Taking Chances

by Taylor, Janelle

  Kirstin was about to say he didn’t have to stay home because of her, but she remained silent. She couldn’t help but overhear his side of the conversation, apparently with the snippy woman who had called earlier.

  “I see … Sounds fine … Doesn’t matter to me … I can’t talk now … I wouldn’t advise that,” he warned in a tone she thought frosty. “I’m hanging up. I have my patient and chores to tend. Bye.”

  He turned to Kirstin. “I’d appreciate it if you don’t answer my phone while you’re here, Mrs. Lowrey. You needn’t trouble yourself. I have an answering machine and a medical service that picks up after the fourth ring.”

  His voice and expression were unsettling. “I’m sorry if I did something wrong, Doctor Harrison. A woman phoned, but wouldn’t leave her name or a message. I suppose that was her calling back. I only answered earlier because I thought it might be Katie returning your call and I didn’t want her to worry. I called and explained everything to her. I don’t know your address, so I’m to phone her with it tomorrow.”

  He wondered if she had talked to anyone in addition to her daughter, perhaps the man in her life? “Why do you need my address? You want someone to come after you? Did you change your mind about me treating you or staying here?”

  “No, Katie wanted to know where I am in case I need to be reached. She’s handling deliveries for my new apartment and running errands for me until I reach San Diego.”

  “I’ll give it to you when you phone her tomorrow, or I can talk to her myself. She might want to ask me questions about your condition.”

  “Thank you, Doctor Harrison,” she said, matching his formality. “I won’t answer the phone again,” she promised, assuming that was the source of his anger. What did I do, anger a jealous sweetie by being caught here alone with you?

  She propped an elbow on the end of the sofa and rested her chin on it, staring at the braided rug on a hardwood floor that could use dustmopping. The music changed to lively tunes by the original Bee Gees. She felt uncomfortable in the loud emotional silence that followed her vow. She didn’t want to look his way, but wondered what he was doing.

  He was staring at her profile and asking himself why he was peeved because she took Carla’s call. Kirstin probably assumed it was a sweetheart who was furious to find another woman there. No doubt Carla had been rude. So be it, because he wasn’t going to explain anything to either woman. Kirstin was only a patient, and Carla had been an occasional date. Had been, he stressed to himself and wished Carla could get it through her thick skull he didn’t want to see her again. He was sorry he had ever asked her out; now, she pestered him like a mosquito. So far, no matter what he said or did, Carla couldn’t comprehend that it was over and he couldn’t stand her. He had been as clear and polite as he could be, but it appeared as if he was going to have to get nasty to get his point across. He wasn’t interested in being her date at a barbecue at her father’s ranch on Saturday, or in ever seeing her again.

  Christopher grinned when a bold idea came to mind. What better way, he mused, to discourage Carla than to show up with a ravishing blue-eyed blonde on his arm and to have a great time? He frowned as he realized Kirstin would probably be gone in a few days, especially if he kept acting as he did moments ago. He hadn’t rushed through his evening chores and his usual chat with Frank Graham just so he could behave like a total ass! She had him thinking and acting like a schoolboy on his first date! Lordy, he hadn’t felt this excited about a woman in ages, if ever. Of course, he had to get Kirstin well before she could leave…

  He asked, “Would you like to take a walk? Get some fresh air and see a beautiful sunset? New Mexico is famous for its twilight colors.”

  She was tempted to refuse, but noticed his mood had altered. “Yes, thank you. You can tell me about your ranch and state. This might be all I see of it if I have to rush to San Diego after you’re finished with me.”

  As her last few words danced mischievously across his mind, he held the door open for her to go outside. “Watch your step, Kirstin; there’s a slight drop-down to the porch,” he cautioned. “It’s always tripping up people; I’ll have to think of a way to change it one day. I don’t want anybody falling and suing the pants off me.”

  Kirstin laughed to let him know his attempts at humor and subtle apology had worked. She waited a minute while he went back inside to fetch something. He offered his hand and she accepted it as he cautioned her again to be careful as they ascended several steps to the ground.

