"Like hell, I do," she said. "That stuff will knock me out."
If he were her doctor, she would already have some pain medication.
"Which would be for the best," he said. "Rest."
"Charm boy you better leave, before they send in the janitor to kick you out."
At her comment, he laughed, his heart warming. How had the five minutes gone by so quickly. "See you soon."
Running back down the hall and out through the door, he realized he didn't want her leaving town. Dr. Tempe Tangier, needed to stay right here, be his partner in business and in life. For the first time he wanted to ask a woman to be his wife.
The image of the Cupid statue came into his mind and he shook his head. No, it couldn't be because of that damn superstition. It couldn't be true. Yet, Tempe was the first woman he laid eyes on after doing the Cupid stupid dance.
Several days later, Tempe moved gingerly around a heifer, knowing she couldn't withstand another kick. Since she'd walked out of the ER, Kyle treated her like she was made of glass. And while he carefully watched over her felt endearing, she knew she had to grow stronger - quickly.
"Done," she said and stepped away from the heifer. They opened the chute and the cow ran out into the pasture. "Keep her isolated until the results come back, which should be tomorrow."
"Yes, every evening they let us know the outcome from the tests and then the next day we take care of the cattle who are ill or deliver good news to the rancher," Kyle said.
"We are finding fewer and fewer infected. It's mainly been around our patient zero," Tempe said, recognizing that soon her time here would come to an end and she would have to leave.
Kyle put down old man Smith's bull the day after she was injured, the day she couldn't move. Yes, they had to euthanize several more cows, but the epidemic appeared to be slowing. Hopefully tonight they would learn that zero cattle had tested infected and in a few days this episode could be considered over.
Packing her backpack she turned to the rancher. "We'll talk to you tomorrow."
Carefully she picked up her backpack.
"Give me that," Kyle said as he grabbed her bag.
"I could carry it," she said. "I have to get better."
"Not today you don't," he said, walking beside her.
When they reached the car, he opened the door for her. They'd come in her car, hoping it would be easier for her to crawl in and out of. Yet, any time she moved, she hurt.
Sinking easily down onto the seat, she smiled at him. "Thank you, but can we please go back to the clinic."
After several hours she seemed to run out of energy. Yes, she was healing, but her ribs and chest were black, and purple with a touch of green. But she was lucky that heifer didn't pack enough punch to break her ribs only bruise them.
"That's where we're headed," he said strolling around to the driver's side.
Bouncing along the dirt road, she didn't know if she would pass out or become car sick or both. In the fifteen minutes it took to reach paved highway, Kyle kept looking over at her, but she did her best to keep her chin up and anticipate the bumps.
Kyle's cell phone rang and he answered the call, making her even more nervous. In her car, the bluetooth didn't automatically connect to his phone only hers.
"Dr. Lawrence," he said.
"What? Why? Did they say why they were here?" he glanced over at Tempe and a prickle of alarm scurried down her spine.
"She's here with me and we're on our way back to the clinic now," he told whoever he was speaking to on the phone. "Tell them we'll be there in about ten minutes. Thanks."
Disconnecting, he frowned and looked over at her. "Did you send for back up?"
"Back up what are you talking about?" she asked confused.
"Gloria said ten USDA people arrived with a big lab truck."
She cursed. "That fool didn't listen. Specifically, I told my boss I was fine and didn't need help. Obviously he didn't heed my instructions."
Laying her head back against the seat rest, she sighed. "Just get me there, so I can start dealing with these fools. You watch and see, they're going to want to shut down the counties herds."
Chapter 10
When Kyle walked into his office, he found the USDA had more or less moved into his clinic. His staff scurried around, relief etched across his office manager's face the moment she saw he was back.
Tempe hurried over to a man wearing a red polo. "Dan, you didn't tell me you were coming. And why did you bring the team?"
"We're dealing with a Brucellosis epidemic," he said, giving her a look that made the hair on Kyle's neck bristle. From what he could tell, Tempe was probably a genius and the man was talking down to her.
"According to my reports, we haven't had a contaminated sample since we eliminated Patient Zero."
Nodding his head, Dan said bluntly, "The team and I are going to quarantine the herds."
The egotistical jerk wanted control of the situation.
"Why?" Tempe asked. "Do you realize the burden you're putting on these ranchers? Do you realize how many you're going to wipe out?"
Kyle regardedTempe as she fought for what she believed in and wanted her to fight for him the same way.
"Do you want our region to be the one responsible for the next outbreak that destroys the cattle industry in the US?"
Drawing back her shoulders, a ripple of pain crossed Tempe's face. She raised her head and stared at the man directly. Oh, the battle was on.
"Give me your reasoning for placing a quarantine on this area?"
The man gave a little laugh like she was being ridiculous. "Five cows tested positive for the disease."
"Only four and the bull was patient zero," she said.
The man's eyes narrowed and Kyle realized he did not appreciate her questioning his authority, but yet she was standing up for the owners here in town. That made his heart swell with love and warmth. If those bastards could behold her now, they would never question her integrity again.
"All four are from different ranches in the area."
