He didnt know why his face was buried in long strands of sweet-smelling hair.
A bird squawked in the background and it rattled Rafe all the more when a woman shifted out from under him, sat up and forced him to do the same. What were they doing on the ground? Dr. Robinson. God, had he attacked her?
Are you okay? she murmured. You had a small flashback and fell over a feed bucket. It was my fault. I saw the bucket, but didnt move it out of the aisle. I swear Ill be more careful in the future.
Her cool, seductive touch telegraphed a signal to Rafes body. Even though he couldnt see the woman who hovered so close to him, he was still a man. All man.
Dear Reader,
My extended family is a great, eclectic mix of teachers, copsincluding bike and horse patrolretail people, kids from elementary school to college, and retired and current military. It makes for interesting, lively conversations and endless stories at our family gatherings.
Were also big supporters of political causes from animal rights to the homeless and nearly all veterans groups. Men and women go to war to protect home and family. Some dont return. Some come back injured. Doctors and love help put the shattered back together. Thats what Dr. Alexa Robinson and Major Rafe Eaglefeathers story is all about. Family, love and healing. I hope youll come to care for them as I have.
Sincerely,
Roz Denny Fox
P.S. As always, I love to hear from readers. E-mail me at rdfox@cox.net, or send letters to 7739 E. Broadway Blvd, #101, Tucson, AZ 85710-3941.
The Cowboy Soldier
Roz Denny Fox
www.millsandboon.co.uk
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Roz Denny Fox has been a RITA® Award finalist and has placed in a number of other contests; her books have also appeared on the Waldenbooks bestseller list. Shes happy to have received her twenty-five-book pin with Harlequin Books and is steadily working toward one for fifty books. Roz worked for a number of years as medical record technician, and then for three pediatricians. She met her husband, Denny, when he was a marine, and they currently reside in Tucson, Arizona, a military town. They have two grown daughters.
To my husband, Denny, who has been my biggest advocate and most loyal supporter from day one.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER ONE
ALEXA ROBINSON SPOKE SOFTLY to the frisky black three-year-old gelding she worked on a lead rope. Shed bought this horse and a mare at a recent breeders auction. Usually she gentled the horses she bought into smooth-gaited saddle mounts but she wouldnt have as much time to work with these. A former customer had said hed buy the mare for his daughter, provided Alexa could train the horse for barrel racing by the girls birthday in mid-December. It was now mid-October, which gave her just two months.
Autumn in the Chihuahuan Desert was dry. Her dog pounced on cottonwood fluff blowing inside the corral. Little puffs of dust flew up from the geldings hooves as he danced at the end of the rope. Alexa took her eye off the border collie who stopped and perked his ears toward an aging green van that drove down her dirt road, creating larger dust plumes.
She had few visitors, and didnt recognize this vehicle. Her ranch was fairly remote, bordered as it was by the Chisos Mountains and the Big Bend National Park. Perhaps a previous customer had recommended her. That would be nice. If she could sell both new horses, the profit should get her through the winter.
The gelding snorted and pulled back as the van came to a dusty stop beside the corral. A dark-haired woman emerged, directing the four children inside to get out their crayons and coloring books. Retrieving a thick manila folder, the woman shut the drivers door and headed toward the corral.
Assuming she was lost and needed directions, Alexa unsnapped the rope from the geldings halter. May I help you? she called, slipping out through the gate, making sure it latched securely behind her and the dog.
Im Sierra Martinez, the woman said, holding out a hand. Youre Dr. Robinson? Ive come to discuss my brother, Rafe Eaglefeather. He was recently medically discharged from the army, she said, as if that clarified everything.
Alexas smile vanished the instant the word doctor passed the womans lips. Withdrawing her gloved hand, she said, Im not a practicing doctor, Ms. Martinez.
Its Mrs., but please call me Sierra. Arent you an osteopath and an herbalist? I heard that at the feed store. And park rangers told my husband youve healed injured animals theyve found in the park.
Animals. Not people. Alexa hooked her coiled rope over a fence post before she said anything more. Almost angrily she stripped off one leather glove. The wind had dislodged strands of blond hair from her ponytail and she pushed them back behind her ear.
Creases formed between her visitors solemn dark eyes. My husband, Doug, is a border patrol agent. He told me you treated a pregnant womanan illegal who was badly dehydrated. You kept her here and cared for her until you found her husband. Dougs partner also told me you set the broken arm of a little boy who fell during a border crossing.
Those were emergencies. I had to act quickly. The nearest clinic is miles away. Alexa bent to pat Compadre who also eyed the stranger with misgiving. The woman had been abandoned by the scoundrel she paid to bring her to Texas. She was malnourished and frightened. The boyhe cried without making a sound. It would have been cruel to make him travel to the clinic in such pain.
My brothers a war hero, Sierra said with passionate emphasis. Army doctors quit on Rafe and discharged him to family. To me. Doug and I have two sets of twins under age six. We all live in a two-bedroom house. Dougs building an addition, but it takes time. Meanwhile, Rafes stuck sleeping in our living room. And Im convinced hes being overmedicated. As for follow-up care, hes supposed to check in at a VA center in Houston or San Antonio once a week. The one time I drove him, we sat in the waiting room for hours, and they only added Valium to his other prescriptions. I cant make that trip weekly without putting a strain on my family. Id hoped maybe he could stay here while you evaluate him. Maybe some natural methods can help him. Maybe theyll make him want to get better. Please. We can pay you.
Taken aback by the strange request and concerned that so many people knew about her, Alexa nevertheless felt sympathy for the distraught woman. Money isnt the issue, she said. Although shed been determined not to ask, she did. Out of curiosity, whats wrong with your brother?
This is his medical record. All the information you need is here, Sierra Martinez thrust the fat manila folder she clutched into Alexas hands.