The Doctor's Choice (28 page)

“Why are you here, yelling at me?”

He slapped his uninjured hand against his muscular thigh, making a smacking sound against his jeans. “I can accept that you fell in love with someone else. But I can’t understand why you’d want to ruin my life.”

“That’s enough,” she said
, calmly. “I didn’t call the police about my suspicions, but I admit that I was thinking the worst. How did you…?”

“Get out? At the time you were having your
little engagement party and before your barn burned, I drove my dad’s truck into Amarillo to take my friends to the airport. I have credit card receipts for dinner and a bar tab before I saw them off. Thank God, the airport security cameras recorded my smiling face at their departure gate. The police got in touch with my friends who had to make statements. My dad was prepared to post a half million dollar bond, but they finally realized I was innocent and released me.”

Cami bit her lip. “I’m sorry you went through
all that.”

He
let out a long breath. “Just tell me that you believe me…that you don’t think I’m a murderer.”

She held his gaze for a long moment, swayed by his seeming sincerity.
“I certainly hope not, E.J.”

He threw his arms around her in an awkward embrace just as Celeste Pigeon drove by the parking lot and slowed down to take in the spectacle.

Of all people to be driving by, why did it have to be Celeste? She pushed away from E.J. “Why don’t you come inside and let me look at your arm?”

“You’re still my doctor?”

She nodded. “Yes, I’m still your doctor.”

#

It didn’t take long.

E.J. had just left when Breck
stormed the clinic.

Reba knocked on the doorframe
to the office.

Cami
glanced up from making notes in E.J.’s chart.

Reba
gave Cami a look that told her all she needed to know about Breck’s mood, before pulling the door closed behind her.

She
smiled at him. “Hello, Trouble.”

He tossed his Stetson on the
desk before sitting across from her. “Have fun with E.J.?”

“Celeste didn’t waste any time, did she?”

“It wasn’t pleasant for me to hear you were making out with E.J. Kincaid in broad daylight. Is there something you’d like to tell me about, Cami?”

She carefully replaced the cap on her pen and set it atop the chart. “Yes, there is. I want to know why you
told the police about my suspicions.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. “I am an officer of the court and I have a duty to uphold the legal system. When you told me about E.J.
’s burned arm and the missing jack, I decided that the authorities should be running the investigation and not you.”

She gazed at
him across the desk, trying to maintain her composure. “And you didn’t tell me of your intentions because…?”

He let out a long sigh.
“Because I knew you’d try to stop me. You always give people more credit than they deserve. You want to believe the best in everyone.”

“And that’s a bad thing?”

His voice raised half an octave. “It is when murder and arson are involved. It wasn’t lightening or spontaneous combustion. Someone deliberately trespassed, doused your barn with gasoline and set fire to the out buildings. I’m only trying to protect you.”

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I understand, but as it turns out, E.J. has an alibi for Sunday evening. He was in Amarillo with his friends
and his presence was recorded on the airport security cameras.”

Breck’s gaze narrowed as he glared at her.
“And that little bit of news made you start loving on him in the parking lot?”

A smile tweaked the corners of her lips as she bit back a sarcastic retort. “Let us just say that your friend Celeste can tell a tale. E.J. hugged me when I told him I’d give him the benefit of the doubt.”

His expression didn’t change. “Just a friendly hug?”

“If it was anyone else, you wouldn’t have a problem with it.”

“You’re right!” He let out a loud snort. “Knowing how I feel about him, why do you keep torturing me? Can’t you steer clear of E.J. Kincaid?”

“This is a small town. I’m the only doctor right now. Among other things,
he’s my patient.” She held up the chart with E.J.’s name on the label.

His brows drew together in a deep furrow.
“If you don’t tell him to keep his hands off you, I will.”

“Breck, it’s inappropriate for you to beat up every man who looks at me.”

“Inappropriate, huh?” He glowered at her across the desk. “It sure feels right at the time.”

She smiled at him. “I promise
that, in the future when I’m loving on E.J. Kincaid, I’ll take him someplace private so Celeste Pigeon won’t get an eyeful.”

His frown was replaced with a
shake of his head as he ran his hands through his thick hair. He pointed his finger at her. “You better stop toying with my affections, young lady.”

“Then you have to understand my feelings. I’m trying to keep an open mind about the missing jack. But E.J. and I are trying to be friends. He’s not such a bad guy.”

“That’s not what I had in mind.” Breck came around the desk to draw her to her feet. “I will never be E.J.’s friend and I can’t see how my future wife will maintain a friendship with someone I can’t stand.”

Cami wrapped her arms around his waist.
“And I don’t think my future husband should make decisions that he doesn’t discuss with me. I had a right to know you were going to the authorities with my suspicions.”

He brushed her cheek with his fingertips. “Yes, you did and I apologize.
And I had a right to know that my fiancé would be making out with someone I hate in her parking lot.”

She nodded. “I’ll call you next time.”

“You do that.” He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her languorously. “I’ll be sure to rush right over for that.”

“I bet you would.”

“I may be late getting back this evening. I was on my way to Henderson to arrange bail for the Marshall boys. They got thrown in jail for drunk and disorderly.”

“I’ll be at the house.”

“It’s supposed to freeze again overnight. A front is headed our way from Kansas, a late season cold snap, so tell your hands to make sure your horses are secured at my place.”

She nodded. “See you later.”

