by Judy Duarte
She admitted she was, then eased closer to the bed. “How did you know who I was? There are three of us girls here.”
He gave a little shrug. “I have my ways of keeping tabs on my boys and their families.”
So what exactly did he know about them? Or, more specifically, about her?
“Don’t just stand there, girl.” He pointed toward the chair near his bed. “Have a seat.”
“All right.”
After doing as he asked, she decided to take the bull by the horns by coming right out and quizzing him about the family rift.
Before she could get the words out, he said, “You’re a pretty little thing, Tammy.”
No one had ever called her pretty before. Sure, they mentioned her expressive eyes and praised the color. But pretty? No way.
“You look a lot like your grandma did,” he said. “Her hair was dark like yours. And her eyes were nearly the same shade of blue.”
“Do you have any photographs of her?” Tammy asked, curious about the woman and wondering if her look-alike had really been pretty. “If you do, I’d like to see them.”
“I don’t have as many as I would have liked, but I’ll make sure you get at least one or two to keep.” He gazed at Tammy for a moment, and a slow, wistful smile crossed his face, softening the wrinkles. “Ella Rose was a tomboy, too.”
“A cowgirl, you mean?”
“I suppose so. But that little woman could turn a man inside out with a single smile. And it didn’t matter if she was wearing denim or silk.”
Tammy might have been more impressed with the woman’s skill as a cowgirl if she hadn’t just met a man who’d been able to turn her inside out with a smile.
“Your grandma died when the twins were in kindergarten,” Tex added.
The twins? She’d known her father had a brother, but she hadn’t realized they’d shared the same birthday. Dang. Didn’t twins have some kind of weird, psychic connection, even when separated at birth?
If so, then the one William Travis and Sam Houston Byrd shared must be faulty.
Before she could comment or press Tex for more details, a couple of light knocks sounded at the door.
Her grandfather shifted in his bed, then grimaced. “Who is it?”
“Mike Sanchez.”
Doc? Tammy’s heart dropped to the pit of her stomach with a thud, then thumped and pumped its way back up where it belonged.
“Come on in,” Tex said.
Thank goodness her grandfather issued the invitation because she couldn’t have squawked out a single word, let alone managed to get up and open the door herself.
As Doc entered the room, looking even more handsome than he had yesterday, Tammy struggled to remain cool and calm, which was proving to be darn near impossible.
And it wasn’t just her heartbeat going wacky. Her feminine hormones had begun to pump in a way they’d never pumped before.
“Good morning,” Doc said, his gaze landing first on Tex, then on Tammy.
She managed to return his smile, although she had no idea how, when her pulse rate was so out of whack.
As he approached the bed, he continued to look at Tammy, his head cocked slightly.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that your eyes are an interesting shade of blue. I’m sure you hear that all the time.”
“Not really.” And not from anyone who’d ever mattered. In truth, they were a fairly common color—like the sky or bluebonnets or whatever. “I’ve always thought of them as run-of-the-mill blue.”
“There’s nothing ordinary about it. In fact, it’s a pretty shade.”
The compliment set her heart on end, even though it would have been nice if he’d actually said that she was pretty. That her hair looked especially nice today, hanging down, loose on her shoulders.
Instead, he said, “If you don’t mind stepping out of the room, I’d like to examine your grandfather.”
Of course she minded leaving. She wanted to stay in the same room with Doc for the rest of her natural born days. But she understood her grandfather’s need for privacy.
“Of course.” She got to her feet, then looked at the doctor as though he might change his mind and ask her to stay.
But he didn’t. He turned back to Tex, his demeanor strictly professional.
Apparently, it was going to take more than a change of hairstyle to woo him, but there was no way Tammy would be able to pull that off by herself. And something told her that neither the housekeeper nor the cook, who were both in their sixties, would be much help in the man-wooing department.
So that left her beautiful cousins.
She had no idea what to say the next time she ran in to them. But somehow, by hook or crook, she’d have to think of something.
Because she was going to risk untold humiliation and embarrassment by begging them to turn a cowgirl into a lady.
Chapter Four
While Doc examined her grandfather in private, Tammy made her way to the living room, where she planned to hang out until she could return to Tex’s room.
She had to admit that she was curious about Grandpa Tex, as well as Ella Byrd, the grandmother she supposedly favored, and the family feud. But more than that, she wanted to see Doc before he returned to his office in town. He had to be the best-looking man in all of Texas, and she stood to lose him to another woman, one who had more feminine wiles than she did.
Her heart ached at the thought, but she’d be darned if she’d just stand by and let it happen.
She might be completely out of her league when it came to competing for his affections, but it didn’t matter. She did all the doctoring on her father’s ranch, so they had a lot in common. All she had to do was talk to him a bit longer.
He’d mentioned the color of her eyes today, and that had to be a good sign, didn’t it? He’d definitely noticed her.
Maybe she didn’t need to approach Jenna about a makeover, after all. Laying her heart out to a woman who was little more than a stranger—no matter how much DNA they shared—could be embarrassing. All she needed was to have her cousin make light of it or find the whole thing amusing.
