Love Inspired September 2014 - Bundle 1 of 2: Her Montana Twins\Small-Town Billionaire\Stranded with the Rancher (43 page)

* * *

Dan looked up as one of the garage's big doors swung open, blowing in a gust of wind and snow flurries along with his mother.

“Everything okay?” he asked.

Elsie shut the door and then pushed off her hood. “Yes. Your guest is resting.” She stomped the snow from her boots. “Amy is coloring. I gave her the walkie-talkie.”

He nodded. “Quiet is good, right?”

“Mmm-hmm,” she replied.

Dan continued his task of checking supplies in the storage compartments of the snowmobile and restocking his emergency medical tackle box. It was routine to have everything ready to go for the next emergency call.

Elsie walked around the building, stopping to examine the vehicles. She lifted the tarp on Joe's brand-new oversize pickup. The truck had been put away since the accident. Joe couldn't handle the gearshift after he lost his right arm.

“Will Joe be able to change gears in his truck with the prosthesis?” Elsie asked.

“Sure. He'll learn how. Remember, he's going to have occupational therapy. Until then he can use his old automatic truck.”

“Think he'll follow through with therapy?”

“I think Joe will do anything he has to, in order to get his life back to normal.”

“I hope you're right.”

She wandered over to examine the on-call calendar tacked to the wall.

“Need anything in particular?” Dan asked.

“No. Just came out to chat.”

Dan's ears perked up. He sensed trouble coming. “Chat” was code for his mother trying to ferret out information he was not interested in dispensing.

“So,” Elsie continued. “Beth certainly is a surprise, isn't she?”

Dan froze for a moment before he raised the brim of his hat to better assess his mother. Yep. She was on a mission. “A surprise?” he slowly asked, keeping his voice void of emotion.

“I just mean she's such a sweet girl. And so pretty. Did you notice?”

Did he notice?
A mental picture of Beth's dimples and soft blue eyes distracted him from his mother's words for a moment. He shook his head, bringing himself back to reality. That reality was that he liked his life just the way it was.

“She's on her way to New York,” he said flatly.

“Oh, I know.” His mother's tone was musing and Dan shivered.

Silence stretched.

“It's been six years and you haven't even been on a date,” Elsie observed.

Dan sighed. Okay, well at least now they were on familiar ground. The same old story he heard week in and week out. “I have a daughter to think about.”

“Oh, pooh, Amy isn't the issue here.”

“What is the issue here?” he returned.

“You.”

Dan said nothing for a long moment. He didn't think he was gun-shy. Sure, he'd made a mistake six years ago, but he'd learned plenty since then. He'd like nothing more than to settle down in Paradise with someone special. That someone special just hadn't come along yet.

His mother meant well, but he didn't have the energy or desire for a debate. “I'm thinking that if you want to fix someone you should take care of Joe. He's got a chip on his shoulder bigger than the valley.”

His mother paused and tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “True. One project at a time.”

Dan bent down for a final check of the supplies, and then stood and dusted off his hands.

“What's next?” Elsie asked.

“I've already looked in on the cattle and brought a few pregnant heifers into the barn.”

“Problems?”

“I don't know, but they were acting strange, so I want to keep a closer eye on them. I'll check them again during the night.”

“What's the feed situation?”

“I'm about to put out the hay and feed cakes.”

“I can help.”

“You've covered for me all morning. Take a break, Mom.”

“I merely fed the chickens and the herd dogs. Even Amy can handle that.”

“That's one less thing for me to do.”

“I'll help with the cattle,” she said.

Dan exhaled and faced his mother. “You don't trust me to do Joe's job?”

“Of course I do. All I'm saying is that ranch work is safer in pairs. Everyone knows that. Look at your brother. If he'd only waited for you...” His mother's lips thinned, and for a brief moment her shoulders sagged with grief for her eldest son.

Dan couldn't deny her logic there. If Joe had waited for him to help with that tractor repair he might not have lost his arm. But Dan wasn't going there. Not today. He'd just end up feeling guilty over something that wasn't his fault. Joe was stubborn and that wasn't going to change anytime soon.

He moved to his mother's side and gave her a long hug. “Look, I promise to call the house when I need help.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

The landline began to ring and Dan reached for the receiver, grateful for the interruption.

“Hey, Ben. Okay, got the situation covered. Yeah, no problem. I'll keep you in the loop and we'll be praying.”

His mother raised her brows, concern on her face.

