B.J. sat there, surprise on her face.
“Sorry to drive your daughter away, Mrs. Randall.” Mike spoke sincerely, but his lips were curved in a rueful smile.
“Make it B.J., Mike. There are too many Mrs. Randalls in Rawhide. And I’m sure you didn’t drive Caroline away. She’s just determined to do her job well.”
“I’m sure she will.”
When the waitress brought the bill, Mike took it, insisting on paying for Harry’s and B.J.’s breakfasts. Then he headed to the clinic, ready to get closer to Caroline Randall again.
CAROLINE ENTERED an examination room and extended a hand to greet an old high school friend. “Tracey, I’m so glad to see you. How are you?”
“Fine, Caroline. We’re glad you’re back in town. Jon was overrun with patients.”
“He must’ve been because we’re both working hard.” Then Caroline bent down to greet the two children accompanying her friend. “Hello. Who is Beth and who is Jenny?”
The girls, eight and five, shyly identified themselves. Caroline noticed the younger one, Jenny, was flushed, and she rang for a nurse. “Let’s check the temps,” she suggested, still smiling. Then she turned to Tracey. “What symptoms have they been showing?”
“Colds, I thought, but they keep hanging on. It’s right before Christmas vacation, so I’ve sent them to school. But we’re supposed to go to Denver for Christmas with my parents, and I don’t want to give anything to Mom and Dad.”
“You haven’t had any of the symptoms?”
She didn’t know if Tracey’s look of sheer exhaustion was from an illness or from being run ragged taking care of two young kids.
Her friend dropped her gaze. “Well, I’ve gotten tired lately, but it’s because I’m trying to get ready for Christmas, I think.”
“Why don’t we give you a little checkup, too? Take both girls into the bathroom and all three of you give us a sample.”
After ten minutes, Caroline diagnosed the girls with infected throats and fever. She prescribed antibiotics for both of them, bed rest and a lot of fluids. Then she turned to her friend. “Tracey, you’re run-down. Maybe you should take some iron pills.”
Before she could reply, the nurse came in and handed Caroline a note. After glancing at it, Caroline asked the nurse to take the girls to pick out the color of lollipop they wanted for being so good.
As soon as the little girls left, she asked her friend to sit down. “I have some news for you, Tracey.”
“The girls? It’s worse than you thought?” she asked anxiously.
“No. It’s about you. And I hope it’s good news. You’re pregnant.”
Tracey paled and Caroline reached for her, afraid she might pass out.
“No!” Tracey cried.
Caroline backed her into a chair before she answered, “I gather it’s not good news?”
“No! I mean—I’ve made plans. Next fall, when both girls are in school all day, I was going to get a job, try to get rid of some of the debt. Maybe…maybe get a divorce.”
Caroline gave herself a moment before she responded. “Why? Tracey, what’s wrong?”
Her friend looked away. “M-my husband gets violent when he’s been drinking.”
“He hits you?”
Tracey nodded.
“I don’t see any bruises.”
“I’ve been locking the three of us in the girls’ room. He’s given up trying to get in, and sleeps it off. In the morning he’s sorry.” She looked at Caroline. “But it’s usually only on Friday nights.”
Caroline kept any censure from her voice. “Have you tried to get him help?”
Tracey shook her head. “It would embarrass him.”
“I see. Well, I’d like to examine you today.”
Tracey nodded and stood up compliantly. “I’m still taking birth control pills. Will that hurt the baby?”
“I hope not. We’ll watch it closely. And of course, you need to stop taking them at once.”
After the examination, Caroline said, “Everything appears normal. I think you’re about two months along.” Smiling, she told her friend goodbye, wishing she could wave a magic wand to make the new baby a happy event. But she couldn’t.
Her mind was still on Tracey when she found the sheriff in the next room. She barely greeted him. Telling him to lie down, she rang for a nurse. “Please open the sheriff’s shirt so I can look at the wound.” After examining it, Caroline spread a topical antibiotic cream on the cut and then bandaged it. “Please leave this bandage on and don’t get the area wet for a week.”
