She smiled at him. “Better answer it, Dr. Clayton.”
Roce checked the caller ID. To his surprise it was John. He picked up. “Mr. Hunter?”
“Glad you answered. Sheldon has found a place in the area where Wes can continue with his community service. It’s been cleared by the attorney. He won’t be coming back here.”
Thank heaven.
“After a talk with Dr. Cruz, who knows about Wes’s history involving his own son, he understands why I won’t be using his services any longer. As of now, I’m retaining you as our ranch’s new vet, if you’re interested.”
The news overjoyed Roce for several reasons. “I’d be honored.”
“You’ve relieved my worries. Would it be possible for you to check on Chief tonight? He’s in his stall. If you’re already home, though, you can check on him in the morning.”
Roce eyed the woman who’d transformed his life. “I haven’t left the ranch yet. I’ll drive over to the barn now.”
“That’s wonderful. I’ve had a chat with Grady and he’s been reminded that he answers to me. He’s been told Wes is gone for good, and he’ll meet you at the barn. I want him to be on hand for any help you need.”
“I appreciate that.”
“Is Tracey with you?”
“Yes.”
“May I speak to her?”
“Here she is.” Roce handed her the phone.
“Hello, John?”
“Tracey—I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Wes sooner. Blame an old man for expecting the best from his own grandson. Thank you for coming to me with the truth. Wes needs help and he’s going to get it. Just know our ranch needs you to be part of our staff and help on the trail rides.”
“Thank you. That means everything to me.”
“Mr. Briscoe told me you made such an impression with his children that they didn’t want to leave. They’ve already booked another stay with us for next summer.”
“I’m so happy to hear that.”
Roce saw tears in her eyes.
“Repeat business is vital for us. I’m so proud of you and will tell your grandfather the next time we talk. Good night.”
“Good night.” She hung up and handed the phone back to Roce. “What did he say to you?”
“He told me that Wes is gone for good and he’d like me to be the dude ranch’s vet.”
“Roce—that’s fantastic!”
“I know.” He smiled at her. “And you’re the reason for that. He asked me if I could go check on Chief right now.” The last thing he wanted to do was leave, but he didn’t have a choice. “John told Grady to be there to help me. Much as I’d like you to come with me, I think this time—”
“It would be better if you go alone and establish a professional relationship with him,” she said.
“Thank you for understanding. I’ll be back early in the morning to check on Chief before I have to report in at the festival. I should be through my shift by two, then I’ll come pick you up. We’ll have the rest of the weekend to do whatever we want, as long as I don’t have any emergencies.”
He needed to get out of there. But at the last second he obeyed a desire he could no longer put off and pulled her into his arms, tasting her luscious mouth for the first time.
Roce had been dreaming about this moment and was overwhelmed by her response. She was kissing him back as if her life depended on it. As if there was no ghost between them. How he wished that were true.
“See you tomorrow,” he whispered, before leaving the cabin.
Chapter Seven
Tracey touched her mouth with her fingers. What she’d wanted to happen had happened. The hunger in his kiss had set her on fire.
We’ll have the rest of the weekend to do whatever we want.
She knew what she wanted. Roce had just been made the new vet of the Rocky Point Dude Ranch. He’d be coming by all summer for legitimate reasons. They’d be together on a regular basis.
To add to her happiness, John had made her feel wanted and welcome. And now Wes was gone...
She was so excited she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. After getting ready for bed, she plucked an apple from the gift basket and lay down on the couch with a quilt to watch TV.
At eleven thirty she received a text from Roce.
I knew you’d want a report. Chief is in pain. I’ve soaked his foot, put on a poultice and started more antibiotics. We’ll have to wait and see if he has survived this without further damage. Looking forward to tomorrow.
Tracey hugged the phone to her heart. So am I, Roce. She turned off the TV and went to bed, needing tomorrow to come.
When morning arrived, she awakened early and was tempted to walk over to the barn to see him when he drove up. But she checked that impulse. He hadn’t asked her to meet him at the barn. Now that she thought about it, he hadn’t asked her to join him at the festival, either.
There had to be a reason. It hurt that maybe it meant he wasn’t that into her even though his kiss had implied otherwise. She needed to face the facts. Roce was still single, but there must have been so many women over the years who’d hoped to become the one.
Just because he’d kissed her didn’t necessarily mean anything serious. Naturally, he’d kissed a lot of women. But one kiss from him wasn’t enough for her. She wanted more and knew she would be in a permanent state of aching for him. Tracey had never thought of herself as a needy person, but that was the way she’d been feeling since he’d come into her life.
Deep down she had to be honest with herself. She knew that no matter how long she looked, she’d never meet another man like Dr. Rocelin Clayton. Her mom had talked about her getting a second chance at happiness. She was right. Tracey had fallen in love with Roce and no one else would ever measure up.
She stayed in bed and listened to the radio while she daydreamed about him. Eventually she got up and showered and dressed. Since she was hungry, she decided to drive into town for breakfast and to stop at a Laundromat.
