Chapter 8: Chapter Eight

Beth frowned. His eyes were glassy and he swayed as if unsteady on his feet. She ignored his question in lieu of idle conversation. “That was Mrs. O’Brien. Apparently one of her cats decided to get into some holiday cheer.”

Tyler’s eyebrow rose. “Does she want you to be the designated driver or something?” His words slurred.

“No, but I’m thinking you might need one.”

He grimaced. “I’m not a kid. I know better than to drink and drive. I’ll catch a ride with someone.”

Beth chewed her bottom lip. “I’m heading back that way. I’ll give you a ride home.”

He shook his head. “Can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“Your boyfriend wouldn’t like that very much, and I can’t blame him. I would never have let you into a truck with some drunk cowboy.”

“First of all,” Beth snapped, shaking her phone in his direction. “Cole’s not you so he doesn’t think the way you do. Second, he’s not my boyfriend. We don’t have that kind of relationship so he wouldn’t have anything to say about it.”

Tyler snorted and turned away to rest his arms on the deck rail and look out over the darkened lot behind the bar. “Whatever.”

Beth slammed her hands on her hips at his snort of disbelief. “Don’t do that. Don’t make it sound as if I’ve done something wrong. Cole was here for me.”

Tyler made another noise of disgust and she moved closer, shoving him in the arm. The smell of liquor on his breath reached her. “Don’t be that way, Ty. Cole is a good guy. He has done everything in the world to make me happy these past two years, trying to make up for what you did.”

He glanced down. “Oh, yeah? Was he able to do what I did for you last night? Does he make you scream, Beth? Make you beg for more? If he’s been keeping you satisfied, then why wasn’t it his arms you wanted around you in the barn?”

He swayed and Beth frowned with disgust. His reminder of last night set her blood on fire. Images of his arms around her, his body covering her and his hands on her played across her mind. She struggled to find something to say to cut him down, but before she could, he’d snagged her into his arms and lowered his head.

She hated the way she responded like a match to gasoline. Her arms snaked around his neck pulling him even closer. Their mouths met in a hunger that last night didn’t even hope to satisfy. Tyler kissed her as if he was desperate for her, and she gave him back everything she had. When he grabbed hold of her rear end and pulled her hard against him, she moaned into his mouth. How could everything be so wrong and so right at the same time?

His strong thigh slipped between her legs and she rode it, sending waves of pleasure shooting through her veins. She grabbed his shirt and bunched it in her hands as she clung to him. Tyler put his hands around her waist and lifted her higher only to slide her slowly back down his body. Beth trembled as every inch of him stroked her. It had been so long since she felt as alive as she did when Tyler touched her. She couldn’t help herself, and frankly, she didn’t want to.

Her fingers dug into his shoulders impatiently. It didn’t matter where they were, didn’t matter that she’d come out with Cole tonight; all that mattered was Tyler’s expert hands making her body want. Want him.

She pressed against his chest but he merely began a slow descent to her neck, shoving the collar of her blouse aside to nuzzle lower. The pink silk top she’d put on was thin and the material scraped her sensitive, taut nipples.

His large hand settled over one aching breast and her eyes closed, her head tipping back of its own accord. Tyler brushed a sensitive peak and then lowered his mouth. He licked between her breasts, his tongue hot on her skin. He shoved at the material, unbuttoned a few buttons, fighting to get his hand inside. Finally, he yanked her shirt out of her jeans and shoved it up out of his way.

Beth couldn’t catch her breath, couldn’t think straight as he pushed her bra aside and freed her breast to the night air and his touch. His mouth closed over her and she clung to him and cried out.

He lifted his head, replaced his mouth with his hand again and continued to caress her. “Come home with me,” he whispered.

Beth lifted heavy lids to him. “You’re drunk.”

Tyler grinned. “Yep, so you better drive.”

Coherent thought seeped in slowly and she ducked her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I told Cole…”

Tyler narrowed his eyes and tensed. His hand moved lower down her stomach to the snap of her jeans. “Get rid of him.”