He kissed her one more time before picking up the Stetson and jamming it on his head. He shot a last dark look at her. “Be good.”

As he departed,
Reba lounged in the doorway shaking her head. “You’re gonna drive that man to drinkin’ straight whiskey.”

#

On the drive back to the ranch, Cami noted the change of color at the side of the road. Wildflowers blanketed the grasslands with a palette of spring hues. Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrush provided a sea of delft blue and coral as far as the eye could see. Purple Coneflower and Scarlet Sage would be joined by Blue Sage later in the season.

Silky had taught her the names. A sweet ache of remembrance clutched her insides as she turned off the highway onto the ranch
road.

When
she pulled into the circle drive, she spied Red, saddled and tethered to the corral.

She hailed T-Bone who was heading out in the truck, it
s bed filled with bales of hay.

He rolle
d down the window. “Miss Cami.”

“Thanks for saddling Red for me.”

“Frank said you wanted to ride him, so I thought I’d have him ready fer ya’. Give him some exercise and then we’ll take our horses back to Ryan’s for the night. It’s gonna be a cold one so you better git goin’.”

She
ran into the house and pulled on her warmest wool sweater and laced up her boots. She wrapped a scarf around her neck and donned the lamb-lined leather jacket and gloves, hoping she was prepared for the short ride.

Red nickered and danced a little when she approached. It seemed he was eager for a ride as well.

She untied his reins and pulled herself into the saddle. “Let’s take it easy boy. Just a little exercise for both of us. There’s no reason to race. It’s just you and me.” She leaned down to stroke his neck and then straightened, intending to head out across the grassland in the direction of the Ryan ranch.

She
turned when she heard the sound of hoof beats coming across the open field. When the rider neared she recognized Eldon Kincaid with his face set in a grim mask.

“Cami, there’s been an accident. E.J.’s injured and I couldn’t move him.”

“How did it happen?” She dismounted and started toward the Lincoln.

“No, no
! We can only get there on horseback. Please hurry. He’s bleeding and he hit his head.”

“Let me get my bag.”
She reached in the backseat to grab the small black medical bag Reba had set up for making the inevitable house calls.

“Hurry
! Please hurry.” Eldon’s solid black horse pawed the ground.

Cami looped the bag across the saddle horn and hauled herself onto Red’s back. “I’m ready.”

Eldon led her across the fields toward the mesa. Red, unable to contain his exuberance soon overtook him.

They’d ridden for some time when he drew his reins close to the caves on her property and dismounted.

Cami remained on Red’s back as he danced around in a circle. A knot of suspicion formed in her stomach. “What were you and E.J. doing up here on my land?”

“I didn’t think you’d mind.
E.J. wanted to see the caves before sundown, so I didn’t think it would hurt to show the boy.” He glanced back at her. “He slipped on the rocks and bashed his head. Come on, now.” He held out his hand to her.

She
dismounted and unhooked the medical bag from Red’s saddle. “We should have called for the medical helicopter to evacuate him to the hospital.”

“We can do that later. I have my cell phone. He needs help now.” He pulled her roughly by the arm but Cami resisted, a dawning realization that she was in an isolated place with someone
she mistrusted.

A whisper of fear caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up.
“Where is E.J.’s horse?”

Eldon looked around. “Must have run off
. Let’s go.”

She
reached out and grabbed Red’s reins. “No. I’m not going into the caves with you.”

Hi
s expression changed in a heartbeat. He dropped the concerned fatherly façade and glared at her with pure hatred glinting in his eyes. “You’re just like Silky Carmichael. Couldn’t get that damned fool woman to do anything either.” He reached in his pocket and withdrew a handgun.

Cami
gasped, terror closing her throat.
Eldon Kincaid murdered Silky
. She gripped the reins, her insides churned with fear.

He gestured with the gun.
“Get away from the horse.”

Cami
’s pulses throbbed in her ears.

Red danced on his front hooves, rolling his eyes as he caught her
panic.

He
raised the gun, but Red jerked the reins from Cami’s grasp, rearing up on his back hooves. He kicked out at Eldon, knocking the gun from his hand. It went skittering to the side. He bent to retrieve it, but Red caught him with both front hooves as he came down, knocking him off his feet.

Cami was helpless to stop Red as he stomped Eldon’s fallen form, whinnying with rage.
When Eldon stopped moving, Red stepped back and she was able to grab the reins again.

She stroked his neck to calm him, before
squatting to check on the fallen man. She felt for a pulse and found it throbbing a rapid tempo against her fingers.

A raspy wheeze rattled out of Eldon’s chest as he raised his head. He reached for her wrist, grasping it with his strong fingers. He struggled to turn over, displaying the rev
olver he’d managed to retrieve.

A smile spread across his face. “See, you can’t get away from me,” he wheezed. He aimed the
barrel of the gun at her face.

Terror seized her gut as she stared into
the gun barrel.

Eldon turned to point it at Red. “I hate that horse.” His finger tightened on the trigger.

“No!” Cami knocked the weapon skyward just as it discharged, sending the echo reverberating across the rocky surfaces.

Both horses started
, but Red kicked out at Eldon’s horse, sending him running back toward the ranch. Red glanced back at Cami and took off running after the black stallion.

She watched, relieved that Red was out of danger and horrified that she was alone and isolated with a
wounded killer.

They gazed into each other’s eyes
, murderer and would-be victim.