"The three heifers were infected by a bull who broke down a fence to reach them," she said gasping.
While he was damn proud of her, Kyle recognized she was running out of strength and energy.
"All three ranches butted up against patient zero's ranch. All three have agreed to test their cattle. We've spent the last two days checking other ranches where owners reported suspicious animals. So far no positive test results."
Kyle tried to hide the smile on his face. Looking around the crowded room, his staff and even a few clients, watched the drama unfold before their eyes. This little scene would be spread all over Cupid by evening.
"In the interest of the beef industry all the herds in this region should be tested."
Tempe shrugged a pained expression crossed her face. She was hurting, but continued on. "Okay, if that's what you think we should do, but that will devastate the department's budget for this year. Since we know who started this epidemic, as long as he didn't get out and go visiting ten miles away, why should the rancher up the road be subject to your debilitating actions?"
The red polo shirt clearly said, Dan Miller, USDA embroidered in white lettering. As he glared at her, he said, "Due to your injuries, I'm hereby relieving you from this investigation and sending you back to Austin."
Shaking her head, she said, "No. I'm staying here and fighting for the small everyday cattleman. Fire me, but I will still stay here and give them advice on how to end this quarantine. I promised them that if they helped with the epidemic, there would be no holds placed on their stock. Now, you're here and the first thing you want to do is stop them from selling their beef. Which makes the owners think once again, we're out to get them. No, Dan, I'm going to work with the locals to stop you."
Shock rippled through Kyle. The girl who wanted everything done by the letter of the law, was fighting for the people in their small community and he'd never felt prouder of her than at this moment.<
br />
He loved this woman and today, just proved everything he believed true about her. When this madness settled down, he would confess his love and ask her to marry him. The hell with her father and his terrible crime. His daughter was gold.
"Kyle," she said, turning with a grimace on her face. "Would you please contact the local cattleman's association and tell them we need an urgent meeting to discuss how to end the USDA's quarantine on the cattle in this area."
"You can't do that," Dan said emphatically. "You work for the USDA."
With an evil smile, her brows rose. "Oh, I'll be filing a grievance against you and then if necessary, I'll be handing you my resignation. You're not going to bankrupt these cattlemen without a huge fight on your hands. Are you ready?"
Resisting the urge to chuckle out loud, Kyle had to turn away. Dan's face was close to the same color as his shirt. His eyes grew large, like he couldn't believe she'd just stood up to him.
"Kyle, invite some news crews and a couple of reporters to attend our little gathering. The press needs to know what's going on."
The woman was bluffing and Kyle stared at the growing panic in her boss's eyes. But Kyle knew she would never be around a TV camera or a reporter ever again.
"Stop!" Dan yelled
A week later, Tempe watched as the crew pulled out with the trailer with Dan on board. Relief flowed over her and once again, she could return back to her job. Yet part of her wasn't ready to leave.
Once the rig filled with big shots rolled into town, not a single cow tested positive. While it had been a huge waste of taxpayers money, which she would include in her report, at least she won her fight about the quarantine.
Only one herd remained quarantined and that was Mr. Smith's cattle. Even there, she believed they caught all the infected cases and sadly the randy bull had gone to greener pastures in the sky.
Cody's herd checked out disease free. And even the other two ranches who the bull went a courting were clear of any infection.
This afternoon, as soon as Kyle finished with his patients, she would tell him goodbye and get on the road to home. There she would pack her bags and escape for four days to the beaches in Port Aransas.
Not the sparkling white beaches of the Caribbean, but the cheapest beach vacation she could take and still feel the sand between her toes.
"Miss Tangier?" she heard a man say her name and glanced up from packing the trunk of her car. A sizzle of fear trickled down her spine.
Her nemesis from the town hall meeting stared at her in the driveway. "Good morning, Mr. Jones?"
The shrunken cowboy stopped in front of her and took his hat off. Nervously, he swallowed as she gazed at the little man. "I'm here today to apologize. My sister was sitting in Dr. Lawrence's waiting room the day you stood up to the USDA. When she got home, she told me I was an ass for treating you the way I did. That you really did have the best interests of the ranchers at heart."
Tempe sighed and smiled at him, trying to make him feel a little more at ease, though he had been rude and terrifying.
His head dipped and then he raised it, his eyes locked on hers. "I want to apologize for my vulgar behavior that day in the town hall. At the time I was so scared my cattle would bankrupt me. All of my money is tied up in that herd. If my animals were quarantined thirty years of struggle would go down the drain."
This was the reason she fought for the ranchers. This was the reason she probably would lose her job. But in some small way when she helped others, she hoped to repay for what her father had done, it was worth the sacrifice.
"You and every other rancher in this area. Apology accepted."
"Thank you, ma'am. Thanks for standing up to those government officials. It means a lot."
"You're welcome," she said, smiling and holding out her hand.
The man twirled his hat in his hands trying to hide their shaking.
Taking her hand in his, he shook it.
"Mr. Jones, I wish you the best of luck with your cattle. Let's hope this is all behind us now."
"Anytime you want to come back to Cupid, please look me up and say hello."