Was all this because he didn’t want her with Cole? Beth frowned and pushed his hand away. This wasn’t because of any feelings for her; he just hated to see her with someone else. “No. That wouldn’t be fair to him.”

His eyes blazed with fury. “Fair to him? You’re concerned with being fair to him? What about me?”

After the way she’d just responded, she couldn’t blame him for being furious. He had every reason to believe she was going to go home and continue what they’d started. She pulled away and rebuttoned her blouse. “I didn’t know about Abilene,” she whispered. “I never read your note...until today.”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. We both know what path you would have taken anyway.”

If he’d slapped her hard across the face it wouldn’t have hurt her more. “How dare you! You’re the one who chose the open road over us no matter what was in that note.”

His gaze was anguished, and he swayed once more with the effects of the alcohol he’d consumed. “I’ll spend the rest of my life on my knees begging you to forgive me. I’ll do whatever you want me to do if you’ll take me back.”

He cupped her cheek with his rough hand and looked at her with such raw hunger and anguish that her heart ached. Her body still throbbed and wanted nothing more than to go home with him. But her head, for once, was thinking perfectly clear.

She stepped away. “It’s too late. I can’t trust you, Ty. How do I know you won’t change your mind again tomorrow and be gone when I wake up? Like when I woke up on that cot, alone...again.”

Tyler raked his hand through his hair. “I know. I didn’t know what to think. You said you were on the pill and I didn’t know if you’d just slept with me because I was convenient or…”

Could he really think I’d...that I would...just because... She threw her hands up in the air. “That’s it. I’m out of here.”

As she reached the door of the LoneStar, she turned back to glare. “Stay away from me, Tyler. I mean it. Don’t touch me, don’t talk to me, just leave me the hell alone!”

Inside the bar she made her way across the dance floor, skirting around lovers wrapped around each other, until she reached the table where her purse still sat along with Cole.

“I’ve gotta go.” She yanked her light jacket off the back of the chair.

Cole stood. “What happened?”

“There’s a problem with one of my patients,” she offered in excuse. “I tried to resolve it on the phone, but I’d feel better if I saw her for myself.”

Cole nodded and grabbed his keys off the table.

The last thing in the world she wanted was for him to come with her. “No!” She put her hand on his arm and calmed her voice. “I mean, you don’t have to leave, that’s why I have my truck here. Stay, enjoy the music.”

Cole shook his head. “I’m walking you out to your truck.”

Beth bit back her frustration. She wanted to get the hell out of there before Tyler came back in. Unfortunately, that wasn’t her good luck. Cole’s glance hovered over her chest a little too long and she looked down to see what was wrong. All the buttons were crooked.

His head spun around as Tyler strutted past their table. Cole’s eyes snapped to hers. “On second thought, I think I will stay. Drive careful, Beth.” And with that, he sat back down.

She clenched her jaw. Not sure what she could possibly say to fix this, she walked away. Once more, Tyler had made a fool of her. And he did it on purpose. He could have stayed outside, but, oh no, he had to walked through the bar and out the front door. Was he ever going to stop making her life a living hell?

Her truck was way in the back of the lot and she held her keys out as she walked. It wasn’t as if there were a lot of problems in Sweet Meadow but one couldn’t be too careful—she was almost ready for a good fight as it was. Still, she paused as she spotted two men near her truck. Recognizing them she picked up the pace.

Sheriff Conrad Ralston turned as she reached his side. “Beth, you driving Tyler home?”

Beth let her gaze bounce off Tyler’s back to the Sheriff. The last thing she wanted to do was drive the grinning cowboy home. Unfortunately, by the strict look in Conrad’s eyes, she didn’t have much choice. She sorted through her keys to find the one to unlock her truck. Grudgingly, she agreed. “Fine, I’ll take him home.”

Conrad nodded. “Okay, just checking. I don’t want to see him behind the wheel in this condition.”

