Badland Bride (Book 2 - Dakota Hearts) Read online

  “I wasn’t sure you heard me come in,” she said, looking over at Regis’s leg and frowning. “Oh, you got yourself a nasty one there. Where’d that happen?”

  Regis took a deep breath as the doctor worked on her leg. “Over at the Bennett property.”

  Sympathy shown on the woman’s face. “I heard the whole first floor was flooded.”

  “It’s about that bad,” Regis said.

  Hawk looked up at the nurse. “I didn’t have time to fill out the paperwork for Miss—”

  “Simpson. Regis Simpson,” she said.

  Hawk nodded. “Would you mind getting all that paperwork together while I take care of this wound?”

  Nancy shook her head and frowned. But by the motherly look she gave Hawk, Regis knew she was teasing. “Didn’t remember which form to fill out, huh? It’s a good thing you’re not at Sioux City General anymore. You think the other nurses would put up with this?”

  “He didn’t want me to bleed all over the new carpet.”

  Nancy chuckled with raised eyebrows. “That was very thoughtful of him. I see you already have this poor girl whipped. I’ll get that paperwork.”

  As Nancy left, Hawk’s hands paused on her leg as he looked up at her, giving her a wide smile that reached the depths of his eyes.

  “You’re getting me in trouble.”

  “I have a feeling you can do that all by yourself.”

  She wasn't sure what she'd been expecting from a country doctor, but the man standing next to her was not it. His eyes were the deepest shade of blue Regis had ever seen. He was tall, leanly muscled and had one of those ruggedly handsome faces that would've looked perfect in a cowboy movie. And she couldn’t believe she was sitting on an examining table with the hots for her doctor.

  # # #

  Chapter Two

  “It’s really not as bad as it could have been,” Hawk told her.

  “How do you figure that when it hurts like hell?”

  “You could have broken your leg. You’ll have to be more careful out there and wear some sensible shoes. I’ve been out to the Bennett place since the floods came through. They still have a lot of debris to cleanup and it’s tricky stepping.”

  “I found that out the hard way. I’m more ticked off about the ragged tear in my best pair of dress slacks than this puncture wound.”

  “Pants can be replaced. By the way, where did the name Regis come from?”

  “My parents.”

  She tilted an eyebrow and he wondered if it was in challenge or if she were teasing.

  He hesitated a moment and then said, “What?”

  “I’m just waiting for the standard comment about Regis being a boy’s name and oh, your father must have wanted a boy.”

  “Is that what everyone gives you? Standard lines?”

  She shrugged as if she weren't uncomfortable with the topic. “I’m an insurance adjuster. Everyone wants to see me around here right now and everyone is always giving me a line they hope will help their claim.”

  His lips lifted to a grin. “Then I won’t make that mistake.”

  “I appreciate that,” she said.

  “So is it is true?”

  “Is what true?”

  “Did your father want a boy?”

  Regis paused a fraction of a moment. “Yeah.”

  He’d hit a raw wound and it wasn’t the one on her leg. He let the name thing go and concentrated on her wounded ankle with gloved fingers gently probing at the damaged flesh. “You’re not going to need stitches. But you may end up with a nasty scar.”

  She blew out a quick breath. “Good. I can add it to all the other ones I got as a kid.”

  “You're the insurance agent who denied the Proctor family's claim without even looking at the property.”

  Her sigh made him look up. A wry smile curved her lips. “Does that mean you're not going to treat me?”

  Hawk chuckled as he stood. “If I didn't treat people who did things I didn't like, I wouldn't have much of a practice.” He gathered a few items from a nearby cabinet and walked back over to her.

  “I don’t discuss my cases without my clients’ permission.”

  “Evan Proctor said it was a technicality,” he said as he began to clean out the wound. Her hands were gripping the edge of the table, but she didn't make a sound of pain, keeping her voice even. “Their policy had lapsed during the time frame of the flood.”

