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Stephanie sighed. There was no out. Not without making an idiot out of herself. “Okay. I’m leaving now.”
She clicked off and went to the back of the clinic where she kept the van. She pulled up in front of Josh’s cabin several minutes later.
Clint was on the swing on the front porch. He stood when he saw the van and ambled down the steps to the passenger side with only the slightest of limps, though she knew his foot must still hurt. She tried to deny the flutter in her stomach as he approached. He gave her a slow easy smile that would be devastating if she didn’t know better. “Hi,” he said. “I wouldn’t be presumptuous in thinking you’re my ride...?”
“Nope. Afraid not.” Then she realized how that sounded. “Not presumptuous, I mean,” she added halfheartedly.
His smile widened as he opened the door. “I’m happy to see you again, too.”
She had no comeback for that.
“Josh said his house was chaos,” he continued. It was more question than a statement.
“It is,” she said more cheerfully. “It will probably drive you crazy.” She hoped.
“After two wars, nothing drives me crazy.”
“Watch out for the beagle. She’s a kleptomaniac.”
“I have nothing I wouldn’t willingly surrender to a beagle.”
“Don’t sit on Fancy.”
“I appreciate the lesson in etiquette, but who is Fancy and why would I sit on her?”
“Fancy is a small dog, and she sometimes sneaks up on the sofa just when someone is sitting down.”
“I’ll try to sit in a chair.” He looked thoroughly amused. She wanted to slap him.
She decided to take another tack. “You’re not limping.” She realized the moment she said it that it was almost an accusation.
“Well, I still hurt if that’s what you’re wondering. Like the doc said...a couple of days.” He shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”
She was being petty. Ridiculous. He was just a man passing through town. A wounded man. A soldier like Josh. She owed him. The town owed him for his military service. It was the email; it had hit her like a sledgehammer.
She surrendered and described what would confront him at the Manning household. “Braveheart is a shy pit bull. He’ll probably hide from you. Miss Marple is the larcenous beagle. Fancy is the homeliest dog you will ever see, but she thinks she’s beautiful, and Captain Hook is a crotchety three-legged chihuahua who just might take a bite out of your leg.”
“I think I was safer in Afghanistan,” Clint said wryly.
“There’s more,” she said, unable to hide the slightest of smiles. “There’s Josh’s dog, Amos, who’s a very disciplined ex-military dog unless he thinks someone is threatening Josh. There’s also Dizzy, a cat with balance problems. And lord of the house is ten-year-old Nick.”
“Tell me about Nick.”
“He’s a perfectly normal ten-year-old boy.”
“You’re not telling me something.”
“Nothing more to tell.” She would let him learn about Nick’s endless curiosity himself.
He nodded, and she couldn’t tell what he was really thinking. But a house full of animals probably didn’t hold much fear for a guy who had been involved in wars for a number of years.
“How is the cabin?” she asked, struggling to be more sociable. For Eve and Josh.
“It’s great. I had a visitor today.”
“Who?”
“A Mrs. Byars, I think.”
“Brownies?”
“How did you know?”
“She’s famous for them. Her son died in Vietnam. She has a special place in her heart for veterans.”
She turned into a driveway that led to a sprawling ranch house with a big porch. A barn stood next to it, and three horses grazed in a pasture. As they drove up to the door, a tow-headed boy ran out of the house followed by a troop of dogs. Only one remained at the door.
“I’m Nick,” the boy said as he reached the van and Clint stepped out. “Josh told me to bring you inside. He’s at the grill.”
“I’m delighted to meet you, Nick,” he said formally. “And your friends.”
“I knew you would,” Nick said. “Mom suggested I leave them inside, but they wanted to meet you, too.”
“I’m very glad they did,” he said solemnly.
Nick beamed.
Stephanie followed man and boy inside and watched Clint charm the shoes off Nick, which wasn’t hard to do. Nick already worshiped his new stepfather and that was going to carry over to anyone who served in the military. To her chagrin, Clint sounded totally sincere as he talked to Nick and then bent down to let the dogs sniff his hand. Only Braveheart stood back.
It was hard to fool children and dogs. Mark had never even pretended to like dogs. That should have been a very loud warning bell, but when she’d asked him whether he had pets, he’d said he’d been too busy and it wouldn’t be fair to an animal. That had sounded logical and even animal-friendly. Get him out of your head.
Eve met them at the door, a broad smile on her face. “Welcome,” she said as the dogs sidled in alongside Clint. “I see you’ve met my motley crew.”
“I have, and I’ve had a warning about the larcenous one.”
“Just don’t take off a shoe,” Eve warned. “Would you like something to drink? A beer? Or something else.”
“A beer sounds great.”
Eve’s smile grew broader. “I’ve been anxious to meet you since Josh told me about your ‘encounter of a bovine kind’ with one of Steph’s patients. I decided then and there that I was going to like you. What do you think about the cabin?”
“It’s terrific. Far more than I expected. Your husband did a great job.”
Eve beamed, and Stephanie sighed. No ally there.
“You sit here and get off that foot,” Eve said. “Stephanie will bring you a beer. Nick, you go out and help Josh.”
Clint did as instructed, and Stephanie gritted her teeth as she followed Eve to the kitchen. It was going to be a very long evening.
CHAPTER SEVEN (#ulink_2ef64c66-9a29-526c-9cdc-16ebed21a9c0)
CLINT WAS BEMUSED. It was chaos here, but a comfortable kind of chaos. He enjoyed Stephanie’s discomfort, as well. He was attracted to her. No question about that. His body alerted him to the fact every time he saw her.
