The Doctor's Husband (Colorado Blues) (6 page)

BOOK: The Doctor's Husband (Colorado Blues)
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CHAPTER NINE

 

Evan dropped Denver off at the hospital entrance the following morning. “I’ll pick you up in about an hour, how’s that suit you? If you get out of here earlier, I’ll be just down the road, near the sheriff’s office.”

“Thanks, Evan. If I do, I’ll text you before I leave so we don’t miss each other.”

He gazed into her face, marveling over the circumstances that finally threw them together. Was it fate or just good timing? Hopefully this would work out and they would both get offered a job that would enable them to stay together. After the gentle lovemaking last night, there was no way he was going to let go of her. He needed to figure out a way to let her know without scaring her off. Who fell in love so quickly these days? It worried him what her reaction would be. Evan decided to cross that bridge when he came to it.

“Good luck.” She blew him a kiss and turned away to walk inside the doors, the white summer skirt swirling around her legs. He waited until he couldn’t see her any longer and put the truck in gear. Time to find out if he could get a job.

Evan left the hospital and drove through town, savoring the memories as he headed to the doctors office. Nothing seem to have changed in the years he’d been away. The same poster boards were hanging outside the general store, no doubt advertising the same newspapers and magazines. The red stripes on the barber shop poles hadn’t been updated since he was in there last getting his hair cut. The flaking paint showed just how old the shop was and how much it needed updating. It gave him a sense of coming home that seemed to cement his decision even more in his mind. He was doing the right thing, he knew it.

Evan pulled up outside the doctor’s office and turned off the truck. He wiped his hands down the legs of his jeans, more nervous now than he had been applying at the hospital for a job. So much seemed to hinge on this interview.

Five minutes later, his nerves were settled as he spoke to Dr Hennessey. “I’m so glad you came in, Evan. If we don’t replace the last doctor who left, the board will close us down.” The old doctor frowned. “I’ve given this practice many years of my life and would hate to see it shut the doors to those most in need.”

Evan leaned forward. “Tell me what other alternatives there are in town if this place closes.”

“There’s the hospital emergency department, that’s it. There used to be a clinic in the hospital. They closed that down many years ago.” He rubbed a hand over his grey hair, patting down the fly away wisps. “Seeing the doctor on call doesn’t always sit well with some of the older patients. They like the idea of seeing the same person at each visit. Sadly, that won’t happen if we have to close when I retire.”

“And when will that be?”

“If I get help, not for another six months or so, depending on my health. If I don’t get help, next month. I can’t keep going like this. Overworked and understaffed takes its toll on even the most dedicated of us.”

Evan noticed the tired lines around his eyes and made his decision. “Dr. Hennessy, if you want me, I’ll gladly join the practice. I want to work back home; that much is plain to me after being away for so long. I hope you’ll give my application consideration.”

A glimmer of interest sparked the older man’s eyes, giving Evan more than a twinge of hope. “I’ll consult with the board and get back to you in a day or so. That suit you, Doctor?”

“Yes. Thank you for seeing me without a prior appointment. I appreciate it.” He stood up and shook Dr. Hennessy’s hand, then turned and left.

***

Denver watched Evan drive away and the guilt clenched in her gut. Should she go and see if anyone could meet with her or leave it, sit in the sun for half an hour, and then wander down to where his car would be parked? The decision was taken out of her hands when the receptionist called out to her, “Can I help you with anything?”

She turned and walked over. “Yes, I’m Dr. Sinclair. I applied for a job here and will be moving to town shortly. I happened to be passing on my way to a wedding and thought I’d take a quick peek at the hospital in an unofficial capacity if that’s okay.”

“Dr. Sinclair, why of course. How lovely to see you.” She stood up and straightened her skirt while walking out from behind her desk. “Dr. Dunlop is in the office, and the other members of the board aren’t here at present.” She held out her hand and looked Denver over. “I’m glad you dropped in.” When Denver withdrew her hand, she walked back around her desk and picked up the phone. “Dr. Dunlop, you’ll never guess who’s at my desk.”

A few moments later, a portly gentleman hurried out of the elevator, pushed past an orderly with an empty bed, and headed for Denver. He held out his hand before he reached her, the smile on his face making her feel justified in coming in. “Dr. Sinclair, what a pleasant surprise. I didn’t think we would be seeing you until your start date.” He pressed a hand to her back and guided her away out of sight of the entrance.

“This is just a fleeting visit, Dr. Dunlop. Call it impulse if you will. I had to go through town to attend a wedding and I couldn’t pass without stopping, if only for a few minutes.”

“I completely understand.” He looked over her shoulder out the front door of the hospital. “Mr. Sinclair, is he with you?”

