All day Monday, Caroline found herself thinking about her “date” with Mike that night. She knew it was a mistake, because she was way too fascinated by the man. And it was a fascination that would only lead to heartache. She already knew any relationship with Mike Davis—or any other man, for that matter—would die a premature death. She would never marry. To her it didn’t matter if a man said he didn’t want children. There’d come a time when he’d change his mind. And that was the time their marriage would end.
For that reason she’d stay single. She didn’t want her heart broken.
That thought made her stop and think. She’d believed her heart was broken when Don had married his pregnant nurse. So why had the thought been of the future?
Because you never really loved Don, an inner voice said. They’d gotten along, had understood each other’s hectic schedules. But that was all that was between them, she realized.
Now she wouldn’t have him even if he were served up on a gold platter. She knew his true worth now—zero. She felt ashamed of her relationship with him.
With a determined nod, she vowed in her heart she would have nothing to do with the male half of the world. And she’d explain that to Mike Davis tonight. That would circumvent her father’s tricks.
Once the sheriff understood, he’d leave her alone.
She picked him up at seven, having made their reservations for seven-thirty. She figured she could make her explanations during the half hour drive and be able to relax for the rest of the evening.
Ha!
It took five seconds to realize the man affected her senses. Like her father, he also wasn’t a man who could be ignored. She was getting tired of those comparisons.
“Evening, Caroline,” he said. Dressed in a navy blue suit, a crisp white shirt and a red-and-blue tie, he looked like a powerful CEO.
“I—I didn’t dress up.” She stumbled over the words, embarrassed.
To her surprise, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You look beautiful.”
She’d worn navy slacks topped by a winter-white sweater that hugged her hips.
“In fact,” Mike said, “I think we match.”
She couldn’t argue with him, but she didn’t want to agree, either. “Mike, we need to talk.”
That eyebrow slipped up. She forced her gaze away from his hazel eyes. He tucked his arm under hers and led them to her SUV. “I can drive if you want me to,” he offered.
“No, that’s all right. I invited you.”
He opened her door for her before he circled the vehicle to the passenger side. He waited until she had driven them out of Rawhide before he asked, “How’s Tracey?”
Her mind flew to her patient. That morning, Tracey’s parents had arrived from Denver. Beth and Jenny didn’t know their grandparents very well, but the girls had stayed out of school and gone with them to pack their belongings.
“Tracey is much better. I’m going to release her in the morning.”
“Good. Because the judge set the bail this morning and I imagine her husband will come up with the money by tomorrow.”
“You can’t hold him longer?”
“Not according to the law.”
“Isn’t there anything you can do?”
He grinned. “I’m afraid even sheriffs have to obey the law.”
She couldn’t hold back a smile in appreciation of his easygoing attitude, his good nature.
“How do you do it?” she asked.
“Do what?”
“Stay so relaxed.”
He gave her a serious look. “I learned a long time ago that the best I can do is control myself. Everyone else is in charge of their lives. I can only do so much. I’ve heard that’s a difficult concept for doctors.”
“Yes, it is,” she admitted. “After you save a life, you begin to think you have the power of life. But you do learn you have limitations after you lose a patient for no explicable reason.”
“That must be tough.”
The sympathy in his voice brought tears to her eyes. What was wrong with her? She’d given up crying after her two rotations in the ER. She cleared her throat. “Yes, it is. But I guess it keeps you humble.”
“A lawman deals with the same thing when he fails to resolve a situation except by using his weapon.”
She’d never thought of Mike’s job from that perspective. “Surely all lawmen don’t feel that way.”
“Maybe not. But I don’t think they’re doing a good job if that’s their only response.”
“How did you come to that conclusion?”
“Uncle Bill. He spent some time with me when I was a boy. He knew how easy it was to impress me with his gun. He made sure I understood how to handle it.”
“I didn’t realize you knew Sheriff Metzger that well.”
“After I grew up, we didn’t spend that much time together, but we talked frequently.”
“Have you talked to him since he went to Arizona?”
“Sure. He’s very protective of Rawhide and its people,” Mike said with a laugh.
“I’ve wondered if having to shoot Patience’s brother-in-law contributed to his decision to retire.”
Mike didn’t answer at once. Then he said, “Maybe. But the man gave him no choice. If he’d managed to get his gun again, he would’ve taken more shots at Patience and Jim. Bill had no other option.”
“I know. Dad told me. And we’re all grateful for Sheriff Metzger’s courage. That man was insane.”
“Yeah. The mind is a powerful thing.”
“Yes. At one time I thought I’d become a psychiatrist, but my interests changed.”
“Why?”
“For a couple of reasons. There would’ve been no place for me here in Rawhide, for one. My pediatric specialty allowed me to fit right in to Jon’s family practice clinic. And it turns out I like family practice.”
Before she could go on, he asked, “I thought you didn’t want to come back?”
She regretted becoming so involved in the conversation. Now what could she say? And what about explaining the situation to him? She’d thought that would be easy to do. Instead she hadn’t even broached the subject and they were already in Buffalo.
