Cowboy Doctor

by Rebecca Winters

“You’re wise to stick with Fancy Pants, otherwise things could come to a head much sooner.”

  They’d reached the ranch. Roce drove straight to her cabin. After turning off the engine, he turned to her. “If you’ll hand me your phone, I’ll program the ranch number for you.”

  She did his bidding, and he soon gave it back. “On my way to Missoula, I’ll let my brothers know what’s going on with you. That way they’ll be listening should a call come from you.”

  Tracey put a hand on his arm. “I can’t thank you enough for watching out for me. It’s been a long time since I felt this protected.”

  The wobble in her voice caught his attention. “Who used to do that for you?” They hadn’t talked about their personal lives yet.

  “My fiancé, Jeff. He was in the military. He was killed a year and a half ago while he was deployed.”

  Roce took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Tracey,” he whispered. “I don’t know how you get over a loss like that.” The revelation hit him like a kick in the gut from a bull.

  “I won’t lie. For the first year I don’t know how I survived it. But somehow you do. And I’m here with you now, so I guess it’s true that time is the great healer.”

  Roce pulled her against him and just held her. But their privacy was interrupted by the glare of headlights on a pickup truck driving past them and taking its time.

  She lifted her head. “I wonder who that is.” They both watched the truck until it eventually stopped at another cabin. The headlights went off, but it was too far away for them to see the driver.

  “Does Grady drive a blue truck, Tracey?”

  “No. He drives a silver Chevy Malibu.” Her gaze met his. “You have a big day tomorrow and need to leave. I’m afraid I’ve kept you too long. Please be safe.” She kissed his cheek and got out of the cab. He wouldn’t have let her go, but maybe talking about her fiancé had upset her and she needed to be alone.

  Once he saw the light go on in her cabin, he phoned her.

  “Roce?”

  “I just wanted to make sure you’re all right.”

  “Yes. Thank you again for a lovely evening.”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  “Please.”

  After they hung up he started his truck and drove around to get a look at the blue one. He memorized the license plate number and phoned Wymon so he could get his friend at the police department to check on it. Most likely it belonged to one of the staff, or someone visiting an employee. Roce would know soon enough.

  His thoughts turned back to Tracey. He’d felt her kiss permeate his body. Since meeting her, he’d wondered how such an exciting woman was still single. The answer hadn’t been what he’d expected.

  Tracey had to have been devastated to lose the man she’d planned to marry. After a year and a half, she still hadn’t become involved with another man or she wouldn’t have moved to Hamilton for the summer.

  Roce felt he’d already seen into her psyche enough to know she was the kind of woman whose love would run deep and true. Yes, he sensed her attraction to him, but after losing her fiancé, it would be another thing to hope he could fill her heart. Since her revelation, he feared his own heart was now in jeopardy.

  Tread carefully with her, Clayton.

  * * *

  ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON, three groups of riders left the summit and descended to the Rocky Point trailhead, their starting point. Tracey rode with the Briscoe children, who were a joy to be around and had become good little riders. She’d spent ample time with them on their daily trips into the mountains.

  When they’d glimpsed some deer, or a fat rabbit or a squirrel, or even an eagle, everyone had taken pictures with their cell phones, including the children. Her delight in the kids, who adored seeing the animals, was what this job was all about.

  Each day that week they’d taken a different trail into the forest. When they came to a scenic area, they’d get off the horses and do a little exploring.

  Today they’d ridden all the way to the spot called Rocky Point. The unusual formation of boulders, plus an abandoned sanctuary hut for the shepherds of long ago, made it a fascinating place.

  After they’d taken pictures, the children wanted to dismount and explore like they always did. Tracey had started to hike with them up the incline to where there was a view. But Wes suddenly called a halt to their activity in a stern voice, telling the kids he was worried about their safety.

  Tracey urged the children to get back to the horses. She wondered how their parents felt about her allowing the children to roam around, but no one had said anything. She wished Wes would have told her of his concern before they’d gone on today’s ride. It was an incident she wanted to discuss with Roce.

  Tonight he’d be back from the West Coast, and she had plans to be with him. They’d talked on the phone every night since he’d left, but it wasn’t the same as being with him in person. He was going to pick her up for dinner and she couldn’t wait.

  Once she’d said good-night to the Briscoe family, she carried her gear into the tack room. Wes followed her inside. She steeled herself for an unpleasant exchange.

  “We’ll be getting another family with young kids from Chicago this weekend. I’m assigning them to you, but there’ll be no getting off the horses when we’re at Rocky Point. It’s too dangerous. One of the children could start a rock slide.”

  “I understand.” Except that she didn’t. They weren’t the kind of rocks that would cascade down a mountainside. Still, he was the one in charge. “I just wish I’d known before we started up there today.”

  “You know now.” This time she didn’t mistake his warning.

  She was on her way out of the barn when Grady called to her, from where he was putting the horses in their stalls. “How about eating dinner with me in the ranch house tonight and we’ll go for a swim after?” At this point he had to know her answer would be no.

  “I’m sorry, Grady, but I have plans.”

