Arizona Cowboy

by Jennifer Collins Johnson

  Irene nodded, then looked at Holden. She reached up and pinched his cheek. “It’s good to see you, youngun’.” She glanced back at Ava and winked, then walked toward her party guests.

  Ava studied the new tile on the floor, fully aware of Holden’s gaze boring into her. Her knees started to shake, so she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Her hands trembled, and she clasped them together.

  Holden touched her elbow and fire shot through her veins. “Let’s get you some food.”

  “Wait.” She gazed into his eyes, then looked away. “I’m sorry, Holden.”

  “Why’d you run?”

  His question was direct and stern, just as Ava had imagined. She couldn’t look at him again. She shrugged.

  “That’s not an answer.”

  With both hands, Holden gripped her arms, and she looked up at him. The pain in his eyes made her breath catch, and she bit her bottom lip. He lightened his touch. “Why, Ava?”

  She pulled away from him and smacked her palm against her thigh. “Scared, I guess.” She shrugged again and shook her head as she peered at him. “We were so young, Holden.”

  “I wanted to marry you.”

  Ava swallowed and looked away from him. Still a straight shooter. Said exactly what he thought. She straightened the afghan draped over the easy chair. “I know.”

  Holden moved close. She sucked in her breath as he gently touched her chin and lifted her face toward him. “I loved you.”

  “Ava?” Mitch’s voice came from the hall. He stepped into the living room, then ducked his head. “Sorry, but they’re ready to cut the cake.”

  Ava pulled away from Holden. Though her insides trembled, she plastered a smile on her lips. “The cake. Of course.”

  She took a step away. He grabbed her arm, and she looked back at him. “We’re going to talk. I won’t let you get away this time,” he stated.

  Pain laced through her. Once you find out the truth, you will.

  Chapter 2

  Ava took a deep breath as she pulled into the parking lot of Miller Physical Therapy Clinic. The contemporary-style building boasted all windows and a sleek glass door in front. Several of Arizona’s hardier bushes and cacti bedded in ornate gravel lined the front of the business. She stepped out of the air-conditioned car, and the hot air encouraged the butterflies in her stomach to flutter faster. Lifting her purse strap higher on her shoulder, she made her way to the door, then gasped when she read the names of the therapists etched into the glass. They’ve already added my name.

  She touched the letters. Her first real job since she finished her degree. She wouldn’t start seeing patients on her own for another week, and yet they’d already added her name. Excitement welled within her as she pushed open the door. She smiled at the petite brunette sitting behind the reception desk. “Hi, Katie.”

  Katie popped her gum and motioned Ava through the door leading to the back. “Mom’s waiting for you. Room 2.”

  “Thanks. How are your classes going?”

  The young woman groaned. “Why’d you have to say that? My anatomy class is gonna kill me.” She leaned closer to Ava and pointed toward the back rooms. “And if I don’t do well, they’re gonna kill me, too.”

  Ava laughed. “They will not. You’ve got the best parents in the world.”

  Katie popped her chewing gum again. “Not if I flunk that class.”

  “Then don’t flunk.”

  “Don’t flunk.” Katie moved a pile of papers from one side of the desk to the other. “Don’t flunk, she says. Do you know how many of my friends have had to drop that class? It’s known as the weed-out class.”

  “You can do it.” Ava tapped her hand before heading back to room 2. The girl was a bit on the flighty side, but she was young, only nineteen. Katie still had a lot of growing up to do. Just as I did. I was even younger when I met Holden. Ava knocked on the door.

  “Come on in,” Mary Miller called.

  Ava walked inside and smiled at the older version of Katie, who still looked young and vibrant. No one would ever guess the brown-eyed brunette had a nineteen-year-old daughter and fourteen-year-old twin sons. Ava nodded at the older gentleman who stood behind a straight-back chair.

  “Ava Herbert, this is Clyde Watkins. He’s one of our regulars.” Mary nudged the man’s arm.

