The Doctor Wears A Stetson (Contemporary Western Romance)

by Anne Marie Novark

  "Thanks, Sam. I think I might have caught a bug. I'll take the weekend off and see you on Monday."

  "Sure thing, Boss Lady." Sam smiled and held the door for her.

  Jessie got her purse and her coat. "If you need anything, just call. I'm not bedridden yet."

  "You will be if you don't get some rest. Now, git."

  "Yes, sir."

  Before heading home, Jessie stopped at the café for a bowl of soup. It was lunch hour and thankfully, Sarah Sue was too busy to pry. Jessie didn't feel like fielding questions about her love life. Her nonexistent love life as of a couple of weeks ago. Not counting that moment of weakness after the council meeting.

  The soup soothed her stomach, but not the turmoil in her soul. Damn, she'd never thought making the decision not to marry Cameron would hurt so much.

  Hadn't she decided it was better to continue living without him, than to marry him and not be able to give him children? And hadn't she reasoned to herself that it was all for the best so she wouldn't be a constant thorn in Dallas' side causing a rift between the two brothers?

  Yeah, right, Jess. Who do you think you're fooling? It looked like a lose/lose proposition no matter which path she chose. If she married Cameron, she'd feel horrible because she couldn't bear his children. On the other hand, if she didn't marry him, she would still live in misery spurning the man she'd always loved.

  Something he'd thrown in her face, by the way. More than just spurning him, but keeping him from something he wanted much more than children. He wanted her.

  Either way, either choice she made, she would end up disappointing him.

  Bumping along the dirt road in her old pickup truck, these thoughts circled inside Jessie's head. When she rounded the stand of mesquite trees guarding the house, she stomped on the brakes and screeched to a halt. What in the world?

  The front porch looked like Gussie Ferguson's Florist Shop. Vases of all shapes and sizes covered every inch of her porch each overflowing with dark red roses.

  Katnip and Sherlock emerged from the midst of the bower and came forward to greet Jessie.

  She climbed out of the truck and slammed the door behind her. As if in a dream, she walked up the stone path, stopped at the porch step and just stared at the bounty of roses nestled together making the old porch a beautiful sight to behold.

  Tears formed in her eyes and she swallowed a lump in her throat. She stepped up onto the porch and sat down amongst the flowers. She counted seventeen arrangements of the most gorgeous long-stemmed roses she'd ever seen. Or maybe they were gorgeous because she'd never received many flowers in her life. Or maybe it was because they were from the man she loved.

  She knew they were from Cameron. Who else? Searching every bouquet and spray of roses, Jessie finally found a card and plucked it from the vase closest to where she sat. With trembling fingers she opened the small envelope and read the bold handwriting.

  To Jess, the woman who holds my heart. Please accept these small tokens of my affection, one for every year we've wasted not being together. My love stands true. My heart belongs to you. Know you are in my thoughts every second of every day. I love you, Cameron.

  Jessie held the card to her heart and closed her eyes. The sweet subtle fragrance of the roses wafted around her, lulling her, whispering to her, battling the defenses she'd worked so hard to erect around her heart.

  She stood, weak-kneed and a little wobbly, and slowly entered the house. She read the love note again, knowing a chink of her self-imposed armor had been chiseled loose.

  Be strong, Jess. Be strong.

  ****

  Monday morning, Jessie was late for work. She'd spent the weekend tossing and turning, getting little rest and less sleep. When she did manage to sleep, she dreamed of the roses and Cameron McCade. His smile, his eyes, his lovemaking. How he'd given up his life in Houston and returned to Salt Fork. How he'd said he loved her and wanted to spend his life with her.

  When she wasn't sleeping, Jessie lay in bed staring at the ceiling thinking about what she'd let slip through her fingers. What could have been such a happy life with Cameron.

  If only . . .

  She'd moved the roses inside the house. Every time she walked to the kitchen to make soup or tea, seventeen vases of lovely roses reminded her of what she'd given up.