Beth shook her head. “Nope, he’s an idiot, but he’s not stupid.” She walked around to the driver's side, cursing the fates for putting her in this position, and unlocked the door. When she released the electric lock, Tyler pulled open the passenger side door, slurring his good nights to the officer.

“Have a good holiday, Conrad,” she called back as she slid behind the wheel and started the engine. As they pulled out of the parking lot she glared at Tyler. “You’re an ass.”

“I didn’t plan this. I was going to catch a ride with Buck, but they’d pulled out by the time I got out here.”

“So you just happened to stand near my truck?”

“I was actually going to call Buck and see if he’d come back, but then Conrad pulled up and thought I was going to drive. He was giving me a real hard time.”

He leaned his head back against the seat. His legs were too long for her small truck, making him look all scrunched up. His discomfort, at least, brought her a measure of pleasure.

The back roads were dark without much traffic. Next to her, Tyler hadn’t moved and she wondered if he’d fallen asleep. She glanced over and, even though she was still mad at him, she couldn’t help but soften a bit. Last Christmas, if anyone had told her she’d be driving him back to the ranch a year later, she’d have told them they were nuts. She also would have been on Cloud Nine to have him by her side again. The girl from last year would have simply been glad he was home and that the nightmare was behind her.

Beth tore her gaze away. She was glad he was back, but she wasn’t about to let him hurt her again. Tyler was a wanderer, and no matter what he said, he wasn’t going to stay put. He might stay for a few months, but, in time, he would be gone again. She refused to be left in the same condition as she was back then. When he left her, she’d almost lost everything. More importantly, she almost lost herself. She couldn’t afford to let that happen again.

She let her breath out and rested her cheek on her hand as they drove under the Double B arches. Cole’s look of disappointment twisted her gut. The buttons were a dead giveaway that she’d been out back with Tyler. Did he think she was rushing off to be with him? She needed to have a serious talk with Cole and stop accepting his invitations to go out. It wasn’t right anymore. Cole wanted more than friendship and she knew it. He was the nicest guy in the world, and he didn’t deserve someone like her—someone who would never feel for him what she should.

The house came into view and she pulled up the horseshoe driveway, parking the truck in front of the Weston porch steps. It was quiet and only the Christmas lights twinkled in the dark. She flipped her head around to the main house, but it looked just as solitary.

Beth sighed and unhooked her seatbelt. “Come on, Ty. We’re home.” She spoke loud and shoved at his shoulder. He didn’t stir.

She climbed out of the truck, walked around to his side, and yanked open the door. “Come on, Ty, get out.” She grabbed his hand and he shifted.

“Beth?”

“Yep, it’s me. Now, come on out of my truck so I can go to bed.”

He grinned. “You want to go to bed?”

She grimaced and tried to pull him out of the truck. He pulled back and she stumbled against him. Tyler’s eyes opened fully and he lifted a hand to touch her hair. “I miss your long hair.”

She twisted her head away. “Come on, get out of the truck.”

“Make me,” he whispered with a smile.

“You’re not five, Ty, come on,” she pleaded, and tugged on his arm again.

This time he moved, turning on the truck seat until he was sitting with his legs hanging out. But instead of getting out, he simply sat there, staring down. “Do you hate me?”

“No, I don’t hate you.” I just want you out of my danged truck.

He looked downcast and sighed. “I would hate me.”

“I don’t, so you can get out and go to bed now.”

“Come with me.” He held his hand out. “I just want to hold you. I promise I won’t do anything else. I just want to sleep, holding you in my arms.”

Beth’s heart ached. “No, that’s not a good idea.”

He held her gaze. “If you change your mind, my room is upstairs to the right.”

“I know where your room is.” A smile tugged her lips. “I’ve been there remember?”

He grinned. “I haven’t forgotten anything, not one moment. Have you?”

Beth sighed, not wanting to get into this. In about two minutes, she was leaving him sitting here in the truck all night and going to bed. “Ty, please.”