  Afterward, they strolled toward the corral. The brown brick house was large and T-shaped. The yards displayed a few large bushes and several varieties of western plants, but there were few tall trees. She noticed a satellite dish, a swimming pool, several mercury-vapor lights on poles, a pump house, his office, a shed, endless fencing, and several barns. There was a circular driveway with a grassy teardrop center where a, blue Jeep Wagoneer was parked. The house sat about seven hundred feet off the main road and was surrounded by verdant but desertlike vegetation, some plants a darker green than others with splashes of yellow or tan here and there. As far as she could see in any direction— and it almost seemed as if the horizon and flat land went on forever—only telephone poles, scrubs, and weeds seemed to jut from the high plains landscape. It exuded an impression of barren wilderness, as if they were the only two people in the area, or even perhaps on earth. The sky was blue with an occasional wispy cloud, but dusk and sunset were approaching. A few cars and trucks traveled the highway and vanished from sight before others came into view.

  Kirstin wondered how a busy, big-city doctor had adjusted so well to such a deserted place. At the corral, she listened to horses neigh and watched them prance as if showing off for their master. Christopher hadn’t released her left hand, and she made no attempt to pull it from his light grasp. She enjoyed and needed his strength and security.

  “What kind of horses do you raise?” Kirstin inquired. She hoped her voice and body didn’t expose the trembling she felt from head to foot. It seemed absurd to feel this crazy way but she couldn’t help it.

  Christopher watched her from the corner of his eye and wished he knew what made her frown and sigh in what seemed like annoyance at herself. “Morgans, Appaloosas, and a variety of others. Do you ride?”

  “I haven’t in a long time, but I know how. I can’t wait to see your Appaloosas; they’re favorites of mine. How many do you own?”

  “About ten. They’re in the north pasture tonight; some have foals. Perhaps we can go riding before you leave.”

  “I would love it. Tell me about your ranch,” she encouraged.

  He suggested they walk a while. He guided her around obstacles of prickly bushes and clumps of thick vegetation. “If we get on the other side of the barns, in the open, we’ll have a better view of the sunset.”

  As they headed that way, his left arm rounded her waist to lead her past piles of dried and fresh horse droppings. Dodging one manure heap, she stumbled and he steadied her balance. She squeezed his right hand and grasped his left one as it came forward to offer additional aid. As soon as she was in control, he released both hands. She instantly missed his touch; it seemed as if he had withdrawn it with an odd abruptness. She liked holding hands and being him, but maybe physical contact was too personal, especially if he had a girlfriend. “I’m not usually so clumsy.”

  “Are you experiencing any weakness or strange feelings?”

  “No,” she replied. If emotions don’t count, her mind added.

  “If you do feel funny, I brought along candy for an emergency.” He patted his shirt pocket and the cellophane wrappings made a noise.

  Uh oh, Kirstin, you forgot your glucose tablets. Another lecture about carelessness is sure to follow. But it didn’t, to her pleasure.

  He described his ranch and the surrounding area. It was interesting, but her mind wandered at his nearness and engulfing voice. She wondered how it would feel to snuggle against his hard body and to kiss him, to throw caution and i
nhibitions to the wind. Are you nuts, Kirstin? Behave yourself!

  Christopher talked about the two closest towns, the area’s crops, the importance of irrigation, and seasons of the rancher and farmer. He didn’t know why he was chattering away about such things that were probably boring to a city girl, except that talking was one way to keep her near him.

  He kept stealing glances at her. Desire gnawed at him, but he wasn’t one to be ruled by demanding loins. In three days, she would leave. That wasn’t enough time to get to know her or to begin … Get off it, Chris; you’re being stupid.

  Kirstin gradually learned the Rocking-H Ranch consisted of one hundred and ninety acres of good grazing land, two “tanks”—the western word for ponds—over fifty head of cattle, and thirty horses. Some areas were used to raise winter feed for his stock and the rest was pastureland. Frank Graham was his foreman and right hand. Besides Frank, there were two other men who worked the ranch part-time. He told her about Helen, his housekeeper, and the Graham family.