  “As I said, I don’t discuss my cases without—”

  “They’re people. Not cases. These people lost their valuables, their homes and their livestock.”

  “I know that. That’s why I’m doing everything I can to help them. But unfortunately, some things are beyond my control.”

  Hawk let the statement slide by, resisting the urge to tell her that there was always something that could be done. But it wasn’t his job, and with the weight of the last few weeks bearing down on him, he realized he’d just crossed a very important line.

  Once he'd finished cleaning her leg, he looked up at her. “Sorry, it’s been a rough couple of weeks around here and many long days.”

  He’d expected annoyance, which was well earned for his transgression, and yet what he got from Regis Simpson was a sympathetic smile. That somehow made him feel worse.

  “I know it’s hard to see people you care about hurting. But it’ll get better eventually,” she said.

  “That’s what I’m hoping for.”

  “You asked about my name. Now it’s your turn. What’s the deal with Hawk?

  “No deal. Just about everyone around here has known me since I was a kid, so everyone calls me Hawk.”

  “What’s your name?”

  “Didn’t you read the sign?”

  “There has to be a story that goes with Hawk. What is it about that name you don’t like?”

  “Nothing. My nephew is named Keith.”

  “Then why Hawk?”

  The image of Wade flashed in his mind and Hawk immediately felt that familiar pain he always felt when he thought of his older brother. “Your leg is wrapped. Make sure you keep it clean and dry tonight.”

  “Ah, you don’t like talking about it?”

  It was clear Regis knew she’d hit on something, but she didn’t push further and for that he was glad. She was knew in town. She knew nothing of his family or of their personal tragedies. She dealt in tangible loss. And right now, a whole lot of people in Rudolph needed her help.

  He pulled off his gloves and dropped them in to the trash. “Are you staying at the motel in town?”

  “You’re changing the subject.”

  “I thought the subject was your wounded leg.”

  “What does my staying at the local motel have to do with my leg?”

  From the little he’d seen of her, Regis Simpson was a pistol. And he liked that, Lord help him. He’d been with women in his life and none of them challenged him. He wasn’t a yes-dear man and he didn’t want a yes-dear woman or someone who was only interested in being on the arm of a doctor and what his profession could provide. If he’d cared about any of that, he would have stayed in Sioux City instead of setting up his practice here in Rudolph where it was needed.

  “You’re going to need some antibiotic to help prevent a Staph infection. I have some antibiotic here but it’s not as strong as I’d like. I am going to call in a script to the pharmacy in the next county. They deliver and I need an address for them to send it to you. Are there any meds you’re allergic to?”

  “Ah, no.”

  “Then I have enough for what you’ll need tonight. I’ll give you the pharmacy information so you can call and arrange for delivery.”

  “I can pick it up.”

  “No you won’t. You need to stay off this leg. At least for the night. You need to give it time so it doesn’t open up again. And you’re going to need a tetanus shot.”

  “So I’ve heard.”

  Her reaction was instantaneous and amusing. He'd never seen an adult look so absolutely
petrified at the mention of a shot.

  He resisted the urge to laugh at the face she was making. “When was the last time you had a tetanus shot?”

  She thought a moment, then shook her head without answering.

  Frowning, he said, “Just as I thought. If you can’t remember, it’s been too long.”

  “I’m sure I’ve had one at some point. Maybe before college.”

  “And how long ago was that?”

  “Eleven years.”

  “I’ll finish bandaging your leg. Then we can see about doing that paperwork and getting you up to date on your shots. I’m surprised your boss doesn’t require it given the work you do.”

  “Really, it’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not. You said the fence was rusty? Well, even if it’s not, it’s probably full of bacteria from the flood water. Do you have any idea what kind of pollutants flood waters carry? You don’t want to take a chance—”

  She started to protest but he cut her off.