“Ah, no. No he’s not.”

“Such a shame. Never mind, we’ll get to meet him when you move over then.” He guided her past the cafeteria and down a corridor. The signs pointed to the emergency room with another sign that led the way to the x-ray department. “I’m waiting for your contract, Dr. Sinclair. I do hope that won’t be too long before it arrives.”

“You should have it within days. My father wanted our legal officer to glance over it before I sent it on. I don’t foresee any problems with it.”
Small lie but he’ll never know.
“I wonder if you could give me the address of the house the hospital is supplying with my contract. Just so I can drive past, you understand. I really don’t have time to go inside this trip.”

“Of course, Doctor.” He swept his hand wide as they stepped into the busy emergency ward. “Well, this is it. I must say I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved so far. I can’t wait for you to start. If there were more time, I’d give you a tour of the wards but never mind. There is so much scope for a doctor of your expertise to re-mould the hospital and bring it into the twenty first century.” He rubbed his hands as he looked around.

“I’m looking forward to it, Dr. Dunlop. I hope I don’t let the board down.”

He looked affronted by her comment. “I can assure you, Dr. Sinclair, that you come highly recommended. There is no way the board would have approved your appointment if it wasn’t sure you would do what is in the hospitals best interest.” He took a breath. “There is one thing. I can’t find any record of you living in this town. You do know that is a requirement of the position, don’t you?”

“Yes I do. I will be a local as soon as I marry Dr. Watson. He grew up here and is also moving back.” She mentally crossed her fingers. “As far as I’m concerned, that makes me a local.”

A gleam came into Dr. Dunlop’s eyes as he looked at her. “I think that will satisfy the board and I look forward to meeting the lucky man.”

“I appreciate the support. Now I really have to be going. Thank you for seeing me at such short notice.” She turned and started to walk back to the front of the hospital.

“My pleasure. I’ll just get Pauline to write down the address of your house. It’s empty at the moment, so feel free to wander around the property and peek into the windows if you want to. Before you move in we’ll have the place cleaned and freshened up.” He held out his hand once more. “Doctor, my pleasure. I look forward to you starting work.”

“Thank you for making me feel so welcome. I think I’m going to like working here.” She watched him say a few words to the receptionist and then hurry back to the elevator.

“Here you go, Dr. Sinclair. The house is just down the road. Take the first left and you can’t miss it. Lovely old white place.” Pauline gave her a conspirator wink. “Dr. Dunlop is looking forward to you starting work. He wants to semi retire and leave things in your hands. Pretty capable hands too, by the sound of things.”

“I’m glad you think so. Well, thank you for the welcome and the address.” She tapped the slip of paper in her hand. “I’ll be off then. Have a nice day, Pauline.”

“See you again soon.” Pauline smiled and wiggled her fingers in a cute wave, watching as Denver walked out the door. When she turned back to look over her shoulder, Pauline was still watching her, fingers moving.

She looked at the slip of paper in her hand and stepped out onto the driveway, wondering if she should call Evan or start walking into town when a toot of a truck’s horn scared her.
Shit.
She was so busy thinking about how to tell Evan what had happened that she almost walked in front of a truck. The driver waved his fist at her and then floored it, leaving her standing on the edge of the road, heat washing over her cheeks.

“Denver, are you okay?” Evan ran up to her, a frown on his face as he pulled her into his arms. “Did that jerk hurt you?”

She swallowed and swiped her tongue over her bottom lip, her mouth dry and pasty. “No. No, he just scared me is all. My own stupid fault.” She rested her forehead against his chest, comforted by his closeness and the familiar smell of his woodsy aftershave.

He held her close, rubbing a circle on her back as she calmed down. Denver took a deep breath and looked up into his face. “How did your appointment go?”

He grinned like a school kid given the day off. “I’m pretty sure I got the job. He’s going to let me know in the next couple of days. If he doesn’t get someone to take over, the place is going to have to close because he can’t deal with it all by himself anymore. How about you?” He kissed the top of her head and slipped his arm through hers. Together they walked over to where he’d parked his truck.

They stopped at the door and Denver looked at him, hoping she could pull this off. “They have a position. Rory was right. I have to send my resume in as soon as I can. Evan, I don’t believe it.”

“That’s fantastic! Imagine if we both got jobs here. We can be together, Denver. Do you see how perfect that would be?”

She smiled at him, guilt making her hold back just a little with her enthusiasm. “He even gave me the address of the house I’d get if I got the job. Just as well I have my laptop with me. My resume is on there. I can do it this afternoon.”

