Knight in a White Stetson (26 page)

“But in the meantime, he’ll think he outwitted and outwaited the brilliant Dr. Johannsen?”

“That’s the idea.”

“You’re a freaking genius.”

“That’s what I’ve been told.”

The nurse poked her head around a corner and glared
at
them. “Keep it down, please. This is a hospital.”

“And I’m in need of some medical attention.” Pete leered
at
her. “Now, you haven’t got five kids, have you, honey? Look at your waist. I could put my hands around it.” The nurse gave an exasperated groan and disappeared. “Wait, honey. I just want to talk to you a minute.” Pete started after her, then turned back to Henry. “I’ll see you around.”

Henry smiled. “Probably not. I’ll have a courier send everything to the colonel at the lab.”

“He’ll probably dance all over his office, he’ll be so happy.”

“Wonderful mental image, Pete. I think your nurse is getting away.”

“Yeah.” He peered down the hall. “See you, Henry.”

“Henry?”

Pete grunted distractedly, his attention still on his nurse. “Well, it suits you. You always were an old-fashioned kind of guy.”

“I’m touched.” Henry put out his hand, and Pete took it solidly in his own. “You’ve been a friend, Pete.”

“Thanks. I never did Heidi, you know. Too much the cold Nordic goddess for my tastes. But I’d do that cowgirl in a minute.”

“I’ll take that as approval, I guess. But don’t come to the wedding.”

“Yeah.” Pete grinned. “I won’t. Now, where did that nurse go? God, I love a woman in a white uniform. Maybe she’ll let me play doctor.”

* * *

Calla’s homecoming was an elaborate affair. And a crowded one.

A small swarm of well-wishers at the front gate greeted the rental car Henry had hired in Boise for the drive home. They waved and knocked on the windows as Henry eased the car into the gravel driveway.

“They’re smiling,” Calla said warily, “so I guess that means they’re not here to slap me around for losing them the only town banker, huh?”

“I’ll slap you around myself if I ever hear you say that again,” Henry said.

Calla snuggled into him. “Not once I heal up, you won’t. I could whup you with one arm tied behind my back.”

Henry ogled her foolishly, making her laugh. “Speaking of one arm tied behind your back, you think we might try that sometime?”

“You’re sick, you know that? And you look like Pete when you do that.”

He nuzzled her ear. “Plus, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about your chaps.”

“My chaps?”

He whispered, making her laugh. “Okay, I might do that.”

Lester opened the car door, cleared his throat with great ceremony, and waited while Henry came around to lift Calla from the car.

“I can use the crutches,” she told him. “Put me down. Everybody’s watching.”

He ignored her and swept her up the back steps and into the kitchen. When he got her settled in a chair in the kitchen, Lester eyed her up and down.

“Well,” he drawled dramatically, as much to the burgeoning group of admirers swelling the kitchen as to his injured employer, “I guess this means you’re not going
to
be much use to me around this place for a while.” He shook his head mournfully. “Once again, all the work falls on Lester.”

“Come here, Lester,” Calla said.

Lester took a grave step forward.

“Thank you for everything. I can’t say as I love you any better after what you did for me, but I don’t hate you any worse.” She blew him a little kiss.

Lester was stricken.
“Dammit to hell.
I knew you was going to make me pay for this,” he shouted, stamping one dusty, boot-covered foot on the linoleum in frustration. “Twenty-five years of training, down the drain. Now I’ll be expected to be nice
to
you all the time. Well, it’ll probably kill me, is all. It’ll probably kill me.”

Calla laughed, that wonderful belly laugh that had made him fall in love with her, Henry thought. He should be telling her that, soon. As soon as he could clear a path through her fellow Paradisians.

He watched Calla like an overprotective mama while the crowd of townspeople milled around her kitchen, soothing and patting and gleaning every gram of gossip they could. When he saw her lashes dip
to
her cheeks and stay there for a moment too long, he shouldered his way through them
to
Calla’s side. Where he belonged.

Calla looked up at him gratefully.

“Hey,” she said.

He knelt beside her.

“You look tired.”

“I am, kind of. I’ve had a busy weekend.”

Henry smiled. “Yes, you have.” He scooped her up out of her chair effortlessly and turned to make his way upstairs. Paradisians parted in front of him like sheep.

“If I was her daddy, I’d put a slug in you before I’d let you carry my daughter around like that,” someone shouted. The crowd laughed.

