“Hi, honey, I’m home.”

Jeff laughed as he said those words, somehow believing Diane would understand his little joke as he walked inside the kitchen.

That belief disappeared when a loaf of bread flew through the air and plopped against his face—courtesy of Diane.

“Do you know what everyone in town is saying? They think we’re sleeping together. They think I’m trying to catch you. Everyone in the grocery store thinks I’m a kept woman!”

Which explained her reaction to his teasing. “Ah. I guess my words weren’t too funny, huh?”

“Oh, you were hysterical,” she replied, slight tears in her eyes. “Aren’t you worried about what everyone thinks is going on here?”

“No. I mean, we’re both adults, single. If people want to believe we’re—” He broke off, unable to even talk about sleeping with Diane without reacting to the thought.

“Pretty soon they’ll be expecting wedding bells!” Diane exclaimed with a groan.

Jeff felt a groan coming on himself. Because the thought of Diane and him and wedding bells wasn’t creating the same reaction at all….

Struck by the Texas Matchmakers
Judy Christenberry

www.millsandboon.co.uk

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Judy Christenberry has been writing romances for fifteen years because she loves happy endings as much as her readers. A former French teacher, Judy now devotes herself to writing full-time. She hopes readers have as much fun reading her stories as she does writing them. She spends her spare time reading, watching her favorite sports teams and keeping track of her two daughters. Judy’s a native Texan, but now lives in Arizona.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Epilogue

Chapter One

She’d hoped this day would never come.

Diane Peters shook herself, determined not to think in those terms. After all, most people would consider her to be a lucky woman.

Fresh out of law school, she’d just been offered a position with the most prestigious law firm in the area.

The area of Cactus, Texas.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like Cactus. It was her hometown, and she had a lot of good memories from her childhood. Her family had never been wealthy, but they’d been happy. She and her five brothers and sisters had shared adventures and laughter.

When she was thirteen, however, her father had died suddenly. Her mother had been a great cook and housekeeper, a devoted wife and mother. But she was a disaster as a breadwinner.

Diane sighed as she slowed down for the curve in the narrow road that led to her childhood home. Suddenly she threw on her brakes. A car rested half in the ditch, half on the road, the driver side crushed.

Diane frowned. The car hadn’t been there when she’d driven by an hour ago. As she slowed to a stop, a small face appeared at the back window.

A child? Someone was in the car? She slammed her old Volkswagen sedan into Neutral, pulled up the handbrake and jumped out of the car. Then she ran for the other vehicle.

“Are you all right?” she cried before she even got to the car.

The toddler, whose face she’d seen from the road, pressed her face against the glass, smearing it with big, fat tears.

Diane wanted to cuddle the baby to her, but she saw the other two occupants. The fact that the driver and the little boy in the back seat weren’t moving made them her first priority.

Without opening the car door, she called, “Just a minute, baby,” before she turned around and ran back to her car to find the cell phone her sister Katie and her husband, Gabe, had given her. Thank God.

She dialed Doc’s number, grateful she still remembered it.

“Doctor’s office.”

“This is Diane Peters. There’s been a wreck on FM 29. A lady and two children are hurt. I don’t know what to do. Can Doc come?”

“We’ll get help to you. Have you called the sheriff’s office?”

“No, I—”

“We’ll call for you. Help should be there soon.”

The click in her ear reminded Diane to move. She tossed the cell phone into her front seat and rushed back to the car. The driver door wouldn’t open. The back door, though slightly damaged, did open partially after she tugged on it for several minutes.

The toddler grabbed for her.

Diane’s first inclination was to hold the baby, but she left her buckled in the car seat to see if she could help the others. The lady driver was unconscious. She’d bled quite a lot, but the bleeding appeared to have stopped. Diane felt helpless. She could quote laws, but she knew nothing about serious injuries.

She turned her attention to the little boy. Reaching across the child seat, she touched his denim-clad leg. “Are you awake?” she asked.

He stirred but the only response was a moan. She didn’t see any blood, however, so she didn’t know anything else to do. She’d read that moving an injured person could cause more problems. Since it was summer in Cactus, she didn’t even have a jacket she could use to help prevent shock.

“Mama, Mama!” the little girl cried, trying to cling to Diane.

She managed to release the clasp holding the child in place and lifted the little girl into her arms. “There, sweetie, it’s going to be all right.”

She hoped she was telling the truth, but she prayed Doc would get there soon. The older gentleman was such a comfort, always seeming to know what to do.

As she cuddled the little girl against her, she heard the sound of a car speeding toward them. “Please let that be Doc,” she prayed, moving to the edge of the road.

She was disappointed when it came into view. Doc drove an old red pickup. This vehicle was a navy blue Suburban. Cactus was too small to be able to afford paramedics and all the emergency equipment of big cities. But maybe the driver would stop anyway. She waved and relief flooded her when he braked to a stop. At least she wouldn’t be alone anymore.

“Is she hurt?” the man asked briskly almost before he was out of the car.

“Not badly, I think. Not like the other two,” she said. “The doctor is on the way, but—”

“I’m the doctor,” he snapped, not slowing as he hurried to the car.

Diane stared after him, shocked. Doc was no longer in Cactus? Surely he hadn’t died. Katie or her mother would’ve told her. But then they hadn’t said he’d moved away either. She knew about Samantha, Mac Gibbons’s wife, who had come to Cactus to be Doc’s partner, but—

“Come help me,” he ordered.

Diane hurried over, still dealing with the surprise.

“Set the little one on the grass and help me get the boy out. He’s got a broken arm and I don’t want to do more damage than I have to.”

It was difficult to free herself from the toddler sobbing in her arms, but she promised she’d be right back with her brother. Then she hurried to help the doctor.

“Can you manage to handle his legs? He’s heavier than he looks.”

Diane didn’t waste time telling him she’d been raised on a farm and had helped pay for college working at the airport as a ticket agent which included shifting luggage. She nodded.

Gently they transferred the boy to the patch of grass where his sister was sobbing.

“Stay with them and hold his arm against his body until I can stabilize the woman.”

Before Diane could agree, he’d disappeared into the car again. But she wasn’t complaining. She was relieved the man seemed to know what he was doing. Sitting down on the grass, not caring about any grass stains on her new dress, she let the little girl snuggle into her lap while she gently held the little boy’s arm against his chest.

“Shh, baby, you’re all right,” she comforted.

She felt more sure of that when she heard the siren that meant someone from the sheriff’s office was on the way. She hoped it was Cal Baxter, the sheriff himself.

By the time the Blazer halted, the doctor was beside it. Diane saw Cal get out. He nodded in her direction, taking in the children, before the doctor urged him back to the wreck.

The boy moaned and his eyes fluttered open.

“Be still, honey, the doctor’s helping your mama right now,” Diane said, hoping the words would help him, but they only reminded her smallest charge that she didn’t have her mama. Which, of course, brought on renewed sobbing.

More sirens sounded. Diane was startled as an ambulance appeared. She hadn’t realized Cactus had an emergency vehicle.

By the time the ambulance came to a halt, Cal and the new doctor had gotten the woman out of the car. The ambulance driver brought out a stretcher and they placed the woman upon it and moved her straight to the ambulance.

As soon as she was put inside, Cal pulled out his cell phone. “Tell Sam the patient’s on her way. Here’s Jeff to give you the details.” He handed the phone to the doctor and came to Diane’s side.

“Hello, Diane. Need some assistance?”

“Yes, please,” she said. “The doctor said to keep the boy’s arm still and this little lady is upset.”

Cal reached for the little girl. With two little ones of his own, he knew how to handle them. Diane shifted the boy’s head into her lap and cuddled him against her, hoping her body heat would help him. She brushed his brown hair off his face and dropped a kiss on his brow.

The doctor reached them with a blanket under his arm and Cal asked, “Did the lady come to?”

