Discovering the Doctor (Masterson County Book 2)

by Brookes, Calle J.

  She settled the horse in the small three-stall barn that had been on the property for more than two generations. It was old and somewhat shabby, but Wind Lover would be safe, warm, and dry. The middle barn held three horses that they boarded for people in town. That money went a long way to buying feed for Phoebe’s little drove of goats .

  Pip spent hours with little Wind Lover, getting the horse settled, learning her, letting her just feel Pip nearby. Patient, loving .

  Determined to win her trust .

  It was going to take her time .

  The horse needed to heal first .

  * * *

  S he spent most of the next afternoon with Wind Lover, and she saw some real progress. The horse seemed to understand that Pip wasn’t going to hurt her at all. She’d just finished cleaning the stall next to Wind Lover’s when her arm caught on an exposed nail .

  She tried to clean up the wound herself but it wasn’t happening. She needed an extra pair of hands. Perci should be around the place somewhere .

  “Perci? Come help me for a minute." Pip called when she heard the sound of footsteps just inside the barn. She turned, expecting to see her sister. It wasn't her twin standing there. No; it was a big, tall, strong man. For a moment Pip fought panic, until she looked into the familiar blue eyes .

  Matt .

  Some of the tension filling her dissipated. Some, not all .

  She was practically half naked in front of him, after all. She clutched her shirt closer, attempting to cover the old bra she wore. There was no time to slip the shirt back over her head, not without him seeing more than she wanted to reveal. She forced herself to take a deep breath, to remember that Matt had never hurt her. Never would. She knew that. Intellectually. Emotionally? She was still a messed up tangle of nerves. Stupid nerves. "What are you doing here ?"

  "I came to check on Wind Lover ."

  "I cut my arm, I was trying to take care of it. Just give me a second to put my shirt back on." She shouldn't have said anything about it. It was like she’d triggered his reaction. His eyes took the expected path--he looked down, to where she clutched the orange flannel close .

  Pip might not be overly experienced, but she'd certainly seen appreciation like that in a man's eyes before. And Joel looked at Phoebe that way all of the time. With just that same amount of heat. That hunger .

  She swallowed as her mouth went dry. Matt had never looked at her that way before, had he ?

  Matt Masterson liked what he saw. And she strongly suspected he wanted to see more .

  For one wild moment Pip wanted to just let go of the shirt, and let him see. Let him see all of her that he wanted .

  She wished she could. Wished she could be like Perci or Phoebe and trust enough to just let go with a man .

  Her arms tightened on the material, instead .

  Pip fought the shiver that went through her. For the first time, she wasn't shivering from fear. Or from cold. But from something that felt a little like heat, anticipation .

  Because she wanted him to see .

  She liked that he liked what he saw, didn't she? "Matt? A little privacy, please?" Before she ended up making a total fool of herself. He stepped out of the stall, and she hurriedly slipped the now ripped orange flannel back on, her fingers flying over the buttons .

  She joined him outside of the stall. His eyes immediately went to the buttons of her shirt. "You missed one. I'd love to help you fix it, if you'd let me ."

  "I…" She didn't know how to flirt with a man. Or how to respond to one who was so… so… like Matt. "Why are you here again ?"

  "To check on the horse, remember?” He smiled at her, melting her insides again. And then his eyes shifted a bit. To the arm she’d injured. “Baby, you’re bleeding. Do you have a first-aid kit in here? I am a doctor, after all ."

  "Of horses and dogs, not of people ."

  "I still know how to use a Band-Aid, Pip. And I won't even peek, anymore than I already have ."

  She didn't see where she had any choice. Pip handed him the first-aid kit and he made quick work of the two-inch gash on her arm. "I caught my arm on a nail ."

  "It's nasty, but I don't think it'll need stitches. If you want, I'll drive you into town. We can swing by the hospital and have Nate take care of it .”

  “I don't really think that's necessary." And they didn’t need another ER bill, not for a little cut like this. At most, she’d just wait until Perci came home and let her twin take care of it. Perci had stitched them all up before. It came in handy, having a sister who was a nurse .

  "You’re up-to-date on your tetanus ?"

  "I think so. I'm not sure, though.” She appreciated how calm and matter-of-fact he was. No teasing, no pushing the boundaries. Just Matt. Always, just Matt. Pip finally felt herself start to relax. It was always like this with him, wasn’t it? Tense and afraid, then finally, that moment when she relaxed enough to be comfortable with him .

  To forget the fear that had coated her life for so long and just be with him .

  "I'll call Nate; have him send a booster home with your sister ."

  "I… That's not necessary, Matt. I can take care of myself ."

  "Why should you have to do it all alone? Sometimes, baby, a man just wants to take care of a woman. Makes him feel strong and worth something, makes him think he matters. To take care of the people he cares about." He brushed a finger over the fresh bandage. He let that finger dip lower, ghosting over the skin of her arm. “And I do care about you—a great deal, Philippa Tyler .”

  Pip fought a shiver at the unexpected touch .

  Matt had really big hands. Hands that knew exactly how to touch, probably .