  “Humph,” the man growled. “You’d think with all the money I’ve put into therapy, Mary here would find a way to fix my arthritis. I think she just likes seeing me.” A smile turned up his lips.

  “Well, Clyde, you’re going to be seeing a lot of Ava, as well. She’s our new therapist.”

  “Really?” His eyebrows rose. “Then maybe I don’t want to be fixed.”

  Mary laughed, and Ava couldn’t help but join her. Then the older woman shook her head. “Clyde, you are such a flirt. I’m telling your wife.”

  “Go ahead and tell her. You and I both know why she likes to see that young buck of a husband of yours.”

  “I heard that.”

  Ava jumped at the sound of a voice behind her. She turned, spying a silver-haired woman sitting in a chair to the side of the door, her eyes twinkling. “Don’t mind him, honey. We just like to tease the Millers.”

  Ava nodded, then watched intently while Mary finished the session with Clyde. She smiled at the sweet relationship the therapist had formed with her client, mentally noting how open, kind and yet firm she was with the older man.

  Mary finally patted his back. “What do you say, Clyde? Are you willing to give Ava a try for your next visit?”

  Ava smiled. “I’d be happy to work with you next week, Mr. Watkins.”

  The gentleman peered at her, then softened his expression and shrugged. “I suppose I’d be willing to give her a try.” He turned to Ava. “But I’m not going to be called Mr. Watkins. That was my dad. You’ll have to call me Clyde.”

  Mary helped him out of his seat, then nodded at his wife. “All right then. Tell Katie to set you up with Ava. It was good to see you again.”

  When they’d exited, she shut the door and turned toward Ava. “You, my dear, have just received the biggest compliment of any therapist who’s graced our office.”

  She frowned, trying to remember everything Clyde Watkins had said to her. She knew he’d been sizing her up during the session. Though he’d followed through with the exercises Mary guided, Ava could tell he’d paid attention to what she was doing.

  Mary pushed the intercom button to her husband’s office. “Rick, are you in there?”

  His voice carried through the intercom. “Yeah. I’ve got a client in five minutes.”

  Mary pushed the button again. “Can you come here a sec?”

  “Sure.” Within a few moments, he walked into the room. “Is something wrong?”

  Mary smiled toward Ava, who swallowed the knot in her throat. Her boss seemed pleased, but Ava had no idea what she had done. Mary pointed toward her. “Ava will be leading Clyde Watkins’s therapy session next time.”

  Rick’s eyebrows rose. “No way.”

  His wife nodded. “Can you believe that?”

  Rick smiled as he patted Ava on the back. “Your sweet, humble spirit shines through. Mary and I both knew you were the right addition to our clinic that very first interview.”

  Ava’s heart swelled at the sincere praise of her bosses, and she’d done nothing to deserve it. She understood fully why the Millers had more clients than they had time in a day. Their encouragement was heartwarming. “But I didn’t do—”

  Mary placed her hand on Ava’s. “We know you’re a good therapist. You have the education, the recommendations, the references that tell us you know your job. But not everyone has the right heart.”

  Rick added, “Clyde won’t go to anyone but Mary. The old coot won’t even see
me.”

  Mary gently elbowed him in the gut. “You’re just jealous.” She turned to Ava. “Seriously, we’ve had interns come and go. Clyde has always said no to their assistance.” She looked at her husband. “We’ve always joked that if we found someone Clyde approved of, we’d keep him or her forever.”

  Rick lifted his arms in surrender. “Guess that means you can stay, but I’m going to have to find other work. The man still won’t see me.”

  Mary giggled as she placed a quick kiss on his cheek. Ava drank in the affection between the two. She’d rarely seen a couple with such open, sincere appreciation for each other. It was what she longed for in a relationship.

  An image of Holden developed in her mind. She shook her head, reminding herself she was at her place of business.

  “I feel very honored.” As Ava spoke the words, thankfulness to God for leading her to this job washed over her afresh.

  Mary looked at her. “Do God’s guiding with a humble spirit, and you’ll never go wrong.”