The man shook his head and knelt beside Diane. “How’s he doing?”

“He seems to be in a state of shock,” she said quietly.

The doctor spread the blanket over the little boy.

“Do you need me to go with you to the clinic?” Cal asked. “I’ll have to do an investigation and try to find out their identities, but I can call a deputy to get started while I go with you.”

“I’ll help, too,” Diane offered.

The doctor gave her a sharp look. Then he shifted his gaze to Cal.

She stiffened. He didn’t think she was trustworthy enough? She was used to everyone knowing her and her family, and his questioning her ability irritated her.

Cal said quickly, “Diane Peters, Katie’s sister.” Then, taking the doctor’s agreement for granted, he said, “Thanks, Diane. I appreciate that. We can contact relatives a little faster that way.”

The doctor nodded and stood. “I’ll transfer the baby seat and get the other stretcher.”

As soon as the doctor had moved away, Diane hurriedly asked, “Who is he? Where’s Doc?”

“That’s Jeff Hausen. Doc is still in town but he’s the medical examiner now. He’ll probably be at the clinic helping Sam when you get there. He pitches in for emergencies.”

“Oh.”

“Okay, Cal,” the doctor called, “bring the little one over here.”

When Cal started toward the Suburban, the little girl’s cries went up an octave as she reached over Cal’s shoulder for Diane. The doctor frowned at Diane, taking her by surprise. He left Cal and came to Diane’s side with the stretcher.

“Why didn’t you tell me you knew them?” he demanded.

Diane stared at him. “I don’t. I’ve never seen them before.” What was wrong with the man? First he didn’t trust her and then he accused her of being irresponsible?

He didn’t respond to her statement. Instead, he gently moved the little boy onto the stretcher. “Are you up to carrying one end?” he asked.

Diane nodded and struggled to get up, her legs having gone to sleep. Suddenly, strong hands closed around her waist and lifted her to her feet.

“Are you okay?”

Embarrassed, she nodded again and bent over to reach for one end of the stretcher.

“Maybe you’d better go comfort the baby and let Cal come help me,” the doctor suggested.

There he was, dismissing her again. “I can manage,” she assured him, her shoulders stiff.

Though he gave her a careful look, he nodded and reached for his end of the stretcher.

JEFF HAUSEN HAD BEEN in Cactus for a year. He knew most of the citizens by now, and he’d even begun to be accepted by the older members of the community. Though he supposed he’d be called the “new” doctor until he was eighty.

But he’d never met Diane Peters.

He’d heard of her, of course. Gabe and Katie were his friends. When he’d visited Cactus to talk with Doc, he’d met Katie…and been attracted to her, in spite of his intentions.

Gabe, however, had rushed his beloved Katie to the altar to stake his claim. The Peters family, Katie’s family, was large, but Diane and Raine had remained in Lubbock, the nearest large city, except when they returned for Katie’s wedding.

“How badly hurt is their mother?”

Her question jolted him. He realized they’d reached the back of his Suburban. He laid his end of the stretcher on the floorboard and climbed in. The racks he’d had installed to hold a stretcher would come in handy.

“Bad,” he muttered in answer.

Once the boy was settled, he climbed back out.

“Do you want me to stay back here with him, or ride with the little girl?”

“The baby,” he replied. “She’s getting hysterical and this little guy should be all right until we get there.”

She nodded and hurried around to the back door where the baby was screaming.

The immediate lowering of the sirenlike screams showed he’d made the right decision. He stepped to Cal’s side. “You going to get some help?”

“No, probably not. I’ve got the woman’s purse. There wasn’t much in the trunk but some remnants of a picnic. Red paint on the car. I’ll be back to the office shortly.”

“Okay, I’m taking these two in. I imagine the woman will need a lot of work, so I’ll be tied up for a while.”

With a nod to Cal, he strode to his vehicle. “Everything okay?” he asked as he climbed in.

“Yes,” Diane Peters said quietly. She was sitting as close to the baby seat as possible, but he didn’t have to tell her to keep the baby buckled in. Instead, her arms were cuddling the little girl, soothing her as best she could.

He started the car and made a U-turn. Then he sped toward the clinic.

WHEN THEY REACHED Cactus, Diane saw Doc waiting for them.

His comforting presence made her feel more settled.

“You got this covered?” Dr. Hausen asked as soon as they were unloaded.

“Yeah, and Sam’s getting everything ready.”

Doc had always sent his more serious patients into Lubbock for treatment, but the clinic had been enlarged, and both doctors were young and well-trained.

After the other doctor had disappeared, Diane said, “Things have changed a lot since I’ve been gone.”

“For the better. Sam and Jeff make a great team.” Even as he talked, he was examining the boy. Then he asked one of the nurses to x-ray him.

“How about I check out this little angel now,” he suggested, holding out his arms.

The baby had settled down as long as Diane held her. But Doc’s offer didn’t sit well with her. She clung to Diane’s neck, her sobs starting again.

“Well, we know her tear ducts are working well,” Doc said wryly. “Why don’t we sit down over here,” he suggested, waving to several chairs.

As she held the little girl, soothing her as much as she could, Doc listened to her heartbeat, checked her eyes and ears and felt her head.

“I think she has a mild concussion, probably a bad headache. I’m going to give her a mild sedative which should help the pain and maybe settle her down. Do you want me to have them set up a bed for her?”

Diane frowned. “Maybe I’d better continue to hold her. And keep her near her brother. She’s happier when she can see him.”

“You’re a good girl, Diane, just like your sister. Are you staying home now?” he asked as he opened a cupboard.

Straightening her shoulders, she replied, “I’m staying.” She didn’t feel she had a choice. Katie had given up her dream of college when their father died and spent the next ten years putting her siblings through school. Now she was married with a new baby. It was time for Diane to take some of the burden from Katie’s shoulders.

Doc paused, frowning at her over his shoulder. “You happy about that?”

“Of course. I’ve already been offered a job with Mac and Gabe.” She worked hard at the enthusiasm. “Since Rick Astin moved here, there’s a lot more work.”

“Yeah, he’s made a big difference. He paid for the improvements around here, including the ambulance. Nice, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It sure came in handy today.” The little girl screamed when Doc approached her again, a needle in his hands.

“She’s obviously been to the doctor and gotten shots before,” Doc said calmly over the noise she was making. “That’s good.”

The nurse returned with the X rays as Doc administered the shot. By the time he’d finished examining them, the baby had subsided in Diane’s arms, her lids drifting closed, her breathing becoming more even.

“Good, she’s quieted down,” Doc said, checking the little girl again. “We’re going to set the boy’s arm. Then we’ll settle him into a room and you can take his sister in there, okay?”

“Sure, Doc. I’m going to call Mom while you’re doing that, so she won’t worry.”

“Good.”

Her mother was alarmed when Diane called. Gabe had called Katie after the interview, to tell her how things had gone, and she’d called their mother, so Margaret had been expecting Diane home an hour ago.

“I was so worried,” she exclaimed.

“Sorry, Mom, I’m fine. But I found a wreck, with the people injured and I came back to Cactus to help with them.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. But you’ll be home soon?”

“I don’t think so. I’m holding the little girl. She’s maybe two. The mother is being assessed, so I think I’ll stay with the children until we know something.”

She hadn’t realized she’d made a conscious decision until she’d answered her mother. But she couldn’t abandon the sweetheart in her arms. Or the little boy. He couldn’t be older than four. If she had children that age, she’d want—but she didn’t intend to have children. She’d already made that decision.

She settled in a chair in the waiting room, asking the receptionist to let her know when they put the boy in a room. She wished she knew the children’s names.

A few minutes later, Doc came and got her, escorting her and the baby to a small room with a comfortable chair near the bed.

“You sure you can stay?” he asked.

“Yes, of course. Uh, the new doctor, is he good?”