“Brilliant. Let’s go and see my father first. I know he’d be dying to meet you.” He helped her into the truck and hurried around to the driver’s door, a new sense of energy making him look younger and happier than she’d seen him before. Perhaps they would be happy here in his hometown. Denver wondered if she was doing the right thing dragging Evan into this ruse so she could get the job she wanted. If he was happy and appeared to be leading the way, was what she was doing so wrong?

CHAPTER TEN

 

“That’s a pretty nice old house. I think you’d be happy there. Plenty of room to grow your family if that’s how you roll.” Jock winked at his son over the cup of tea as Denver finished telling him about their job offers and the house they were going to check out.

His father looked good. Clear eyes and fresh humor a testament to his years of being on the wagon. It appeared working for Chance on the ranch was also doing him the world of good. “Boss gave me the day off to get sorted for the wedding tomorrow. Promised Brother Thomas I’d help clean the church this afternoon. Gina’s organized someone to do the flowers, and I want to make sure it’s all pretty for them.”

“I can’t wait to see it all done up. It’s a beautiful old church. Evan pointed it out on the way here.” Denver put her cup down and smiled at his father. She seemed captivated by his childhood home, ignoring the peeling paint and worn floor tiles. Although the house shone like a new pin, it was dated and could do with a bit of love.

“So, when are you two tying the knot?” He looked at them in turn, his grey bushy eyebrows moving like they had a life of their own.

“It’s not like that, Dad.”
Please stop. This isn’t happening. Denver is going to freak out. I’m so damned embarrassed right now.

“Like what? I’ve got eyes, boy. They might be old, but even I can see the way you two look at each other.”

“Mr. Watson...”

“Jock.”

Denver forced a smile. “Jock then. It’s not like that between us. Evan is right. Even though we’ve known each other for some time, we’ve only started dating.”

“And since when did that mean anything?” He leaned forward, pushed his cup out of the way, and focused on her face. “Listen to me, the pair of you. I lost Evan’s mother without notice. No warning or anything.” He shook his head. “Woke up one day and bam! Gone. Just like that.”

“And your point, Dad, would be?” Traipsing down memory lane wasn’t going to help his cause with Denver. He had to woo her gently and with integrity if he wanted her to take the hospital job and live here with him. It was the only way. She wasn’t like Callie, forceful and loaded with sass and prepared to rush headlong into anything. She was more the gentle type who liked flowers and being wooed over wine and dinner, or watching the stars on a moonlit night. Look how long it took to get his first date. Marriage would be a long process. His father had it all wrong.

“Take what you can while you can.” He coughed to clear away the emotion Evan could see creeping into his eyes. The misery over the death of their mother never left his father. Even in the bottom of a bottle, he couldn’t shake the loss that devastated the entire family. “Life is too short and I know that. There were days when I wished I could join her, but that wasn’t God’s plan, cause I’m still here. And if you know you love each other”—he pointed his finger at Evan—“and you can’t tell me you don’t, do something about it. Don’t wake up alone one day and wish you could’ve chosen different ‘cause it’ll be too late.”

His father sat back, happy now he’d said his piece. “So, tell me what you’re doing for the rest of your visit, Denver? I hope this boy of mine is taking you for a ride up the mountain.” He winked at her and Evan held back a smile. He’d planned on taking a picnic up before they headed back to the city. An afternoon of clean fresh air and Denver alone on a picnic rug was high on his priority list. Once the wedding was out of the way of course.

“Well, now, that sounds like a swell idea. Guessing I should put all of those horse riding lessons my father paid for to good use.”

“We have the wedding tomorrow, so I was thinking of asking Tyson to borrow a horse or two the day after. Chance only has his big beast and Callie’s horse.”

“Your brother has a heap of them right now. Brought up a whole lot of nags cheap. Headed for the glue factory they were. Rory took a couple for him and Gina, and he kept the others. He couldn’t bear to see them destroyed when they had plenty of life in them. Make good trail riders. I checked them out, healthy enough. Sure he could put you two on a couple.”

“Why doesn’t he use them then, start doing trail rides? Not like raising bucking broncos takes all his time, is it?” Evan pondered the idea. “Might suggest it when I see him again. That’s if we can pry the lawyer off of him.”

“What lawyer? That boy gone and got himself into trouble I don’t know about?” Jock turned on him, a frown creasing his brow.

“The lawyer who helped Gina settle the custody of Fisher with. You know, the blonde from Denver who Chance brought in? She’s taken a shine to Tyson, goodness knows why.”

“Oh right. Well, he is a good looking kid, even if I say so myself. Bit of an old woman, but some people are just like that. Can’t all be the same now, can we?”

***

“He’s a very handsome man, Jock. Must take after you.” Denver watched him blush. “Mind you, from what I’ve seen so far, all of your boys are capable of setting hearts a flutter.”

