My Montana Home

He cleared his throat. “Ladies—”

“Not broken. Just dislocated,” said the doc, giving Andrew an annoyingly cheerful grin. “We can be thankful for that, at least. Now, I am going to have to pop that joint back into place. Not squeamish, are you?”

He gave her a sour look.

“Tell you what,” she went on imperturbably, rummaging through a supply drawer. “Cassie’ll hold your arm steady—she’s not squeamish.”

Cassie gave Andrew an uncertain look, then glanced toward the door. “I’d better go see how Zak’s doing—”

“Your son’s fine,” said Dr. Gwen. “You know how he likes that new game on Lucy’s computer. No, you stay here and help me with your gentleman friend. Right, right, you’re going to tell me he’s not your gentleman friend. But, honey, after Jeff…you really shouldn’t let a good one get away.”

Cassie had flushed a bright pink. “Gwen,” she said in a warning tone.

The doctor came over next to Andrew with gauze, surgical tape and a splint. She gave him a conspiratorial nod. “Surely you’ve heard all about Jeff by now?”

Andrew stared at the lamentable condition of his finger. “Actually, I haven’t,” he said.

Now Cassie treated him to a warning glance.

“Jeff’s Cassie’s ex,” said Dr. Gwen as she positioned his arm. “Cassie, hold on to him right there…anyway, wouldn’t you know she ended up marrying Jeff even after her dad told her the guy was a flat-out loser. Of course, maybe that’s why she married him. I mean, what better rebellion can you have? Elope with a man your father despises…”

“Gwen!” Cassie exclaimed, a brighter pink than ever.

“Anyway,” Dr. Gwen went on relentlessly as she examined Andrew’s finger, “in case you’re wondering—I am a very reliable source of information when it comes to Cassie. I grew up in Paradise Corners, went to high school with Jolie…that’s Cassie’s older sister. Jolie pretty much kept to herself back in those days. It was the longest time before I found out we both had the same dream—becoming doctors. Well, here I am, and Jolie’s practicing medicine back in our hometown. Of course, Jolie’s married now, and I’m still single. Now, Andrew, dear, I’m afraid this is going to hurt like hell…and Cassie, get ready to hold as tight as you can. One…two…there! That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“You forgot to count to three,” Andrew said between clenched teeth. But he had to admit the lady was good. His finger was back where it was supposed to be, and Dr. Gwen was taping it to a small metal splint. Meanwhile, Cassie kept her viselike hold on his arm. He gazed at her, but she seemed to be making a determined effort not to look back.

“Of course, you’ve heard of Cassie’s family yourself,” Dr. Gwen went on. “The mighty Maxwells, and all.”

“Can’t say I have,” Andrew said. Now Cassie was glaring at him again.

“Goodness,” said Dr. Gwen as she wielded her surgical tape. “I thought everyone in Montana had heard of the Maxwells. They practically wrote the book on ranching. And Cassie’s dad…well, he’s practically written the book on being a patriarch. More than a little overwhelming, if you want to know the truth. I used to be scared to death of him when I was a kid, and I’d see him striding down Main Street like he owned it. The look he could give you… No wonder Cassie and Jolie and even Thea—the youngest—ended up rebelling against him… There! All set. I’ll put you on an anti-inflammatory and some pain meds. Don’t move that finger, and make sure you come back day after tomorrow so I can have a look. Now, Cassie, don’t scowl at me like that. I didn’t tell him anything he wasn’t going to find out eventually.” Dr. Gwen gave both of them a cocky grin, and vanished out the door.

“She kind of grows on you,” Andrew remarked, observing his bandaged hand.

Cassie muttered something under her breath and dropped his arm as if she’d just realized she was holding it. “Oh, look,” she burst out. “I’m sorry, I really am.”

“Relax. That’s about the twentieth time you’ve apologized. It was an accident. Could’ve happened to anyone.”

“It was very…nice of you, trying to break my fall the way you did.”

“Don’t mention it.” Andrew liked the way she blushed, and she seemed to do it quite a bit.

She picked up her purse and fiddled with the strap. “When I was apologizing just now, it was about Gwen, too. This was just the first place I thought to bring you. She’s a wonderful doctor, but she does talk a lot—”

“So now I know you’re divorced, and you have a rebellious streak when it comes to your father,” he said mildly. “Hardly capital offenses.”