“Very good. Why? Did he do something you didn’t like?”

“No! Of course not. But I didn’t know we had a new doctor, so it kind of shocked me.”

“We’re lucky to have him. He was working in Houston. Came highly recommended. ’Course, he frustrates the matchmakers, you know.”

Diane noted his grin. His own wife was part of the original group of matchmakers who had made Cactus a hotbed of romance. “What have Flo and her friends been doing?”

“Trying to find someone for the ‘new’ doctor to marry. You know how they are. But Jeff won’t have anything to do with their attempts to elevate his social life.”

“Why not?”

“He’s recently widowed. Doesn’t seem interested in other women.”

“Oh. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. But he’s a good doctor. He’ll do his best for these little tykes’ mother.”

IN ADDITION TO A concussion, the woman had several broken ribs and a broken collarbone. Jeff, and his partner, Samantha Gibbons, spent a long time trying to put things right.

When their patient was wheeled away to recovery, Samantha sighed as she stripped off her gloves. “Good job, Jeff.”

“Thanks. You, too. We work well together. That’s been a joy this past year.”

She smiled and nodded. “It’s been a good year.”

“Well, not when you were out having that little boy. At least not for me. But I’ve heard he’s the handsomest boy in Cactus.”

“You’ve been talking to Flo again,” Samantha said with a smile.

“Or Mac.”

“Or Doc. He’s always treated Florence and Mac as his family since his own wife died, but after marrying Florence, he watches over us like a hawk. And is just as prejudiced as the rest of us.”

Her smile told him she didn’t object.

“Speaking of kids, I’d better check on the two little ones we brought in with her,” he said, nodding in the direction the nurses had gone with the patient.

“How bad were their injuries?”

“I don’t believe the little girl had much wrong with her. The boy had a broken arm and probably a concussion.”

“I’ll go with you,” Samantha immediately said.

One of the things he liked about his partner was her dedication to her job. But with two babies of her own and a husband, he knew she was ready to go home. “I’ll check on them. You go take care of your own crew.”

“Thanks, Jeff. I’m hoping Flo will have cooked for us. She spoils me.”

“With good reason. You’ve given her grand-babies. You know that’s the goal of every woman in Cactus. I just wish they’d leave me alone,” he added with a sigh.

“Which reminds me. I heard Diane Peters stopped to render aid. You’ll have a lot in common with her soon.”

“I will?” he asked, surprised. Not that he objected. He’d noticed today that she was an attractive woman, like her sister, only a little more sophisticated.

“Well, she’s single and coming back to Cactus. She’ll be working with Mac as soon as she passes the bar.”

“So, the fact that we’re both single is what we have in common?”

“Ah, no. The fact that both of you will be in the sights of the matchmakers is what you’ll have in common.” Sam paused before a big grin appeared on her lips. “Hey, maybe they’ll match you two up and take care of both of you with one wedding!”

“No!” Jeff protested with more volume than he realized.

Chapter Two

Jeff could see that his adamant response to her comment had surprised Samantha.

“Are you all right?” she asked, obviously concerned about his overreaction.

“Of course,” he said with a smile.

“You’ve been teased about the matchmakers before, but you never seemed to mind,” Samantha pointed out.

“I must be tense from the surgery. It’s been a little while since we’ve had anything so serious.” He began walking toward the door, anxious to escape his friend’s questions. He had an inkling about what had caused his reaction, but he certainly didn’t want to think about it now.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he added as he pushed against the swinging door.

“Okay. If you need me, you’ll call, won’t you?”

“You know I will, Sam, but hopefully it won’t be necessary.”

Jeff discovered Doc waiting for him in his office. He gave him an update on the two children and told him what room they were in. Jeff sent him home. He knew Doc’s wife, Florence, would be anxious until he arrived.

He surprised himself with the wish he had someone waiting for him. He’d thought about hiring a housekeeper, but it wasn’t the same thing. Besides, there was only him, and he had a woman coming in to clean once a week. And he wasn’t used to home-cooked meals. His wife had been a school counselor and worked long hours. They’d usually met at a restaurant before they went home for the evening.

When he opened the door of the little boy’s room, he paused before entering, staring at the picture before him.

Diane Peters sat in a large chair next to the bed, the toddler still in her arms. Diane was talking softly to the little boy who lay in the bed, his arm in a cast.

Just then, she noticed Jeff in the doorway. Her gaze fell on him and she stopped talking.

“Good evening,” he said casually, strolling into the room. “How are my patients?”

The toddler snuggled closer to Diane, her gaze wide with fear. The boy’s eyes were wide, too, but Jeff could see his effort to be brave. His heart went out to the child, feeling the pressure to be strong for his baby sister.

Reaching the bed, he picked up the boy’s wrist on his good arm and took his pulse. “Did Doc fix up your arm, son? Are you in pain?”

The boy shook his head no. “Mama?”

His sister whimpered and Jeff watched Diane’s soothing hands as she comforted the little girl.

“Your mother is just fine,” he hurriedly said. “She’s still asleep right now. You should be able to see her tomorrow or the day after, though.”

Diane’s gaze showed as much relief as the children’s. He hoped she realized he’d simplified things for the children. He wasn’t sure the woman would awaken that quickly. With the concussion, that couldn’t be guaranteed.

“Have you introduced yourselves to Miss Peters?” he asked, in an attempt to distract them.

Both children looked confused.

Diane hurriedly said, “That’s me. I told them my name is Diane,” she explained to him. “And this is Toby and Janie Duncan.”

He greeted the two children by name and watched them relax a little. “Do you live here in Cactus?”

The boy opened his mouth to answer, but a familiar voice behind Jeff responded instead.

“No, they live in Lubbock,” Cal said. He came into the room and stopped at the end of the boy’s bed. “I’ve called their number but there’s no answer.”

Diane quietly said, “Toby said their daddy died a few months ago. He doesn’t remember any more family.”

“Toby, is it?” Cal repeated in a kind voice. “You don’t have any grandparents or aunts or uncles, Toby?”

The boy shook his head, his bottom lip trembling.

“Okay,” Cal said easily. “Do you remember what happened, Toby? Today, I mean.”

The boy paled and Jeff reached for his hand, hoping to offer reassurance. Diane, from the other side of the bed, reached out to touch him also.

Toby opened his mouth but no words came out. Finally, he managed, “A car, a red car, hit us.”

Cal nodded and smiled again, as if Toby had given him just what he needed to hear. “Good boy. How are you feeling?”

“I think Toby’s had a tough day,” Jeff said, hoping Cal would understand that the children didn’t need any more questioning.

“So, they’re going to stay here?” Cal asked.

“For tonight,” Jeff said. “The nurse is going to come with their trays. After they eat, they’ll each get a sedative to help them sleep tonight. Then tomorrow, Toby, and Janie, of course, will probably be released.”

“But their mother…” Diane began, then trailed off, her gaze on the little boy’s face.

“Right,” Cal agreed, seeming to recognize her dilemma. “We’ll need to find someone to care for them until we can consider our options.”

“I can take care of them,” Diane offered.

Jeff looked away from her. A compassionate woman was always attractive to him. His own mother had been ill most of his life. He’d gone into medicine because of her. But she’d been unable to be the mother of storybooks or television shows.

The problem with Diane was that he was already attracted to her. When he’d seen her holding the toddler, her gaze filled with worry and not a little fear, he’d recognized that compassion, along with her natural beauty. Her strength and determination had compounded his interest and curiosity. Which explained why he’d overreacted to Samantha’s teasing.

For the first time since his wife died, he was attracted to another woman.

“Um, it’s a big responsibility. I can’t tell you how long…if Cal doesn’t find any relatives, we could be talking weeks.”

As he’d expected from his experience with her at the wreck, her chin rose and she glared at him. “I’m not an idiot. I understand that. But I’m not going to work full-time at the law firm until after I take the bar exam.” She turned to Cal. “Can I take charge of the kids, Cal?”