  Heady scents of grasses and wildflowers drifted into her nostrils as a mild breeze played over the landscape. Surprisingly the fresh air was warm, not insufferably hot as she had imagined New Mexico and this part of the West would be. He explained that low humidity in the high plains area made it seem cooler than it was. For a visit, she was intrigued by the serenity and wild beauty of this marvelous place. Yet, she couldn’t imagine living here—or Christopher Harrison retiring here. Was there an unknown reason why he had done so? Arms crossing her chest, Kirstin cupped her elbows as she gazed at the sunset in full glory.

  “Getting chilly?”

  “No.” Her gaze remained glued to the horizon where vivid red, pink, gold, and purple kissed a shadowy earth. She noticed several windmills silhouetted against the colorful skyline. As her eyes roved the heavens, they found a quarter moon and sprinkling of stars in the darkest layer. “It’s so breathtaking, so beautiful. You can see so far.”

  “That’s because of a lack of obstructions and city lights. I have control switches on my mercury vapor poles so I can enjoy the nights better.”

  She realized he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt. Was he cold-natured? she wondered. It felt so warm and blissful to her.

  For a while, they observed the setting sun without talking. When it was gone and only fading colors remained, dusk closed in on them. Both realized it was a provocatively romantic setting, and a heavy silence ensued.

  Christopher finally stretched and said, “It’ll be dark soon and we don’t want you to stumble, so we’d best get back to the house.”

  As they headed in that direction, she asked, “What time is it? I don’t have my watch, I must have left it in the bathroom when I washed my hands for dinner.” The thought of impending bedtime in the secluded house alone with the handsome man made her nervous.

  “Nine thirty-six. Sleepy? I suppose you must be after a long drive and all the trouble.”

  “I am a little tired. Don’t let me interfere with the your routine.”

  You already have, thank goodness. “I put your bags in the guest room. Need any other help settling in?”

  “No. You’ve been most generous and helpful, Christopher. Thanks.”

  He smiled in appreciation of her compliments. “You need to test your blood sugar again, and don’t forget your snack before turning in.”

  “Thanks for the reminders,” she said as they entered the house.

  Christopher wondered what was left to do until bedtime and grinned as his imagination raced wild and free as an escaped stallion. “Would you like to watch TV? It’s my usual wind-down trick while I read at the same time.”

  “Mine, too. That sounds fine for about an hour. First, I’ll follow my doctor’s orders. I’ll do my test, then join you.”

  “We’ll prepare a snack after we see how much fuel you need.”

  While Kirstin did her task at the kitchen counter, he straightened the den where the television was located. Christopher joined her and asked for the results of the test.

  Kirstin frowned as she replied, “Seventy-four.”

  “That calls for a peanut-butter sandwich, milk, and juice to carry you to breakfast,” he said as he fetched the items needed, one at a time. “You can take them to the den and eat while you relax and watch TV.”

  When she asked if he wanted anything, he shook his head, but took a cola from the refrigerator. Kirstin made a sandwich, poured the two liquids, drank her juice, and cleaned up afterward. With plate in one hand and glass of milk in the other, she followed him down the hall. She sat on one end of a short sofa while he took a recliner nearby. He lifted the remote control and located a program that was agreeable to both, a sitcom.

  Kirstin ate the snack with eyes locked on the screen. Every so often, they laughed together at some funny line. A commercial came on about the Master’s Golf Tournament in Augusta. She asked if he played golf.

  “Not anymore. I stay pretty busy with the ranch and my practice.” He lifted his drink and took a few swallows to wash down the bitterness that seemed to rise as a tangible taste in his mouth.

  Kirstin noticed how he glanced at his left hand and rolled it on the chair’s arm, and how his voice altered. She thought his reaction odd but didn’t question his answer. “Do you always watch the Master’s?”

  He glanced at her. “Most of it. I’ve attended several in the past. It’s a beauty of a course, one of the best in the world, but I’ve never played it.”

  “You’ve been to Augusta?”

