by Mary Leo
Maggie yanked hard on the wooden bear, the door swung open, and the kids looked over at her.
She took another deep breath, straightened up and moved forward. Doc Blake would not have the last word on this one.
* * *
BLAKE HADN’T HAD time to think much about what Maggie would do concerning the job once he was in his office. He was all work from the moment he slipped on his cowboy-style fringed jacket until his last patient was seen to. Today, that patient was little Tanner Wilson, who needed fillings in both back molars so he could keep those teeth until his permanent molars came in. Tanner was his most stubborn patient, much worse than Cori’s kids. Blake liked to book him at the end of the day precisely because Tanner required the most coaxing to sit in the chair, even after his mother had given him the mild sedative Blake prescribed.
Plus, Tanner was by nature a loud, disruptive child who prompted other, calmer children, to act out—especially Scout, who usually ended up crying because Tanner had bullied her. Even Tanner’s parents were sometimes helpless when it came to controlling him. Like the song said, Tanner was “bad to the bone,” or at least he seemed like it whenever Blake came in contact with him.
Blake stood and stretched, said a quick prayer and went to the waiting room to corral Tanner himself. His assistant, Liza, usually didn’t enter the room until Tanner was sedated and lying prone in the chair. She’d already had one too many run-ins with the boy.
When he got to the waiting room, he stopped on a vision he never would have expected. If he’d been a betting man, he would have wagered the ranch that Maggie Daniels would be hiding under the desk by now, with Tanner hanging from the light fixtures.
Instead, Maggie sat cross-legged in the middle of the floor, with Scout sitting on her lap and Tanner sitting next to them, his head leaning on Maggie’s shoulder. They looked as cozy as three frogs under a cabbage leaf.
Tanner’s nervous-Nelly parents were nowhere to be seen, which probably added to Tanner’s peaceful state.
Blake could barely make out the mechanical storytelling voice coming from Maggie’s iPad. All three of them were staring intently at the small screen, with the kids taking turns swiping a finger across the device to turn the page.
“What the heck?” Liza said in a low voice as she came up alongside him and saw the miracle in the waiting room. “How is that even possible?”
“Beats me, but I think I need to get to know that woman much better. She keeps surprising me.”
Liza stared at Blake. “I do believe you’re blushing, Doctor Granger.”
“Men don’t blush.”
“Where’d you hear that?”
“Dodge.”
“Ever see Dodge when he’s around my gram? He’s a regular beet. You got the same skin tone. Must be love, or something like it. Either way, you boys need to strike while the fire’s hot or you’re both gonna be left out on the range with no cattle.”
“Liza, you always did have a way with words.”
“It’s a gift,” she said. “Now get that child in here while he’s stupefied so we can fill those molars of his. I got me a date tonight that requires a lot of primpin’. A girl’s gotta look good on a first date or there won’t be a second. Not the way the numbers run in this town. We got a genuine lack of good-lookin’ eligible men. And most of them aren’t wantin’ to get married anytime soon. So I’ve got to get my hot-mamma on or this boy’s gonna join the bachelor club for sure.”
“Who’s the lucky buck?”
She gave him a look. “I don’t share that kind of personal information with my employer. At least, not yet.”
And she walked off.
Liza just proved that he knew little about how a woman’s mind worked. Women, in general, surprised him, especially Maggie Daniels, who one minute was ready to toss her cookies at the idea of wrangling kids, and the next seemed to be the perfect Mary Poppins.
Blake knew when it came to women he was about as in tune as a tone-deaf preacher.
But he had no time to think about that at the moment. Liza was right. He had to get Tanner in the chair before his medication wore off, if he was on medication. There’d been two failed attempts thus far. But Blake was hopeful this time. He’d never seen Tanner so calm unless he’d been drugged.
Blake walked up to the threesome and quickly squatted next to Tanner. “Hey, buckaroo, let’s you and me have a talk in my office.”
Tanner didn’t look at him. “Not now. Maybe when this story’s over.”
Maggie threw Blake a helpless expression then said to Tanner, “Tanner, Doc Blake’s on a schedule and he has to stick to that schedule or his other patients will get mad.”
Tanner glanced around the empty room. “There are no other patients. I’m the last one. I’m always the last one.”
“That’s true, buddy,” Blake said, “so let’s get this thing over with, okay? I need to do a little something to your teeth then we can all go home. You can finish the story when we’re through.”
Tanner shrugged. “I don’t want to. I want to finish it now.”
“But it’s a long story, Tanner, and we just started,” Maggie said. “Let’s do what the doctor wants. Okay?”
And she hit the power button on her iPad and the screen went black.
Not a good move.
Blake held his breath.
Liza gasped.
Scout murmured, “Uh-oh.”
Maggie looked at Blake.
The room was still quiet, and he hoped this might go down easy.
Then it happened.
Tanner screamed as if someone were torturing him, threw himself down onto his stomach, arms and legs waving and pounding the floor. “I won’t. I won’t. I won’t. I want my story. I want my story. I hate everybody.”
