Home on the Ranch: Wyoming Cowboy Ranger Read online

  “My parents are the great ones. Their story is remarkable for the kindness and devotion they’ve shown to me. In my opinion they’re the true saints of this world.”

  “Knock, knock.”

  Ron! Lily had completely forgotten about him. It was a good thing he’d come. She’d been talking her head off because Porter had a way of pulling information out of her.

  “Come on in,” she called to the orderly. “My patient is ready to go. See you at three.”

  Once they went out the door, Lily put more information in the computer. She still trembled as she remembered the feel of Porter’s jaw coming in contact with the side of her face.

  After she got up to wash her hands, she reached for her cell and phoned her friend Millie. She couldn’t go to lunch today, but Lily made a hair appointment for the following morning at nine and they would have a good talk then. Once they’d hung up, her office phone rang.

  “Yes, Cindy?”

  “Two things. Your eleven-thirty appointment just canceled due to stomach flu and will reschedule. Also, a Mr. Fitzer, the head of the forest service, is here and wants to know if he can have a brief word with you about Ranger Ewing.”

  Her heartbeat sped up. “Of course. I’m free now. Send him in.”

  Chapter 3

  Porter remained in the wheelchair to eat his lunch and was deep in thought over Lily when he heard his name called. He looked up, expecting to see the nurse or Ron. Instead it was his boss.

  “Stan—”

  “How are you doing?”

  “Better than expected.”

  “Knowing about your accident, I didn’t think I’d see you in this good of shape,” Stan admitted. “But after meeting your therapist and learning of today’s progress, I know why.”

  “You’ve talked to Lily?” The question shot out of his mouth before he could stop it.

  His boss smiled. “If she’s the one with violet eyes and black hair.” Porter had walked into that one. “According to her, you’ll probably be released to go home day after tomorrow.”

  That was good news, and bad. He liked it that she was only a floor away from him.

  “She recommends a health-care aide to be with you for the first week, one who can drive you to your therapy sessions. I’ll arrange for that service. And when the week is out, we’ll talk about your coming back to work at a desk job.”

  “I don’t think I’ll have to be home a whole week.” As Lily had reminded him, the culprit had left him to die. Porter needed to go after him ASAP.

  “That’s her decision. Your therapist comes highly recommended here in the state of Wyoming.”

  Porter believed it, but he would still do his best to change her mind. He’d go crazy without work. “I appreciate your coming by. I’ll be back before you know it.”

  “Don’t rush it, Porter. Follow the rules.” At the doorway, he paused. “I want you to return to the department when you’re ready, not before. At that point we’ll talk about getting you another horse.” Porter had wondered how long it would take before he could even ride one again.

  As for Ace, he would be impossible to replace. They’d functioned as one. It would take time to break in a new horse and start over again.

  “Thank you for everything, Stan.”

  “So long.” He disappeared out the door.

  Feeling stronger, Porter wheeled himself over to the bed and turned on the TV. He watched the news until Ron came to help him shower. It was no longer a painful ordeal, just a few twinges. After that he decided to phone his mother who’d moved to Buffalo, New York, with her new husband. She would want to know what had happened to him.

  The phone call went pretty much as expected. His mother rejoiced that nothing was broken. They both lamented over the loss of his horse. Her next reaction was to tell him she would fly out and take care of him—she claimed he wouldn’t need a health giver when he had her.

  Porter thanked her for the offer but assured her he didn’t plan to be home that long. “I have friends who’ve already been helping me. When I’m recovered, I have a week’s vacation coming up in August and will fly out to see you and Art.”

  “You promise?”

  “Have I ever broken one?”

  “I can’t help but worry about you,” his mother grumbled. “Do you believe that this therapist is giving you the proper help?”

  “She’s reputed to be the best in the state, otherwise my boss wouldn’t have had the helicopter fly me to this hospital and clinic.”

  “Well, I guess I have to trust you to know what you’re doing. But I’m going to pester you every day until I know you’re fully recovered and back to doing what you love.”

  He smiled. “I’ll look forward to every phone call. I want to hear what you and Art have been up to. Give him my best. Love you, Mom.”

  Porter had barely hung up when it was time to see Lily again. Ron was the one to wheel him down to the clinic. They had to wait outside until the therapy room door opened. When it did, Porter saw and heard a man in his thirties who was talking to her.

  “The next time I come, I’ll convince you to go to dinner with me.”

  “It’s against the rules, Mr. Lattimer, but thank you for asking.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not giving up.”

  On his way out, he almost bumped into Ron. The man’s interest didn’t surprise Porter. Lily had apparently been attracting the attention of male admirers for years. He’d seen more evidence of it today as he witnessed his boss’s reaction to her.

  Ron had said she was still single, but that told him next to nothing about her love life. Porter was determined to find out more.

  When Ron wheeled him in the room, Lily was standing there waiting for him with the belt in hand. Anyone not knowing the situation would think she was waiting to flay her next victim.

  He decided she’d read his mind, because she said, “You’re back for more torture?”

  “I can handle it.”