“What did I tell you, son? Marry this woman before she gets away from you.”

Evan closed his eyes as if struggling for composure before giving her a quick smile. “Sorry about this. I thought we were coming for a cup of tea, not relationship advice. Please forgive my father.”

His mouth tightened and for a moment, Denver regretted encouraging Jock. If she was going to get her job, she needed a husband who lived locally and Evan was all she could ask for in a partner. If they were going to take the time and go down the dating ritual as he indicated he would like to do, she would still be interested, but time was of the essence here so a quick decision was important. He was solid, reliable, an all-round nice guy, and they had chemistry. He made no secret of the fact he’d wanted to date her for the last couple of years and was handsome and charming. And he was kind, considerate, and didn’t pressure her for sex although giving into him wasn’t a hardship as she found out last night. She would eventually fall for him anyway. It was where her heart was leading her after all.

“That’s fine, don’t apologize. I’ve loved every minute so far of our trip back to where you grew up. Things have a way of working out for the best so I’m going with the flow for now, whatever that may be.”
I hope it’s what you want to because I don’t really want to deceive you. I really don’t.

Evan looked peeved more than amused and she experienced a quick flicker of pity for him. Jock glanced between them and she had to smile at the old man. He’d done nothing wrong except give them his opinion. And he was right. Life was short, bad things happened to good people, and it was too late to cry over it when it happened.

“Right then, I suppose we’d better go and have a look at that house before we head back to the ranch. Rory wanted us to stop in and see his new place and I want to make sure he doesn’t need a hand setting up for the reception.” Evan stood up and pushed the chair in, and looked at his father. “You going to be at the church waiting in the morning, or do you want me to come down and pick you up?”

“Thanks for the offer; I’ll meet them down here. Gina said to be at the church waiting with Brother Thomas at 2 o’clock sharp.”

“Thanks for the tea, Jock. It was lovely to meet you.” She reached over and kissed his prickly cheek, cementing the bond she knew was building between the two of them. He was the father almost banished by his kids, fighting to make his way back into the family and she was the newest girlfriend. They were both very much on the outside looking in as far as she was concerned.

Evan held her hand as he walked her out to the truck. She climbed in and did her seatbelt up before waving out the window to Jock who stood and watched from the front garden. “Your dad is lovely, Evan.”

“Yeah, he seems to be doing well and that’s great. Went through a hard time there for a few years.” He turned on the indicator and pulled out into the street. “It’s Lester Street isn’t it?”

Denver nodded her head. “Yep, number thirty-four.” She looked at the mailboxes as they drove down the quiet street. “There it is.” The house sat back from the street on a slight rise, looking over a rolling front lawn in need of a good mow. The path wound up to the front door and a small hedged porch. A swing hung by the front door, the paint peeling and the chain hanging limp on one side.

She got out of the truck and shut the door, her gaze on the house. “This is beautiful.” Denver saw how wonderful this would be with a little bit of tender loving care and a family living there. Evan walked around to stand beside her, not looking as enthusiastic as she felt.

“Bit run down and overgrown. Guess if you get the job they’ll clean it up some.” He slipped his hand down and clenched her fingers, giving them a quick squeeze. “Let’s go take a proper look.” He drew her up the path, sparing a glance at the mailbox with old newspapers and pamphlets jammed inside and overflowing on the grass. They stepped up the wide steps, and Denver heard the boards creaking under their feet, but the sound only added to the charm of the old house for her.

The curtains were open in the front room and Denver leaned down and looked in the window. “This must be the living room. I can see a fireplace just to the side.” The house was unfurnished which made it appear more neglected and sad than it probably was. Carpet a dull shade of brown lay wall to wall, and Denver saw the door which she presumed led into the back of the house. It was shut, closing off the rest of the interior. She walked to the other side of the front door and around the half-collapsed porch swing and looked in that window. The drapes were closed, spoiling her view of more than a sliver of the room. “This must be a bedroom, bit hard to tell. Seems clean enough inside, just very empty and unloved.”

Evan moved down the steps and around the front of the house. “Come around here. Might be able to see inside from the back of the house.” Denver hurried after him, a small thrill rising in her chest. This could be her new home. The excitement built as she caught up with Evan.

“Come on, there’s a back deck here with French doors we can peek through.” He held out his hand for her and when she reached for him, he gripped her fingers and pulled her up the back stairs. A large deck graced the back of the house, overlooking a fairly large yard dotted with shady trees. An old rope swing hung from the lowest branch of the large oak nearest the house.

The welcome door mat lay at an angle in front of the back door and Denver wondered if it was an omen.

BOOK: The Doctor's Husband (Colorado Blues)
7.56Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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