  “And neither do I,” he said. “It’s your choice, but it’s really for your own good and I strongly advise you have it to prevent getting tetanus. Besides, there are too many people depending on you to do your job so they can get on with rebuilding. They’ll be plenty mad at me if I don’t take good care of you.”

  She bit her bottom lip until he thought she’d draw blood.

  “Something wrong?”

  “I don't like shots.”

  He scratched the back of his neck, fighting the smile pulling at his lips. “No one likes shots. But they’re necessary. You had no problem driving here after pulling a hunk of metal out of your leg, but the thought of a shot scares you?”

  She tried to glare at him, but the fear in her eyes drained all of the fire from it.

  A wave of protectiveness washed over Hawk as he left the room to retrieve the syringe and vial of medicine from the locked cabinet. When he returned to the room, she was white-knuckling the edge of the table.

  Tense was only part of what she was feeling. She looked terrified and her response, given what she had to deal with on a daily basis, intrigued him. Hawk’s eyes darted to Regis’s pale face. She'd sunk her teeth into her bottom lip and was worrying at it again. He thought of her lips and how many times over the past fifteen minutes he’d thought about kissing them…and hating himself for thinking that. Not here. Not like this. That’s two transgressions in one day with the same woman.

  He needed some sleep.

  “Are you doing okay, Regis?” he asked.

  “Please don’t call me Regis.”

  “It’s your name.”

  “Everyone calls me, Reggie. I never respond to Regis and have never been happy with that name. So, it’s Reggie, okay?”

  “Okay, Regis,” he grinned at the flash of annoyance that cut through her fear. “I'm going to make this quick.”

  “I told you not to call me – ah!” The middle of her retort was cut off by a yelp as Hawk slid the needle into her arm. “What the hell, Hawk…er, Dr. McKinnon,” she growled.

  He bit back a laugh. “If you prefer it, to be fair, you can call me Keith.”

  “I’m thinking of another name right now.”

  Then he did laugh. She was feisty for sure. And he liked that about her.

  While he was sure she was a tough woman, he found her attempt at ferocity to be almost cute. Not that he was about to tell her that. He wasn't stupid. He dropped the syringe into the biohazard container on the floor.

  “Are you going to be okay driving?” he asked.

  “Sure.”

  He looked at her intently.

  “What?”

  “Your face has a little more color. For a while there I thought you really were going to pass out.”

  He touched her arm to help her off the table. Her face flushed and she pulled her arm away. “I’m fine.”

  “Good. Nancy has that paperwork for you to fill out before you leave.”

  “I know all about paperwork,” she said, chuckling.

  “I’m sure you do. I’ll make that call to the pharmacy for you.”

  Hawk walked in the opposite direction that Regis went, and resisted the urge to turn back to look at her. For God’s sake, she was a patient. She was here in town to help people he knew needed her to do her job so they could get on with their lives.

  Yet, he didn’t want to see her leave and he definitely wanted to see Regis Simpson again. But not like this and not here. He’d fought the urge to ask her out for dinner. He’d find a moment that was right.

  When he reached his office door, he turned around and caught her looking over her shoulder at him as she walked down the hall. He’d make that moment come very soon.

  Fifteen minutes later, Hawk emerged from his office and walked to the front waiting area. Nancy was sitting behind the computer, inputting information from the paperwork Regis had just handed her. She lifted her eyes from Regis’s paperwork only long enough to give him a teasing glance.

  “Here is the name of the pharmacy,” he said, handing Regis a piece of paper.

  “Thank you, Keith.”

  He ignored the expression on his receptionist's face. Nancy had an opinion about everything and he was sure he'd hear it once Regis left.

  “Make sure you stay off that leg tonight. It’s probably going to hurt a lot more once the adrenaline rush wears off.”

  “I will.” Regis was out the door before Hawk could say anything more. And there were a whole lot of things spinning in his head that he wanted to ask her starting with dinner and where all that spunk he saw in her came from. He’d do that later.

