“Caro, can I tell Tori? We don’t keep many secrets from each other.”
Caroline covered her face. She hadn’t wanted anyone to know, and now it appeared everyone would. Damn Mike! “Yes, of course.”
Once Jon had left, Caroline spent a few minutes with her head on her desk, her eyes closed. She needed to think. Living without Mike seemed like a great sacrifice. She felt alive when she was with him. She felt safe when he held her. She—damn it! It hit her like the proverbial ton of bricks. She was in love. As she’d never been in love before.
And she wasn’t sure Mike would even speak to her again.
She finally put her personal problems aside and got to the work that had carried her through everything. Her next patient was an elderly woman who complained that she couldn’t move as fast as she used to. Caroline assured her that was normal for her age.
The lady slapped her hands away as Caroline tried to listen to her heart. “What’s wrong with you, girl? I’m talking about being fast making Christmas presents. If I don’t finish them before the twenty-fifth, my grandchildren will be disappointed!”
Christmas? Between dealing with the move and with Mike, Caroline had forgotten all about it. She hadn’t bought one single Christmas present.
When the feisty old lady departed, Caroline called the ranch. Red answered the phone. “Hi, there, Caro. You coming out to see us?”
“I can’t right now, Red. I’m between patients. But I haven’t done anything for Christmas. I’ve got to talk to Mom and get busy.”
“Aw, Caroline, just having you home is a good enough present.”
“Thank you, Red. Tell Mom I’ll call her tonight,” she hastily said as her nurse signaled an emergency.
Caroline hurried around her desk and followed the nurse into an exam room. But she heard her patient before she got there. His screams of protest to his mother were deafening.
Gathering herself, Caroline entered the room, where the child’s cries topped the decibel charts.
A towheaded boy of about seven sat in the corner, knees up, arms stretched in front of him, palms out. A woman Caroline assumed was his mother squatted by him, no doubt trying to coax him out. She looked frantic, but it was obvious the boy wanted none of her cajoling.
“Get away from me!” he screamed at Caroline. “I wanna go home!”
She leaned a hip on the exam table, keeping her distance from the child, who was flushed—whether from crying or a fever, she didn’t know. In a soothing voice, she reassured him, “I’m not going to do anything to you that you don’t want.”
The child stopped screaming, and his mother turned to look at her. “I’m so sorry. Zach just hates coming to the doctor.”
“Hey, Zach,” Caroline called, “would you like to examine me for a change? I’ll even let you use my stethoscope.”
The boy gave her a skeptical look, taking his time as he clearly pondered the offer. “You’re not just trying to get me up there, are you?”
Caroline laughed. “No. I mean it.” She flashed him a bright smile and extended her hand. “Come on. You may never get such a good offer again.”
Zach looked at his mom, who nodded, then he got up and cautiously made his way to the table. He wiped his tears with the sleeve of his shirt and puffed up his chest. “Hop on up there, ma’am,” he said in his best doctorly voice.
Choking back a chuckle, Caroline did as she was instructed.
Zach grabbed a throat swab from a jar on the cabinet and leaned in close to her mouth. “Now open wide so I can stick this Popsicle stick down your throat.”
“No, Zach!” His mother screamed and lunged for him.
Caroline signaled for her to stay back. “You know, Zach, maybe I should show you how to do this properly. I know you don’t want to hurt me.” When he said okay, she had him open his mouth, and she gently, quickly wiped his throat with a sterile swab as she gave him verbal instructions. Then, though she questioned the wisdom in it, she let him do the same to her.
Surprisingly, the boy was just as gentle. He presented her with the stick. “You know, Doc,” he said with a grin, “I know why you did that. You just wanted to get into my throat. But that’s okay. It was worth it.” His grin turned into a full-blown smile.
Nonplussed, Caroline just looked at him, her mouth agape. Bested by a grade-schooler.
