“You’re going to take Eddie and me to the clinic?” Kate asked, walking quickly to match his longer stride.
He glanced down at her. “Seems like a good idea.”
“You don’t have to. If you’ll just take me home—”
“No, I’m taking you to the clinic.” They reached the fence and he paused. “Go on over and I’ll hand Eddie to you.”
Kate slipped through the rails, apparently unconcerned about how her loose shorts revealed her upper thighs, or how the soft knit fabric of her shirt caressed her curves. Luke knew he shouldn’t be thinking such thoughts as he held her injured son, but he couldn’t help admiring the mother. Quickly, he handed Eddie across the fence, being careful not to brush his fingers against her breasts as he released the little boy.
“I have to get my keys,” he said, stepping between the rails. “Walk toward the truck. I’ll be right there.”
He jogged to the house—not an easy feat in boots—and returned with his wallet and keys. Kate was already seated inside the truck, holding Eddie on her lap.
“Seat belt?” Luke asked.
“Oh, right.” She placed the boy on the bench seat between them and hooked him in. “Are you okay, sweetie? You aren’t hurting too much, are you?”
“I wanna go home. I’m sorry I fell off the zebra.”
“You tried to ride a zebra!” Kate exclaimed. “Eddie, no!”
“I’m sorry, Mommy,” he said softly, about to cry.
“Hey, we can talk about that later, okay?” Kate obviously loved Eddie very much and was at a loss to stop his wandering and inquisitive nature. Being a parent was tough, something he was about to experience firsthand…if he could get his house and his life in order in just twenty-seven days.
Kate hugged Eddie to her and appeared close to tears herself when Luke glanced at her. Then he was on the curving road leading over the hills toward town, and he didn’t look at mother and son again.
KATE BREATHED a sigh of relief when Dr. Amy Wheatley Phillips pronounced Eddie bruised but not broken. No nerve damage, just a contusion on his hip and another on his hand, which he’d scraped raw during his fall.
“You must take it easy for at least a week,” the doctor told Eddie. “No falling around or getting any more injuries, okay?” She looked at Kate and winked. “And you need long, warm baths, Eddie. At least one a day. That will make the bruise go away faster.”
“Baths! Yuck. Do I have to?”
Dr. Amy smiled and stroked Eddie’s mussed hair. “Absolutely, young man. Your mother knows best, so you mind her and you’ll get well very soon.”
Eddie frowned and swung his legs over the edge of the exam table, appearing even younger and more forlorn than Kate ever remembered. The cotton gown wrapped around him like a big, soft tablecloth. Or maybe a receiving blanket, as if he were a baby again.
Oh, those were the days, when she could keep him safe. Protect him from the dangers of life.
“Come back and see me if you have any problems.”
“Thank you, Dr. Amy,” Kate said.
“You’re welcome. And Eddie? Don’t ever try to ride anyone else’s animals. In Texas, back in the old days, that could be considered rustling. Only the bad guys tried to steal someone else’s animals.”
“I didn’t try to steal the zebra!”
“Using anything that doesn’t belong to you is stealing, Eddie,” Kate explained. “Using the zebra for a ride is something that Mr. Simon didn’t want you to do, and that means you tried to steal a ride.”
Eddie folded his arms across his chest and frowned.
“We’ll talk about this at home, young man, after you apologize to Mr. Simon.”
“Gladys told me he brought the two of you in,” Dr. Amy said as she removed her rubber gloves and dropped them into the biohazard trash.
“Yes, I’m afraid I was a bit of a basket case. Your receptionist was wonderful, by the way. Very calm in the face of my near-hysteria.”
“I’m sure it’s very difficult to see your own child lying injured in a pasture.”
“Exactly,” Kate said, frowning at her adventurous son.
“I’m glad Mr. Simon was there for you, then. I’m sure he was more objective.”
“Yes, he was…great.” Kate wasn’t happy to realize how true her words were. Part of her wanted to be angry at him for having the tempting animals. Part of her wanted to resent him for his appeal, both to her and to Eddie. But he had been sensible when she felt the urge to rant and cry and hold Eddie tight. He’d been…great.
“See Gladys on your way out,” Dr. Amy said as she left the examination room.
Within minutes, Eddie was dressed in his stained, rumpled clothes and Kate had given Gladys the insurance information. Only then did Kate look to the waiting room to see if Luke Simon was still there.
Or if he’d taken off because he didn’t want to spend any more time than necessary with a hysterical woman and a meddlesome child.
She inhaled deeply when she saw him, one arm stretched along the back of a couch, booted foot crossed and resting on his knee. His long, dark hair was ruffled as if by the wind or his own fingers plowing through the thick strands. He looked far too good for her peace of mind, just as tempting and exciting as when he’d strolled into the Four Square Café several months ago.
He appeared relaxed at first, but she noticed a bit of tension in his expression, as though he had a lot on his mind. He probably had a ton of chores to do at his ranch. He’d dashed off and left everything. Had he been alone, or were those Hollywood people still there?
She wasn’t going to think about those gorgeous women anymore. Comparing herself to others that physically perfect was an exercise in futility, especially when she was dressed in old shorts and a faded T-shirt.
“We’re ready,” she said just loud enough to get his attention, “if you’re willing to drive us home.”
“How’s Eddie?” Luke asked, rising effortlessly from the couch. Kate nearly sighed when she thought about how strong he had to be to move so gracefully.
“He’s going to be fine, if he’s careful and takes lots of warm baths.”
“Yuck!”
Kate leaned down to eye level with her son. “Eddie, don’t you have something to say to Mr. Simon?”
Eddie nodded. “I’m sorry I tried to ride the zebra, Mr. Simon,” he said in a small voice. “I didn’t mean to steal anything.”
Luke appeared confused, glancing at her for clarification.
Kate hid her smile by biting her lips. “Dr. Amy told him about how taking something, even a ride on someone’s animal, is like stealing.”
“You didn’t steal from me,” Luke said. “I’m really concerned about the zebra, though.”
“Why?” Eddie asked.
Luke hunkered down in front of Eddie. “Because she’s pretty old and she has arthritis.”
“Just like Grandpa Whitaker,” Kate explained.
“His fingers are all knobby,” Eddie said.
“Well, her knees are kind of like that and it hurts her to move.