The Rancher's Sweetheart Read online

  It was to be her sea change. To start her life over again.

  Okay, time to face the truth. You were running away. But you can never run from yourself. Or your secrets.

  As she drove from Kody’s property, she admired the scenery. Took in the countryside. It really was beautiful out here.

  She was told it was quiet and secluded, but stunning at the same time.

  She pulled to the side of the road. What the heck was she doing? She couldn’t start a relationship. Not with anyone, but especially not with Kody. As much as she felt attracted to him, it was the last thing on her mind.

  She had other responsibilities, and they had to come first. Like her hospital duties, and....

  She’d worked so hard to become a doctor, despite all the odds. But she’d done it, and she wasn’t prepared to throw it all away.

  Maybe once she settled.

  Who was she kidding? She would never be ready. Not ever.

  She unstrapped her seatbelt and got out of her car to get some fresh air. Looking across at the Montana Ranges she knew she could easily spend the rest of her life here.

  She also knew that could never happen.

  Enough was enough.

  Kody finished his coffee just as the sun finished rising.

  He had his work boots on, and plonked his cowboy hat on his head. “Ow!” He quickly removed it.

  No matter what the doc said, he’d put himself on light duties, and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it.

  He would muck out the stables first. Surely he couldn’t do any further damage doing that simple task?

  He walked into the stables and immediately the smell of horses and hay hit his senses. He’d missed coming in here every day. His hospital stay had put him out of action for only two days, but still, when it was something you loved...

  Cracker came to greet him, hanging his head over the stall. “Hello fella. I’ve missed you,” Kody told him, as the horse nickered into Kody’s neck. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a carrot, which was quickly accepted and consumed.

  The horse rubbed his head against Kody’s shoulder. He’d apparently missed the contact with his owner too.

  Opening the door to Cracker’s stall, Kody grabbed the shovel, and began to muck out the stall. Rory’s stable hand had done a great job while he’d been recuperating, but he could do it himself now.

  At least he though he could.

  As he leaned forward to dig the shovel in the messed-up hay for the third time, pain ran through him. “What the hell...?” He hadn’t expected that.

  “Good question.”

  He spun around at the sound of Molly’s voice, and nearly fell over. “What are you doing here so early?” He didn’t mean for it to come out so snarky, but it did. He’d clear snapped at her.

  He didn’t think she’d even be out of bed yet, let alone do a house call before 7am.

  “I, I came to check up on you. To...”

  He interrupted her mid-sentence. “To make sure I was doing the right thing.”

  She looked annoyed. “I came to make sure you were okay. I knew you got up at sunrise, so I decided to come before I start my shift at 7am.” She put her hands on her hips and glared at him.

  He couldn’t help himself, he stood there grinning. She looked so cute when she was mad.

  “You know you could bust your stitches.” She said it convincingly, and he wasn’t certain if she was serious or not. Even mad, she was still attractive.

  He was stuck where he stood. Kody couldn’t move. He was so enamoured with her beauty and her charm. She was the most delightful woman he’d ever know. And he’d known a few.

  “Tell me you haven’t done anything yet.” Her voice was hoarse, she was getting angrier the longer he stood without answering. “Kody. Really? You are going to just ignore me?”

  He still held the shovel in mid-air. He shook his head to clear his head, but it only proved to cause more pain.

  “Okay doc,” he said. “You win.” He left the stall and returned the shovel to the end of the stables.

  He heard the breath leave her lungs as she breathed a sigh of relief.

  He gazed into her almond shaped eyes. They were the most beautiful crystal blue eyes he’d ever seen. Still, he could be biased.

  He stood there mesmerized for what seemed an eternity.

  Cracker neighed and brought him out of his reverie. “Your eyes are beautiful?” He hadn’t meant to say it out loud, but he was so enthralled by them, the words left his mouth before he could stop them.

  His heart did a little dance at the tiny smile that appeared momentarily, then vanished just as quickly.

  She watched him for mere moments, then brushed his words aside.

  “Come outside, please. I need to check that wound.” She turned tail and stormed out of the stables. She really was cute when she was mad.

  Chapter Two

  “You’ve busted a couple of stitches.” She said it low-pan, as though she’d expected it. Which she had.

  Kody had no idea his small amount of physical activity could do so much damage, she was pretty sure.

  She felt mysteriously attracted to him but found him incredibly frustrating at times.

  He lifted his hand to his head. “Seriously?”

  She groaned. Just moments ago, he’d had that hand on a dirty shovel, and now he was reaching for his stitches.

  Germ city.

  “Yeah, Kody. Seriously.” She sighed. She should be used to this sort of thing by now. Most people didn’t understand the implications of putting dirty hands anywhere near open wounds.

  She slammed her doctor’s bag closed. “We’ll have to go to the hospital and restitch your head.” She looked at him pointedly. She didn’t care if he realised she was annoyed.

  Because she was annoyed!

  And frustrated. Irritated. Disappointed. Plus a number of other things that she couldn’t begin to verbalize right now for fear of upsetting her patient.

  Of course, she couldn’t say these things to him. It would be incredibly unprofessional of her. Instead she placed a clean dressing across his head and taped it down.