“Do you have room in your mother’s house, Diane? I know Joe got his own place when he moved back, but there’s still Paul and Susan at home. And you.”

“If I share with Susan, the two little ones can sleep in my bedroom,” she said. “It will be crowded, but I think they need to be together anyway.”

“Works for me,” Cal agreed.

“Is that okay with you, Toby?” Jeff asked. “Would you mind going with Diane tomorrow? That way you’ll be close to the hospital so you can see your mom.”

The little boy nodded, turning to look at Diane. “Yes, sir,” he whispered.

Diane smiled tenderly at him. “Good. You’ll like my home, Toby. My mom makes great cookies.”

The little girl sat upright, speaking for the first time without tears. “Cookie?”

Diane hugged her with a smile. “Ah, I found something you like, didn’t I, Janie?”

“I’d better have their dinners brought in. Do you mind helping feed them, Diane?” Jeff asked, already knowing the answer.

“Of course not.”

He and Cal left the room together. As soon as Jeff had given instructions to a nurse, he turned to the sheriff. “Do you think she’ll be able to handle the job?”

“Diane? Oh, yeah. The Peters kids are responsible. While Katie took the brunt of the burden when their dad died, they all pitched in and worked hard. Only Susan, the baby, who’s a senior this year, has shown any tendencies for teenage rebellion. If Diane says she can handle the job, you can be sure she can.”

Jeff sighed. “Okay.”

“How long before the kids settle down for the night?”

Raising his eyebrow, Jeff said, “About half an hour. Why?”

“I thought I’d go to The Last Roundup for dinner. I know Diane hasn’t eaten since Janie hasn’t left her arms. And you couldn’t have had a chance, after doing the operation. I thought both of you might join me.”

Jeff searched for a reason to turn down the invitation. But he was no masochist. He had nothing at the house ready to eat, and it had been a tough day.

“I don’t know about Diane, but I’ll take you up on your offer.”

“Good. And I’ll count on you to persuade Diane. She deserves a treat after all she did today.”

Jeff agreed that she deserved more than a steak, but he wasn’t looking forward to spending more time with her. On the other hand, without the toddler in her arms, maybe he’d find her less attractive.

Right.

DIANE QUIETLY WATCHED the two children subside into sleep, grateful that for a few hours they could forget the miserable day they’d just experienced. Janie had eaten more readily than Toby. Unless she or the nurse encouraged him, he’d been reluctant to eat. Diane could see the worry in his eyes.

Janie had eaten a good meal, her young mind unable to concentrate as well as her older brother’s. Fortunately, the sedative they’d given her had been in the form of a pill this evening, not a needle. She never even realized she’d been given medicine and was easily tucked into the second bed in the room.

Toby, too, took his medicine, unsuspecting that it would put him to sleep.

“I think they’re really asleep now, Diane,” the nurse, a woman she’d known in school, said.

“I guess you’re right, Sandy. But I’m afraid they’ll wake up and start crying. Janie has powerful lungs.”

“I know,” Sandy agreed with a quiet laugh. “I heard her.”

“It’s been a long day. I hope Mom saved me some dinner.”

The two of them left the room, saying their goodbyes. Diane insisted Sandy call her if the children needed her before morning.

Diane turned toward the exit, weariness finally hitting her. She sagged against the wall for a moment to gather her strength.

Warm, familiar hands caught her around the waist. “You all right?” Dr. Hausen asked.

She went rigid. “Yes, thank you, just—just a little tired.”

“You should be exhausted. You were a great help today.”

“Thank you,” she murmured and moved away from him.

“I’m under strict instructions to bring you to The Last Roundup to join Cal for dinner.”

Diane turned to face the man she’d only met a few hours ago. “Oh, no, I have to go home. My mother—”

“I just talked to your mother and explained that we were going to feed you before we let you go home. She agreed that would be best.”

Diane wanted to sag against the wall again, but the man might decide she needed his touch, and she definitely didn’t want that. Something strange came over her when he touched her. “No, thanks, I need to go home.”

“And how will you get there?” he asked, his voice casual, as if he had little interest in her response.

“Why, I’ll drive—my car! It’s—Oh, no, I think I left the motor running! Could you take me—”

Before she could finish her request, he said, “Of course I will. After we eat. I’ve had a long day, too.”

What choice did she have? Or what excuse to drag the doctor out for the drive to her car before he ate? “Of—of course. Will it take long? I mean, I’m afraid someone might steal my car.”

“I’d bet Cal turned off the motor and took your keys. Let’s go ask him.”

That suggestion dismissed any of her reluctance to join Cal at the restaurant. In fact, she was hurrying along when she felt the doctor’s touch on her arm.

“There’s no need to run. I’m not as young as you,” he told her, a rueful smile on his handsome lips.

“Sorry,” she said, slowing slightly.

“You’re supposed to say, ‘Oh, no, doctor, you’re not old.”’

Diane couldn’t hold back a grin as he spoke those words in a falsetto voice. So he had a sense of humor. A lot of men did.

“You’re right. I should have said that, because it’s true. But I’m afraid my mind was on my car.”

“Hmm, that’s the first time I’ve ever come in second to a dilapidated sedan.”

Her cheeks burned. “My car may not be in the best condition, but it’s served me well.”

He seemed embarrassed, too, as if he hadn’t meant to imply any competition between him and the car. “Of course, I was just teasing you. How long have you had the car?”

“My brother Joe bought it from one of his college buddies for me. It was seventeen years old then and I’ve driven it for six more years.”

“Wow, that’s impressive. And what’s its name?”

She spun around to stare at him. “How did you know—I mean, it hasn’t—” She was about to deny naming her car, but she couldn’t lie when she looked into his blue eyes. “I named her Daisy,” she confessed, her chin up.

He chuckled. “An appropriate name for a car that probably lived through the flower power age.”

“I can assure you Daisy is a lady,” she said, with just a hint of a smile.

By that time, much to Diane’s surprise, they’d reached the entrance of The Last Roundup, the nicest restaurant in Cactus, on the town square. Since the owner was Cal’s wife, Jessica, Diane didn’t have any doubt about them getting seated at once.

When they were escorted to a table, she was surprised to discover Jessica sitting with her husband.

“Diane!” Jessica exclaimed. “I heard you were back in town, but I hadn’t seen you. How are you?”

“A little tired,” she replied, but she smiled.

“Cal told me about your day. And I also heard about your interview. I talked to Alex earlier today. Congratulations.”

“Thanks, Jess. I guess the grapevine in Cactus is alive and well.” No surprise, especially since Alex was Alexandra Langford, third partner in Mac Gibbons and Gabe’s law firm, and had married Tuck, one of their best friends.

While Diane and Jess were chatting, Cal and the doctor had been talking in low voices. Since none of them had ordered, she was surprised again when a waitress arrived with a full tray.

Jessica said, “We ordered for you, since it’s late and I knew you’d be hungry. You were on your way home before lunch, weren’t you? So you haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

“I’m not the only one,” Diane protested. “The doctor and Cal haven’t eaten, either.”

“Actually, I grabbed a sandwich while I was making some phone calls,” Cal confessed, an easy grin on his face. “Jeff hasn’t eaten. So we figured whatever we ordered for you, you’d fall on it. Right?”

“I’m ready,” the doctor said. “And Diane, call me Jeff. People will start looking for Doc, if you don’t.”

“That’s right,” Jessica teased. “You’re the young doctor.”

“Or the new doctor,” Jeff added. “Diane’s already told me I’m old.”

“No, I didn’t!” Diane protested. By that time, the waitress had put all the food on the table, and everyone was distracted by the aroma. Diane tried not to look ravenous, but she soon realized no one else was paying any attention.

