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“She came in a few minutes ago. You might find her in the den.”
“Thanks,” Ileana told him, then quickly left the kitchen.
The den was quiet and so was the living room. Ileana eventually found Chloe in her bedroom changing into clean clothes.
“Hi, honey!” Chloe said with a bright smile. “You must have stopped by ‘cause you knew I’d be lonely tonight.”
Ileana sat down on a cedar chest positioned at the foot of a large, varnished pine bed. “Lonely? Isn’t Dad here?”
The petite woman finished the last button on her blouse and reached up to whip the towel off her wet hair. Chloe had been a horse lover since she was old enough to sit in the saddle, and she’d made a life breeding and training racing stock. The job was physically strenuous, and now that Chloe was sixty-two, Ileana was beginning to wonder how long she could keep up with the demands of the business. But though she might be small in stature, Chloe was an iron lady. Ileana figured, God willing, her mother would still be working up into her eighties.
“Sanders Gas Exploration has just purchased a competing company, and your father has gone to Oklahoma to tie up all the loose paperwork.”
Ileana was incredulous. At a time when her father should have been slowing down, he seemed to be going hell-bent for leather. “He’s expanding? Again? Mom, when are you two going to retire and travel the world?”
Chloe laughed as she briskly rubbed her short auburn hair. “Honey, don’t ever look for your parents to go galloping around the world for any length of time. Maybe a short vacation now and then. We have too much we want to do.”
“But it’s work,” Ileana complained.
Chloe settled a pointed look at her daughter. “And isn’t that what your life is all about?”
Ileana certainly couldn’t argue that point. Most every waking hour she spent at her private medical clinic or at the hospital. Even if she wasn’t a workaholic, traveling and socializing wasn’t her style.
“Okay. So I can’t make that argument. But as a doctor I can tell you to slow down.”
Chloe laughed. “And as your mother, I can tell you to quit being so fussy.” She hung the damp towel on a door hook and began to run a comb through her hair. “So are you going to have dinner with me tonight? Cesar has made goulash and corn bread. He knows I love goulash and your father hates it, so he makes it for me whenever Wyatt is gone.”
Chloe started toward the door, and Ileana slowly rose to her feet to follow her out of the bedroom. “I suppose I can stay long enough to eat, but then I’ve got to get home and go over several test results. I…actually, I stopped by to talk to you about something.”
“Oh?” Chloe tossed her a look of concern as the two of them walked along a hallway. “Has something happened? Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m tired. That’s the only thing wrong with me, and I’ll tell you all about it when we get to the kitchen.”
“You’ve intrigued me now,” Chloe said with a smile. Then with a happy groan, she reached over and curled her arm tightly around her daughter’s shoulders. “I love you, sweetie. I’m glad you stopped by. No matter what the reason.”
Her mother’s display of affection was as commonplace as breathing, but Ileana never took it for granted. She’d seen too much suffering in her life to know that there were plenty of unloved people in this world. They marched through her office complaining of one malady after another when their real problem was loneliness.
The idea had her wondering about Mac McCleod’s life and what he must have gone through if the story he’d told about his mother was true. It was hard for Ileana to imagine growing up without her mother’s love, her constant hugs and kisses. Had the tough cowboy with the sexy brown eyes missed out on being cuddled and praised, or had a stepmother given him and his brother those things? she wondered.
That part of Mac McCleod is none of your business, Ileana. Just stick to the facts and concentrate on keeping your patient away from any undue stress.
The little voice of warning continued to pester her until the two women entered the kitchen and seated themselves at the small dining table.
“Okay, honey, what’s this thing you wanted to discuss with me?” Chloe asked as she spooned a hefty amount of goulash onto her plate. “I hope you haven’t stopped by to tell me that Frankie’s condition has gotten worse.”
“No. Actually, I think she’s slightly improved from yesterday, but her lungs still have a long way to go before I can pronounce them clear.”
“Damn woman,” Chloe muttered. “She should have had heart surgery a year ago when you advised her to.”
Ileana sighed. Frankie wasn’t the first stubborn patient she’d encountered. Over the eleven years she’d been a practicing physician, Ileana had run into her fair share, and when a patient refused treatment it always left her feeling frustrated and helpless. “That’s true. Her lungs are going to keep giving her problems if she doesn’t get her heart sound. But she’s afraid.”
Chloe frowned. “Well, aren’t we all afraid of medical procedures? But if we’re smart, we do them, because we want to be well and at our best. Life is too short to simply exist. I want to live my God-given days to the fullest.”
Ileana thoughtfully stirred sugar into her iced tea. “Yes, but you have lots to live for. I’m not sure that Frankie views life the same as you, Mother. Losing Lewis has devastated her. Just like it would devastate you if Daddy died.”
“Of course losing Wyatt would crush me! He’s the love of my life. But I’d have to go on doing the very best that I could. To do any less would be dishonorable to Wyatt and you children.”
Yes, her mother would see it that way, Ileana thought. But Chloe was a scrapper. As very young women, she and her two sisters had struggled and sacrificed to keep the Bar M going when others would have given up. Frankie didn’t have that same fighting spirit. Could her past life be some of the reason for her lack of grit? Ileana wondered.