Maybe she could attract Doc on her own. She just had to find a way to spend more time with him.
She wasn’t sure how to go about that, but if an opportunity arose, she planned to jump on it. In the meantime, she’d wait in the living room for Doc to come out—and for a chance to waylay him somehow.
As she prepared to plop down on the leather sofa, she heard voices in the formal dining room.
She didn’t pay them any mind at first. Not until she heard Tina, the housekeeper, mention “Sam Byrd” and mumble something else. Tammy’s curious nature might be the death of her some day, just as her brother Aidan always said it would, but she made her way closer to the arched doorway, taking care not to make any noise or draw any attention to herself.
It was Barbara who asked, “When do you think Sam will arrive?”
“Who knows? Maybe later today. I’ve already got his cabin cleaned and ready for him. From what I understand, William’s two boys won’t come until later in the week.”
No, Tammy thought. It might be at least that long. Aidan and Nathan had gone on a remote fishing trip in Montana with a couple of their old college buddies. They didn’t have cell service, so they wouldn’t even get the message about coming to the Flying B until Thursday or Friday.
“I still have time to air out that bigger cabin near the far corral,” Tina added. “The others either need some repair or are occupied by the ranch hands—and the dream cabin is boarded up.”
The dream cabin? What in blazes was that? Tammy wondered, easing closer.
“Are you going to put William’s sons together?” Barbara asked.
“You could give them private quarters if you have one of the ranch hands cut the padlock and open up that dream cabin.”
“No,” Tina said. “I’d better leave that one locked up tight, just the way Tex wanted it after Savannah ran off.”
Savannah? Tammy had never heard the name, which didn’t mean much, since everything about the Flying B was new. But the fact that someone had run off was more than a little intriguing.
Tammy leaned forward, hoping to hear learn more.
“You’re probably right. William’s sons can share the bigger cabin.” Barbara blew out a sigh. “That is, unless they’re feuding, just like their father and uncle.”
“Speaking of feuding,” Tina said, “I wonder what’ll happen when William and Sam finally meet face-to-face. I hope they’ll be civil to each other—for Tex’s sake.”
“William and Sam were both good boys growing up—and so personable. But they were also stubborn and competitive to a fault.”
“No kidding. After all, they held a grudge for nearly thirty-five years.”
“And all over a woman,” Barbara added.
A woman? Tammy perked up. The one who’d run off?
“Did you ever meet Savannah?” Barbara asked.
“No. But I’ve heard about her over the years.”
“Well, you’d better not mention her name while the family is here. You could end up starting World War III—or getting your walking papers.”
“You’re right. I’ll keep my mouth shut. But what kind of woman comes home to meet her boyfriend’s family, then sleeps with his twin brother?”
Oh, wow. Tammy had no idea...no wonder her father and uncle had a falling-out.
“Do you suppose it had anything to do with that feather bed?” Tina asked.
“You don’t believe that silly legend, do you?”
“That the dreams of anyone sleeping on it come true? No, I’m not that superstitious.”
Tammy straightened. So that’s why they called it the dream cabin. It also has a legendary feather bed.
“Come on,” Barbara said. “Quit your lollygagging, Tina. Help me pull this table apart so we can add the extension. We’re going to have plenty of people to feed over the next few days.”
“I don’t know about that. Jenna is spending a lot of time outside, and her sister is holed up in the bedroom, typing away on her laptop or talking on her cell phone. William slips in when he thinks no one is around.... Something tells me there’ll be a lot of folks wanting to take their food to go.”
“Hand me that table extension,” Barbara said. “Now let it slip into place.”
The next thing Tammy heard was a snap, a scrape and a grunt.
“There we go,” Tina said. “What’s for dinner tonight?”
When the discussion turned to pot roast, mashed potatoes and apple pie, Tammy returned to the living room, her thoughts a tumble with rumors and legends and family feuds.
Before she could take a seat and give her imagination free rein, a door opened down the hall, then snapped shut. Footsteps sounded, coming closer.
Oh, good. That had to be Doc.
She turned to the doorway. Even though she’d known who to expect, her breath caught at the sight of him, and her heart soared.
“You can go back in to see your grandfather, if you’d like.”
Actually, she preferred to stand right here. But she smiled. “Thanks.”
“I’ll be back tomorrow.”
Tammy might have rooted to the floor, gawking at him, if she hadn’t awakened from her romantic stupor and realized he was leaving.
He tipped his head and offered her a smile. “Goodbye, Miss Byrd.”
Tammy didn’t know what to make of the formality. No one had ever called her Miss Byrd before. Did that mean he considered her more than the little girl who could outrope and outride her older brothers or their friends?
She sure hoped so, because for the first time in her life, she’d met a man she didn’t want to compete with, but rather one she’d be willing to compete for. And while she appreciated his respect, she couldn’t very well get romantically involved with a man who called her “Miss,” so she said, “Please call me Tammy.”
“All right.” He offered her another smile, this one lighting his eyes, then headed for the door.