“Yep, you’d say that, and, ‘Ty, no more I can’t take anymore’. But then you would, and we’d drive each other crazy some more. Let me take you there again. Come on, Angel. Let’s forget all these issues and problems and focus on how good it is between us.”

“That’s not the answer,” she said with a small, regretful shake of her head. “It’s not enough anymore. Back then, you could always make up with me by doing that, but not now. Things have changed, I’ve changed.”

“Last night...”

Beth put her hand up to stop him. “I’m not talking about last night anymore. It was a lapse in judgment.” She let her hand fall. “Good night. Ty.”

She turned on her heel, leaving him sitting there and headed to her own front porch. Before she’d gone inside, she heard the door to her truck shut and his heavy steps on his own porch.

She went inside, trying to convince herself that spending the night alone in her bed was the right thing to do.

****

Tyler’s head ached. Not the worst hangover he’d ever had, but bad enough to require aspirin with his coffee. Not only had he’d drank too many beers at the LoneStar, but then the Boyd’s had arrived and he’d had a nightcap or two—or three—with them before finally getting to bed sometime around three.

Cord walked into the kitchen and Tyler eyed him over the rim of his coffee cup. When he’d finally called it a night, Cord had still been up talking to Chase Boyd. Never mind the amazing Charli had been there; Cord’s attention was completely focused on the other man’s ranch and the new bloodlines he was working with. That was his big brother, all about the business.

“Hey.” Cord leaned back against the kitchen counter.

He jerked his head in response and then winced.

“Sounds like you and Boyd did some good work.” Cord sipped his coffee.

Tyler couldn’t help but put his defenses up. Was he implying that he was surprised they’d done good work, or was he saying he should go back and continue it?

Cord stared and Tyler stared back. From the day their parents died, when Cord was barely old enough to get a driver’s license, his older brother had stepped into his father’s shoes. Or tried to. Between Cord, Sam and Buck, there was never a lack of father figures all telling him what to do, when to do it, and how to feel about it all. It was the reason he had to go.

Now it was the same reason he needed to stay. Chase Boyd had taught him that. He had his family to thank for raising him right, but he had Boyd to thank for making him man enough to know he needed that family.

“Coffee!”

Tyler winced at Charli’s bright whoop as she bounded into the room. She was like an Irish Setter, all red hair and boundless energy. Tall and long legged, she had a model’s body that made men promise anything for just a smile from those full lips.

Cord poured her a cup and then handed it over. After adding her required three teaspoons of sugar, the redhead took her first sip. “Hmm, just like I like my men, strong but sweet.” She reached up and brushed her lips across Cord’s cheek. “Your bed is very comfortable; thanks for letting me in it.”

Cord shrugged. “I didn’t want you to have to share a bathroom with the rest of these guys.”

Tyler grinned. Charli had been trying for years to get under Cord’s skin, but the guy was unflappable. She could toss sexual innuendos around all she wanted, but Cord would never rise to the bait. Now, if it were Teddy... Well, if it was Teddy, Charli wouldn’t have been in bed alone last night.

“What are you smiling about?” Charli plopped down in an adjacent chair, her blue eyes dancing with mirth.

He watched her with amusement. She couldn’t have had more than three hours sleep, and yet, she was as fresh and energetic as if she’d slept all night. Or at least she appeared that way. He shook his head. “Nothing.”

Charli twisted in her seat as Buck walked through the back door. She was out of her chair and in his arms in a flash.

Buck caught her up and swung her around. “Hey, someone told me a redheaded troublemaker had come to town!” He squeezed her tight and set her back on her feet.

Charli walked over to the counter and poured a mug of coffee and handed it to the large cowboy.

Cord frowned. “He has a kitchen of his own.”

She waved him off. “Sara needs her rest. Besides, she told me she can’t stomach the smell of coffee at all.”

Buck took the cup. “Don’t listen to them, Red. They like to give me a hard time. Truth is, they’re all jealous. I’m the only smart one. Nothing like being married; gotta be honest.”

Charli tipped her head. “And who do you have to thank for that? Hmm?”