“Um, I thought…” She stopped, not sure what to say, then finally murmured, “I don’t know.”
She parked her SUV in the lot at the French restaurant. Judging from the cars, Le Mouton Bleu was the place to be. “The blue sheep?” she asked.
“That’s the place.”
“And ranchers eat here?”
“Your dad recommended it.”
Mike escorted her into the restaurant. A huge fireplace dominated the scene, burning brightly. Tables were spaced around it at discreet distances from each other, allowing privacy. All the tables were covered with blue linens. In the center of each table was a darker blue vase filled with pale blue columbines.
“How charming,” Caroline exclaimed.
“So I’ve been told.”
“By my father?”
“I do talk to other people, Caroline,” Mike said with a smile. “Ben Afton brought his wife here because he’d made her mad. He wanted to apologize. He said it worked like a charm.”
Caroline frowned. “I don’t need to apologize to you.”
“Is that the only reason someone would come here?”
“Good evening, monsieur et madame,” the maître d’ said, interrupting their discussion. “Your name?”
“Caroline Randall,” she said calmly.
“Ah, yes, Dr. Randall. Right this way, please.”
Mike grinned. “Another person you gave your title to.”
“No,” she whispered as she followed the man. “My nurse made the reservation for me.”
Once they were seated, a waiter immediately appeared at the table to point out the specials.
They both listened to him without comment. Caroline tried to keep a pleasant look on her face when the young man mispronounced his way through the menu. Mike told him they’d l
ike a few minutes to consider the choices.
Caroline dipped her chin behind the menu. “Thank you,” she whispered after the waiter had gone.
“No problem. You maintained a stiff upper lip during that massacre of the French language. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to last as long.”
“You speak French?” she asked, shock in her voice.
His eyes narrowed, and he leaned back in his chair. “Some. Enough to recognize a Frenchman would commit suicide after that recitation.”
“I didn’t mean to be insulting, Mike. But we’re a long way from Gay Paree. You surprised me.”
“I would think a doctor would know better than to take everything at face value,” he said softly. “You’d better make your decision, Caroline. Our waiter is approaching.”
She nodded and looked at her menu. When the young man stopped by her chair, she said, “I’ll have the roast beef and vegetables.”
“I’ll have the same,” Mike said smoothly, handing him his menu.
With a look of relief, the waiter hurried away.
“I wonder if he has to catch the snails if we order them,” Mike said in amusement, as if he didn’t think she’d insulted him. “The relief on his face that we ordered the roast beef indicated he’d just avoided something unpleasant.”
Caroline laughed. “So tell me, how do you know French?”
“I lived next to a Frenchwoman. She was having trouble making a living and I asked her to give me French lessons.”
“So that’s why you wanted to come here? Because you can speak French?”
“No. Any French restaurant that requires its patrons to speak French had better not be located in Wyoming.”
They smiled and nodded in unison. Mike really was a charming dinner companion. A charming man, she corrected herself. Every moment with him could be enjoyable. But—
“Mike, we need to talk,” she repeated abruptly. She decided if she didn’t speak now, he’d change the subject and she’d forget what had to be said.
“Over dinner?”
“No, now. I…it’s awkward, so I guess I’ll just blurt it out. My father is known for his matchmaking. He managed to get all three of his brothers married. As the Randall family has expanded, he’s taken credit for all the marriages. And you’re in his sights.”
Her dramatic finish didn’t affect Mike’s expression in the slightest. He took a sip of the iced tea he’d ordered. “I see.”
“No, I don’t think you do. That’s why you were invited to dinner yesterday, and it’s the reason I was seated beside you. I’m the one you’re supposed to marry.”
Again there was no response, except for a half smile crossing his lips. “Really?”
After a moment of staring at him, she said, “You figured it out, didn’t you?”
“Your father isn’t known for his subtlety.”
“Then why did you accept the invitation?”
“I heard Red’s cooking is something special. You won’t find many lawmen who turn down a free meal, much less one like Red cooked.” His smile widened.
“You’re playing a dangerous game, Mike Davis. My father may not be subtle, but he’s also not weak.”
“I know.”
“Then—”
“I’m counting on you being stronger than him.”
“I am. That is, I intend to be. I’m not going to marry, but—”
“Why?”
“I don’t have to give a reason!” she snapped.
“Okay.”
“Why aren’t you upset?”
“Caroline, we came for a nice meal because you felt bad about how you behaved when you first arrived. Let’s just enjoy the evening.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. He acted as if there was no problem. She started to warn him again, when he nodded toward a couple walking outside the restaurant.
“I know that guy but I can’t place the name. Eric…”
She followed Mike’s eyes and saw the man and woman through the window as they stepped into the pool of light from the streetlamp. “Yes, he’s Eric Williams. He works on my uncle Griff’s ranch.”
“Do you know the woman he’s with?”
“No, but I thought he was engaged to Holly Gambil. I guess they broke up,” Caroline said slowly, trying to remember if she’d heard anything about that relationship.
The nervous waiter brought their salads.
Just as Caroline was about to begin her meal, a blur of movement outside made her look up.