“I used to have a rebellious streak. Not anymore.” She sighed. “I don’t know why I’m explaining. What do you say we get out of here?”

It seemed an excellent idea to him. A few minutes later they were out on the sidewalk, beneath a brilliant blue sky. Dr. Gwen’s office was in downtown Billings proper. The building was a converted Victorian on an old-fashioned street, tree-lined, with other old houses that had been turned into offices or duplexes. Cassie’s son, seven-year-old Zak, walked ahead of them, his head bowed as if he was deep in thought. Cassie gazed at him worriedly.

“He’s an okay kid,” Andrew said.

“Yes, he is. He’s wonderful. But he’s…quiet.”

“A lot of kids are quiet,” Andrew said.

“He didn’t used to be this way,” Cassie muttered. “It’s only been since…since the divorce.”

The infamous divorce. He gathered that it was still a big part of her life. “How long ago?” he asked.

“Over a year. So, Andrew,” she said determinedly, “have you ever been married?” She couldn’t have made it more clear that she wanted to change the subject.

“No. Hannah always told me I was missing out.”

“All depends on who you’re married to,” Cassie said grimly. And then, as if concerned she’d directed the conversation to herself again, she gave him another glance. “How’s the finger?”

“I’ll live.”

“I really am sorry—”

“There you go again,” he said. “Apologizing.”

She gave an exasperated shake of the head. “You have to admit the whole thing’s been highly unfortunate.”

He didn’t know what to think. It wasn’t every day that a beautiful redhead fell into his arms—and dislocated his finger in the process.

“Why are you smiling?” Cassie asked suspiciously.

“No reason.” He found, surprisingly, that he was feeling pretty good. He didn’t know if it was because of Cassie Warren, or the unexpected turn of the day. Cassie, however, didn’t appear to share his optimism. She gazed at him for another moment, and then her expression grew shuttered. She might as well have put up a warning sign: Keep away. Don’t get too close.

She called to her son. “Zak, the car’s over here. We’re going home.” And then she turned to Andrew one more time. “At least—it’s home until Zak and I find an apartment. We’ll clear out just as soon as we can.”

Andrew felt a stirring of disappointment. And that, too, was unexpected.

CHAPTER TWO

“WHY IN HELL did I have to be right-handed, anyway?” Andrew grumbled. He was attempting to undress himself, and not doing a very good job of it. His splint kept getting in the way of things like buttons and buckle. At last he was down to the basics—not that sitting around in his underwear was ordinarily his idea of a well-spent afternoon.

After the encounter with Dr. Gwen, he’d had Cassie drop him off at his hotel. He’d had in mind getting cleaned up and taking care of business here in Billings. Only, his hand had started to hurt again, and all he really felt like doing was stretching out and catching a game on TV. The childproof container on the pain medication proved even more of a challenge than his pants. But finally he managed to down a couple of the big white pills and flick on the remote. The Rangers and the Dodgers—baseball perfection. He had box seats for all the Texas home games, but rarely had time to go.

He smiled a little grimly to himself as he lowered the sound with the remote. His grandmother had often accused him of using his career to avoid solving the personal problems in his life. Problems—according to Hannah—such as his lack of a wife and children. Those were the only things that really mattered, she’d told him. Love…family… What was he afraid of? she’d asked him. Did he think there was too much potential for hurt, too much possibility of loss? But the past doesn’t have to repeat itself, she’d told him.

The irony of her remembered words made Andrew restless. He clicked off the game, stood up and began to pace around the hotel room, a space too small and confining. He’d had the option of staying at his grandmother’s house, where the surrounding acreage gave a sense of openness and freedom. So why hadn’t he stayed there? Was he really still running away from all the old memories?

“Crazy,” he muttered to himself. He’d hit the far end of thirty-five. After all this time, he should have gained some perspective. Some peace.

In Texas, at least, the shadows always seemed more remote. A background of darkness always there, but muted somehow. Distanced, as if he was watching a storm from very far away. In Texas it was easy—much easier—to go about his life. Keeping busy with work that mattered to him, seeing women he genuinely liked even if the relationships never went anywhere.