“I’m so sorry, Doctor,” the mother said, halfway between tears of embarrassment and of laughter. “Zach’s quite a handful. From the day he was born he’s been giving me and his daddy fits. There are days when I just can’t win with him, but then there are those times when he does something so sweet…well, then I know he loves us.” She cast a glance at him and smiled lovingly, her eyes glistening with tears. “His daddy and I wouldn’t trade him for the world.” She laughed. “Now I know what to get him for Christmas—”
“A doctor kit!” the two women said simultaneously. Caroline smiled and went outside to give the swab to the nurse.
Zach’s mom clearly had her hands full. But the boy was a charmer. Caroline thought about what the woman had said. Nobody could change what life had dealt them, could they? Even in frustrating or heartbreaking situations there was always that proverbial silver lining.
Even in my life? she thought. Where was her silver lining?
Minutes later she walked back in to the exam room and saw Zach on his mommy’s lap, his little arms wrapped around her, hugging her tightly. And Caroline had her answer.
She’d been so focused on her woes, her fears, her shortcomings that she’d almost lost track of what was important in life. The people who loved her.
Had she stayed in Chicago all those years because she didn’t have the courage to face them? This woman had no choice—she faced each day with her precocious son, never knowing how it was going to go, whether she’d pull her hair out in frustration or get one of these heart-squeezing hugs. But she woke up each day eager to see the outcome.
Caroline could have shaken herself for her weakness. She’d given up so much time with her family. She’d rejected an honest, good man who stirred her more than anyone she’d ever known. And she’d almost let the best holiday of the year pass by without a celebration. Not a celebration of material things, but a celebration of the richness of life.
This year she wanted a Christmas as raucous and joyful as the holiday would be at Zach’s house.
She gave Zach’s mom the good news of his negative strep test and wished them both a Merry Christmas. Then she invited Zach to come by the clinic anytime he wanted to lend his medical expertise.
“Dr. Randall, your mother is on the line.” The nurse intercepted her as she left the room, and Caroline rushed to the phone in her office.
“Caroline, it’s Mom. Red said you called. Is everything all right, dear?”
Was everything all right? It had never been better. “Yes, Mom. I just wanted to tell you that I’m glad to be home, so glad you didn’t give up on me. And I’m sorry I didn’t appreciate what you and Dad have given me.”
“Sweetheart, what brought this on?”
“Let’s just say a little boy helped me wise up.” Her mother didn’t even question the cryptic reply. “I need to do some quick Christmas shopping, Mom. I haven’t bought a single gift yet.”
“Well, we’ve taken to drawing names the past couple of years because there are so many of us. Everyone gets Red and Mildred something, of course. And immediate families exchange gifts.”
“I haven’t done any of that for four years. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be silly. I did it for you. Everything is just fine. Saturday, if you’re off, we can drive to Casper and do a lot of damage.”
“I’d love to, Mom.” She wrote it in her calendar. “And, Mom, you and Dad like Mike, don’t you?”
“Of course we do, darling. Why do you ask?”
“I’m attracted to him.” It amazed her how easily she admitted the feeling. “And he doesn’t seem to mind my… problem. I’d like to bring him to the ra
nch for Christmas—if he’ll come.”
“Of course. We were going to invite him, anyway.”
“Can you keep Dad from insisting he marry me at once? That may not be what comes of our getting together.”
“I’ll try, but you know your father.”
“Yes,” she said with a laugh. “And that’s what worries me.”
“Caroline?” her mother said before hanging up.
“Yes, Mom?”
“Welcome home.”
Patients needed to be seen, so her next call would have to wait. It wasn’t until hours later that Caroline had a spare moment. She dialed his cell phone, but only reached his voice mail.
Sadly, she hung up the phone. Had she missed her chance? Her memories of falling asleep in his embrace, giving herself to him, were brief. She was greedy. She wanted more. But she wasn’t going to feel sorry for herself. She had too much to do. Like shopping.
She put on her coat and headed for the general store. Nick’s and Gabe’s wives’ emporium would make for a good start on her Christmas shopping. Besides, she hadn’t seen Sarah and Jennifer Randall at all since she’d come home.
Caroline felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She had much to be grateful for. And now she was going shopping for her first Christmas in Rawhide in too many years.