Some time later, Jessica leaned back in her chair, and said, “Well, I hope y’all enjoyed the food. I was hungrier than I thought.”

“Me, too,” Diane said, putting her last bite of steak into her mouth.

“So,” Cal drawled, “tell me why you called Jeff here old.”

Darn. Diane had hoped they would’ve forgotten Jeff’s words. “I didn’t. He said he was older and I forgot to deny it because I was worried about—oh! My car. Did you turn off the engine, Cal?”

“Of course. I have the keys in my pocket.”

“Oh, thank you so much. The doctor said—”

“Jeff,” he reminded her.

“Oh, yes, uh, Jeff said you would have.”

“As soon as we have dessert, I’ll run you out to your car,” Cal promised.

As Diane was thanking him, Jeff interrupted. “I don’t have anyone waiting at home for me, Cal. You and Jess can go home and I’ll take Diane to her car.”

Before Diane could protest, Cal thanked Jeff. Then he signaled the waitress and ordered dessert. Both men opted for carrot cake, but Jessica and Diane chose the peach cobbler layered with cream cheese and topped with ice cream.

“Your sister is the reason I can’t eat here that often,” Jessica said as she took her first bite of cobbler. “I can resist the carrot cake, though I’m in the minority, but the cobbler is just too good.”

“Katie made this?” Diane asked.

“You didn’t know? She added it to the menu almost a year ago. And sold the recipe to the holding company for all the franchises. You can get this cobbler all over Texas.”

“Oh, yes, I remember when she called and told us the news, but I’ve never eaten it.”

“Katie’s a wonderful cook,” Jeff said.

“Yeah, but Jessica’s good, too,” Cal loyally added.

“No question,” Jeff said. “I’ve never had a better steak, and Houston had a lot of good restaurants.”

“You’re from Houston?” Diane asked, as if Doc hadn’t told her earlier. She hoped she hid her envy. Her dream of settling in a big city, getting completely away from Cactus, wasn’t possible. But she found it hard to believe anyone would actually choose Cactus when they had that opportunity.

Jeff seemed to be concentrating on his cake, but he answered, “Yeah.”

“And you chose to come here? Don’t you find it, uh, dull in comparison?”

He looked up and stared at her. “No. Cactus has everything I want or need.”

Jessica frowned. “Diane, don’t you want to be in Cactus?”

Uh-oh. “Why, yes, of course, Jessica. I wouldn’t want to live away from my family.” She added a big smile to convince one of her sister’s best friends.

Jessica seemed to accept her answer, and the conversation turned to more general topics, leaving Diane time to finish her dessert.

After thanking Jessica and Cal and saying goodbye, Jeff escorted Diane to his Suburban. Then they headed down the farm-to-market road where she’d left her Volkswagen, her keys in her pocket.

Jeff said nothing, and Diane appreciated his silence. She didn’t want to share any personal conversation with the handsome man. He might be older than her, but he was young enough to stir some attraction if she let him.

And then he completely surprised her by abruptly asking, “Why don’t you want to live in Cactus?”

Chapter Three

Diane stiffened. It was one thing for old friends to question her, but she’d just met this man. Whether she wanted to live in Cactus or not was none of his business. Still, she felt compelled to answer. “You’re wrong. I’m delighted to have found a good job here in Cactus.”

“Didn’t sound like it to me,” he muttered, not looking in her direction.

“You don’t know me.”

“True, but part of a doctor’s job is to pay attention to what’s not being said.”

She stared out the window, trying to ignore him.

Which explained why she heard the sirens at once. She whipped her head around, staring over her shoulder. “That sounds like the fire truck.”

When she’d left Cactus, the town had one fire truck and a volunteer group who tried to protect the town from fire. Had Rick Astin, their local millionaire, also staffed the fire department while she was gone?

“You’re right,” Jeff agreed with a frown, checking his rearview mirror.

The flashing lights appeared behind them and Jeff pulled to the side of the road. The truck sped by.

“What could be on fire?” Jeff muttered as he pulled back onto the road.

“Might be a field,” Diane suggested. “I know we’ve had a lot of rain recently, but things are starting to dry out. A flick of a cigarette is all it would take.”

“I hope that’s it. Otherwise, there might be injuries. I’d better follow them as soon as I drop you at your car.”

Since they were almost to her car, she gathered her purse, ready to get out quickly. “Thanks for the ride.”

“I’ll wait until you’re safely in your car,” he said.

“That’s not necessary. I can—”

“Hurry,” he said, ignoring her words.

The man irritated her, but she did as he asked. Once she was safely locked in her Volkswagen, he sped down the road in the direction the fire truck had taken.

Which also happened to be the direction of her home.

She wondered which of their neighbors was having difficulties. She knew her mother and stepfather would be there offering their assistance, so she’d probably have some time alone when she got home.

The closer she got to her house, however, the more she worried. There was a red glow that indicated the fire—and it appeared to be very close to her place.

When she turned the corner and her childhood home came into view, she discovered it couldn’t be any closer. Her house was on fire.

JEFF WATCHED AS SMOKE continued to rise from the Peters’s home. He’d arrived just after the fire trucks and had soon determined that everyone seemed to have gotten out okay. The firemen, however, were still battling the fire in the back part of the house.

Jeff turned to see Diane’s car reach the house. The car jerked to a stop and she scrambled out, running toward the burning building, screaming, “Mom? Mom?”

He reached her and wrapped his arms around her. “Your family is safe. They’re over here, Diane. Come on, I’ll take you to them.”

His words seemed to work magic over her. She sagged against him, no longer fighting his hold. He led her toward the woman and teenager sitting huddled together on the back of an old pickup.

“Diane!” Margaret Ledbetter shouted as soon as she saw her daughter.

Diane ran into her arms, hugging her and her younger sister. “Mom, is everyone all right? Where’s Jack and Paul?”

“They’re over there, fighting the fire. Dear, it started in your room. All your clothes and—everything is—oh, I’m so sorry. Jack had suggested we check the wiring for the air-conditioning unit we added, but I thought— I’m so sorry.”

He could tell Diane was fighting back tears, but she hugged her family closer. “The important thing is that you’re all safe.”

A few moments later, several cars pulled up near the house. Katie and Gabe Dawson got out of one and Katie rushed to them, comforting and hugging her mother and sisters.

Gabe approached Jeff and asked, “Hell, how did this happen?”

“Margaret was just telling Diane that it was electrical. Something about an older air-conditioning unit they’d just installed in Diane’s room.

“Damn! I should’ve insisted they let me install proper air-conditioning,” Gabe said with a sigh. “But Margaret and Jack don’t want any help.”

Jeff knew Katie’s bakery was doing well, and Gabe was a wealthy businessman, but people around Cactus were proud. Handouts were unacceptable except in dire straits.

Even as the two of them talked, the men who’d worked to put out the fire were packing up their equipment. Jeff and Gabe moved over to speak to them.

“Is it completely out?” Gabe asked.

“Yeah. Jack and his boy had it under control before we even got here,” one of the firemen said.

“Did any of you get injured?” Jeff asked.

“I think Paul had a burn on his arm,” the man who’d spoken earlier said.

Jeff looked for Diane’s younger brother. He’d met him before, a few months back.

“Paul?” Jeff called when he spotted him. “Heard you got burned. Let me look at it,” Jeff said as he made his way over to the younger man.

“Aw, it’s nothing,” Paul assured him.

With a smile, Jeff said, “Humor me. I’ll feel better if I check you out.”

Jack Ledbetter, Paul’s stepfather, came over with a flashlight. “Need some light on the subject?” he asked as he turned it on.

“Yeah, thanks, Jack.” After looking at the burn, Jeff said, “I’ll need to treat it, Paul, and bandage it up so it won’t get infected.”

When Paul started to refuse, Jack said, “Don’t be macho, boy. That’s your throwing arm. How will you support me and your mom in our old age if you can’t play football anymore?”

