Randall Honor (16 page)

Jon had been scanning the ladies who were carrying food to the picnic area. Finally he found Tori’s pale blond hair. It was because she was shorter that
he hadn’t seen her at first. “I’ll go with you,” he told Toby.

When he reached Tori, however, she wanted nothing to do with him. He couldn’t figure it out. Was it because she thought he didn’t trust her? That was silly.
She
didn’t know if she was pregnant. It wasn’t a matter of trust.

He followed her anyway.

After she’d put a dish of food on one of the serving tables, she turned around and headed for the house.

“Wait, Tori. Tell me what’s wrong.”

She stared at him, her gaze cool and bare of emotion. “Nothing’s wrong.” She started to walk again, but suddenly someone grabbed her waist and swung her around. Fierce anger was on her face until she realized who had her in his grasp. Then she threw her arms around the man’s neck.

And Jon wanted to punch him out.

“Gabe! I didn’t know you were going to make it!” Her smile was glorious. Jon was sure he was a brilliant chartreuse with envy, hating this Gabe’s gut.

“Come with me. I have to make another trip. You can help.” She grabbed the man by his hand and hurried toward the house.

Jon wanted to protest that he’d offered to help first. Why hadn’t she greeted him like that? He was the father of her baby, after all.

He grabbed Brett, who was standing nearby. “Brett, did you see the man who went to the house with Tori?”

“No, I didn’t. Is something wrong?”

“She greeted him like she—she loved him.”

“And how’s that?”

“He picked her up and she threw her arms around his neck and invited him to go to the house with her.”

Tori came out of the house at that moment with the handsome stranger beside her, each of them carrying a dish.

“There! There he is.”

“Hey, it’s Gabe!” Brett shouted, and hurried over to welcome the man, followed by the other brothers and some of the cousins, too.

“Damn it, what’s going on?” Jon mumbled to himself.

“What is it, son?” his father asked. “Something wrong?”

“Yeah, something’s wrong. Tori welcomed that stranger as if he were her lover!”

“I’m sure you’re wrong. Tori seems like an angel, an honest angel.”

“W
HO’S THE GUY
who keeps glowering at me?” Gabe asked Tori.

She didn’t bother to look up. “I don’t know what you mean.” She studied the bowls on the table and decided to rearrange them.

“I don’t mind fighting for your reputation, you know, but I’d like to be prepared. Seems to me he’s in love with you.”

“No, he’s not.”

“So, who is he?”

“The new doctor.”

“Really? He might come in handy if I get hurt today. Maybe I should meet him,” Gabe suggested, watching Tori closely.

“Suit yourself,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

Gabe wrapped his arm around Tori and began walking toward the doctor.

“Turn me loose, Gabe.
I
don’t want to talk to him.”

“But I need you to introduce me. Or I could ask someone else in the family to make the introduction…and ask them why he’s upset with me.”

“No! I mean, fine. I’ll introduce you.”

They’d reached Jon, and he was still glaring at Gabe.

“Jon,” she acknowledged tersely. “This is Gabe. He wanted to meet you.”

She tried to run away, but Gabe kept hold of her. He stuck out his right hand to Jon. “Gabe Randall. Glad to meet you.”

Jon didn’t move, but the glare turned into a frown. “You’re a Randall?”

Gabe lowered his arm. “Yeah. You got something against the Randalls?”

“No. Are you her brother?”

“Nope. A cousin, sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“What’s wrong with you, man?” Gabe finally asked.

“I don’t like to see my woman hugging another man.”

Gabe stared at him, then Tori, and back again. “You mean Tori?”

“I think she’s the only lady you’ve got your hands on,” Jon pointed out.

Gabe roared with laughter. “Tori, what have you been up to?”

“Nothing!” she snapped.

“You have nothing to worry about from me, Doc. I treat Tori like my little sister. But for a lady you’re claiming, she seems a mite unhappy to see you.”

“I know, and she won’t tell me why.” With his eyes, Jon pleaded for an explanation, but Tori wouldn’t even glance at him.

Then someone called Tori’s name. All three of them looked toward the area where the cars were being parked. Two ladies, one brunette and the other a beautiful blonde, were hurrying in their direction.

Gabe stiffened. “Who’s the blond goddess?” he asked intensely.

“That’s Jennifer, isn’t it, Tori?” Jon answered, pleased to see the interest in the other man’s gaze.