“Caro?”
She found herself face-to-face with Tori. Jon’s wife hugged her and Caroline felt a special urgency in the woman’s embrace. “Uh-oh, Jon told you my problem, didn’t he?”
“I’m so sorry.”
Caroline smiled ruefully. “Don’t feel bad, Tori. I’ve finally stopped feeling sorry for myself. And I want you to know I’m happy about your pregnancy.” She lowered her gaze. “I’m just glad my family hasn’t given up on me.”
“What are you talking about? We would never do that!”
Caroline hugged her again. “I know. That’s what I’m thankful for.”
“I’m so glad you’re feeling better about everything.”
“Me, too. Someone told me I needed to get over it. And he was right. I’m off to do some Christmas shopping at the general store. Want to go?”
“Oh, I can’t. I have to get home to—I mean, I need to—”
“It’s okay, Tori. I know you have a baby. And I know you take good care of him.” She cleared her throat. “Thanks for the support.”
She walked briskly down Main Street, greeting residents as she went. Suddenly she was filled with the vibrancy of life.
In the store, she looked for gifts for her mother and father, Red and Mildred. The special people in her life. When she bumped into a tall, denim-clad cowboy, she was surprised to recognize Harry.
“Are you Christmas shopping, too?” she asked the deputy.
“Hi, Caroline,” he said with a smile, but his gaze continued moving over the store. “Uh, yeah.”
“Need any help? I’m an expert on what women like.”
His cheeks turned bright red. “Nah, I can—do you know that nurse? Susan?”
“Susan McAfee? Yes, I do. Pretty, isn’t she?” she teased.
“Yeah, I—I gotta go,” he suddenly said, his voice hardening. He moved swiftly toward the exit.
Caroline frowned, watching him as he stepped in front of a man hurrying to the front door. She wasn’t close enough to hear what Harry said, but she recognized his technique as he spun the man around and put him in cuffs. Mike Davis had clearly taught his deputy well.
Sudden movement behind her caught Caroline’s attention, and she swiveled around as Harry called to someone. Another young deputy in civilian clothes was struggling with a shopper. That deputy wasn’t as quick as Harry. The man got free and pulled a gun. Caroline immediately yelled, “Gun!” and ducked down between some shelves. Harry didn’t hide. He flew to his partner’s assistance, getting there just in time to draw fire away from the other deputy. Caroline grabbed a vase from the shelf and sneaked up behind the man as he pointed his weapon again. She cracked the vase over his head and he fell to the floor. The deputy cuffed him.
She saw the manager of the store at the front door, holding on to the other cuffed man, who was trying to get out the door. Caroline rushed to the phone, called the Sheriff’s Office for help, and Jon, too. Then she hurried to Harry’s side.
“Hold still, Harry. Let me take a look at you.”
“Caroline,” he whispered. “Mike’s going to be upset.”
“Mike will be proud of you, as I am.” She made a pad with a white towel she pulled off a shelf, and tried to slow the flow of blood.
Beside her the other deputy demanded to know if Harry would be all right. Then he kept muttering, “Sheriff is gonna kill me!”
The front door of the store burst open and Mike Davis quickly took in the situation. He was by Caroline’s side in an instant. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine. But we need to get Harry to the hospital and I don’t have my vehicle here.”
“Right. Hang in there, Harry,” Mike said, reaching out and touching his shoulder. Then he left them again. In seconds he returned with a man he’d drafted to help carry Harry to his truck, which was waiting in the middle of Main Street, its motor running. Caroline followed.
Once they got Harry to the clinic, meeting Jon at the door, she scrubbed up while the nurses got Harry ready. Susan, the nurse Harry had mentioned, was on duty.
Caroline stopped by the young nurse. “Do you know Harry?”
“I met him a couple of weeks ago,” she said from behind her mask.
“Do you need to be excused from the surgery?” Caroline asked gently.
“No! I want to help him.”
Caroline nodded. She understood Susan’s feelings. But it pleased her that the nurse showed some interest in Harry. Caroline was all for happy endings.
