A Hero's Homecoming

by Laurie Paige

  “Sit,” he ordered. He plunked a take-out container on the desk and kept one for himself.

  Inside she found the Hip Hop’s famous barbecued chicken and baked beans. She inhaled deeply. “Umm, heavenly.” She ate ravenously and cleared her plate in ten minutes flat.

  He eyed her in exasperation.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Hasn’t your doctor ever talked to you about slowing down and enjoying life?”

  “Doctors don’t have time for doctors.”

  “Very funny.” He glared at her. When he finished, he pushed the chair back and invited her into his lap.

  “Only for a minute,” she said, glancing at the clock.

  “Shut up.” He leaned her against his arm, then proceeded to ravish her with his mouth and his hands.

  Long before the minute was up, she knew she’d made a mistake. She wanted more than kisses and soft touches. She wanted…

  The answer came to her with the swiftness of a light-bulb clicking on. She wanted this man in her life.

  For more than a day. Or a night. For more than a week or a month. For as long as…no, don’t think it.

  She pulled back from the kiss and struggled to her feet. He let her go, but didn’t help her up.

  “What dark thought entered your mind?” he asked.

  “Nothing. I really have to go.”

  “Are you going to make the play?”

  “Yes. I told Lorrie I’d meet her and Sophie at the school at seven.”

  “Will you?” He gave her a piercing glance. “You haven’t been home before eight this week.”

  “I know, but things have gotten hectic lately.”

  He studied her another few seconds, then nodded. He walked to the door.

  “You aren’t using the cane today. Your limp is gone. That’s good.” She smiled approvingly.

  “Save your doctor’s smile for those who need it,” he said sarcastically, and walked out.

  She stiffened at the sudden attack. A glance from the nurse had her heading down the hall to the examining room. She had patients to worry about.

  It was almost six when she locked the side door behind her and ran toward her ute. She almost crashed into a shadowy figure coming up the sidewalk. “Oh.”

  “It’s me,” the figure in an odd assortment of winter clothing told her. Wild gray hair stuck out from a black knitted cap. A long, shapeless beard hung down to his chest.

  She recognized Kane’s father-in-law, Homer Gilmore. The town’s beloved old eccentric lived upstairs during the colder months and went prospecting in the summer. “Good evening,” she said. “Gotta dash. There’s a school play tonight.”

  “You’d better watch it,” he said. “Strange things go on around here all the time.”

  A chill rustled up the hairs on her neck. She thought of Wayne and the fire at the ranch and stopped. “Did you see someone start the fire at the Kincaid ranch?”

  “No, nothing like that, but tell Kincaid to beware of weasels in the henhouse.”

  She stifled her disappointment. She’d hoped the old man might have some information she could give Sterling and Reed Austin, who’d been assigned to work with the deputy chief.

  “Thanks. I will. See you later.”

  “It’s outsiders that’s doing it,” he called after her as she rushed down the slippery sidewalk to her ute.

  She smiled. At least he’d stopped blaming aliens for all the strange happenings in the county. Glancing at the digital clock on the radio, she saw she didn’t have time to go home and change. She would go see Jenny, then dash over to the school for the play. No time for supper, either. So what else was new? She eased out onto the street and drove to the hospital.

  For a moment, she thought of Wayne and the lunch he’d brought in. That had been thoughtful.

  He’d been at her house since the transplant, except for daily excursions to the ranch, and she’d found him wonderful in many ways.

  As a guest he was charming, easily winning Lorrie’s and Sophie’s loyalty. He had shown Sophie how to house-train Highway in an afternoon.

  As a lover, he was exciting, sensual and sensitive to her desires. Each time she thought of their lovemaking, wild sensations rioted through her, making her tremble. She shied from thinking of the future. There was today. That was all she could afford to think about at the present.

  She parked and hurried inside the hospital.

  “Where is your coat?” Annie demanded when she paused by the desk.

  “In the car. I’m only here for a minute. I wanted to check…” She forgot the rest of the sentence as she looked over Jenny’s chart. She quickly walked down the corridor to the quarantine section.

