“It’s everything to me. If I don’t nail this, I’m up a creek, because I don’t have a Plan B.”
“You won’t need one. The Steele heart beats inside your chest.”
“Steele heart?”
“Tough, unstoppable, take no shit. Not even from yourself.”
She laid a hand against her chest. “All that’s in there, is it?”
“And much more.” A dimple appeared in his right cheek. “Those were the highlights.”
She smiled.
“There you go.”
“What?”
“Don’t forget to enjoy the ride. No goal is worth achieving if you have to sacrifice your happiness.”
“You know this by experience?”
“We all lose sight of what’s important, from time to time.”
Evie waited for him to elaborate. He didn’t.
“Well,” she said into the awkward silence, “I appreciate the reminder. But when a patient’s health is in my hands, it’s hard to think about anything other than ‘Don’t screw this up.’”
“Whereas, my worst worry is meeting a production deadline or navigating to the right location.”
She nodded at his sling. “Are you sure?” Something about his attitude at Triple B still gnawed at her. When she’d asked about his injury, he’d shut down the conversation. Had he done something embarrassing to cause the accident? Or had he been protecting the truth? “Gonna tell me what really happened?”
“I already did. Hunting accident.”
“I’ve known you for a long time and can tell when you’re tweaking my nose about something.”
He said nothing for a long while. “It’s not something I’m proud to discuss.”
The raw quality in his voice made her pause. She knew about regret. Knew its lasting effects. Before she could pull back her question, he glanced down at his injured arm and said, “It was a hunting accident. My shoulder got in the way of a crossbow arrow.”
“An arrow?”
“A moment of inattention. Classic cliché, right?”
“I’m sorry for prying. I sensed you were keeping something from me…and I didn’t like it.”
“You dislike secrets in general—or those by me?”
“Both.”
“What if the secret is for your protection?”
Evie huffed a breath and shook her head. “My brothers have used that excuse often. I love those egomaniacs, but ‘protection’ is a mask for control. No man’s going to control my life again. From this point forward, I decide what’s right and wrong for me.”
“What if you have no experience with the situation?”
“Then I’ll speak with someone who does before making a decision.”
“My little Squirt has truly disappeared.”
“She’s been gone for a long time. The men in my life seem oblivious of the fact.”
The rest of their dinner passed with the ease of two friends reminiscing over old times. They laughed, they conspired, they shared long stretches of contemplative silence. They even picked food off each other’s plates.
Neither brought up the hairy gorilla eyeballing them from the corner of the room. Now that she knew the real crux of Deke’s relationship avoidance, she needed time to devise a plan to crush it.
After paying the bill, they headed to Bailey’s where they grabbed Lisa’s toffee-chipped milkshake, Deke’s three scoops of Rocky Road, and her vanilla ice cream cone dipped in chocolate.
They fell back into the silence of their own thoughts on the way to the Med Mobile. But this time, their lack of communication wasn’t companionable. The air between churned thick with regret. Regret that the evening had come to an end.
Once they stepped inside the RV, they would have to share their conversation with Lisa. Evie didn’t want to share Deke with anyone. Not now. Not when over a decade of clouds had finally lifted.
They paused at the staff RV’s entrance, neither knowing how to end the evening.
“Thanks for dinner,” she said.
“I enjoyed our time together.”
“Me too.” She cleared her throat. “Any ideas where we go from here?”
“Try like hell to forget today’s revelations and settle back into friendship.”
Not a chance, big guy.
“Then give me a hug goodnight.”
Not one of his muscles moved. He didn’t even blink, just peered down at her as if she’d give him a rash if he dared touch her.
“We’ve been hugging each other for years, Deke. Folks will notice if we suddenly stop. Think about Britt’s suspicion at Triple B.”
One hand bent the paper cup of Rocky Road nearly in half while the other remained at his side in a tight fist. The air crackled around them while he made his decision.
Temptation and fear roiled like a boiling kettle. Could they embrace without giving in to the heat? With knowing they each craved the other’s touch?
For the love of God, one of them needed to break the tension, make the next move, prove that they could hug without shredding each other’s clothing.
She took the two steps separating them and curled her arms around his body like she’d done countless times before, only this time holding a milkshake and sugar cone. No one could blame her if she pushed the embrace further by pressing her body flush with his and resting her head against his broad chest.
Thrump-thrump-thrump-thrump-thrump.
The rapid pace of his heart brought her an odd comfort and a deep-seated excitement. Inhaling a long breath, she closed her eyes.
A strong arm enclosed her in a warm cocoon, though his body remained rigid. How long they stood in each other’s arms she didn’t know. Didn’t care. She needed this small contact, this connection to the man she’d loved forever.
Soon his body loosened enough for him to bury his nose in her hair. His lips brushed the shell of her ear. “I will do the right thing by you, Evie Steele—” restraint shook his voice, “—even if it kills me.”
He released her and strode into the night.
Cold ice cream dribbled over her knuckles. She ignored it, following Deke until the darkness consumed him.
