A Baby On His Doorstep

She slowed considerably as a flock of wild turkeys flapped across the road in front of her. The road wound through high desert brush, shaded along the way by gorgeous old live oak trees. A moment before the road opened up to a clearing, Binney spotted a white-tailed deer bounding through a thicket of mesquite and juniper.

As she stopped completely to take the measure of a stone ranch house that had a wide porch running clear across the front of the structure, a fuzzy-faced barking dog ran up to her. She bent to let him sniff her hand and then gave him a rub when he rolled over. She supposed someone was on the property caring for the animal. From reading his chart Binney knew Rio McNabb wasn’t married. But she hadn’t thought ahead to wonder if he had a live-in. A lot of cowboys did. And surely a man as handsome as Rio could have his pick of any number of rodeo followers. She refused to refer to them as buckle bunnies because that was so demeaning.

Continuing to pet the friendly dog, she eyed a windmill that told her the ranch was on a well. Two barns in the distance boasted new paint, as did split-rail fences that enclosed grassy pens where several beautiful golden horses grazed in late summer sunlight.

As she rose from where she had crouched to pet the dog, thinking to stroll over for a closer look at the horses, a man seated atop a long-legged horse appeared out of nowhere, bearing down on her.

He pulled the snorting horse to a standstill even as Binney scrambled out of its path. The dog barked louder, and ran circles around the dancing horse.

“Are you lost?” the rider asked. He removed his hat and she met the dark, curious gaze of a handsome man, probably a few years older than Rio.

“No. I came in search of the Lonesome Road Ranch. I’m Binney Taylor, the area’s visiting nurse. It’s not definite the ranch owner will request my nursing services when he’s released from the hospital. But since his surgeon recommended me and Mr. McNabb and I spoke about the possibility, I came out to get the lay of the land. I apologize if I interrupted your work.”

The man swung out of the saddle. “I’m JJ Montoya. I train horses for Rio, and look after the ranch whenever he’s away. I only spoke briefly to him yesterday. He was more concerned about the horse that injured him than he was about much else except making sure I collected his pickup, camper and Tagalong, here,” he added, indicating the dog that had gone to lie across Binney’s feet. “Tag doesn’t generally trust strangers. He seems to like you.”

Bending, Binney scratched the animal behind his floppy ears. “I’d love to have a dog or cat, but since my work out in the community often takes me away from my apartment for weeks at a time, I can’t have one.”

“How is Rio, really?” the man still holding the reins of the golden horse asked suddenly. “He didn’t sound his old self. But from the list of all he said was wrong with him, I frankly doubted he’d be home very soon.”

Dusting off her hands, Binney hiked a shoulder. “Sorry, I can’t discuss a patient’s condition. I do know he had more evaluations scheduled for this morning. You could phone him later and get an update. Uh, it’s nice to meet you, Mr. Montoya, but I won’t keep you. You may or may not see me again, depending on whether or not I become part of Mr. McNabb’s recovery team. However, let me say this is a beautiful ranch.”

Pausing, Binney let her gaze roam over the scenic valley. She pictured what it might have been like growing up here, and felt a twinge of regret she always felt when forced to remember how she’d never had a real home or family.

Waving goodbye, she called, “It definitely wouldn’t be a hardship to take an assignment here.” She left the property with a greater appreciation for Rio’s ranch than when she’d first turned off the main highway onto the lonely road.

* * *

RIO FINISHED HIS lunch of cream of tomato soup and custard, wishing again for something more substantial. But he was being promised more for supper. The orthopedic doctor had come to see him after the MRI. He said he thought the cracked vertebrae would heal by themselves if Rio minded his p’s and q’s and didn’t do anything to reinjure his neck. In fact, Darnell wrote an order to move him out of ICU into a two-bed ward later that afternoon. He planned to recheck Rio at the end of the following week, and said if nothing changed he’d discharge him, providing he use something called a TENS Unit, designed to promote faster bone repair. Darnell also said he’d have a tech order up a better-fitting neck collar.

All in all Rio was feeling pretty good. Especially since he’d also asked about cutting back the pain medication, and Dr. Darnell said they’d try less potent pills instead of shots.

His cell phone rang. Picking it up off his tray where the nurse had set it, Rio saw the call was from JJ.

“Hi, buddy. How goes everything at the ranch?”

“Funny, I’m calling to ask how it goes at the hospital.”

“Some better.” Rio launched into telling his ranch hand all he’d learned.

“So, you think you’ll get to come home next weekend? Then you’ve settled on hiring yourself a home nurse?”

“I haven’t decided. Why?”

“Well, now,” JJ drawled, “Binney Taylor came out to take a gander at the ranch. She’s some looker, boss. Tag liked her so much if she’d been a burglar he’d have invited her in and showed her the silverware.”

“Binney drove out to the ranch?”

“Drove isn’t the right term. Not only is the lady damned pretty, but she rides a Harley like a pro.”

“She what?”

“You got hearing problems? The gal showed up here astraddle of a big old hog. She won over your dog, who usually bares his teeth at strangers. Oh, and before she left she said you have a nice ranch and it wouldn’t be a hardship to work here.”

Someone came into his room and removed his lunch tray, but Rio didn’t acknowledge her. His brain had stalled out picturing the tall slender nurse with soft, soft hands and gorgeous eyes, riding a motorcycle. He then imagined her legs clamped around one of his horses. That image quickly morphed into one where, whole again, he reclined in his king bed, and those same long, luscious legs straddled his hips with just the right amount of pressure.

“Rio, you still there?” JJ whistled into the phone.

Barely managing to say “Yeah” in gruff tones, Rio reined in derelict visions he chalked up to pain and forced inactivity. “Listen, I’m gonna have to call you back later, JJ.” He hit disconnect and willed away the all-too-enjoyable snapshot lodged in his head.

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