  Jessica was reading a book. Jenny was asleep. The bloom of fever had faded from her cheeks. A light sheen of perspiration gleamed on the child’s face. Carey looked at the temperature recordings and breathed a thankful prayer.

  After speaking to Jessica, she donned gloves and skimmed her hands over the sleeping child.

  “It’s broken,” she said at last. She blinked as unexpected tears surged into her eyes. “Jessica, the fever is broken.”

  The young mother tossed her book down and stood beside Carey, both of them watching Jennifer. Carey withdrew her hands. She smiled. Two fat tears cascaded down her face.

  Jessica, also teary eyed, threw her arms around Carey. They hugged each other wordlessly, sharing the moment as parents and friends.

  “She’s going to be all right,” Jessica said in wonder, sniffing as they recovered their composure. “She is, isn’t she? Doesn’t this mean she’s going to be all right?”

  “If the marrow cells take,” Carey reminded her.

  Wayne guided his truck into the parking place and killed the engine. His breath made a puff of frost in front of his face as he climbed out and walked carefully over the rough, icy surface of the parking lot to the schoolhouse.

  Inside, he glanced all around, nodding here and there to people he recognized. Austin Reed was with Janie Carson. Reed grinned, obviously happy with the way things were working out, while Janie gave him a cool nod.

  The young woman was one person who would never think well of him, he mused as he took a chair and put his jacket in the next one to save it for Carey. If she got there.

  He pondered his irritation with her and admitted he’d wanted her to forget everything but him after lunch.

  A tap on his shoulder drew his attention. The sheriff and his family were present. He shook hands with Tracy and met a little girl. The baby boy grabbed his finger and tried to chew on it.

  “Teething,” Tracy said, smiling as she substituted a rubber ring for his finger.

  One minute before the play began, he saw Carey rush in and look around. He motioned to her and moved his jacket.

  Her warm smile flooded her face. She looked at ease for the first time that week. She slipped down the aisle and slid in next to him. As usual, she wore her bulky cardigan and had left her coat in the ute. Her hands were bare. She’d lost two pairs of gloves that week.

  She tucked her fingers under her arms. “Cold out there.” She leaned close. “Jenny’s fever has broken.” She leaned over the back of the seat to the Hensley family. “Jennifer McCallum’s fever has broken.”

  “Lily Mae Wheeler is one aisle over,” he told her with a sardonic grin.

  “Lily Mae,” Carey called to catch the town gossip’s attention. “Jenny McCallum’s temperature is down to normal.”

  “The fever has broken?” the woman asked, her earrings, great gold loops within loops, swinging wildly. Her carmine lips split into a dazzling smile of capped teeth. “The little darling is going to be all right?”

  “Well, if the transplant takes,” Carey hedged, her gaze becoming pensive.

  Wayne took her hand and squeezed it, then rubbed it to bring the warmth back. “It will,” he said, setting his jaw and daring fate to snatch victory from this woman who worked so hard and cared so much. “It will.”

&nbs
p; Beside him, she sighed and murmured, “I hope so.”

  The curtains opened and the play began. Afterward, they all had watery punch and goodies baked by harried mothers. The scones disappeared first.

  Wayne looked around and saw families laughing and chatting in every corner of the gym. He watched Carey hug her daughter and tell her how great she’d been.

  A strange warmth flowed through him. For a moment, he imagined being part of a real family, the kind the sheriff shared with his wife and kids.

  A sensation like a cold wind down his neck told him he should have left weeks ago. He wouldn’t be here now if not for his little sister—another victim of his father’s lascivious ways.

  The painful memories rushed at him, reminding him of all the reasons he’d left twenty-five years ago. He’d grown used to the freedom of the road. He wasn’t a settling-down kind of man—

  Sophie ran to him and hugged his leg. “Did you see me?” she demanded. “Did you like my song?”

  He swung her up to his shoulders. “I sure did. You were very nearly the best one on the stage.”