  Pulling up behind the garage, Jessie parked her truck and immediately made her way to the office. Sam hollered a greeting from under the sedan he was working on. Since she wasn't in the mood to be around people, she hoped Sam would work in the garage most of the day. She had a ton of paper work to plow through.

  When Jessie jerked opened the door to the office, her hand froze on the metal handle. A rainbow of color bombarded her--on top of the desk, the file cabinet and even on the ancient swivel chair. Baskets and baskets full of carnations. Seventeen. She knew without counting.

  The bell on the door jingled and Sam came in. "Seems like you've got an admirer. McCade sure seems determined. I bet he's going to ask you to marry him. Congratulations, Jessie."

  Jessie's stomach rolled over and she suddenly felt sick. Sicker than she'd felt all weekend. And dizzy. So dizzy, she sank down into the straight-backed chair in front of the desk before she could faint right then and there.

  Sam rushed over and stood in front of her, a frown creasing his black brows. "Are you sure you should have come in to work? Maybe you're not over that stomach virus. You should have stayed home another day. Maybe you should go to the clinic and see the doctor--"

  "No!" Jessie shook her head. Good lord, she didn't want to see Cameron. It would hurt too much. "I'm fine. I'm still recovering, but I'm well enough to work. I'll take it easy and stay in here, catch up on the accounts receivable and let you take care of the repairs." She took a deep breath and conjured up a smile. "Could you help move the flowers to the floor, so I can get to the computer?"

  "Sure thing. You just sit there and rest. Want some water or something?"

  "Water would be nice."

  Jessie sipped her bottle of cold water while Sam cleared the desk and chair.

  "There's a card in this basket," he said and handed it to her. "Yeah, McCade is one determined man. I'll get back to the transmission I'm working on. If you need anything, just holler."

  Jessie gingerly rose from the chair and rounded the desk, sinking into the swivel chair. For a minute, she sat there staring at the card in her hand, afraid to open it.

  With a huge breath, she berated herself for being a coward and quickly slit open the envelope.

  These flowers can't begin to express the love I feel for you. I need you like I need air to breathe and sunshine to live. Seventeen years ago, I made a wrong turn. Help me find the way back, Jess. I love you, Cameron.

  Jessie stared at the card. Seventeen years ago, Cameron had asked her to the prom and her life had miraculously changed. She remembered how surprised and shocked she'd been when he'd shown up at the garage one week before the big event. She couldn't believe he'd asked her to be his date.

  Jessie looked at the baskets of carnations surrounding her on the floor of the office. Yes, she'd lost her heart to Cameron McCade seventeen years ago. And when he'd kissed her up on Lover's Point that night, her world had tilted and it had never been the same since.

  He'd been like Prince Charming, awakening her to love and desire. Then he'd left her high and dry.

  Cameron had called her stubborn, but if she hadn't had that stubborn streak, Jessie would never have survived when he went off to college and left her. She'd never have survived the ordeal of taking care of her sick father. Or losing her mother at such a tender age. Or watching TR die, knowing she hadn't loved him as she should have.

  Jessie knew she was capable of living without Cameron, but she wanted to cry when she thought of the bleak empty future stretching before her.

  It wouldn't be easy. Lord, it had never been easy. And it was different now. Cameron wasn't far away anymore.

  No, the man she loved was back in
Salt Fork. And he loved her and wanted to marry her. She would see him around town, run into him, constantly be aware of his presence over at the clinic or in his house in the middle of town.

  Jessie looked at the flowers surrounding her. He obviously wasn't going to make it easy for her either. He seemed to be laying siege to her heart, deliberately battling down her defenses.

  She sighed. Hadn't she always wished she could be part of his plans? That wish had finally come true.

  Jessie felt her resolve slipping. She brushed her fingers over the petals of a yellow carnation. The flowers lit up the office like Cameron lit up her life. He'd told her he wanted her more than he wanted kids. Could she believe him?

  How would she survive, living in the same town as Cameron, knowing she'd disappointed him by not marrying him? How could she marry him, unable to give him a child?

  She'd been over the argument again and again. No wonder she was dizzy.

  Jessie booted up the computer. Thank God, she now had the resources and money to pay most of the bills. She couldn't have lived with herself if she'd screwed up and lost the garage on top of everything else.

