Love Inspired January 2016, Box Set 1 of 2 (36 page)

He dared to peek at her once more, however her attention remained steadfast on her task. Then, as if sensing his perusal, her clear, dark eyes met his and held for a fraction, rounding in stunned surprise. She quickly glanced away.

“Aren't you going to ask what I'm doing in town?” Matt couldn't resist the question.

“Welcome to Paradise,” Anne said with a rueful smile. “Everyone is already buzzing about the company that won the bid for the development down at Paradise Lake. I haven't seen this much excitement since the state put us on the map of Colorado.”

She turned and smoothly grabbed a package from the table and tore it open. “How did this accident happen?”

“Pouring cement today. Long story short, the driver hit a piece of equipment. Manny and I were in the way.”

“You're fortunate the injuries weren't worse.”

“The Lord was watching out for us. That's for sure.”

“So you're in construction instead of architecture?” she asked.

“Oh, I'm a residential architect. But it turns out I like being outside better than being trapped in an office.”

“How long have you been with this company?”

“ ‘This company' is mine.” Pride underlined his words. “Mine and Manny's. We worked construction together overseas for a long time and finally decided we wanted to be our own boss.”

“In Paradise? Why not Four Forks?” Her brows rose slightly.

“There's nothing for me in Four Forks. I haven't been back since I left for college. For the record, I'm in Paradise because we won the bid,” he said, making it very clear that their past had nothing to do with his future.

The opportunity in Paradise had opened up just when he'd needed to put down roots for himself and his daughter. It would go a long way toward establishing his company in the Paradise Valley and providing them with the credibility to launch them into the big league. He felt God's hand on everything that had occurred in the past weeks...well, except for today's disaster.

“So you're not staying? This is temporary?”

“I'm not sure yet. We'll be headquartering somewhere in the valley.” He bit back his irritation. “I can shoot you a memo when I decide, if that will help.”

She frowned at his sarcasm, but said nothing, and Matt regretted his words. Somehow being around Anne for the first time in so many years brought out the bitterness he thought he'd moved beyond. Maybe forgiveness wasn't as easy as a simple prayer, after all.

When Matt began to shift on the gurney Anne put the weight of her forearm firmly against his shoulder, all the while maintaining the sterility of her gloved hands. Neat trick. She didn't look strong enough to hold a big guy like him pinned to the table. Yet she just did.

“Please don't move. I'm trying to remove some debris from the wound.”

“Sorry.” He closed his eyes against another wave of emotion brought on by the warmth of her arm against his shoulder.

Her touch still staggered him. That was worrisome. Very worrisome.

Silence stretched as she concentrated. “Got it,” she finally said. The examination gloves snapped as she removed them. “All done. Now Dr. Nelson can suture the site.”

“Great. Thanks.” He grimaced as he sat up.

“What hurts?”

“What doesn't? Mostly my ankle.”

“I'm guessing more than a little. It's likely that you have a fracture or at minimum a bad sprain. Once your lab work and X-ray are reviewed, I'll get the doctor to prescribe something for the pain.”

“What I really need is to get out of here. I have to be somewhere.” He reached to his back pocket and frowned. “Left my phone on the site.”

“I can bring a phone into the exam room for you.”

“Thank you. I'd really appreciate that.”

“No problem. That's my job.”

Right. Her job.
Nothing personal
. She'd effectively grounded him with those two words.

Then for the first time since she'd walked into the exam room, Anne really looked at him. Her deep brown eyes stared unflinching as though she was searching for answers. Then her cheeks pinked and she opened her mouth. No words came out. She winced as if in pain herself, finally glancing away.

She was remembering.

A small part of Anne Matson hadn't forgotten what they had once shared. The fleeting expression of remorse, sadness—or whatever had been on her face—unsettled him in a way that he hadn't felt in a very long time.

Matt swallowed and his breath caught in his chest. In truth, he'd planned for this moment for years; the moment he and Anne would come face-to-face again. He'd thought he was ready.

But he wasn't. He had to admit the truth. There was no way that he could have been prepared.

His racing thoughts froze. Why should her remembering the past give him pause?