“Ben's at the Paradise Hospital. Deke Andrews's dad fell on the ice and broke a hip.”

“Oh, no. What's the situation?”

“On his way into surgery. Maybe you better call the Paradise Ladies Auxiliary and tell them to start the prayer chain.”

“Yes. Yes. I'll do that.” She frowned. “So does that mean you're on call again?”

“Deke was covering for me. Now call duty is mine again. You can add the ranch to your prayer list, as well, because if those cows start calving early and I get called out on a medical emergency you might find yourself helping out with more than you signed on for.”

Elsie merely grinned, excited as a kid. “Just like the old days. I used to help your father when calving season began.”

“I'm glad you're happy, because I keep thinking about all the potentials for disaster. Every cow counts, as Joe always says, and he's not going to understand if I leave the ranch to tend to a mere human when his precious cows are calving.”

“You can only do your best.”

“I hope my best is good enough. Joe's been through enough. I don't want to let him down now.”

“I'm proud of you, Dan, and I know Joe will be, as well. Just remember you aren't in this alone. The Lord is on your side, and so am I.”

Dan shook his head as his mother's words sank in. “You're right, Mom. I'm not alone.” He smiled. “How'd you get to be so smart?”

Elsie merely grinned.

Chapter Four

T
he house was quiet as Dan tucked his flannel shirt into his jeans and crossed the living room toward the kitchen. Barely 6:00 a.m. The sun wouldn't rise for another hour, but there was way too much to do and he was restless.

He started the coffee, and as the brewer gurgled and then hissed, he pulled two muffins out of the fridge and began a mental list of the day's chores. His gaze drifted to the big picture window. Snow continued to fall; now forming drifts that hugged the barn and the garage. The moonlight illuminated the sky, and he could make out the dark humps that were actually cattle huddled together in the feeding pen.

“Coffee.” The whispered word was as earnest as a prayer.

Dan turned to see Beth in the doorway. She barely acknowledged him as she sank into a kitchen chair.

“Addiction problem?” he murmured.

“Yes. My only vice.”

“Only one vice?”

The corner of her mouth quirked, but her eyelids remained at half-mast. “That I will readily admit to.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “Don't like it fancy, I hope.”

“No. Just strong.”

“That I can do.” Dan pulled two stoneware mugs from the cupboard and set them on the counter.

“What about you?” she asked.

He raised his brows.

“No vices?”

“Salted caramels.”

Her eyes opened and her brows rose in surprise before she released a short laugh.

“Those soft, melt-in-your-mouth ones that are sprinkled with sea salt,” Dan explained.

“I would have never guessed.”

“Now you know my secret. I hope I can count on your discretion.”

Beth crossed her heart with a finger and nodded.

Dan smiled and couldn't help appraising the city girl. Today her hair was swept back, away from her face in a no-fuss ponytail, low on her neck. He didn't know much about makeup, but her face didn't look to be made up.

She wore plain, ordinary jeans, not even the skinny kind, and a bulky forest-green sweater that fell to her hips and concealed her figure. Obviously, she was more comfort-focused than fashion conscious.

Points for her.

“How's your shoulder?” he asked.

“The patient is much improved.”

“Hmm” was his muttered response.

She pinned him with her gaze. “Do I sense doubt at my qualified medical opinion?”

“Full range of motion?” he countered, ignoring her comment.

“Partial, and the pain
is
significantly diminished.”

Dan nodded and poured the coffee. “Black, right?”

“Yes. Thanks.”

“Did you get a call through to New York?” he asked as he slid into a chair across from her.

“Interesting segue,” she said as she took a sip of coffee.

Dan smiled and wrapped his hands around his mug, waiting.

“I did get in touch with the on-call physician after a few tries, and he was very understanding. I've rescheduled my flight for Thursday afternoon. That will give me some time to relax before the Friday morning interview.”

“That's positive thinking.”

She blinked. “You don't think I can get to New York by Thursday night?”

“The truth?”

“Always.”

“Could be, but you might have saved yourself some stress by making it for the following Monday.”

“No. They'd have replaced me for certain if I couldn't get there before then.”

“Do you honestly want an employer who values you so little they'll hold the weather against you?”

Beth didn't answer. She stared down at her coffee, finally lifting the mug and taking another sip.

“You said you wanted the truth,” he murmured.

“And you're very good at that,” Beth returned with a tight smile.