  Pip didn't know what to say about that, so she said nothing at all. He turned the conversation back to Wind Lover, and she let him .

  Pip didn't know how to deal with an attractive man. Period. Especially one who had hinted repeatedly that he found her attractive, as well .

  Three months ago it never would have occurred to her that a man like him would look at her that way. Matt had not stopped watching her from the moment he'd stepped into the barn .

  Pip had never been so confused in her adult life as she was in that very moment .

  For the first time in four years, she found a man attractive. And she didn't have a clue what to do about it. So Pip talked, about the horse and about the boys, and anything that popped up. They just talked, as she dealt with Wind Lover and he examined the mare .

  She didn’t know where the words came from but she didn’t miss the pleasure in those blue eyes of his .

  Matt had beautiful eyes; he was the only brother to have blue eyes. She’d thought about his eyes often. More often than she wanted to think about .

  She thought about Matt more often than she wanted to think about, too. Pip didn’t have a clue what it meant .

  15

  R owland was starting to see outwitting Matt Masterson as a real challenge. He’d recognized the big black truck in front of the Tylers’ front porch, even without Masterson Vet Clinic on the side. Still, as long as Masterson didn’t want Rowland’s redhead, then he could tolerate having the man around, right? There were two redheads available, not like they each couldn’t have the one they wanted .

  Besides, Rowland had made a point of never sleeping with a woman he wanted to work with—or did work with—that was just irresponsible, after all .

  Men like Matt Masterson were enough to make other men feel weak and pitiful. Not Rowland, of course, but other men. Less confident men. Masterson walked at the side of the quieter redhead again as they came from a small barn near the rear of the pasture .

  Rowland would bet good money the two of them had a real thing going between them, though people he’d asked in town hadn’t heard such. No, but the town had been full of wild speculation about the mysterious Tyler
sisters--who had apparently just appeared out of nowhere three months earlier when their eldest sister had snagged the attention of one of Masterson County’s most eligible bachelors .

  Not everyone in town was too pleased with it .

  He’d found it intriguing and filed the story away in his mental files for when he someday got the urge to write another romantic film .

  Romance wasn’t exactly something he understood a lot about .

  The redhead stopped walking—and talking—when she saw Rowland. Masterson put a hand on her back, almost as if he was supporting her. Masterson glowered at Rowland .

  What a quiet little timid ragamuffin she was, needing the big strong cowboy at her side to keep her safe. Rowland fought a snort .

  “Bowles, why are you here ?”

  “Someone mentioned I might want to consider the Tyler Ranch for one of my locations. I figured I’d take a look today.” Bullshit, but now that he was here he could see where the rundown ranch had real potential as Keith’s place. Keith was a secondary character in his latest project. The hero’s closest friend, an honorable, hard-working rancher who didn’t believe in magic or mysticism at all. He’d inherited a struggling ranch—that was actually a portal to a mystical realm that only Gretta could open. Keith would eventually end up as guardian to all the witch fairies who crossed through that portal. Keith was a natural guardian .

  Much like Matt Masterson probably was .

  The Tyler Ranch was ragged, so he wouldn’t have to spend any money making it look run-down, and then fix it back up when he was finished. He’d done that a fair time or two before. It could get expensive .

  No, the Tyler Ranch was run -down .

  And there were children running around. Boy children, chickens, ducks, and—heaven help him—goats , running everywhere. He didn’t think any of the Tyler sisters were old enough to have preteens, but...maybe they were older than they looked ?

  “My father is the one who makes those kinds of decisions, Mr. Bowles, and he’s in Texas for a few more weeks. I’m afraid you’ll have to look elsewhere,” the girl said. She turned toward the boys. “Pete, get your things together. I’m taking you three over to Phoebe’s for dinner tonight .”

  Rowland didn’t miss the pleasure that rushed across Masterson’s face as the vet spoke .

  Masterson was pitiful, as he spoke. “I didn’t know that .”

  “Perci and I need to speak with Phoebe and Pan tonight. Family things,” she said quietly. “Joel’s going to hang out with the boys .”

  “You’re staying for dinner, too?” Masterson practically wheedled the question. Rowland snorted silently. Didn’t the man have any pride ?

  Or was there more to this Tyler sister than met the eye ?

  What was it about her that drew a man like Masterson’s attention, when her identical sister was just as beautiful, yet ten times more confident as a woman ?

  What was it about Pip Tyler that Masterson was so hung up over ?

  “Yes .”

  “Good. Then I’ll drive you and the boys over. I’ll even give you a lift back .”

  “ That’s not ...”

  “I know. But I want to , ok ?”

  Yeah, Masterson was in pursuit. Did the Tyler woman even know it? He was interested in watching how it played out. For research purposes only, of course .

  And how was that going to interfere with what Rowland wanted ?

  He was about to ask another question, anything to get her attention onto him and not on Masterson or the small kid yanking on her shirt making demands, when a twenty-something-year-old Chevy pulled in the drive .

  The redhead he’d truly come to see parked and stepped out. She approached the front porch where they waited with wariness on her beautiful face .