Tracey could eat at the ranch house and do her laundry there, too, but she’d been given the day off. The last thing she wanted was to talk to anyone and have to explain why she wasn’t working today.
She grabbed her laundry bag and detergent, and left for town. At the drive-through, she bought a breakfast burrito and a hot chocolate, then headed for the Laundromat. As soon as she’d started her wash, she took a seat to wait. But before she could pull out her Kindle, Craig Simmonds approached her carrying a laundry basket.
“Tracey Marcroft. How did I know this was the place I would finally find you?”
Craig was the one who drove the blue truck and worked in the kitchen. He had cute dimples and was probably college-aged, too. “I didn’t know you were looking for me,” she said teasingly.
“You’re the now-you-see-her-now-you-don’t woman. You’re hardly ever around at meals and never in the swimming pool. What’s a guy have to do to spend time with the best-looking woman this side of the continental divide?”
The guy had a line ten miles long, but she didn’t mind. “Only the continental divide? I think I’m insulted.”
He laughed. “I can see I have my work cut out for me. The other evening I saw you with another guy outside your cabin.” That explained the headlights she and Roce had both noticed. “Is he someone special, or would you be willing to go out with me sometime? Deanna Hunter is my boss, and she’ll vouch for me that I’m a nice guy.”
Craig was nice, but she decided she’d better be honest. “If I weren’t involved with someone else, I’d say yes.”
He looked disappointed. “Grady told me I didn’t have a chance against the vet who showed up last week. Is he the one?”
There was no point in denying it. “Yes.”
“Well, you can’t blame a man
for trying.”
“Of course not. I’m sorry, but you made my day with your compliment.”
He put a hand over his heart. “I’m afraid that doesn’t help me none.”
She chuckled. “Your turn is coming.”
“You think?”
“She might be the next person who shows up at the dude ranch. You never know what will happen when you get up in the morning.”
“So far, not much has.”
“Don’t give up.” Tracey had driven past the Clayton Veterinary Hospital never imagining that the vet who owned it would change her entire life within hours of her arriving at the dude ranch.
He nodded. “I’ll be here for a while. See you back at the ranch.”
“Absolutely. Bye for now, Craig.”
When her laundry was done, she left for the ranch to shower and wash her hair. Roce had told her he’d be by after he finished his festival work around two. Several hours and a phone call from her brother later, Tracey put on her makeup and fastened her leaf-green earrings. She was just putting on her sandals when she received a text from Roce.
I finished my shift early to deal with a patient. Now I’m home and have to return some calls from patients. Would you be willing to drive to my house? We’ll make plans after you get here.
Relieved to hear from him, Tracey congratulated herself that she hadn’t tried to crowd him earlier. She texted back that she was ready and would come now. She flew out the door wearing skinny jeans and a new summery green-and-white-print swing top.
Clouds had moved in over the mountains. There might even be a storm before evening. Tracey didn’t care as she left the ranch and headed for Roce’s home. In fact, she couldn’t imagine anything more wonderful than being alone with him.
She pulled into the parking area next to the house and got out of the car. She braced herself for a welcome from his dog, but when Roce answered the door, she didn’t see her. Their gazes fused. He was so painfully handsome, Tracey couldn’t think for a minute. “Where’s Daisy?”
“Sorry, but she’s at Libby’s house. Is she the reason you came?” he asked.
Warmth filled her cheeks. “Daisy’s one of them.” After the door closed she gasped, because he’d grasped her waist from behind. With her back pressed against his chest, he buried his face in her hair.
“After that kiss last night, I’ve been counting the minutes until you got here.” His lips grazed her neck before he turned her around. “I don’t know about you, but this is what I’ve been waiting for since the first time I laid eyes on you.”
His mouth descended, closing hungrily over hers in a deep, voluptuous kiss like the one he’d given her last night. She’d been dying to be with him like this again. Since meeting him a week ago, her need for him had grown so great all it had taken was this taste of him for her passion to catch fire and never go out.
Clasped against his hard body, she found herself trying to get closer. His hands moved over her arms and back, shaping her to him as they sought to become one. If it weren’t for the ringing of his cell phone, Tracey had no idea how long it would have taken for them to break apart. She moaned in protest before remembering he was a doctor and some animal in trouble needed him.
Still clinging to her, he tore his lips from hers to answer it. As time went on, emotion darkened his eyes while he listened to the person on the other end. She couldn’t imagine what was wrong, but whoever had phoned was telling him something that had taken him away from her. He let her ease out of his arms.
Tracey stood there waiting for him to finish the call. When he rang off, he put his arm around her shoulders and walked her into the kitchen. “I have something important to tell you. Let’s talk over lunch. I never did have mine.”
He made ham sandwiches and poured them coffee. They sat at the table to eat.
“After I left you last night, I had a conference call with my brothers. We devised a plan to keep an eye on what’s going on with Wes.” The news surprised her. “I know John loves his grandson and hopes his son Sheldon can handle the situation now that he’s found him another place to do his community service. But I’m not so sure it’s that simple.”