The door flew open and his mother came running in, yelling, “What are you doing to my son? My poor baby.” And she knelt down next to him and began coddling the boy.
Blake fell backward, landing on his butt.
Liza disappeared into one of the patient rooms. Scout jumped off Maggie’s lap and moved away from the madness. Maggie stood, seeking the safety of her reception desk.
“I won’t! I won’t! I want the story! The story!” No matter what his mother tried, Tanner was not about to give up his quest.
Blake scooted away and went to stand next to Maggie, who watched from behind her desk. “This is my fault, isn’t it?”
“Not entirely. Likely, his mother once again wasn’t able to give him the sedative I prescribed.”
Tanner continued to scream. His mother continued to coddle him to no avail.
“Has she ever?”
“Once, but she didn’t like the effects.”
“What? That he was calm?”
“She likes a spirited child.”
A large rubber duck came sailing past Maggie’s head and landed on the copier with a loud thunk.
“This can’t go on. Do something,” Maggie demanded.
“Nothing to do but for everyone to try it again another time.”
“And in the meantime, that boy’s teeth are rotting and he’s getting away with being a bully. I thought you were good with kids.”
“I usually am, but Tanner is beyond me.”
“And you made fun of my backbone. Huh!”
To Blake’s surprise, Maggie strode toward the waiting room, ducked a flying Mr. Potato Head, and announced, “Tanner, if you don’t stop screaming this mi
nute, you won’t ever get to know what happened to the knight in King Arthur’s Court. I’m going to count to three, and I better hear silence or I’m packing up my iPad and going home. One…two…”
And just like that, Tanner stopped wailing, sniffled, and wiped his hands over his eyes to knock away the tears. He sat up and looked at Maggie.
“…three.”
Tanner took in a few ragged breaths.
“My poor baby,” his mother cooed.
“Tanner’s a knight in training,” Scout said. “Not a baby.”
“Scout,” Blake said, trying to stifle his outspoken daughter.
“She’s right,” Maggie said. “And as such, he’s strong and tough, and can withstand anything, even whatever happens in a dentist chair, right, Sir Tanner?”
No one moved for a few seconds. Tanner sniffled, took a deep breath and let it out. Then he slowly raised himself up, looked at Maggie, wiped his eyes one more time, and proclaimed, “I am Sir Tanner of King Arthur’s Court, and the strongest knight of them all!”
He charged across the waiting room, ran around the corner to the open room where everyone could still see him and jumped up into the saddle-brown dental chair as though ready to take on whatever came his way. Liza slipped into the room after him and Scout gave Maggie a thumbs-up, while Tanner’s mother sat cross-legged on the floor, looking completely stunned.
Maggie turned to Blake. “So, who has the backbone now?”
He grinned, put his arm around her waist, picked her up and twirled her around. When he finally put her down, he said, “Definitely Tanner, and you, my sweet lady, have true grit.”
Then he kissed her. A short little kiss of gratitude, but when he pulled away, he could see she was ready for more, much more.
He wanted to kiss her again, but this wasn’t the time or the place. He promised himself he would find both very soon, too, but right now there was a brave knight waiting for his attention.
* * *
FOR THE REMAINDER of the week, Maggie familiarized herself with the phone system, the appointment calendar and insurance practices. Kitty was a big help when it came to learning everything. She might have been on strict bed rest, but her phone still worked, and Maggie kept her plugged into her ear at least four hours out of her eight-hour day.
The following week, Maggie became more efficient at interacting with the patients, thanks in part to Scout and her insightful suggestions. Also, Maggie took the time to learn some of the dental procedures that Doc Blake performed on a routine basis, and was pleased to learn that he only used laser technology on the kids to do a filling, therefore she didn’t have to endure the sound of drills driving her up the wall.
It was all coming together, except for one little thing: that kiss.
Blake hadn’t mentioned it, nor had he tried to kiss her again. It seemed completely odd considering how he’d looked when they had pulled apart. As if he’d wanted to kiss her again.
A wave of emotions had swept through her once their lips had touched and she wasn’t quite sure how to handle it, but as soon as her feelings had crested, the kiss was over. And now it seemed as though the kiss had never happened.
Was the kiss some sort of local custom she wasn’t aware of? Because if it was, she wanted no part of it. Way too much of an adrenaline rush with no payoff.
Not that she was even sure she wanted anything more to come from that kiss, but still…
“If I don’t have any more patients, let’s close up at noon today,” Blake said. Maggie was seated behind her desk, reviewing insurance information. It was Thursday morning and Maggie was wading through all the insurance claims before the weekend. She didn’t want to leave anything hanging.
He was acting all professional, at least as professional as any doctor could, all cowboy’d up in a fringed jacket, jeans, black shirt and his favorite scuffed boots. “I’ve got one heck of a lot to do tonight, and I’d like to get started doing it.”
Maggie rolled her chair back and stood. “Strangely enough, you don’t have any patients until Monday morning.”