Then she sent the nurse away. “Sheriff, do we have many cases of wife beating?” she asked abruptly.
Frowning as he sat up and buttoned his shirt, Mike said, “Not since I’ve been here. Do you know of any, or have suspicions?”
She looked away and shook her head.
“Caroline? Are you sure?”
“I—I’m not certain.”
“Let me know if you do. I’ll try to improve the situation.”
She nodded. From the tension in her body and the look on her face, she knew he could tell she was still worried. But she couldn’t help it. She feared for her friend and the two little girls.
Mike stood and tucked in his shirt. Then he reached out and cupped her chin. “You can’t change the world, Doc. Just do what you can.”
Much to her surprise, she found his touch a comfort. She nodded, grateful for his reassurances and his advice. Then Mike left the room, leaving her alone with her thoughts and fears.
They were her constant companions all day. No matter what patient she saw, Tracey remained on her mind.
Her fears turned prophetic at nine that night when her home phone rang.
“Doctor, we have an emergency with a patient you saw today. Tracey Long.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Caroline grabbed her coat and flew out the door. Usually the walk took her a couple of minutes. Now she reached the clinic door in about thirty seconds. She could already guess what had happened. She found Tracey cleaned and prepped for examination, but Caroline winced at the angry bruises on her friend’s slim body.
“Tracey, did your husband do this?”
The woman nodded.
“Where are the girls? Are they okay?”
“They’re sleeping. He…didn’t touch them. But, Caroline, I—I think I lost the baby.” She ended with a sob.
Reassuring her friend, Caroline started her examination, but told the nurse to summon the sheriff at once. Wide-eyed, Alice hurried from the room.
After the examination, Caroline determined that the baby was indeed lost. In addition Tracey’s arm was broken, and she had several painful bruises and cuts. Caroline had the nurse give Tracey a sedative that would put her to sleep right away.
“Transfer her to a long-term care room,” Caroline told Alice. “She’ll be staying for several days, at least. Is the sheriff here yet?”
“Yes,” Alice assured her. “He’s in the waiting room.”
Caroline nodded and pulled off her gloves. She went out to the waiting room.
Mike stood as soon as she entered. “You okay?” he asked quickly.
“Me?” She looked down at the blood on her clothes. “Oh, yes. But I need you to arrest Jerry Long for murder.”
“Murder?” Instantly Mike’s face tightened and his back straightened. He went into sheriff mode. “Who’s the victim?”
“It’s an unborn infant. He beat his wife and caused a miscarriage.”
Without saying anything, Mike turned to go.
“Wait. I’m coming with you.”
“Why?”
“Because they have two little girls. I have to make sure they’re all right.”
“Okay. Get changed.”
She hurried into her office and changed into a pair of clean scrubs, then grabbed her coat.
Mike was hanging up the phone when she returned. Without a word, he led the way outside to his SUV. “One of my deputies will m
eet us there.”
On the short drive, he asked, “This is the woman that made you ask a question about wife-beaters, isn’t it?”
Caroline nodded, fighting to hold back tears.
Outside the Long house the deputy was waiting in his car. He got out when he saw the sheriff do so, and Caroline joined them. Mike knocked on the door after telling her to hang back until they’d determined what was going on. “Sheriff! Open up!” he yelled.
At first, there was no response. Then they heard movement. Finally the door swung open and Tracey’s husband, obviously drunk, glared at them. “What’s a’ matter?”
“Jerry Long, you’re under arrest for assaulting your wife and causing the death of your unborn child.” Mike didn’t wait for his response. He whirled him around and had him cuffed before Jerry could rise out of his drunken stupor.
As soon as the cuffs were on, Caroline pushed past the men and hurried into the house. She found both children asleep in their beds, unharmed and unaware of what had happened.
