Linda Goodnight - A Cowboy Christmas - Snowbound Christmas / Falling for the Christmas Cowboy

Chapter Five

Cold rain battering her uncovered head, Kristen darted from the doctor’s office to the parking lot. Her run wasn’t her usual 10K pace, but with the boot officially gone, she’d be back up to speed in a few weeks.

Inside the car, she wiggled her foot. It seemed like a lifetime since she’d been able to wear a real shoe. Even though the shoes were nursing clogs, they were way better than the heavy boot.

She couldn’t wait to show Caleb. Greg, too, of course. And her family. They’d all be thrilled. Not just Caleb.

The fact that the cowboy was on her mind pretty much every waking moment gave her pause. They were spending a lot of time together. That was part of the reason. The other part was confusing. One moment, she thought he liked her. The next, he was backing away. She didn’t want to play the rejection game again.

They’d had a grand time on Caleb’s birthday, and the teasing had continued after another talk at the Oak Street Church two evenings ago. Underneath his reserve, Caleb was a great guy.

She started the car, cranked up the heat and the wipers. Slushy rain spit against her windshield. She frowned at it. Was that sleet? Or maybe snow? Tonight was Terri Bates’s baby shower. As one of the planners, she hoped they didn’t have to cancel. The cake was already made, the finger foods ordered and the guest list confirmed.

Her cell phone jingled. She fished it from her bag and answered.

“Hi, Mom.”

“I’m just checking on you, sugar. The weather is supposed to get bad.”

“I know, but I still have patients to see.”

“How many?”

“Two who are essential. The others can be delayed or rescheduled if necessary. Right now, it’s only slushy rain.”

“Slushy rain brings freezing rain. The meteorologist is predicting a major ice storm. You know how dangerous that can be.”

Oklahoma ice storms were terrifying. Last year, six traffic fatalities occurred during a single-day event.

“Hopefully, the worst will hold off until after sundown when the temperature drops. By then, I’ll be safely home.” Making shower-cancelation calls to fifty people.

“Call or text when you get back to your apartment. You know I won’t relax or stop praying until you do.”

“Thanks, Mom. I appreciate the prayers, but don’t worry. I lived in the mountains long enough to know how to drive in bad weather.” Granted, Colorado mostly saw snow. No need to remind her mother of that.

“Remember the rules Dad taught you.”

Kristen smiled, but dutifully ticked off her dad’s ingrained instructions. “Drive slowly, especially on bridges and overpasses, and steer into a skid.”

“Preferably stay off the roads altogether. But if you do find yourself in an ice storm, stay wherever you are until it’s safe to drive or Dad comes to get you.”

“Will do, Mom. Thanks. I love you.” What would she do without her strong, supportive family?

“Be safe. I love you, too.”

She rang off and headed to her first patient, wipers flapping with the rhythm of the radio. The weather in Oklahoma was fickle. It might not do anything at all.

* * *

By the time she reached the Girard ranch, tension knotted Kristen’s shoulders. She leaned close to the windshield, squinting through the heavy, pounding onslaught of slushy rain.

“So much for hoping this would blow over,” she grumbled.

She prayed she’d be able to get Greg’s treatment in and get home before the storm strengthened.

As she parked her Honda, the front door of Caleb’s house opened and he stomped out. Head down, no coat, he jogged to the car and yanked the door open.

“Have you lost your mind?” He looked as dark and stormy as the skies.

Kristen stiffened. “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you watch the weather? Turn around and go home right now while you can.”

“Your dad needs his treatment, as you well know.” He was starting to make her mad. “And I’m not leaving until he gets it.”

“That’s stupid. Pops wouldn’t want you to risk your life.” Fat drops of rain pummeled his head. She was tempted to do the same.

“I’m already here. And you aren’t well trained enough to do the treatment by yourself.” Hurt by his tone, she shoved her nursing bag into his gut and pushed past him to get out of the car. “Let’s do this, so I can get out of your way.”

She started up the rise, fueled by wounded annoyance and not caring if he remained out in the rain and cold until he turned into a Popsicle.

The silly notion cooled some of her anger. But she didn’t wait for him. She marched up on the porch, pushed open the wooden door and went right in, closing it behind her.

Take that, cowboy.

Before she could unwind her scarf, Caleb entered, dripping wet and puffing like a steam engine. He glared at her. She glared back. What was his problem? Was he already sick of her?

The collie rose from his spot by the fireplace and came to greet her. She rubbed his ears, trying to decide what to say to Caleb.

“I’ll get towels,” he said. From his expression, he’d probably strangle her with them. He plunked her nurse’s tote on a chair and left her alone with the dog.

“Grouch,” she said. Rip wagged his tail and looked sweet.

From the back of the house, an area she hadn’t seen, she heard male voices. One was quiet and soothing, the other hot and loud.

What was he so mad about?

She removed her coat and gloves, but they were wet, so she waited by the door. Rip waited with her, licking the moisture from her clogs.

Both Girard men entered the room together. Caleb didn’t look quite so thunderous. He’d dried off and his boots were missing.

He hadn’t even noticed that her boot was missing, too.

Pops took one look at her face and asked, “Did he bark at you?”

Kristen bent to pat the collie again. “No, he’s a sweet dog. He likes me.”

Pops snorted. “I meant Caleb.”

“Oh.” Her gaze flashed to the cowboy. “A little.”

“Don’t take it to heart. He fusses like an old hen because he’s worried about you. Does me that way all the time.”

“Pops.” Caleb shook his head and handed her a towel. “Warm from the drier.”

His tone was nicer.

“Thank you. This feels wonderful.”

She patted her face and hair, wiped off her coat and dabbed at her scrubs. Rip had taken care of her shoes. Caleb reached for her coat and she gave it to him. He hung it on the back of a chair close to the fire. Was that his form of an apology?

“Beastly out there, huh?” Pops said. “You want some coffee? You like cocoa better, don’t you? Caleb, make her some cocoa.”

“That’s not necessary,” she said. Caleb was grumpy enough. No use ordering him to make refreshments. He’d likely blow a fuse.

Naturally, the cowboy ignored her protest and went into the kitchen. She could see him from the open-concept living room, moving around, taking down the ingredients for hot chocolate. He opened the fridge. Took out milk. Clunked a pan against the metal burner.

Then, and only then, did he look at her, his expression unreadable. “Get going on Pops’s treatment, so you can get out of here.”

Okay. Fair enough. Like Pops said, he was concerned about the weather.

His motive might be good, but his delivery needed work.

“You need to be in on the instructions,” she said.

Caleb shot her a frosty look and turned off the burner with a heavy sigh. She ushered Pops into the bedroom, where he relaxed in his recliner while they went through the protocol. Caleb kept looking from the machine to the window and back again. Maybe he was afraid of storms?

When the machine was set to run for the next few hours, she handed Greg the remote and put a stack of magazines at his elbow. “Need anything else?”