“You know her, Tori?” Gabe asked.

“Yes.”

“Good. Introduce me.”

Jon stuck out his hand. “Glad to meet you, Gabe Randall. He smiled for the first time. “Welcome to Rawhide.”

The party was over.

And a grand party it had been. Other than scrapes and bruises, Jon had had only one real patient. A young man had broken an arm when he was tossed from the back of a nasty bull.

But Jon had hoped for so much more.

True, he’d met a lot of people. Nice people. And the Randalls had almost treated him like family. His father had had a grand time, helping release the bull and rider from the chutes.

Tori still wouldn’t talk to him.

Talk? Heck, she wouldn’t come within a hundred yards of him. And she’d disappeared about an hour ago and hadn’t been seen since. He caught a glimpse of Anna. “Anna? Have you seen Tori?”

She stopped and turned around to gaze at him, a sad expression on her face. “She’s inside. I sent her to bed a little while ago.”

“But I thought she was going back to town with me.”

“She decided to stay here tonight. Sorry if she forgot to let you know.”

Instead of thanking her and walking away, Jon said, “You know why she’s upset, don’t you?”

Anna nodded.

“Aren’t you going to tell me? How can I fix it if I don’t know what’s wrong? Anna, this is important. Tell me!”

“I can’t do that, Jon. You’re on your own.” Then she went into the house.

He followed her in, not because he thought she’d change her mind, but because his father had gone into the house earlier. “Dad?” he called, when he caught sight of Bill. “You ready to go?”

“Sure, son.”

“Aren’t you going to stay, Bill?” Brett asked.

“No, thanks. I’ve made plans in town tomorrow.” He grinned. “But hopefully I’ll be back out before I have to leave.”

“We think you should move out here,” Chad said. “We’d love to have you as a neighbor.”

“I can’t retire just yet, Chad, but thanks for the kind words.”

Jon scarcely noticed his father’s conversation. His mind was on Tori and the need to touch her again, to be sure she was all right, to make her happy.

The drive home was silent. Jon didn’t notice. He kept thinking about what had gone wrong. When they got to the apartment, he went to bed because he couldn’t think anymore. It was too depressing.

T
ORI HAD TOLD HER MOTHER
the truth. How she’d come to love Jon, but she knew he wouldn’t be interested in her once he discovered she wasn’t pregnant. And she’d promised to take a pregnancy test next Monday.

She got up and dressed in the clothes she’d worn yesterday and had breakfast. Her mother was going to drive her into town.

“Mom, let’s stop at the drugstore. I’m going to buy a pregnancy test today.”

“Won’t it be too early?”

“No, I don’t think so. And I can’t live an entire week waiting for the ax to fall. I want to get this misery over with.”

“Have you considered the fact that you might be pregnant?”

Tori sent her mother a sad look. “No, because I’m not. And even if I am, I can’t marry Jon. It would be like trapping a wild animal and trying to make it a pet. He would never be happy. And neither would I.”

“I’ll go in and buy it.”

Tori didn’t argue.

Her mother came up to her apartment when they got there. She waited with Tori when she took the test. Then she held her in her arms as Tori sobbed when the test showed negative.

Finally, when Tori seemed under control, Anna got up to leave.

“Mom, are you going to the clinic?”

Anna nodded.

“Will you take a note to Jon?”

“Of course, dear.”

Tori wrote a brief note to Jon and included the test results in an envelope. After sealing it, she handed it to her mother. “Just give him this.”

Her mother gave her a hug and, taking the envelope, she hurried to her car.

It took Tori a little while to repair the damage to her face. She thought Bill would be downstairs with Jessica, and she didn’t want him to know anything was wrong. When she got there, Bill and Jessica looked up and greeted her.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said briefly, and headed for her office.

“Tori?” Jessica called. “What’s wrong? It’s not Russ, is it? Isn’t he getting out of the hospital today?”

So much for fixing her face.

“Nothing’s wrong. I’m sure Russ will go straight to the ranch today, Jess. He’ll be there when you get home. Or if you’re anxious to see him, you can go home at lunch.”

Jess continued to stare at her and Tori bit her bottom lip, hoping to hold back the tears.

Bill came closer. “Is there anything I can do, Tori? I’ve made some progress today. I hope that helps.”

She patted him on the arm. “Of course it helps, Bill. I know Russ will appreciate all your hard work.”

