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