  “In other words, you’re not going to give me a chance.” He squinted at her. “Is it still the vet? I haven’t seen him around lately.”

  Her patience had worn thin. “That’s my business. Have a good evening.”

  “Sure,” he muttered.

  The negative atmosphere around the barn was too much. She headed straight for her cabin, angry with Wes and Grady.

  What mattered was to get herself ready for Roce. Yesterday she’d driven into town after work and had bought a few outfits. Tonight she’d wear her new dark wash jeans and a filmy blue-and-white print blouse.

  Roce knocked three times on her door while she was applying her lipstick. They’d decided that would be his signal. Her heart ran away with her as she hurried through the little cabin to let him in.

  The sight of the tall, painfully good-looking cowboy carrying a gift basket in his arms rocked her world. While she tried to catch her breath, she noticed he wore a tan Western shirt she hadn’t seen before.

  “You look beautiful, Tracey.”

  So do you. “Thank you.” She swallowed hard. “I’ve missed you.”

  “That makes two of us.”

  “Please come in,” she said.

  “This is for you.” Roce put the basket on the kitchen table. She walked over to inspect the tag, which said Gifts from Davis, California. There were various fruits, gourmet items, sausage and cheese inside.

  Tracey plucked a chocolate bar from the nest of goodies. “You couldn’t have brought me anything I would love more. I always want a snack after work.” She looked up at him. “One of these days I’m going to do something nice for you.”

  His eyes danced. “I’ll look forward to that. Are you ready to go? I thought we’d drive to Darby and have dinner at The Blue Joint. They serve the best fish and chips in Montana.”

 
“You’re a fish man?”

  “I’m up for anything as long as it’s good.”

  They left the cabin and got in the truck. As they were leaving the dude ranch, Roce glanced at her. “Did you find out who owns that blue truck parked outside the cabin near yours?”

  “Yes. I’ve seen Craig Simmonds driving it. He works in the kitchen.”

  “Any more trouble with Grady coming to your door?”

  “No, but he still hasn’t given up asking me out. I’m sure he’ll give up soon, though. I do have a problem with Wes I want to talk to you about.”

  “You mean since we spoke on the phone last night?”

  She nodded.

  When they reached Darby, a town of less than a thousand people, Roce pulled up into the parking lot of the restaurant and walked her inside. After they’d been shown a table and had given their order, he eyed her intently.

  “I want to know what went on.” Roce had a reassuring air of authority about him that would probably intimidate anyone not on the up and up.

  Once their food arrived, Tracey launched in with an explanation of what had happened when Wes had caught up with her in the tack room earlier. “His warning today in front of the whole group was embarrassing. It’s got me wondering what else he might find fault with that will leave me looking less than professional.”

  Roce wiped his mouth with a napkin. “That’s the point, isn’t it?”

  “I think so. As much as I hate to cause trouble when I’ve only been here six days, I’m tempted to talk to John about it. I can’t do a job if I’m being sabotaged.”

  “Do you feel Wes is trying to get you to quit?”

  She swallowed the rest of her coffee. “I honestly don’t know, but my instincts are telling me yes.”

  “Mine are saying the same thing. He needs watching, Tracey. Be careful.”

  “I will. Tomorrow, I’ll just play I Spy games with the children, whatever trail we take. We won’t dismount. They thrive on competition. After we get back to the corral, I’ll give out prizes. There’ll be nothing for Wes to criticize.”

  “He’s picked the wrong woman to drive away. You’re a warrior.”

  Their eyes held. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  “Wish I could ride with you. I already know the prize I want,” he said, with a half smile that sent a thrill racing through her body.

  So do I. Funny how a simple dinner had suddenly made her so breathless. “I bet Daisy is excited you’re back.”

  “When Brianna opened the door, Daisy made a flying leap toward me that did my heart good.”

  Tracey could relate to the dog. “I would’ve liked to have seen that.”

  “I could hear my niece’s tears all the way to my truck.”

  “They need a dog.”

  “They’re planning to get one on Libby’s birthday next month.”

  “Her first dog—what a joy!”

  The waitress came over and asked if they wanted dessert. Tracey declined. Roce refused, too. He paid the bill and they left to go out to the truck.

  “The last thing I want to do is take you back to the dude ranch. But you have to be up early tomorrow, and I have to stop by a client’s ranch tonight to check on a horse. It could end up taking a long time. What’s nice is that we’re going to have tomorrow after work to be together.”

  She lived for every moment with him. “I’ve been researching the festival on the internet. It sounds like it’ll be a lot of fun.”

  “I’ll only have to put in a half a day on Saturday at the festival. If you’re free, we could take in dinner and a movie after my shift.”

  Tracey had been hoping he’d say something like that. “Sounds wonderful.”

  They arrived back at the ranch way too soon. He pulled up in front of her cabin, but didn’t turn off the engine. That meant he was in a hurry. Before she could open the truck door, he leaned over and kissed her temple. “Provided I don’t have an emergency, I’ll come by for you at five thirty tomorrow. Stay safe. You know what I mean.”