His accompanying grin was matched by Paul, who reluctantly surrendered himself to Jeff’s care with no more resistance.

“You play football?” he asked.

“I’m on an athletic scholarship at Texas Tech. Ouch!” Paul exclaimed as Jeff touched his burn. His face was already pale, in spite of his pretence of no pain.

“He’s really good,” Jack bragged. “Goin’ to play in the Superbowl someday.”

Jeff smiled. “I’ll expect free tickets in payment, of course.” He led Paul to his vehicle so he could get his medical bag.

As the three of them moved away from the house, the group of women spotted them and dashed across the front yard to meet them at Jeff’s truck.

“What happened? Who’s hurt?” Katie demanded.

“Paul has a minor burn,” Jeff said soothingly. “We’re taking precautions so it won’t get infected.”

The babble of relieved voices and supportive pats on Paul’s shoulders were interesting to Jeff. He’d moved to Cactus for several reasons. One of them was to feel connected again. He was alone, no family. The wealth of emotion this family shared was incredible.

Gabe rejoined them. “How is he?” he asked.

Paul grinned at his brother-in-law. “It’s nothing much. The doc’s being cautious so I won’t sue.” Everyone seemed to notice the slight wobble in the boy’s voice.

Jeff prepared to clean the burn, wishing he didn’t have such a large audience. It was going to be painful for Paul. “Son, this is going to hurt,” he said in a low voice.

Diane overheard him. “Just a minute,” she said softly. “Mom, you and Jack had better get what you need for the night from the house. You, too, Susan. Gabe, can you see if Paul has some clean clothes? And Katie, you’d better help Mom.”

In seconds, only Diane and Paul remained with Jeff.

“Thanks, sis,” Paul muttered. Then he looked at Jeff. “Okay, go ahead.”

Diane helped hold her brother’s arm while Jeff cleaned and covered the wound with salve. Then he began wrapping the arm in gauze. “I’m going to need to see you tomorrow, Paul, to check on this.”

Though the young man was still pale, he’d kept quiet during the process. Now, he cleared his throat and said, “Sure, Doc. I’ll be in tomorrow.”

“I’ll bring him,” Diane added, her hands still comforting her brother.

“Do you want some pills for the pain?” Jeff asked.

Paul said no.

Diane said yes. Before her brother could argue, she added, “Just in case. You’ll feel better if you get a good night’s sleep.”

Jeff took a couple of pills out of his bag and handed them to Diane. “One every four to six hours as needed.” Then he asked, “Where are you going to sleep tonight?”

Diane and Paul looked at each other, but before either could speak, Katie had returned, carrying her daughter, Rachel. “She woke up,” Katie announced. “How’s Paul?”

“All taken care of,” Jeff assured her. “We were just talking about where they would sleep tonight.”

“With us, of course,” Katie said, as if there was no question.

“But you only have one bedroom free, Katie,” Diane said, frowning. “Mom and Jack will take that. I guess we can put Paul on the sofa, and I’ll take the big chair to keep an eye on him, but—”

“I don’t need anyone to watch me,” Paul argued. “And I can sleep here in the barn.”

“We’ll manage,” Katie insisted.

Jeff interrupted. “Look, I’ve got three bedrooms empty. You,” he said, nodding to Diane, “Paul and Susan can stay with me tonight.”

“Oh, no, we can’t—there are other—”

“I’m sure there are,” he said, agreeing with Diane’s protest, “but it’s late. Tomorrow you can make whatever arrangements you want.”

Diane was acting like he wanted them in his home, intruding into his life, which was crazy. He liked living alone. And he wanted no part of Diane in his life. He sure didn’t want to give the local matchmakers any ideas. But this was Cactus and people helped each other here.

“Are you sure you don’t mind, Jeff?” Katie asked. “I’ll admit life is hectic enough since Rachel was born, but if—”

“It will be fine. I’m not a good housekeeper, but the beds are comfortable. And Paul needs to get to bed.”

“I’m fine,” Paul insisted, but Jeff noticed he swayed as he tried to reassure his sisters.

Diane’s arm went around him. “Sure you are, but we’re not going to take any chances. We’ll follow the doctor’s orders to a T.” She started leading Paul to her car.

“I can drive him,” Jeff called.

“No, I’ll drive,” Diane insisted.

He hurriedly gave her directions to his house, since she was determined to get Paul to bed at once.

Gabe, Margaret and Jack joined the group and Katie hastily explained the sleeping arrangements. Jack offered Jeff his hand in gratitude, and Margaret hurried after Diane and Paul to check on her son.

Susan approached with another girl, explaining her friend had invited her to spend the night with her. As soon as Margaret rejoined them and gave her approval, the youngest Peters child rushed away, seemingly unaffected by the night’s events.

“Jeff, are you sure about everyone staying with you?” Katie asked once more.

“I’m sure. The only problem I have is there’s not much food in the house. I usually eat out. But I’ll go shopping in the morning and—”

“Take the food we’ve got here,” Margaret said. “Jack, can you find a sack?”

Jeff started to protest, but Margaret shushed him. “It will go to waste here, and I doubt that Katie needs it. Gabe, can you—”

“Sure, Margaret,” Gabe assured her, turning to follow Jack.

They returned quickly with two grocery bags full. Jack put them in the front of Jeff’s truck. Gabe added another bag of clothes for Paul.

“There’s bacon and eggs and bread, plenty for breakfast, and other stuff,” Jack told Jeff.

“Thanks again. I’d better head on out or Paul and Diane will get there ahead of me.” He shook Gabe and Jack’s hands and nodded to the two ladies. Then he got in and backed out onto the road. Diane had already left, her brother beside her in her car.

When he reached his house, Diane and Paul were waiting in her car. He took his medical bag and unlocked the front door, ushering them in. “We’ll have to make up the beds,” he muttered. He really wasn’t much of a housekeeper. Once a week a lady came in to clean, so it shouldn’t be too bad, but he wasn’t used to guests. “I’ll be right back. I have to bring in the food your mom sent with us so you wouldn’t starve.”

Diane had made Paul sit down at the table. After patting his shoulder, she came after Jeff. “I’ll help.”

“I can get them,” he assured her, but she ignored him and took one of the bags away from him.

Once inside, she said, “I’ll put these away if you’ll find the linens for Paul’s bed.”

He knew she’d already had a long day, but she was emptying the two bags as she spoke. Paul gave him a ragged smile, as if recognizing his confusion. The boy needed to be in bed. With a pain pill, Jeff decided, as he noted the paleness of his face.

Jeff hurried upstairs to locate clean sheets. One bedroom had a king-size bed, like his own. Since he was six foot and Paul already topped him by an inch or two, he chose that bed for the boy. Before he’d gotten half the sheet on, Diane joined him and quickly pulled the other half into place.

“Aren’t you exhausted?” he asked, staring at her.

“I’m fine. Where’s the top sheet?”

He spread it out and Diane tucked in the corners.

“The pillow cases?”

He gave her one and took the other.

“If you’ll find a lightweight blanket, I’ll go down and get Paul.”

Jeff stood there, his hands on his hips as he watched her leave the room. He felt like saluting. Then he shrugged his shoulders. She was doing what had to be done. He shouldn’t complain.

He was spreading out the blanket when Paul and Diane returned. After pulling down the covers, he turned to help them.

Paul’s cheeks flushed, which alarmed him. Was he feverish? “Are you hot, Paul?”

“No, but—but I need to, uh, use the facilities,” the boy said awkwardly.

“Oh, I should’ve thought of that,” Diane exclaimed. “Come on, I’ll—”

“Sis!” Paul protested.

“What?” she asked, staring at him.

“As efficient as you are, Diane, I think Paul can manage on his own,” Jeff said quietly.