Tyler watched the two of them banter back and forth. She took full credit for Sara and Buck going beyond friendship. Buck, on the other hand, refused to let her forget it was also her fault that things had gotten off to a rocky start.

“It was all in the plan. I told you that at the wedding.” She sidled up to Cord and slipped her arm through his. “A brilliant scheme, wasn’t it?”

Cord glanced down at her, a smile tugging his lips. “We were good together, a real team effort.”

Charli tipped her head back and Tyler watched in amusement, knowing what was coming.

“We could be a great team, if you’d play my kind of games.”

His oldest brother laughed off the comment and moved away from the sexy siren to set his cup in the sink. “I’m going out to see Sam, then ride out.” He turned to Tyler. “If you wanna come, meet me in the barn in an hour.”

Tyler waited until he walked out the door then grinned at Charli. “You never give up on him, do you?”

She smiled. “I can’t help but tease him. I keep thinking that still waters run deep, and there’s probably this untapped well of hot passion under all that cool exterior.”

Buck crossed the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. “I wouldn’t count on it. Cord is more interested in the figures on his computer then that sexy one of yours.”

Charli pushed Buck out of the way and Tyler watched with interest as she grabbed eggs and other ingredients from the refrigerator. His stomach rumbled in anticipation. Another thing that girl had going for her: Charli could make cardboard taste good.

Buck sat down at the table and looked like a puppy waiting on a biscuit. “You’re going to be surprised someday if Cord suddenly turns to you with a diamond.”

Tyler stood up and reached past her to get plates out of the kitchen cupboard. Talk of marriage inevitably focused his thoughts on Beth. Was she up already? Was she over at the clinic? Or was she having coffee at the house with her sister? Susan was a notoriously late sleeper so he’d guess she was already at the clinic. His mind raced for a good reason to stop by there after breakfast.

“If anyone waves a diamond in my face, I’m out of here.” Charli dragged the cast iron skillet onto the burner and turned on the heat. “No offense, Buck, but I can’t imagine living the rest of my life with one person.” She shuddered.

“It depends on the person.” Tyler set the plates on the table and headed to the refrigerator for juice.

“Speaking of...what happened at the LoneStar last night?”

Tyler frowned. “What do you mean?”

Buck picked up the newspaper that Cord had left behind. “I heard from Bill that Teddy had to drive Cole Pritchard home. Seems he was drowning his sorrows.” He snapped the paper open and glanced at Tyler over the edge.

“I left with Beth. No idea what his problem was.”

“Yeah, and thanks for letting me clean up that mess, little brother,” Teddy groused as he walked into the kitchen. His scowl disappeared when he spotted the woman at the stove. He swooped in and wrapped his arms around the leggy redhead from behind, nuzzling her neck. “Christmas has come early.”

Charli laughed but pushed at the arms around her waist. Tyler was always surprised that she never seemed to care much for Teddy. As far as he could tell, the two of them were cut from the same mold.

“In your dreams, cowboy. Now let go, your brothers are hungry.”

But Teddy kept his arms firmly around her. “I’m hungry, too, but you don’t seem to want to do anything to appease me.”

His brother suddenly yelped and jumped away. Tyler chuckled. More than likely, Charli pinched him a good one.

“Sit down and behave, or you won’t get any breakfast, either.” She waved a spatula in his direction and narrowed her eyes.

Teddy wiggled his brows. “Ohhh, beat me, baby, beat me.” He grabbed a cup of coffee and straddled a chair.

Tyler hated the way his brother’s gaze drank in every inch of their redheaded friend. They’d known the Boyd family all their life. Charli’s father and theirs had gone to school together before his current employer had moved to Abilene. For some reason, living with them the past eighteen months had brought out a protective brotherly instinct in him towards Boyd’s daughter.

“Anyway, back to Pritchard.” Teddy swung his gaze back. “Did he ever tie one on last night.”