  It would do until they arrived at the hospital.

  The drive to the hospital was quiet. There was nothing much to say. He’d been an idiot, and he’d paid the price.

  “Do you want to call one of your brothers?” she asked as they arrived. “You’ll need someone to pick you up.”

  He shrugged. “I guess.”

  “I can’t take you back. Sorry. I have to start my shift soon.”

  He called Jordon, who was a veterinarian, he’d told her. He’d be out and about, so it would probably be easier for him to come.

  Kody sat quietly as she prepared to restitch his head. “I’m sorry,” she said. “But I have to inject local anaesthetic again. That’s the worst part.”

  “I guess that’s what I get for being stupid, huh doc?”

  “What the hell, bro? Even the animals don’t bust their stitches,” Jordon said. He hovered above Kody’s head. “You did a good job of it.”

  Molly wrapped waterproof underlays all around his shoulder to stop his clothing being covered in blood.

  Not that he was bleeding a lot, but he was bleeding. Better safe than sorry.

  “I promise I won’t do it again, Molly,” he said, and Jordon raised his eyebrows. That was the moment Molly decided she needed to keep her distance from Kody. Her patient.

  Her very appealing-to-her patient, but nonetheless, he was her patient.

  Not that she was in a position to have a relationship. Her life had changed dramatically over the last year, hence her transfer to this small country hospital.

  You could easily hide out here. Not many people even knew this town existed, let alone go looking for her here.

  On the other hand, it could be easier to find someone in a small town – because every knew everyone else.

  She sighed.

  “All done.” She busied herself packi
ng up the equipment she’d used. “Please, please, do not muck out the stables again. Or do anything else that is likely to bust your stitches.

  She turned to Jordon. “Can you and your brothers please keep an eye on this obstinate brother of yours? He is becoming the bane of my life.”

  With that she stared at Kody, smiled and touched his shoulder. “Please look after yourself,” she said. Then turned and walked out the door.

  “What’s going on,” Jordon asked.

  Kody shrugged as they walked toward Jordon’s truck. “Nothing’s going on. What do you mean?”

  It was obvious Jordon wasn’t convinced. “I saw the way you looked at her. And the way she stared at you.” He raised his eyebrows again. “There’s definitely something between you two. Even blind Freddie would see it.”

  Kody grinned as he strapped himself into the passenger seat. “She is pretty cute, right?” He glanced across to his brother, then cleared his throat. “I mean, for a doctor, she’s....”

  “For a doctor?” Jordon glared at his brother. “So she can’t be cute if she’s a doctor? Hell, Kody!” He turned on the motor, quite obviously exasperated. “Anyway, I thought you’d given up women. Twice bitten and all that. At least that’s what you said after Annabelle.”

  Kody winced. “I never wanted to hear that name again. Besides, she’s nothing like Annabelle. She’s sweet, she’s kind, she’s beautiful. And she’s....”

  “Probably taken.”

  Kody looked up abruptly. His brother was probably right. It wasn’t something he’d thought about. If she was all the things he thought she was, then she probably did have a boyfriend. Or a husband.

  “Dang. I didn’t even consider that.” He sat brooding for the rest of the trip, not uttering a word to his inquisitive brother.

  When he arrived home, Kody discovered one of Rory’s stable hands mucking out the stable. “I had a go at that myself,” he began to explain.

  “Yeah, I heard,” Pete answered. “I also heard you busted some stitches. Not cool, man. Just leave it to me until things are better.”

  Kody touched his hand to his newly bandaged head. “Guess so. Thanks Pete. It’s appreciated.” But Kody couldn’t resist spending some time with Cracker.

  He strolled toward Cracker’s stall and called the horse over, enticing him with some apple. The horse whinnied, and Kody held out the apple for him to take.

  Kody walked the few steps to the tack room and grabbed a halter. Since he was forbidden to ride, he’d decided to walk Cracker around the front paddock. That way they’d both get to have a bit of a stretch. Surely he couldn’t bust his stitches again by walking?

  Once the apple was consumed, which didn’t take long at all, he gently put the halter over the horse’s head. He opened the stall door, and the pair ambled toward the front paddock, Kody talking in low undertones.

  It felt like forever since he’d been on this beautiful boy, but it was only a few days.

  “What am I going to do, boy?” He rubbed his hand up and down Cracker’s face. “What if she is taken? I don’t think I could take it.” They proceeded another hundred yards or so, then began walking in circles around the paddock.

  “If she was taken, why would she be giving out signals like she is?” Now he was confused. Or maybe it was all one-sided. Was he reading into something that simply wasn’t there?

  His head hurt thinking about all the possibilities, but he needed to know. Was she as interested in him, as he was in her? Molly seemed to be interested. Hell, she’d nearly kissed him yesterday.

  Okay, he nearly kissed her, but wasn’t that the same thing? He lightly scratched his head, vowing not to do any more damage. Was it the same thing?

  He pulled out another piece of apple and fed it to his equine companion, rubbing his fingers up the horse’s face. “What do you think, Cracker? Does she like us?”

  The horse neighed his agreement, and the pair continued on their walk around the paddock.

