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An hour later, she answered the phone to discover Doc’s voice on the line.
“Hi, Doc, how’s retirement—”
He interrupted her. “Get Jon. We’ve got a wreck on the highway with multiple injuries. Your mom is on her way. I need him as soon as possible.”
“Right.” She hung up and ran out of the office around to the parking lot. The guys had moved a lot upstairs, but there were still some things in the parking lot.
“Where’s the doctor?” she demanded.
“Just went upstairs with Casey, carrying some boxes. Anything wrong?” Rich asked.
“Multiple accident. Doc needs him,” she called over her shoulder as she raced up the stairs.
She found him in the living room and hurriedly repeated the message.
With a worried frown on his face, he thanked her and ran out of the apartment. She stared after him, revising her opinion of him. At least he seemed intent on his job, even if it was for only four years.
“People are hurt?” Casey asked.
“I guess so. They called Mom in, too.”
Russ, Rich and Toby came up the stairs, the three of them carrying a beaten-up sofa. Russ puffed out some air. “I’m not sure this sofa is worth the effort. What do you think, Tori?”
She grinned. “I’ve seen worse.”
“Where?” Rich asked when he let go of the sofa.
“At college. I’m sure the doctor couldn’t afford expensive furniture at med school. In Caroline’s letters to Aunt B.J. she says she never gets back to her apartment anyway. It sounds like they work them twenty-four hours a day.”
“I’ve seen that on TV, but I wasn’t sure that was the truth,” Toby said. “Elizabeth likes that show, ER.”
“Have you seen a table? For the breakfast area?” she asked, staring at the empty space.
“Nope. He really doesn’t have much. But we still have some boxes of books. Talk about heavy!”
“Maybe we should tell him about the table and chairs Aunt Megan took in last week. She didn’t want to put them in the store. She was hoping to find someone to take them off her hands,” Tori pointed out.
“Hey, good idea,” Russ said. “They weren’t bad, just not old. Aunt Megan only wants antiques in her store. Maybe Abby and I will give him the table and chairs for a housewarming present.”
“You’re going to give him a present because you’re his landlord?” Tori asked. “Do you think that’s necessary?”
“Not necessary, no, but I think it would be nice,” Russ said.
“Anybody home?” Red’s voice called.
They all turned around to find him standing on the doorstep, Mildred right behind him.
“Come in, Red. The doctor’s not here. He had an emergency,” Toby said.
“We heard. It was bad. They had a couple of fatalities,” Mildred said. “I talked to Anna.”
They all lamented such a horrible accident. Then Mildred asked Tori to put the lasagna in the refrigerator. “We thought the man could use some dinner that’s already prepared. I’m sure he won’t have any groceries yet.”
“That’s so thoughtful, Mildred,” Tori said.
“Here’s the chocolate cake, too,” Red said, extending his offering.
“I know he’ll appreciate it, Red.” Tori put the cake plate on the bare cabinet.
“I guess he’ll get in late tonight. Maybe Elizabeth and I will buy some groceries to fill up the pantry for our housewarming gift,” Toby said. “I’ll call her.” He pulled out a cell phone and moved away from the rest of them.
Tori moved to the door. “Well, I left the office unmanned. I’d better go back.”
Russ stopped her. “Go lock it up and come help us. No man should come in late from that kind of work and find everything a mess. Poor guy doesn’t have a wife.”
“That would be a good way to get to know him, Tori,” Mildred suggested, enthusiasm in her voice.
Uh-oh. The Randall family was famous for its matchmaking, but Tori didn’t want any part of it. Especially with a man who was leaving in four years. “No, I don’t think I can spare the time.”
“Sure you can,” Russ insisted. “Abby will come by after school, and she’ll help you.”
Toby joined them again. “Elizabeth will be by, too. She and Abby agreed to do some grocery shopping.”
Tori was feeling trapped, but at least she wouldn’t be alone. And it would be terrible to find everything just dumped after dealing with a horrible wreck. “Fine. I’ll go close up.”
