A Colorado Family

Erin arched an eyebrow. “It’s me, Austin, your therapist?”

“Oh, Erin,” Austin called to her. “Please come in. Jay, let her in.”

Still the man held the door, then reluctantly stepped aside and allowed Erin past.

She stopped and turned to the man named Jay. “If you want to keep Austin’s location a secret, I suggest you hide that neon sign outside.”

She walked toward Austin as he made his way to the living area.

“Jay, this is my new therapist, Erin Carlton. Erin, this is my manager, Jay Bridges. He drove my rig here.”

Erin smiled at Austin. “I can see that. And I think the entire world will see it, too. Tomorrow, there’s going to be riding lessons in the corral with several parents bringing their kids. I suggest you move it, at least the trailer.”

Austin nodded. “I didn’t think about that. Good idea. Let me call Cullen and see if there’s room in the garage.” He sat down on the sofa and reached for his phone on the table. He punched in the number and began to talk.

Jay walked over to Erin. “What are your credentials for this job?”

“I’m a registered nurse, and I have two years of therapy training. And I worked with my disabled husband.”

“Enough to help Austin?”

“I think so,” she said. “Better yet, Austin thinks so. Since he only hired me yesterday, we haven’t even started yet. But I will work strictly with his doctor’s guidelines.”

Jay started to speak, but Austin cut him off. “Leave Erin alone, Jay. She’s been checked out by my family and by me. Besides, you aren’t going to win sparring with her anyway.”

Okay, maybe she was beginning to like this man. Her gaze moved over his shorts and tank top. Whoa. He was just as impressive today as yesterday. Sadness took over when she recalled how Jared once looked all trim and muscular.

“Now, go park the trailer in the garage behind the main house,” Austin said. “Cullen’s there and he’ll help you get it inside.”

Jay nodded. “Okay, but I’ll be back.”

Austin got to his feet. “No, Jay. I don’t want you here to distract me. I need to concentrate on my therapy. Cullen said he’ll give you a ride into town so you can rent a car and get to the airport.” He slapped the man on the shoulder. “Call me next week and I’m hoping to have something to tell you.”

Jay started to argue, but closed his mouth. “You better call me, or I’ll be on your doorstep.” He turned to Erin. “Take care of him.”

“I’ll do my best.”

Jay walked out, leaving them alone.

Austin turned to her. “I apologize for Jay. He’s a little possessive with me. I can handle it, because he believed in me. And all my endorsements are because of his hard work.”

What about the man on the back of the bull? Erin wondered. “So he’s the brains behind your talent?”

Austin laughed. “You can say that. The man has even helped me plan for retirement.”

“Well, since you don’t want to do that yet, maybe we should get down to business.” She reached inside her oversize purse, took out his medical folder and a piece of paper.

“I’ve talked with Dr. Kentrell. We went over your therapy schedule and exercises.” She handed him the piece of paper. “So I drew up a contract for my service. It’s pretty basic, but I need to protect myself.”

Austin sank back onto the sofa and began to read. Erin wrote down the one-hour therapy sessions, twice a day for five days a week, and the dollar amount. The double price he’d offered her yesterday.

He held out a hand. “Do you have a pen?”

She reached back inside her bag, pulled one out and handed it to him. He signed with a flourish and gave paper and pen back to her with a smile.

She felt the reaction clean down to her toes. She had to stop this. “Okay, let’s get to work.”

Chapter Three (#ud3c79c46-1c68-57e6-81f1-5b32d61a75e8)

It had been the week from hell.

Austin felt pain and soreness in every muscle in his body. Erin had worked him hard during every session. She didn’t believe in going easy, but that was what he liked about her. She’d shown up in the morning after her shift at the convalescent home ready to do her job.

At eight o’clock that morning, he made his way down the hall to the kitchen. He realized he was starting to move a little easier and able to put more weight on his injured leg. That made him hopeful.

He went to the refrigerator and took out some blueberries, then peeled a banana. After he tossed the ingredients into a blender, he added milk and powdered protein, then began to mix the concoction. As much as he wanted a cup of coffee, he needed the energy for his upcoming rehab session. The next hour would be grueling when Erin put him through the series of exercises. He smiled as he poured the smoothie into a glass. He was looking forward to it.

He had just finished his drink when he heard the key in the lock, and then Erin walked in. She was dressed in a pair of black tights and an oversize shirt. Her face was washed clean of any makeup, and her sloppy ponytail bounced as she walked toward him.

She smiled at him. Damn, she was too appealing. “Good morning, cowboy. Good to see you’re up.”

He shifted his stance. Oh, he was definitely up. “Yeah, well, I can’t afford any more demerits.”

“Good. I like your go-get-’em attitude.”

“Do I get extra points for that?”

“First, you have to show me some hard work today.” She walked up to the counter, took down a glass and poured some of the drink from the blender. “I’m gonna need something extra this morning.”

He frowned, seeing the fatigue in her eyes. “Rough night?”

“One of my patients, Hattie, was frightened and kept crying for her son to take her home.”

Austin’s gut tightened watching the tears in Erin’s eyes as she told the story.

“We had to restrain her.”

“Why didn’t her son come to be with her?”

She sighed. “He had been there most of the day, but Hattie only got more agitated with him in the room. That’s the awful part about Alzheimer’s patients—you don’t always know what’s best to do for them, and it can change every day. Patients get frightened because they can’t remember anything or anyone. It’s like they’re trapped with strangers.”

He could see Erin’s intense compassion and got a glimpse of the personal side of this woman. She must be one hell of a nurse.

As if she realized she was exposing a side of herself she didn’t want him to see, she turned away. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to dump on you.” She quickly offered him a smile. “Ready to get to work?”

He nodded and followed Erin into the bedroom. He sat down on the bench and removed his cast. He had a long knit sock to protect his calf and ankle and hide the ugly scar. She knelt in front of him and wrapped a small Velcro weight around his ankle. She looked up at him with those big green eyes. “Is that comfortable?”

He nodded, hating that she could get a reaction from him with just a look. “Yeah, it’s fine.”