  Not knowing was killing him, so Kody vowed to find out more about the mysterious Doctor Molly Simpson – one way or another.

  He was developing a headache, so headed back to the stables. At least he didn’t need much brain power to do that.

  Molly shook her head.

  What on earth was she thinking?

  Every time she touched Kody Callahan, a thrill ran through her. Her heart hitched up, and it beat wildly. She even broke out in a sweat sometimes when he was near.

  She felt like a love-struck teenager – thinking about him all the time. She’d even had to stop herself from calling him on several occasions.

  When he’d moved close to her at his ranch-house, she was so tempted to connect with him, to kiss him, but backed off at the last moment.

  She put her fingers to her lips.

  Was this what it was like to fall in love, or was she simply overreacting?

  It wasn’t like she was looking for a companion, because she wasn’t.

  Her life was way too complicated to get involved with anyone. Even someone as appealing as Kody.

  A chill went down her spine, and sadness overtook her. Of all the times in her life she had to meet him, it had to be now.

  Why not a year ago?

  She had already graduated medical school at that point and was fully qualified. She’d done her time working in general practice, and had a quiet life, albeit in another state. Sure, she worked long hours, as residents are compelled to do, and had very little time for a social life.

  She would have found a way to work around it and was sure he would have too.

  But now.... it was impossible.

  Her life had change irreversibly. Now she had responsibilities. Now her life was massively different to what it was just one year ago.

  And now she could no longer think about only herself.

  She strolled out of the emergency department, ready to do her ward rounds. She swallowed hard and fought back tears. Why couldn’t another doctor have been the one to tend to Kody when he was brought in?

  If that had occurred, she wouldn’t have to choose, and her heart would not be pulled in two like it was right now.

  Kody was fed up being on light duties. Frustrated at not being able to ride. And downright bored.

  He lay on his lounger drinking yet another mug of coffee and watching the sun rise. He counted down the minutes.

  In just 372 minutes he would have his stitches removed.

  And he would get to see Molly again.

  He hadn’t laid eyes on her for nearly two weeks.

  Since he busted his stitches.

  He wasn’t willing to bust them all over again just to see her, so had no valid excuse to visit her at the hospital.

  He downed the last dregs of his coffee and slammed the mug down on the table.

  He pulled on his work boots and headed for stables. First job of the day – walk Cracker. He’d come to look forward to their walks each day but was biting at the bit to ride him.

  He hadn’t asked the question, so had no idea if he’d be allowed back on a horse at this point. He was frustrated with the situation but wasn’t stupid. He wasn’t going to take the risk of doing further damage.

  “Hey fella.” He called across to the horse as he headed for the tack room. After putting the halter over the horse’s head, he offered a carrot. The pair then headed toward the front paddock.

  It was boring walking Cracker every day; he’d much prefer to be riding him. This was the best-case scenario available right now, so he’d just have to live with it.

  As they left the stables, he spoke to the horse quietly. “I can’t wait to see her again, boy,” he said. “I wonder if she’s missed me as much as I’ve missed her.”

  Kody leaned in close to the horse, and Cracker neighed at him. As he nickered into his owner’s neck, Kody looked up into the sky and revelled in the sight.

  They did two more circuits of the paddock, then Kody took him back to the stables and gave the horse a good brush down, then
fed him.

  After making himself a good strong cup of coffee, Kody went to the office to do some administration work. He wasn’t allowed to do anything physical, and he was behind with the paperwork. Besides, it would fill in quite a bit of time before he went to the hospital.

  “Yo, Kody!” Chase stuck his head around the door to the office and looked inside. “You nearly ready? Don’t want to be late for your appointment.”

  Kody sighed and stared at his brother. Did he really want to put himself through this torture? The stitches coming out weren’t a bother; it was the torture of seeing Molly and not being able to touch her.

  Not being able to be close with her.

  Wanting so incredibly badly to kiss her.

  “Don’t stress, bro, you’ll find a way.” It was as though Chase could read his mind.

  He stood and stretched himself out. He’d been sitting at that desk for over two hours. At least he’d caught up and didn’t need to worry for a while.

  He took a deep steadying breath. His brother stood silent, watching his every move. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

  He was quiet on the trip to the hospital. It felt like hours instead of the forty minutes it took.

  “Are you okay, bro?” Chase asked. “Other than the head, I mean? You’re awful quiet, even for you.”

  “You wouldn’t understand,” he told his brother after a long moment of reflection.

  “Try me.” Chase took his eyes from the road momentarily to look at Kody. “What’s the worst that could happen? I mean, I am your brother. I’ve been where you are now.”

  Kody frowned. “No you haven’t. Not like this.” He turned his head and stared out the window, sulking until they arrived at their destination.

  As they strolled into the hospital, Kody heard the tinkling of laughter. He knew exactly who that sound belonged to.

  He would know her voice anywhere. She was quietly confident, but authoritive at the same time. Not that he’d seen it for himself, but he was certain she would be playful when the situation presented itself.

  He wanted so much to see it for himself.

  As he walked toward the reception desk, he saw her. She was bent over, picking something up from the floor.