  She set his brake. “That’s what I told your boss when he talked to me earlier. He’s says you’re pretty indispensable around the department. I understand your former boss in the Adirondacks hated letting you go and wants you back.”

  That must have been quite a conversation. “What other skeletons did he let out of the closet?”

  “I guess you have a few of them then?” she teased. “I knew you hadn’t grown up out here. I should have recognized your New York accent.”

  “Is it that strong?”

  A quick smile appeared. “Once in a while something slips out that lets me know you’re not from the Wild West.” She handed him the belt. He put it on with even less difficulty than this morning. “What part of New York do you come from?”

  He fastened it. “Lake Placid.” Emotion darkened her eyes to a deep purple.

  A connection had been made. “Did you know the old Olympic village is now a federal prison?”

  “I heard as much, but I’ve never skied there. Did you grow up on skis, too?”

  “Skis and horses,” he replied. “They were a necessity for my father, a ranger who worked for the fish-and-game industry all his adult life. I simply followed in his footsteps.”

  “The Adirondacks is such a beautiful area of the country. I’m surprised you left to come out here.”

  Porter’s eyes narrowed on her. “That’s one of the skeletons in my closet.”

  “We all have skeletons,” she murmured.

  He continued to stare at her. “You mean you haven’t revealed the rest of yours to me?”

  When she went quiet, Porter realized he’d hit a nerve, and she’d closed herself up. After the long pause, she said, “Why don’t we get started.”

  He put his feet on the floor the way she’d taught him and waited for her to grab hold of the belt to help him. When he was standing, she held on whi
le they walked in measured steps over to the pad.

  For the next twenty minutes she worked with him. He found it easier to move and was disappointed when she helped him back in the wheelchair.

  “How do you feel?”

  He handed her the belt. “Surprisingly good. Today I haven’t even taken ibuprofen.”

  “But you might notice a few aches in bed tonight. I worked you harder this last session. You might need some yet.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  She studied his right arm. “Your bruises are starting to turn a yellowish gray color. That’s a good sign.”

  “On my cheek, too.”

  Her gaze lifted to his face. “It’s starting to fade. Pretty soon you’ll be able to lie on your right side.”

  “How do you know which side I prefer when I sleep?”

  “I don’t, but most of us have a favorite position in bed.”

  To his amusement color swept into her cheeks. She turned to phone for an orderly to come and get him. After she hung up, he asked, “What’s yours?”

  Laughter broke from her. “You must have driven your mother crazy when you were a little boy.”

  “I still do, but you haven’t answered my question.”

  She sat down on her chair. “I guess I like lying on my stomach. After skiing, I used to lie facedown on a pillow and fall asleep exhausted in front of the TV.”

  “Sounds good. I’m looking forward to doing that myself.”

  “It won’t be long.”

  A moment later, Ron walked in the room. “Ready to go back upstairs?”

  “You arrived just in time. He’s dying for relief from his taskmaster,” she answered while putting information in the computer. “See you tomorrow, Porter.”

  “Have a good evening, Lily.”

  She knew damn well the last thing he wanted was for this conversation to end. As he was wheeled out into the hall, his gut sensed that she didn’t want him to leave, either. What saved the day for him was knowing he had two more sessions tomorrow, plus five weeks of therapy with her. By then, anything could happen.

  * * *

  After going on a horseback ride with her mom Wednesday morning, Lily showered, ate a quick breakfast with her dad and left in her car for Style Clips. She’d found a couple of hairstyles online that she’d printed off to show Millie.

  When she walked inside, she hugged her friend, who’d started to show. “I’m so excited for you. While I’m here, let’s pick a day for the baby shower. You come up with the guest list and I’ll get the invitations sent out. We’ll do it at the ranch.”

  “You don’t have to give me a shower.”

  “I can’t believe you just said that! You’re my very best friend. Pretty soon you’re going to have a sweet little girl and I want to celebrate that.”

  Millie teared up and hugged her again. “Okay. Enough about me. Do you want the same old?”

  “No.” Lily opened her purse and showed her the papers with the two different hairstyles.

  Her friend’s eyes widened. “Both of these would look terrific on you. What’s happened for you to want such a drastic change after all this time?”

  “Because I’ve worn the same hairstyle since I was eighteen, and it makes me feel old.”

  Millie’s eyebrows lifted. “Sounds like you’ve met a guy.”

  Lily hated it when her cheeks grew warm and gave her away. “What do you mean?” She sat down in the chair Millie always used.

  “Exactly what I said. Who is he?” She put the drape around her neck.

  For the time being, they were the only two in the salon. “A patient.”

  “How long has he been coming to you?” her friend asked.

  “I’ve had four sessions with him since Monday.”

  “And it’s only Wednesday. Is he a looker?”

  Lily looked in the mirror at her friend. “I’m afraid so. The jaw-dropping kind I’ve sworn off. Tall and muscular with blond hair and dark brown eyes.” She sighed. “The total package.”

  “What does he do for a living?”

  “He’s a forest ranger who got transferred here from Lake Placid, New York.”