  And that was another thing.

  Dallas McCade was angry about her leasing the oil rights on his ranch. As far as she knew, he still wasn't talking to Cameron. He certainly wasn't talking to her. Which wasn't such a bad thing, considering he only hounded her about selling the mineral rights when he did speak to her.

  Always a silver lining somewhere in there, right?

  That's stretching it a bit, Jess.

  She pulled up the accounts receivable and set to work. She'd lose herself in the dreary columns of numbers for now and let the future take care of itself.

  ****

  At five o'clock, Cameron hung his lab coat on the hook behind his office door, grabbed his Stetson and the gaily-wrapped gift from his desk and headed out the clinic door. Sheila would lock up as she always did.

  They'd settled into a nice routine--he opened the clinic in the morning; she closed at night. It worked out great for both of them. Cameron whistled a happy tune as he drove down the road toward the café.

  He wondered how Jessie had reacted to all the flowers he'd sent. And the notes he'd written, agonizing over every word. He'd realized Jessie had never really dated, had never been courted or wooed, to use the old-fashioned terms.

  She'd always been more of a tomboy, working in the garage with her father. She'd never worn frilly, girlie outfits when she'd been a kid. She still preferred jeans, but once in a while when she wore something like that powder-blue dress that drove him crazy, there was no doubt that she was one sexy woman.

  He turned into the café parking lot, eased the car into a slot and cut the engine. Jessie wasn't beautiful in the classical sense. She was more cute than pretty. But she was beautiful to Cameron. It didn't matter what she had on. And naturally, he liked her best with nothing on at all.

  He gripped the steering wheel. If she didn't respond to his overtures of wooing, he didn't know what he would do. He couldn't imagine continuing to live in Salt Fork without Jessie by his side.

  As usual, the café was crowded at this time of day. Cameron found a seat at the counter, laid the package in front of him and waited for Sarah Sue to come by with his water and menu.

  "Well, hey there, sugar!" Sarah Sue said, hurrying over. "Haven't seen you in quite a while. Been busy getting settled at the clinic? How's the new house coming along? I've always admired the old Peterson house. You are one lucky man that it came on the market when it did and Jessie was able to put down your money for you. By the way, when are you and Jessie going to make up? She's moping around like I don't know what. And when are you going to stop dragging your feet and ask that girl to marry you?"

  Cameron smoothed the ribbon on the package. He hated to admit anything to anybody, but maybe Sarah Sue could help him out. She and Jessie were close friends. But from the sound of it, Jessie hadn't told Sarah Sue the recent developments in their relationship. A relationship he felt slipping from him with every passing minute.

  "I guess you haven't talked to Jessie lately," he said. "She hasn't told you--"

  "Hey, Sarah Sue! Can I get some service over here?" someone called from the corner.

  "Hold your horses, Shorty. I'm coming." Sarah Sue bent to retrieve menus from behind the counter. "Don't you move, Cameron McCade. I want to know what's going on. Jessie's been feeling mighty poorly lately and she's been closed as an oyster about everything. Figure out what you want to eat, while I take care of a few customers."

  She shoved a menu in Cameron's hands and whisked away. Five minutes ago, he'd been hungry as a bear. Now, he couldn't think about eating.

  Before he even opened the menu, Sarah Sue was back, standing beside him instead of behind the counter. She whipped the menu from his grasp. "Let's go, darlin'."

  "Where to?"

  "My office." She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of his seat. He barely had time to pick up the wrapped package from the counter. "We need to discuss this in private," she said, dragging him along. "I may like to gossip, but not about Jessie's private life."

  Cameron followed her through the swinging doors leading to the kitchen, past the stoves and super-sized refrigerator, into a tiny room in the corner of the building.

  She closed the door and pointed to a chair. "Sit."

  Cameron had to smile. Sarah Sue wasn't actually old enough to be his mother, but she sure sounded like a mom. "Yes'm," he said, sliding into the straight-backed chair facing the old metal desk.