“I’m his sister!” she snapped. “I’m afraid he’ll pass out.”

“Di, please,” Paul begged.

“Oh, all right!” she said with a huff.

“Gabe put some of your things in my car,” Jeff added. “Go ahead to the bathroom while I run get them. I’ll find you some clean underwear and a T-shirt to wear to bed.”

Paul nodded, stealing a look at his sister.

Jeff looked, too, knowing Paul’s reluctance to let his sister help him had upset Diane.

She stared at both of them, her expression grim. Then she bent over to finish tugging the blanket into place.

“Where’s the bath?” Paul asked over his shoulder.

“Next door to the right,” Jeff said. Then he hurried downstairs.

When Paul was in bed, having swallowed the pain pill with no argument, Jeff and Diane left his room.

“If you’ll show me where the rest of the linen is, I’ll make my bed,” she said.

“I’ll help,” Jeff insisted. He could see the lines of weariness in her pale face.

“No! I don’t need you to take care of me. It’s enough that you’ve taken us in and doctored Paul.”

He recognized her stubborn pride and gave in to its demand. Opening the hall closet, he took out the sheets and a blanket and then escorted her to his third bedroom. It was smaller and had a full-size bed, a dresser and one bedside table. A bare room.

“Sorry it’s not very—” He shrugged his shoulders, unable to come up with a word to describe the room.

“I’ll be fine. Thank you.”

“If you need anything, let me know.”

“I won’t need anything.”

She shut the door, managing a small smile before it closed completely.

He stood there, thinking about Diane Peters. She appeared to be a woman in control, like his wife. Only Jeff’s wife had given all her time to her work, leaving little time or attention for their marriage. Is that how Diane would be—if she ever married?

He spun on his heel and strode to his bedroom. He needed to put Diane Peters out of his head. Her tired hazel eyes, her sagging shoulders, her mussed dress that so faithfully followed her trim figure, the blond hair that added to her beauty drew Jeff, but she was going to be a career woman.

The last thing he needed.

JEFF WASN’T SURPRISED when he awoke later than usual around eight the next morning—he’d gotten up several times to check on Paul. What awakened him, however, was a surprise. The scent of fresh coffee and crisp bacon wafted up the stairs. Half awake, he imagined a picture-perfect breakfast scene, a lovely blonde standing by the stove, a dainty white apron tied around her waist. The table was set, a small vase of flowers in the center, orange juice at every plate.

In his half dream, the woman turned around and he was staring at Diane Peters. Immediately, he came fully awake, lunging upright, his eyes popping open. What was he thinking?

Chapter Four

“Good morning,” Diane said, seeing Jeff enter the kitchen. He looked a bit startled at finding her in front of the stove. “I hope you don’t mind that I started breakfast. I was hungry and I expect Paul to be up soon.”

“Of course not,” he muttered, not quite looking her in the eye.

“If you want to sit down, I can pour you a cup of coffee. The eggs will be ready in a minute.”

“I can pour the coffee for both of us,” he said, reaching for the cabinet that held the mugs. “And I’m delighted you started breakfast. I haven’t had such a nice treat in years.”

Diane brought the plate of scrambled eggs to the table and sat down. Jeff’s statement that he hadn’t had breakfast prepared for him in years had startled her.

Around their house, no one left without some sort of morning meal. After eighteen years of a good breakfast, Diane had continued to eat breakfast through her college years. A good thing, too, since she put in long days.

Jeff seemed to be enjoying his food. He looked up and caught her watching. “I had no idea you could cook. I thought you were a lawyer.”

“I am a lawyer…or will be when I pass the bar. But that doesn’t mean I don’t eat.”

“I eat, too, but it’s usually at a restaurant…or at your sister’s shop. Her sausage rolls are good.”

“Yes, they are.”

A knock on the door startled them. Before Diane could move, Jeff jumped up from his chair. “That’s probably for me. Go ahead and eat.”

She supposed he was used to being on call, but it seemed strange that someone would come to his house rather than use the phone. When Diane turned she saw Katie enter the door, carrying a pan.

“Your sister brought some of those sausage rolls we were just talking about,” Jeff explained, grinning as he followed Katie into the kitchen. “I guess she didn’t know you could cook, either.”

“I thought I’d save you the trouble,” Katie said, bending down to kiss Diane’s cheek. “How’s Paul this morning?”

“He’s still asleep,” Diane said. “He took a pain pill last night.”

“He did? He must’ve really been hurting.” Katie looked at Jeff. “You said it was minor.”

Jeff pulled out a chair for Katie and gestured for her to sit while he poured her a cup of coffee and brought it to the table. Then he resettled in his chair. “A burn is a shock to the body. While he’ll recover, it will take a while. I don’t want him doing much with that arm.”

“Poor Paul. He has a lot of plans for the summer. He needs to stay in shape. Can he exercise?” Katie asked.

Jeff shook his head. “Not at once.”

“So he’ll have to rest a lot?” Diane asked, wondering how he would do that when they didn’t even have a place to live. She started making a mental list of people they might call.

“A few days,” Jeff said.

Katie was ahead of Diane. “We’ll have to find somewhere for the two of you to stay. Will you be able to take care of him, Diane? You don’t have much planned except studying for the next few weeks, do you? Mom will worry about—”

Katie’s words reminded Diane of her decision yesterday. “The children!” she said, interrupting her sister’s question.

She could tell from the expression on Jeff’s face that he realized her problem, too.

“What children?” Katie asked.

“I was going to take care of the two children from the wreck while their mother recovers. Now I don’t have anywhere to care for them. How long before the house is livable?”

“I don’t know,” Katie confessed. “We were trying to convince Mom and Jack to rebuild instead of fixing it. The wiring is outdated and dangerous—obviously. We don’t want to go through that again.”

“No, of course not,” Diane agreed, but she was worried. If they decided to rebuild, she would have nowhere to live all summer. “I’ll start looking for something to rent.”

Jeff’s quiet voice interrupted her panic. “Until you find somewhere, you can bring the children here. While you’re watching Paul, you can watch them, too.”

Diane was stunned by his generosity and started to say something.

Jeff assured them both that it wouldn’t be a problem for him. “I’m not here that much. It will be nice to have company, especially company who cooks like Diane.”

“It was only breakfast,” she protested, embarrassed by his excessive praise.

“Are you sure, Jeff, because we can ask around. Some of the older people in town have empty rooms. We could pay them some rent and—” Katie began.

“I won’t hear of it. Besides, it will save me time by housing two of my patients. I can check the boy and Paul before I go to the office.”

Katie seemed satisfied with Jeff’s explanation, but Diane wasn’t. The man made her too…nervous. She didn’t want to spend half her summer in his house. When Katie asked to see Paul before she left, Diane offered to show her to his room while Jeff finished breakfast.

On the stairs, Diane whispered to her sister, “See if you can find a place for us, Katie. I don’t feel right staying here.”

“You don’t like Jeff?” Katie asked in surprise.

“He’s fine, but—he’s used to living alone. I don’t think he’ll enjoy having a full house.”

“I think he’ll like it,” Katie said, a smile on her lips. “I’ve been wondering what we could do for him. He seems lonely to me.”

“Katie Dawson! What are you thinking?” Diane demanded, suspicion filling her.

“Why, absolutely nothing, sis. I’m just trying to be sure everyone’s covered. I’ll ask Mabel or Florence if they have room for you, okay?”

Her promise didn’t exactly satisfy Diane. Mabel Baxter and Florence Greenfield, mother of Cal Baxter and wife of George Greenfield respectively, were known for their matchmaking. In fact, it was Florence’s bet with her friends that resulted in their sons marrying. Doc, as George Greenfield was known, had enthusiastically fallen into the trap and married Florence, too. And then there was Tuck and Spence, their friends, who’d also fallen prey to the bet.