Hours ago he would have vehemently denied the possibility that he needed confirmation that
they
mattered to her. Yet, there it was; an unspoken need deep inside him for Anne to at least acknowledge their history and the fact that she had walked away from what they'd had, shattering his life into ragged pieces.

He hadn't expected the victory to be quite so hollow.

All these years.

Once they were in love and now they were strangers. He'd torn their pages from his past and thrown them away long ago.

Yet here he was in Paradise, Colorado, with his memories and the reality of today slamming together.

He couldn't deny his confusion.

The wall of anger around his heart trembled and Matt swallowed, afraid. Until this moment he'd been certain that he was finally on the road the Lord had laid out for him. Finally, he had gotten his life together. Now he wasn't sure of anything.

Lord, I can't open myself up for that pain again. Protect me from myself.

CHAPTER TWO

“H
e's your husband.” Marta's words were a statement and not a question. Clearly her friend was shocked.

Anne's pen jerked, leaving a long line of ink on her paperwork. “Okay, who told you?” She quickly turned from the counter to glance around. The staff had thinned now that the crisis was over. Even the waiting room had emptied of patients waiting to be seen.

“Who do you think?”

“Luke Nelson.”

“Of course.” Marta shook her head. “The real question here is why am
I
the last to find out about this?”

Anne raised her hand into the air and helplessly gestured. There was no good answer except that she'd never told anyone about what had happened ten years ago. How could she?

“I've known you since you graduated from nursing school, Anne. Here I thought you were married to the job. So when did you have time to get married
and
divorced? And do not tell me you forgot. No one forgets a man who looks like that.”

A giggling young nursing assistant moved past them, pushing Matt in a wheelchair, his left leg elevated. A wide grin lit up the young woman's face and infatuation sparked in her eyes.

“The nursing assistants did rock-paper-scissors to see who got to wheel him to X-ray.”

“Oh, brother,” Anne muttered, with a shake of her head.

“I heard the Paradise ladies auxiliary is already arguing over who gets to bring casseroles to his house.”

“He's only been here an hour, how can they possibly work that fast? You're kidding, right?”

Marta lifted a brow. “Am I?”

Across from them laughter rang out as Juanita Villas, the plump, middle-aged unit clerk joined the conversation. “I signed up. Twice.”

Anne's mouth dropped open.

“Don't look so shocked.
Me encanta
.”

“And that means?” Anne asked.

“I like him. I like him a lot. He's quite charming,” Juanita translated. “You've got good taste in ex-husbands.”

“I'll say. Ruggedly handsome and tall. What is he, six-three? Four?” Marta mused, her gaze following to where the wheelchair was parked outside the elevator doors.

“Six-three.”

Anne snapped her fingers in front of Marta when she didn't respond.

“Hmm?”

“Earth to Nurse Howard.”

“Oh, sorry.” Marta grinned. “I've apparently been married for way too long. All I can think is why would anyone ever divorce a man like that?”

“Annulment. Not divorce. I was eighteen years old. A baby for goodness' sake. And we were married for all of five hours before Aunt Lily put an end to my childish plan.”

“F-five hours?” Juanita sputtered, her eyes round.

“That was what? Ten? Eleven years ago? I remember Lily back then.”

“Back then?” Juanita commented.

“Oh, you're new to the valley. But I can tell you that Lily Gray was an important name around this area for years. A prominent real-estate developer and a very intimidating woman, as well,” Marta said. “When Lily Gray said jump, people jumped.”

“That was her public persona. She's always been a marshmallow to me,” Anne said.

“Still, I can't imagine having her as your guardian,” the older nurse continued. “It certainly explains a lot.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

Juanita and Marta exchanged knowing glances.

“Stop that, you two. Aunt Lil always did what she thought was best for me. I ran away to get married. She stopped me from making a huge mistake. How can I fault her for that?”

Marta shook her head. “Yet in all this time you've never mentioned your marriage. It must still be a sensitive subject.”

“No. That's not it,” Anne quickly denied. “I'm simply a private person. You know that.”

Marta gave her a slow appraisal as she shook her head. “Hmm. I thought I knew you. But now I'm guessing maybe I don't. Never in a million years would I have pegged you for an impulsive act like running away to get married.”

“Why not?”