“Spud Week. The fair opens tonight. Even the schools are closed. Love to have you on my team tomorrow for the Spud Tug. You win a shiny Spudphy if we win.”
Maggie had no idea what the man was talking about. “Let’s start at the beginning. What’s Spud Week?”
Doc grinned. “If you’re gonna spend any time in Idaho, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the almighty spud. Come on over to the fairgrounds later this afternoon and I’ll give you a quick course.”
“The fairgrounds?”
“Just follow the line of traffic. You can’t miss it.”
“Not tonight. Kitty’s been home for an entire week now, and I have yet to spend any time with her. There’s been a nonstop line of friends and family at the front door ever since she left the hospital. We promised each other tonight it’d just be us.”
“Sure, but what about Esther? She can be mighty intrusive when she’s responsible for someone.”
“We’ve come to an understanding of sorts. Besides, anyone who can transform her entire life to make sure my sister’s needs are met is next to sainthood in my book.”
“If it gets too much for you we’ve got a spare bedroom here.”
No matter what, Maggie wanted no part of living under the same roof as Doc Blake, even if she had to sleep outside on the swing at Kitty’s. It was bad enough that she had to work with him every day, post-kiss. Living in the same house would clearly be a threat to her self-control.
“I put a futon down on the floor in the nursery. I’m pretty comfortable, at least until the babies arrive, but thanks.”
Doc stared at her for a second, as if he was about to say something, but then he hesitated. His eyes sparkled and a slight grin warmed his lips…his soft, extremely kissable lips.
“Well, the offer stands,” he said, gazing into her eyes as if he truly wanted her to take him up on it.
She knew she couldn’t.
Still, the offer was tempting, enough so that if he said one more word…
He abruptly turned and headed for the door, leaving Maggie wondering if there had been a hidden agenda, or if the offer of a room was simply a country courtesy. Either way, Maggie had to catch herself. She had almost given in despite the fact that she had promised herself not to be lured into becoming another of his many lovers, and she certainly didn’t need another affair with her boss, especially not this cowboy.
Doc Blake was strictly off-limits.
Chapter Seven
On the drive home, while Maggie should have been thinking about her sister, all she could focus on was remembering Doc’s kiss, so sweet and gentle. There had been a fire that sparked through her, wanting him to linger much longer. Plus, she couldn’t stop thinking about what it might be like to live at his house for a few weeks, only until Kitty’s babies were born. Not just because of Doc Blake, but because the ranch itself was growing on her.
When Kitty had first suggested she come to live with her in Idaho, Maggie had mocked the idea, thinking it was absurd: urbanite Maggie Daniels, living on the open range, under the big sky, with cows, sheep, an abundance of potatoes…and cowboys.
Never going to happen.
But Idaho now seemed like the most beautiful place on earth: the invigorating air, the majestic mountains, the miles of green hills and the Snake River meandering through the valley. In contrast, San Francisco and San Jose, although lovely in their own
ways, were tight, crowded and closed in, making it impossible to breathe.
She lowered the windows, took a deep breath and marveled at how delightful her surroundings were. Almost as if she were seeing this part of Idaho for the very first time.
Or was all of this rapture a direct result of that kiss? A kiss that hadn’t lasted more than a few seconds. She wondered what she would be like if they ever made love?
She’d probably spontaneously combust.
It was time that Maggie Daniels took the bull by the horns, a phrase she now understood, and stopped pussyfooting around him.
There could be no relationship between them.
Not now.
“Not ever,” she said out loud as she pulled into the driveway at Kitty’s house and pushed all those thoughts right out of her head. She needed to focus on her very pregnant sister, not on her silly, lusty desire for the country dentist.
She parked in front of the garage, turned off the engine, hopped out and headed for the front door where Mrs. Abernathy was already waiting.
“What took you so long?” she asked as Maggie approached. “You gotta get yourself right over to the fairgrounds with this here potato salad that Kitty made special for the contest. She’s determined to take first prize this year, and she can’t do that if she don’t get this salad entered in the next hour.”
Mrs. Abernathy shoved a large red ceramic covered bowl into Maggie’s arms.
“What are you talking about? Kitty’s cooking? I thought she couldn’t stand up long enough to go to the bathroom, much less make a salad? And what contest? Where?”
“Didn’t Doc Blake tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“It’s Spud Week, darlin’. The first week of the potato harvest.”
“Yes, I know, but—”
“But nothin’. It’s the biggest week of the entire year. I’m surprised his office is even open. Usually, the whole town pretty much shuts down for Spud Week. Now you be gettin’ along with this here salad. Take it over to booth number six at the grounds. And don’t let Phyllis Gabauer cut you off at the pass and start nosin’ around askin’ what’s inside this here bowl. Not that you know, which is probably a good thing. That nosy old biddy. She wins every year by tricking people into telling her what’s in their salad. Well not this year. She’s in for a big surprise ’cause this is going to be the best salad those finicky judges ever tasted, and Kitty’s gonna take home that blue ribbon. Her hubby’s gonna be so proud of his little country girl. Now get along.”