Inside, she was screaming,
Leave me alone!

Then Bill, who was facing the front door, said, “Look, there’s Jon with Russ now. He’s here, Jessica!”

Tori slipped into her office and closed the door.

J
ON WAS GLAD
Russ was showing an interest in his business. It was a sign of good mental health. And it also gave him a chance to see Tori this morning.

He’d wanted to call her, but she wasn’t at home.

Jessica and his father met them at the door. His father? Jon looked at his watch. It wasn’t even ten o’clock yet. He was going to have to speak to his father about not spending so much of his time in Tori’s office.

“Who is that with Jessica?” Russ asked.

“My father.”

Russ gave him a strange look but only said, “Oh.”

Jessica hugged Russ when they got to the door. Then his father introduced himself, shaking Russ’s hand.

“Where’s Tori?” Russ asked, looking over their shoulders.

Jon wanted the answer to that question, too. “Maybe she’s not back from the ranch?”

Jessica turned around, then faced Russ and Jon again. “Um, she’s back. I think she had something really important to work on, um, didn’t she, Bill?”

All three men saw the plea in Jessica’s gaze.

Bill immediately rushed to support her. “That’s right. I think she had to, er, check some figures for me,” he said, a triumphant smile on his face at having come up with an excuse.

Jon’s gaze narrowed. “Why would her work have anything to do with you, Dad?”

“Because I’m doing—” He stopped abruptly, his gaze widening in guilt. “Er, I asked her a question.”

“A question more important than my arrival?” Russ asked indignantly. “Something strange is going on.” He started toward Tori’s office.

Jon followed until Jessica grabbed his arm. “Don’t, please, Jon. Something
is
wrong, but we don’t know what and she’ll be embarrassed if you see her cry. Tori almost never cries.”

“She’s been crying this morning?” Jon asked rapidly.

“We—we think so,” Jessica said. “She didn’t admit it, but she looked terrible, didn’t she, Bill?”

He nodded his head.

Jon switched to another topic while he waited for Russ to reappear.

“Dad, I know you like Jessica and Tori, but you’re going to have to stop interfering with their work. I’ll find you something to do, somewhere to visit, or I’ll take a couple of days off. Doc will fill in for me.”

“No, he can’t do that!” Jessica exclaimed.

“Why not?”

Tori’s door opened, which distracted Jon at once from his father’s activities. “Where’s Tori?”

“She’s working. She’s gotten behind and has to get something out right away. Let’s go to the café and have a cup of coffee,” Russ suggested.

“But Tori should—”

“Jon, she’ll feel much better when she gets this job done. Maybe she’ll even join us. Come on, I need to sit down.”

“I’d better stay here,” Jessica said with a grimace.

“No, honey,” Russ said gently. “Tori insists you go, too.”

“But she might need me.”

“I think she needs to be alone.” Russ took Jessica’s arm, and added, “You can help a cripple across the street.” As soon as he’d convinced Jessica, he gestured to Jon to precede him. “And you too, Bill. We’ve got some talking to do.”

Bill’s face took on an anxious expression as he walked out the door. Jon followed, since Russ had given him no choice. But he wanted to stay behind and confront Tori—right now, however, he guessed he’d have to apologize for his father’s behavior. And figure out what to do with him.

A
S SOON AS EVERYONE LEFT
the office, Tori grabbed her purse and pulled out her car keys. Then she picked up the phone and called the clinic. “Mom, did you give the note to Jon?”

“Yes, honey, but I didn’t tell him it was from you. He was going to take Russ to the ranch, and he said he’d read it when he got back.”

Tori drew a deep breath, a shaky deep breath. “Okay. I’m going to drive into Casper and do some shopping.”

“Casper? What are you shopping for?” Casper was a two-hour drive away. Usually they only went to Casper for something terribly important.

“My peace of mind,” Tori whispered. “I’ll be back this evening.”

“Want to stay at the ranch?”

“No. This is my home now, and I won’t be driven out of it. But I need some space before I’m strong enough to stand firm.”

“All right. If we can do anything, let me know.”

“I will. Thanks, Mom.” She’d always been grateful that her parents let her fight her own battles, but they always let her know they were there if she needed them.

She slipped out of the office and hurried to her car. Once inside, she locked her doors and drove away.