  She giggled happily and patted his head. “Look, Mom, look how big I am up here!”

  Wayne awoke at first light. He lay in bed and listened to the morning sounds—the caw of a crow in the distance, the rumble of a truck a couple of streets over, the whisper of the wind through the trees.

  At the ranch, he would have heard the lowing of cattle along with the birds and the wind, maybe the rumble of a tractor pulling a hay wagon into the fields.

  Except there would be no tractor and hay wagon now. They were down to the last rolls of hay on the ranch.

  He turned over on his side, cupping his body to Carey’s, and inhaled the warm, sleepy scent of woman. “You awake already?”

  “Umm-hmm.” She drew his arm across her body and snuggled into him, causing a ripple of hunger to pass through him.

  “What are your plans for the day?” he asked.

  “I need to go by the hospital, then the office for Saturday-morning appointments. What about you?”

  He hesitated. “I have to return to the ranch. It’s time I got back to work. We’ll start moving cattle over to your place this afternoon. I won’t be here when you get back.”

  She didn’t protest. However, after planting a kiss on his shoulder, she sighed. Her next words pleased him.

  “All good things must come to an end, I suppose. Sophie is going to Lorrie’s this afternoon to play with her granddaughter. I’d like to go along on the trail. Do you have a horse I could ride, one that’s old and decrepit and won’t buck?”

  He raised up on an elbow to study her. “You sure? It’ll make your backside pretty sore.”

  “Sore as hell,” she correctly interpreted, drawing a laugh from him.

  “You got that right.” He patted her behind. “I’ll give you a massage and a rubdown at your cabin. Why don’t we stay the night there?”

  “Sophie and I are already committed to Lorrie’s for dinner. We’re going to learn to make tortillas.”

  He swung out of bed, pulled on jeans and padded into the kitchen to see if the coffeemaker’s timer had worked. It had. He poured them each a cup and went back to the bedroom, joining Carey, who was propped up on the pillows. He handed her the mug and slipped back under the warm covers.

  “Thanks. Did I tell you I saw Homer Gilmore last night when I was leaving the office?”

  “I don’t recall you mentioning it.”

  “He said you should beware, that there are outsiders causing the problems at the ranch, but he didn’t know who.”

  Wayne gave a snort. “As if we didn’t know that.” He leaned over and nuzzled her neck, smiling as she squirmed. She was ticklish below her ear, on her sides and her feet.

  When he captured her mouth, he took the kiss deep. He heard the plunk of the mug when she set it on the nightstand, then felt her hands stroke through his hair as she responded fully to his embrace.

  He caressed her hips, sneakily pulling her gown upward with each touch. When he had it out of the way, he moved over her, sliding between her thighs, feeling her move to accommodate him. He held himself in position, but instead of entering her, he caressed the passionate bud, feeding his desire and hers until, with a moan, she twisted her hips and thrust upward, sheathing him in her sweet warmth.

  That was the invitation he’d been waiting for. He let himself glide slowly into the hot depths until they meshed completely. They both watched as he began the ancient rhythm of mating. He took her hand and guided it to the point of her passion, then supported himself on both hands while he moved deeply in her.

  They exploded as one in a tense uncoiling of hunger that could be satisfied for the moment but never appeased. He lay beside her a long time before he had the energy to head for the shower.

  When she joined him under the running water, he found he wasn’t quite as exhausted as he thought.

  The doorbell rang while Sophie, Carey and Wayne were finishing breakfast. Sterling McCallum removed his hat and asked for Wayne when Carey answered. She led the way to the kitchen, where she poured him a cup of coffee while the men exchanged greetings.

  “How about a short stack of pancakes?” Carey asked. “They’ll be thrown out if you don’t eat them.”

  Sterling hesitated all of one second. “Well, if they’re going to go to waste…” He took a seat at the table.

  “Mom, can I play with Highway now?” Sophie asked.

  “Yes, but dress first. Warm clothes. It’s cold out today. And don’t forget to put on extra socks.”

  “I won’t.”