The operation took more than an hour, but when it was over, Caroline and Jon nodded at each other in relief. The bullet was out and Harry would be fine. The nurses took him to recovery and the two doctors stripped off their gloves and removed their masks.
“I’m glad you’re here, Caroline. Together, we can provide excellent care for the people of Rawhide.” Jon stretched his arms over his head. “Can’t say the same for my back, though.”
“Maybe we need to raise the table.”
“That’s a thought. We could get a table that we can raise or lower, like those chairs at the beauty salons.” Jon frowned. “Why hadn’t I thought of that?”
“I think it’s because we accept what we’re told.” Hadn’t she? In her own life she’d bought into everything Don had told her—with his cutting words and his betraying actions. That she was damaged goods. That no man would ever want her.
“Jon, I hope Tori told you I’m okay. I’ve counted my blessings.”
“Good for you.” He reached out and hugged her. “You know, I think Tori and I might give that special table to the clinic for Christmas. I’m going to look into that right away.”
Caroline smiled. Then she stepped through the door to the waiting room. Immediately Mike, staring out a window, spun around and headed toward her. “How’s Harry?”
“He’s going to be fine. He’ll have to stay here for a few days. Hopefully his boss will counsel him to follow his doctor’s orders.” She smiled, wishing she could touch Mike.
“Right,” he said, but Caroline could see his mind was somewhere else. “Caroline, can you tell me what happened? The other deputy is babbling and I can’t get the facts.”
“Certainly,” she said. “Shall we sit down?”
Mike frowned. “Okay. I assume I can’t see Harry yet?” When Caroline shook her head, Mike took a seat on the sofa next to her.
“Don’t worry. The nurses will let us know when he awakens.” Caroline figured the best way to ease his concern was to give him the information he wanted. “I was in the general store doing some Christmas shopping. I saw Harry and was talking to him when he abruptly walked away.”
Mike’s gaze sharpene
d and he leaned closer. “And?”
“He went to the front door and intercepted a man hurriedly trying to leave. The man objected, but Harry deftly put him in cuffs. A move I’ve personally seen you make.” She smiled and waited for a response, but he was focused on her story.
“The other deputy wasn’t as…I mean, he had trouble with the second thief. At least I assume that’s what he was. Harry realized his partner was in trouble and started toward them, pushing to the floor the man he’d cuffed.”
“Harry wasn’t shot at that point?”
“No. Harry did very well, Mike. You should be proud of him.”
Mike nodded.
“I saw the second man pull a gun and I yelled ‘Gun!’ so Harry would be warned. The man was going to shoot the other deputy at point-blank range but Harry’s rapid approach distracted him and he shot Harry instead.”
“Steve—the other deputy—didn’t get him cuffed?”
“Not until after I hit him on the head with a vase.”
“I’m sorry you were involved. My men should have—”
“Don’t be too hard on Steve. He knows Harry took the bullet for him.”
“I won’t be hard on him. But either he’ll learn the job or he’ll be looking for another one. I won’t risk my men with someone who doesn’t get it.” Mike sat there for a minute, then he said, “Damn! I should’ve gone with Harry, but they might’ve recognized me!”
He stood and headed for the door.
“Mike?” she called, bringing him to a halt.
“Yes?”
“I’m glad Harry is safe.”
He stared at her, and Caroline wanted to say so much more. But now wasn’t the time.
“If Harry wakes up before I get back, tell him I’ll be here as soon as I can.”
MIKE WENT BACK to the Sheriff’s Office, where most of his men were waiting for word on the fallen deputy. Everyone loved Harry, his enthusiasm and his sense of humor.
As soon as Mike entered the office, the men moved forward as one, asking questions.
He help up his hands. “The docs got the bullet out and say he’ll be fine. He needs to stay in the hospital a few days, so we’ll have to double up until he can come back to work. He…” Mike swallowed and cleared his throat. “He did exactly as he should’ve and did what he could for his partner.”
A Randall Returns Page 11