Once she’d locked the doors downstairs, leaving a note on the door, she went back up the stairs. The main bedroom had a nice bedroom suite all put together. It looked new, with its king-size bed, dresser and bedside table. When she started opening boxes, she found one marked “bedroom” and opened it. Inside were a set of new sheets, and a navy comforter with flecks of maroon forming a pattern. Very masculine.
“I’ll take the sheets to my apartment to wash before I make up the bed. Want me to bring back a pitcher of lemonade?”
Her cousins enthusiastically agreed to that offer.
When she returned, she brought the lemonade, along with what cookies she’d had in her cookie jar. She knew her cousins’ appetites. Especially Casey, Russ and Rich’s baby brother. At eighteen, he was still a growing boy.
“I called Aunt Megan,” she said as they fell upon the snack. “She said she’d be glad to donate the table and chairs just to get rid of them. She’ll be there another hour if you want to go get them.”
Russ stood up. “I think we can get them and be back here before the girls arrive,” he said to Rich.
“No problem,” Rich agreed. “I brought my truck.” The two of them left.
“That sofa is a sore spot, isn’t it?” Casey asked. “I mean, I’m no expert on decorating, but it’s an eyesore.”
Toby laughed. “You’re right.”
“I bet Mom and Dad would like to give him a new sofa.”
“No,” Tori said firmly. “We can’t do that without asking him. And it isn’t necessary for everyone to give him presents.”
“Everyone gave Russ and Abby presents when they moved into their new house.”
“Yes, but everyone knows them. No one knows the doctor. He’s a city man.” She didn’t want to say bad things about him.
“Poor guy,” Casey said. “I’d hate living in a big city.”
“I think he prefers it. He’s leaving in four years.” She needed to keep reminding herself of that. As good-looking as he was, she felt sure he’d have a lot of feminine company while he was here, but she had no intention of involving herself in a temporary relationship. Especially with someone who didn’t respect her.
Casey was still frowning.
“Are all the boxes up here?” she asked, starting to open another one.
Casey groaned and Toby downed his glass of lemonade. “Come on, boy. The lady is cracking the whip.” Both of them headed down the stairs.
Tori continued staring at the sofa. She suddenly remembered a sofa cover she’d used in college. It was royal blue and she thought it would fit the sofa. She hurried next door and searched through her hall closet. She brought it back to the doctor’s apartment, along with several pillows in a blue, green and maroon print. The guys were making a second trip.
“Where did you go?”
“Over to my apartment. I’ll have a surprise when you get back.” As soon as they were out of sight, she slipped the cover over the sofa. It fit perfectly. Then she added the two pillows.
Toby and Casey entered the room, each carrying a box. When they saw the sofa, they set the boxes down and stared.
“You found a new sofa?” Casey asked.
“Of course not. It’s an old cover I used in Laramie.” All of them had attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie.
“Nice job, Tori. It looks a hundred percent better.”
“Thanks, Toby, but that scarred coffee table is the only other piece of furniture he has.”
“Yeah,” Toby agreed. “But maybe he’ll buy some more soon.”
“I think he should buy a TV. He’s only got that little black-and-white thing,” Casey said in disgust. “Man, he’s really roughing it.”
“You’re spoiled, Casey,” Toby told him, laughing.
IT WAS ALMOST TEN O’CLOCK when Jon returned to the parking lot. None of his belongings were still on the gravel. He didn’t know if the Randalls finished the job for him, or if someone had come along and taken what they wanted.
He trudged up the stairs, bone tired. He hadn’t had time to do any grocery shopping. Doc had told him to come back to his house tonight, but Jon was looking forward to puttering around in his own place. He’d skip dinner tonight and eat breakfast at the café in the morning.
Tomorrow was Friday. He’d have the weekend to settle in. He sighed. Hopefully there wouldn’t be any more emergencies of the magnitude of today’s crash for a while.