“Muffin?” Dan offered. He slid a plate with a plump, golden muffin across the table, along with a napkin.

“Peace offering?” she asked.

Taken off guard by her response, Dan laughed and shook his head. “Maybe.”

Beth peeled the paper off her muffin and broke it in half. “What are these?”

“My mother calls them kitchen sink muffins. Fruit, nuts and seeds. They stick to you, that's for sure.”

She took a bite. “Good stuff.”

He noted her long, slim fingers as she picked up crumbs from the table. No rings, and while her nails were polished, they were short and practical. Even the color, a pale pink, was simple and subdued.

The woman was a puzzle. She gave away very little, yet her panic in the truck had been very real and didn't mesh with the no-nonsense, controlled woman with the quirky sense of humor who sat across from him. He pondered that as he ate his own muffin.

There was an intimacy in the quiet meal they shared. It was pleasant, and he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to share breakfast each day with someone like Beth.

Her gaze met his and she quickly looked away, her face coloring and her lashes fluttering in apparent confusion. Her attention quickly moved to the view outside the window.

Was she having the same thoughts?

Dan studied her profile, admiring the smooth column of her neck visible above the sweater's rolled collar. A few tendrils of hair had escaped her ponytail and rested on her ear.

Yes, she was beautiful, but what did he really know about Beth Rogers? Experience had taught him the hard way that you didn't really get to know someone when things were going fine. Reality poked up its head when you least expected it—usually when your guard was down. When the going was rough. Yeah, that was when you really discovered a person's mettle.

The wall phone began to ring and Dan grabbed it before the sound woke the entire household.

“Gallagher.” He paused. “Okay. Tell Abel to relax, I'm on my way.” Dan shook his head and put the receiver back in the cradle.

“Everything okay?”

“Looks like I'm going to deliver a baby today. Midwife can't get through.”

“Have you ever delivered a baby?” Beth asked.

He shrugged. “Naw, but there's no better time to learn than the present. Besides, Ben is the doctor on call. He'll meet me there.”

“Why bother Ben when I'm sitting around doing nothing?”

“You
want
to go?”

Beth nodded.

Elsie strolled into the kitchen, her eyes curious. A pleased smile crossed her face when she spotted Beth and Dan. Today his mother's sweatshirt was buttercup-yellow and bore the words I May Be Wrong, But I Doubt It.

“Go where?” she asked.

“Home birth and Emily can't get through.”

“You'll have to take Beth. She's a doctor and you've never delivered a baby.”

Dan barely resisted groaning.
Thank you, Mother.
He could count on Elsie to reduce him to the youngest child in a heartbeat.

Beth's eyes met his and she bit her lip as though undecided as to whether she should weigh in on the discussion. “I'm happy to assist,” she finally said. “Your decision.”

“I can do the ranch chores while you're gone,” Elsie added as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

“What about Amy?” Dan asked.

“Amy and Millie can go with me, and I'll bring her back when she's tired.” Elsie's eyes widened and she smiled. “Oh, and I'll take Joe's new truck. It'll get through the snow on the ranch road.”

Dan grimaced.

“Now who's having trust issues?” his mother said with an appraising glance.

“I'm just saying, you know how Joe is about that truck.”

“Pshaw. Now, what do you want us to do?”

“Check the cows and lay out the hay and feed. Oh, and Joe's herd dogs are in the barn. They'll want some exercise. And my horses. Stalls need attention, too.” Again Dan looked out the window. “Sure you're up to this?”

Elsie put her hands on her hips. “Who do you think did the chores when there were no kids around here?”

“Uh, Dad?” he offered.

“Why is it so hard for you to believe that your father and I did them together? We were a team.”

Dan did the math. Joe was the eldest and he was thirty-two. Probably not a good idea to remind his mother that she was talking about thirty odd years ago. Instead, he cleared his throat and looked at Beth, effectively changing the subject. “What's your specialty?”

“Internal medicine.”

“Delivered any babies?”

“Not since medical school. I let the OB docs do that.”

“Isn't it just like riding a bike?” Elsie countered.

“Ah, not quite,” Beth answered.

“Better eat up,” Dan told her. “I've got a few more supplies to load in the snowmobile and then we're heading out. There's no telling when we'll be back.”

“How far away is it?” she asked.

“Short stroll up the road.”

Beth's lips parted and then she paused, a confused frown on her face.

“What?” Dan asked, nearly laughing out loud.