Since then, Cactus had become a hotbed of marriages. Marriage was fine for others, but Diane had no intention of losing her independence now that she was going to finally be earning a salary that would allow her to travel.

“Katie, you tell them no matchmaking. Do you hear me?”

“I certainly do.” She opened the door Diane had stopped in front of and hurried to Paul’s bedside.

“Paul, how are you?” she asked gently.

At that moment he rolled onto his injured arm and the pain was visible on his face. “Damn!” he muttered, then immediately apologized. “I didn’t know it would hurt this much,” he said with a gasp.

“I’ll go bring you some breakfast,” Diane assured him as she left the room.

Jeff was still sitting at the table, sipping his coffee when she entered.

“How’s he doing?” he said.

“He’s in a lot of pain. Can he take another pain pill?”

“Of course. Do you have the second one from last night?” Jeff asked, getting to his feet.

“Yes. I’m taking him some breakfast. Do you have a tray?”

He found one for her. “Don’t give him coffee. I think there’s some orange juice. Try that. I’ll go up and check on him.”

She dished up the scrambled eggs, along with a few sausage rolls and the last of the bacon. Then she poured a glass of juice. After adding napkins and the pain pill she’d left in the kitchen last night, she carried the tray up the stairs.

“But I don’t want another pill,” Paul was protesting as she entered, even though his facial expression told her he was still in pain.

Jeff, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, responded, “If you like to suffer, that’s fine, but it won’t help you get well faster.”

“What do you mean?”

“The pills help your muscles relax, which means you heal faster. I don’t pass out medicine unless there’s a need, Paul. You’re not going to be too active for a few days, but if you follow orders, you might be able to start sooner.”

Paul’s unhappy expression didn’t change.

“Maybe some breakfast will sweeten him up,” Diane said with a smile for her brother. “Katie brought over some sausage rolls.”

“Thanks, sis,” Paul said, nodding to Katie who was standing beside the bed. But he also tried to pull his weight to a sitting position and moaned in pain. Jeff immediately supported him while Katie put pillows behind his back.

“Okay, okay, I’ll take the pill,” Paul said.

“Good for you,” Jeff replied.

Paul picked up a sausage roll and began eating.

“Hey, if you don’t want all that bacon, I’ll take another piece,” Jeff said. Paul nodded his head with a grin, which made Diane feel better.

“Thanks,” Jeff said as he helped himself to another strip of bacon. “Now, I’d better hit the shower. I need to check on the lady from yesterday’s wreck, and see if the children can be released.” He looked at Katie. “Can you stay with Paul while Diane goes to pick them up?”

“Yes, of course. Diane, I brought you a few clothes if you want to change. Since I had the baby, there’s a lot I can’t wear.”

“Thanks, Katie. I forgot about clothes last night,” Diane said. She’d slept in her underwear the night before, not wanting to ask the doctor for a T-shirt. She figured she’d pick up a big T-shirt at the one discount store in Cactus. She had a little money left over from her last semester in school. Not enough for an entire wardrobe, but she’d manage.

Jeff followed her out of the room and said, “I didn’t think about you having nothing, Diane. I would’ve offered you some—well, at least a T-shirt. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m not your responsibility,” she assured him as she hurried away. The thought of wearing his clothes was doing strange things to her breathing.

JEFF WATCHED HER rush away, as if he carried a disease. She didn’t seem to like him much. When he’d seen her in her dress from yesterday, he’d intended to apologize and offer her anything he had. But breakfast—and his dream—had distracted him.

With good reason.

He hurried to the shower. He was anxious to see how his surgery patient was doing. Samantha had probably already checked her, but he would drop by her room before he reassured the children.

It was going to seem strange with children in the house. He’d always wanted kids, but his wife said she had too many children in her life as it was since she was a school counselor.

Maybe he’d find out he didn’t want kids after all. That would be good. It would erase some of the regret he felt.

After he’d showered and shaved, he dressed in fresh jeans and a knit shirt. It was wrinkled because he hadn’t gotten it out of the dryer in time, but he hoped no one would notice with his white coat on top.

Of course, his white coat was at the office.

It wouldn’t be the first time. His nurses always tsked at his appearance, but he ignored them. He wasn’t there for a beauty contest.

He went back to Paul’s room when he was ready to find Diane in a snug pair of jeans and a T-shirt, her blond hair pulled back in a ponytail. He thought she looked about ten years old…except for her body. All woman.

“Are you ready, Jeff?” Katie asked, distracting him from staring at Diane.

“Uh, yeah. How about you, Diane?”

“Yes.” She told her brother and sister goodbye and hurried out of the room in front of him. Which gave him an excellent view of her backside. Definitely all woman.

At the bottom of the stairs, she paused and asked, “May I move the child seat to my car?”

“Sure, if you think there’s room,” he agreed with a frown. “I suppose I could run you back here.”

“No, I’ll drive us. I may bring Toby back here and let he and Paul watch each other while I take Janie with me and do a little shopping. Will that be okay?”

“Probably. They can call me if there’s a problem.”

“No, I’ll leave my cell phone number with them.”

“Okay. If it needs charging, you can use my charger while you’re settling them in.”

“Oh, thanks.”

He decided they needed to get away from each other before they got so polite they couldn’t communicate at all. “I’ll see you at the clinic.”

Since it was only two blocks from his house, they wouldn’t have much of a break. At least he might have enough time to concentrate his attention on his patients rather than Diane’s body.

WHEN DIANE GOT TO the room where the two children had spent the night, she discovered a nurse trying to feed Janie while Toby struggled with his left hand.

Janie wasn’t cooperating.

When she saw Diane, the little girl almost leaped out of the nurse’s hold toward her, her little arms stretched out.

“Well,” the nurse said with a sigh, “finally we’ve found something she likes. You.”

Diane lifted the little girl from the nurse’s arms and soothed her. Her gaze went to Toby’s face and she saw loneliness and fear in his gaze. “Good morning, Toby. How are you?”

“Fine,” he mumbled, but his eyes were filling with tears.

“You didn’t think I’d forgotten you, did you?”

He shook his head, but he didn’t look confident.

The nurse surrendered her chair to Diane and picked up Toby’s spoon. “Let me help you finish your breakfast, Toby. You’re doing a really good job, but this way you can eat it before it gets cold.”

“And I’ll tell you why I’m a little late,” Diane added. “You won’t believe what happened.”

“What?” Toby asked, and the nurse slipped in a bite while his mouth was open.

Diane turned the fire into an adventure instead of the disaster it had been. “So we can’t stay with my Mom.”

“Cookie?” Janie asked.

“What a smart little girl you are to remember about my mama’s cookies. But I can make cookies, too. If you eat your breakfast.”

“So we can’t stay with you?” Toby asked, his voice wavering.

“Of course you can, but not at my mother’s house. So, for a day or two, we’re going to stay with the doctor. Do you remember him? He’s taking care of your mother.”

“We haven’t seen her.”

The longing in Toby’s voice brought tears to Diane’s eyes and she fought to keep them from falling. With a smile, she said, “When Dr. Jeff comes, we’ll ask him about her, okay? But he’s a good doctor. I’m sure he’s taking good care of her.”

“I appreciate that vote of confidence,” Jeff Hausen said from the doorway.

“The kids are worried—” she started, embarrassed.

“Yeah. Hi, Toby, remember me?”

The boy sort of nodded, but Diane saw the questions in his eyes.

“I just checked on your mom, and she’s still sleeping. If she were awake, I’d take you to see her, but she needs her rest. Do you mind waiting until later to see her?”

Diane’s heart swelled with pride as the boy bravely shook his head no. He was trying so hard to be the man in the family.

“Nurse, I’ll finish feeding Toby his breakfast,” Jeff said and soon took the nurse’s place. He and the boy had a rambling conversation, covering such topics as pets, favorite foods and friends.

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