  * * *

  Holden pushed away from the kitchen table. “Dad, I don’t think I’ve eaten this much for breakfast...” he thought for a moment, calculating how many years it had been since the younger of his two sisters married “...in more than three years.”

  His dad stood, scooping up their plates, and turned toward the sink. “I felt like I was wasting away with that stomach bug for more than a week. I was starving.” He put the lid on the butter. “You do dishes.”

  “No problem.” Holden made his way to the sink and turned on the hot water.

  His father stuffed the jelly, milk and butter in the refrigerator, then turned back to Holden, leaning against the counter. “Listen, I was thinking about riding into town today.” He nodded toward the table. “Read in the paper that the electronics store has those Blu-ray disc players on sale....”

  Holden bit back a chuckle as he nodded. Ever since his sister Traci had bought him a DVD player for Christmas, their dad had become a complete movie junkie. But Holden had to admit he hadn’t helped matters much when he’d purchased surround sound for him two weeks later. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll take care of the ranch. You just head on into town.”

  “No, no.” His dad shook his head. “I’m going to help you get the work done that needs doing. I just wondered if you’d go with me.” He picked up a towel and started drying the dishes Holden had washed.

  Holden couldn’t get his dad to invest in a dishwasher. He always said that two measly men didn’t need a dishwasher. Didn’t cook enough to need one. Holden took in the various pans that had contained scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon and biscuits. Today, two measly men could have used one.

  His dad’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “You know I don’t know enough about that newfangled electronic stuff. I don’t want to get ripped off.”

  “Sure. I’ll go with you.” Holden hurried through the rest of the dishes, and minutes later they headed to the barn. Work moved quickly with his dad back on his feet after battling pneumonia and pleurisy over the winter, then a stomach bug a week ago. Before lunchtime the two were driving on the Sun Valley Parkway toward Surprise.

  Holden sneaked a peek at his dad in the passenger seat of his truck. He noticed, as he had so many times over the last few months, that his father had started looking older than his sixty-two years. Deep wrinkles traced his forehead, the sides of his eyes and along his mouth. But it wasn’t the wrinkles that worried Holden; it was the deep, dark circles beneath his dad’s eyes. Seeing Ava’s aunt Irene looking young and spry at her surprise party also confirmed that his dad seemed to be aging quicker than Holden would have thought.

  He pulled into the parking lot of the electronics store, and almost before he could take the keys from the ignition, his dad was making his way into the building. The warm spring sun wrapped Holden as he stepped out of the air-conditioned truck. Arizona was too hot and dry for some people, but he relished the heat against his skin.

  The store’s cool air blasted him as he walked inside. He glanced toward the DVD players, but didn’t spy his dad. He was heading to that aisle anyway when he heard a familiar voice. “Get on over here, Holden.”

  He turned and saw Irene motioning to him. Ava stood to her right, her head lowered and her hands shoved in her blue jeans pockets. He swallowed. There was something about a gal in blue jeans, especially Ava. The denim practically screamed for him to loop his fingers around her waist and lift her closer to him.

  “You heard the woman.” Holden’s dad stood beside Ava’s aunt who held several CDs. “Irene’s going to sing in Senior Idol. She wants some help picking out a song.”

  Holden furrowed his brows as he walked toward them. The smell of Ava’s perfume sent his mind into a spin, but he was determined to focus. “Senior Idol?”

  “Sure. It’s a knockoff of American Idol. You have to be fifty or older. You can sing, dance, whatever talent you want to showcase.” Irene picked up another CD. “It’s at Willow Canyon High School in July. I know it’s only March, but I need to start practicing.”

  “So, you’re picking out a song?”

  “What does it look like she’s doing, son? Buying doughnuts?” His dad clicked his tongue.

  Holden glanced at Ava. She was staring intently at a CD, one that contained only male song choices. He picked it up and leaned closer to her, whispering in her ear, “Is there one on here you think she should try?”