J
ESSICA AND
R
USS WERE
sitting in the booth facing the street and both saw Tori drive away. Jess looked at him, but Russ shook his head. Tori had given him a thumbnail sketch of the difficulty.

He liked Jon. Not only was he a skilled doctor, but he was also a man who cared about his patients, just the kind of doctor they wanted. But if it was a choice between Jon and Tori, he’d come down on Tori’s side. She was family.

“I want to apologize for my father constantly interrupting your work, Jessica. I’m going to take a few days off to entertain him, so—”

“No, Jon, you can’t,” Russ said calmly.

Jon stared at his friend. “What are you talking about?”

“I need Bill. He promised to help get me caught up until he leaves. I think he’s happy with that arrangement, aren’t you, Bill?”

Bill looked absolutely hangdog, but he nodded.

“But, Bill, if you want to do things with Jon in
stead of work, it’s okay, you know,” Russ added, not sure now that the older man liked the arrangement.

“Wait a minute!” Jon barked. “Are you telling me my father is working during his vacation? He’s supposed to be relaxing.”

Bill said nothing.

Mona, who’d taken their orders and brought cups and saucers and a pot of coffee, came back to the table. They all sat silently while she filled the cups. Then she delivered their cinnamon buns.

It had given Jon time to think. “Are you liking the work, Dad?” He tried to keep any judgment from his voice.

Bill perked up and said, “It’s great! Tori and Jessica are fun to work with, and I love the software Russ uses. I feel like I’m doing real work. I really—” He stopped, his face stricken. Then he began again in a sedate manner. “It gives me something to do while you’re at work, son.”

Jon ran his hand over his face and condemned himself. “I see. I should’ve done a better job of paying attention.”

“No, no, you’re fine, Jon. You’re the best son there is!”

“Thanks, Dad, but you’re blind to my faults, and I have a lot of them.”

Bill began to protest, but Jon shushed him. “Russ, how much longer will you be able to use Dad’s help?”

“We can use him as long as he’s willing to work,”
he said. “I know he’s supposed to go home on Sunday, so—”

Jon grinned. “No, you don’t understand the question. Is there a chance for permanent employment with you?”

“Heck, yeah! Tori says he’s great. We’ve been thinking about taking on some help, but the job pool in Rawhide is kind of small. Especially for people with his skills,” Russ explained.

Bill’s expression was anxious and eager at the same time.

“You mean, Bill might stay?” Jessica asked excitedly.

“If he wants to,” Jon agreed.

“Well, of course he wants to!” Jessica exclaimed. “Rawhide is much better than Chicago. Right, Bill?”

“Right!” Bill agreed, beaming. “Do you think I can move here, Jon? It won’t upset you? And what about Aunt Tabitha?”

“Dad, the only reason I was coming back to Chicago is because of you and Aunt Tabitha. I wanted to make sure you were happy. We’ll tell Aunt Tabitha she can move in with her friend, or come here. We’ll find her a place to live.”

“Tabitha seems to like being with her friend.”

“Well, we’ll give her a choice, Dad. I’d be delighted if you moved here.”

“I can’t believe this is happening,” Bill exclaimed.

“Will Tori object?” Jon abruptly asked.

It was Jessica again who answered. “Of course not. She loves Bill!”

Russ shrugged.

Jon slid out of the booth.

“Where are you going, Jon?” Russ asked.

“To talk to Tori.”

“She’s not there. She left a few minutes ago.”

“Where’d she go?”

“I don’t know. She told me she needed to be alone.”

“Well, damn it, that’s not what I need!”

“Did you get her note?” Russ asked.

Jon froze, staring intently at Russ. “What note?”

“She said she sent you a note with Anna.”

Without a word, Jon raced out of the café.

I
T WAS AFTER EIGHT
when Tori parked in the back of her apartment. She didn’t get out of the car until she’d checked to be sure Jon wasn’t around. Then she scurried up the stairs to her apartment, quietly slipping in. Not exactly the brave front she’d promised herself.

She made a quick call to her mother to let her know she was home, but she didn’t have a conversation, really. Then she undressed and grabbed a quick shower. She was exhausted. And looked it, she decided, staring into the mirror in the bathroom.

She had circles under her eyes and she was too pale. Maybe the fact that she hadn’t stopped for dinner had something to do with it. Or maybe it was lunch. The day had slipped away. She hadn’t done any shopping. She hadn’t had the heart for it.