Henry smiled and shook his head. “I’m just taking her up to bed.”

“Yeah,” another voice rang out, “that’s what we’re afraid of.”

More raucous laughter.

“This town loves a good party, doesn’t it?” he whispered in Calla’s ear.

She leaned her head against his shoulder. “What town?”

He carried her sideways up the narrow stairs and set her on her bed. The noise from the kitchen came through the floor, but Calla seemed not
to
notice. She yawned and stretched carefully.

“I can’t understand why I’m so tired. I never take naps in the afternoon.”

“I guess you’re just lazy,” Henry said as he kicked off his boots and slid cautiously into bed beside her. “You’ve been lying around for days.”

“Take your clothes off, Henry.”

Henry closed his eyes and burrowed his head in the pillow next to her. “You’re in no condition for that.”

“You wish. I wasn’t talking about that. You shouldn’t sleep in your new clothes. I can’t believe you bought us both new clothes just to come home in, anyway. We’re on a tight budget around here, Henry.”

Henry allowed himself
to
float into sleep on the sound of her scolding. “I have a job,” he reminded her.

“I only pay you
$850
a month, cowboy. And after the ranch is sold, you won’t even have that job. You may have
to
go back to being a brilliant chemical doctor or whatever you are.”

“Calla?”

“Yes?” She already had her fingers in his hair and was stroking his head gently.

“You’re not selling the ranch.”

She felt tears come to her eyes. She hadn’t cried for years, and all of a sudden it seemed she was weeping every time someone spoke her name.

“I am, Henry.”

“No. You’re not.”

“Yes. I am. I have
to.
Dupree may be gone, but that balloon payment is just a few months away. I’ll never raise the money in time.”

“Calla…”

“No, Henry, listen. You think this will break my heart, but it won’t. I found out yesterday what would break my heart and what wouldn’t.” She snuggled closer. “This won’t.”

“Calla, do you think you could shut up for a second?”

“That’s rude. I always … oh, okay.”

“Do you remember the story I told you about leaving my patent for Perfect Soil with AgriFactor?”

“Yes.”

“Well, you didn’t think I just gave it to them, did you?”

There was a short pause. Calla tried to wriggle over on her side. “Ow.”

Henry opened his eyes and looked reprovingly
at
her. “Be careful. You’re not supposed to move that shoulder.”

“Stop mothering me. So, you’re rich?” she asked.

“We’re
rich,” he corrected.

She glared
at
him. “And you didn’t tell me this, why?”

“I’ve been busy.” He grinned. “Besides, I took you for a gold digger the minute I laid eyes on you.”

“Be careful, city boy. I can still kick you with my good foot.” She settled back down onto the bed and stared up
at
her ceiling. “Really, Henry. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I figured I would after you figured out you loved me.”

“Oh. Well, I do love you. You know that, don’t you, Henry? I do love you.”

“I know you do.”

“But you’ll try not to manipulate me in the future, won’t you?”

“Mmm. I’ll try.” He was drifting. Her room smelled really good. Someday he’d tell her how many mornings he’d stared
at
her window trying to catch a glimpse of her in her nightie.

“Henry?”

“Mmm?”

“I want you to pay off my bank note. It’s ninety-three thousand and change.”

Henry smiled into his pillow. No pleading, no wheedling. Just straightforward Calla. Lord, he loved this woman.

“Okay. First thing Monday. Now let me sleep. That chair in your hospital room was uncomfortable as hell.”

“I’ll sign over half the equity of the ranch to you.”

“Whatever,” he mumbled. “Idaho’s a community property state. I’ll get half when we get married anyway. If you don’t make me sign a prenuptial agreement.”

“Very funny. Are we getting married?”

He wondered if she had a bathtub up here. He remembered pretty vividly what she looked like wet. He’d have to ask her. If she ever stopped talking.

“Of course, we’re getting married. Idiot.”

“Henry?”

“What.”

“How rich are
we?”

“Pretty rich.”

“Then as soon as I get better, I want to start building my own house. This one doesn’t have enough room for us and the twenty babies.”

“Funny,” Henry murmured sleepily. “Calla, I forgot to tell you earlier. I love you.”

She snuggled beside him. The warmth from her body settled into him.

“I’m not surprised, Henry. You’re a pretty smart guy for a Californian.”

* * * * *