Tammy and the Doctor. Judy Duarte

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      He reached out a hand to greet her. “We weren’t introduced earlier. But I’m Dr. Mike Sanchez, your grandfather’s physician.”

      She stood, brushed her hand against her denim-clad hip then gave him a customary shake. Her grip held a surprising strength for a petite woman. “It’s nice to meet you, Doc.”

      Tex had called her a tomboy, and he’d had that right, although cowgirl seemed more like it. Either way, she certainly didn’t put much stock in lotions, makeup or perfume. He caught the clean scent of bar soap and shampoo, but the fragrance was more generic than anything.

      “How’s he doing?” she asked.

      “About the same as yesterday. He tires easily. And he’s uncomfortable at times.”

      She nodded, as if trying to take it all in, to make sense of the cancer that had consumed his once strong body.

      According to what Tex had told Mike, he’d never met his grandchildren. So he wondered how they’d taken the news of his terminal illness. Did they grieve for what they could have had, if the family hadn’t been prone to holding grudges?

      Or were they more interested in an inheritance?

      He supposed it didn’t matter. It really wasn’t any of his business. He was just here to make sure Tex was as comfortable as he could be.

      “It was nice of you to drive out here to see him,” Tammy said. “Our doctor back in Weldon makes us come to his office in town. In fact, most of us learned how to do a lot of the doctoring ourselves, just so we didn’t have to drive twenty miles.”

      Mike hadn’t planned to make house calls, as was the custom of the doctor before him. But he made an exception for a couple of patients, including Tex Byrd, who’d refused to be hospitalized in Granite Falls, a larger town about thirty miles away.

      “Your grandfather is a stubborn man,” Mike said. “He wouldn’t have any medical care at all if I didn’t make the trip out here.”

      Mike had also promised Stanley Reynolds that he’d look over his patients as if they were Mike’s own family members—an agreement he’d made as part of the debt repayment plan.

      So here he was.

      Tammy bit down on her bottom lip. “Can I ask you something?”

      “Sure.”

      “What’s he like?” Her eyes were an almost dazzling shade of blue. And the way she was looking at him right now, as if he held all the answers she’d ever need, was a little humbling.

      Mike reminded himself that she’d never met the man and that her curiosity was to be expected. So he told her what he knew—or what he’d heard. “He’s a hard worker. And as honest as the day is long. He’s a bit testy, though. Rumor has it he’s been that way for years.”

      Tex, who was in his late seventies, was actually one of the most ornery, cantankerous old men Mike had ever met. But he was also a real hoot at times, and Mike couldn’t help admiring him for a lot of reasons—his work ethic, his gumption and his desperate efforts to bring his family home before his death.

      “He’s a good man,” Mike added. “One you can be proud of. He’s also well-respected in the community.”

      “Thanks. I’m…” She bit down on her bottom lip again, then looked up at him with those amazing eyes. “Well, I guess you could say I’m a bit nervous.”

      “That’s understandable.”

      She straightened, drawing herself up to her full height, which couldn’t be much more than five feet. “I don’t usually admit stuff like that, but you being a doctor and all…” Her cheeks flushed a rosy shade of pink, which was at odds with the masculine clothing she wore and her tough-guy stance.

      “Your secret’s safe with me,” Mike said. Then he gave her a little wink and placed his hand on her shoulder. “It’s probably only fair to tell you that I think your grandpa is a little nervous about meeting you, too.”

      She smiled and blinked—once, twice, a third time.

      If Mike didn’t know better, he’d think she was giving him one of those flirty southern-belle eye flutters. But it couldn’t be that. Maybe she was blinking back tears.

      She might have even gotten a speck of dust or something in her eye.

      “Are you okay?” he asked.

      “I…uh…” She swiped her hand across one eye, rubbing it. “I’m fine. It was just a stray lash. That’s all.”

      At that moment, Tina returned to the living room carrying a mug and a blueberry muffin balanced on a small plate. “You’re not leaving, are you, Doc?”

      “I have to get back to the office. I also have a couple more patients to see on the way, too.”

      Tina handed the cup and plate to him. “Then why don’t you take this with you?”

      “Thanks.” He took the coffee and muffin. “I’ll bring back the dishes when I return.”

      “Are you coming back tomorrow?” the housekeeper asked.

      “Yes, but probably not until the dinner hour. I hope that’ll be all right.”

      “No problem whatsoever,” Tina said. “We’re just glad that you’re willing to drive out here to see Tex. I’ll let Barbara know to set an extra plate at the table.”

      Mike thanked her, then turned to Tammy. “It was nice meeting you.”

      “Same here.” Her gaze snared his, as if she’d set her sights on him and wasn’t about to let go.

      He could be wrong about that, though. And he certainly hoped that he was. All he needed was for his patient’s granddaughter to start crushing on him.

      Little Tammy Byrd might have the prettiest blue eyes he’d ever seen, but Mike wasn’t interested in romance—especially in a place like Buckshot Hills. And even if by some strange twist of Fate he got involved with one of the local women, it sure as hell wouldn’t be a cowgirl.

       Chapter Two

      As Dr. Sanchez left the house, Tammy watched him go.

      Darn it! Clearly, her attempts at flirting had failed yet again. What was she doing wrong?

      “Can I get you something to drink, Miss Byrd? Coffee’s fresh. We also have some lemonade or ice tea.”

      Tammy turned to Tina, the housekeeper, who’d shown her to the guestroom in which she’d be staying and must have been waiting for her to settle in and then return to the main part of the house.

      “Lemonade sounds great,” Tammy said. “Thank you.”

      The woman nodded, then left Tammy alone in the spacious living room.

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