“Not my problem he can’t hold his liquor.” Hopefully no one knew how much he’d consumed last night either. Conrad was the only one, besides Beth, who’d seen him before they left.

“Is that right? Where’s your truck this morning then?”

He held his brother’s gaze steady. “I didn’t ride home with Beth because I was drunk,” he lied. But he knew that Beth would never have taken him home if he hadn’t been inebriated. Although, the way she responded to him out on the deck had given him a lot of hope in the wee hours of the night as he tossed and turned and thought about her alone in her bed.

Charli set a platter of food on the table and neatly sidestepped Teddy’s attempt to grab her. “Last time I looked, Beth, Cole and Tyler were all well over twenty-one and should be able to live their lives without everyone commenting and speculating.”

Tyler gave her an appreciative nod, but Charli was an only child; she had no idea how large families were with each other. There was no such thing as privacy.

“All I’m saying is, if you and Beth are rolling around in the hay together, she shouldn’t be going out with Cole. And if she’s going out with Cole, she shouldn’t be going home with you.” Teddy stabbed a pile of sausage and loaded his plate with the fluffy eggs.

“I’m so glad that I’ve given you such fascinating breakfast conversation.”

Tyler’s heart jerked at the sound of Beth’s voice. He whipped his head around to find her framed in the kitchen doorway. None of them had heard her come in from the front of the house.

Charli was the first one to move and reached Beth’s side with open arms. “They’re worse than a bunch of old gossiping women.”

Tyler watched the two women hug, but his concentration was entirely on the small petite blonde who had the power to crush him like a bug with one look. He’d had a lot to drink last night, but he remembered begging her to take him back. Worse, he also remembered her turning him down.

Beth stepped away from Charli. “Where’s Cord?”

Buck set the paper down and picked up his fork. “He went out to the barn to see Sam. Did you need something?”

She shook her head. “I can’t get the internet to work at the clinic and I’ve used up my limited tech tricks.”

Tyler stood. “I’ll look at it for you.” It was the perfect excuse to spend some time with her. He could drag this out all morning if he was lucky.

She nodded reluctantly, her gaze bouncing off his and landing somewhere in the distance. “Thanks. Clinic’s open, go on in and see what you can do. I’m heading into town. Anyone need anything?”

Tyler’s heart sank. “You aren’t going to be at the clinic?”

She shook her head. “No, I’ve got some errands to take care of and a few calls to make.” Spinning on her heels, she went back the way she came.

Tyler sprang up and followed her. “Does your computer have a password on it?”

Beth pulled open the front door before looking back over her shoulder. She shook her head. “Nope.”

“What have you tried so far? Did you reboot?”

She glared. “I said I’d tried all the usual things. I think there’s a problem with the connection. Just let Cord fix it. He’s done it before.”

Tyler didn’t know a ton about computers, but if Beth needed something, even as small as this, he was going to try and fix it. She turned around and kept on walking. He followed. “Beth?” She ignored him and kept going. “Will you wait a minute?”

She stopped but didn’t immediately turn around to face him. He reached her side and touched her arm. When she looked up, narrowed eyes revealed her annoyance.

He dropped his hand. “I’m sorry, you know, for the conversation. My brothers are idiots, you know that.”

“They aren’t the problem, you are.”

He frowned.

Beth tucked her short hair behind her ear. “Why did you come back? Why now?”

Tyler searched her blue eyes. They were full of anger and hurt, but also of curiosity. Before he could respond, she went on.

“I was just starting to get my life back on track. Things were going good, and I was actually happy for the first time since you walked out on me.”

Tyler hated the way she phrased it but couldn’t refute her words. She looked away towards her clinic and small cottage. He wished he knew what she was thinking. Then again, maybe it was better he didn’t know.

“Now what?” She swung her gaze back. “Okay, so you left me a note and I didn’t read it. I’m sorry for that, but you’re the one who left. Now, after eighteen months, you decide you’ve made a mistake? You come back and I’m supposed to welcome you home with open arms? To pick up where we left off?” She shook her head. “I can’t do that. I don’t want to do that.” Her voice broke.

