Not Your Average Cowboy. Christine Wenger

and I know it’s an awful imposition, especially when you told me over the phone that you were burned out and needed a break after all that horrible publicity about you and…and what’s his name?”

      “George Lynch, but forget about him. My good friend needs me. I can take care of things on the home front.”

      “Thanks. I knew you would.” Karen smiled weakly. “But there’s Caitlin. She needs someone to watch over her. Buck is so busy with the cattle and all.”

      A door opened to the mudroom off the kitchen, and Merry recognized the white duster and white hat through the glass-topped door. Buck. She heard the sound of something hitting the floor—his boots.

      Karen’s eyes darted to her brother, and she stood. “How about some coffee, Buck? I was just about to make some for Merry and me.”

      “Sit down, sis. I can get it.”

      Suddenly, Karen gasped and doubled over. Buck hurried to her side, holding her so she wouldn’t fall.

      “I can’t take it anymore.” Karen puffed out the words, grimacing in pain.

      Merry rushed to her other side. “What can I do?”

      Buck thrust out his chin in the direction of the phone on the wall. “Call 911 and get an ambulance here. Then get a hold of Doc Goodwater.”

      She barely had time to nod before Karen gasped again. Buck swept Karen off her feet and held her. She groaned into his chest.

      “The doc’s number is tacked to the bulletin board on the side of the phone,” Buck advised. “Let him know Karen’s on her way to the hospital. Tell him that her surgery has just been moved up.”

      Merry hurried toward the phone. Buck left the kitchen, still with Karen in his arms. She could hear them talking in the living room.

      When the 911 operator asked Merry the location, she realized that she had no idea where she was. She could only say “Rattlesnake Ranch.”

      “Buck Turner’s place?” the operator replied. “What’s wrong?”

      Thank goodness for small towns. “Gallbladder. Karen.”

      “An ambulance is on the way.”

      “Thank you.”

      Merry punched in the doctor’s number and left a message with his service.

      Then she poured Karen a glass of water and hurried into the living room with it.

      Karen was curled up on the couch with some pillows under her head. Buck sat on the edge of the couch and held on to his sister’s hand.

      “What about the ambulance?” Buck asked her.

      “It’s on the way.”

      “Thank you.” His deep voice was rich with emotion when he spoke those two little words. Gratitude showed in his eyes, and it was obvious that he was glad she was there to assist him. That made Merry warm right down to her toes.

      “The pain is gone,” Karen said. “I’m okay now. I can last until the operation.”

      No,” Buck said. “This has gone on long enough.”

      Karen winked at Merry. “If I were a sick horse, he would have put me out of my misery a long time ago.”

      She took a sharp breath and closed her eyes, and the slow stream of a tear traced a path to her ear. Her pain was back.

      Merry turned to look for a box of tissues, but just as she did, Buck reached over and wiped his sister’s tear with his thumb.

      Merry’s heart melted as she wondered yet again what it would have been like to have siblings. Would they have been as close as the Porters?

      She heard the distant wailing of the ambulance. Buck must have heard it, too. His blue eyes looked up at her, and he sighed in relief.

      “Buck, I’d like Merry to come with me in the ambulance. Would you mind?”

      “Whatever you want, sis. This is your show. I’ll follow in the pickup with Caitlin.” He looked around. “Where’s she hiding now?” His voice held a hint of frustration.

      “Caitlin,” he shouted, but the little girl didn’t appear.

      “Buck, why don’t you stay here at the ranch with Cait?” Karen asked with a strained smile. “You know how you get around anything medical.”

      “I want to make sure that you’re okay,” he said.

      Karen shook her head. “Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay put? Caitlin will probably be up too late.”

      “She doesn’t have school tomorrow. Besides, Merry needs a ride back, unless you want her to stay at the hospital all night with you.”

      “No. Of course not.”

      “Then it’s settled. I’ll get my boots.” He walked over to the mudroom. “Caitlin,” he shouted again. “I need to talk to you.”

      When Buck left the room, Merry took his place on the couch and held on to Karen’s hand.

      “Cait has been doing well in her special ed class,” Karen said softly. “Her teachers are wonderful.”

      Merry nodded. “That’s great.”

      Karen closed her eyes and winced from more pain. “Underneath all his bluster, my brother’s a pussycat.”

      “Since you’re in the middle of a gallbladder attack, I’ll excuse that misfire.”

      “You’ll find out for yourself soon enough.” Karen chuckled, then grimaced in pain. “But maybe I shouldn’t leave you two here alone for five days. I could become an aunt again in nine months.”

      Merry’s cheeks heated. “I don’t think there’s a snowball’s chance in the desert that anything like that is going to happen between us. We clash.”

      Karen’s hand closed tight around Merry’s. “Take care of Buck and Cait while I’m gone,” she said, her voice barely more than a whisper. Her hand relaxed, her eyes closed, and her head sunk deeper into the pillow. “They’ve been having a real tough time.”

      Two long hours later, in the waiting room of the Lizard Rock Hospital’s emergency room, a doctor dressed in aqua-colored scrubs caught Buck’s eye and motioned for Buck to follow him into a small conference room. In turn, Buck gestured for Merry and Cait to follow. Buck introduced Doctor Goodwater to Merry as Karen’s visiting friend.

      “And, Doctor, I think you remember my daughter, Caitlin.”

      The doctor tweaked Cait’s nose, and she quickly retreated to stand in a corner of the room, clutching her stuffed cat.

      “Buck, we’re getting Karen ready for surgery,” the doctor said. “She’s scheduled for eleven in the morning.” He checked his clipboard. “She’s in room 4014—you can go see her now.”

      “Thanks, Doc.” Buck pumped the doctor’s hand. “Take good care of her.”

      “You know I will.”

      They took the elevator to the fourth floor and found Karen’s room easily. Karen was already hooked up to IVs and seemed to be dozy, but was fighting it.

      Caitlin headed for a chair and sat wedged into the seat as far as she possibly could, still clutching her stuffed cat.

      Merry’s heart went out to the girl. She seemed so detached from everything and everyone. It was as if she was in her own little world and didn’t welcome intruders.

      Merry went over and stood before her, not daring to touch her. “Your aunt Karen is going to be fine, Caitlin. Don’t worry.”

      Cait never made eye contact. She curled up into an even tighter ball and buried her face in the stuffed cat.

      Merry