  He finally turned and stole a glance at Nancy.

  “Keith?” she echoed.

  “Breathe one word and I’ll tell everyone your middle name is Aggy.”

  Nancy gasped. “You wouldn’t dare.”

  He smiled teasingly. “Only one way you’ll find out.”

  Nancy rolled her eyes and went back to her typing as Hawk walked back to his office, unable to suppress his grin. He had some paperwork of his own to fill out for the Wounded Veterans Center if he was going to get out of here early. He had a house call to make tonight and he didn't want to be late.

  # # #

  Chapter Three

  Motel rooms had been her home for far too long. Regis was so familiar with the blandness of each motel she stayed at that she never really paid attention to details. It only served to remind her about a childhood spending long periods of time in other people’s homes on Army bases around the world while her dad was on tour somewhere else. At least now, she could be in the quiet of her own space without having to put on a smile for people she barely knew.

  She’d managed to hobble her way out of the car and into her motel room and fire up her laptop so she could check which appointments she was going to miss the rest of the day. She’d have to switch around appointments tomorrow and bump a few to later in the week to keep her already heavy workload manageable. As soon as she’d figured out a workable plan, she called the homeowners who’d given her cell phone numbers with the news. Naturally, some were disappointed they’d have to wait another day or two for the inspections and it meant she had to stay a little longer in Rudolph to get all her work done. But it couldn’t be helped.

  Dr. Keith McKinnon had been right about one thing, she felt the pain in her leg more now than she did when she’d initially fallen. With each movement on the bed, pain shot up her leg and brought tears to her eyes.

  She finally closed the laptop and pushed it to the side of her bed, debating the need for getting up and grabbing the remote so she could watch television. Before boredom could win out, she heard a knock on the door and decided it must be the pharmacy delivering her prescription.

  “Please let there be pain killer in there, too,” she whispered. Then she called out, “Just a minute!”

  Easing herself up off the bed, she limped to the door being careful her sweatpants leg didn’t fall over her bandage and cause the elastic to squeeze
her leg. Even the slightest pressure was enough to send her through the roof. It was a struggle to get up on her tippy toes to look out of the peephole, but when she did, she stepped back, putting weight on her injured leg. Shooting pain nearly leveled her as she opened the door.

  “I’d ask how you’re doing, but from the look on your face, I’m guessing it’s not so good.”

  Dr. Keith McKinnon stood outside the doorway looking better than he had earlier walking up the handicap ramp at his office. She, on the other hand, looked like road kill. She didn’t have to look to know she had a serious case of bedhead from trying to take a nap earlier. Her old sweatpants and sweatshirt were comfy, but so big it made it hard to tell she was female underneath them.

  She touched her hair just to make sure it wasn’t sticking up. “What are you doing here?”

  He lifted the white bag in his left hand. “Your prescription. When I called it in to the pharmacy they said they weren’t making runs out this way due to all the flooding and roads being washed out.”

  She looked at the Styrofoam containers in his other hand. The glorious smell coming from them immediately made her stomach growl. “And what’s that?”

  “Dinner. For us. That is, if you’re up for it.”

  She stepped aside to give Keith room to walk inside the motel room.

  “Am I another house call?”

  His voice was gentle as he spoke, making her head light. “No. But since you’re from out of town, I knew you didn’t have anyone else here to check on you so I thought I’m make sure you were getting along. I figured you probably hadn’t been able to grab a bite to eat yet either.”

  Warmth spread through her chest. “You wanted to check on me?”

  “Sure.” He lifted the containers. “Should I put these over on the table?”

  She nodded, a sudden feeling of melancholy enveloping her. Keith didn’t know how close to the truth he was. It had been a long time since there’d been anyone concerned with checking on her. In fact, she only spoke to her father about once a month because he was always so busy. The fact that Keith thought enough to stop by, and with dinner no less, was a first for her. She wasn’t sure how to feel about it.