He placed the key in the lock and swung open the door. The interior was lit with the soft light of a lamp, inviting and warm. He smiled in pleasure. Then he remembered he didn’t have a lamp like that.
Frowning, he reached for the light switch near the door. The kitchen was to his right, behind a wall, but there was a dining area after the kitchen. He discovered a table and chairs he didn’t own.
Had he accidentally come into the wrong apartment? He looked around nervously. If he had, whoever lived here would think he was a burglar. He backed up until he was outside his door. Nope, there was the other door on the left.
What was going on?
He entered his apartment again. This time he made it to the living area. The ugly sofa he’d inherited from another med student had been replaced with a royal blue sofa, the same shape, but with colorful pillows on it. It almost looked fashionable. And there was a stuffed chair and ottoman that he didn’t own. A floor lamp with a built-in round glass table cast a soft glow about the room.
He went to the biggest bedroom. This would tell the tale. If the bedroom suite that his father had given him as a graduation present was there, he was in the right place.
He let out a deep breath. It was there. But the bed was made, looking so inviting he had to fight himself to keep from falling into it. He went back to the kitchen. Figuring he could use his hands as a way to get a drink of water from the sink faucet. He at least needed that before he went to sleep.
Much to his surprise, he discovered his dishes, the few he had, all nicely stored in cabinets that had a shelf lining in place. There hadn’t been any shelf lining there yesterday.
There was a note on the cabinet.
“There’s lasagna in the fridge. Put what you want to eat on a paper plate and microwave it for two minutes. There’s a pitcher of lemonade, too. And Red made you a chocolate cake to welcome you to Rawhide.”
His mouth watered when he caught sight of the cake. And lasagna? He opened the fridge and saw the square dish. He whirled around, ready to heat some up at once. Where were the paper plates?
He opened the pantry door and discovered fresh bread, many cans of food, coffee in a can to be perked and instant coffee in a jar that was caffeine free. And paper plates.
Who had performed this miracle? There was a tea-kettle on the back of the stove for heating water. He filled it at once and turned on the burner. Even though it was June, a good cup of coffee would hit the spot.
He heard the faint sound of a television next door. He went outside and knocked on his neighbor’s door. If the guy had helped, or seen who had done this, he’d like to thank them.
He heard hesitant steps come to the door. He was all ready to ask his questions when the door opened. Until he found himself facing Victoria in a long nightgown topped by a matching robe.
“Victoria! What are you doing here?”
“I live here. I’m your neighbor, Dr. Wilson.” She didn’t appear to be surprised.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It’s none of your business where I live.” She started to close her door.
“Wait! I want to ask you—” He stopped as he heard the kettle whistling. “I’m heating water. Can you come with me?” he asked, not waiting for an answer. But he was remembering several remarks by both Anna and Doc. In particular, Doc. Talking about what a cute couple he and Victoria made.
Once he was back in his kitchen, he got down a second cup and put instant coffee in both of them and added the hot water. He took both cups to the new table and put them down. His neighbor was just coming into his apartment. “I’m going to warm up some lasagna. Do you want some?”
“No, thank you. I’m about ready to go to bed.”
“There’s also chocolate cake. I don’t know how good it is, but it looks delicious.”
She hesitated, then said, “Thanks. I’ll have a piece of cake. And it is delicious. Red made it.”
Tori moved into the kitchen, noticing for the first time the weariness on the man’s face. She’d talked to her mother and heard about the difficult day. She’d also listened to a lot of praise for the doctor’s medical skills and also his concern for his patients.
“Here, I’ll heat up the lasagna and cut the cake. You go sit down and drink your coffee,” Tori said.
“Thanks.”
She put some lasagna in the microwave and cut two pieces of cake. By that time, the lasagna was done. Taking it to the table, she slid it in front of the doctor, along with a fork. Then she went back for the two pieces of cake.
For several minutes, the doctor ate the lasagna. Then he looked up. “I have some questions for you.”
“What?” Tori answered calmly.