  He heard Ava’s slight gasp as she shook her head. His nearness still affected her. He knew it did. It had to, because at any moment he was going to lose control and play caveman, picking her up and carrying her out to his truck. The idea proved too enticing, and he forced himself to step away from her.

  “Aunt Irene, you sing anything beautifully. Just pick a song.” Holden noted that Ava’s voice quivered as she spoke.

  “We’ve only been here an hour. Just hold your—”

  “This one.” Holden’s dad’s voice interrupted as he shoved a CD into Irene’s hand.

  “Bette Midler’s ‘The Rose’?”

  Irene closed her eyes and began to sway slowly as a song Holden hadn’t heard since he was a young boy spilled from her lips. He looked at Ava, whose face reddened as her aunt’s voice grew in volume. Irene did sing beautifully, but Holden knew Ava hated to be the center of attention.

  The words of the song struck Holden as he stared at his woman. Love, a hunger, an aching need? Yes, he knew that ache, that desperate need. How many times since Ava ran had he wanted her to come back to Surprise? He’d planned to marry her. Share the burdens of the ranch. Share his concern for his dad. Share his faith, his home, his children. Young or not, he’d wanted her.

  Holden grabbed her arm and pulled her several steps away from her aunt and his father. Startled, she looked up, and he peered into her eyes. “We have to talk.”

  “Yes, we do.”

  “I’m going to come get you and take you to dinner. Tonight.”

  Holden expected her to argue, to make up an excuse to stay away from him, but he was determined. He would talk to her tonight even if he had to spend the night sitting outside her aunt’s house until Ava opened the door.

  To his surprise, she nodded. “All right.”

  A bump to his shoulder shifted his attention to a tall brunette with freckles splattering her nose and cheeks. She batted her eyes. “Holden Whitaker, seems like months since I’ve laid eyes on you.”

  “Hey, Jess, I’m pretty sure it’s only been a few weeks.”

  Jessica Thomas laced her arm around his elbow. “Haven’t seen you with Jakey, either. The two of you have a fight?”

  She knew good and well what had happened between him and Jake. Holden had never wanted to take his best friend’s little sister on a date, but the two of them had hounded him until he’d finally agreed. When Holden didn’t promise
to waltz her down the aisle after a couple of challenging dates, Jake had gotten mad. Exactly what Holden expected to happen, which was why he hadn’t wanted to take her out to begin with. Twenty-three or not, she was still like a little sister to him.

  “I’m sorry. I must have missed your friend.” Jess released his arm and extended her hand to Ava. “I’m Jessica Thomas, a good friend of Holden’s, and you are?”

  Ava reached for her hand, but Jess pulled back and cocked her head. “Wait a minute. I know you.” She snapped her fingers. Her face blanched. “You’re that...”

  “Ava Herbert.” Ava took Jess’s hand and shook it. “You might not remember me. It’s been a few years since Holden and I dated.”

  Ava’s cheeks bloomed bright pink. Holden chewed the inside of his cheeks, trying not to laugh aloud at her expression. He could still read her thoughts, and right now, she was realizing how much she sounded like a jealous teenager. He didn’t mind. Even kind of liked it.

  Holden clapped Jess’s back. “Tell Jake I’d love to hear from him.”

  “Sure.” All signs of flirtation had left Jess’s countenance as she headed down the aisle. “See ya later.”

  Holden turned back to Ava. “Seven o’clock, okay?”

  “You dated Jessica Thomas. Isn’t she a little young for you?”

  “She’s not all that young. Just three years younger than you.”

  Ava’s cheeks flushed again, and she shook her head. “I’m sorry. Of course she’s not too young. It’s none of my business, anyway.”

  She tried to step away, but Holden grabbed her wrist. She gazed up at him. Mesmerized by her eyes, yearning to touch her soft cheek, he swallowed. “We’re going to dinner. Seven o’clock. All right?”

  She lifted her hand to his cheek. Warmth surged through him at the feel of her soft touch. She whispered, “Please forgive me.”

  “I already have.”

  Sadness clouded her eyes and her expression fell. She turned away from him. “We’ll see.”