His heart squeezed as shame washed over him. He wanted to pull her into his arms and take away all the pain he’d caused and was still causing. She was right. Deep down, that was exactly what he wanted to happen. He wanted her to simply forgive him and give him another chance.

But he had no right anymore; he’d given that up the moment he left. No right to her and no right to her future. No matter how much it was going to kill him, he had to face the fact that no matter what he wanted, Beth wanted to move on. She didn’t want him. Physically, he knew he could change her mind, but she’d only regret their weakness and resent him more.

He took a physical step back. “Okay. I get it. I’ll back off, leave you alone.”

She held his gaze for a long second and then walked away without another word.

Beth drove off the ranch. She couldn’t get away fast enough. Her eyes burned with unshed tears, and her head ached from a sleepless night.

Tyler’s face and his pleading look as she walked away haunted her. She drew a long shaky breath and let the cool air blow in the window of her truck. The song that came on the radio was one of Tyler’s favorites and it mocked her. She rested her chin on her hand. Whether or not she loved him was never the issue; she would never not love Tyler. The other night, when she’d made love with him, for a time she’d begun to believe that maybe there was a chance. But in the light of day, she knew that while the physical relationship hadn’t changed a bit, everything else had. She wasn’t the same girl that Tyler left behind. Unfortunately, however, that girl was still inside and warring with the woman she’d become. The woman who knew, regardless of what he said or did, Tyler had left her before and he’d leave again.

It only now occurred to her that he hadn’t answered her question. Why come back now? Obviously, a visit home for the holidays was understood, but to stay? What was his motivation? She shook her head. No, once the holidays were past, once the excitement of him coming home had worn off and everyone settled back into their day to day lives, he’d grow bored. He’d come to resent his brother's orders, fight with Sara about the horses when she returned to her job, buck heads with everyone once more, and then in his frustration, he’d disappear, again.

Beth turned the truck into the small community parking lot and climbed out. A truck drove by, then his brake lights came on, and backed up. Beth frowned, wondering who it was.

The SUV wasn’t familiar, but the man who stepped out of it and turned to face her sure was. Her heart swelled and she scrambled to get free of her seat belt and out of the truck. “Doc!”

She flung herself at him and, despite his seventy plus years, he caught her up in a tight hold. “Whoa there, little girl.” He patted her back and set her back on her feet. “That’s quite a homecoming for an old geezer.”

Beth assessed him as she stared him up and down. “You look great. This travel stuff sure agrees with you.”

Doc stepped back and nodded. “Can’t say I’m not enjoying every minute, but it’s good to be home for Christmas. What are you doing in town? Work or pleasure?”

She shrugged and glanced around. “I had to run a few errands, but you know it’s never not work.” She patted the cell phone at her hip.

“You got time for a cup of coffee? Already had breakfast with Cole, but figured I’d wander into town and see what kind of trouble I could get in.”

“You bet.”

Feeling lighter than she had in days, Beth took his arm and walked across the street to the diner. The small restaurant was bustling for mid-morning, but they soon found a table.

“Angela, how about two of those cinnamon buns your Mama always makes,” Doc asked the waitress as she set two cups of coffee on the table.

“You got it, Doc. Extra icing, right?”

“Is there any other way?”

Beth shook her head. “All that sugar isn’t good for you.”

“Don’t be worrying about what’s good for me or what isn’t, there, little girl. I’m doing just fine.”

Beth stirred her coffee. She hadn’t seen Doc in person in over six months and there was so much to tell him, and yet nothing came to mind. “I can’t believe you stayed away from here for half the year.”

The older man set his coffee down and looked directly at her. “You and that partner of yours needed some space. Even after a year of retirement, the minute I got back to town, folks would come to me with their issues. It was time for me to make like horse crap and hit the trail.”

She laughed, then her smile softened. “Cole missed you.”

“He’s another one needs to cut the apron strings. That boy needs to get married and have himself some youngin’s.”