She plopped down onto the top step, stunned by the power of one embrace. With absolutely no brainpower behind the action, she licked the dripping ice cream.
How to make a stubborn, honorable man to see that the best thing for her was to be wedded and bedded. Or bedded and wedded. She liked the sound of the latter better.
“Beware, Deke Conrad.”
9
“Where are we going?” Deke asked, his muscles tensing.
Lisa turned the Med Mobile toward Rockton. The last place he wanted to visit.
“We’re taking a slight detour. I got a call last night. There’s a sick boy who needs our attention.”
“Won’t this screw up your schedule?”
“A little. I don’t give the communities specific arrival dates—just a span of time. Something always comes up along the way. The night before, Evie sends out a targeted newsletter and calls the next location. Most of the pharmacies will put a sign out by the road that says, ‘Med Mobile Today.’ Everyone understands that if we’re delayed it’s for a good reason.” Lisa glanced his way. “Everything okay?” When he said nothing, her eyes widened. “Visiting Rockton’s not a problem for you, is it?”
How to answer her question? In the past several years, the only time he’d set foot in his hometown was to bail out his kid brother, Dylan, from his latest bad decision. He hadn’t been to his parents’ house since his father’s ultimatum—family or a career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, aka the enemy.
Since before he’d been born, his dad and uncle had hunted and fished federal lands, snubbing their noses at the government’s rules regarding public land use. The people’s land. Their disgust and hatred grew with every citation, every discovered infraction.
As a boy, he hadn’t understood any of their grumblings. All he’d cared about was spending time with hi
s dad. Mitch Conrad taught him and Dylan how to shoot a bow, spear a fish, and build a fire. His dad had dubbed him Davey Crockett when he’d killed his first—and only—bear at nine years old.
Although his chest had expanded to the size of a gorilla’s at his dad’s compliment, he hadn’t enjoyed the kill. The bear’s intelligent brown eyes and the wheez of his last breath still haunted his thoughts.
He had no problem fishing or hunting birds and deer. But bears, bobcats, foxes, and coyotes paced behind an invisible threshold he couldn’t cross.
As he grew older, his dad’s comments became fanatic and made him uncomfortable. He’d started spending more time with his friends and less with his dad. From one year to the next, his dad’s path was no longer his. When he’d announced his intention of accepting a position with the Service, he’d become the enemy in Mitch Conrad’s eye.
“Your family’s still being shitheads?”
“Still.” Deke slumped into his seat.
“Thank goodness your mom hasn’t adopted the all-or-nothing mentality.”
He crossed his arms.
“Her, too?”
“She stopped answering my calls and texts a few weeks ago.”
“Just like that? No more conversation?”
“Cold turkey.”
“I’m sorry, Deke.”
“My holidays are a lot less complicated these days. Sushi and a movie.”
“What’s the likelihood that you’ll see any Conrads while in Rockton?”
He turned toward the passing landscape, cataloging a decade’s worth of changes. Nick’s Pizzeria sat empty, except the weeds overtaking the building. The only gas station in town now housed a mini mart, and the trees outside City Hall appeared taller and thicker.
Would his family come into town this morning? Possibly. Would they stop by the Med Mobile? His family was by no means well off, but his dad had finally pulled his shit together and got himself a stable job as a heavy equipment operator, a position that included health insurance.
“Not likely.”
They rolled into a grocery-pharmacy parking lot and prepared for the boy and whoever else might stop by. He’d done his best not to think about Evie in his arms last night. Had even opted to ride with Lisa again in order to avoid her torturous scent. He’d gone rock hard with her pressed against him. Had he stayed another second, he would’ve given in to his primal need to kiss her, claim her, cherish her.
Grabbing his clipboards and other receptionist items, he fled the Med Mobile before Evie appeared, and began his own preparations.
He still couldn’t believe how much she’d matured and become this career-driven woman. Where had the playful girl who’d flitted from one sparkling object to the next gone? Her wit and compassion had always been present, but the Evie he remembered lived in the moment. No cares or concerns—except for those she loved.
Responsibility.
It was one of God’s greatest gifts and one of his most challenging tests. To be responsible for another’s welfare made a person dig into the very core of their character. Some found a vast wealth from which to draw and others sifted through pennies.
Evie had hit the jackpot.
The RV door opened, and Evie appeared. “We’re all set in here.” She glanced around, noting the lack of patients. “Odd. Even when we arrive unexpectedly, we always have a few people waiting. Did you say something to scare everyone off?”
“My fifty push-ups for admission campaign didn’t go over so well.”
She smiled, though it was not her normal bright Evie smile. “Try backing it down to twenty-five next time.”
“On the way into town, I noticed a sign advertising an arts and crafts fair today. It’s always a big draw.”
“Does it feel good to be home?”
She had no idea about his estrangement from his family, and he had no wish to rehash the topic. “There’s no other feeling quite like it.”
“Are you going to drop by and see your family before we head out?”
“Depends on how hard my supervisor works me today.”
Lisa appeared in the doorway. “Looks like our patient has arrived.”
Evie frowned. “I don’t see anyone.”
