by Mindy Neff
“For most.” Her husband hadn’t shared that sentiment.
“Do you have your own practice back in California?”
Kelly nodded. “I’m an orthopedic surgeon. I specialize in kids.” She could fix a child’s bones, but she couldn’t repair her daughter’s soul. If only Kimberly’s problems were the kind that could be seen by an X ray. If only. If only. It seemed she was thinking that a lot lately.
“If you don’t mind my saying so, you look a bit young to have completed the years of training required for a specialty.”
“I’m thirty-two.” He probably already knew that from the employment application she’d filled out when she’d applied for the job at the clinic. “I pretty much skipped high school, graduated from college when I was eighteen and went right into med school at UCLA.”
He stared at her for a minute. She was used to that reaction, though she hadn’t encountered it in a while.
“You were one of those child prodigies.”
“That’s me. I was doing calculus when the rest of the girls my age were still playing with dolls.”
“Was that hard on you?”
“As a kid, yes. As an adult it became less of an issue.”
“So you’ve been doing this for a while. That’s a lot to walk away from.”
“My kids are worth much more than any career.” She usually kept her private business to herself, but she needed him to understand her circumstances, to understand why there wasn’t room in her life to act on this attraction brewing between them.
“Steve—my husband—was a doctor, too. A well-known plastic surgeon. Since he hobnobbed with movie stars, that made him newsworthy, which made his death a circus. The media frenzy was ugly. I had to get the girls away from it—especially once the paparazzi found out that Kimmy had seen the accident.
“I thought it would blow over, but it didn’t. They camped out in my front yard, just waiting for a photo opportunity. It got to where I had to keep the kids cooped up inside so we wouldn’t see their faces splashed on some tabloid at the supermarket. And each day, Kimmy seemed to withdraw further into herself.”
The flames in the fireplace danced as the wood crackled. A log spit, shooting a shower of embers up the flue.
“My dad suggested I come to Shotgun Ridge. And I’m glad he did. It’s totally different here than in California. I wanted a slower pace, more community spirit. It’s hard to explain. I wanted the girls and me to experience something new. And different.”
“For a woman wanting community spirit, you’ve mostly kept to yourself since you’ve been here.”
“I know. I guess I went through a bit of culture shock in the beginning. I don’t know how to mingle like you all do, how to join in.”
“It’s simple. You just do it.”
“Easy words coming from a man who’s lived here all his life.”
“I’ll be happy to tutor you.” The words were said with just a hint of suggestion.
Kelly laughed, surprised that she felt so relaxed. She should have been on guard, but she couldn’t seem to keep her shield up around Chance Hammond.
He was simply too endearing, too charming and, hands down, one of the handsomest men she’d ever seen.
He was a healer, like her, but there was an air of mystique about him, as well.
A cowboy mystique.
A very heady combination.
KELLY THOUGHT she heard the phone ring, but was too tired to do anything about it, hoping it was just a hazy part of her dream.
The next thing she knew, someone was knocking on the door. Disoriented, she came straight up off the couch, listening for the sound of ambulance sirens, emergency workers barking orders and calling for doctors.
It took a minute to realize she was still at Chance’s house, not a medical resident doing E.R. rotation on two hours of sleep.
Lord, it’d been a while since she’d flashed back on those hellish days.
Probably the unfamiliar surroundings. She certainly hadn’t planned to spend the whole night here. Once she’d finally talked Chance into going to bed, she’d fallen asleep on the couch, waking several times to check on him. The last time she fell asleep, she’d gone out like a light.
Not wanting his visitors to catch her looking so disheveled, she headed toward the bathroom, passing Chance in the hall.
“Morning, Hollywood.”
“Morning,” she grumbled, automatically glancing at the dressing on his wound. “Somebody’s at the door.”
“I’m on my way to get it.”
Kelly nodded and hurried on past him. He looked fresh and crisp in a pair of jeans, Western shirt with a thermal undershirt, boots and Stetson.
She, in turn, probably looked like a hag. She hadn’t even brought a toothbrush.
In the bathroom, she rinsed her face and mouth, straightened her clothes and used Chance’s brush on her hair.
Through the door, she heard voices—Eden and Stony had evidently dropped off the girls. She’d called the Strattons last night to let them know she was at Chance’s place in case they needed to get in touch and couldn’t reach her at the boardinghouse.
Kelly looked at her watch and frowned. It was early, and all sorts of reasons for them bringing the children home so soon flashed through her mind. Had the girls misbehaved?
And then the guilt set in. Eden had a darling three-month-old girl to take care of, as well as six-year-old Nikki. Kelly should have insisted on picking up the kids rather Eden disrupting her routine.
By the time Kelly got back to the living room, Eden and Stony were gone, and Chance was headed toward the door, Jessica and Kimmy’s hands held in his.
Jessica spotted her and tugged Chance to a halt.
“Hi, Mommy. Kimmy missed you so we came home early.”
Kelly crossed the room, knelt in front of her daughters and kissed each on the forehead. “I missed you both, too.” She had an idea Jessica had gotten homesick, too, but didn’t push the issue. Despite their eagerness for an overnight adventure, she should have anticipated some separation anxiety.
