Uh, Rafe, I need to talk to you about something, she said at last.
Whatever it was, Rafe realized, his sister was worried that he wouldnt like it.
Theres a healer who lives a couple of hours away, she continued. A woman. She uses herbs in place of pharmaceuticals. I went to meet her and had her look at your medical report to get her opinion. Shes nice, Rafe, and lives on a ranch with horses.
Sierra was speaking to him the way she would to her children, Rafe thought. He felt a gentle hand rest on his knee.
Her name is Dr. Robinson. Shes willing to work with you for a monthsee if she can help you get off those antidepressants. What do you think?
He thought that Sierra just couldnt seem to accept that hed be like this for the rest of his life.
Say something, dammit! Sierra pulled back and withdrew her hand from him.
Say what? Rafe asked.
The old Rafe would tell me to stop meddling in his life. Wheres your spunk? Its your life, your future Im trying to save, Rafe.
He knew his lack of response frustrated his kindhearted sister, but there was nothing he could do to change that.
Ill go if you want me to, he said. But the truth isI couldnt see in Houston. I cant see here. Thats my future, Sierra.
No it isnt. Youre only thirty-five. Thats why I want you to see this doctor. You have a lot of years ahead of you and Im going to do everything I can to make them good ones.
Rafe made no comment to that.
Sierra touched the collar of his shirt, then she kissed his cheek. Im going inside. Doug should be home soon. I know hell want to eat and try to do some framing on the addition while theres still daylight. Well go to Dr. Robinsons tomorrow after I drop Curt and Chloe off at kindergarten. Ill see if Dougs sister is available to watch Maris and Melina for a few hours. Theyd go crazy cooped up in car seats for such a long drive.
Theyre good kids, Sierra. I hear you tell them not to bother me but I wish you wouldnt. This is their home. Im the intruder.
Never. Youre family. And if you think Im shuffling you off to Alexa Robinsons to get rid of you, thats simply not true. Im praying youll come back the old Rafe.
Thatll take a miracle.
Then Ill say novenas.
A novena only runs nine days. The military docs worked on me six months.
Dr. Robinson is giving you one month. So Ill do three novenas.
Rafe heard the screen door slam, so obviously shed missed his shrug. Bless her heart. Sierra refused to believe he really didnt give a damn.
BY LATE AFTERNOON the next day, Alexa was prepared to take Sierra Martinez aside and tell her shed made a mistake. How would it look to customers coming to see about horses or the park rangers who occasionally brought her sick animals if they found her living alone with a patient. Or even if word got around that she was treating human patients. Shed been hurt by lies and rumors once and didnt want to go through that again.
Alexa had her speech ready but didnt have a chance to get a word out. Sierra hit the ground talking.
You told me Rafe had to agree to come, she said, shoving a worn khaki duffel bag at Alexa. He did. And heres his stuff. This should do him for a couple of weeks. Ill come by then and pick up his laundry and bring him fresh clothes to make it easier on you. Oh, my numbers programmed in his cell phone speed dial if you need me. I dont think Ive left out anything, but you never know. She hugged the man standing next to her, then vaulted back into the van as if she couldnt get away fast enough.
Wait! Alexa frowned down at the duffel in her hands.
By the way, Sierra called out, I put his electric razor in the bottom of the bag. Oh, and his pills. Too many of those. Anti-anxiety, sedatives and something else. I hope youll wean him off them before long. With a bright smile and a wave, she shut the car door and motored off.
Well, Alexa drawled. Here we are, two strangersplus a dog. Compadre trotted up and sniffed Rafes boots then snuffled his hand. Compadre is a border collie, a stray who adopted me. Or we adopted each other. I hope you like animals. I have quite a few on this ranch. Alexa realized she was babbling and bit down hard on her lower lip. Truthfully, she was bowled over by Rafe Eaglefeathers good looks. Shed read his medical history last night and knew he was thirty-five to her thirty, and shed probably read his height and weight. But statistics were nothing compared to the real man. The major was tall, raven-haired and golden-eyed, and he put Alexa in mind of a proud, wounded birdlike his namesake the eagle.
And those eyes. Shed assumed theyd be unfocused, or even injured. Instead, he stared straight at her when she spoke, and it was downright unnerving. Could he be faking? Impossible. Hed been examined by countless doctors.
She gave herself a little shake. They couldnt just stand here all day.
Uh, lets get you settled. Gripping the handles of his duffel, Alexa directed him up to the house and opened the screen door with her free hand. Your bedroom is this way. She tugged on his arm.
Rafe stumbled over the dog.
Ooh!
Alexa dropped the bag and managed to catch him, but he was heavier than she thought. They both almost went down.
But the near fall proved he wasnt faking. Nor had the man gone soft since hed left the military. He was six feet of solid male. His deep, gravelly, Sorry, as he attempted to untangle himself from Alexas grasp sent a tingle up her arm.
She shrugged it off. What woman wouldnt react to such a terrific-looking guy? Sierra had made it plain she was his only family, but a man this good-looking probably had a string of girlfriends. Alexa sneaked another sidelong peek at him as she hesitantly took his elbow and guided him through the kitchen and down the hall to his room.
Oh, I have a paper I need signed by you. A release for treatment. I intended to read it aloud while your sister was still here so she could vouch for what it says.
Alexa expected him to comment. He said nothing.
The release sets out the terms of treatment. Its important we both agree to them. Theyd reached his room. This is where youll stay, she said, directing him inside.
He gave a casual shrug as they entered his room. Give me a pen and set my hand down where I have to sign.
Okay. But one thing I need to make clear is that you will relinquish all your prescription medications to me, and Ill decide how and when to dispense them.
No problem. There should be four bottles of pills in my duffel.
She leaned down and dug them out, wincing at what she saw. Okay, this is your bed. Alexa shoved the pills in her pockets before placing his palm on the quilt. Theres a three-drawer chest with a lamp next to the bed. Itll be on your right as youre lying down.
She saw the slight curl of his lip at the mention of a lamp. Too bad. She was responsible for his safety while he was here.
I know you cant see, Major, but Id prefer to leave a light on when youre in here except when youre sleeping, she said. Itll help me. Now come this way. Ill let you count the steps to the attached bath. It has a walk-in shower, a sink and commode. When he said nothing, she counted the steps for him as she led the way. Four steps left of the bathroom door is a closet. The two of them made a full circuit of the room, arriving at a wicker chair that she made Rafe touch. From there she counted the steps back to his bed. This rooms decor is red and white with some browns and golds. Nothing feminine. Western motif.