Heart Of Texas. Mary Baxter Lynn

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СКАЧАТЬ she’d never left them alone. His aunt hadn’t liked her any more than he had.

      “Since old Newt retired, I know there’s not a doctor in this one-horse town.”

      “You watch your mouth, boy. There ain’t nothin’ wrong with this town, you hear?”

      “You’re right, Daisy. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”

      “We do have a doctor.”

      Clark’s spirits brightened considerably, only to dim just as quickly. He couldn’t believe the old bat knew what she was talking about. Surely another doctor in his right mind wouldn’t set up practice here. But at this point, he’d settle for a good vet.

      “Who and where is this doctor?” Clark asked in a tight voice.

      Daisy beckoned with her head. “Down yonder.”

      “Where’s down yonder?” His pain and his temper were fast reaching saturation level. He didn’t know how much longer he could remain on an unsteady porch swing or put up with this aggravating old broad.

      “On Windom Street. Six-nineteen to be exact.”

      “What’s his name?”

      “It ain’t no he.”

      “You mean the doctor’s a woman?”

      “Yep. And she’s a sight better than any doctor where you come from,” Daisy continued, “if you’re not too high and mighty to go to her, that is.”

      Clark let that one slide. Besides, this conversation had run its course. Even if he had to crawl back to his vehicle, he was getting rid of this woman.

      “Her name’s Dr. Wilson. Sara Wilson.”

      Daisy spoke with such pride in her voice that for a second the name didn’t register. Then it hit him with the same vengeance as another burning prod to his back.

      “Sara Ann Wilson?” he asked, dumbfounded.

      “That’s her,” Daisy responded, pride deepening her voice.

      Clark groaned inwardly. Was this really happening? Yes, and his misery wasn’t near over yet. He was accustomed to the best sports doctors in the business working on his chronic back pain, which had been brought on by an old football injury from his college days. He didn’t want this small-town doctor working on him, especially because he planned on having a business relationship with her.

      Damn! Fate had definitely kicked him in the gut.

      “She’s one of them pull-and-stretch doctors.”

      “You mean chiropractor?”

      “That’s what I said.”

      Despite his condition, Clark almost laughed outright. Talk about a quirky twist of events, this was it. But not a good one, he told himself, trying to decide if he should crawl to his vehicle and attempt to make it back to Lufkin.

      He moved slightly only to yelp out loud.

      “You’re in sad shape, sonny boy.”

      Clark glared at Daisy, then holding onto one arm of the swing, he staggered to his feet. However, that was as far as he could go.

      “Want me to help you?” Daisy asked.

      Hell, no! “Yes, if you wouldn’t mind.”

      “Put your arm around my shoulders.”

      “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

      Daisy pointed her finger in his face. “You always were one to argue with your elders. For once, just do as you’re told.”

      “Yes, ma’am.”

      Somehow Daisy managed to help him inside the Lexus without further harm to him and without any to her. In fact, she was much stronger than she looked; he’d have to hand her that. She might be old, but she wasn’t dead—far from it.

      Minutes later he brought the vehicle to a stop in the doctor’s driveway, then very gingerly made his way to the front door. But not without cost. A new onslaught of sweat drenched him, and he suspected his face was the color of paste.

      He practically fell against the doorbell and stayed there. Yet it seemed an eternity before he heard any sound of life. If she wasn’t at home, he didn’t know what he’d do.

      The door swung open.

      “Yes?” a soft voice asked before her eyes widened and her mouth fell open.

      “Sorry to disturb you,” Clark said in a low, terse voice, “but I’m—”

      “In pain. That’s obvious.”

      Clark clamped his jaw shut, another pain spasming his back.

      “Clark Garrison, right?”

      Before he could respond to the fact that she recognized him after all these years, a wave of dizziness swept over him, and he pitched forward into her arms.

      Her gasp was the last thing he remembered.

      Two

      Later Sara couldn’t have said how she remained upright, much less got this six-foot-two lug of a man to the floor without causing further injuries. An added miracle was that she positioned him on his back.

      If she hadn’t seen his twisted features, she would have sworn he was drunk, something that wouldn’t have surprised her, considering who he was and what she knew about him.

      Although it had been years since she’d seen him, she would have recognized him anywhere. His appearance hadn’t changed all that much except that he had gotten better looking, if that was possible. Alice and every other girl her age had thought he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. These days Sara suspected that women thought the same thing.

      Now, however, was not the time to rehash what a conceited “bad boy” her sister’s ex-boyfriend had been. Her job was to revive him and relieve his pain as quickly as she could.

      At this point Sara couldn’t say who was perspiring the most, him or her. Geez, she’d had some memorable moments in her tenure as a chiropractor, but this one would go down in the history books as the most bizarre to date.

      A smile unwittingly tugged at her lips. Wasn’t it supposed to be every woman’s secret dream to have a gorgeous man fall at her feet? While she had no such dream, she could appreciate the moment.

      “Clark, Clark,” she said, “can you hear me?”

      He grunted, then nodded.

      Relief surged through her. “Welcome back.”

      “Yeah, right.”

      Apparently he hadn’t lost total consciousness which was СКАЧАТЬ