Unable to help herself, she followed him outside like that same lovesick puppy she morphed into whenever he was around. If she actually had a tail, it’d be wagging like crazy.
Did all doctors smell as good as he did? Did they all have such broad shoulders, such...
Oh, for Pete’s sake. She had to get over it, but she didn’t have a clue how to do that when it seemed that any teenage crushes she might have had while growing up had all been stored up until now, just waiting to bust out all over for the one man worthy of her heart.
So how could she just shake it all off?
Somehow, she’d have to find a way to keep him on the Flying B, even if it meant letting the air out of his tires or disabling his vehicle.
Okay, so she had the mechanical know-how to do something like that. Still, she wouldn’t actually go that far. But, boy howdy, was she tempted to pull out all the stops when it came to this particular man and matters of the heart.
“Dr. Sanchez,” she said, “can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“When my grandfather called us home, he told us that he was dying. How long does he have left?”
“It’s hard to say. A couple of weeks. More or less. I’ve prescribed a narcotic, which helps keep the pain manageable.”
Tammy bit down on her bottom lip. She’d never known her grandfather, and now that they’d finally met, she would hardly have the chance to spend any time with him.
Doc placed his hand on Tammy’s shoulder in a gentle, compassionate way, yet his touch sparked a jolt of heat that spiraled to her core.
Her gaze was drawn to his. Emotion swirled around her, binding her to him somehow.
If she didn’t have stars in her eyes when looking at him earlier, she surely had them now.
Oh, Lordy. She was falling hard and deep for the man. Before she could ponder whether he was feeling it, too, his cell phone rang, stealing him away from her.
“Excuse me.” He removed his hand from Tammy’s shoulder to answer. “Dr. Sanchez.”
His brow furrowed as he listened to whomever was talking to him on the other end. “How many were injured?”
He paused a beat. “Are they conscious?” He glanced at his watch. “I’m at the Flying B, which isn’t that far away. Don’t take them to town. I’ll meet you there. It shouldn’t take more than ten minutes or so.”
When Doc disconnected the line, his attention returned to Tammy. “There was an accident at the Snyders’ ranch. A couple of hands trying to fix the roof on the barn fell through. It’s not an emergency, but I need to head over there as soon as I talk to Tina about increasing Tex’s medication.”
“Do you want me to ride with you?” she asked. “I handle most of the first aid on my father’s spread. I’d be happy to help.”
“I appreciate the offer, but it’s probably best if you stay here and visit with Tex.” Before she could object, he turned and walked toward the kitchen.
Tammy didn’t have a minute to spare. She had to convince him to take her with him. It would be an opportunity to show how helpful she could be, to show him how much they had in common.
So while he went looking for Tina, Tammy hurried outside and dashed to his truck. After making a quick scan to make sure no one saw what she was up to, she lifted the hood and unhooked a wire to the distributor cap. Then she lowered the hood and took off in search of Hugh, the ranch foreman. Once Doc realized his truck wouldn’t start, she’d have a set of keys to one of the Flying B p
ickups handy.
Doc was going to need a ride, and Tammy was determined to drive him wherever he wanted to go.
* * *
As Mike sat behind the wheel of his pickup, he turned the ignition one last time. When nothing happened, he swore under his breath.
Thank God the injuries at the Snyder ranch weren’t critical. If they had been, he would have had Life Flight pick them up and transport them to the hospital and met them there. But according to the foreman who’d called, both men were conscious. One claimed he was fine, but had abrasions and a possible broken ankle. The other had a head laceration and a dislocated shoulder.
Mike opened the driver’s door, then climbed out of his truck. Before he could go in search of one of the Flying B ranch hands, Tex’s blue-eyed granddaughter stopped him.
“Engine trouble?” Tammy asked.
“As a matter of fact, yes. But I don’t have time to get to the bottom of it. I’m going to need a ride to the Snyder ranch.”
She lifted a set of car keys. “I was just heading into town on a shopping trip, but that can wait. I’d be happy to drive you.”
“Are you sure? It could take a while.”
She smiled, those amazing blue eyes glimmering as if he was doing her a favor and not the other way around. “No problem at all. I’d only planned to go shopping because I’m bored. I’d much rather do something useful.”
“All right, then. Thanks.”
Tammy, whose long, dark hair hung over her shoulders and down her back in a glossy cascade of curls, nodded toward a beat-up, white Chevy pickup parked near the barn. “I’ve got the keys to that one. Come on, let’s get out of here.”
Five minutes later, Mike had transferred his medical bag and the supply case he always carried with him into the truck Tammy was driving. Then they’d taken off.
As they drove down the county road, headed toward Brian Snyder’s place, Tammy said, “You’ll have to give me directions. I’m not familiar with Buckshot Hills.”
Neither was Mike. He’d been relying heavily on a portable GPS system even though some of the back roads were graveled and technologically nonexistent. But he’d been to the Snyder ranch several times before. Brian’s pregnant wife, Melanie, had suffered with morning sickness much longer than usual, so Dr. Reynolds had been stopping by regularly to provide an IV drip. And Mike had continued the treatment until the nausea had finally passed.