“Mother, speaking of children, have you ever heard Frankie mention that she had other children?”
Across the table, Chloe’s fork stopped midway to her mouth. “Other children? What kind of question is that?”
“It’s not some sort of joke, if that’s what you’re thinking. Besides, you know I don’t joke.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Unfortunately, I do know. But let’s not get into that now. What are you getting at? The idea of Frankie having other children is preposterous.”
Ileana reached for a piece of cornbread. “You wouldn’t be saying that if you’d met Mac McCleod.”
Her expression puzzled, Chloe repeated the name. “I’ve never heard the name. Who is he? Where did you meet him?”
“He’s a deputy sheriff from Bee County, Texas. He showed up at the hospital wanting to see Frankie.”
Her expression full of concern now, Chloe leaned forward. “You didn’t allow him to see her, did you?”
Her mother’s sudden anxiousness was suspicious. “You know I’m not allowing anyone in to see her except Quint, Alexa and Abe.”
Chloe glanced down at her plate but didn’t attempt to resume eating. Ileana could tell that her thoughts were whirling.
“Was it official business?” her mother asked.
“No. Personal.” Ileana stabbed a piece of macaroni with her fork. She didn’t like giving people she loved bad news. And she had a deep feeling that Mac McCleod’s appearance was going to shake up more than a few around here. Especially Alexa and Quint. What would they think about having two half brothers? “He—uh—he says he thinks Frankie might be his long-lost mother. In fact, he seems almost certain of it.”
“My God, Ivy! You can’t be serious!”
She couldn’t remember the last time her mother had called her Ivy, the nickname her father had given her shortly after she’d been born. He’d considered Ileana too long and formal for a tiny baby girl. But by the time she’d reached high school age, Ileana had outgrown the nickname. Now, the only people who sometimes called her Ivy were her father and her brother, Adam. Apparently, her mother was completely distressed tonight.
“Yes, Mother. It seemed incredulous to me, too. But the man isn’t a flake. Far from it. He seemed more than legitimate and very determined. He showed me an old snapshot of him and his brother and his mother before she’d left the family. If you took off thirty years, the woman did resemble Frankie.”
“An old photograph doesn’t prove anything. What was this man like? Did he look like he could be related to Frankie?” she asked, then shook her head with disgust. “What the hell am I doing asking that question? There’s just no way. No way at all that Frankie had other children. She would have told me.”
Just conjuring the image of Mac in her brain was enough to leave Ileana’s mouth dry, and she quickly reached for her tea. “He’s a tall, very handsome guy. A cowboy type. A typical Texan,” she added, even though there had been nothing typical at all about the man, she thought.
Ileana took several sips of tea while her mother sat in silence. Chloe was either stunned or scared, and Ileana couldn’t figure which.
“What’s wrong, Mother? You do know something, don’t you?”
“You can’t let this man see Frankie,” she suddenly blurted. “At least, not until we find out more about him.”
“Well, I’d already planned on that. Why?”
With a heavy sigh, Chloe went back to eating but not with the same gusto as when they’d first sat down at the table.
“Look, Ileana, when I first met Frankie, almost thirty years ago, she was just traveling through the area. She’d left Texas and a husband behind. He was making some frightening threats against her, and at that time she was in the process of getting a divorce and was going by the name of Robertson. She said she’d reverted back to her maiden name.”
Ileana’s thoughts were spinning. She’d not even known that Frankie had been married before. Apparently that was a part of her life she didn’t want others knowing about, and if that was true, she probably wanted to keep other things secret. Like two more sons? The whole idea was shocking.
“When you first met her, did she ever mention what her married name was while she’d lived in Texas?” Ileana asked.
Chloe shook her head. “No. She didn’t tell me. And I wasn’t about to ask. I only knew that she needed a friend. I could tell that she was a bit traumatized, but what woman wouldn’t be? The man had threatened to kill her. And he was a farmer, a respected member of the community, or so she’d said. She’d run because she’d figured if she’d tried to get help, no one would have believed her complaints.”
Ileana thoughtfully pushed the goulash around her plate. “Mac didn’t mention anything about farming. He said his father had been a sheriff. Maybe Frankie isn’t the woman he’s looking for. But most of the things he said adds up, Mother.”
“How old was this—Mac—as you call him?”
Color instantly bloomed on Ileana’s face. Now why had she come out with his first name, as though she knew the man on a personal basis? “My age, I think. He told me his mother left the family when he was ten and his brother eight. And that she’s been gone twenty-nine years.”
“Oh, dear.”
Looking across the table, Ileana spotted tears in her mother’s eyes.
“No matter how hard I try, Ileana, I can’t imagine Frankie doing such a thing. She loves her children more than her own life. In fact, I’ve always told her that she smothered them too much. While they were growing up, she was frightened to turn her back for one instant in fear that something would happen to them.”
“Well, it’s hard to speculate what might have taken place in Texas. Could be that Frankie didn’t have much choice,” Ileana said thoughtfully. “If the man was threatening her, she might have been forced to leave her boys.”