“They parked around back. Deke, would you mind checking on them?”
“Sure thing.”
Rounding the corner, he spotted a thirty-something woman helping a young boy out of a shiny new Chevy Malibu. Once on his feet, the boy seemed unable to stand fully erect, favoring his stomach. The boy tried to put on a brave face, but one eye cringed with each step. His mother kept peering around as if searching for someone.
Striding to their side, Deke introduced himself and handed the clipboard to the boy’s mother. “Fill this out, and I’ll get—”
She halted. “No one said anything about paperwork.”
“It’s just a few questions about your son’s health so the ladies can provide the best treatment.”
The woman hugged her son close.
“Is everything all right, ma’am?”
“No one can know we’re here.”
“We don’t discuss our patients—”
“No paper trail. If my husband found out…”
“You can trust us to be discreet. I give you my word.”
A moment later, she nodded. “Can we go inside?”
Deke ushered his charges into the Med Mobile. “I assured—” He glanced at the mother.
“Amy and Noah.”
“I assured Amy and Noah that we would protect their privacy.” He sent both ladies meaningful looks. “No paperwork.”
Evie was the first to pop into action. “Noah, I have a place for you right over here.”
“Amy, do you mind?” Lisa waved toward a sitting area. “I have a few questions before taking a look at Noah.”
Deke cracked open the RV’s door so he could see any newcomers. Then he braced his hip against a counter and observed.
From this vantage point, he could see Evie and Noah and could hear Lisa’s conversation with the mother. The boy’d been experiencing intermittent, sharp cramping pain in his abdomen and running a high temperature. This morning, blood appeared in his stool—the reason for her frantic phone call to Lisa.
Deke’s attention dropped to Noah’s hands. He was worrying something between his fingers, over and over and over. The boy barely spoke and didn’t make eye contact with Evie until she coaxed his chin up.
“What can you tell me about Noah’s father’s medical history?”
“Not much. His father passed away two years ago.” Her voice lowered. “I remarried this past spring.”
“Do you feel safe at home, Amy?” Lisa asked.
“W-what?”
“Safe. Do you feel safe at home? It’s a standard question we ask all our patients.”
“Is she asking Noah that question?”
“Yes.”
“This was a mistake.” She bolted from her seat. “I just wanted to get my boy some help, to make the pain stop. If you go nosing around into things that don’t concern you, you’ll stir up a whole lot of trouble.”
“What sort of trouble?”
“We’ve got to go.”
Lisa stepped in front of her. “No, wait. I’m sorry. I have enough information to examine your son.”
“You’ll take care of him?”
“I’ll do my best to figure out what’s wrong. Have a seat, and I’ll go take a look.”
Hands trembling, Amy sat on the edge of her chair, her hazel eyes following Lisa and Evie’s every move.
He pushed away from the counter, intent on having a few words with Amy. Lisa asked Noah to shift a few inches to his right. When he did, Deke caught a clear view of what he’d been fingering.
A large claw.
A bear claw.
10
“Next,” Evie said as she exited the tiny bathroom located just inside Lisa’s bedroom. She wore a pale V-neck tee and gray shorts. Though she was modestly covered, she felt stark
naked beneath the intensity of Deke’s scrutiny.
Burrowing beneath the covers, she stretched hard and let out a satisfied groan.
“That’s it for me.” Lisa put her laptop away. “See you in the morning.”
“Where’re we headed tomorrow?” Deke set down his phone—a first since they’d finished cleaning up. For well over an hour, he’d had an ongoing text conversation with someone.
“Didn’t you hear my announcement?”
He glanced between her and Lisa. “No.”
“Maybe you stepped away when she spoke to the crowd.” He’d done that often enough when there’d been a lull in new arrivals.
“Since we couldn’t get to all those who came today, I decided to stay in Rockton tomorrow.”
“All day?”
“Until we’re no longer needed.” Lisa frowned. “If my decision makes you uncomfortable, feel free to hang out in the staff RV or call a friend to rescue you.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll be fine.”
“I won’t hold it against you, if you’d rather bug out tomorrow.”
“I said I’ll be fine. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight, Lisa,” Evie said, interjecting a friendlier tone. “I hope your headache goes away soon.”
“After the meds I downed a while ago, I’ll soon be oblivious to everything. Even your snores.”
“Won’t be so funny when I post a picture of you with drool caked to your cheek.”
“Don’t make me lock my door. You’ll have to take your late night business out to the parking lot.”
“Evil woman.”
“Don’t you know it.” Lisa slid the bedroom door closed halfway—enough to give her some privacy and still leave room for Evie and Deke to enter the bathroom.
“What was all that about?” Evie asked in a low voice.
“I don’t like surprises.”
“She’s got a lot going on.” Like spending an inordinate amount of time on the computer again. “And obviously didn’t realize you weren’t present when she notified the patients.”
“Because I’m so hard to miss.”
His angry tone didn’t match the situation. “I’d think you’d like to have more time in Rockton. Why don’t you take the opportunity and go see your family?”
Roaming Wild (Steele Ridge Book 6) Page 6