“I'm having a difficult time translating ‘up the road' and ‘not far.' Apparently they don't mean the same thing to you as they do to me.”

“You've got that right.” Elsie's laughter trilled out.

“Can I go?” a pajama-clad Amy asked from the doorway. Millie stood at her side, eagerly inspecting the floor. The mutt lived in the hope that crumbs would appear.

“May I.” Elsie corrected. “Sorry, sweetie, but there's only room for two on the snowmobile. Daddy certainly isn't going to let Dr. Beth walk in this weather.”

“I was kidding about the stroll.” Dan pulled out a chair for his daughter and brushed her hair out of her face. “Amy, what are you doing up so early?” He glanced around. “What are you all doing up so early?”

“The phone woke me,” Amy said.

“I've been awake for hours, just praying,” Elsie stated, gazing out the window at the cows. “My joints ache when the barometer drops.” She turned to Beth. “They say that the low barometric pressure makes the cows drop calves early, too.”

“I didn't know that,” she said.

“Am I right, Dan?” his mother asked.

Dan glanced at the wall clock and then back to the room full of females. Beth, his mother, Amy, and even Millie were all looking at him.

“You are right as always, Mother. Now, I think that Dr. Rogers and I have a baby to deliver, and we had better get going. You could start praying that the barometer doesn't affect those heifers while I'm gone, or we're going to be in big trouble.”

* * *

Beth swiped at the wet flakes on her goggles with a gloved hand. Snow continued to fall as Dan led the snowmobile to their destination “up the road,” which took nearly an hour. But despite the weather, she didn't mind the long trip. Riding the snowmobile was no longer scary, and if pushed, she might even admit she enjoyed riding tandem with the tall cowboy.

When they arrived at the log cabin deep in the woods, above the town of Paradise, another snowmobile was already there. A huge, cherry-red snowmobile with flame detailing along the sides.

A tall, blond and bearded mountain of a man greeted them at the door.

“Abel,” Dan said as he grabbed the tackle box and approached the house. “This is Dr. Rogers.”

The big man frowned, his bushy eyebrows knit in confusion. “Another Dr. Rogers?”

Dan laughed. “Yeah.”

“Nice to meet you, ma'am.” The giant stuck out a hand. “I'm Abel Frank.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” Beth returned. Her small hand was swallowed whole in a gentle grip.

Dan glanced at the snowmobile parked next to his own. “Deke? I thought his father was in the hospital.”

“He is. Emily Robbs made it in on his machine.”

Dan's eyes widened and he sputtered. “He lent Big Red to Emily?”

“Tell me about it.” Abel shrugged. “Apparently Deke's sweet on Emily.”

Dan shook his head. “Unbelievable.”

Seriously?
They sounded like sixteen-year-olds instead of grown men. Beth cleared her throat.

Both Dan and Abel turned, their expressions sheepish, before they looked back at each other.

Dan opened his mouth, then closed it again.

“Uh, why don't you come in?” Abel said. “Contractions are pretty close together now. I'm guessing we're going to have a baby real soon.”

He held the door as Dan and Beth stepped into the huge home.

“You're awfully calm for a man whose wife is about to have a baby,” Beth observed.

“This is our sixth and I don't have to help.”

“That's a good thing?” she asked.

“Oh, yeah. I can't stomach the sight of blood.”

“Where are the kids?” Dan asked. “This place is way too quiet.”

“They spent the night at their grandparents' in Gunbarrel. Mom decided my wife needed a break to get things in order before the delivery. Now Grams and Gramps are stranded with five kids. Good timing, I'd say.”

Dan chuckled.

“Go on down the hall.” Abel pointed left. “Excuse me while I grab more towels and ice chips.”

Beth glanced around. The two-story structure had high ceilings and a loft above the great room. The words
log cabin
hardly applied to the spacious home decorated in a Western theme, though it
was
entirely made of logs. She had a difficult time believing five children lived here, because nothing was out of place.

“Dan, is that you?”

Beth noted the familiarity in the woman's voice.

“Yes, ma'am. Okay to come in?” he called.

“Absolutely. Moral support is always welcome.”

Dan entered the room first, a wide grin on his face.

A vivacious and lean strawberry blonde in baby blue scrubs stood next to a cast-iron, king-size bed. She held a fetal Doppler to the abdomen of a petite woman whose dark hair was piled on her head. The bed's top sheet was tented over the pregnant woman's propped up knees.