“There’s Holly now,” she said, indicating a woman who’d stepped out of the shadows against the building. Then Caroline rushed to get out the words. “Mike, she has a gun!”
Even as she spoke, Mike leaped from his chair and rushed outside to the young woman. But he was too late to save Eric Williams. Holly had fired the gun from point-blank range. But she wasn’t finished. She turned to his companion and raised the weapon to fire again. By that time Mike had reached her and knocked the gun from her hand. It went off, but instead of her heart, the bullet struck the young woman’s shoulder.
Caroline grabbed her keys and thrust them at a nearby waiter. “I’m a doctor. My bag is in the gray SUV parked in the first row. Unlock it and get my bag. Hurry.”
The shocked waiter ran out the back door, and Caroline went out to the woman on the ground. Blood flowed from the wound in her shoulder and she collapsed into unconsciousness.
“I’m a doctor,” Caroline announced again, and the few people who’d run out backed away. “Get me some clean napkins,” she ordered as she began staunching the blood.
In the meantime, Mike had disarmed Holly and used his cell phone to call the local police, along with an ambulance. Chaos began to dissipate as Caroline worked on her patient and Mike held the shooter still. Holly was sobbing and babbling, but her words made no sense.
When the police arrived, Mike turned her over with a brief description of what had happened. He handed the gun over, as well. “We think it’s a crime of passion. She was engaged to this man. Both of them are from Rawhide.”
“And the wounded one?”
“We don’t know her.”
He’d shown them his badge, and after the first policeman put Holly in handcuffs and led her away, the other one, obviously the senior of the two, asked, “You new to Rawhide? What happened to Bill Metzger?”
“He retired.”
“Oh. I hadn’t heard. Did he—”
“Excuse me,” Mike interrupted. “I want to check on the doc.” He stepped to Caroline’s side and squatted down. “You doing all right?”
“I’m all right. But I’m not so sure about her.” She looked at the two ambulance drivers.
“I’ll ride with you guys. Mike, can you follow with my car?”
“Sure, honey. Will you be all right?”
She looked surprised at his question. “Of course.”
“I assume Eric is dead?”
“Yes.”
Mike stood and then helped Caroline to her feet as the two men put the woman on the stretcher. Caroline immediately pressed the wound, stopping the flow, which had resumed. She walked alongside the stretcher.
Mike was about to follow when a waiter handed him a set of keys. “These are the lady doctor’s.”
“Oh, yes, thank you.”
Their own waiter was standing there, ringing his hands. “But what about your dinner? The roast beef is ready.”
Mike stared at him. “Tell you what. Put it in some to-go boxes and I’ll take it with me.”
Relieved, the waiter hurried away. The maître d’ told him to add two desserts. Then he announced to all the diners that everyone was entitled to free desserts. After all, they’d be detained there for a while so the cops could question any potential witnesses.
Mike reached for his wallet to pay for the dinner, but the maître d’ stopped him.
“Monsieur, you owe nothing. Thank you for ending the distress at once. You and your lady were very helpful. Your dinner is on the house.”
“That’s not necessary,” he protested.
“Please, monsieur. It is my pleasure. We hope you will try us again on a quieter night.”
Mike put away his money. To insist would hurt the man’s pride. “Thanks, we will.”
They shook hands just as the waiter came out with several large sacks. “Could you carry them to the car for me? I think my hands may be dirty.”
“Of course, sir.”
That way Mike could reward him out of sight of his boss.
When he reached the hospital, he found Caroline in the ER, talking to another doctor, Mike assumed, judging by the scrubs the man was wearing. A surge of jealousy struck him and he fought it down before he reached them.
“Oh, Mike, you’re here. This is Dr. George Kenny.”
Mike took his hand in a firm shake.
“Mike is the sheriff in Rawhide. He disarmed the shooter and prevented anyone else from being injured.”
“Good thing you were there, Sheriff. You and Caroline. She saved that young woman’s life.”
“Yes, she did. Is there anything else to be done, Doctor? Our night’s been rather eventful, and we’re both tired.”
“Of course. No, we have everything under control.”
After they shook hands again, Mike led Caroline out to the SUV. “Want me to drive?”
She’d been determined to be independent. But the night’s events seemed to make such rules silly. “That would be wonderful.”
He helped her in and then circled the truck to get behind the wheel. “Do you smell our dinner? It’s on the back seat.”
Caroline looked over her shoulder, surprised. “I smelled roast beef, but I thought I was imagining it.”
“I thought maybe we could eat once we finish up with the repercussions of tonight.”
“We have to tell Holly’s parents she’s been arrested?”
“I told the policeman we’d do that. It will come easier from us than it would from a stranger on the phone. And you said Eric worked for your uncle?”
“Yes. I’ll call him now before they go to bed.” She pulled out a cell phone as Mike drove, listening to her end of the conversation.
“Uncle Griff? It’s Caroline.” She gave him all the details of the night’s events. “No, I don’t know the woman’s name,” she replied to Griff’s question.
A Randall Returns Page 6