A smile crossed her face. "Only if I'm not coming back for work reasons."
He grinned. "Agreed. Have a safe trip home."
"Thank you, Mr. Jones."
The little old man limped away and she shut the trunk. Now all she needed to do was tell Kyle bye. And that was the part she dreaded.
This time with him while stressful had also been some of the most magical time in her life. If only her past was a normal one, not a family that made the national headlines, she wouldn't leave.
The thought of saying goodbye to her charm boy, made her throat tighten. Since the day of the accident, he had taken care of her. That first night he even bathed her. Just thinking of the way he treated her like a piece of cherished china brought tears to her eyes.
Kyle Lawrence was the kind of man she dreamed of spending forever with. The kind of man she wanted children with. To wake up beside each morning, kiss goodnight each night. At any moment her cover could be blown, the past could come roaring at her, sucking her back into the spotlight that she wanted to avoid at all costs.
No man, no children, no one. Not even herself should have to live with cameras following your every move, dragging your name through the mud, speculating as to what role you played or if there was money stashed away in an overseas account.
The only hidden stash Tempe Tangier had were the Milky Way bars she hoarded. The possibility of her losing her job over her actions with her boss were pretty darn good or at the very least a reprimand. Right now that no longer mattered. Leaving Kyle behind along with a chunk of her heart was her focus. And frankly, she didn't know how she would get through the next few days.
Somewhere in all the drama, she'd fallen in love with the big hunk of a cowboy. Fallen in love and knew that he didn't deserve a wife with a daunting past.
Wiping her eyes, trying to bring her emotions under control, she walked back into the clinic.
"Miss Tangier," his receptionist said. "We were all hoping you wouldn't leave us."
"No, I'm going home and then spend some days gazing at the ocean."
"Oh?" Gloria said. "Where are you going?"
Tempe remembered all the places she spent summers in her life and then proudly said, "I'm going to vacation in Port Aransas. I'm renting a one bedroom at the Sand Dunes Condominiums for four nights. After the last couple of weeks, I need the rest and relaxation."
"Have a wonderful trip and watch out for the sand sharks," Gloria told her and with a sinking heart, Tempe realized she would miss the ladies in his practice.
"Thanks," she said.
Just then Kyle stepped out of an exam room. Without a word he took her by the arm and led her upstairs. As the man she loved dragged her along with him, quietly. As they reached the apartment, he closed the door and turned towards her.
"Don't leave," he said leading her to the couch. "Since college, my dating life has been sparce, simply because I never met a woman that interested me. The two of us, we got off to a rocky start, but with you, I've met my match. There is nothing that we can't talk about. There's been fun and laughter during one of the worst crisis in Cupid."
Pausing, he took a deep breath, still holding her hands, gazing into her eyes.
"The time we've been together were tough ones, but I enjoy being with you. Though the day you got hurt, frightened ten years off my life. Seeing you lying on the ground, struggling to breathe I have never been so afraid. At that moment, I realized how much you brightened my life, how much I love you." Kyle ran his hand through his hair. "I love you more than I can say. Stay with me, marry me and spend your life here working in the hospital doing what we love."
Stunned, she stared at him, wanting so badly to say yes. His proposal was like tempting a diabetic with chocolate cake. Stay here with the man she loved and devote her days being happy, creating a family, being in a great community or be alone.
The idea of news trucks rolling down the streets of Cupid filled her mind. She imagined them parked right outside the clinic or the school or their home waiting for one of them to step out. Why would she do this to the people she cared about and wanted to protect?
Her heart pounded inside her chest and she wanted to scream at the unfairness. Though Kyle had her heart, she knew it was in his best interest to give him up.
With a cry, she rose. "Oh, please no, I can't. You know I can't. Marriage will never happen for me."
The crumpled expression on his face, ripped open her heart, she couldn't wait another minute. Grabbing her purse, she had to get out of here before she gave in. "Please, I can't."
Hurrying out the door, she ran down the stairs, ignoring the shocked expressions from the staff. Tears streamed down her face, as she sprinted out the door and jumped in her car.
Time to return to her empty, lonely life.
Chapter 11
Two days later Kyle looked up to see his brothers, Jim and Drew march into Kyle's office. They didn't bother knocking, but rather walked in and shut the door behind them.
Gazing at the two of them he frowned. "Is this the firing squad coming to take me away?"
"No, we're here to do an intervention. A what happened to our brother intervention."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Kyle said frowning.
So he'd been drunk the last two nights. The first night Ryan escorted him out of the town square where he stood fully clothed cursing a blue streak at the statue. Never in his wildest dreams had he meant to fall for Tempe. She stormed into his world and shaken him to his core, taking his heart with her when she left.
It felt like all the sunshine disappeared, leaving him a broken man. All the charm he depended upon all his life, she must have packed it in her suitcases and taken it back to Austin.
"Ryan called us and told us he found you drunk in the town square, screaming at that piece of granite that you didn't want to fall in love."
Cupid Cures: Small Town Western Contemporary (Return to Cupid, Texas Book 5) Page 10
