by J. D. Faver
The door opened and a woman entered. She told Cami her name and that she was a waitress. After asking about Mr. Rios, she set to work, filling salt and pepper shakers and ketchup bottles on the tables.
A few minutes later a man came in and wordlessly wrapped an apron around his middle. It took Cami a moment to realize that he spoke no English. Another waitress showed up and the employees engaged in a rapid conversation in Spanish. They glanced at Cami and nodded at her before continuing with their accustomed routine.
By the time the first customer walked through the door, the restaurant was filled with tantalizing aromas and the bustle of activity. Word of the Mr. Rio’s health status must have spread throughout the community, because the place filled to near capacity.
Cami answered questions from concerned friends and busied herself by seating people, passing out water and menus. In between these tasks, she scurried back and forth to man the cash register. She also helped clear dirty dishes and wash tables. She thanked customers for their patience and they responded by helping bus tables and leaving extra generous tips. Toward the end of the evening, Frank and T-Bone showed up.
“Here, let me get that, Miss Cami,” Frank rushed to relieve her of the orders of fajitas she carried. He set the plates down and turned to her. “Are you doing okay?”
She groaned. “I think I’ll sleep well tonight.”
“Well, Frank ‘n me can help you close up,” T-Bone offered. “We got plenty of
experience washin’ dishes.”
“Thanks,” she said. “I haven’t even had a chance to look in the kitchen.”
“It looks like things are going well out here,” Frank observed. “People are eating and everything seems to be running smooth. I don’t see nobody lookin’ upset or nothin’.”
“It’s going better than I expected. Everyone is being remarkably patient and I haven’t messed up too many orders.”
“What about Milita?” Frank asked. “Does she need a ride from the hospital?”
Cami grinned at him and he blushed. “Why don’t you call her? I’m sure the SICU nurse will call her to the phone.” She returned to the cash register to ring up a customer.
Frank returned to tell her he would be driving to Amarillo to bring Milita back to Langston. “She was a couple of years ahead of me in school,” he explained.
“I didn’t ask,” Cami said.
After the last table was cleared and the front door locked, she peeked behind the swinging doors and found Breck rolling his sleeves down and the cook washing the last of the pots.
“I put three briskets and another ham in to slow smoke overnight,” he said.
“Got the cash in a bag,” she said. “I’ll count it later. I don’t think I’m capable of doing it tonight.”
He gave her a stern look. “Do you realize that La Hacienda opens its doors at six in the morning for breakfast?”
She massaged the small of her back. “I think working in a restaurant is harder than working the emergency room on a Saturday night.”
“You could be right. I know it’s harder than any legal task I’m familiar with. Have you heard from Milita?”
“Frank went to pick her up. Maybe she can get some sleep.” Cami turned out the lights and Breck locked the door. She climbed into the Lincoln and laughed. Her fresh produce was still fresh due to the cool temperatures. Her paint and tools sat untouched on the passenger side floor.
“Planning a little remodeling?” Breck asked.
“Kind of,” she said. “I thought I’d tackle the yellow bedroom…Silky’s room.”
He grinned. “I take that as a good sign.” He closed her door. “Go ahead and I’ll follow you home.”
She stifled her smile and started the car. He’s still herding me.
#
Breck pulled out onto the highway behind her. She looked small in the big Lincoln. He hung back far enough so that his headlights didn’t blind her.
He flexed his fingers on the steering wheel. It had been a tough day. It wasn’t the work. He was used to hard work. It was the strain on his emotions.
He’d completely blown it yesterday when he’d told her once more about his feelings and she’d ignored his stupid declaration. As if she was embarrassed when he groveled at her feet like a lovesick idiot. Won’t do that again.
Today, he started off feeling jealous when he found out Frank Sullivan had taken her for a ride on Red. Breck had wanted to ride with her.
Later, she breezed into his office asking for money. He managed to piss her off all over again so that when she left she was still stewing. That experience left him with a flutter of concern in his midsection.
The next time he’d seen her she looked like a person he’d never seen before. She’d become the capable, competent doctor climbing into a medical helicopter with Mr. Rios. She looked like she felt comfortable in her world.
He understood now. She’d been jerked out of everything she’d thought of as normal and thrust, by the terms of Silky’s will, into his world. Totally normal for him. Completely foreign to her.
“I need to cut you some slack, baby girl,” he said aloud.
She claimed to have a fiancé, but she’d returned Breck’s kisses with intense feeling. Surely she couldn’t kiss him like that and be in love with another man.
He followed her when she turned off on the road to Moonshadows and by the time he made the circle drive, she was unlocking the door.
She turned and waved and he drove to the Ryan ranch. Maybe tomorrow he’d figure out how to make her admit she was falling in love with him.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
The roosters were crowing. Cami opened her eyes. She stretched, momentarily forgetting where she was.
“Oh!” She sat up. Breakfast. She had to open the restaurant for breakfast. She shot out of bed and groped her way into her clothes. She stuck a toothbrush in her mouth and hobbled downstairs carrying her boots and running her fingers through her hair. Rushing outside, the cold air greeted her, sharp as razor wire.