“We’re off to the barn to check the horses,” Chance said. “Care to join us?”
She stood. “Brave man. You’re going to take another chance on flying hooves?”
“Stony trains all my horses. They’re much better behaved than those donkeys. Bomb-proof, every one of them.”
“If you say so. I need coffee. Desperately. Then I’ll be out.” If she could talk herself into braving the cold. With just the front door open, the wind whipped in, freezing her to the bone. It didn’t seem to faze Chance or the girls. Bundles of energy, all three of them.
And for children who claimed to miss her, they sure scooted out the door in a hurry. Chance, also, seemed fine, making her wonder why she’d felt such a strong need to watch over him. Was it more than just medical concern?
There was something about this man that drew her.
And that simply wasn’t acceptable.
She wandered into his kitchen. It looked different with sunlight streaming through the big window over the sink, rather than the muted lighting of incandescent bulbs she’d seen it in last night. The hardwood floors were scuffed but lovingly maintained. The room had a homey feel with lots of oak, ceramic tile and older appliances, which probably functioned just fine despite their age.
A half-full pot of coffee sat on the warmer and she poured a cup.
Sipping, she nearly spilled the hot brew down the front of her sweater when an older woman bustled into the kitchen.
“Oh, I startled you. I am Maria. I do the cooking and cleaning for the doctor.”
“Hi, Maria.” Kelly wiped coffee off her chin and looked around for a napkin. “I’m Kelly, Chance’s…” What? Was she still his medical assistant? “I work with Chance.”
“Oh, I know. The man has been talking of nothing else since you and the niñas came to town.”
“He has?”
“Yes, and I can see why. Muy bonita.”
“
Um, thank you.” Kelly’s Spanish wasn’t great, but she knew enough to get by. And frankly, it had been a very long time since someone had told her she was pretty. She thought of herself as a doctor, competent, steady, no-nonsense—and always tired.
When had she stopped thinking of herself as a woman?
A long time ago.
But she knew the exact moment she’d begun to notice the oversight. The minute she’d laid eyes on Dr. Chance Hammond.
And darn it, this line of thinking wasn’t going to get her anywhere. Best to let it go.
“Can I fix you some breakfast?” Maria asked.
“No. I’m fine with just coffee. Chance had a bit of an accident with a donkey last night, and I stayed to keep an eye on him.” A subject she was going to discuss with him right away.
“Yes, I heard. It is wonderful news that you are a doctor. Our Chance works much too hard these days. He could use the help.”
She doubted this small town had much use for an orthopedic specialist. “Who told you I was a doctor?”
“Dr. Chance did, of course. I was fussing over his injury this morning, and he assured me he had been seen by the best doctor.”
This morning? Kelly nearly groaned. Had Chance and Maria been tiptoeing through the living room as she’d slept on the couch?
“Yes, well…I think I’d better go find him and make sure my daughters aren’t talking his ear off.”
Maria laid a hand on Kelly’s arm. “The little one, your Kimmy. She will get better. You wait and see.”
Kelly felt a lump form in her throat. The compassion was genuine. Lord, did everybody in town know her business?
Living in a small town was like being in a fishbowl.
But it was different than the media attention she’d suffered in California. Instead of chafing against strangers knowing her business, her heartaches, it felt right that these people knew.
They weren’t out to exploit her or her children. They were simply standing in the wings waiting to offer whatever they had, whatever she needed.
“Thank you, Maria. I’m counting on it.”
IN THE BARN, Jessica was chattering like a magpie, asking questions and hardly waiting for Chance to answer. Even Kimberly was more animated than usual, having found a friendly border collie who was intent on licking her clean.
With her chubby arms around the dog’s neck, her cheek laid on his fur, she reminded Kelly of the jubilant child she had once been—before tragedy had sent her inside herself.
Watching the patience Chance displayed with her daughters, she felt her heart soften. But not too much.
“I could have sworn you told me you had no one to keep an eye on you,” she said.
Chance turned and grinned at her, leaning his weight on a huge rake. “Ah, you’ve met Maria.”
“Yes. The woman who takes care of you.”
“That’s only during the day. She doesn’t stay around to watch me sleep and make sure I wake up.”
“But she would if you asked.”
He shrugged. “I’ve never had the occasion to ask.”
“Don’t get many concussions, huh?” Why in the world couldn’t this man have been the stereotypical old country doctor? Ancient and gray-haired? Why did he have to be so darn sexy?
“Nope, not since I was a kid. Besides, I like having the best watch over me.”
“Flattery won’t get you anywhere.”
“It’s worth a try. Come meet the horses.”
She moved toward the wooden stall, but kept a respectful distance. The horse who swung its head around to get a look at her was tall with a gleaming chestnut coat, and a black tail and mane.
Kelly automatically took a step back and bumped into Chance.
He gazed down at her from beneath the brim of his black hat. “Horses make you nervous?”
“A little. I haven’t been around them since I was a girl—aside from the donkey last night.”
