Randall Honor. Judy Christenberry

THE DOOR to the office was closed, Russ offered his guest the chair in front of his desk. “Please, sit down.”

      Jon did so, relaxing. He liked this man. He felt comfortable with him, which was more than he could say about the sexy blonde in the front office.

      “Before we go any further,” Russ said, still smiling, “I think I should tell you that Tori is my cousin.”

      Jon pursed his lips, glad Russ had made his relationship to the blonde clear. Not that Jon had intended to insult the woman, but he had considered complaining about her behavior. For Russ’s sake. He probably thought the woman was perfect.

      Russ wasn’t finished. “And an equal partner in the firm.”

      “She’s an accountant?”

      “Has her C.P.A. and her broker’s license.”

      Jon stared at him, trying to take in that information. And Dr. Jacoby thought these people should do his bookkeeping for him? He thought he’d better find someone else. “Well, that’s wonderful. I definitely want the apartment. Can we discuss terms?”

      “Of course.”

      Jon appreciated the way the man did business. He told him what he charged for rent, explained all the details and then waited.

      “Sold! When can I move in? I’m staying with Dr. Jacoby right now, and I’d like to get settled in.” As he asked that question, he drew out the new checkbook he’d gotten from the bank that morning and began writing a check for the deposit and the first month’s rent.

      “The apartment’s ready and I’ll hand you the keys right now. It’s a couple of days until the first, but I’ll throw those days in for free. Welcome to Rawhide, Doctor.”

      “Oh, call me Jon. It’s easier.”

      “Great, Jon. I think my wife will be one of your first patients.”

      “I’ll look forward to meeting her.”

      Russ sat there, smiling, as if waiting for something. Had the old doctor told him he’d be doing Jon’s books? Uneasy, Jon stood. “Well, I’ll probably start moving in tomorrow. My things will be here day after tomorrow.”

      Russ looked surprised, but he nodded and said, “Let me know if I can help you with anything.”

      “Thanks.” Then Jon headed for the door. He’d explain to Dr. Jacoby why he hadn’t hired the Randalls to do his accounting for him. Maybe the older doctor could patch things up with Russ for him.

      AFTER THE DOCTOR LEFT, Tori appeared at Russ’s office door. “Well? Did he take it?”

      “Of course he did. There’s not much else in town for rent.”

      “And are we doing his books like we do Doc’s?”

      Russ chuckled. “Like you do Doc’s books. But no, he didn’t mention that. So it looks like you’ll have a little more time for that investment project you wanted to do.”

      Tori stared at him. “But who is he going to use? There’s only Abe Forsman. He’s the biggest gossip in town. He’ll blab everyone’s illnesses all over the place! Doc would never—”

      Russ held up his hand. “Not our choice, Tori. Besides, we’re not hurting for business. In fact, we’re going to have to hire someone to sit out front and get you set up in the other office. We could use a good secretary.”

      “But I don’t know who we’ll get. Most of the high school and college kids have already gotten summer jobs.”

      “No, I don’t mean summer jobs. I want us to get someone permanent.”

      “But I can’t think of anyone looking for work right now.” She knew most everyone in Rawhide.

      “We’ll find someone. Spread the word. Maybe someone has a relative who’d like to move here but is worried about a job.”

      “We could take out an ad in the paper, too.”

      “Only if you write the ad. I’m not that good with words, just numbers.”

      “Ha! You’re just saying that. But I’ll do it. Maybe if I take it over today, Joseph will put it in the weekend paper.”

      “Good thinking!”

      “Do you want to see it before I take it over?”

      “Nope, I trust you, partner. I’m going to be busy modifying the ranching program for Hector Scott’s place.”

      “Okay. Oh, by the way, did you tell the good doctor that I live in the other apartment?”

      “No, he didn’t ask.” He frowned. “You’re not worried about him living next to you, are you? He seems like an okay kind of guy.”

      Tori chuckled. “No, that’s not the problem. I just don’t think he’ll make a pleasant neighbor.”

      “I told you Doc’s planning on marrying him off before his four years are up. Are you worried about the women parading in and out of his apartment?” Russ asked with a grin.

      Tori had been raised with all her boy cousins. Teasing was nothing new to her. “Not hardly. In fact, please make it clear to all the family that I have no interest in the man.”

      “Now, honey, that would be like waving a red flag in front of Uncle Jake’s face. If you’re really not interested in him, you’d better keep that under your hat.”

      Russ closed the door to his office, ready to go to work. Tori stood there staring into space. Unfortunately, Russ was right. Uncle Jake wouldn’t rest until he saw all the Randall children married.

      So she’d keep her distaste for the doctor secret…as long as her family was around.

      But upstairs, Dr. Jon Wilson would feel the brunt of her disdain for a snooty doctor from Chicago.

      Chapter Two

      Jon left the clinic at noon the next day. He headed to the café in the same block as his apartment and had a quick lunch, keeping his eyes open for the arrival of the rental truck he’d hired. The driver had told him he’d be there at noon.

      Over an hour later, he flagged down the driver and directed him to the parking lot behind the building. Jon hoped he’d be able to pay the man a little extra to get him to help carry his belongings upstairs.

      “No way, man,” the driver said gruffly when Jon asked him. “I got to return the truck and head for Chicago as soon as I can.” While he was talking, he was unloading Jon’s belongings and setting them down on the gravel of the parking lot. “I could use some help here.”

      “But—”

      “I’ll hand this out to you,” the man said, ignoring Jon’s attempt to persuade him. In half an hour, Jon stood in the middle of the parking lot, all his belongings around him, watching the truck drive away.

      “Great. If I go back to the clinic to ask Doc where I can hire some men, everything will be gone by the time I get back.”

      After thinking a couple of minutes, he decided to risk going to the accountants’ office and borrowing their phone.

      The blonde, Victoria, was at her desk.

      “Uh, may I borrow your phone for a minute?” To his amazement, she slid the phone closer to him without asking any questions.

      As he dialed the number to the clinic, Russ Randall came out of his office. “Well, hi, Jon, how are you?”

      Since the number he dialed had a busy signal, he hung up the phone. “Frustrated.”

      “What’s the problem?”

      “All my belongings are sitting in the parking lot. At least they are if they haven’t been stolen. I was calling Doc to