  Sarah Sue hitched a hip on the desk, crossed her arms over her meager bosom and glared at him. "Okay, I'm all ears. Tell me everything. I should have known Jessie would screw things up. If ever I saw such a stubborn person . . . well, I haven't, and that's the truth. So spill it, sugar."

  Cameron set the package on the desktop and Sarah Sue eyed it with a gleam in her eyes. He took off his Stetson and settled more comfortably in the hard chair, not knowing how much to tell. He wasn't used to revealing things about himself to anyone.

  "Honey, I'm on your side and Jessie's, of course. I take it from what you almost told me out there that you've already asked her to marry you?"

  "Yes, on Valentine's Day."

  "And she refused you?"

  He nodded.

  Sarah Sue let out a huge exasperated sigh. "That girl. What in the world is going on in her stubborn little head? She's been in love with you since prom night. Did you know that?"

  Cameron shook his head. "I knew she had a crush on me, but--"

  "It was more than a crush," said Sarah Sue. "She was devastated when you left for college."

  "We barely knew one another. How can that be?"

  "Her crush and admiration turned into love, sugar. You were a mighty handsome boy. Nice, polite and charming, as well. A deadly combination for a young girl. Especially one with little experience, if you know what I mean?"

  Cameron felt like squirming in the chair. This was turning out to be an uncomfortable conversation.

  "What reason did she give you for turning down your marriage proposal?" Sarah Sue asked.

  "Some malarkey about not being able to have children," he said. "I told her we could adopt. I even offered to pay for fertility testing. How does she know the fault was hers when she couldn't get pregnant with TR?"

  "She couldn't. She just assumed." Sarah Sue looked up at the ceiling and shook her head. "I thought I'd talked her out of those thoughts. Jessie has always been a glum little thing. Probably comes from losing her mama at such an early age. I did what I could for her, but no one can replace a girl's mother."

  "You've been a good friend to her," Cameron said. "She's lucky to have you."

  "Well, thank you, sugar. That's mighty nice of you. Now, what are you going to do about the situation?"

  Cameron told her about the flowers and the notes he'd written. "I'm trying to think of romantic things to do to show Jessie I'm not taking no for an answer."

 
Sarah Sue smiled. "All those flowers delivered and I haven't heard a thing about it. Gussie Ferguson hasn't breathed a word to a soul."

  "I asked her not to," Cameron said. "Garza promised not to spread it about either."

  "So, what's your next move?" Sarah Sue asked, eying the wrapped package sitting on her desk.

  Cameron picked it up and handed it to her. "I know Jessie comes in here several nights a week. I want you to give that to her, next time she stops by the café."

  "What is it?"

  Cameron stood and picked up his Stetson. "You'll have to wait until Jessie opens it." He kissed her cheek and left her gaping after him, feeling better than he had in days.

  ****

  Jessie felt sicker than she had last week. In fact, she was more nauseous than ever. She'd even thrown up yesterday morning. Sam had made her stay in the office for the past couple of days, saying he didn't like the way she looked. Badgering her to go see the doctor. Sam had asked her what good was there in having a clinic in town, if she didn't make full use of it.

  Well, Sam hadn't slept with the resident physician or refused an offer of marriage from him. That made it just a tad embarrassing to make an appointment.

  After the garage closed for the night, Jessie decided to visit Sarah Sue. Maybe have a bowl of soup and a few crackers; something to settle her riotous stomach. If she wasn't better soon, Jessie would be forced to see a doctor and she didn't feel like driving the eighty miles to Abilene. She'd have to swallow her embarrassment and make an appointment at the clinic.

  Hopefully, she could see Cameron as a patient and they could keep things professional. Hopefully, when she saw him, she wouldn't burst into tears. Hopefully, she'd get well and wouldn't have to go see him.

  The café was empty as usual when Jessie stopped by after work. Nine-thirty at night and most everyone had gone home, even the other waitress and the chef. Only Sarah Sue stayed late at the café, catching up on paper work, trying out new recipes. That was the only time she could cook in the kitchen without causing an uproar with her chef. He didn't like anyone trespassing on his domain, not even Sarah Sue.