’re not supposed to touch it any more than necessary and to wash well.”

  “Sounds good.” She sighed. “I feel so bad for the poor thing. But at least, from the sound of it, it was quick.”

  They noticed a young presence at the door and turned. “Can I see it?” Alex asked.

  “No,” they said in unison.

  “Aw, c’mon.” He scuffed a bare foot on the tile floor.

  “You’re supposed to be in bed.” Taylor stood and turned Alex by the shoulders and nudged him back to his temporary bedroom.

  “I needed a drink, and I heard you talking about the rabid coyote.”

  “Suspected rabid coyote,” Taylor corrected. Piper was right, this kid was smart. Smarter than he’d realized. Caroline was right and that saddened him, too. He didn’t know his nephew. Somehow he was going to make up for not being there for his nephew. In six weeks.

  “Uncle T., even I know enough about coyotes to know it was rabid. They just don’t act like that.”

  “You’re right. But it’s long gone now, and it’s bedtime for you.”

  “It’s summer, can’t I stay up longer?”

  “You have your first day at camp tomorrow, so I’d suggest getting a good night’s sleep. When I’m going on a climbing expedition, even I go to bed a little early.” For him that was midnight, usually. Sleep was a luxury he didn’t always have or take advantage of when he had it.

  “Okay.” Ducking his head down, Alex shuffled his way down the hall. A large yawn interrupted his good-night, and he disappeared from sight.

  “I think I’ll head home, too.” Piper raised her brows, her inquisitive gaze holding on Taylor’s for just a lingering second, and a hint of that sizzle between them returned. “It’s been a lot more interesting evening than I had anticipated. From a walk in the park to a medical rescue to a rabid coyote. Wow.”

  “No kidding. Got more than you bargained for.” Taylor walked her outside, retrieved the animal carcass from her trunk and placed it on the sidewalk by the front door. Animal Control should be arriving soon.

  “See you tomorrow,” Piper said, and drove away.

  In silence, Taylor watched until the small car faded from view. What was it about Piper that had captured his attention? The blue eyes, the sensual mouth that looked like it needed a long, hot kiss? Or the curves his hands itched to try out.

  Taylor entered the house and flopped down on the couch, pressing his hands against his face. Though the enormous stains on the carpet and couch were glaring in their contrast to the fibers, Piper hadn’t said anything. She was certainly polite, intuitive when it came to children, a good nurse. But none of those things were what had intrigued him. Maybe it was the spark of laughter in her gorgeous eyes or the sizzle of attraction that had unexpectedly flared between them. Kissing her would be—

  His thoughts came to a screeching halt. He had no business thinking of a coworker this way, no matter how attractive he found her. He knew well enough that he was a poor candidate for a relationship, and she had long term written all over her, something he was incapable of giving a relationship. Knowing that about himself had kept him away from entanglements. That settled it for him. He was no longer going to be attracted to Piper.

  With the echo of his father’s rage and his mother’s tears ringing in his head, he hit the shower and stayed there for a very long time. Memories weren’t that easy to wash away.

  After a hot shower and dressing in a light nightshirt, Piper pulled her laptop computer from its case and settled it onto her lap in bed. A cup of tea beside her, and she was ready to tackle some e-mails.

  Right now, her sister was about to enter cooking school in Phoenix, Arizona, a short flight from Santa Fe. As she waited for the computer to boot, she realized this was the first time Elizabeth would truly be on her own. Away from Ida. Away from her. She hoped that Elizabeth would do well on her own. A sudden pang hit Piper’s heart as she wondered how she was going to do when Elizabeth didn’t need her.

  Thoughts of her evening adventure with Taylor pushed aside thoughts of responsibility and cooking school. A man like that made her want to abandon all restraint and the goals she had set for herself and just dive right into him. He would certainly be a joy to behold in the bedroom. Of that she was certain and her stomach clenched just at the thought of him. Strong, commanding, a man who knew his way around a woman’s body. Piper shivered and sipped her tea. Those kinds of thoughts weren’t going to be conducive to sleep.

