A Marriage In Wyoming. Lynnette Kent
They ate in silence for a few minutes, giving the delicious food the appreciation it deserved. âAt least now I know where to come for a decent meal,â she said when her hunger had been eased. âI donât have to depend on peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches.â
âYouâre not a cook?â
âI can make a salad, boil pasta or bake a potato in the microwave. Being a doctor hasnât offered much opportunity to develop complex cooking skills.â
âSo what do you do on your days off?â
âThere havenât been many of those. But I usually go for a run if Iâve got an hour of daylight. And I like to read.â
Garrett grinned at her. âSee, we do have something in common. I like to read, too. What do you read?â
âNot religious texts.â
âWe were talking about free time. And youâre determined to pigeonhole me, arenât you?â
She pushed her empty plate away. âIâm a doctor. That role defines my whole life. Youâre a minister. Wouldnât you say the same?â
âBut youâre also a runner and a reader. And probably a few other things Iâve yet to discover. Iâm a minister, yes, but I also work on a ranch. I rode bucking broncs in the rodeo. I volunteer with at-risk kids. Iâm a brother and soon to be a brother-in-law to a friend of yours. Do you have family?â
Rachel swallowed hard. âNo.â
He studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowed. âYou lost somebody recently.â
She shook her head. âNot so recent. My mom died two years ago.â
âIâm sorry.â His voice was gentle. âYou still miss her.â
Just like that, tears stung her eyes. For something to do, Rachel picked up her glass and took a long swallow of water. Blinking hard, she said, âSorry. I must be tired.â
âNo problem. Losing a parent is tough. If you ever want to talk about it, Iâll be glad to listen.â
âThatâs okay.â She sent him a forced smile. âIâm fine.â
âDessert?â Terri asked, appearing suddenly beside them. âWeâve got fresh lemon meringue pie.â
The idea of so much sugar after a day spent dealing with diabetes didnât appeal to Rachel. âJust some coffee, please.â
âMe, too,â Garrett said. âThen Iâll help you get your car unloaded.â
âNo, please,â Rachel started. âI can manageââ
âBut it will go faster with two people working at it.â He winked again. âYou canât get rid of me. You might as well give in.â
âThen you can let me take care of dinner.â When Terri put the check on the table, Rachel managed to get her fingers on it first. âSo there.â
He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. âI recognize when resistance is futile. But I will get even.â
Darkness had fallen before they arrived at the clinic. Rachel stared through the truck window at the building sheâd visited only briefly this morning. âSeems like days ago I arrived.â She blew out a deep breath and turned to Garrett. âYou should go home.â
âSoon. You donât even know where your apartment is, do you?â
âSure I do. Evans Street.â
âHow do you get there from here?â
âCaroline sent me a map...â
âJust get in your vehicle and let me lead the way. You can worry about maps tomorrow.â
Suddenly too tired to protest, Rachel did as she was instructed. In five minutes, they pulled up at the curb in front of an older two-story house with a wraparound porch.
Garrett came to her window. âThis is it. Youâve got Caroline for an upstairs neighbor, though sheâs not here much this summer. Luckily, the first-floor tenant moved out just at the right moment to give you a home.â
âIt seems to be a nice place.â She pulled the key sheâd been sent out of her purse. âSo far, so good.â
The interior was cozy, filled with secondhand furniture that appeared comfortable, if a little dated and dusty. The kitchen was bigger than Rachel would need, the bathroom smaller than she would have preferred. âThis will work for me,â she said as she and Garrett approached her car. âCompared to the places I lived during med school, itâs a palace.â
He pulled a couple of suitcases out of the back of the SUV. âWe make sacrifices when we really want something, donât we?â
She didnât answer because it disturbed her that he understood what sheâd been through without having to be told. He was altogether too easy to talk to, too perceptive and too easygoing. It would be better if he got angry or at least annoyed when she resisted him. Instead, he just smiled.
In a few short minutes, all the belongings sheâd labored to fit into her vehicle were set in convenient places around her new apartment. Garrett put the last box of books on the coffee table and straightened. âDo you have more stuff coming?â
âNo, this is it. I got rid of a lot of things before I left Seattle. I wanted to start new here.â
âAn admirable plan.â He put his hands in his pockets. âI should leave and let you settle in. Thanks again for helping out with Lena todayâit made a big difference to have a doctor available to deal with this crisis. Youâre going to be a real benefit to this community.â
âIâm glad I could help.â She followed him as he walked to the door. âThank you for helping carry all this inside. It would have taken me a lot longer. And Iâm pretty tired.â
âMy pleasure.â He faced her at the door. âJustino and I will be heading to the hospital in the morning. Can I pick you up?â
âIâm meeting with my new nurse early tomorrow,â she said, determined to set some limits. âBut Iâll check on Lena as soon as possible. Iâm sure the doctors on staff have her condition under control. Iâve applied for privileges at the hospital, but Iâm not currently Lenaâs doctor. Andââ she gave him a pointed look ââIâm not her family.â
âOf course. Itâs just been such a relief to have someone around who really understands whatâs happening.â His serious blue gaze captured hers. âYour support meant a lot to me today.â
The hall light was dim, and they stared at each other in the shadows. The moment seemed more intimate than it should, more important.
âGood night, Rachel Vale,â he said finally, his voice low.
âGood night, Garrett Marshall.â She wanted to break the connection between them but couldnât quite seem to do it.
Then he bent forward and kissed her on the cheek. The press of his lips burned like a brand. âSleep well.â His boot heels thudded on the porch floor as he walked quickly away.
Rachel didnât watch him drive off. That would be foolish and romantic, neither of which she intended to be. She was practical and logical, she told herself as she went into the bedroom,