Beth’s cheeks grew hot and she quickly drank more of her coffee.

“Don’t worry, little lady, I’m not suggesting anything. If you and Cole were going to work out, it would have happened long before this.”

She set her coffee cup down. “What do you mean?”

Doc sat back, his tanned arms, still muscular after years of hard work, stretched along the back of the booth. “You don’t love my son, not like a woman needs to.”

“No, and I’m sorry.” She sighed.

“Nothing to be sorry about. When it’s right, it’s right. My Emma and I, when we met, fireworks, pure and simple. We couldn’t get to the altar fast enough.”

Beth grinned. It wasn’t hard to imagine Doc and Cole’s mother with the hots for each other. Doc had that type of personality, and she could only imagine once he set eyes on the local farm girl, she’d have had no choice but to ride the tidal wave with him. “She was a wonderful woman.”

Doc’s expression shifted slightly. There was a time when he’d lost himself in drinking when Emma died of cancer. If it hadn’t been for Cole, and actually for her too, he might not have come back around. He nodded and Beth reached out and squeezed the hand that rested on the table.

“Enough of the past,” he said, patting hers. “You know I want to hear it all. What was your worst case so far and what’s been your best?”

Walking back out onto Main Street over an hour later, Beth was surprised that in all their ‘shop’ talk, her old friend hadn’t once mentioned Tyler.

His large, meaty hand came down on her shoulder. “I’m only in town through the New Year, but I’ll get over to see the clinic and that new foal before I head back out.”

Beth would be sad to see him go again, but the terror she felt the last time he left was gone. She had a confidence she didn’t have last year. She and Grant were slowly filling his shoes, and even though they’d never be Doc, folks had finally stopped asking her to call her old mentor to get a second opinion.

“Sounds good.” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “Have a good Christmas and give my best to Catherine.” Doc and Cole would be spending Christmas Day with his sister up in Austin.

She stepped back, but the look on his face made her frown. “What?”

“Don’t make the same mistake I made.”

“You? I thought you didn’t make mistakes?” she teased.

“I made the biggest one of all when I put that job before my family and before my personal life. Don’t do that, Beth.”

“Doc...”

He shook his head. “I’m not telling you your business. If you love him and he loves you, you’ll work it out. But don’t let it be a decision between your job and your heart. That’s nonsense. You’re a damn good vet. You worked under one of the best.” He grinned, but then he wagged his finger in her face. “Remember, you can be a good vet anywhere in this country; it doesn’t have to be in Sweet Meadow.”

Beth tucked her hair behind her ear. “This is home, Doc. I care about these people, and my family is here.”

“That situation I can’t help with, but I’ll tell you that if I find out what’s holding you back from happiness is that practice, I’ll…”

“It’s not the practice, Doc, not now. I’ll admit that last year it would have been hard for me to tell you I didn’t want to take over for you, but now it’s a part of me, a real important part. I don’t want to leave.”

“All I’m saying is, I lost the most important person in my life at a way too early age. The time I missed with her, the regrets I have will never go away. I don’t want you to do the same thing.”

Beth nodded. “I know. I understand.”

Someone called his name and he turned to wave, then gave her a hug. “Have a good Christmas and give my best to the family.”

Beth watched him walk away. Doc always felt he’d short-shifted his wife and son with the hours he put in as the only vet. Never once had Cole complained to her about the childhood he’d had; the years he and his mother were alone for dinners and sometimes entire days while Doc was working. Cole was just like his mother: very understanding and patient, willing to do whatever it took to make life easier for his father.

She shoved her hands in her light jacket and walked up the street towards the bank. Her life would have been less complicated if she’d only fallen in love with Cole Pritchard.

Tyler never understood, nor was he patient. All the years she’d worked with Doc, even before she went to school, Tyler would fume when she had to change plans with him because of a vet emergency. As patient and calm and easygoing as he was around horses, the same man had none of that when it came to her job coming before him. Just another reason why she was better off without him. No matter how much her heart thought otherwise.