  A little icon raced across the computer screen, alerting her to new e-mail.

  That was the ticket. Distraction. Keep her mind off Taylor. Distraction. Keep her mind on the e-mails. Distraction, she thought as her mind recalled the long, lean strength of his muscled legs. Yes, Taylor was nothing but distraction. But, oh, what an exceptional distraction he was.

  Could she consider this a hardship assignment?

  CHAPTER FIVE

  JUST after she arrived home from work the next day, Piper’s phone rang and she groaned, hoping it wasn’t the night nurse calling about something she’d forgotten.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Piper. This is Alex, Dr. Jenkins’s nephew. Remember me?”

  Pleasure filled her at the sound of the young voice on the phone. “Well, sure, I remember you. How could I forget?”

  “Anyway, Uncle T. and I are going climbing on Saturday, and I want you to come with us. Can you come?”

  Hesitation filled her. Although she’d love to go, she wasn’t sure about climbing. Her feet rarely left the ground and when they did for airplane transportation, sedation was usually involved. “Does Taylor know you’re calling me?”

  “Yeah. I told him. I mean, I asked him if I could invite you.”

  She smiled at that. “And what did he say? It was okay?”

  “He really wants you to come, too,” Alex said.

  At that, a bubble of pleasure burst over Piper and the fatigue from the workday evaporated. Although she doubted Alex’s sentiment was completely accurate, the idea of it still pleased her. What else did she have to do on a beautiful summer Saturday except watch two men risk their lives climbing a big dangerous rock? “Is he there? Can I talk to him a minute?”

  “Hold on.”

  Seconds later, Taylor’s voice came through the phone into her ear. “Piper?”

  Heat suffused her at the sound of her name, and she shivered involuntarily. The phone lent an intimacy that wasn’t real, but Piper clutched the phone to her ear as if it were. Intimacy had been almost forgotten in her life, and the sound of his voice breathed a memory of it through her.

  “Hi. Alex tells me you’re going climbing, and he wants me to go along. Are you okay with that?” sh
e asked, hoping that he was. For some unknown reason, she wanted to be with him, even if it was on such an expedition.

  “Absolutely. We can take a picnic or something, make a day of it.”

  “You’re not going to the Alps, are you?”

  The sound of his deep laugh sent a thrill of pleasure through her. “No. No Alps this weekend.”

  “Okay, then. I’ll come.” Whether she was going to regret this or not, she didn’t know, but she was going to go climbing for the first time in her life.

  “Are you kidding?” Piper exclaimed. “I’m not climbing that.” She pointed to the huge rock formation they stood in front of. She looked up and up and up at the giant craggy brown rock and felt her stomach slide all the way to her feet.

  “It’s not that big,” Taylor said, and laughed at her reaction. “Besides, we’re not climbing that one.” He pointed to a much smaller rock nestled up against the larger one. “We’re going on that one.”

  “Uncle T.! That’s only ten feet high. I climb higher than that at camp,” Alex said, protest in every syllable.

  “I’m not taking you up 500 feet the first time out. You gotta show me what you got first, kiddo. Learn to trust each other as a team, and we go from there.”

  Alex nodded, bounced around lightly on his feet and shadow-boxed. “I’ll show you what I got. Just you wait and see.”

  “Alex, are you sure you want to do this?” Piper swallowed, trying not to be intimidated by a rock. It was just a rock. Right? A really big one.

  “It’s okay, Piper. I’ll climb up first and show you how it’s done,” Alex said, cinching on his gear.

  Taylor checked Alex’s rigging and gave it a firm tug, then pulled his gear from a bag. “I hadn’t had this stuff out for a year, so I checked everything last night.” He looked at Piper and the serious doubt etched on her face. “Look, you can stay down here and watch us. Might be pretty boring, though.”

  “I’ll take my chances,” she said, sarcasm heavy in her voice, then she smiled. “It’s okay. I would rather watch with my feet planted on the ground.”