Chloe shook her head emphatically. “But she would have gone back for them. Somehow, someway, she would have gone back.”
“Obviously she didn’t,” Ileana countered. “In fact, she’s never mentioned them to you. Doesn’t that seem odd?”
“Odd? Hell, no. It seems downright mean,” Chloe shot back, then with a weary sigh, she reached across the table and covered Ileana’s hand with hers. “Honey, when will you be seeing this man again?”
Ever since he’d disappeared through the hospital door, Ileana had been asking herself that same question. A huge part of her was thrilled at the idea of seeing him again, but the practical side cowered at the very thought. Mac McCleod was hardly the sort of man she would ever dream of consorting with. As if a man with his striking looks would ever think of giving her the time of day, she thought wryly. Everything about the man said he liked fast, showy horses and his women just the same. And Ileana was as far from that category as one could get.
“Tomorrow. Or so he said. I do have his telephone number.”
Chloe heaved out a breath of relief. “Good. I want you to give him a call and invite him to the ranch tomorrow night. For dinner.”
“Mom! Have you gone daft? I’m not going to do such a thing! I’ve just now met the man!”
“Look, Ivy, this is crucial!” Chloe pleaded. “You don’t want anything happening to Frankie, do you?”
What about your daughter? Ileana wanted to ask. Being around Mac McCleod was difficult on her heart. She wasn’t sure it could withstand the strain of being in his company for a whole evening.
“Of course I don’t want anything happening to Frankie. She’s my patient and a friend.”
“All right then.” Chloe gave Ileana’s hand one last pat and then leaned back in her chair. “I need to talk to this man and find out what’s really going on.”
“If you have a notion that you can change his mind about seeing Frankie, forget it. I doubt the man has ever uttered the word surrender. Unless he was yelling it at a fleeing criminal.”
Seeming not to hear Ileana’s warning, Chloe continued. “Quint and Alexa don’t know anything about this yet, do they?”
“No. But I suggested that he talk to them.”
“Oh, God, what is this going to do them?” Chloe mumbled worriedly. “They believe their mother is a saint.”
Across from her Ileana picked up her fork and tried to muster up the hunger she’d felt earlier this afternoon. The day had been long and exhausting, and she’d hardly had time to eat three bites of a dry turkey sandwich. But now all she wanted to do was go home and get this telephone call to Mac over with.
Back in Ruidoso, Mac had just returned to his motel room after a meal in a nearby restaurant. As he stretched out on the bed and reached for the remote control, the ring of his cell phone caught him by surprise. He’d not expected Ripp to call again tonight.
Pulling the phone from his jeans pocket, he was surprised to spot a local number illuminated. No one here had this number, except Dr. Sanders!
“Hello. Mac McCleod here.”
“Uh…Mac—this is…Dr. Sanders calling.”
His heart began to hammer with anticipation, or did a part of the adrenaline spurting through his veins have something to do with hearing her voice? After all, it was a sweet, husky sound. The kind that would sound perfect whispering in his ear.
Damn, Mac, leaving Texas soil has done something to your brain.
Snapping himself to sudden attention, he said, “Yes, Dr. Sanders. Has something happened?”
“If you mean Ms. Cantrell’s condition, no. I just spoke with her nurse. She’s resting comfortably. I’m calling for an entirely different reason.”
There was hesitancy about her words that put Mac on guard. Without thinking, he sat up on the side of the bed and stared expectantly at the floor. “You’ve changed your mind about allowing me to see her?”
“Uh—no. I’m…well, I’m calling to ask you to dinner tomorrow night,” she said, then rushed on before he could make any sort of response. “I live on a ranch in the Hondo Valley—my parents’ ranch—the Bar M. My mother thought you might like to visit with her. Since she’s known Frankie for nearly thirty years, she might be able to fill in some pieces of information for you.”
Mac hesitated for several seconds before he finally asked, “And why would she want to do that? I got the impression that you and your family want to shelter Frankie at all costs.”
He could hear her long sigh, and he was suddenly wondering how she might look with all that dark hair spilling around her pale face, with a sultry little smile on her lips and a sensual glint in her blue eyes. Was it possible he could ever see her like that?
“I do—we do. But we want to consider your side of this thing, too. Besides, Cesar is an excellent cook. If nothing else, you’ll get a nice meal.”
“And what about the company? Will you be there, too?”
There was a long pause, and Mac could very nearly imagine the blush that was creeping across her face. She reminded him of the timid, high school librarian who’d pursued him a few months ago. Once he’d gotten her in the dark, she’d been shy but sweet and eager. If he played his cards right, he might get lucky and discover that behind her lab coat and sturdy shoes, Dr. Ileana Sanders was just as sweet.
“Yes. I’ll be there,” she said.
“Great. What time and how do I get there?”
“Meet me at the hospital tomorrow evening at six,” she told him. “You can follow me out to the ranch from there.”
“Count on me being there,” he told her.
“Fine. Good night, Mac.”
“Good night, Ms. Sanders.”
