He gave himself a hard mental shake. As far as he was concerned, the doctor was being a hard ass, and hed better keep it at that.
ALEXA WAITED THE FULL fifteen minutes. She started down the hall, but stopped when she saw Rafe emerge from his bedroom. He walked slowly and with an odd gait because he kept one hand resting atop Compadres furry head.
There you are, she called over her shoulder as she beat a hasty retreat and waited for them in the kitchen.
Yeah, Dog is as persistent as you are, Rafe muttered.
I named him Compadre. Hes more like a friend than the other animals I doctor back to health. Hes been with me almost a year. I pulled him half drowned from the Rio Grande when it flooded. I asked the park rangers to put out the word to try to find his owner, but no one came forward. He seems to like living here.
Rafe merely grunted.
She pulled out a chair. Here, have a seat at the kitchen table.
Rafe grasped the chair back and awkwardly felt his way around the cushioned seat until he seemed sure enough of his bearings to sit.
Alexa picked up a teapot. Im pouring you some tea.
I prefer coffee.
Tea has greater healing properties. If you think of your plate as a clock, I set your mug at two oclock. Its quite hot, so be careful.
Alexa anxiously watched Rafe pick up the sturdy mug and take a sip.
He promptly gagged. What the hell? Are you trying to poison me? Rafe set the mug down with a thump that sloshed tea over his hand. Ow, dammit. With a mutinous look, he raised his burned fingers to his lips.
Grabbing an ice cube out of the freezer, Alexa made him hold it on the rapidly reddening web between his thumb and forefinger. I probably should have warned you Id brewed tea from wood betony and basil today. Its very therapeutic. She purposely didnt tell him shed chosen those herbs to help him cope with stress. She knew from former male patients, that men shied from any suggestion they might have mental or emotional problems.
Therapeutic or not, it tastes like shit. If I cant have coffee, Ill drink water.
But the herbs in the tea will help youregain strength, she finally said.
Strength isnt what Im lacking. Ive lost my sight. No damn tea is gonna help me see again. Wheres the oatmeal you said was ready? At least that should taste normal.
At the stove, Alexa paused. Shed already stirred in a small amount of lemon balm and vervain tincture into the hot cereal, although oats alone were thought to act as a minor antidepressant. She tasted the mixture, made a face and quickly sprinkled brown sugar over the portion shed spooned into Rafes bowl.
Ill take mine with milkgood old cows milk. We had goats milk in Afghanistantalk about rank.
Uh, milk. Just a minute. Alexa quickly removed the small pitcher of warm goats milk from the table and rummaged in the refrigerator for the carton of regular milk shed bought on her last trip into town. She sniffed it to make sure it hadnt spoiled.
Heres some nonfat. Sierra didnt mention you were such a picky eater.
Nonfat? he parroted. So, I guess youre on a diet.
No way. Alexa unconsciously ran a hand down her slender hips. Why on earth would you think that? she asked rather huffily as she dumped milk on his oatmeal and stuck a spoon in his hand.
He hiked up one shoulder. Sierra switched to one-percent milk after her pediatrician said too many American kids are overweight.
True. But in my case, nonfat has a longer shelf life. I dont go to town often.
Rafe ate a few bites of the cereal, then lifted his head. Alexa held her breath, waiting for him to complain about the taste of the oatmeal. Instead, he said, It took Sierra a long time to get here once we left the highway, so your place must be really off the beaten track. Whats the story behind that?
The story? Alexa scrambled for something to say. She wasnt about to bring up Bobby, so instead, she settled on part of the truth. My grandparents owned this ranch, so it was only logical for me to take it over. My primary occupation is gentling horses to sell to families who want a well-trained saddle horse. I think I mentioned the hot springs my grandparents discovered here. Thats another plus. My grandfather had degenerative arthritis and the springs were therapeutic for him. The areas perfect for me because its so sparsely settled and the herbs that grow around here are uncontaminated. I gather native plants in my spare time.
Rafe scarfed down the rest of his oatmeal, and swallowed the pill she handed him before he stood. Its really none of my business. Your life, I mean. I shouldnt have been so nosy. Dropping his napkin on the table, he waved a hand in the air around him and seemed noticeably relieved when Compadre trotted up to head-butt his fingers.
Where are you going? Alexa asked, quickly finishing her own oatmeal. Give me a minute to rinse our dishes and stick them in the dishwasher, then well go feed my menagerie.
Im going back to my room.
She pursed her lips. Theres a three-quarter bath off the kitchen if you need to use the facilities before we go out to the barns.
I dont need the bathroom.
Then wait here a minute. Its closer to the barns if we go out the back door.
What do you expect me to do there? Rafe asked churlishly. You know damned well I cant see spit. Ill be in my room until you call me for lunch. He started off, Compadre at his side.
Feeling a prick of sorrow, Alexa was inclined to let him go. But to do what? There was nothing worse for him than to sit around all day with nothing to occupy his mind but the loss of his eyesight. So she forced herself to toughen her heart. Hold it right there, Major. Horses pay the bills and put food on the table at this ranch. If you plan to eat three squares a day for the next month, youll pull your weight around here.
Did Sierra ask what your services cost? Ill pay for my keep.
I dont want your money. I want you to stop acting like an invalid.
ANGER BOILED IN THE PIT of Rafes stomach at Alexas high-handedness. He could follow her out to the barns and fail miserably, proving his point. Or he could call Sierra to come get him and end this stupid charade. Then he thought about Sierra. How shed placed so much faith in his coming here. Hed worried her enough already and wouldnt add to the burden. Okay, Doc. You win another round. Well try it your way today. He swung back toward the table, but knocked over the chair where hed been sitting, and instantly froze.
Compadre started to bark and dance around his legs, and Rafe didnt know which way to turn. He was furious at being so clumsy, and the anger hed already directed toward Alexa Robinson for putting him in such an untenable position doubled.
He realized she was speaking to him, calmly telling him where the fallen chair was in relation to his left foot. If you bend your knees and put out your left hand, youll feel the chair back, and you can set it upright.
Rafe followed Alexas instructions, shocked that she didnt rush right over and pick up the chair for him, which was what wouldve happened with the hospital nurses or Sierra and Doug. Once he had the chair on solid footing, he felt a rare sense of accomplishment, the first hed experienced since his injury. Thanks, he said gruffly, begrudgingly giving Alexa a sliver of respect. I hate the way everyone treats me like a cripple. Its almost worse than being sent home with a medal while buddies I shouldve saved came home in caskets.