Juanita snorted and wagged her index finger in the air. “Honey, I may only have arrived in town a few years ago, but even I know that Anne Matson doesn't do impulsive.”

Though she searched for a response, Anne found none. Fine. Juanita was right. No matter how you looked at it, the facts were unchanged. She didn't do impulsive.

Indignation at the assessment had her narrowing her eyes at her coworkers and friends. “Look, I'd appreciate it if we could please keep this out of the Paradise grapevine.”

“Of course,” Marta said with her hand on her heart and a nod to Juanita. “We know the rules. What happens in the ER...”

“Stays in the ER,” Juanita said solemnly as she placed her hand over her own heart.

The desk phone rang and Juanita scooped up the receiver. She smoothly rolled her desk chair backward to grab an empty chart and pull a paper off the fax machine. “Yes, sir. We've got it.” Hanging up the phone she looked to Anne. “Cardiac patient on his way. Wife is driving him in. Sudden onset of chest pain. That was his primary care doc from Denver. He instructed them to come in immediately. He's faxed over the history. Wife has a list of medications with her.”

Marta peeked at Anne from over the top of her half-glasses. “We'll finish this conversation later.”

Anne shook her head. Oh, no, they wouldn't. Not if she could help it.

The ER doors whooshed open and a middle-aged couple walked in. An orderly grabbed a wheelchair and assisted the patient into the seat as Juanita spoke to the wife.

“Exam room four,” Anne called to the ER staff.

“CBC. Chem seven, cardiac enzymes, EKG and a chest X-ray. Get Cardiac down here to consult, please,” Dr. Nelson directed as he moved toward the wheelchair.

“Anne.”

Anne whirled around in time to see Sheriff Sam Lawson push through the glass doors. She looked back at the desk. “Marta, can you handle the cardiac patient? Sam's here.”

Marta's gaze moved to the emergency room doorway. “Sure. Oh, by the way, the staffing agency called. Your aunt is threatening to fire another caregiver.”

Anne groaned as she walked away. “Of course, she is.” No day would be complete without her great-aunt being front and center on the agenda. “Tell them to ignore her threats. I do the hiring and firing.”

Turning back to the sheriff, she smiled at her longtime friend and shook her head. Life would be a lot simpler if she could have fallen in love with someone safe like Sam. Instead her fickle heart had refused to be wooed by anyone since she and Matt had parted.

“Another fun day in Paradise?” Sam asked as he removed his tan Stetson.

“The usual.”

“I find that Thursdays generally require extra prayer.”

“Thursdays? Hmm, I had no idea. Why is that?”

“Everyone is in a rush to get to the weekend.” He glanced around at the busy room. “How are thing here? I heard there was an accident at Paradise Lake.”

“There was. We received both patients about an hour ago and their status has been upgraded. One will most likely be discharged in a few hours and the other in twenty-four to forty-eight.”

“And your aunt?”

“You heard Juanita?”

Sam nodded his head in affirmation.

“That's just Lily's usual ‘off with their heads routine.'”

“Is her condition deteriorating?”

“Yes. She's more and more forgetful and she's taken to hiding things. Random things at that.”

“Such as?”

“Yesterday I found the salt-and-pepper shakers under the couch cushions.”

He chuckled. “That's not so bad.”

“It depends on how much I need salt and pepper. The good news is that today she's in rare form and back to ruling the monarchy.”

“I can stop by and check on her.”

“Would you? She likes you. She seems somehow calmer when you're around.”

He nodded toward the badge on his tan uniform shirt. “It's the badge. Seems to orient people.” He grinned. “And no problem. Happy to do it.”

“Thank you, so much. Key's under the mat if you should need it.”

“Under the mat. Hmm. Well, since we're friends, I'll save my lecture on commonsense household security for another time.”

“I appreciate that, too.” Anne glanced out the door. “I thought you had something for me.”

“I do. In my patrol car. Got a spare wheelchair?” he asked as he pulled a notebook from his starched uniform pocket.

“Are you transporting patients now?” Anne asked.

“This one was sleeping on a park bench outside the Paradise library. The librarian called me.” He shrugged. “Since both ambulances were tied up and it's only three blocks, I brought her in.”

Anne quirked a brow and looked past him to the parking lot. “What's the situation?”

