The Best Catch in Texas. Stella Bagwell

chuckled at the stunned look on her face. “That’s right. I’ve always wanted to do a little ranching and now I have the chance. True, I won’t have a lot of free time for it. But I’ll make the most of what I have.”

      “What about the golfing, the boating and fishing? And traveling?”

      Chuckling, he held up a hand to stem her questions. “Nicolette, where did you get this stereotype of doctors? We’re not all made from the same mold, you know.”

      He was right, of course. But from the moment she’d spotted him standing in her waiting room this morning, maybe even before that, she’d formed her own ideas of the man. Now she was learning he was nothing as she’d first imagined. The fact left her shaken. It only proved that she was no better a judge of men now than she had been when she’d married Bill and believed all his hogwash.

      “Sorry. But that’s what most of the doctors around here do with their free time. Not that’s there anything wrong with golfing or fishing. I just thought—” She paused and shrugged one shoulder. “Well, I’ve lived nearly all my life on a ranch and you—just don’t seem the type.”

      This time he looked at her with surprise. “You live on a ranch?”

      She nodded. “The Sandbur. It’s—”

      “The Sandbur!” he exclaimed. “You are one of those Saddlers?”

      “You know of the place?”

      Leaning back in his chair, he studied her as though the revelation called for him to inspect her all over again. “Of course I know of it! It’s spoken in the same breath as the Four Sixes, the Johnson, and the King—”

      “Whoa,” she interrupted, “don’t put us in the same categories as those great Texas ranches, especially the King. We’re big, but nothing close to being that big.”

      Her remark didn’t seem to dim his respect. “Hmm. Fancy that. You live on the Sandbur. That’s exciting. Really exciting.”

      She crumpled the empty cellophane that had held the crackers and cheese. “I don’t know about exciting. It’s just home to me. I live with my mother and brother.”

      “No husband?”

      Unconsciously, her eyes turned to flint as she glanced his way. “No. I’m divorced.”

      “Oh. Sorry. Guess that really wasn’t my business, but I was curious,” he admitted.

      Her nostrils flared, and Ridge realized he’d touched on a very raw spot. But from the moment he’d met her this morning, he’d been craving more information about the woman. Since she was absent a wedding ring, he’d pretty much decided she wasn’t married. But at her age, there had to be a reason for her being single. He’d been tempted to ask some of the clinic nurses about her. But he’d stopped himself from going that far.

      “It’s nothing secret,” she said. “Most everyone knows that’s why I moved back to the Sandbur. San Antonio didn’t hold much charm for me after Bill and I divorced.”

      He desperately wanted to ask her what had happened to ruin her marriage. But he didn’t. She was just now letting down that defensive cloak she wore tightly around her. He didn’t want to push his luck.

      “Sorry, Nicolette,” he said again. “You, uh, don’t think things will ever work out for you two?”

      She stared at him, then let out a brittle laugh. “Not hardly. He’s married again. You see, I was…getting a little too old for him,” she added. She tossed the crumpled cellophane into her coffee cup and rose to her feet. “I think I’ll go back to Dan’s room.”

      Following her example, he gathered up his trash and rose from the plastic chair. “I’ll go with you. Hopefully the diuretic has been working.”

      After disposing of the remains of their snack, the two of them left the cafeteria and headed back to the elevator. Neither of them spoke until they reached the old wrangler’s room.

      “I’ll stay out here in the hall until you finish examining him,” Nicolette said.

      He frowned at her. “Don’t be silly. You’re my colleague. Besides, Mr. Nelson will feel more comfortable with you by my side.”

      She couldn’t argue that point, so she nodded and followed him into the room.

      Dan was asleep, which was a good sign that his breathing had eased. But as they approached the narrow bed, the old man opened his eyes.

      “Well, I can see there’s nothing wrong with your ears,” Ridge told the man. He checked the patient’s feet and ankles for swelling, then pulled the end of his stethoscope out of his lab coat pocket and warmed it with his hand. “How are you feeling now? Breathing a bit easier?”

      Dan nodded, and though he kept a skeptical eye on the new doctor, he didn’t complain when Ridge leaned over him and placed the instrument against his chest.

      “I’m feelin’ better,” he said. “Just tired of gettin’ in and out of this bed to use the toilet.”

      “Well, the medicine will wear off in a few hours and then you can get some good sleep. I might even let you go home in a few hours—that is if you behave yourself. Now raise up and breathe deeply for me,” he instructed.

      Dan sat up in the bed, and Ridge listened carefully. After a moment he looked over to Nicolette and motioned for her to join him.

      “Have a listen.”

      Surprised at his generosity, she took the stethoscope and carefully listened to Dan’s heart and lungs. What she heard put a small smile on her face.

      “Sounds pretty good,” she said. “I think he’s on the mend.”

      The old man snorted. “I ain’t sick enough to need two doctors!”

      “That’s why I’m going home,” Nicolette told him, then leaned across the bed railing and kissed his grizzled cheek. “Mind Dr. Garroway, you hear? And I’ll see you tomorrow.”

      He nodded, and Nicolette left the room with Ridge right behind her. Before she had a chance to walk away, he caught her by the arm.

      “I just wanted to thank you again, Nicolette. You’ve made this whole night easy for me. And enjoyable.”

      There was no flirtatious light in his eyes now; only warm sincerity, and Nicolette found that idea even harder to deal with.

      She looked down and away from his brown eyes. “It’s no problem. I’m just glad Dan is improving.”

      “I’ll probably release him around noon. Before that, I’m going to put him on medication that will hopefully keep this sort of incident from happening again. I don’t know if he’ll agree to have regular checkups in the future. Maybe you can help me on that count.”

      “I’ll do my best,” she said. Lifting her eyes back to his, she did her best to give him a friendly smile. “You’d better wind your night up, too, and rest before morning comes. See ya around, Doctor.”

      Nicolette walked away before he could make any sort of reply, but she could feel him watching her walk down the dimly lit corridor. It was a great relief when she was finally able to turn the corner and step into the elevator.

      Chapter Three

      The next morning when Jacki entered Nicolette’s office, she paused at the corner of her boss’s desk and sniffed with appreciation.

      “Mmm. Something smells delicious.” Spotting a flat box with ribbon tied around it, the red-haired nurse picked it up and sniffed at the white cardboard. “It’s in here. What is it? May I have some?”

      “It’s Cook’s famous pecan and chocolate chip cookies. And no you can’t have one. Neither can I. She’s sending them to Dan.”

      Jacki smiled