She sat on the top porch step to pull on her boots and heard footsteps crunching toward her from the direction of the barn.
T-Bone Mullins touched his gloved fingers to the brim of his cowboy hat in a comic salute. “Miss Cami,” he drawled. “Frank went into town to help Miss Milita with the restaurant. He said for me to tell you to sleep in.”
Cami stopped fumbling with her laces. “Thank Heaven!” She closed her eyes and sat with the early morning sunlight warming her face, the toothbrush clamped between her teeth.
“Miss Cami?” T-Bone said. “You okay?”
She nodded her head, causing the toothbrush to wag up and down. Slowly, she got to her feet and made her way inside. Sore muscles from lifting heavy trays, protested as she retraced her steps, shedding clothes along the way. She pulled off her boots and jeans before climbing back into bed. She lay spread-eagle in the middle of the comforter, clasping her toothbrush in her hand, her head burrowed under the pillow. Just one more hour.
Cami was awakened some time later by the blaring of a horn. She raised her head and blinked. Stumbling to her feet, she looked out through the curtains and saw Doc Parker standing beside the open door of an old green pickup truck. He gave the horn another blast.
“I’m coming,” she said to no one in particular. She threw her clothes back on and raced down the stairs with Shadow at her heels.
Throwing open the door, she tried not to laugh at the old man’s disgruntled expression.
“It’s about time, young lady,” he said. “I hope you’re not accustomed to layin’ about till noon.”
She waved him inside. “Actually, I’m accustomed to grabbing a little sleep whenever the occasion permits.”
He flung his battered Stetson on the rack with a practiced flick of the wrist, then strode to the loveseat and plopped down, as though in his usual encampment. He looked around, his perpetual scowl in place.
“Doctor Parker.” She lowered herself onto a delicate Chi
ppendale-style chair.
“What can I do for you?”
“Young lady…Doctor…”
“Just call me Cami,” she said.
“Cami, you did a good thing yesterday.” He fidgeted and slapped the arm of the sofa resolutely. “It took a cool head to take charge of the situation at La Hacienda like you did.”
“I thought you were out of town.”
“Word travels fast in a small town. I was impressed that you didn’t just load Rios in the Life Flight copter and take off runnin’ in the other direction.”
She considered a moment. “I was the first responder. There’s a natural tendency to want to follow through.”
“Not all folks think that way. Some folks just want to do the least they can and wash their hands of a situation. I’m glad to see that you’re not one of ‘em.”
She wondered if he’d driven all the way out there just to pat her on the head. She shrugged. “I try to do the right thing.”
Doc cleared his throat and when he spoke his voice was gravely. “I understand that you didn’t know anything about Silky’s will. That you didn’t know you’d have to stay here to inherit. Is that right?”
Cami snorted indelicately. “It hit me like a ton of bricks. I had another plan.”
“I know how it is for young doctors. Most of ‘em are neck deep in debt and scrambling for any job to start digging out from under.” He narrowed his eyes. “But not you. Silky paid your way, so you’re starting out free and clear.”
“II had scholarships, too,” she said, a defensive note creeping in to her voice. “Aunt Silky bridged the gap.”
“Bridged the gap? Well, that’s what you need to do right now.” He leaned forward, planting his elbows on his bony knees. “You need to step up and take over the ranch. That’s how you can pay Silky back. She believed in you.”
She stared, open mouthed. A hundred possible responses came to mind, none of them polite. “Doctor” She clenched her fists together in her lap. “My great-aunt was not aware that I’d recently become engaged, but she knew I was going to start a fellowship”
“I know. I know.” He waved his hand impatiently. “In Immunology. That’s nice and all, but you need to deal with the right here and now.”
Anger roiled up from her toes to her hair and wrenched her from her chair. “Then why the hell didn’t she tell me? Can you answer that for me? I’ve been tied up in a knot since the will was read. She never once told me she expected me to drop everything and move here to the middle of nowhere and start running a ranch…which I know absolutely nothing about, by the way.” She had been gesturing wildly. She looked at the hand she’d been waving, realizing she’d been jabbing a toothbrush at the doctor to make her point. She tucked it in her shirt pocket and ran her fingers through her tangled hair.
The old man started laughing, a low, crusty rumbling from deep in his chest. “So you are Silky’s kin after all.” He slapped his knee and laughed again. “I was thinkin’ you were a mite pale to be related to a spitfire like Silky, but you’re showin’ your mettle now.”
“My mettle? I’m just saying, it’s not fair. I have a plan.”
“We all did, Cami. That thing that gets in the way of your plan is called life. The best way to deal with it is to be flexible. You need to gut up and take the reins. Silky’s depending on you.”
She expelled a deep breath. “My aunt is dead, and I’m not too comfortable with the circumstances.” She tried to match Doc’s glare.
“I ain’t neither.” He stood up. “I’d like to retire pretty soon. For the record, my plan was to devote my remaining years to fly fishin’ and havin’ fun with my sweetheart, but now she’s gone, so if you’re ready to take up your practice, I’ll be more than willin’ to introduce you to your patients. You took care of one of ‘em yesterday.”