  “I’m afraid I do.” But it was the unexpected contact that made her wish he’d given her the kind of long, deep kiss she was waiting for. “You be careful, too.” She got out of the cab and hurried inside the cabin. It was getting harder and harder to leave him.

  After getting ready for bed, she unwrapped another chocolate bar and took several bites before calling her family. So far she hadn’t said anything about the trouble with Wes Hunter. But she did tell her mom she’d been seeing a veterinarian named Roce Clayton whose family ran the Clayton Cattle Ranch outside Stevensville.

  “I’ve heard the Clayton name before. Isn’t it a Clayton who’s our state’s rodeo champion?”

  “Yes. That’s Roce’s younger brother, Toly.”

  “I see. Is this Roce exciting?” Exciting was the one-word criteria her mother used to cover a huge amount of territory.

  “All that and so much more,” Tracey confessed, as her gaze lit on the basket of goodies he’d brought back from California. How could she explain the most incredible man she’d ever met?

  The second that thought filled her mind, she realized she really had moved on from past pain. It had happened so fast, she couldn’t believe it.

  “That’s what I’ve been hoping to hear one day.”

  “I’m feeling guilty. You don’t think it’s too soon to feel like this again?”

  “You can’t measure the speed of a relationship if it’s right. There have been other men you’ve dated since Jeff with no sparks. But I can tell this one has already lit up your world. How marvelous for you. Go with your feelings. A second chance to find true happiness is what I want for you.”

  “I love you, Mom. I’ll call you on Sunday morning when I’m off work, and tell you more. Give my love to the family.”

  Tracey clicked off, then brushed her teeth before climbing into bed. Once nestled beneath the covers, she went over every minute of her evening with Roce.

  You’re a warrior.

  She’d never thought of herself like that. The way he’d said it made her think it was a good thing in his eyes. Hopefully, more than a good thing. She wanted to be the one he’d been waiting for.

  Chapter Six

  Roce drove home at midnight after taking care of a horse that had been kicked in the mouth and had lost some teeth. Once he’d seen to Daisy’s needs, he went into his office to check his answering machine. Most patients left a message there, but if it was an emergency, they could contact him on his private cell phone.

  To his surprise there were a dozen calls, one from the organizer for the animal festival, verifying Roce’s participation. Another came from Hannah’s daughter, who had some medical instruments from her mother he might like.

  Two others came from an old client, Marcie Hewitt. He’d taken care of her cat and had gone to dinner with her after she’d insisted, in order to show her appreciation. The evening hadn’t gone anywhere and she knew it. But it looked like she needed to hear the words, something he didn’t want to have to do. He put off calling her back, since he assumed this call had nothing to do with the health of her cat.

  Eight calls came from clients, five of them new. He had his work cut out for him tomorrow. Word was getting around that he had relocated.

  The news was encouraging, but it made him realize he was going to need a receptionist if this continued, in order not to lose business. Tomorrow he’d look into a job service in Missoula. There were people out there applying for receptionist jobs. If he was lucky he’d find one who’d worked for a veterinarian before. It would make their job easier.

  Roce also had a text from Wymon, telling him that the blue truck he’d asked about was registered to a Gil Pilchovsky from Arlee, Montana. Maybe this Gil had allowed Craig Simmonds to borrow it. But he saw no
link to Wes Hunter.

  Roce texted back his thanks and went to bed with his thoughts on Tracey. He worried how far he should take this relationship with her. There were other women he could date—Marcie excluded—in order to protect himself from being hurt. If Tracey started giving off signals that no man could replace the fiancé she’d lost, he didn’t think he could deal with it.

  But no matter how hard he tried, he awoke early Friday morning with her on his mind. Around noon, his phone rang while he was pumping a dog’s stomach because it had eaten too many chocolate chips. The owner had been baking and the bag had fallen on the floor. Her bichon had lapped them up so quickly she couldn’t stop him in time.

  After seeing them to the door after the procedure, and assuring the woman her dog would be fine, he checked his phone. The text message from Tracey said: Call me, please.

  His adrenaline kicked in as he pressed the button to reach her.

  “Oh, Roce. Please forgive me for bothering you. I’m so glad you phoned.” She spoke in a whisper. “We’re out on the trail. Wes is up in front with his group. You won’t believe it. He’s riding Chief!”

  Roce sucked in his breath.

  “I can’t believe he brought him back from Darby and is making him work. It’s way too soon!”

  “You’re right. Do you notice any limping?”

  “No, but the children and I are bringing up the rear, so I can’t keep a good eye on him. Rod’s and Colette’s groups are in front of me. I know you can’t do anything about this. Neither can I. But I’m so outraged, I had to call you.”

  He was grateful that she’d turned to him. “I’m glad you did. No doubt Chief is still in pain, but there’s nothing we can do about it right now. Don’t do anything to antagonize Wes. Promise me you won’t say anything.”

  “I promise.”

  “Good. When I pick you up after work, we’ll talk about how to tell John. It will be up to him to act.”

  “Wes has a cruel streak. The horse could still go lame.”

  Unfortunately, there was so much more that she didn’t know. “You’d better get off the phone before he catches you talking.”