  “Ah. An easterner. How long ago?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “I think I’ve heard about a ranger who’s a real hottie. Why did he come?”

  “That’s something else I don’t know yet, but I’m convinced there’s a story somewhere.”

  Millie tipped her back so she could wash her hair. “After Steve’s colossal sin of omission, don’t you think you’d better find out before you lose your heart again?”

  “Right now he’s just a patient. You know the hospital rules. I would never date a man from my workplace or a patient. This ranger is a charmer, but so far he hasn’t done anything to make me believe he’s interested, except to get better as fast as possible.” She worried her bottom lip. “I’m afraid he’s pushing himself too hard. But he has made me take another look at myself and change my boring appearance.”

  Her friend laughed as if her comment was ridiculous. “How much does he know about you?”

  “It slipped out that I used to ski.”

  “Used to—” Millie’s eyes widened. “Does he know what happened in Whistler?”

  “He told me he watched some video clips.”

  “And you tell me he’s not interested,” her friend said, and tsked.

  “I meant that he’s...different.”

  “You mean he hasn’t hit on you yet.”

  “No,” Lily said.

  “Have you told him about Steve?”

  “No.”

  “You’d better watch this one. He’s playing it cool and knows what he’s doing. Just promise me you won’t let him hurt you.” Once she was sitting up again, Millie dried Lily’s hair enough to comb through it. “Already he’s got you wanting me to change your hairstyle. Which one do you like best?”

  Lily could see them propped against the mirror. “Both.”

  “I think I’ll do a cross between the two of them. But you’d better be sure before I start cutting.”

  “I am sure. I feel like everyone else is getting on with life but me.” She gestured toward her friend. “Look at you. Married and having a baby. Nothing’s happening to me.”

  “You’re so funny. It already has!”

  “Except that he’s off-limits.” Her conversation with Porter about skeletons in their closets had disturbed her. “Oh, let’s drop the subject. How about we do a shower at the ranch a week from Thursday?”

  “That would be perfect, but stop putting me off. Won’t you at least tell me the name of your mystery patient?”

  “It’s Ranger Ewing.”

  “Porter Ewing?”

  “Yes.”

  The scissors almost fell from Millie’s hand. “You’re kidding!”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Jessica married Sheriff Granger and it turns out he and Porter Ewing are best friends.”

  Both Jessica and Millie worked in this shop, owned by Jessica’s mother. “Even if that’s true, it has nothing to do with me.”

  “I could ask her some questions and find out if she knows anything about the ranger you’re treating.”

  “I’d rather you didn’t, Millie. Please. This has to stay between us.”

  Her friend huffed out a breath. “All right. I won’t say a word.”

  “Thank you.”

  She closed her eyes as Millie started to cut. Holden Granger had been the sheriff of Whitebark for quite a while. Lily didn’t know him personally, but she’d heard of his sterling reputation through her father.

  If Porter was a friend of his, that had to account for something. But it still didn’t mean anything if there was a dark secret in his past he didn’t want to be known, not even to a
best friend.

  It wasn’t fair to assume something was wrong, but after Steve, Millie was right. You couldn’t be too careful and Lily was a fool to go on entertaining thoughts about him.

  * * *

  A few minutes before ten a.m., Ron helped Porter into the wheelchair and pushed him down to the clinic. This morning he’d been able to stay in the shower for a few minutes and didn’t require Ron’s help getting in or standing.

  His close friends and a couple of the other forest rangers had come over to visit the night before and they’d talked shop until the nurse told them visiting hours were over. It all helped to pass the time until he saw Lily again.

  While in the hallway, Ron stopped in front of another door that was open. “Dr. Jensen?” he called out. “I’ve brought Mr. Ewing.”

  “Fine. Bring him in.”

  Porter frowned. “Where’s Ms. Owens?” he asked the other man after Ron left.

  “She only works afternoons on Wednesday.” Porter’s spirits plummeted. “I’m the head of the clinic and have read up on her charting. Don’t worry. I’ll carry out her plans for you to the letter.”

  “I’m sure you will. I was only surprised.” She hadn’t said a word about not being here this morning.

  “I understand.” He felt the doctor’s eyes appraise him. Porter got the distinct impression he didn’t like him. “When a patient gets used to his therapist, it’s hard to accept change, even for one visit.” With that comment, Porter understood. The doctor had a thing for her. Well, join the club. “As far as I know, she plans to keep her three-o’clock appointment with you.”

  They went through the same routine he did with Lily, but it wasn’t the same. It couldn’t be, not in a million years.

  “You’re coming along, Mr. Ewing, just as she said.”

  “Thank you, Dr. Jensen.”

  “My pleasure.”

  Like hell it was. By the time Ron came for him, Porter was jumping out of his skin. They went up to his room, where he ate lunch. At this point he was in a foul mood and it was agony waiting for three o’clock to roll around. What if she didn’t come? If he had to do his therapy with Dr. Jensen again, he’d make up the excuse that he wasn’t feeling well to avoid it.