“This is Peppermint and she’s a sweetheart. Come here.” He put his arm around her shoulders, guided her closer. “Step over here to her side so she can see you better. She can’t get a good look if you stand directly in front of her.” With his hand over hers, he guided it to the horse’s cheek, then up between Peppermint’s ears.
“Oh, she’s so soft.”
“Just like a lady should be.” His voice went deep and intimate. “Warm and soft.”
Kelly was tempted to stomp on his foot but resisted. The man was an innate flirt and that was all there was to it. No sense trying to get a leopard to change his spots.
Besides, the warmth of his body next to hers was welcome. Although the barn was heated, Kelly was still cold.
She slipped her hand from beneath his and stepped away. “Well, this lady’s freezing her butt off. I’ve never been in zero-degree weather, much less ten degrees below.”
He chuckled. “Takes some getting used to.” He studied her for several minutes. “I’m curious about something.”
“What’s that?”
“From what I gleaned last night of your marital situation and you and your husband’s profession, I’m assuming your finances are healthy. So why’d you come to work for me?”
“I needed a break from the responsibilities of my own practice, more time to spend with the girls.”
“But clerical duties? You haven’t been doctoring until last night.”
She glanced at the neat row of stalls, the stream of light coming through the windows, catching dust motes in the air. “I didn’t want to. I was happy just being in the medical environment. And you’re only half-right about the finances.” She glanced at Jessica and Kimberly, making sure they were occupied and not overhearing the conversation. The border collie and an old barn cat were doing a great job of keeping them entertained.
“Steve made a name for himself by taking years and inches off some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. And he charged a pretty penny to do the glamorizing. But he also liked to gamble. He was what they call a high roller in Las Vegas. He placed big bets and he lost big. That was another nasty little secret I found out about after the funeral. Despite his debts, he never altered his lifestyle. He lived fast and lavishly.”
“So your money was squandered away, too?”
“Only a portion of it. My mother taught me that a woman should always have her own funds. In her day, they called it mad money, extra cash to get you home if a date went sour, a little stash that you could get your hands on in a hurry if you needed it. So I always kept part of my income separate from the household accounts. I’m far from bankrupt, but I’m also far from retiring.”
“Your mother sounds like a smart lady.”
“She was.”
“You lost her?”
“Two years ago to cancer.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Thanks. So, anyway, now you have most of my life history.”
“I doubt we’ve even scratched the surface.”
He brushed his knuckles tenderly over her cheek, and Kelly went absolutely still.
She didn’t know what to say, didn’t know if she could make a sound anyway. The barest touch of his fingers was mesmerizing.
His hands were wide and strong. A doctor’s hands. A man’s hands. They could heal or soothe or arouse.
And she was not going to trip off into la la land and fantasize about Chance Hammond’s hands or their many skills.
She cleared her throat, then reached out on her own to stroke Peppermint’s silky face.
Chance leaned a shoulder against the stall door and gave her space.
“How long are you planning to stay?”
“In Shotgun Ridge?” She glanced at Kimberly and Jessica. “Until the end of the year,” she said softly. “Kimmy was like an empty shell before we came here. A tiny puppet who went through the motions. She’s showing more life now. Look at her,” she whispered. “She’s smiling and playing with your dog like a normal little girl.”
A normal little girl who still didn’t speak.
“Hey, Hollywood,” Chance said gently, swiping a thumb beneath her eye. “It’ll be fine. She’ll come around.”
“God, I hope so. I want to fix her, you know? I should be able to. I’m a doctor. I’m her mother. But I can’t do it and it’s tearing me up inside. My fancy medical degree doesn’t mean squat in Kimberly’s case.”
“Kelly—”
“I have no idea what she thinks. Does she blame me? Does she blame herself? How much did she actually see? And how much did she actually understand? So many questions I just can’t answer.”
“Did you try a child psychologist?”
“Yes. No results. She doesn’t act out like most four-year-olds, doesn’t throw tantrums or giggle with joy. Something’s locked inside, frozen, you know?”
He nodded, then shook his head because he didn’t know. “I wish I had some answers.”
“Your animals seem to be having an impact on both the girls. The old cat at Mildred and Opal’s is so prissy she hardly ever lets the kids catch her.”
“Miss Lucille,” Chance said with a grin. “That’s one ornery cat.”
“Yes, and she’s really going to get her nose out of joint in a few weeks. Mildred and Opal are expecting a full house for the holidays.”
“Who’s coming in?”
“Extended families is what I heard—Eden’s and Dora’s for sure, and there’s a plot brewing to get Emily’s mother and stepfather here.”
“That would be great. Emily really wants her mom to come around and be a grandmother to those twins.”
“Well, holidays have a way of making families soften. Maybe it’ll happen. In the meantime, though, you wouldn’t happen to know of a place for rent around here, would you?”
“Surely the widows aren’t going to ask you to leave. I happen to know that every single one of my buddies have homes big enough for the in-laws. You shouldn’t have to—”
“No,” Kelly interrupted. “The sisters would never ask me to leave. And though there’s plenty of room at the Callahans’ and Strattons’, some of the family evidently want to stay in town. They’ve done it in years past and it’s become a tradition.”