  Sophie gave her an indignant glare before rushing to let Highway out of the utility room and romping with him down the hall with the boisterous energy of youth. Both girl and dog were growing as fast as bean sprouts.

  Glancing at the calendar, Carey realized it was the last day of February. Spring was right around the corner. She glanced at Wayne and wondered if he would be there when the new season arrived.

  “What brings you out?” Wayne asked, changing from talk of the weather when the lawman finished.

  “We got a trace on Buell’s cell telephone. You ever heard of a guy named John Widdermann?”

  Wayne thought it over. “No, it doesn’t ring a bell.”

  Sterling sighed. “I thought for sure that would be a lead. Well, we’re going to check the guy out, find out where he works and see if that makes a connection.”

  “Good. Sorry I can’t help, but I’m still drawing a blank on whoever wanted the ranch before.”

  “There might not be a connection. There’re enough scoundrels in the world to have more than one to a place.”

  The men exchanged sardonic glances.

  Sterling turned to Carey. “Jessica thinks Jenny is better. She seems livelier than she has in days. Jessica is looking a little peaked, though.”

  “I’ll be going to the hospital this morning. I’ll check both of them out.” She stood and touched Wayne’s shoulder. “I’ll join you at the ranch around one. How will I find you?”

  “You’ll see the trail of five hundred cattle easily. I’ll ride drag until you catch up. Smoky will be your mount. We’ll leave him in the corral.”

  She nodded, said goodbye to both men, pulled on her sweater and looked for her gloves. She frowned as she checked her pockets and the shelf above the telephone.

  Wayne opened a drawer and gave her a know-it-all grin. She poked his belly, grabbed a pair and left.

  On the street to the hospital, she pondered the morning and the strangely intense lovemaking they’d shared. A premonition stabbed her heart.

  Wayne Kincaid, once the mystery of the ranch was solved, would have no reason to stay in Whitehorn. He would probably be gone with the spring thaw, moving on to greener pastures…and other women, she forced herself to add.

  She closed her mind to the future while she parked and ran across the pavement to the ER entrance. No use borrowing trouble. She would face whatever had to
be faced when the time came. She went straight to the lab.

  “Well?” she demanded.

  The lab technician gazed at her solemnly.

  Her heart thudded to her toes.

  Then he smiled. “She’s making cells on her own. The transplant took,” he told her. “By damn, it worked.”

  “Oh, my God.” She clamped a hand over her mouth. “Oh, my God,” she said again. A smile spread over her face. “I’ve got to tell Jessica. Have you seen her?”

  “Not yet. We just got the results.”

  “I’ll find her. She’ll want to tell Sterling.”

  Jessica was sitting beside the plastic bubble, reading a story to her daughter, when Carey paused at the door. Kane was with her. Annie saw them from the nursing station, took one look at their smiles and ran to join them.

  “Good news,” Carey said. She pointed at Jenny. “This girl is making blood cells on her own.” She beamed a smile at the patient, then the mother. “The transplant worked.”

  “Dear God,” Jessica said, her eyes going wide.

  Carey and Kane laughed. Jessica and Annie burst into tears. Jennifer cried with them until Jessica assured the child they were crying because they were happy.

  “When does she get out of the bubble? When can we take her home?”

  Carey consulted with Kane.

  “Tomorrow we take her out of the bubble,” he said.

  “She can go home at the end of the next week,” Carey told Jessica. “But no going out for another six weeks. Don’t let anyone with any sign of a sniffle in the house.”

  “No one will get in,” Jessica vowed, looking so fierce they all laughed again. “Oh, I’ve got to tell Sterling.”

  She dashed to the telephone and dialed the dispatcher, who patched her through to his truck phone.

  When Carey left the hospital, she was feeling good. After a half day at the office, she headed home to change and see if Lorrie and Sophie had left yet.

  At the house, the housekeeper was putting sheets in the dryer. “Hi, you’re in earlier than I expected.”

  “Things were quiet at the office for a change. We got the report on Jennifer McCallum. The transplant took.”