“John is too trusting.”
“I think so, too.” Roce finished his sandwich and poured a second cup of coffee. “Frankly, I don’t have any idea how wide a net Wes Hunter has thrown over some of the employees working on the ranch. He had accomplices when he stole that horse. We know he intimidated Grady and could still plan to stay in touch with him and others for personal reasons, no matter where he’s been placed.”
“But he’s under court order, so what are you saying?”
“Just this. In my opinion, what he did by being abusive to you and Chief was criminal, but not in the eyes of the law. Wes didn’t commit a crime against his grandfather by taking Chief without permission or riding him when he wasn’t well.
“Here’s the point. He’s still free to function the way he wants as long as he puts in his community hours. But being a loose cannon with a personality disorder, as you have suggested, he’s capable of causing more harm and using his friends to help him.”
“You’re right.”
“I’m glad you recognize it. I know in my gut that when John chastised his grandson for treating you the way he did, and hurting Chief, those words will have fueled Wes’s anger against you. Though he has to work off his hours at another nearby location, it won’t stop him from doing more damage when the day is over. I don’t trust him.”
“Neither do I.”
“That’s why Wymon followed me to the ranch early this morning in his car and kept a watch on your car until you drove into town.”
“Your brother was here?”
He nodded. “We thought Grady might be keeping tabs on you per Wes’s orders. Instead, my brother found out that Craig Simmonds followed you to the Laundromat in the truck he doesn’t own.”
Aghast, Tracey got up from the table. “I thought it was odd he showed up there. We all do our laundry at the ranch house. For obvious reasons I decided not to go near it today.”
“Did Simmonds talk to you?”
She nodded. “He flirted with me and mentioned seeing me with another man outside the cabin earlier in the week.”
“That was the night when those headlights were focused on us.”
“Definitely. He asked me to go out on a date. When I told him I was seeing someone exclusively, he indicated that he knew it was the vet. I told him yes, so he’d get the message.”
Roce’s jaw hardened. “Simmonds was spying for Wes. No doubt he’s already reported your conversation to Wes himself, or to Grady, who will pass it on. When I take you back to your cabin tonight, we’ll check on Chief first. After I leave the dude ranch, Eli will be there to keep an eye on you throughout the night. I’d do it, but I have to drive out to the Holgren ranch to do what I can for their very sick brood mare.”
Tracey shook her head. “I’m not your problem.”
He got to his feet and put the dishes in the sink. “We’ve been in this together since that first night. As for my brothers, you have to understand we help each other.”
“But they shouldn’t have to do this for me. I can’t let them. They have families of their own. I’m afraid that if anyone is a target, it’s you.”
He leaned against the counter. “I can take care of myself. My concern is for you. Even though I know how grateful you are to John, if there’s another incident that could put you in jeopardy, I’m hoping you’ll tell him you can’t work there anymore.”
She rubbed her arms. “I couldn’t do that to him.”
“Not even if you know you’re in danger?” he demanded in a controlled voice.
Tracey bit her lip. “You honestly think it could come to that?”
“You and I got in the way of Wes
’s plans and he was exposed. It’s my gut feeling that after his first horse theft was thwarted, he was planning to steal Chief and sell him.”
“Of course,” she agreed.
“But when you noticed the limp, it changed everything. He’s not going to let this go. Wes hasn’t gone to jail for his cruelty to Chief, but I’m convinced it’s only a matter of time before he’s in trouble again.”
“I’m going to have a little talk with Fran and find out what she knows.”
“That could be tricky.”
“When I first came, she told me to come by if I ever needed someone to listen. Maybe I can return the favor.”
“Maybe.” Roce walked over and put his hands on Tracey’s shoulders. “Just remember what Wes is capable of. Look what he’s done to his grandfather even after John worked out that first deal with the judge. Think of the pain he’s caused Chief, John’s best and favorite horse.”
“It’s all I’ve been able to think about.”
His hands cupped her face. “I’ve been thinking of what a jerk he’s been to you.”
“I guess it’s time to talk to my grandfather.”
“That’s a good idea. I’m sure he’d tell you to leave the dude ranch at any more signs of trouble.”
He probably would, but it would mean leaving Roce. She couldn’t bear the thought. “I’d need to find another summer job.”
“That could never be a problem for you.” Roce pressed an ardent kiss to her mouth. “You need cheering up. Let’s get out of here and go to a movie in town.”
She wanted to curl up in his arms and finish what they’d started. But the specter of Wes Hunter had loomed too large to throw off. To realize that she was being watched and followed had shaken her to the core.
“I’m so lucky I met you, Roce.” She gave him another kiss before he walked her out to his truck.
* * *
ROCE HADN’T LIKED putting Tracey on her guard, but she needed to be aware of what she was up against. After the film, which turned out to be an uninspiring dark comedy, they went to dinner at Marie’s for a home-cooked Italian meal.
Cowboy Doctor Page 9