  “Three times for the tournament, a few times on medical business at MCG or local hospitals. Did you always attend?”

  “Most of them. David had clients who had to be entertained, and the Master’s is a special treat because tickets are so hard to come by. Finding gold can be easier than finding Master’s tickets. He was on the list for years. They dropped his name when he died; you can’t pass along your annual tickets to your family. My son misses going. He’s an avid golfer, like his father was.” Kirstin wished she hadn’t mentioned her deceased husband. She didn’t want to think about David tonight. Not here, not with Chri—

  “You said you have three children, all of them grown?”

  “Yes, a son and two daughters. I also have three grandchildren, all boys, one set of twins. What about you?”

  “One daughter. She’s married and lives in Oregon. No grandchildren. They want to get firmly established before having kids.”

  Kirstin wanted to ask about his wife—a divorce or death?—but didn’t because he held silent on that matter. He had been to her hometown many times. Perhaps they had stood within feet of each other at the tournament or sat at side-by-side tables in a restaurant. If they had met during those visits, would he have affected her the way he affected her now? Would she have been tempted to give up an unhappy existence with David to— Don’t even think such wanton things! she cautioned herself

  The news and weather came on and they only half-listened to it. Sensual currents pervaded the wood-paneled room as they realized they would soon be sleeping in adjoining rooms alone and far from other people.

  Kirstin’s tension increased. “I’ll put away these dishes,” she remarked and stood, needing to put space between them for a little while.

  “Just leave them in the sink until morning. You don’t need to overexert yourself anymore tonight. I’ll show you to your room,” he suggested, assuming she was ready to get to bed and away from him.

  She followed him into the hall, where she listened and observed as he gave a verbal tour of the house to familiarize her with the location of everything. “If you need something or have another problem tonight, sing out; I’m next door. Do you usually sleep late or rise early?”

  “Why?” she asked, her mouth suddenly dry and her pulse racing.

  “I’m up at dawn for chores. I eat around eight. But if you want to sleep in and rest, I’ll wait until later and join you in the kitchen.”

  “I’m usually up by six-thirty to be at work by ei
ght. I can’t skip breakfast and my specimens don’t care much for tardiness. They insist on their food and shots by eight-fifteen sharp. I was never much for eating a breakfast of more than coffee and toast until I developed this condition.”

  “You’re a caffeine junkie, like me? Need morning coffee to get going?”

  “Afraid so. Now, it’s cereal, fruit, and milk, too. Or the equivalent.”

  “A woman after my own heart.” He chuckled, then said, “I’ll warn you now, I’m a grouch until I’ve had at least one cup. Coffee will be ready when you rise. If I’m not here, just look for whatever you need. See you at eight. Goodnight, Kirstin. If you have any trouble, just yell; I’m a light sleeper.”

  “I’ll put some glucose tablets next to the bed. I’ll be fine. Thanks.”

  “You’ve already done more than fine for yourself.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Medico. You must be very proud of yourself.”

  “I am. It was a long, hard road to get there, but I made it.”

  “Ever think of going into another line of work?”

  “Heavens, no. I love research. I can’t imagine not doing it.”

  “I know what you mean. Goodnight. See you tomorrow.”

  Kirstin wondered if he had stopped talking and left so hurriedly for a particular reason. She closed the door and approached the bed, where he had placed her suitcases. She put her things in drawers and into the closet, as if planning to stay a long time. She grinned as she unpacked a black nightgown and a bottle of Night Magic cologne her friends had given her, along with sexy advice on how to use them. She trailed fingers over the lace-and-satin garment and envisioned herself in it.

  Kirstin closed the drawer and commanded herself to cease her silly fantasies. She entered the bathroom and tended to her teeth, hair, and skin. She changed into a modest gown, dropped her slippers by the bed, and tossed a matching robe over a chair, in case they were needed during the night.

  She placed David’s expensive luggage in a corner; it had been too attractive to dispose of with his other possessions. She climbed into bed and turned off the lamp. She was glad the pillow was the kind she liked, and realized she was tired and sleepy.