She woke them up gently, telling them that their mommy was sick and in the hospital, and they were going to spend the night at Caroline’s house. She told them to put on their coats over their nightgowns, and gathered up clothes for the morning.
Mike appeared at the bedroom door. “I’ve sent—the deputy is taking care of the other issue,” he said cryptically so as not to alert the children. “Where are you taking them?”
“To my house. I have a guest room.”
“Okay. I’ll drive you three there.” He knelt and tied Jenny’s tennis shoes for her. “Hi, I’m Mike. What’s your name?”
“Jenny,” the child said, shying away from him.
“Mike is the sheriff,” Caroline said. “He keeps us safe.”
Mike introduced himself to Beth. Then he offered to carry them to his car. Much to Caroline’s surprise, both girls allowed him to lift them in his arms.
“I can carry one of them,” she said.
“Your job is to open doors for us, right, girls?” he said with a smile.
Beth agreed, while Jenny giggled and clung to his neck. Caroline nodded and proceeded to do her duty.
When they reached her house, Mike carried the girls again, following Caroline inside.
“I’ll make some cocoa for all of us, so the girls can get back to sleep,” Caroline said.
She got busy in the kitchen while Mike took the children into the living room. While they drank their cocoa, Mike told them stories about a dog named Chipper. Both girls suddenly wanted a dog.
Then he carried them to the big bed in Caroline’s guest room, where Caroline tucked them in and kissed them good night.
They stepped out of the room and Caroline gestured to the living area. After they sat down, she said, “You were very good with the children. Thank you.”
“No problem.”
“Can we make the charges stick?” she asked, cutting to her main concern.
“Depends. I’ll call Nick Randall in the morning. Once Jerry sobers up and makes bail, I don’t know about keeping him behind bars.”
“This isn’t the first time he’s hit her. But she said it’s usually only on Friday night. I guess she told him about the baby, and that might have set him off. But when did he have time to get drunk?”
“I’ll investigate tomorrow,” Mike promised.
“I wish I’d told you earlier today.”
“I understand that you couldn’t betray a patient’s trust.”
“But the baby—” She broke off, realizing she was losing control.
Mike left his seat and stepped forward, bending down to wrap his arms around her. “I know, honey, but you did what you could.”
“It wasn’t enough!” she complained as tears flowed from her eyes.
“It never is,” he said sadly. “But we can’t control the world. We just have to do what we can to pick up the pieces.”
He rocked her against him, dropping several kisses on her brow. She looked up and his lips covered hers, as they had last night, but this time, in her weakened emotional state, her response was more intense. As if of their own accord her arms wrapped around his neck, and she pressed her breasts against him.
Mike deepened the kiss. His embrace made her feel weak and protected, almost loved. Of course, it was an illusion, she reminded herself, even as she welcomed their closeness. Tonight had shaken her badly. When she wanted a baby more than anything, to see one thrown away, as Jerry Long had done, was tragic. She sought solace in his kiss.
She found so much more.
Mike’s lips left hers and trailed a hot path across her jaw and down her neck to the pulse point that pounded due to her suddenly rapid heartbeat. He feasted on her sensitive flesh, and she felt herself come alive. All over, her body seemed to sing out for his touch, for his wet kisses.
Mike took her lips again, hard and demanding. His tongue plundered her mouth, urging a response. And Caroline answered him.
Then, without warning, he pulled away. “Caroline, we can’t do this.”
She felt bereft, and longed to draw him close again. “Mike,” she said on a ragged breath, “what’s wrong?”
For a few seconds he said nothing, then finally murmured, “I can’t keep kissing you. It’s not enough for me.” His hazel eyes met her blue ones. “And I can’t lose control. Not with you. I know you don’t want more than this.”