“I'm not sure. Caucasian female. Around nine or ten years old. Can't put my finger on it, but she's lethargic and she smells funny.”

“Drugs or alcohol?”

“She's a baby, and this is Paradise,” Sam objected.

“Yes, and in a perfect world I wouldn't be asking you that. You're much too nice to be sheriff. You've got to get a little more cynical, like me.”

“My deputy would argue that point with you. He says I need to lighten up.”

She laughed. “Do you have a name for your admission?”

“No ID on her. She was with a black Lab whose collar says he's Stanley. They're both sleeping in my car. I'm taking the dog over to the vet's to board and check the tag registration.”

“Why was a nine-year-old wandering around Paradise alone?” Anne mused. “I mean, where are her parents?”

“Must be tourists because I've never seen her or the dog before.”

She shook her head and walked to the left of the admissions counter where a row of wheelchairs was neatly parked. “Okay, let's get your Jane Doe in here.”

An hour later and Anne was recalling Sam's advice about more prayer being needed on a Thursday.

She sat on a leather stool next to an emergency room bed while the girl Sam had brought in dozed. Anne flipped open the chart. Her stomach growled and she ignored the plea for sustenance, instead choosing to spend her lunch break with her youngest patient. The kid would be terrified if she woke up in a hospital all alone. Anne knew that feeling all too well.

The night she'd lost her both of her parents in a car accident remained etched in her mind forever. It was probably the reason she had chosen a career in medicine. The kindly nurse who had stayed with her in the hospital that night had made a huge impact on her. Now it was Anne's turn to return the favor.

A preliminary glucose check on the girl showed elevated levels higher than the meter could read. Anne monitored the child's neuro status closely as they awaited lab results.

All indications were that the girl was well fed and cared for. Her jeans and shirt were clean, as was her long tawny-brown hair, parted neatly down the middle. So why was she sleeping on a public bench in the middle of the day? Alone. And who was she? What was her story?

The girl opened her eyes wide and immediately began fiddling with her hospital identification band and then with the IV tubing attached to her arm.

“Careful,” Anne said gently. “We need that line. That's how we give you medicine.”

The round honey-colored eyes stared through Anne as though she wasn't there.

“Can you tell me your name?” Anne asked.

“Claire” was the girl's thick reply. Her lids fluttered closed as though she had no more energy, her long lashes resting on pale skin accented by a sprinkling of light freckles. Rounded cheeks held the last evidence of childhood baby fat.

“Your last name?”

“Griffin.”

“How old are you, Claire?”

“Nine.” She blinked. “Where am I?”

“In the hospital.”

Claire's eyes widened. “Am I going to die?”

“No. You're going to get better and go home. Can you tell me what happened today?”

The girl swallowed, as if her tongue was thick, but didn't answer.

Leaning forward, Anne offered her chilled water from a plastic cup with a straw. The girl eagerly drank and then leaned back again.

Anne lowered her face closer to the bed. “Claire, what happened today?” she repeated softly.

“I took Stanley for a walk and then I started feeling funny. So I sat down on the bench. I feel better now.” She raised her head and glanced around. “Where's Stanley?” The whispered words were laced with panic.

“Stanley is fine. He's at the vet's. They're taking good care of him.”

Claire's head sank back against the pillow.

“I need to contact your mother,” Anne said.

One by one, a silent trail of tears rolled down Claire's cheek. She didn't wipe at them. It was as though she didn't even realize they were there.

Tightness pressed Anne's chest as she waited for the words she didn't want to hear.

“My mother is... She died,” she said, her voice heavy and slow.

Oh, Lord. Not this little girl, too?

“I'm so sorry,” Anne murmured, knowing the words were ineffectual at best. Before her brain registered what she was doing, she reached out to hold Claire's free hand and give it a squeeze. “My momma died when I was your age.”

“Maybe they're in heaven together,” Claire whispered.

Anne nodded, surprised yet pleased at the words.

The girl was silent, as though considering the possibility.

“Where's your father, Claire?”

“Call Delia. I stay with Delia during the day. She lives on Maple Street by the church.”

A knock on the door to the exam room preceded Marta's entrance. Anne stood and joined Marta in the hall, leaving the door ajar so she could watch Claire.