The Reluctant Rancher by Leigh Riker

Author:Leigh Riker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2016-08-16T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

SAM HAD STRAINED a major ligament in his foot. The doctor at the local clinic had done what he could, but his main recommendation was for Sam to rest. This new injury would take weeks to heal, and he should spend as much time as possible off his feet. But Logan didn’t seem satisfied with the diagnosis or treatment plan.

“I ought to take Sam into KC after all.” He drove Blossom’s car on the way home as he had on the way into town. “Get a second opinion. We could check with Doc—our family physician—too. He’s good but not as spry as he used to be or up on the latest methods.”

Sam had fallen asleep on the backseat. Blossom turned to check on him again. The painkiller he’d gotten had done its work. His face appeared serene, and she didn’t see a flicker of an eyelid or the twitch of a lip. He didn’t quite fit lying down on the rear seat, so his position looked uncomfortable, but she figured he was too exhausted to care.

“The clinic doctor said there was nothing more to be done. It’s not as if they can set the ligament like a bone.”

“Thank God he didn’t rebreak the other leg.”

Blossom tried a smile. “At least he didn’t fall down the stairs.”

Logan shot a look at Sam in the rearview mirror. “How did he get from upstairs out to the barn? Without killing himself?”

“I’d pay money to have seen that.”

He smiled weakly. “Me, too.”

Sam was still out cold when they reached the ranch. Logan managed to nudge him awake long enough to get him into the house, hobbling with Logan’s support, and half carry him up to bed. Blossom tucked him in. By the time they came downstairs again, Sam was snoring.

And she was still expecting Logan to lower the boom. She’d waited all day.

“I don’t know what to do.” He leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed. “Now more than before, Sam needs supervision. The way things are going, I’ll never leave here.”

“I have to admire his ingenuity—his determination—in saddling that horse,” Blossom said. “But how did he manage? And as you said, where was he headed?”

“In the exam cubicle at the clinic, he admitted he was looking for us,” Logan told her. “He woke up from his nap but nobody was here. Of course, he felt certain he could get to the barn and ride out on Gumdrop without help.”

Blossom winced. “I shouldn’t have left the house. I wasn’t hired to go horseback riding with you.” And risk my own safety.

“Maybe he panicked with us gone, I don’t know. Or maybe he thought he was okay—hadn’t broken his leg—and was off to ride fence with me.”

Which only reminded Blossom that her stay here might be coming to an end. She stirred the now-cold tea in her cup. She added another spoonful of sugar. “When are you going to tell me?”

“What?”

“About Shadow. She didn’t come to the ranch today just to bring me half a dozen flea collars.

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