Even as she shook her head, her heart was screaming, Yes! She wanted more than this, all right. She wanted all of Mike Davis. But she couldn’t tell him. Instead, she dropped her arms at her sides and said, “I’m sorry, Mike. It’s just that I was so upset…”
He seemed to gather himself right before her eyes. “Well, then,” he said after he cleared his throat and put on his hat, “I’ll go back to the office and make sure everything’s set there. You’ll be all right with the girls?”
“Yes. I’ll be fine. They’ll sleep until morning, I’m sure. And I don’t work tomorrow. Jon is on call.”
“Good. I’ll check with you in the morning.”
She followed him to the door—to lock it, of course, after his departure, she told herself. But when he bent his head and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, she didn’t back away. Then he straightened and said, “Lock up.” Touching her cheek, he strode out the door and stood there looking at her.
It took her a minute to realize he was waiting for her to follow his order. She tried to give a brisk nod, but she wasn’t sure she could pull it off. Instead she shut the door, turned the lock. He softly called good-night through the door and she heard his footsteps fading away.
She was alone.
CHAPTER FOUR
Mike’s first thought the next morning was of Caroline…and the girls. He was the only one on duty, so the other men could attend church. When one of them came in at noon, he’d be free to check on his favorite doctor.
He shook his head at the thought. He couldn’t go to her. Not with his intentions. Caroline Randall was out of his league and he’d best remember it. Not only was she a doctor, but she was also one of the wealthy Randalls. While Rawhide paid a good sheriff’s salary, he supposed because so many wealthy ranchers contributed to it, it would never match Caroline’s resources.
He’d sat up all night, thinking of her, reliving their kiss, planning the next time they could be alone together. Around dawn, he’d come to his senses.
He was successful, all right, and proud of what he’d made of himself, of his life. As proud of what he’d become as what he’d overcome. Raised by a single mother after his father died when he was a young boy, he’d worked hard for whatever he’d gained. Thank God for Uncle Bill, he thought. The man had helped out whenever he could. But it had been the promise of a secure job and a steady paycheck—not to mention the self-esteem—that had lured Mike to the army a couple of years after high school. After having been an M.P., he’d considered the jump to the police force a natural one after the military.
Throughout his life, no one had
ever handed anything to Mike Davis. Not even his job. He’d worked to distinguish himself in the Chicago PD, to build an untarnished record of service that made him a viable choice to succeed Bill as sheriff of Rawhide.
It was that same tenaciousness and righteousness that forced him to see how wrong he was for Caroline Randall. How they could never have anything but a secret dalliance. And wasn’t it she who’d said nothing was ever secret in this town?
No, he’d just have to stay away from her—socially, anyway.
He’d check on her and the children because he’d said he would. But that was it. Doing his duty. That was all he’d do.
The phone rang. “Sheriff’s Office,” he said briskly, trying to erase his thoughts about Caroline.
“Mike? Is that you?”
Mike recognized the voice. “Yes, Mr. Randall. How may I help you?”
“You the only one on duty?”
“Yes, sir. I can call in some men if I need to.”
“No, not necessary. Are you being relieved at noon?”
Mike was becoming a little irritated because Jake Randall hadn’t yet told him what was wrong. “Yes, Mr. Randall. But if you’ll tell me the problem—”
“Sorry, son, I didn’t mean to mislead you. There’s no problem. We just wanted to ask you to join us for Sunday dinner about one o’clock.”
Mike was pleased to be welcomed so warmly into the community, but Caroline wouldn’t be happy about this invitation. “Uh, Mr. Randall, that’s very nice of you, but I don’t want to put anyone to any trouble.”
“No trouble, boy. But you can do me a favor. I was going to go by and pick up Caroline. Could you bring her for me? She’ll show you where to go.”
“Of course I will, if that’s what she wants. But she has two children with her. Will it be okay if they come?”
“Children? Whose children?”
“One of her patients. Tracey Long. I believe she and Caroline went to high school together.”
“I’ll call Caro. But if you don’t hear from me, pick up her and the kids at twelve-thirty, and we’ll all dine together.”
A Randall Returns Page 4