Instinctively, he knew she felt the attraction, too, and was fighting it with everything in her. He didn’t know why, but then, he had his own reasons to avoid any romantic entanglements. Last night’s headache reminded him of his limitations. No blackout, but it had been a near thing. A month from now, he might still have them. Maybe a year, or forever, and what kind of job can you get when you can’t drive or might pass out at any time?
For now, he would enjoy jousting with Stephanie and watching the fire in her pretty eyes.
She arrived with a bottle of ice-cold beer and handed it to him. “I’m helping Eve in the kitchen,” she said. “Why don’t you get acquainted with the dogs?”
He sat on the couch and three of the four dogs surrounded him. He suspected Stephanie thought it would unhinge him. He held out his hand to the dogs. The beagle came to him immediately, followed by the one called Fancy. In two more minutes, the Chihuahua hopped up into his lap. Only Braveheart sat at a distance, eyeing him as if he were an ax murderer. Maybe he channeled Stephanie.
The pit bull had scars, and one ear was half torn off. “Hey, Braveheart,” he said softly. He held out his hand again. Miss Marple, the beagle, licked it. The Mexican Hairless nibbled at it. Braveheart looked unmoved.
“I know what you’re thinking,” he said. “I’m a stranger, and strangers are scary. I must be scary, but I like you. We both have some scars.” Braveheart didn’t move. Neither did he. “It’s okay. Take your time.”
Miss Marple rolled onto her back, and he rubbed her stomach. Then, to his surprise, Braveheart took a step toward him. Then another. Hesitantly. Very hesitantly. He was close enough to touch. Clint reached out to him. Braveheart shied away, came back still obviously poised to escape. Clint slowly leaned toward him and as gently as he could, rubbed the dog’s ears. Braveheart inched closer. “Good boy,” Clint said in a low, reassuring voice.
“I don’t believe it,” Eve’s voice floated into the room.
He looked up and saw Eve and Stephanie, their mouths open, in the doorway to the kitchen.
Braveheart sat in front of him.
“Looks like you have the Braveheart seal of approval,” Eve said. “That’s a real distinction.”
“Wow,” said Nick, sliding in between them. “I just knew he would like you and you would like him.”
“Josh thought you might like to join him outside,” Eve said. “That’s if you can stand on that foot.”
“I can.” He stood. “Nick, lead the way.”
He took the beer and limped outside where Josh was putting steaks on the grill. Nick started to go with him, but Eve called him back.
Amos sat next to Josh, his eyes watching every movement he made.
“I like your wife,” Clint said.
Josh smiled. “It’s hard not to. Believe me, I know. I did my damnedest to chase her off, but nothing worked. She’s the most determined woman I’ve ever met. And the kindest. Just try to say no to that combination.”
“And Stephanie?”
“Like I said. She’s Eve’s best friend, which means she’s good people, but she doesn’t let many people get close to her. She’s great with animals. I understand Braveheart here was a basket case when Eve found him beaten and nearly dead. For a long time, only she and Stephanie could approach him. Stephanie has magic with animals, not so much with people. She doesn’t trust easily.”
“So it’s not just me?”
Josh chuckled. “It might be. Don’t know anyone else who got kicked by a cow when they were with her.”
“Stomped, not kicked.”
“A valid distinction.”
“I think so.” Clint cleared his throat. “She said she’s been here five years. Where was she before?”
“Back East. She doesn’t talk about it much.”
He was intruding. It was none of his business. He would be angry if Josh went around giving out information about him. “Sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
Josh raised an eyebrow. “Still interested in her?”
“I’m not in a position to be interested, and if I was, I don’t think she is.”
Josh didn’t comment.
“Anyway, thanks for use of the cabin. I’ve been studying plans for a dock. You want a floating or fixed dock?”
“Going stir-crazy, already?”
“Just like paying my way.”
“I got that.” Josh flipped the steaks and seared the other side.
“As for the dock, whatever you think. Just let me know what you need and I’ll have it delivered.”
“That’s a lot of trust.”
Josh shrugged. “You were a chopper pilot, right?”
Clint nodded.
“That’s a close bunch of guys. So were we Rangers. That was the worse part. Leaving my brothers behind.” He paused, then added, “But they’ll always be a part of me. I imagine it’s the same for you.”
He moved the steaks around, putting two farther from the hot coals. “Eve pulled me kicking and yelling back to life. There’s a lot of strength in this town. It certainly has its own personality. No one minds their own business, and it drove me nuts. Still does. But it’s because everyone—or most everyone—cares about everyone else. I’m proud to say that much of it is because of Eve. And Stephanie. Eve’s in front because she’s mayor, but Steph is right there with her. And that’s probably the longest speech you’ll ever hear from me.”
Clint didn’t reply. He didn’t have to. They understood each other.
Josh removed the four huge steaks from the grill and piled them onto a plate. They were still sizzling.
“I’ll take your beer inside,” Clint said. He was salivating now. “The steaks smell great.” He headed for the door and found that Nick had it wide open, waiting for them. “Good timing, Nick,” he said.
The boy grinned.
Clint dodged around the beagle and Fancy and took the bottles into the kitchen.
Eve was finishing a salad while Stephanie placed baked potatoes on a platter. Clint put the two empty beer bottles on the counter.
“Can you open a bottle of wine?” Eve asked him.
“Sure.”