  She looked exhausted—and it was only six in the evening. Long day at the hospital, most likely. She was going to work herself to an early grave, just like half the people he’d met in small places like this that were barely struggling to make it day by day .

  Her and her pretty twin both. What a waste .

  “Famous Movie Director Rowland Bowles, on Tyler property. What are the odds?” she said, shooting her sister a significant look. The ragamuffin shrugged quietly. Always quiet, that one, wasn’t she? “What can we do for you tonight ?”

  “I came to look at your property to use as a potential location. And to see you and your twin. Rumor has it the two of you are breathtakingly beautiful and would look awe inspiring on the big screen .”

  “Pip would. I’m too mean for breathtaking. I’d make a good villain, though. Just ask Masterson’s brother Nate.” She handed her bag to one of her brothers and the kid didn’t hesitate to carry it inside for her. “So what’s the real reason a famous movie director showed up here today? What do you want ?”

  Her twin said something quietly behind her, but Rowland had almost forgotten the twin was even there. Something about the way Perci Tyler stared at a man...It was enough to have him forgetting his true purpose .

  “I need a Gretta.” He realized how stupid he sounded and he tried again. “I have a character that I need to fill. I like to use locals whenever possible. You have the look I want. And I saw you ...on your horse a week or so back. You looked exactly how I expected Gretta would. I’m willing to pay you, of course .”

  She smiled mysteriously at him. “Saw me on my horse, you say? When was this ?”

  “Six nights ago. On the Masterson Ranch. Riding a big red monster .”

  “I see...” She shot a look over at her twin, then smiled mysteriously. “You sure about that ?”

  “Certain .”

  Wasn’t he ?

  “Hmmm. I’m not interested right now. And even if I was, I have a packed schedule at the hospital. There is no way Dr. Belzebub Masterson would ever let me have time off to make a movie. I’m sorry. You’ll have to find your Gretta elsewhere .”

  “I’m talking serious money. Everyone told me today that any money will help your family. Think about it. It can change your life, being in one of my films. It’s happened before .”

  “Oh, I’m sure it has. But I’ll tell you again, Bowles. I’m not the woman you want .”

  Matt Masterson coughed behind him. Rowland fought turning around to see the man laughing at the nurse’s rejection of his offer. Let Masterson laugh and think it was funny, then. Rowland didn’t care .

  Oh, well. Rowland wasn’t the type to give up easily .

  16

  M att spent most of the next day thinking about what Rowland Bowles had offered him and his brothers to use their ranch. It was a substantial cash offer. Not needed, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt. His share would be enough to buy out his brothers on the third ranch they’d purchased, under Levi’s direction. Matt was using it to run his horse operation. Once he got things up and running…He’d even be able to operate a satellite vet office out there, and board patients if he needed .

  It meant dealing with Bowles, though .

  “Well, I think Bowles is an idiot,” Matt heard his housekeeper say hotly as the door opened late the next afternoon. No surprise, his housekeeper had a bit of a temper at times. Like her older sister Perci--and like his sister-in-law Phoebe. The only Tyler sister that didn’t seem quick to anger was Pip. “It’s obvious that it wasn’t Perci out there that night. I mean, they’re identical. Not like most people can tell them apart. Ninety percent of our own family can’t tell them apart .”

  Matt’s attention sharpened and he leaned back in his desk chair--closer to the open door. Sometimes having a home office right next to the front door had real advantages .

  He’d known who they were speaking of the moment they’d mentioned identical. And Bowles .

  Matt agreed with Pan’s assessment. The guy was an idiot if he couldn’t see that it had been Pip out there that night. Everyone seemed to realize that except for Bowles .

  “How much of it is him seeing what he expects to see—and how much is it Pip keeping him from seeing her?
We both know she hides from men, especially big men like Bowles,” Phoebe said, her tones those of a woman who’d been deaf for years. Matt settled back in his office chair as he listened to the sounds of women in his house. It wasn’t something he was used to, that was for sure .

  It had been him and his three brothers in this place since Matt was not any older than his twenty-two-year-old housekeeper. His mother had a place three miles from town that she used on her rare returns to Masterson County. She hadn’t stayed in town much after his father’s death and Nate taking over the hospital admin for her shortly after .

  She said Masterson hurt too much without their father .

  Women like Phoebe and her youngest sister Pan were completely foreign to this ranch. Matt liked that that was changing .

  He was starting to get used to having Pan around. She was very good at her job—running their house, while her sister was back at the Tyler Ranch each day. It was hard not to think of her as a baby sister and not as an employee—like she insisted .

  Pan, like all the rest of those Tyler redheads, brought out protective urges in a man. Matt wouldn’t deny it .

  It was the mention of that damned director, Bowles, that truly caught his attention, though. Joel and Nate had shoved the moron on to Matt, damn them. And Matt knew the director was enjoying getting right under Matt’s skin. It was almost like the guy was getting a kick out of pushing his buttons whenever he could .

  “Pan? Everything ok?” He’d seen her talking to Rowland Bowles when the man had stopped by to pester Levi into letting him use the spread for some scenes that morning before Matt had taken off to the northern corner of the county to tend to a herd of sick cattle .