He nodded and stomped across the floor, flipped his hat off the rack and jammed it on his thick mop of grizzled hair. He gave her a wink as he walked out the front door.
Cami heard him slam the door of his truck and start it.
It felt like someone had sucked all the air out of the room. She sank down onto the chair and reviewed their conversation. It was apparent that he didn’t even want to consider her reluctance to leap into the script they’d written for her.
She called the restaurant and Frank answered.
“Hey, boss lady!”
“Hey Frank. How’s your part-time job working out?”
“Pretty good, so far. Mr. Rios is doing okay at the hospital and Milita’s uncle is on his way to take over the grill so I’ll be home soon. Is there anything you need from town?”
She grinned, thinking there was very little that the town of Langston had to offer her. “I’m good.”
“How ‘bout I bring you a take-out barbeque meal.”
“Now, that would be good.”
#
Breck knocked on her door later. She’d been in the kitchen and hadn’t heard him until Shadow picked up his ears and emitted one deep bark.
He stood grinning at her when she opened the door. Something about the look on his face made her feel warm all over. Without preamble, he slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her. He held her like he meant it.
She didn’t pull away. A swirl of lust roiled low in her belly.
“I hear you’re off kitchen duty,” he said.
“You, too.”
“We make a pretty good team,” he said.
She laughed. “I sincerely hope I never do that again. I’d rather work a double shift in the ER than go back.”
His deep laughter resonated through his chest. “Me too. I’ll take blood and guts over dishes any day.”
“Did you want to come in or are you going to hold me prisoner on my porch all night?”
“In.” He backed her into the house, not loosening his grip. “Did you get some rest today?” He kicked the door closed behind them.
“I tried. Doc Parker woke me up insisting that I take over his practice.”
“Did he now?” Breck seemed to be examining her. “And what did you tell him?”
“Tell him! That man wasn’t interested in hearing anything I had to say.”
“You could tell him yes.”
“No is also a word. I could tell him no way.”
“Or tell him yes.” He stood with a big grin on his face and his eyes staring at her all soft and mushy, like she was cotton candy and he hadn’t eaten in a week.
Cami shivered as the tingling sensation starting at the base of her neck ran down her spine. “And why would I do that?”
“It’s an excuse to stay here. That way you don’t have to admit you’re crazy about me yet.”
She let out a squeal of indignation. “You’re the one who’s crazy.” She shrugged out of his grip.
“Probably,” he agreed cheerfully. “I think you’re going to break my heart, but I have to try to win you anyway.”
She stamped her foot. “Win? Why is it always about winning?”
“Because you’re important to me.” He reached for her as she backed away.
Cami shook her head emphatically. “I know I’m new to this place, but I’ve sized you up, Mister. I know you’re the local heartbreaker. I’ve seen the women who have their sights set on you.”
“I’m innocent.” He protested, raising his hands in surrender.
She emitted a less than feminine snort. “I sincerely doubt that.” She turned and stomped into the parlor with Breck close on her heels.
“I was born here,” he said. “I had my first date here. Except for girls I went out with in college, every girl I’ve ever kissed lives within a twenty-mile radius.”
“Those must have been some great kisses because all your women seem to think they still own your ass.” She turned to find him shaking with mirth. “What?”
“You. You seem to have forgotten all about old what’s-his-name? I’m a lot less encumbered than you.”
Cami’s shoulders sagged. She tur
ned away so he couldn’t read her expression. He was right. She was the one who was engaged. Why did she seem to forget that little detail when Breck was treating her like she was his girlfriend? A one-sided smile quirked her mouth. He did treat her a lot differently than Clay did.
“Why am I getting the silent treatment?” he asked.
She turned back, carefully controlling her features. “Silent treatment?” she asked.
“I thought maybe I’d made you mad by reminding you about old what’s-sis name.” Breck was staring at her hard.
“I take it you’re referring to my fiancé, Clayton Tremont, IV?”
He stood with his hands on his hips. “Yeah, he’s the one. You need to call him and tell him.”
“And what am I going to tell him?” She heard her voice go husky.
“It should be easy because you don’t have to give him a ring back. Just tell him you met the man who will be the father of your children. That should do it.”
She swallowed hard. “The father of my…”
“Children. You do want children, don’t you?”
Cami was laughing now. “I can’t believe your ego. What makes you think I want to procreate with you?”
He smiled and tweaked a strand of her hair between two fingers. “Because I want to procreate with you. How about it, Cami, a boy and a girl?”
“Are you nuts?”
“Absolutely. I’m nuts about you.” He examined her hair as though it was a rare treasure.
She brushed his hand away. “What brought all this on?”
“I’m a practical man,” he said. “I think you should consider the merits of the plan Silky and Doc had in mind for you.”
She huffed out a breath. “You’ve spent way too much time studying those animal husbandry charts. I have no intention of providing breeding stock for the Ryan family dynasty.”
He grinned again. “You say that now.”
She realized he was teasing her. But she wondered just how much of Breck’s teasing was based on his true feelings. Better to let this slide by as a joke. “Was there some particular reason for your visit or did you just come by to harass me?”
